Neymar: Cristiano Ronaldo in pole position to win Ballon d´Or

Jermaine Pennant has been unable to obtain a work permit to join Stoke City on their tour of the United States for a second year running.

A club spokesman confirmed to OMNISPORT that the 30-year-old has not travelled with the team and will continue his own preparations back in England with the club s Under-21 side.

The winger, who joined Stoke permanently in 2011 following a previous loan spell, was unable to obtain the necessary permission to head to America following a previous criminal conviction for admitting driving home drunk from a nightclub.

It is the second successive year that Pennant has been denied entry to the US and comes after Stoke manager Mark Hughes decided to show faith in him by offering him a new one-year deal, having slipped down the pecking ord…

Another young British manager has lost his job after just five games of the new season. The official comment around Simon Davey leaving his post at Championship club Barnsley is that he has left by ‘mutual consent’. I think we all know what that means.

He has been the boss at Barnsley for two and a half years after taking over from Andy Ritchie back in November 2006. The club were in trouble when he took over and he led them to safety from relegation that season.

Stabilised

Davey stabilised the club but has failed to take them forward. They have had to battle against relegation each season since he took over and last season saw a last day victory at Plymouth needed to keep them in the Championship. After that game the Barnsley owne…

Agent Marco Sommella revealed Sevilla loanee and Naples native Ciro Immobile wanted a dream move to Serie A s Napoli.

Italy international striker Immobile joined UEFA Europa League champions Sevilla from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund on an initial season-long loan deal, which was announced on Sunday.

Sommella, however, told Radio Marte things could have ended differently if the former Torino front man had his way.

We re happy to be at Sevilla, Sommella said. Sevilla have won the Europa League twice, and are now in the Champions League, which makes you realise how important this decision is.

Ciro, however, to tell you the truth, has talked about his bond with Napoli several times, but those sentiments were clearly not shared by the Partenopei.

…

Norwich City have completed the signing of winger Robbie Brady, the Republic of Ireland international moving from Hull City on a three-year deal.

Confirmation of Brady s move came on the same day James Chester left the KC Stadium for Norwich s Premier League rivals West Brom.

Brady, who joins former West Brom men Graham Dorrans and Youssouf Mulumbu as new arrivals at Carrow Road, moved to Hull in January 2013 following two loan spells from Manchester United and scored 14 times in 124 appearances, despite being hampered by a number of injury absences.

Norwich were criticised by Hull manager Steve Bruce earlier this month for making a series of what the latter felt were embarrasing bids.

After getting his man for an undisclosed fee, Norwich boss Alex N…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the runaway Premier League leaders will not celebrate prematurely, insisting the title race is still not over.

The Reds will enter the New Year with a 13-point lead atop the table following Sunday s 1-0 victory over Wolves at Anfield.

Liverpool recorded a 17th successive Premier League home win and extended their unbeaten domestic run on Merseyside to 50 matches thanks to Sadio Mane s goal.

As Liverpool close in on a first league crown since 1990, Klopp told reporters his side are not getting carried away following 19 matches.

The pass. The assist. The finish. 

Fantastic views of Sadio Mane s winner  

— Liverpool FC (@LFC)

I think our fans are exactly like the team is, said Klopp, whose Liv…

Matthijs de Ligt has been cleared to join up with his Juventus team-mates after recovering from COVID-19.

The centre-back tested positive on January 8 and went into isolation, meaning he missed the Serie A games against Sassuolo and Inter, as well as the Supercoppa Italiana clash with Napoli.

However, having returned two clear swab tests, De Ligt will be included in Andrea Pirlo s squad for Sunday s home fixture with Bologna.

Matthijs de Ligt carried out, as per protocol, two controls of molecular test (swab) for Covid-19 with negative results, a statement from the club read. 

Therefore, the player has recovered and is no longer subjected to the isolation regime.

He will join the team at the J Hotel for the retreat this evening and will be…

Portsmouth v Manchester City

Managerless Pompey are in a bit of a crisis. They have sacked Tony Adams after just sixteen league games, but just two wins in those games have left them staring down the barrel of relegation.

Manchester City need a decent run to start to live up to all the hype. They weren’t particularly impressive in their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough last week but the three points were welcome and they have reached an acceptable league position.

Both teams might be reasonably pleased with a point.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-1

FA Cup

Blackburn v Coventry

Blackburn are definitely a better side under Sam Allardyce than they were under Paul Ince, but they might just be beginning to stutter a little. They suffered their fi…

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo insists his players will not hide as they face up to a tough winter.

Forest, already battling to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle, were plunged into further difficulties earlier this week as they were charged with breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

Nuno was pleased with the spirit shown as Forest saw off a Blackpool fightback to edge into the FA Cup fourth round with a 3-2 win after extra time of a tricky replay at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday.

Through to the fourth round!

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC)

Forest had gone into the game against the League One side without a host of players due to Africa Cup of Nations call-ups – of which the club have six – …

Former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz has hit out at David Moyes and Louis van Gaal for the way they handled the transition from Alex Ferguson and accused the club of panic buying.

Queiroz enjoyed two spells as assistant – his second coming on the back an unsuccessful stint with Real Madrid  to Ferguson, who retired from management in 2013 after winning 38 trophies with United.

Successor Moyes was sacked before the end of his first season, which United eventually finished in seventh, with Van Gaal coming in to lead them back to the Champions League in unconvincing fashion the following year.

Queiroz told The Guardian: I have great admiration and respect for Louis [van Gaal] and David [Moyes], they are great coaches that I admire but I think they …

Algeria and Ivory Coast meet in the last of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Sunday, with Herve Renard demanding progression.

Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard has reminded his players that anything other than Africa Cup of Nations success will be seen as failure ahead of their quarter-final clash with Algeria.

The Elephants have been widely regarded as one of Africa s best sides over the last decade, though they have failed to truly make the most of the talent at their disposal.

Final defeats to Egypt and Zambia – in 2006 and 2012 respectively – remain their best efforts since winning the title in 1992, with the country s so-called golden generation struggling to match expectations.

But, Renard still has the likes of Wilfried Bony, Yaya Tour…