Fulham manager Martin Jol has declared that the club would be silly to sell Brede Hangeland in the January transfer window.
The 31-year-old, who has been a key figure for the Cottagers since joining from FC Copenhagen in 2008, has yet to agree a new deal despite his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Despite talks to tie the Norwegian down stalling, Jol believes Fulham should not consider cashing in this month.
For us he s a tower of strength, the Dutchman told the Fulham Chronicle.
It would be silly to sell him now.
The former Ajax boss also hinted at the west London club potentially securing some surprise signings in the coming days.
We would like to strengthen the squad because we lack a few players, he continued.
Sepp Blatter was sorry for damage caused to FIFA by the eight-year football bans handed to himself and Michel Platini but continued to vehemently protest his innocence at a Monday media conference.
Less than two hours after a statement confirmed the adjudicatory chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee s punishments relating to a FIFA payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million), authorised by Blatter to UEFA president Platini in February 2011, the 79-year-old outgoing FIFA chief gave an impassioned and often erratic briefing in Zurich.
He stood by the legitimacy of a gentleman s agreement with Platini established in 1998 – rejected by the adjudicatory chamber and outlined his intentions to take an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while questioni…
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has voiced his desire to win a fifth European Golden Shoe, and the Portugal international will not be stopping there.
Ronaldo became the first player in history to win the prestigious individual trophy for a fourth time by netting 48 goals in La Liga last season, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.
He previously won the award while at Manchester United in 2007-08 and at Madrid in 2010-11 and 2013-14.
The 30-year-old received the prize during a ceremony at the Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid on Tuesday and he is determined to win even more silverware in the future.
This is another great moment in my career. Receiving the fourth Golden Shoe is a great honour and a privilege, Ronaldo said after receivi…
Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in signing Mario Lemina from Southampton, according to .
Lemina struggled with injuries since joining the Saints back in 2017 from Juventus for £18 million, and now he s told manager Ralph Hasenhuttl that he wants to leave the club. As a consequence, he has been left out of the squad for the pre-season training camp in Austria, with Southampton willing to grant him his wish and cash in.
The Saints are looking to get the same amount of money that they paid for him, but no suitor has met their demands as of yet. United need midfielders with Ander Herrera gone to Paris Saint-Germain and the future of Paul Pogba at Old Trafford in considerable doubt, while Arsenal are still on the lookout for a suitable replacement for Aaron Ram…
Liverpool passed time between Champions League semi-final assignments with a 0-0 draw against Stoke City that nudged their opponents closer to relegation from the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah spurned a glorious early chance to net his 44th goal of the season and Danny Ings saw a goal ruled out for offside before half-time.
Nevertheless, for all Jurgen Klopp s pre-match insistence upon the importance of their weekend engagement, it was a fitful showing from Liverpool, who will look to press home a 5-2 advantage over Roma in the Italian capital on Wednesday.
Stoke boss Paul Lambert continued his proud record of having never lost at Anfield in six visits and the well-drilled away team never looked likely to endure the sort of ordeal on the road that has seen them c…
Pep Guardiola or Roberto De Zerbi would struggle to succeed with Italy s women s team, given the country s embarrassing attitude towards the women s game.
That is the view of former Azzurre coach Carolina Morace, who has called for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to enact a serious project after their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Italy slumped to an early exit in Australia and New Zealand, finishing third in Group G following a dramatic loss to South Africa in their third match, with the Banyana Banyana advancing in second.
While Italy have long been a powerhouse in the men s game, winning four World Cups and two European Championships, the women s team have never clinched a major title.
They are yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals of a…
While Europe s top-tiers might be halting due to the international break, we have a stacked midweek schedule from England s lower leagues. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a Tuesday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Tuesday 23rd March
BST 19:00 Colchester United vs Tranmere Rovers
Starting with Tuesday s guests, while Tranmere might have watched Sunderland lift the EFL Trophy at Wembley earlier in the month, The Rovers have bounced back in an impressive fashion. With their sights still firmly set on securing an immediate League One return this year, Keith Hill s side were last seen over the weekend when putting on an eye-catching display. Picking up a 2-1 win against fellow top-seven contende…
Eddie Howe has told his Newcastle players they have to believe they can top their Champions League group after being pitched into battle with three of Europe’s giants.
The Magpies, who will play in the competition for the first time in 20 years this season, will face French champions Paris St Germain, seven-times winners AC Milan and 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund as they attempt to reach the last 16.
Nevertheless, TV pundit Owen Hargreaves, a Champions League winner with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United, insisted after the draw the Magpies could emerge from Group F as winners “if they get it right”.
Bring it on.
Eddie Howe on the group stage draw.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
Howe said: “You have to believe that,…
Fulham manager Marco Silva claims it should have been “impossible” to allow Manchester City’s controversial second goal to stand in his side’s 5-1 loss to the champions.
The Cottagers had been holding their own against the treble winners at the Etihad Stadium when City went 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time with a Nathan Ake header.
Fulham argued long and hard that City defender Manuel Akanji, stood in an offside position, had played at the ball and impacted goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Despite a VAR review and further lengthy protests, the goal was given and City went on to win comfortably with a second-half hat-trick from the prolific Erling Haaland.
Silva said: “The second half was not at the level that it should be. I tried to tell the players …
Lyon have claimed Bafetimbi Gomis inability to negotiate a move away has forced them to sell promising forward Anthony Martial to Monaco.
Gomis is considered surplus to requirements at the Stade de Gerland but rejected moves to both Swansea and Cardiff after fees had been agreed with Lyon.
And the Ligue 1 club have now accused the 27-year-old of creating a situation whereby the sale of the highly rated Martial became a necessity.
Having not been able to complete the move of any player approached for a transfer by June 30, notably Bafetimbi Gomis, the club considered Monaco s offer for Anthony Martial, a statement read.
The club completed Anthony Martial s move for five million euros plus an important share on a future transfer.
Gomis joined Lyon from Troye…