Redknapp denies Newcastle links

Harry Redknapp has played down reports linking him with Premier League strugglers Newcastle United.

Steve McClaren is under the pump as Newcastle head coach after a 3-1 loss to AFC Bournemouth saw them slump to second last in the league table.

The club have won just two of their past 12 league fixtures and face the serious threat of relegation to the Championship for a second time since 2009.

However, when asked if he had held talks with Newcastle over replacing McClaren, Redknapp told TV3:  No, I ve never spoken to anybody at Newcastle.

Steve s still in a job. I like Steve McClaren. I ve worked with Steve, he s an excellent coach, manager, whatever, but he needs a result quickly. But I ve never spoken to them.

I was getting on the plane tod…

Jones appointed as Jets coach

Former Newcastle Jets assistant Mark Jones has returned to the club as head coach on a two-season deal.

Jones, 50, takes over just weeks out from the start of the A-League season after the Jets sacked Scott Miller earlier this month.

He leaves his position as Adelaide United s W-League and youth coach.

Clayton Zane has been appointed as Jones assistant at the Jets.

It s a proud day for me to be appointed head coach of Newcastle Jets, my hometown club, Jones said.

It is no secret that this is a position that I have long coveted, and to realise my ambition of becoming a head coach in the city I love is a dream come true.

But now the hard work begins. The club has assembled a competitive and balanced squad brimming with local talent, A-Lea…

Rumour Has It: Real Madrid eye Inter´s Skriniar on free transfer as his contract runs down

Real Madrid have joined the race to land Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar, with the 27-year-old s contract set to expire at the end of this season.

Skriniar has been one of the most in-demand defenders in the world this year, with numerous bids coming during the last transfer window from Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Tottenham.

While Inter are keen to fend off the outside interest and lock him into a new contract, the fact that he will be able to leave on a free transfer at the conclusion of the campaign could force their hand.

 

TOP STORY – REAL MADRID HOPE TO SECURE SKRINIAR ON FREE TRANSFER

Madrid took advantage of the free agent market this past window, signing Antonio Rudiger when his Chelsea contract finished, and Football Insider cla…

Dewsbury-Hall: Maresca will surprise people at Chelsea

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall believes new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will surprise a lot of people when they watch the Blues this season.

The Italian led Leicester City straight back to the Premier League as Championship winners in his only season in charge and succeeds Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

The Foxes topped the second division table with 98 points, with Dewsbury-Hall a key figure in his squad as he netted 12 goals and provided 14 assists last season – his best tally in a single campaign.

Dewsbury-Hall was also named Leicester s Player and Players Player of the Year.

The midfielder made the switch to West London earlier this month for £30million and is confident that Maresca will have Chelsea challenging for trophies in no time.

T…

´We have a score to settle´ – Salah gets shot at Real Madrid revenge

Mohamed Salah and Liverpool will get another shot at revenge against Real Madrid, who progressed past Manchester City to secure a place in the Champions League final on Wednesday.

Liverpool saw their way past Villarreal on Tuesday, coming back to win the second leg 3-2 to win 5-2 on aggregate.

Immediately following Real Madrid s dramatic win over City, Salah took to Twitter to state his feelings. 

The 29-year-old famously went off injured early as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv.

He scored as Liverpool also lost 3-1 on aggregate in the 2020/21 quarter-final stage.

We have a score to settle.

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah)

Xavi: Barcelona dropped two points at Espanyol

Barcelona head coach Xavi believes his side were unfortunate to not walk away with all three points despite requiring a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Espanyol on Sunday.

Raul de Tomas fired Vicente Moreno s hosts ahead in the second half after Pedri and Sergi Darder exchanged first-half strikes at the RCDE Stadium.

Luuk de Jong then delivered a last-gasp header to salvage a point as both sides ended with 10 men, after Gerard Pique and Nicolas Melamed were dismissed for two bookable offences following a confrontation between the pair.

Manuel Morlanes also saw red on the touchline for dissent following De Jong s equaliser, which was Barca s 10th headed goal in LaLiga this season – no team has scored more this term, while it is their best tally since the …

Gareth Southgate pays tribute to ‘outstanding coach’ Terry Venables

England manager Gareth Southgate has lauded Terry Venables as a “brilliant man who made people feel special” after his death at the age of 80.

Southgate famously missed the crucial penalty in the semi-final shoot-out against Germany as Venables’ side came up just short in Euro 96 on home soil.

“Any player will have great affinity with the manager that gave them their opportunity, but it was quickly evident playing for Terry Venables that he was an outstanding coach and manager,” he said in a statement.

“Tactically excellent, he had a wonderful manner, capable of handling everyone from the youngest player to the biggest star.

“He was open-minded, forward-thinking, enjoyed life to the full and created a brilliant environment with England that …

Coutinho ends Barca nightmare as permanent £17m move to Aston Villa confirmed

Philippe Coutinho will complete a permanent £17million (€20m) move to Aston Villa from Barcelona at the end of the season, it has been confirmed.

The Brazil international has enjoyed a resurgent half-season loan spell at Villa Park since January and has signed a contract until June 2026 after being effectively frozen out of starting contention at Camp Nou.

The deal, which will see Barca paid 50 per cent of any future sale of the player, brings to a close an unhappy four-and-a-half year tenure with the Blaugrana, who originally signed him in 2018 from Liverpool for a club record nine-figure sum.

Despite success in La Liga in terms of trophies, winning two titles and two Copa del Reys, the playmaker struggled to slot in with the Catalan outfit and spent the…

De Gea not thinking about extending Man United contract

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is focused on winning and not extending his contract amid uncertainty over the star s future at Old Trafford.

De Gea s deal expires in 2019 however United has the option of a 12-month extension, though manager Jose Mourinho said he is not confident but not worried about the Spain international s prospects of prolonging his stay.

The 27-year-old – who was linked with Real Madrid prior to Thibaut Courtois move to the Santiago Bernabeu at the start of the campaign – has been at United since 2011, winning the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup among others.

United have not won the Premier League since 2012-13 and find themselves struggling this season amid doubts over Mourinho s tenure, and De Gea is determined to g…

Rumour Has It: Pogba prefers Juve over Madrid, Pochettino nears Tottenham exit

Paul Pogba has decided where he wants his next move to be, while Mauricio Pochettino is nearing a Tottenham exit.

Pogba, 26, was linked with a Manchester United departure during the close season but ended up staying at Old Trafford.

However, the France midfielder s future remains a talking point.

 

TOP STORY – POGBA PREFERS JUVENTUS RETURN OVER MADRID MOVE

Pogba would prefer to return to Juventus but would not say no to Real Madrid, according to Tuttosport.

The Serie A champions and LaLiga giants were the two clubs most heavily linked with a move for Pogba – who is contracted until 2021 – during the close season.

A potential Juve deal for Pogba could see Mario Mandzukic head to Manchester United, the report says.

, …