City linked to Willy Caballero

Spanish daily Marca understands that Manchester City are weighing up a January bid for Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

The Citizens boss Manuel Pellegrini obviously knows the player well from his time at La Rosaleda and he will attempt to lure him to Etihad.

Pellegrini wanted to take Caballero with him this summer, but the Argentine snubbed the move as he didn t want to play second fiddle to Joe Hart.

However, with the England number one no longer an automatic choice, the Malaga goalkeeper might be interested in a switch to Manchester.

Willy Caballero joined los Boquerones from Elche in January 2011 and has since largely impressed at La Rosaleda.

The 32-year-old made a total of 87 La Liga appearances, while also featuring in 11 Champions Leagu…

Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football

Departing Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been described as a scourge on Spanish football by rivals Barcelona s vice-president.

Carles Vilarrubi launched a scathing attack on the Portuguese after Madrid president Florentino Perez announced on Monday that he would be leaving by mutual consent, despite having three years left on his contract. I said this three years ago through other means and now that he is no longer coach I can repeat what I thought then, that Mourinho would be a scourge on Spanish football. Now he no longer is, Vilarrubi declared on Radio Catalunya.Mourinho worked at Barcelona under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal but after he left in 2000 his relationship with the club became strained, and his behaviour in clashes against them for Inter and Real Madrid did …

Ibrahimovic praises Pogba after World Cup final display

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was full of praise for Paul Pogba s performance for France in Sunday s World Cup final.

Midfielder Pogba scored a fine second-half goal as Les Bleus defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow to clinch their second title.

And after a season in which Pogba s displays for Manchester United were often scrutinised, Ibrahimovic was quick to highlight his former Old Trafford team-mate s display.

Let them talk, but the game speaks for itself, Ibrahimovic posted on Twitter, tagging Pogba alongside a picture of him holding the World Cup trophy.

Let them talk but the game speaks for itself

— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official)

Pogba and Ibrahimovic were both signed by United boss Jose Mourinho prior to the 2016-17 season, though…

8th February: Saturday’s Football Accumulator – 7/1

Starting with Saturday s guests, putting in what was another dominant display and picking up a 2-0 win over Sunderland last weekend, Portsmouth have continued on what has been a stellar purple patch. Reclaiming their spot in the play-offs and the mood around Fratton Park at a season-high, the South Coast outfit find themselves in the midst of an eight-match winning run across all competitions, a run that stems back to a 1-1 draw with Gillingham on New Year s Day. Now sat within touching distance of the automatic spots, Kenny Jackett s men also have a growing reputation for their form in the final third. Bagging at least a pair of goals in seven of their last eight victories, the one-time Millwall boss will be most impressed by his side s continued showings on the road. Portsmouth have w…

The importance of home ground

Looking at this weekend s results a score stood out for me. Its not the fact that Liverpool or Chelsea were beaten or the fact that Manchester United went to the top of the league. It was Stokes 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Britannia Stadium.

Fortress Britannia

It wasn t even the fact that Stoke beat West Ham. The result just illustrated how important home games are to clubs like Stoke. Since their promotion to the English top flight the Britannia Stadium has become a fortress that even the top teams hate to visit.

Their fans have provided such a intimidating atmosphere at the ground that opponents find it hard to cope. Stoke are with respect not the greatest team in the league but somehow at the Britannia they are suddenly helped by their twelfth man. And w…

Premier League predictions – Blackburn to feel Fergie’s wrath?

Arsenal v Tottenham

The North London derby has been pretty easy to predict in recent years as Arsenal have generally been good and Tottenham generally haven’t. This season it isn’t so easy as both teams are looking good and occupy third and fourth place in the table.

Arsenal are playing their usual great stuff and a couple of weeks ago they won comfortably over Birmingham despite reaching their normal standards. Last week they threw away a lead at West Ham and they won’t want to repeat that. Tottenham are also playing great stuff but they inexplicably dropped three points last week at home to Stoke. What better way to bounce back for them than to win at Arsenal?

I think Arsenal will have just too much for Harry’s men.

SoccerNews predi…

Brazil 3-0 Argentina: Messi’s men outclassed in convincing home win

Neymar scored a milestone goal as Brazil piled the pressure on Argentina in World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 win on Thursday.

The Barcelona star netted his 50th international goal, to go with efforts from Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho, in the comfortable win.

The result heaps the pressure on Argentina, whose winless run in qualifying extended to four matches.

Edgardo Bauza s men rarely threatened despite the return of Lionel Messi, who was well contained by Tite s Brazil.

It means under Tite, Brazil – who are top of CONMEBOL qualifying – have won five out of five.

Coutinho struck with a stunner and Neymar scored just before the break to have Brazil in control, with Paulinho putting the Superclasico to bed just prior to the hour-mark.

Paredes ends Watford exile with Olympiacos switch

Olympiacos have completed the signing of Juan Carlos Paredes from Watford.

The 29-year-old has joined the Greek champions on loan until the end of the season, with the option of making the move permanent in the next transfer window.

Watford wing-back Juan Carlos Paredes has secured a loan move to Olympiacos until the end of the 2016-17 season, the Premier League club said in a statement.

The Greek Superleague champions also have the option on a permanent deal for the Ecuador international in the summer.

Olympiacos signs Paredes:

— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacos_org)

The Ecuador international made 20 appearances in 2015-16 but has featured only once under Walter Mazzarri this season, in a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Gillingham on Augus…

´We need commitment from everyone´ – England boss Southgate issues rallying cry

Gareth Southgate insists England need commitment from everyone ahead of their crucial Nations League Group A3 clash with Italy.

The Three Lions are on the brink of relegation from League A, having collected just two points from their opening four games, suffering a humbling 4-0 defeat to Hungary last time out.

England would drop into League B if they fail to win at San Siro, where Southgate says it will be a great honour for his squad to play as they look to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.

This is a very important tournament, and we have already faced two very strong teams, he said.  We have already played against Italy, we know how formidable the players are.

We need to improve after the latest results and in view of the World Cup, doing it …

Football rumours: Arsenal preparing £90million swoop for West Ham’s Declan Rice

What the papers say

Arsenal are about to open talks with West Ham over a £90million swoop for their captain Declan Rice, the Daily Mail says. The 24-year-old England midfielder is the Gunners’ priority and they are ready to break their transfer record for him.

The Telegraph reports that Wolves will demand £45 million for Barcelona target Ruben Neves. The Spanish giants have long been admirers of the 26-year-old and are now preparing to make a move but will have to pay a significant fee to end the Portugal midfielder’s six-year spell at Molineux.

Elsewhere, Newcastle are keen on Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his midfield this summer, the Mail writes. The 23-year-old England international is expected to be part of an extensive Stamford B…