Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Lee Grant from Stoke City, according to the Telegraph.

The Red Devils are keen to bring in a new goalkeeper to provide cover for David De Gea and Sergio Romero as they look to once again challenge on four fronts in the forthcoming season.

Grant’s potential arrival is likely to allow current third choice Joel Pereira to go out on loan to gain some first team experience.

The Potters’ shot-stopper moved to the Bet 365 initially on loan two years ago but signed permanently in January 2017.

In total he has played thirty-five times in all competitions since leaving Derby County for a second time though he barely featured last season.

He played just three times in the league with Jack Butland f…

Mario Balotelli being without a club once again as a new season approaches is not normal , says Italy head coach Roberto Mancini.

Balotelli is reportedly close to joining hometown club Brescia after negotiations to join Brazilian giants Flamengo broke down.

He scored eight goals in 15 appearances for Marseille last term, having impressed in an early stint with their Ligue 1 rivals Nice, but budgetary constraints at the Stade Velodrome left the 29-year-old once again seeking pastures new.

Mancini managed Balotelli at Inter and Manchester City and ended his four-year international exile by recalling the striker when appointed as Azzurri boss in 2018.

Nevertheless, some exasperation with his one-time protege was evident in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sp…

(GSM) Turkish club Galatasaray have confirmed the loan signing of Manchester City striker Jo for the remainder of the season.

The Brazilian forward moved to Eastlands in a big-money deal from CSKA Moscow in July 2008 but never managed to settle at the club, making only six appearances during the start of the 2008-09 season.

He was loaned out to Everton 12 months ago and enjoyed more success as he became accustomed to the demands of English football.

The Toffees then re-signed the 22-year-old on a season-long loan last summer with the option of a permanent deal to come.

However, Jo has endured a difficult period this term, scoring just two goals and finding first-team opportunities limited.

And his problems were compounded when he was suspended by…

Edinson Cavani believes Uruguay can still qualify for the FIFA World Cup ahead of Tuesday s crucial match against Venezuela.

Uruguay – who finished fourth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Germany and won the Copa America one year later – have struggled in their bid to qualify for the 2014 competition in Brazil.
Only the top four teams progress from South American qualifying and Uruguay, who have 13 points from 11 matches, are seventh with three games remaining, meaning defeat to Venezuela could prove fatal.
Uruguay beat France 1-0 in a friendly last week but have not won in their last six World Cup qualifiers, leaving them in a perilous situation.
Napoli striker Cavani – who has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea – feels his side have the quality to win the import…

All-time Germany top-scorer Miroslav Klose has opted to hang up his boots after leaving Lazio at the end of the 2015-16 campaign following the expiry of his contract.

Klose had been linked with a move to MLS and former club Kaiserslautern over the past few months, but has opted to retire instead and take up a position with Germany s national team.

The 38-year-old will be following an individual education and traineeship under national team coach Joachim Low and sporting director Hansi Flick with an eye on a future coaching career, while also joining Low s backroom staff.

I enjoyed my biggest successes with the national team. It was a great time and unforgettable for me. That s why I am happy to return to the DFB, Klose told the DFB website.

Over the pas…

Neymar has dismissed rumours of a Paris Saint-Germain exit as the star reaffirmed his commitment to the French champions in his quest for silverware.

Real Madrid – seeking a replacement for Juventus recruit Cristiano Ronaldo – have been strongly linked with Neymar, though the European champions ruled out an approach for the Brazil international.

Former Barcelona forward Neymar s future dominated headlines toward the backend of the 2017-18 season as talk of a LaLiga return intensified.

However, Neymar has no plans to leave the Ligue 1 holders following the World Cup in Russia, where Brazil lost in the quarter-finals.

I ll stay. I have a contract with PSG and I ve chosen to be there for the challenge, for new things and higher goals, Neymar told Fox Sp…

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s incredible strike saw Napoli come from behind to beat Verona 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A.

A dramatic final 20 minutes saw Verona take the lead through Diego Coppola in the 72nd minute, but Napoli shortly equalised seven minutes later through Cyril Ngonge – who joined them from their opponents last month.

Kvaratskhelia then capped a dramatic comeback in the 87th minute with a fantastic goal dispatched into the top corner to win it for the hosts.

Napoli were straight out of the blocks to dominate in the opening stages with Matteo Politano firing in some dangerous crosses and they had a penalty shout waved away in the seventh minute when Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box.

KVARA SCORES. COMEBACK COMP…

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold hopes his initiative to find jobs for academy prospects who fail to become professional footballers is “the beginning of a wider conversation”.

The 25-year-old, one of the rare few to make the grade, set up The After Academy platform to provide those youngsters who miss out with the tools to succeed in a variety of careers.

Part of that is a jobs board, hosted on the Professional Footballers’ Association’s website, where roles will be exclusively offered to former academy players with the hiring process focusing on demonstrating transferable skills learned at academies rather than traditional qualifications.

The After Academy Phase 2. I’m buzzing to announce that the jobs and opportunities platform is now live a…

Champions Juventus visit Inter on Saturday in high spirits after qualifying for a first UEFA Champions League final since 2003 in midweek.

Juve who wrapped up a fourth consecutive Serie A title earlier this month reached the decider of Europe s elite club competition after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Real Madrid on Wednesday. That saw them record a 3-2 aggregate victory and keep hopes of a historic treble alive for Massimiliano Allegri s men.

Progression to the Champions League showpiece against Barcelona has already impacted the Italian football calendar, with the Coppa Italia final which Juve will play Lazio in shifted forward to next Wednesday. 

The match was originally slated for June 7, one day after the Champions League finale.

Saturday s t…

Aaron Ramsey has been told by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he will continue to be used in his unfavoured position on the right wing.

Wales international midfielder Ramsey recently voiced his frustration at not playing in his preferred central role to his coach and was expected to be given the chance to line-up in the position against Norwich City on Sunday following injuries to Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta.

However, Wenger believes the 24-year-old and Santi Cazorla are too attack-minded to play alongside one another in a central position.

I use Ramsey on the right. That’s where I will certainly continue to use him, unless the game demands to attack, the French boss said.

He is more an offensive player. He is not a tactical, defensive player. …