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Transfer Talk: Real Madrid’s final play for Kylian Mbappé

The January transfer window opens soon throughout Europe, and there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Real Madrid are preparing to make a fresh approach to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé in January, according to The Athletic. Just days remain before the 25-year-old will enter the final…

Mbappé to snub Real Madrid for Barcelona? Why reports aren’t all they seem

Football fans in Spain were left stunned on Thursday by sports daily Mundo Deportivo’s sensational report that Real Madrid have pulled out of the race to sign long-term transfer target Kylian Mbappé, with the Paris Saint-Germain star now in line to join their bitter LaLiga rivals Barcelona in the summer instead. The story, under the headline “Radical turn: Mbappé gets closer to Barça,” will have been hard for Madrid supporters…

Bundesliga first-half review: Kane-Sane partnership, Leverkusen’s dominance, more

After removing the broadcast headset at full-time in last week’s thrilling Heidenheim-Freiburg contest to bring an end to 2023, I was tempted to immediately write this roundup column but wanted instead to take a few days to digest what we’ve all witnessed these past few months. Sometimes we can get carried away in the moment and a more sober analysis requires time. But as 2023 dwindles away, my verdict is…

Ratcliffe arrival ‘no impact’ on players – Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag called Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United a “positive” turn of events for the club, but said it had no impact on the players on his team. Ratcliffe’s sporting guru, Sir Dave Brailsford, was in the stands at Old Trafford on Tuesday as United came back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) It was their first…

Sources: City close to signing 17yo Echeverri

Manchester City are closing in on the signing of midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate, a source has told ESPN. City have held formal talks with the Argentine side and are nearing an agreement for the 17-year-old midfielder. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) If a deal is reached, it’s likely that Echeverri would be loaned back to River Plate until at least the end of the Premier…

FIFA warns Brazil over court intervention in CBF

FIFA warned Brazil on Sunday it could suspend its national teams and clubs from international competitions if an intervention by its football federation (CBF) leads to the election of a new president in January. FIFA said in a letter to a Brazilian football executive that the CBF could face suspension if it does not heed its call to wait and instead holds a swift election to replace Ednaldo Rodrigues as…

Arsenal and Liverpool spark title race, Pulisic’s Milan struggle, Spurs stick to strategy

Happy holidays to one and all! The gift of soccer kept giving this weekend, with the title race in the Premier League taking shape. Arsenal played Liverpool at Anfield to an entertaining 1-1 draw, and Manchester City sit six points off top spot with a game in hand. Tottenham Hotspur are back in fourth (for now) after a win over Everton. In Serie A, the youngsters at Juventus helped secure…

Premier League at Christmas: Club-by-club takes on season so far

Manchester City are still considered favourites to win the Premier League despite falling six points off the pace, which has been set by Arsenal. But is the bookmakers’ assessment right, or is this Arsenal’s year? And what about Liverpool, who sit in second? Might third-place Aston Villa “do a Leicester” and shock them all? At the other end of the table, who might fall into the relegation scrap after Christmas?…

Transfer Talk: Barcelona race with Man City, Chelsea and PSG to sign Estevao

The winter transfer window hasn’t re-opened in Europe yet, but there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Various big-name European clubs are interested in Palmeiras forward Estevao Willian — commonly known as “Messinho” — as has been reported by Mundo…