Nathan Ake open to Chelsea move

Darwin Nunez insisted his focus will remain on Benfica for the rest of this season after displaying his obvious potential in a Champions League quarter-final tie against Liverpool.

Along with Paris Saint-Germain, striker Darwin has been linked to a host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United.

Two matches against Liverpool were therefore seen as something of an audition – one Darwin passed with flying colours.

The 22-year-old scored in both legs as Benfica were beaten 6-4 on aggregate, putting the ball in the net three times in Wednesday s second leg at Anfield, only for the offside flag to twice intervene.

The two goals that did stand took Darwin to 32 in 37 matches in all competitions this season, a significa…

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Real Madrid over the signing of Martin Odegaard, according to . It has been reported that the Gunners will pay Spanish and European giants Madrid an initial transfer fee of €35 million with potential add-ons rising to around €40 million.

Odegaard, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal from Madrid, will sign a four-year contract until 2015. Premier League club Arsenal will have the option extend it for a fifth year. The 22-year-old Norway international attacking midfielder will undergo a two-part medical on Thursday.

The youngster made nine starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal , scoring one goal and providing two assists in the process. Odegaard also made five starts and …

Mohamed Salah scored two penalties as Liverpool closed to within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City with a 6-0 hammering of Leeds United at Anfield.

Salah netted either side of Joel Matip s superb strike to give Jurgen Klopp s team a comfortable advantage, before Sadio Mane added a late double of his own and Virgil van Dijk completed the scoring.

The stunning victory gives Liverpool renewed hope of catching Pep Guardiola s league leaders, who lost at home to Tottenham on Saturday and must still welcome the Reds to the Etihad Stadium.

City could have expected few favours from Leeds, however, with Marcelo Bielsa s men firmly in a relegation scrap with the league s most porous defence.

After a high-octane opening, Liverpool were awarde…

Manchester United have confirmed Jesse Lingard will leave the club after his contract expires.

Lingard s deal runs out at the end of June and the midfielder, who came through United s youth system, had long been expected to leave for pastures new.

On Wednesday, United confirmed the 29-year-old was departing, following Paul Pogba out of the exit door.

He reportedly pushed for a move away from Old Trafford in January, but United did not wish to sell the England international.

It was all a dream

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

However, Lingard – who enjoyed a fruitful spell on loan at West Ham during the 2020-21 season, scoring nine league goals in 16 games as David Moyes team qualified for the Europa League – only started t…

Bayern Munich may always have an attraction to coaches but Carsten Ramelow does not expect Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann to return to the Bundesliga giants.

Nagelsmann was dismissed from his role as Bayern coach back in March 2023, as his former side were trying to make ground on Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race.

Thomas Tuchel was swiftly appointed as his replacement, leading the club to an 11th straight top-flight title last term, but the former Chelsea boss has failed to live up to expectations this season, and will leave at the end of the campaign.

Xabi Alonso rebuffed Bayern s interest to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, and it remains to be seen who the Bundesliga giants will go for as Tuchel s replacement.

Nagelsmann is preparing to lead Ger…

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Looking to extend their stay in the Champions League spots this weekend, Tottenham will travel to St. James’ Park when they meet Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.

Newcastle

Starting with the hosts, snatching a late 1-0 victory away at Fulham last weekend, Newcastle know the importance of using that performance as a platform to build on. However, although the Magpies might still be dreaming of the chance to book another European ticket this season, Eddie Howe has found plenty of scrutiny over his long-term future at St. James’ Park. While the former Bournemouth boss might have seen his squad muster seven points from their previous three Premier League appearances, Newcastle have largely struggled with their constancy since opening th…

Leicester have sacked women’s first-team boss Willie Kirk after the club determined the Scot had “breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable”.

The 45-year-old last took charge of the Foxes when they lost 4-0 in the Women’s Super League to Chelsea on March 3, before the club subsequently announced that Kirk was “assisting the club with an internal process” and would not be on the touchline for their March 9 FA Cup quarter-final.

Kirk’s then-assistant Jennifer Foster, supported by first team coach Stephen Kirby, oversaw that 2-0 victory and have remained at the helm since.

Leicester City Football Club can confirm that Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position as LCFC Women Manager.

— LCFC Women…

Mauricio Pochettino claimed VAR is damaging English football after Chelsea saw a potential winning goal chalked off at the end of their 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa.

Despite a bright performance, Chelsea found themselves 2-0 down at half-time on Saturday with Marc Cucurella putting through his own net before Morgan Rogers added Villa s second.

Goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher dragged Chelsea level as they penned Villa back after the break, but the Blues were enraged in stoppage time when Axel Disasi saw a potential winner ruled out.

Disasi headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to spark wild celebrations among the visiting Chelsea fans, only for referee Craig Pawson to disallow the goal following a pitchside VAR review, ruling Be…

Rangers took a huge step towards winning the Scottish Premiership title as Callum McGregor s own goal gave them a 1-0 Old Firm derby win over Celtic.

Steven Gerrard s unbeaten team now lead their fierce rivals by a formidable 19 points at the top of the table.

Celtic still have three games in hand but their hopes of clinching a historic 10th straight title look increasingly slim, with this result piling the pressure on manager Neil Lennon.

Champions Celtic had the better of Saturday s match at Ibrox, but the tables were turned when Nir Bitton was sent off after 62 minutes.

Callum McGregor then inadvertently gave Rangers, who did not register a shot on target in the contest, a priceless winning goal.

Celtic made an excellent start and it took two p…

Securing their first Champions League finish in two decades last season, have certainly embarked on a remarkable rise under Eddie Howe.

While the Magpies might be dealing with some public financial restraints this summer, the former Bournemouth boss saw his side make a major statement on intent earlier in the month as they announced the arrival of AC Milan superstar in a £55million deal.

With it all but confirmed that will be the next Premier League star heading out to Saudi Arabia, Newcastle are keen on adding reinforcements with top-flight experience.

With under six weeks until the summer transfer window officially slams shut, we have taken a look at three British stars that could be on their way to the north east.

Harvey Barnes Leicester

While Ne…