Pep Guardiola has hinted there is a deep-lying role at Manchester City waiting for Phil Foden once he is ready to step back from terrorising defences as a forward.
At the age of 20, Foden is building on the raw potential that was obvious to Guardiola from the outset of his reign as manager.
The City boss was quick to usher Foden into his first-team squad, and at the age of 16 the Stockport-born player was selected as a substitute for a Champions League clash with Celtic in December 2016.
He saw no action that day but has gradually become an influential player, assuming greater responsibility this season following the departure of David Silva.
On Wednesday, Foden may be asked to wreak havoc against Marseille as City attempt to secure a fifth win from six …
Southampton have signed striker Che Adams from Birmingham City and allowed Matt Targett to join Aston Villa.
Adams has agreed to a five-year deal following a fine season for Championship side Birmingham, in which he registered 22 goals and six assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.
Saints claim to have beaten a number of Premier League suitors to the 22-year-old s signature.
Che fits the profile of player we want to bring to Southampton and is very driven to show what he can do at the highest level, said boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
We have been monitoring his progress for some time now. He has shown a desire to join us above all other clubs, which shows the positive reputation Southampton has built for developing young players.
The Ralph Exp…
There is no chance David de Gea will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, according to Jose Mourinho.
Spain international De Gea has developed into arguably the world s best goalkeeper since joining United from Atletico Madrid in 2011.
After enduring a rocky start to life at the club, he has become a key player for United and, as such, has consistently been linked with moves away.
Real Madrid have been mentioned as suitors particularly regularly and he came close to joining them in August 2015, before the deal fell through late on transfer deadline day.
Zinedine Zidane s side continue to be linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but Mourinho is not worried about him leaving.
When asked if there was any possibility of De Gea not bein…
Tottenham star Son Heung-min would be open to a future move to Serie A side Napoli, according to his agent Thies Bliemeister.
Son has established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League and Europe since joining Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.
The South Korea international has scored 70 goals for Spurs, while he played a key role in the club s memorable run to last season s Champions League final.
However, a new adventure in Italy could interest the 27-year-old, who has netted three goals in all competitions this term.
ICYMI: Sonny is up for the Player of the Month award for September!
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
I ve never brought a player to Napoli, but I d like to because [Diego] Maradona, my…
Etrit Berisha has described Lorik Cana as a pillar of the national team as Albania prepare to welcome their captain back for a crucial match against Romania at Euro 2016.
Albania, playing in their first major tournament, have performed valiantly without reward in France, losing narrowly to Switzerland and the hosts in Group A.
They may still be able to progress to the round of 16 as one of the best four third-placed teams, but must beat Romania and hope other results go their way to squeeze through.
And the return of skipper Cana, suspended for the loss to Les Bleus in Marseille after being sent off in the opening game, will come as a major boost.
Lorik Cana is the pillar of the national team, Berisha said.
And it s great that Lorik will be in t…
Brazil great Ronaldinho believes countryman Neymar is already on the same level as Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, Neymar forms one of the world s best attacks at Barca.
Neymar, 25, has already won two LaLiga titles and a Champions League, among other trophies, at the European giants.
Ronaldinho, a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, feels Neymar belongs alongside Messi and Ronaldo, generally considered the best players on the planet.
Neymar is a close friend and he is Brazil s greatest idol today, he said in Dubai on Wednesday, via the Gulf News.
He s already at the same level as Ronaldo and Messi and we truly hope that one day he can get the Ballon d Or and continue…
Bongani Zungu s second-half header earned South Africa a 1-0 win against Namibia that boosts their hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations last 16.
Bafana Bafana were frustrated by Namibia for large periods at Al Salam Stadium on Friday but finally found a way through in the 68th minute.
Zungu nodded in a corner to ensure South Africa join Ivory Coast on three points after two games, though Morocco remain in control of Group D after claiming successive victories.
A low-quality first half was summed up by Petrus Shitembi dragging a poor shot wide of the target following a promising Namibia attack, while at the other end Hlompho Kekana was off the mark with an ambitious long-range effort.
FULL TIME | South Africa Namibia 1-0
— CAF (@C…
Sergio Aguero registered his 13th hat-trick for Manchester City as the reigning Premier League champions showed they were not missing Kevin De Bruyne in a 6-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town.
Aguero got City s first, third and fifth goals, while Gabriel Jesus and David Silva, on his 250th Premier League appearance, also beat Huddersfield goalkeeper Ben Hamer.
Terence Kongolo s own goal capped a convincing City victory which was only slightly spoiled by Jon Stankovic s effort for the visitors just before half-time.
It was a reminder from City and Aguero that they can cope without Belgian playmaker De Bruyne, who suffered a knee injury earlier this week that could rule him out for up to three months.
The last time City beat Huddersfield at home in the lea…
UEFA confirmed it received three preliminary bid dossiers to host Euro 2028 and 2032 before Wednesday s deadline.
A joint bid from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland was submitted for the 2028 tournament, while Turkey also threw its hat in the ring having never hosted a major tournament.
Football associations from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland put forward a proposal and promised to organise an unrivalled tournament.
The bid from the English FA comes after much criticism over its handling of fan disorder at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, with an independent review describing it as a day of national shame .
Turkey also bid for the 2032 edition, as well as Italy, which has not been chosen as a sole ho…
David Moyes wants West Ham to finish the job off and top their Europa League group.
Tomas Soucek struck late on yet again as the Hammers secured their passage into the knock-out stages with a 1-0 win against Backa Topola in Serbia.
Now they need to avoid defeat to Freiburg at the London Stadium in a fortnight to ensure they top Group A and avoid a two-legged play-off in February.
Tornado Tom
— West Ham United (@WestHam)
“We’re thrilled at West Ham that we’re going to play in Europe after Christmas time for the third season,” Hammers boss Moyes said at his post-match press conference.
“Even playing Freiburg in the last game to win the group is hugely important. But I’d have taken this at the start of the season, if you’d s…