Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed Martin Odegaard was desperate to join him at the Emirates – before opting to sign for Real Madrid. Wenger told Norway’s TV2: “It was difficult, I spoke to him when he was 15 years old. Then I can tell you, after the Christmas game, I came in again. I did everything to get him here. He is now at Arsenal, I am happy for that. “He looked to me like a young Cesc Fabregas. For me, he is a complete player. He is…

According to an exclusive report by Spanish journalist Josep Pedrerol, Erling Haaland has turned down Manchester City’s latest contract extension offer in order to retain the release clause in his current deal. Haaland’s current contract with City expires in 2027, and the Premier League champions were reportedly keen on extending his stay. However, Pedrerol claims that the Norwegian striker has rejected the extension to preserve the release clause in his contract. According to previous reports by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Haaland’s current contract includes a 200 million release clause that…

Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa has seen Liverpool temporarily ascend to the top of the Premier League standings after 16 rounds of fixtures. As many as six teams have occupied the summit so far this season, with Manchester City holding onto the lead for the longest period with seven matchdays. The full breakdown of teams who have led the Premier League this season: Matchday 1: Newcastle United Matchday 2: Brighton & Hove Albion Matchday 3-7: Manchester City Matchday 8-10: Tottenham Hotspur Matchday 11-12: Manchester City Matchday 13-15: Arsenal Matchday 16:…

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona and young sensation Yamal have begun negotiations for a long-term contract that would extend the player’s stay at the club until 2030, upon the player’s 18th birthday in 2025. The 16-year-old has recently impressed, and Barcelona are eager to secure his future with a long-term deal. Barcelona president Joan Laporta enjoys a strong relationship with Yamal’s agent, Jorge Mendes, which has facilitated the club’s calm approach to the situation. While regulations currently only allow Barcelona to extend Yamal’s contract by three years, taking…

Bayern Munich’s pursuit of Xabi Alonso as their next manager could prove to be a pivotal moment in the Bundesliga. The Bavarian giants have a history of raiding their domestic rivals, but poaching a coach from Bayer Leverkusen would be on another level. And all the signs point towards Alonso’s departure from Leverkusen at the end of the season. The team he has nurtured and meticulously fine-tuned, after one of their greatest ever campaigns, looks destined to break up, with monied suitors from all over Europe circling the Bundesliga champions…

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal have reportedly made a 50 million offer to Chelsea for striker Romelu Lukaku, according to Sky Sports. The bid puts Juventus out of the running for the Belgian international, as they lack the financial resources to compete with Al-Hilal’s offer. Lukaku had previously rejected a two-year, 50 million contract offer from Al-Hilal, so the player’s willingness to move to Saudi Arabia remains uncertain. Inter Milan have also reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign Lukaku, leaving his next destination unclear.

According to reports from Italian publication La Repubblica, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has returned to a management role at AC Milan, has been in constant contact with Italian national team coach Antonio Conte, expressing his desire for Conte to take charge of the Rossoneri starting next season. However, Conte has put forward several demands. Since leaving Tottenham in March of last year, Conte has been without a job for over a year. He is now keen on returning to coach in Serie A. Ibrahimovic’s return to Milan’s management could present a…

Japan’s goalkeeper, Ayano Suzuki, has apologized to the nation after making costly errors in yesterday’s 1-2 Asian Cup group stage defeat to Iraq. “The ball was coming at me quickly, and my body reacted instinctively, but the rebound fell to the opposition player. I didn’t have time to think about where to clear it, so I reacted as best I could,” Suzuki said of her mistakes. “We knew this would be a tough game, and Iraq played at a very high level, deserving their victory. Our aim was to win,…

Chelsea’s injury woes continued in their Premier League clash with Manchester City on Thursday as Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were both forced off in the first half. Sterling departed after just 21 minutes, while Pulisic followed shortly after. According to reports, Chelsea’s injury list now stands at eight players: Sterling, Pulisic, Reece James, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja, and Edouard Mendy.

Brazilian forward Alan’s wife, Thuanny Carvalho, shared a video on social media of her experience attending the Qingdao derby on Sunday. In the Chinese Super League’s third round, Qingdao West Coast defeated Qingdao Hainiu 1-0, claiming their first win in the league’s history. Naturalized player Alan started the match and played the full 90 minutes, having featured in all three league fixtures this season. Following the game, Alan took to the field with his wife and child to thank the fans. Thuanny Carvalho posted a video of the occasion on…