Author: Andrew Rogers

Celtic are advancing talks with Wilfried Nancy, the Columbus Crew manager, as they move to appoint a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers. The Scottish champions notified the MLS club of their intentions on Friday, with any compensation fee not expected to pose a problem. Nancy, who is understood to be keen on the move, could be in place before Celtic’s trip to St Mirren next weekend, bringing an end to Martin O’Neill’s caretaker spell. The 47-year-old Frenchman, previously in charge of Montreal, led Columbus Crew to seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference this season before a playoff exit to FC…

Patrick Bamford has joined Sheffield United, just seven months after leading a derogatory chant about manager Chris Wilder during Leeds United’s promotion celebrations. The 32-year-old striker, a free agent since leaving Leeds in August, has signed a short-term deal with the Championship side until January. Despite past tensions, Wilder and Bamford appear to have reconciled, with the forward eager to revive his career and United desperate for attacking reinforcements. Their feud dates back to the 2018–19 season, when Wilder’s Blades won promotion to the Premier League and he labelled Bamford a “muppet.” After the viral chant in April, Bamford and…

Barcelona have identified Harry Kane as their first-choice target to succeed Robert Lewandowski next summer, with the club ready to consider triggering a £57 million release clause in the striker’s Bayern Munich contract. The 32-year-old England captain has been sensational since joining Bayern from Tottenham in 2023, scoring 108 goals in 113 games and helping the club reclaim the Bundesliga title. Despite expressing openness to extending his stay in Germany beyond 2027, the chance to join another global giant could tempt him. Barcelona see Kane as the ideal long-term replacement for Lewandowski, whose deal expires in June. The Catalan side…

The Premier League has approved schedule changes for Arsenal and Crystal Palace ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final on 23 December at the Emirates Stadium. Originally set to play their league matches on Sunday, 21 December, both clubs will now play a day earlier at 8pm on Saturday, 20 December — Arsenal visiting Everton and Palace traveling to Leeds United. The adjustment follows player welfare concerns, with Palace also facing KuPS in the Conference League on 18 December. A Premier League statement said the decision was made to ensure “adequate recovery time” amid a congested calendar impacted by expanded European…

Manchester City sent a powerful title message with a 3-0 win over Liverpool, cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to four points. Despite Erling Haaland missing an early penalty, he opened the scoring soon after with his 19th goal of the season. Nico González doubled City’s lead just before half-time via a deflection off Virgil van Dijk, before Jérémy Doku sealed the victory with a stunning curling strike. Liverpool were left frustrated after Van Dijk’s header for 1-1 was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. But in truth, City dominated throughout, with Doku tormenting…

Harry Kane scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Bayern Munich drew 2-2 at Union Berlin, preserving their unbeaten start but ending their record 16-match winning streak. Danilho Doekhi’s second goal in the 83rd minute had Union on course for victory before Kane’s 13th league goal rescued a point. Bayern stay six points clear at the top after RB Leipzig lost 3-1 to Hoffenheim. Earlier, Manuel Neuer’s error gifted Union the lead before Luis Díaz levelled with a superb strike. Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund conceded in the 97th minute to draw 1-1 at Hamburg. In Serie A, Milan blew a two-goal lead to…

Ruben Amorim criticised his Manchester United players for becoming “too comfortable” after they surrendered a lead twice in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham. United looked in control after Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener, but were pegged back by Mathys Tel and Richarlison, before Matthijs de Ligt rescued a point with a 96th-minute header — extending United’s unbeaten run to five games. Despite the result, Amorim was unhappy with the team’s attitude once in front. “We were comfortable in the game but I think we should do better, be more aggressive,” he said. “We need to expect that in one play…

David Raya extended his remarkable unbeaten run as Arsenal’s defensive excellence continued with an eighth consecutive clean sheet in their 3–0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague. The Spanish goalkeeper was briefly tested late on when Slavia were awarded a penalty, prompting him to sprint to the touchline to consult goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña — a routine the pair began at Brentford. The spot kick was eventually overturned by VAR, preserving Raya’s flawless record in Europe this season. Arsenal have now gone 12 hours and 56 minutes without conceding, equalling a club record that has stood since 1903. Raya has…

Chelsea’s hierarchy remain fully behind Enzo Maresca’s rotation approach despite the 2–2 draw against Qarabag in the Champions League. The Italian made seven changes to his lineup in Baku, a decision that drew scrutiny after the result. However, club officials view Maresca’s squad management as part of a long-term plan to sustain performance levels across four competitions. Sources close to the club say there is no sense Maresca “gambled” with his selection — rather, he followed a carefully planned rotation strategy aimed at keeping players fit through a congested campaign. Chelsea’s squad depth has been stretched by injuries to Pedro…

The city of Charlotte has approved a $650 million public investment to support an $800 million renovation of the Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers and Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC. The investment ensures the Panthers’ long-term commitment to Charlotte, backed by a 20-year non-relocation clause. It also modernizes the stadium, improving fan amenities, infrastructure, and business opportunities for the surrounding area. The planned upgrades will enhance the overall game-day experience. Fans can expect improved seating, modern concessions, advanced technology integration, and upgraded accessibility features. The renovation aims to make the stadium a premier venue for both…