Inter Milan’s Benjamin Pavard faces spell out after suffering dislocated kneecap

German boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly close to joining Liverpool

According to reports from various sources, including , Liverpool is hoping to agree a deal in the next 48 hours with highly-rated German Jurgen Klopp to become the Reds next boss.

The former-Dortmund boss was the frontrunner to be Brendan Rodgers’ replacement even before the Northern Irishman was sacked on Sunday.

The 48-year-old seems like a man that fits the bill well, having helped BVB in a similar situation in his last job.

Charismatic

Klopp is a guy with a big personality and that is what Liverpool need right now. Former-boss Rodgers liked to talk, but often talked too much in the media for Reds fans liking.

When Klopp talks people listen and he talks a lot of sense …

Napoli have dismissed claims that relations with star striker Victor Osimhen have turned “frosty” after contract talks broke down without resolution.

Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis had revealed discussions over an extension to the 24-year-old Nigeria international’s current deal, which runs until the summer of 2025, had reached a standstill, prompting suggestions of a breakdown in the relationship between club and player.

Osimhen, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all touted as potential suitors, has found himself in the headlines in recent weeks after a video posted on the club’s official TikTok account appeared to mock him, while he was also involved in a public spat with manager Rudi Garcia, for whi…

Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell has outlined his desire to win the big trophies with the West London club, but only if they can show the consistency required to keep up with Manchester City and Liverpool.

The former Leicester man missed the majority of last season after suffering a knee ligament injury in the 4-0 thrashing of Juventus in the Champions League in October 2021.

He only featured in 13 games in the 2021/22 campaign, with Spaniard Marcos Alonso filling in as his deputy as Chelsea failed to win the Premier League, Champions League or either of the domestic cups.

But Chilwell has now turned his attentions to next season, and believes that lifting silverware is well within Chelsea s reach.

Chilwell told the Athletic: This is Chelsea, we want to …

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone is expecting a tough test against Barcelona on Saturday, even if he believes rivals Real Madrid are the better side.

Barca lead LaLiga by five points after just seven games, with champions Madrid trailing Atleti in fifth place.

But Simeone, while praising Barca s work in adapting to the loss of Neymar, still sees Zinedine Zidane s men as the best team in the world.

Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world, but Real Madrid are better now, he told a pre-match news conference.

[Barca] have reinvented themselves after the departure of Neymar. They do not stop wanting to win. They have a winning gene. They do not get tired.

 SQUAD LIST | Check out who called up for .

— Atlético de Madrid…

Amid increasing speculation over the future of Sergio Ramos, former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has claimed the defender wants to leave the club for Manchester United.

Spain international Ramos is a reported target for United boss Louis van Gaal, as rumours continue to link goalkeeper David de Gea with a move in the opposite direction to join Real.

And Calderon, president of Real between 2006 and 2009, says Ramos is keen on a switch to Old Trafford.

Calderon told BBC Sport: I know Sergio has told the general manager to listen to offers they get from Manchester United.

He only wants to go to United.

Reports have suggested Ramos is seeking to capitalise on the uncertainty over his future by securing an improved contract at Real.

…

Peter Luccin was thrilled with FC Dallas comeback against the Portland Timbers, but still sees plenty of ways they can improve.

Dallas came out on top from a topsy-turvy match in midweek, winning 3-2.

It saw Dallas bounce back from successive defeats, and they sit 11th in the Western Conference ahead of Sunday s clash with Sporting Kansas City, who are six points behind in 13th.

Asked what he liked about his team s performance against the Timbers, Dallas interim boss Luccin said: Resilience, resilience from the team. That was huge.

After the first half, we were very passive with nothing offensively. The only thing about the first half that I liked was the compactness of the team. We were compact, but no one making runs, no one even putting more pressure …

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has confirmed former England striker Carlton Cole is set to train with the Scottish Premiership side with a view to him signing a deal.

The Norwegian boss stressed the 31-year-old free agent was not on trial, but instead getting a feel for the club ahead of a potential move.

Cole spent the last nine seasons with West Ham  eight of which were at Premier League level and played 23 times in the top flight last season.

We will have talks with him and see him in training as well this week, said Deila. We will see if it is something that will happen or not. 

It is not [a trial]. He has been in London his whole life, so he has to see what he is coming to and then we will see if it is something that he likes and we like as well. <…

Goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos helped Paris Saint-Germain secure a much-needed 2-0 victory against Nice in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Messi struck 26 minutes in at Allianz Riviera, before he supplied the cross from a corner for Ramos second-half header.

Victory was a first in three games for Christophe Galtier s side after back-to-back defeats, although they were indebted to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as much as Messi.

Nice peppered the PSG goal either side of half-time, only to come away empty-handed against their former coach, suffering their first defeat under Didier Digard.

LEO

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

PSG had started the brighter, knowing a victory was required to restore a six-point cushion to second-placed …

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has no doubt that Xavi has the potential to take the top job at Camp Nou in the future.

Xavi confirmed on Thursday he will retire from playing at the end of the season and move into coaching, having left Barca at the end of the treble-winning 2014-15 campaign to join Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League.

One of the most decorated players in football history, Xavi won 19 major honours during a 17-year stay with Barca, including eight LaLiga crowns and a remarkable four Champions League titles.

And Valverde, who looks well placed to guide the club to the treble in only his second season in charge, paid tribute to the retiring great in a media conference on Friday.

 Ernesto Valverde: Xavi is one of the best players in the …

Real Madrid cruised into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Braga.

After overcoming an early scare when Alvaro Djalo missed a penalty for the visitors, the 14-time European champions took the lead through Brahim Diaz in the 27th minute and then seized control early in the second half as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo added to the score line.

A fourth win out of four in Group C, and ninth straight game at home without defeat in the Champions League, saw Real book their place in the last-16 with two games to spare.

With the hosts needing only a point to be sure of progression, Carlo Ancelotti took the opportunity to rest a number of regulars.

Jude Bellingham was on the bench after suffering a blow to the shoulder at the weekend, wh…