Sandro Wagner set for Bayern Munich move

Danny Drinkwater will return to Chelsea this month after making just two appearances for Burnley since joining on loan.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche confirmed at a news conference on Friday that the midfielder would be heading back to Stamford Bridge.

Drinkwater played just once in the Premier League for Burnley, in the 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City on December 3, having also started the shock 3-1 home loss to Sunderland in the EFL Cup in August.

The 29-year-old said it was time to get my career back on track when he signed a deal with Burnley that expires on January 6.

It was a bit of a complicated time at Chelsea, but I see this as a positive move and I m looking forward to getting going, he said.

However, Drinkwater struggled to break into Dyc…

Raphael Guerreiro scored twice as Borussia Dortmund pounced on Atletico Madrid s slip-up to advance as Group A winners with a 2-0 victory at Monaco on Tuesday.

Portugal international Guerreiro struck in each half to help the Bundesliga leaders dispose of their hapless hosts and leapfrog Atleti, held to a goalless draw against Club Brugge, thanks to a superior head-to-head record.

Dortmund s largely straightforward win was achieved despite Lucien Favre resting nine members of the team that triumphed 2-1 over Revierderby rivals Schalke on the weekend.

Chances were scant after they went ahead in the 15th minute, but top spot and a fifth clean sheet in six Champions League engagements made for a successful trip to the principality.

High  

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In his early years as a coach, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers was seen by many as a very special coach. The Northern Irishman was highly-regarded even before he got his first job as a club boss. At 46-years of age, he is now proving his managerial qualities at Leicester, with the Foxes currently riding high in second place in the Premier League table.

Did a decent job at Liverpool and Celtic

It is easy to forget that Brendan Rodgers came so close to ending Liverpool’s English top-flight title drought in season 2013/14. An end of season collapse saw the Merseysider’s fire Rodgers.

For much of the time on Merseyside, the highly-rated coach did a good job, even of some painted him as a David Brent type figure. His sacking by Liverpool led to question marks about his m…

Manchester City and West Ham are each struggling to match expectations as they prepare to do battle on Sunday, with the Premier League champions 22 points adrift of Liverpool as the Hammers toil in the relegation zone.

City suffered a sixth league defeat at Tottenham last week – matching the combined total number of losses from their previous two campaigns – while West Ham let a two-goal lead slip to draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at home.

Dropping points from winning positions has been a frustrating theme of West Ham s season – 19 is a league high – as they have failed to secure victory in eight of the 14 matches in which they have scored first.

A trip to City is not exactly what David Moyes needs right now either, as West Ham have a miserable rec…

Thiago Alcantara scored but was substituted due to injury as Bayern Munich won 3-1 at Besiktas to cruise into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

A 5-0 victory in last month s first leg in Munich had put Bayern in a commanding position and there was never any sign of a miraculous comeback in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Thiago finished from a Thomas Muller cross to extend Bayern s advantage and score their 100th goal of the season, but the Spain international was withdrawn before the break, coach Jupp Heynckes perhaps wishing he had rested more key names after picking a strong side.

Gokhan Gonul s own goal in the first minute of the second half appeared to settle the tie for good, before Vagner Love scrambled home his first Champions League strike since 2011 to…

Luuk de Jong fired Sevilla into another Europa League final as the LaLiga side won 2-1 in Cologne to shatter Manchester United s hopes of silverware.

Winners of this competition in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Sevilla took another stride towards glory after resisting heavy pressure from United in this semi-final.

United went ahead with a Bruno Fernandes penalty, but former Liverpool fringe player Suso levelled for Sevilla.

And De Jong connected sweetly with a cross swung over by Jesus Navas in the 78th minute to send Julen Lopetegui s side through to Friday s showpiece.

6 – Sevilla have reached their sixth UEFA Cup/Europa League final, at least two more times than any other side in the history of the competition. Ha…

Jack Wilshere is desperate to play football and remains hungry for success after confirming his contract with West Ham has been terminated. 

The former Arsenal midfielder capped 34 times by England had not featured for the Hammers at the start of the 2020-21 season after making just 10 appearances in all competitions last term. 

In a statement posted on his social media accounts, the 28-year-old revealed his disappointment at the move to his boyhood club failing to work out, having signed a three-year deal in July 2018. 

Wilshere also made clear that there are no concerns over his fitness, having been troubled by injuries during his career, and he is excited about what the future holds. 

— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere)

I can c…

Patrice Evra remarkably became the first player to be sent off before kick-off in a Europa League game after appearing to kick a fan in a pre-match altercation.

Marseille players were going through their paces in a warm-up before the meeting with Vitoria Guimaraes when a group of fans in the stand behind the goal approached, with the incident then spiralling out of control.

The supporters, understood to be followers of Marseille, came to the front of the stand to confront the players and Evra who has received criticism for poor performances this season fought back in the ensuing brawl after vaulting the advertising hoardings.

Video footage of the altercation emerged shortly after and seem to show Evra aiming a kick at a supporter s head, before being swiftly led …

Mohamed Salah reached 100 top-flight goals in record time for Liverpool in Saturday s clash at Brentford.

The prolific Egypt forward brought up a century of Premier League goals in the win at Leeds United this month, becoming the 30th player to reach the landmark.

Two of those goals came in his time at Chelsea, but Salah now has a three-figure haul in the competition for the Reds after firing them into a 2-1 lead against the Bees, who subsequently equalised through Vitaly Janelt.

A VAR decision went in Salah s favour after he was initially given offside when converting Fabinho s excellent pass in the 54th minute.

The former Roma and Chelsea man reached the 100 mark in his 151st Premier League game for Liverpool to set the club record, getting there in …

Hakim Ziyech has no doubt Chelsea can be Premier League title contenders this season.

After a 0-0 draw at home to leaders Tottenham on Sunday, Frank Lampard s side are third in the table – two points adrift of Spurs and Liverpool.

Ziyech was one of several big-name arrivals in the close season as the Blues set their sights on a first league title since 2016-17, with the 27-year-old already making a big impact, scoring once, providing three assists and creating 12 chances in total from six top-flight appearances.

And the former Ajax star said there was belief in Lampard s squad that they could challenge.

Of course we can make a challenge, Ziyech said, via the Daily Express.

You always have to believe in it. It starts from believing in it and …