Dries Mertens insists he never considered leaving Napoli prior to signing a new deal, despite suggesting there was interest from Barcelona and Chelsea.
The Belgium international enjoyed an outstanding season in Serie A, scoring 28 goals in the league, and renewed his contract with the club last week.
Mertens has now revealed that a number of clubs were chasing his signature, but the 30-year-old is adamant that there was never any doubt about where his future lay.
Discussions on my contract were always going to happen, there was no real pressure, he told the media on international duty.
The Premier League is the best competition for me, but I am happy at Napoli.
My past, my present and my future!
— Dries Mertens (@dries_mertens14)
Premier League giants Liverpool have joined the race for Borussia M gladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka, .
The Reds are not exactly spolit for options in the middle of the park and manager Jurgen Klopp plans to address the issue in the summer transfer window.
Sport Bild has learned that the German coach is a big fan of Granit Xhaka, who has become one of Bundesliga s hottest commodities.
Klopp reportedly already met with the player s representative Andy Gross and chances are he will step up his interest in the summer.
Considering that a €30 million release clause will become active in the summer of 2017, Borussia may be ready to negotiate the sale at the end of the season.
After defeating Stoke on penalties to reach the Capital One Cup final, Live…
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman insists his players are not worried by the club s financial situation amid concerns around spiralling debts.
Barca s latest financial figures, dated August 17 but only released this month after their previous AGM was postponed, indicate their total debt has now exceeded €1.1billion.
Their short-term debt has risen to €730m, having increased by €225m since the 2018-19 season largely due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic: specifically, the lack of matchday revenue as games continue to be played behind closed doors, and the reduction in tourists visiting the Camp Nou facilities.
Although Barca top the 2021 Deloitte Football Money League with total revenues of €715.1m, the stark numbers released by the club paint a c…
Ricardo Gareca gave nothing away over his future plans as captain Paolo Guerrero urged the popular Peru boss to remain in charge after the World Cup.
Already eliminated following back-to-back losses to France and Denmark, Peru will conclude their campaign with a Group C fixture against Australia in Sochi on Tuesday.
As Peru try to end the World Cup on a high, there is uncertainty over Gareca s future amid links with Argentina – the place of his birth – with pressure mounting on Jorge Sampaoli.
Asked about what will happen following the match in Sochi, Gareca, who was appointed in 2015, told reporters: Once this World Cup is over, yes I ll have to make a decision.
The whole country wants an answer. The national team wants an answer. I have …
Luis Enrique wants the home crowd to be the difference for Spain against Sweden in their final qualifier for the 2022 World Cup on Sunday.
La Roja moved top of Group B after beating Greece 1-0 on Thursday, taking advantage of Sweden s shock 2-0 defeat in Georgia.
A first-half penalty from Pablo Sarabia was enough to secure victory for Spain in Athens and meant they now have their fate in their own hands, needing just a point to secure qualification for Qatar 2022.
Speaking before the crucial game in Seville, Luis Enrique said: It is very important to focus on the difficulties we can expect, which will be many. They defend very well. I hope that [the fans] will help us in the delicate moments.
This will not be a party until the game is over. …
Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw
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West Ham United and Leicester City will face each other in the Premier League this coming weekend. The match at London Stadium is slated to kick off at 2:05pm on Sunday and promises to be a cracking game of football.
West Ham United
West Ham United are having a wonderful season and are in the running for the Champions League places in the Premier League table. David Moyes’s side are fourth in the standings at the moment with 52 points from 30 games, a point ahead of London rivals and fourth-placed Chelsea and eight points behind second-placed Manchester United.
The Hammers will head into the match against Leicester on the back of a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers away from …
Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal not to become too emotional ahead of their showdown with Everton on the final day of the Premier League season.
The title race is going right down to the wire with the second-place Gunners, who are two points behind leaders Manchester City but boast a superior goal difference, needing a victory, while hoping Pep Guardiola s side fail to beat West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal had hoped for a helping hand from rivals Tottenham when they welcomed City on Tuesday, but Erling Haaland s brace put the Citizens on the brink of a record-breaking fourth straight Premier League crown.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta s side are still in with a chance of claiming their first title in 20 years, and Odegaard insists he and his team-mates are f…
Arsenal are reportedly the leading candidate to land Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after an injury to Gabriel Jesus exposed their lack of depth in attack.
Vlahovic, 22, was purchased from Fiorentina for €70million in January this year, and started the current Serie A campaign in fine form, with six goals and an assist from his first 10 starts.
He missed Juventus final four league games leading into the World Cup break due to an adductor injury, and failed to make much of an impact for Serbia in Qatar, scoring one goal from a combined 79 minutes on the field.
While he still has another three seasons on his contract, Juventus behind-the-scenes turmoil could make the young talent available as the club sort out their financial issues.
Full bars in Dubai
Frank Lampard hopes to end England s long wait for a Wembley victory over Germany when the teams meet on Tuesday.
Roy Hodgson s side won their last non-competitive match with Germany, in November 2008, but have not tasted home success against their rivals since 1975 a record Lampard is keen to set straight.
The countries meet for the first time since their clash in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup a game Germany won 4-1 and Lampard is aware England will need to raise their game after Friday s 2-0 defeat to Chile in order to compete with Joachim Low s side.
You don t play friendlies against Germany, the 35-year-old said. They were very strong then (2010) and created a good impression at the World Cup.
But the emergence of Bayern Munich as a club team, a…
Gareth Southgate says he has never seen a player treated like Harry Maguire as the furious England manager labelled the unrelenting criticism of him “ridiculous” and “a joke”.
Little more than two years on from being named in the European Championship team of the tournament, the 30-year-old is now the butt of jokes to many.
Maguire’s struggle for form and game-time at Manchester United have increased the spotlight on a player that has remained an integral part of Southgate’s England squad.
The centre-back made his first start of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 Euro 2024 qualifying draw against Ukraine and was mocked mercilessly when brought on at half-time against Scotland three days later.
Maguire went on to score an unfortunate own goal but e…