Golden Soccer 360

Luka Modric remains determined to push through a move to Inter Milan, according to Sky in Italy. The player reiterated his desire to join the Nerazzurri again on Friday but Real Madrid president Florentino Perez remains determined to keep him. Sky in Italy report that Real are trying to arrange a personal meeting with Modric, who continues to train with the team ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final against Atletico Madrid next Wednesday. Inter Milan are themselves due in Madrid on Friday, however, ahead of an exhibition match against Atletico in the International Champions Cup on Saturday. According to Sky in Italy, Modric's agents also remain in Madrid as uncertainty over their client's future continues. Real Madrid are thought to be laying the groundwork for a potential replacement; Sky Germany reported today that they are showing interest in Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara. And reports in Spain earlier this week claimed Tottenham's Chri...

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery admits Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is the better coach, but is looking forward to locking horns with his former foe at the Emirates on Sunday. Emery takes charge of his first competitive game as Arsenal boss with Guardiola in the opposing dug out - a coach the former Valencia and Sevilla head coach has failed to beat on 10 occasions. The new Arsenal boss admits Guardiola has shone more both as a player and manager, but has welcomed the challenge posed by his counterpart ahead of Sunday afternoon's showdown, live on  Sky Sports. "I am 46, he is 47 and he started his career as a player, bigger than me," said Emery. "His career as a coach is also bigger than mine. "We started our careers as coaches at maybe the same kind of time and his career, statistically, is better than me also but I like more playing against him because it demands more from the preparation, to try to win against his teams. "When we we...

Everton had a Deadline Day to remember after pulling off the triple capture of Bernard, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes. The Toffees secured the signings of Barcelona duo Mina and Gomes, before tying up the loose ends to bring in Brazil international Bernard from Shakhtar Donetsk. Gomes arrived on a season-long loan deal from the Spanish giants, while Mina agreed a permanent deal worth £27.2m (€30.25m) rising to £28.5m (€31.75m). Mina has signed a five-year deal at Everton, while Barca have inserted a buy-back option for the Colombian international, who caught the eye after a series of impressive performances at the Russia World Cup. "It is important that the Club want to fight for something," Mina told EvertonTV. "This is why I am here. "I have watched the Premier League for a long time. It is the best league in the world. This is a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to competing here. "I know about Everton's players and I look forward...

Liverpool striker Danny Ings has joined Southampton on loan ahead of permanent move to St Mary’s next summer. Sky sources understand Ings has initially joined the Saints on a season-long loan with his permanent deal due to start on July 1, 2019. It is believed Ings has agreed to a four-year deal with Southampton, which will commence once his loan spell ends. Sky sources understand a fee of £20m has been agreed between the two clubs, £18m of which is guaranteed with a further £2m based on appearances. "When this football club came up, I had to take the opportunity to come home. It's a fantastic football club who play great football and I'm just happy here," Ings told the club's TV channel . "You can tell that as a club it's very, very organised. From the start, everyone I've met has been fantastic with me and shown me every single detail I need to know. The facilities are great and I can't wait to get started." Southampton boss ...

Fulham's fifth and final Deadline Day deal saw Marseille midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa join for a fee  Sky Sports News  understands to be £22.3m. The 22-year-old has penned a five-year-deal at Craven Cottage, subject to a work permit being granted. The signing caps off a busy Deadline Day for the Premier League newcomers, having also signed Sergio Rico, Luciano Vietto and Timothy Fosu-Mensah on loan, and Joe Bryan for £6m. "I am delighted to have signed for Fulham today. This is a new chapter in my career and one I'm really looking forward to," Anguissa told the club's website. "I hope to bring my qualities to this new project. I like a challenge and I will ensure that I give my very best to my team, the club, and the supporters." Anguissa is a Cameroon international, representing his country 11 times since making his debut in March 2017. He helped Marseille reach the Europa League final last season, while he also made 37 Ligue 1 a...

Chelsea have broken the world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper by signing Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m on a seven-year deal. The 23-year-old arrives on the eve of Thibaut Courtois' departure from Stamford Bridge, with the Belgian set to be unveiled at Real Madrid on Thursday after he undergoes a medical. Having activated Kepa's release clause earlier on Wednesday, Chelsea's £71.6m deal surpasses the £67m Liverpool spent to bring Alisson Becker to Anfield earlier this summer. Kepa will train with his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday, and will be available for their Premier League opener against Huddersfield on Saturday. "It's a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life," Kepa told Chelsea's club website. "So many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League. It's an accumulation of thin...

Celtic's bid for Champions League football is in grave danger following a 1-1 draw against AEK Athens in the first leg of their third-round qualifier at Parkhead on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers' side came out of the traps with pace and purpose and midfielder Callum McGregor drove in the opening goal in the 17th minute, but that good work was undone two minutes before the break when Victor Klonaridis fired in a breakaway equaliser. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Konstantinos Galanopoulos picked up a second yellow card from Italian referee Luca Banti for tripping James Forrest as he raced towards the AEK penalty area. Celtic dominated possession but could not get the winner against a well-organised Greek side and have a big task ahead of them in the return game in Athens next Tuesday if they are to reach the play-off against either Malmo of Sweden or Hungarian side MOL Vidi. Amid a frenetic start to another big European night in the east end...

Wolves have agreed a £16m fee with Manchester City for Oleksandr Zinchenko,  Sky Sports News  have been told. The transfer will depend on whether the Premier League newcomers can persuade the versatile Ukrainian to leave the reigning Champions. Zinchenko would cost Wolves £16m, and City are prepared to let him leave for that price - but Nuno Espírito Santo has yet to persuade the player to make the move. He played 14 times for Manchester City last season and was impressive as a makeshift left-back when injuries deprived Pep Guardiola of Fabian Delph and Benjamin Mendy. But he is now seen as surplus to requirement and Guardiola will allow him to leave. Wolves are also interested in Belgium international Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht. The midfielder is travelling to England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical. They are also still keen on signing Sam Clucas from Swansea before tomorrow's deadline. via Sky Sports

Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to Sky sources. It is understood the 23-year-old - a Spain international with one cap - would cost the Blues £71.6m, which would be a world-record fee for a 'keeper. Reports in Spain on Tuesday evening have gone as far as to say that Chelsea's intentions are to fly the player to London on Wednesday and have him train on Thursday, with the hope he could make his debut in their season-opener against Huddersfield on Saturday. Earlier on Tuesday,  Sky Sports News  reported that Kepa had emerged as a new target for the Blues as they look to find a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who has told the club he wants to leave and join Real Madrid. Chelsea also have Diego Rico and Stoke's Jack Butland on their list - but Kepa has become their top priority over the course of the day. Butland remains an attractive deal because its much lower cost - around £30m - while sources have t...

Real Madrid have offered to loan Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea in order to persuade them to sell Thibaut Courtois, according to Sky sources. Kovacic has struggled to secure a regular first-team place at Madrid since joining from Inter Milan in 2015, and has been told he can leave the Bernabeu this summer. Madrid are prepared to allow the 24-year-old midfielder to join Chelsea on a season-long loan in an effort to persuade the Blues to sell Courtois. Madrid are keen to sign the Belgium international, who has failed to return for pre-season training at Chelsea amid the speculation surrounding his future. Courtois was due for talks with Blues boss Maurizio Sarri on Monday but failed to report for training. Sky Sports News understands Chelsea will not allow Courtois to leave this summer until they find a suitable replacement. The Blues have lined up Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as a possible replacement, with Jack Butland, Sergio Rico...

AC Milan are in talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko on loan, according to Sky in Italy. Bakayoko joined the Blues from Monaco last summer for £40m and started 25 Premier League games in his first season in the Premier League. Any loan deal for Bakayoko is likely to include an option to buy, according to Sky in Italy. He has been involved in Chelsea's pre-season under new head coach Maurizio Sarri and was included in the starting XI for their final International Champions Cup clash with Lyon on Tuesday. Chelsea have boosted their midfield options this summer with the high-profile signing of Jorginho from Napoli, a player Sarri knows well. Jorginho started Sunday's Community Shield defeat by Manchester City at Wembley with Cesc Fabregas and Ross Barkley alongside him in midfield. Bakayoko did not even make the bench which included another midfielder in Danny Drinkwater, while England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has only just returned to training f...

Arsenal defender Calum Chambers has joined Fulham on a season-long loan. The 23-year-old signed a new four-year deal with the Gunners last month but will spend the 2018-19 campaign with newly-promoted Fulham. "I'm really excited. I watched a lot of Fulham last season, I really like the way they play football, there's a good manager, it's a great club, so I'm really excited for the season ahead," Chambers told Fulham's website. "Everyone can see that Fulham's a club that likes to play football, play football from the back, through the lines. "That's the style of football I like as well, so I think it fits me and suits the way I play." Arsenal manager Unai Emery says Chambers has a future with the Gunners despite allowing the England international to leave the club on loan. "Calum is a talented defender who has a bright future," he said. "We all believe this loan at Fulham will be an important part of his ...

Chelsea will make Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland their top target if goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois leaves the club, according to Sky sources. Courtois has won two Premier League titles with the Blues but is in the final year of his contract, and his agent has asked Chelsea to let the Belgian join Real Madrid. Chelsea are reluctant to do so until they have acquired a suitable replacement and have switched their attention to Butland after Everton refused to negotiate over Jordan Pickford - who was England's No 1 ahead of Butland at the World Cup. Sky Sports News  has been told there has already been informal contact between Chelsea and Stoke City at boardroom level over a possible deal for Butland. The Sky Bet Championship club would be prepared to allow Butland to leave for around £30m, but want any deal to be resolved quickly, so they would have time to buy a replacement themselves. The closer the negotiations go to 5pm on Thursday, the more likely it is th...

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not show up for training on Monday as had been expected. New Blues boss Maurizio Sarri had expected to speak to the Belgium international as rumours over his future with the Premier League club continue to swirl. Sarri said after the Community Shield defeat by Manchester City on Sunday that he wanted to see Courtois face to face after his agent said last week that he wanted to leave Chelsea and join Real Madrid. Courtois has regularly addressed his desire to return to Madrid, where he previously played for Atletico and where his two children live with his former partner. Speaking on Sunday, Sarri said: "I have no reaction on the agent. I am not interested in the agent, I want to hear Courtois. If Courtois tomorrow (Monday) tells me the same, I have to speak with the club. "I want only players with a high level of motivation. I don't have an answer for the agent." Courtois was due to return to training with the re...

Everton are close to completing the signing of Brazil international Bernard and he is set to have a medical in the next 24 hours. If the deal goes through it will be seen as a coup for Everton, with many of Europe's top clubs having enquired about Bernard's availability. Sky Sports News  understands   that Everton manager Marco Silva has played a key role in the last 24 hours, in persuading Bernard to join him at Goodison Park. The 25-year old attacking midfielder will arrive on Merseyside for a medical before completing the move - subject to a work permit being granted. Bernard - who has 14 Brazil caps - began his career in his homeland with Atletico Mineiro, before Shaktar signed him on five-year deal in the summer of 2013 for £40m. He played for them as a left-sided or central attacker. and the Ukrainian side won three League titles with Bernard in the ranks, making it a league and cup double in the past two seasons. Last week, AC Milan thought they were se...

Manchester United are preparing to make a bid for Harry Maguire before the Premier League transfer window closes on Thursday, according to Sky sources. The Leicester and England defender is believed to be Jose Mourinho's top target as he looks to put the finishing touches to his side ahead of the new season. United are understood to be aware that they will have to pay a new world-record fee for a defender if they want to take the 25-year-old from the King Power Stadium, however. The current record is the £75m Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton earlier this year. If United are unable to complete a deal for Maguire, Mourinho's list of alternatives at centre-half is believed to include Toby Alderweireld and Yerry Mina. Manchester United's first game of the Premier League season is against Leicester on Friday, live on Sky Sports. via Sky Sports

Manchester United ended a turbulent pre-season campaign with a timid showing, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich on Sunday evening. United failed to register a shot on target and mustered just one shot on goal as Javi Martinez's second-half header separated the teams in what was a very lacklustre affair, completely dominated by the German champions. The returning Marcus Rashford played 65 minutes and Fred impressed in midfield but Jose Mourinho will be sweating over the fitness of Eric Bailly, who hobbled off in the second half. United play their first Premier League fixture of the season against Leicester on  Friday Night Football  but will likely be without Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young, who have yet to play any minutes in pre-season following their World Cup exploits. Alexis Sanchez was handed the captain's armband after a string of influential performances in pre-season and he was supported by Juan Mata and Rashford in att...

Maurizio Sarri says he and his Chelsea players have a lot of work to get through before they can play the way he wants them to. The Blues boss lost his first major game in charge at the club, with a 2-0 Community Shield defeat to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Chelsea were outplayed for much of the contest and Sarri says his side have a lot of ground to make up on the defending Premier League champions. "In this moment there is a little difference - maybe not little! - between us and City," he said. "In the first half not too bad. In the second half there was a big difference from the physical point of view, I think. We need to work. Our pre-season until now has been a bit crazy, I think, so we have to work." Sarri blamed the condensed pre-season schedule and absence of key figures, who are still recovering from World Cup exploits, for Chelsea's struggles on Sunday. And the Italian admitted he doesn't know when the team will start firing...