Wenger confirms Mertesacker negotiations

Inter Milan are planning an ambitious swoop on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, .

With Erick Thohir set to complete the club takeover, he is likely to make some funds available for the January transfer window.

And rather than investing into high-profile players, the Indonesian businessman prefers to add more young and talented players to the squad that already contain the likes of Kovacic, Icardi, Jesus and Taider.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are set to make a move on Paris Saint-Germain starlet Marco Verratti.

The 20-year-old has said on numerous occasions that he would like to return to Italian Serie A, with Inter Milan ready to pounce.

However, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza outfit could face a stiff competit…

Bolton Wanderers are set to sign Southampton defender Danny Fox on loan until January,.

The left back has made just one league appearance this season, having fallen down the Saints’ pecking order following the emergence of England U21 sensation Luke Shaw.

Fox moved to the south coast club from Burnley in 2011, and was a regular starter during their promotion winning 2011/12 campaign, form that saw him win his first competitive cap for Scotland the following season.

Bolton are currently second from bottom of the Championship, above Barnsley on goal difference following Tuesday evening’s goalless draw at Blackpool.

They have brought in no less than four players on loan over the past few days, with Neil Danns, Liam Feeney and Kyle McNaughton all mov…

Alex Ferguson said he would have definitely carried on as Manchester United manager if it was not for the death of his wife s sister.

Ferguson called time on his tenure in 2013 after winning 38 trophies in 26 glorious years at Old Trafford.

The 73-year-old s retirement, despite is age, surprised many and the Scot said he had no plans to retire but he wanted to be by wife Cathy s side following the death of her twin sister Bridget Robertson three years ago.

I definitely would have carried on, Ferguson told the Telegraph.

I saw she [Cathy Ferguson] w
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as watching television one night, and she looked up at the ceiling. I knew she was isolated. Her and Bridget were twins, you know?

But when I told her this time I was going to retire she h…

Sampdoria welcome helping restore Luis Muriel s self-belief after struggling under Andrea Stramaccioni at former club Udinese.

Luis Muriel has delivered a veiled dig at Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni after praising the philosophies of Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Colombian striker moved to Sampdoria in January after overcoming concerns over his fitness prior to the completion of the deal.

He has yet to make his Samp debut but already feels at home, giving particular praise to the welcome he has received from his new head coach Mihajlovic.and also president Massimo Ferrero after struggling at Udinese.

I wanted at all costs to come to Genoa, he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. If things had fallen through, I used to think it would be the end of me, that I…

Mario Balotelli has signed for hometown club Brescia after agreeing a multi-year contract with the Serie A outfit.

The Italy international was a free agent after his short-term deal with Marseille expired and when negotiations with Brazilian club Flamengo broke down he looked set to start the new season without a club.

But Brescia president Massimo Cellino told Gazzetta dello Sport Balotelli made it clear he wanted a move to Stadio Mario Rigamonti on August 12 his 29th birthday.

That day he expressed his desire to return to his city, said Cellino of Balotelli, who spent much of his childhood in the region of Brescia.

Hence all those rumours have only caused confusion, because there was no written agreement and Flamengo rushed to Monte Carlo to trip us u…

It s been almost two weeks without Premier League action but now, with an international break looming, seven games are set to round out the first part of the season.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II last week saw a blanket postponement over matchday seven, with no side in action as the United Kingdom moved into a period of national mourning.

With resources stretched thin ahead of the late monarch s funeral on Monday, almost half of matchday eight s fixtures being scratched for now, including Chelsea against Liverpool and Manchester United versus Leeds United.

But a host of sides, including top two Arsenal and Manchester City, will get back onto the pitch for a last club run-out before the final international break of the year whets the World Cup appetite.

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Yeovil Town have completed the loan signing of Ishmael Miller from Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, .

The striker scored six times in thirty appearances whilst on loan with Middlesbrough last season, but has largely struggled at Forest since switching from West Bromwich Albion in August 2011 – finding the net just four times in thirty outings.

He will be joined at Huish Park by Liverpool striker Adam Morgan and Everton midfielder John Lundstram, who have also secured temporary moves to the Glovers.

Gary Johnson’s men currently sit bottom of the division, two points adrift behind Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday and a further four behind 21st place Birmingham City.

They travel to Watford on Saturday afternoon looking to halt a run of three s…

The arrival of Jorginho from Napoli has equipped Chelsea with one of the best midfields around, according to Alvaro Morata.

The Brazilian-born Italy international moved to Stamford Bridge last month, having been heavily linked with Premier League champions Manchester City. 

He has been joined in west London by his former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, who replaced Antonio Conte. 

And former Real Madrid and Juventus striker Morata feels Jorginho will prove to be a key acquisition as the Blues, champions in 2016-17, seek to improve on a disappointing fifth-place finish in the league last season. 

We are lucky, he told the Mirror.

We ve made a very good signing, because he s a fantastic player, a fantastic guy and because Manchester City wanted h…

The international break is upon us, and the UEFA region switches its focus entirely. Now every single European nation will concentrate on the 2020 UEFA European Championship Qualifiers . With that in mind, France will host Albania in the worldwide known Stade de France, easily one of the most recognizable venues all over the world, in Group H action. Kick-off for this match is slated at 19:45 BST. Jesus Gil Manzano will be the referee.

France

The reigning World Cup title holders have responded to that label during the European Championship Qualifiers thus far. Through the first four games, Les Bleus lead a surprisingly tight Group H since they sit at the top of the standings with nine points and a +9 goal differential. Turkey and Iceland also have nine points, and Albania have …

(GSM) Celtic have parted ways with manager Tony Mowbray after the Glasgow giants suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat at St Mirren.

The 46-year-old, who had arrived at Celtic Park from West Bromwich Albion last June, won 17 of the 30 league games played while struggling in Europe.

Having played two more matches, Celtic trail Scottish Premier League leaders and Old Firm rivals Rangers by 10 points.

With assistant manager Mark Venus and first team coach Peter Grant departing along with Mowbray, coach Neil Lennon will oversee first-team matters on an interim basis, with Kilmarnock visiting on Saturday.

Lennon, who has already played for Celtic between 2000 and 2007, returned as a coach in April 2008 and had been in charge of the Under-19 team during Mowbray s tim…