Looking for Soccer News?

The word most commonly associated with the deep-lying playmaker (or regista, if you're fancy) is 'class', and it's quite easy to see why. Deep-lying playmakers are often the background operators, akin to the conductor of an orchestra. They can dictate how the movements of their team, and can change the course of a game with just one pass or movement. As a result, these players have to possess a certain degree of intelligence - and with that comes the humbleness and graceful style-of-play which...

Nearly every great European side (bar Liverpool) has been build on a great midfield. Usually these midfields comprise of the gung-ho all-action box-to-box man, the defensive brute in holding midfield, the creative force in attacking midfield and, finally, the deep-lying playmaker. While all of these specialist positions are crucial, there are none more poetic and suave than the deep-lying playmaker, the man who plays cigar in hand, dictating play with consummate ease. While European football...

Bayern Munich have pulled out of the race to land starlet Kai Havertz, as the German champions are not prepared to match Bayer Leverkusen's valuation of their much-fancied talisman in the current financial climate. The Bavarian giants are known for their tendency to hoover up the most prestigious talents in the Bundesliga, and many expected them to make a move for the Leverkusen star this summer. Bayer 04 Leverkusen v 1. FC Union Berlin - DFB Cup But Bild reports that the club have given up on...

Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Jordan Henderson are among the high profile footballers to appear in a video entitled 'Time for Change' that called for an end to racism. The video is the latest in a flurry of racial activism across the sport in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Millions have taken to the streets across the world over the past several weeks to protest the death of George Floyd - a black man killed by police in Minnesota recently. Raheem Sterling has spoken out...

Dries Mertens has signed a contract extension at Napoli, putting an end to speculation linking him with a move away from the club. Mertens arrived in Naples back in 2013 and became the Azzurri's leading goalscorer recently when he netted his 122nd goal against Inter in the Coppa Italia semi final. Dries Mertens has signed a new deal at Napoli He seemed set to depart Stadio San Paolo in the summer on a free transfer with the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea linked with a move. However, this...

sons UEFA have announced that the 2019/20 Champions League will be completed as a straight knockout mini-tournament in Lisbon over a 12-day period in August, with the 2020 final to be played in the Portuguese capital on Sunday 23 August. The remaining last 16 legs will be concluded a few days earlier on 7-8 August, although a decision as to whether those games will also be played in Portugal or at their original intended location. The Europa League will follow a similar pattern and be concluded...

On the face of it, Bayern Munich sealing their eighth straight Bundesliga title on Tuesday does not seem that noteworthy. Die Roten's stranglehold on German football is so strong, so all-encompassing that anything less than lifting that famous trophy - that looks more like a live action role player's shield than a football prize - would have been an abject failure. Bayern seemed to be flirting with that prospect earlier on in the season though, with Niko Kovac ultimately paying with his job...

The Premier League is preparing for a second wave of coronavirus as shutdown restrictions are eased across the United Kingdom. English football was suspended back in March but is set to return on Wednesday evening after a 100-day layoff. Games may only just be getting going again but the Premier League is hastily making plans in the case of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. Non-essential businesses were permitted to re-open their doors on Monday, one of a number of relaxing measures...

Online bookmaker Betway has confirmed it will no longer be offering odds on ‘football transfer’ or ‘player’s next club’ markets in a step towards more responsible gambling. At a time when gambling is under necessary scrutiny after a major study in 2019 into its effect on men aged 18-35 dubbed it the worst addiction of the lot, that is welcome change to an overall industry that ultimately benefits when people cannot escape it. Thank you @TomWitherow. As ever your work highlights the very...

One of the biggest talking points as Premier League football returns from a three-month enforced break is the prospect of an on-field partnership between Manchester United midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, who are yet to play together. Fernandes’ January arrival came soon after Pogba underwent surgery on a troublesome ankle injury. By the time the Frenchman was ready to return, the coronavirus crisis had halted all football. Paul Pogba last played for United in December Now, there is...

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has described the government’s decision to extend a free school meals scheme into the summer holidays as a ‘proud moment’ and considers it ‘more normal’ that people are speaking up to campaign for positive change. The free school meals programme is a cause close to Rashford’s heart having had to rely on them while he was growing up, despite his mum working tirelessly to try and feed the family. Rashford relied on free school meals growing up The UK...

Bayer Leverkusen have conceded that Kai Havertz is likely to move on in the ‘near future’, amid strong interest from clubs including Bayern Munich and Chelsea. The 21-year-old has become one of the most talked about young talents in Europe after grabbing 23 combined goals and assists so far this season. Havertz has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season “I see that many clubs are interested in Kai Havertz," Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro told regional local newspaper Kölner...

Mikel Arteta has admitted the pressure is on Arsenal to make necessary changes right away or risk the Premier League’s top sides pulling further and further away. But the Spaniard also knows he has another big problem because of the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis and its effect on the club’s already suffering transfer budget. Arsenal are at a crossroad this summer A number of Premier League sides have agreed wage deferrals with their players, but Arsenal are the only club to have...

Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser has turned down the club's offer of a short-term contract extension as he prepares to depart as a free agent. The Scotland international has made 32 appearances in all competitions for a struggling Cherries side this season but has failed to make any real impact, contributing just one goal and four assists. The 26-year-old has attracted the attention of a number of clubs, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season. Elsewhere, due to the coronavirus...

Pep Guardiola has said that only 'stupid people' believe footballers should stay out of politics, praising Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford for their recent activism. Rashford has partnered with FareShare during lockdown, a charity providing food relief to vulnerable people during the current crisis. The Manchester United star recently played a pivotal role in forcing a government U-turn on the issue of providing free schools meals over the summer months. Delivering on and off the pitch....

Bayern Munich are champions of Germany - again. Yep, it may come as little surprise to any of us, but the Bundesliga giants have wrapped up their eighth successive title with two games to spare. This incredible achievement was far from routine for Die Roten though. After losing 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in November, then-coach Niko Kovac was swiftly sacked, and they faced a real fight to retain the title. SV Werder Bremen v FC Bayern Muenchen - Bundesliga But throughout all of this...

Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi has admitted a move to the Bundesliga would interest him, as speculation persists over his future at the Emirates. The German World Cup winner joined the Gunners in 2016 for £35m, but his sub-par performances have made him the subject of constant criticism during his time in north London. With his contract up in 2021, Mustafi has hinted that a return to his homeland - in which he has never played professionally - is an option he would consider. Mustafi has never...

Aston Villa will be looking for at least £80m for captain Jack Grealish when the transfer window opens as they look to stand strong, with Manchester United continuing to show interest. Grealish has been Villa's star man in a difficult first season back in the Premier League, which has left Dean Smith's men sat in 19th place in the table. The Englishman has been hugely impressive though, grabbing nine goals as well as providing eight assists in all competitions in 2019/20. Jack Grealish has...

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has praised teenage sensation Ansu Fati following his latest star showing for the La Liga champions - but also urged the youngster to have 'patience'. The 17-year-old started his 12th game of the season in all competitions on Tuesday evening as Barça took on Leganes and caught the eye once again, scoring the opener. After the away side missed two good chances in the opening exchanges, Fati made them pay with a ruthless strike into the bottom corner. Ansu Fati...

France's supreme court for administrative justice has dismissed Lyon's appeal against the early termination of the Ligue 1, while also ruling that Toulouse's and Amien's relegation will be suspended. French football was halted back in March due to COVID-19 with the season being permanently curtailed the following month. Final league positions were determined by points gained at the time of the campaign's suspension with Paris Saint-Germain once again declared champions. PSG were declared Ligue...