West Ham captain Mark Noble is confident Dimitri Payet will still be a Hammers player at the end of the January transfer window.
Payet has been heavily linked with a move away from the Premier League club as the Hammers have struggled to replicate the form of last season under Slaven Bilic, with the club 13th and five points above the drop zone.
The France international has not helped the speculation by conceding he may have to leave to fulfil his ambitions, with the likes of Marseille and Arsenal linked with a move.
Noble admits Payet s exit would be a huge blow for West Ham, but remains confident he will be playing alongside the 29-year-old for at least the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign.
You never know what happens in football. I m pretty sure Dimi…
Stefan de Vrij has joined Inter on a five-year deal, it has been confirmed by the Serie A club.
Netherlands international De Vrij had already confirmed his departure from Lazio at the end of his contract, with the move formally completed on Monday.
Defender De Vrij memorably conceded a penalty for fouling Mauro Icardi on the last day of the 2017-18 season, an incident that directly contributed to Inter qualifying for the Champions League at Lazio s expense.
It was destiny. All players are professionals, I don t think he fouled me on purpose, Inter captain Icardi said to Mediaset Premium. He tried to stop me scoring, it was just destiny.
È ufficiale! è nerazzurro!
Per lui contratto fino al 2023
— Inter (@Inter)
…
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said he has joined Bundesliga side Hamburg in a bid to win back his place in the Holland team before this summer s World Cup in South Africa.
The 33-year-old made his last appearance in the orange shirt of Holland after his side were beaten in the quarter-finals by Russia at Euro 2008, but has hinted he would like to play for the Netherlands again.
I want to deliver the goods in the shirt of Hamburg and to win things with this team, said the Dutch star, who signed from Real Madrid on Saturday, on the club s website.
I hope the Dutch selectors will contact me again so I can take part in the World Cup.
The hot-shot forward scored 33 goals for Holland in 64 matches, but announced his retirement for a second time followin…
Back at the top
La Liga
Clear leaders at the top in Spain as Barcelona win again and the new look Real Madrid come unstuck at in form Sevilla.
Barcelona struggled to overcome a determined and terribly defensive Almeria who as Jose Mourinho would say, ‘parked the bus in front of their goal’. A solitary first half strike from Pedrito was enough to take all three points for the champions.
Sevilla join Real Madrid in second place three points behind after they overcame the men in white by two goals to one. Jesus Navas gave the hosts a first half lead but Pepe equalised for Real soon after the break. Renato restored the lead for Sevilla with twenty-five minutes to go and Real couldn’t come back for a second time.
…
Arsene Wenger has vowed to take the game to Bayern Munich when the Bundesliga giants visit the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Bayern have made a fine start in Group F, winning both of their matches, while Arsenal have fallen to shock defeats at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos.
With back-to-back games against 2013 winners Bayern to come, Arsenal need an immediate upturn in fortunes if they are to avoid crashing out in the group stages of the competition for the first time since 1998-99.
Despite the daunting task of facing a Bayern side who have won 12 in a row in all competitions, Wenger is buoyed by his own team s recent good form.
We re on a perfect run in the Premier League, and on the other hand it was perfect prepara…
Memphis Depay could return to Manchester United if he succeeds at Lyon, manager Jose Mourinho says.
Mourinho confirmed United have a buy-back clause in the deal that has seen the Netherlands winger head to Ligue 1, which could reportedly reach €25million.
Depay had not started a Premier League game this season, playing just 20 minutes in four brief substitute appearances.
But Mourinho was always impressed with his attitude and is willing to bring the 22-year-old back to United if he develops, praising predecessor Louis van Gaal for originally signing him in 2015.
Of course, because potentially he is a very good player, Mourinho said ahead of Saturday s trip to Stoke City having been asked about United holding a buy-back clause.
I think when Mr…
Goals from Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio kept West Ham’s dreams of a first trophy in 43 years alive after a 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar.
The Hammers were big favourites to beat the Dutch dark horses, but were put on the back foot at a sold-out London Stadium when goalkeeper Alphonse Areola gifted AZ the lead before half-time.
But another goalkeeping error from Australia international Mathew Ryan gave West Ham a penalty which Benrahma converted.
Antonio then prodded home from a corner after a goalmouth scramble to give the Hammers a crucial lead going into next Thursday’s second leg in the Netherlands.
A brilliant comeback win!
Let s finish the job next Thursday in Alkmaar
…
Rasmus Kristensen’s late equaliser rescued Leeds a point in a 2-2 home draw against Newcastle but it was not enough to lift them out of the bottom three.
Kristensen’s deflected strike from outside the penalty area spared Leeds from a seventh defeat in nine matches, but their Premier League status was left hanging in the balance with two games to play.
Skipper Luke Ayling had given Leeds an early lead and after Patrick Bamford’s first-half penalty was saved, Callum Wilson converted twice from the spot to edge Newcastle in front.
Elland Road is bouncing again!!
Rasmus Kristensen finds a goal from nowhere to find a way back into the game for Leeds!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball)
Leeds made a blistering start in search of…
Liverpool are lining up a January bid for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, .
It is no secret the Reds are looking to add more creativity to the squad and they are reportedly hot on the trail of the 23-year-old footballer.
Liverpool hope to sign the player in the January transfer window and are believed to be readying a £9 million offer for the midfielder s services.
Georginio Wijnaldum came through the youth ranks at Feyenoord and went on to score 23 goals in 113 league matches before joining PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2011.
He has since continued with impressive performances in Dutch Eredivisie, making 71 league appearances for the club and scoring 27 goals.
PSV Eindhoven are slowly recovering from a disappointing start to the …
Herve Renard has been appointed as the new head coach of Ligue 1 side Lille.
The 46-year-old resigned his post as Ivory Coast boss last week as speculation mounted that he was to succeed Rene Girard at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
And Lille have now confirmed Renard s arrival on a three-year contract ahead of the 2015-16 season.
It is an honour to take over a club as prestigious as Lille, the Frenchman told the club s official website.
I look forward to starting my adventure with this group. A very exciting challenge is looming on the horizon.
Renard has enjoyed success on the international stage, leading Zambia to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2012, before repeating the feat with Ivory Coast earlier this year.
It marks a return to French foot…