July 2020 – Football Flame    
Latest Football News

Month: July 2020

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Kante and Willian fit for the Cup final but midfielder misses out

Willy Gaballero, NGolo Kante, Pedro, Jorginho, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso, Antonio Rudiger, Olivier Giroud and Willian of Chelsea celebrate winning the mini tournament during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on June 9, 2020 in Cobham, England. N’Golo Kante and Willian will be available for selection for the Heads Up FA Cup final in a boost to Chelsea’s hopes of ending the campaign with silverware, though Ruben Loftus-Cheek misses out with injury. The news was delivered by Frank Lampard at his video press conference to preview tomorrow’s Cup final at Wembley, which sees the Blues take on Arsenal for the final domestic trophy of the season. Kante has not featured since the start of the month when he came off early in our home victory against Watford with a hamstring...
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NEWS

Arteta: Arsenal FA Cup win would help convince Aubameyang to stay

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Mikel Arteta believes Saturday’s FA Cup final will not be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s last game for Arsenal and lifting the trophy could help convince him to sign a new contract. Aubameyang will captain Arsenal at Wembley Stadium against Chelsea, but he is yet to pen fresh terms on a new deal. The forward’s current contract is due to expire in under a year’s time and he is attracting interest from Barcelona and Inter Milan. But Arteta, who himself won the FA Cup as captain of Arsenal back in 2014, believes defeating Chelsea and lifting the trophy could help convince Aubam...
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UCL

Napoli president concerned about Barca trip

Napoli's President Aurelio De Laurentiis (L) and Juventus FC President Andrea Agnelli react after Napoli won the TIM Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) final football match Napoli vs Juventus on June 17, 2020 at the Olympic stadium in Rome, played behind closed doors as the country gradually eases the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has doubts about playing their Champions League return leg at the Nou Camp. Aurelio De Laurentiis has admitted he is concerned about Napoli having to travel to Spain for their Champions League clash against Barcelona amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the country. UEFA confirmed this month that the remaining Champions League and Europa League round of 16 sec...
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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich confirm Thiago wants to leave

Thiago of Bayern Muenchen controls the ball during the DFB Cup quarterfinal match between FC Schalke 04 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Veltins Arena on March 3, 2020 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed that midfielder Thiago wants to leave the club and a deal could be struck this summer. The 29-year-old Spanish international has been linked with Liverpool, Manchester United and other European sides as he enters the final year of his contract. He has told the German champions that he does not wish to extend his current deal. Bayern's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was unable to persuade the former Barcelona player to stay in Germany. Rummenigge told Germany's Sky Sport: "Actually, the conversations Hasan had with him were alway...
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SERIE A

Andrea Pirlo Returns to Juventus as U-23 Coach

Andrea Pirlo is seen at the Etro fashion show on January 12, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Juventus's former maestro is going back to Turin. Andrea Pirlo, the Italian midfield great who played for Juventus from 2011-2015, is returning to the club as its under-23 coach, according to a team statement. The job will be Pirlo's first in management, and it comes three years after he retired following a stint in MLS with New York City FC.  The 2006 World Cup winner, six-time Serie A winner and two-time Champions League winner will take the helm of Juve's U-23s, a team that is just two years old and has already had two managers in its brief existence. It won the Coppa Italia Serie C this past season and competes in the third tier of Italian football. It most-recently had a 10th-place fin...
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TRANSFERS

Sheffield United keeper joins Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on eve of new season

Jake Eastwood of Sheffield United kicks the ball upfield during the pre season friendly match between Sheffield United and Stoke City at Bramall Lane on July 25, 2017 in Sheffield, England. Sheffield United goalkeeper Jake Eastwood has joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on loan. The deal will see the 23-year-old further his experience at Rugby Park until January, when he will return to Bramall Lane. He has made just three senior appearances for United, starting two EFL Cup games in 2017 as well as coming on as substitute in the Championship match at Wolves in February, 2018, when Simon Moore was sent off 17 minutes from time. He spent the first part of last season on loan at League Two side Scunthorpe, where he made 16 appearances and kept seven clean sheets. And he m...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Breaking: Aston Villa appoint new sporting director

Johan Lange, technical director of FC Copenhagen looks on during the FC Copenhagen training session at KB's baner on June 20, 2017 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Aston Villa have appointed a replacement for Jesus Garcia Pitarch, the sporting director who left earlier this week. Pitarch - known as Suso - departed the club after almost two years at Villa Park. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers first-team coach Johan Lange has joined in his place, leaving Danish side FC Copehnagen after six years with the club. Lange reports directly to the board. Suso left the club after criticism came in for the recruitment last summer, with £130 million spent on 12 new players following promotion to the Premier League. With a similar number of players departing the club, a turnaround was necessary...
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TRANSFERS

Norwich sign Everton midfielder

Kieran Dowell of Everton controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Everton and Rotherham United at Goodison Park on August 29, 2018 in Liverpool, England. Norwich City have announced the signing of England U21 midfielder, Kieran Dowell from Everton on a permanent three year deal for the usual undisclosed fee. Dowell is 22-years-old and has come through the Everton academy, making his first appearance back in 2014 in the UEFA Europa League.  The availability of game time became an issue at Goodison Park though and he has spent time out on-loan at Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Derby County and most recently at Wigan, who he joined last January.  There he scored  5 goals in 12 appearances, including a hat-trick in the 8-0 thrashing of ...
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TRANSFERS

Man City agree fee with Valencia for highly-rated Ferran Torres

Ferran Torres of Valencia CF controls the ball during the Liga match between Getafe CF and Valencia CF at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on February 08, 2020 in Getafe, Spain. Manchester City have agreed an initial fee with Valencia for highly-rated 20-year-old winger Ferran Torres. Stats Perform News understands the Spain Under-21 international will cost City £21.2million ($38.3M AUD), plus further add-ons. Talks between the clubs are on-going, with an agreement on the wider terms of the deal thought to be close. Ferran is considered one of Spain's most promising young players, having come through Valencia's academy and making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2017. A talented and direct winger capable of playing on either flank, though preferring to operate from the right, Ferran enjoye...
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TRANSFERS

Brighton sign Ajax defender Veltman

Joel Veltman of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and Sparta Rotterdam at the Johan Cruijff Arena on January 19, 2020 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Brighton have signed Netherlands defender Joel Veltman from Ajax for an undisclosed fee. He is the Premier League club's second signing of the summer, following the arrival of midfielder Adam Lallana from Liverpool on a free transfer on Monday. Veltman, 28, played more than 200 times for Ajax and has 22 international caps. He has signed a three-year contract. "He has terrific experience from his time with Ajax including the Champions League," said head coach Graham Potter. "He's an excellent defender who can play at right-back and at centre half, but he's also comfortable in possession." Veltman made...
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SERIE A

Juventus crash to humiliating Cagliari defeat, Immobile eyes goal record

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus competes for the ball with Luca Gagliano of Cagliari Calcio during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Juventus at Sardegna Arena on July 29, 2020 in Cagliari, Italy. Juventus crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday days after sealing their ninth consecutive Serie A title, with their Champions League last 16 return leg looming. Cagliari's 20-year-old forward Luca Gagliano tapped in the opener eight minutes into his first Serie A match, beating veteran Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon to score his first top division goal. And the young Italian then teed up Giovanni Simeone in first half stoppage time to give Cagliari their first win over Juventus in 11 years. Cristiano Ronaldo missed the chance to keep pace with Serie A'...
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NEWS

Community Shield confirmed for August 29

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates with the FA Community Shield following his team's victory in the FA Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2019 in London, England. The Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday August 29, the FA has confirmed. The traditional curtain-raiser for the new season will see Premier League champions Liverpool play either Arsenal or Chelsea, who meet in this Saturday's FA Cup final. The kick-off time for the game will be announced at a later date. It has been reported that the match could welcome a restricted number of supporters into Wembley as part of plans for supporters to make a socially-distanced return to sports venues more widely from October 1. The match will be immediately followed by an internatio...
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LALIGA

Report: Atletico Madrid plotting summer move for Hammers goalkeeper

West Ham United goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez during the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 19, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. According to Diario AS (via football espana), West Ham United goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez is wanted by La Liga giants Atletico Madrid this summer. The 33-year-old spent the second-half of the season on loan at Alaves after failing to impress at the London Stadium, but he was solid on his return to Spain and has attracted Diego Simeone’s side from the look of things. Jan Oblak’s back-up and Atletico’s second choice Antonio Adan is close to joining Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, and Jimenez is one of the options that has been identified to take his place. The Spaniard joined West Ham on a two-year dea...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti ‘wants to sign Lazio striker Ciro Immobile’

Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and SPAL at Stadio Olimpico on February 02, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly lining up a move for Lazio's prolific striker Ciro Immobile this summer. The Italian forward has enjoyed another sensational campaign in Serie A, scoring 34 times in 35 games this term. According to 90min, as reported by Goal,Ancelotti has told Everton's hierarchy he will need backing in the market if he is to stay and has identified Immobile as a key target. Ancelotti is said to believe that rebuilding at Everton is a bigger job then he initially thought and is keen to bring in several new additions ahead of next season. Immobile, who is contracted at Lazio until...
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TRANSFERS

Chelsea FC face competition for 24-year-old Ajax goalkeeper – report

Goalkeeper Andre Onana of Ajax Amsterdam gestures during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between AFC Ajax and Getafe CF at Amsterdam Arena on February 27, 2020 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Chelsea FC are facing a battle with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer, according to a report in England. The Sun, as quoted by the Daily Mail, is reporting that Bundesliga outfit Leverkusen have submitted an £18m offer for the Cameroon international in the summer transfer window. The same article states that Chelsea FC are looking to sign a replacement for the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of the 2020-21 Premier League season. According to the same story, Ajax have rejected Leverkusen’s opening bid for the first-choice...
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TRANSFERS

Arsenal transfer boost as agent explains Philippe Coutinho’s plans this summer

Philippe Coutinho of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on February 9, 2020 in Munich, Germany. Arsenal have been handed a transfer boost after Philippe Coutinho's agent said the player is targeting a return to the Premier League this summer. The Gunners have reportedly emerged as front runners to land Coutinho, who has also been linked with Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester and Newcastle. But his agent Kia Joorabchian said the former Liverpool star will not make up his mind until after Bayern Munich have been knocked out of this season's Champions League. Coutinho has spent the season on loan at Bayern, who have a three-goal advantage as they prepare to host Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions L...
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SERIE A

Martinez solo goal completes Inter win over Napoli

Lautaro Martinez (C) of FC Internazionale celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on July 28, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez came off the bench and in no time scored an impressive solo goal and complete a 2-0 win over Napoli, which kept his side second in Serie A on Tuesday. Inter, who gained some revenge for their Coppa Italia semi-final defeat by Gennaro Gattuso's side, took the field wearing their kit for next season which features zig-zagged black and blue stripes instead of the traditional straight ones. The hosts went ahead after 11 minutes when Danilo D'Ambrosio turned the ball home from Cristiano Biraghi's cut back. Napoli created lots of openings but it was Inter who struc...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham in talks over loan exits for Skipp and Parrott

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur motivates Oliver Skipp of Tottenham Hotspur during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 04, 2020 in London, England. Fulham are leading the race to sign Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp on a season-long loan – but a deal may hinge on whether they are promoted. Spurs manager Jose Mourinho has reluctantly agreed to let Skipp leave on loan and the 19-year-old is also attracting interest from Premier League duo Southampton and Burnley, as well as Reading and Nottingham Forest. Fulham boss Scott Parker knows Skipp from his time as a youth coach at Spurs and the Cottagers are currently frontrunners, although the move is less likely if they win the play-offs. Skipp, who ...
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SERIE A

Ibrahimovic has helped bring back ‘real Milan’, says Calhanoglu

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan reacts during the football match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan. Internazionale won over AC Milan 4-2. Hakan Calhanoglu praised Zlatan Ibrahimovic's impact at San Siro, saying the "real Milan" had returned. Since the season restarted last month, Milan are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions and sit sixth in Serie A. Ibrahimovic has scored eight goals in 18 matches since returning to Milan in January, and the 38-year-old is reportedly set to extend his stay beyond this season. Calhanoglu lauded Ibrahimovic, telling Sky Sport: "I think this is the real Milan. "We are a team that always wants to win, with great mentality and passion. Zlatan has helped us with this and it is important for us. "But the championship is not over yet and ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia eyes three more signings with Kai Havertz close

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard gives fans the thumbs up after the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Hull City and Chelsea at KCOM Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Hull, England. Chelsea want to seal three more signings after completing a deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, according to reports.  The Blues are closing in on Havertz after already bringing Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner to Stamford Bridge this summer. Frank Lampard wants to add quality to his squad in order to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. The only stumbling block left before Chelsea seal a deal for Havertz is the asking price Leverkusen are demanding. Negotiations are ongoing but with the player wanting to leave it is expected an agreement will be ...
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