Liverpool ‘dream’ signing in Real Madrid double raid with Slot ‘priority’ as FSG exploits ‘internal war’

Juventus duo Kwadwo Asamoah and Daniele Rugani will be out for between six and seven weeks due to knee injuries, the club have announced.

The pair both pulled up with problems during the 1-0 victory over Palermo on Saturday, which saw the champions maintain their one-point lead at the top of Serie A.

Juve have now confirmed that the duo will be sidelined for 45 days, with Asamoah requiring surgery to correct a meniscus rupture.

The extent of the injuries sustained by Daniele Rugani and Kwadwo Asamoah were clarified following medical examinations today, a club statement read. 

The tests revealed that Asamoah has ruptured the meniscus cartilage, while Rugani has strained the lateral collateral ligament, both in the right knee. 

The former is ex…

Stewart Downing has no intention of leaving Liverpool ahead of the new Premier League season.

The England international has been consistently linked with a transfer away from Anfield after struggling to adapt since his reported £20million move from Aston Villa in 2011.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has already signed two attacking players this close-season Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto and is said to want to bring in further reinforcements, which has increased speculation that Downing could be heading for the exit.

However, the winger forced his way into manager Rodgers’ first-choice XI last season and has insisted he is only interested in fighting to retain his place.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, he pledged: I m here to stay. I m enjoying it esp…

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 – …