Crouch considering future

John Stones is relishing the prospect of tangling with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe once more as Manchester City eye a place in the Champions League final.

Pep Guardiola s side came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain last week at the Parc des Princes, putting them in a strong position for Tuesday s return at the Etihad Stadium.

PSG s all-star attack was largely nullified, centre-back Marquinhos having headed them into an early lead, and especially so after half-time.

Mbappe failed to attempt a single shot for the first time in a Champions League game where he has completed 90 minutes, with Stones and central defensive partner Ruben Dias understandably taking plenty of plaudits for their display.

It s never easy, whoever we come up agains…

Manchester United have been charged by UEFA after a section of their supporters threw objects towards Paris Saint-Germain s Angel Di Maria in Tuesday s Champions League clash at Old Trafford.

Former United player Di Maria was jeered by the home supporters right from the start of the match, having endured an underwhelming spell at the club in the 2014-15 season.

It was his first return to Old Trafford since leaving for PSG in 2015 and he went on to have a major impact, setting up both PSG goals as they ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Prior to the goals, Di Maria was waiting to take a corner in the first half and several bottles were thrown in his direction – the Argentine reacting by picking one up and pretending to drink from it.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED A…

Premier League heavyweights Manchester United are said to be looking into a possibility of signing Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba, according to Spanish reports.

The 29-year-old Spanish international has been with Blaugrana since 2012 and has thus far player over 250 matches for the Camp Nou-based side.

Alba’s current contract with Barcelona expires in 2020 and has yet to put pen to paper on an extension with the Catalans which prompted a reaction from Manchester United who hope to intervene and convince him to move to England.

Spanish news outlet Diario Sport is extending the whispers coming from England, claiming that Red Devils are prepared to step up their interest in attempt to reinforce their fragile backline during the winter transfer market.

Man…

Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has signed a new long-term deal at San Siro.

The Italy international, who is into his third season with Inter since joining on an initial loan from Cagliari, is now under contract until 2026.

Barella s previous deal was due to run until 2024 and he had been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the most recent transfer window.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta revealed last month talks were ongoing regarding fresh terms and the Italian champions have now reached an agreement with the 24-year-old, who was also a key member of Italy s Euro 2020-winning side. Inter confirmed the news in a short statement on their official website.

Barella has made 102 appearances for Inter in all competition…

Lucas Hernandez sustained an injury in Bayern Munich s win over Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday, further depleting a squad Julian Nagelsmann described as on a knife-edge .

Bayern headed to Dynamo for their fifth Champions League group game of the season without five first-team players who were forced into quarantine following close contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

A vaccine debate has raged around Bayern in recent weeks, but Nagelsmann s side were able to maintain their 100 per cent European record this term – just the third time they have made such a start since 2003-04 – with a 2-1 success that secured their place at the top of Group E.

Robert Lewandowski broke the deadlock with a sensational overhead kick, extending his scoring run in the …

Manchester United have that they have completed the signing of Daniel James from Swansea.

James has been a Swansea player since signing his professional contract back in 2015, but his first-team debut did not come before 2017/18. He made only a single League Cup appearance that season, and with the Welsh side relegated the following summer, he is only now, as a United player, set to make his Premier League bow. He did, however, score five goals in 38 Championship appearances for the Swans in the season that has just ended. Has also gathered four international caps for Wales.

The 21-year-old winger boasts plenty of pace and trickery and will likely add another attacking dimension to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s team.

The 20-time English champions will reported…

Mikel Arteta preferred to focus on Arsenal s comfortable 3-0 victory over Southampton despite repeated questions over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s absence.

Arteta left out Aubameyang on Saturday due to a disciplinary breach , but Alexandre Lacazette stepped up and delivered the opening goal in the first half.

Martin Odegaard soon added a second at Emirates Stadium – where Southampton have never won in 23 Premier League games, the longest barren run for one team away to another in the competition s history – with Gabriel netting after the interval.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 27 home league games against Southampton dating back to November 1987, their joint-longest such run against any opponent, and Arteta was keen to discuss the performance rather than Aubame…

Jesse Lingard s development at Manchester United has been fantastic and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in awe of the England international.

It was in United s reserve team that Lingard first played for Solskjaer, when his talents as a goalscoring midfielder started to become apparent.

Although not always considered the most technically gifted, Lingard s work rate and versatility made him an asset as a squad member and he went on to score eight Premier League goals in 20 starts last term.

Lingard has been a key player at Old Trafford this season, with his performances particularly impressive since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho last month.

The 26-year-old has provided three goals and two assists in seven starts across all competitions for the Norwegian and…

Austria midfielder Alessandro Schopf says nothing but a top-level display from his side will be enough to beat neighbours Hungary in their Euro 2016 opener.

Marcel Koller s side, co-hosts of the 2008 tournament, progressed to the finals through a qualifying campaign for the first time in laudable fashion, winning nine and drawing one of their 10 matches.

With an 11-game unbeaten run in competitive fixtures and a squad boasting the talents of David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic and Aleksandar Dragovic, Austria are firm favourites to open their campaign in France with victory over a Hungary side who are appearing in their first major finals since 1986.

But with the Hungarians boasting the better head-to-head record they have won 66 and lost 40 of 137 meetings Schalke mid…

Andriy Shevchenko has left his role as head coach of Ukraine after a five-year spell in charge following the expiration of his contract.

The 44-year-old stepped up from his position as assistant to take over the Ukraine senior side in July 2016.

After missing out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Shevchenko guided his country to the delayed Euro 2020 finals, where they reached the last eight for the first time in their history.

However, the legendary former Milan striker announced on Sunday that he will not be extending his contract to stay on as Ukraine boss.

Today, my contract with the Ukrainian Football Association came to the [sic] end, he posted on Instagram. I spent five years with the national team. 

It was hard work that proved t…