Martinez joins Getafe on loan

Liverpool have signed an amazing player in Virgil van Dijk and his reported £75million price tag could ultimately appear cheap, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Van Dijk will move to Anfield when the transfer window opens in January after the Reds agreed to pay what Southampton claim is a new world-record transfer for a defender.

Guardiola is familiar with the scrutiny that accompanies major outlays on members of the backline, City having parted with significant sums to recruit John Stones, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy since the Catalan coach arrived at Etihad Stadium.

Addressing the media ahead of his team s Premier League match at Crystal Palace on Sunday, Guardiola hailed the quality of the Netherlands international, who had previously …

Gerard Deulofeu and Denis Suarez will get a chance to show Barcelona what they are missing when Sevilla travel to Camp Nou on Saturday.

Barca coach Luis Enrique sent Deulofeu out on a season-long loan to Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in August after the attacker returned from spending the 2013-14 campaign at Everton.

Deulofeu spoke of his shock that he had been allowed to make another temporary move away from Camp Nou, but vowed to make the most of the opportunity to play in La Liga at Sevilla.

The 20-year-old will come up against his parent club this weekend and Denis Suarez will be in the same boat after he moved to the Andalusian outfit on a two-year loan deal as part of the transfer which saw Ivan Rakitic join Barcelona.

There will be no divided loyal…

Ricardo Quaresma is among seven players to be cut from Portugal s provisional FIFA World Cup squad as Paulo Bento confirms his 23-man party.

The Porto winger has not played for his country since a 3-1 defeat to Turkey in a warm-up friendly for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine in 2012.

Quaresma, although included in the squad for the finals that year, was an unused substitute throughout, but was named in Bento s original 30-man squad announced on Tuesday, despite not featuring in any of Portugal s qualifying matches.

Another notable absentee is Inter defender Rolando, while uncapped midfielder Joao Mario has also been cut and will have to wait for his international debut.

The Benfica duo of Andre Gomes and Ivan Cavaleiro also miss out, as do Lyon g…

Atalanta were given an unexpected afternoon off ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Ajax as Sunday s Serie A meeting with Udinese was postponed.

Gian Piero Gasperini s men made the trip to Udine for a 3pm kick-off but, following an initial delay and a second pitch inspection, the game was eventually called off.

Both captains and the match referee agreed that a flooded Stadio Friuli surface was unlikely to improve, with heavy rain still falling.

The news looked like a boost for Atalanta, meaning their players would be taking no risks before travelling to tackle Ajax on Wednesday in a game that will decide their European prospects for the remainder of the season.

The Italians must avoid defeat in Amsterdam if they are to qualify for the Cham…

PSV Eindhoven starlet Joel Piroe is set to reject a move to Manchester City and sign his first professional contract with the Eredivisie club. 

Piroe has been linked with a move to City and the Premier League for some time following his exploits in the PSV youth ranks.

However, the 16-year-old forward is keen to learn his trade at PSV before making the decision to move abroad. 

I have been offered a contract by PSV a few weeks ago and if all goes well I will soon sign,  Piroe told NextGen Series.

The interest of Manchester City, I heard, but for that, you really have to see my agent. I love it but I m not doing that.

Everyone must decide for themselves [when they are ready to move abroad]. If you think you re ready, you should do that. <…

Bitter rivals North Korea and South Korea fought out a 1-1 draw in the latest round of final Asian 2010 World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday while Australia got their campaign off to a winning start.

The Aussies handed Uzbekistan a 1-0 defeat in Tashkent thanks to a rare international goal from Scott Chipperfield playing only his second international in 19 months as they bid to reach their second successive finals.

The Uzbeks hopes of reaching the finals for the first time look remote after two successive defeats as do those of the UAE they lost to North Korea in their opening match at the weekend after they let a 1-0 lead slip, ending up losing 2-1 to Asian giants Saudi Arabia.

The other match ended 1-1 between a 10-man Bahrain and Qatar, who also missed a pena…

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are starting from scratch next season and warned his side will have more than just an amazing rivalry with Liverpool to contend with.

City completed a Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup treble in the 2018-19 campaign, edging out the Reds by a solitary point in the top flight.

Liverpool also finished the season with silverware as they defeated Tottenham 2-0 in Saturday s Champions League final in Madrid.

The two are expected to be the main protagonists in the title race again next term, but Guardiola – speaking to reporters at the basketball match between Manresa and Real Madrid – insists City will have plenty of company in the battle for supremacy.

We have an amazing rivalry, but not only with them [Liverpool], ther…

Liverpool forward Fabio Borini hurt his shoulder and was substituted early in his side s 1-0 loss Roma on Wednesday.

Linked with a move to Sunderland, Borini went down under a challenge and landed awkwardly on his right shoulder before being substituted in the 12th minute at Fenway Park.

Borini, who has been unable to cement a place at Anfield since joining in July 2012, came off holding his shoulder.

The Italian was expected to make a £14million move to Sunderland, where he enjoyed a successful campaign on loan last season, but that move could now be in doubt.

Marco Borriello claimed what proved to be the match-winner, side-footing in a corner in the 90th minute.

One of Rodgers four signings so far, Emre Can, replaced Borini just days after suff…

Emile Smith Rowe is really desperate to help Arsenal end their long wait for a Premier League title after his injury-hit season.

Smith Rowe has largely been sidelined with a groin injury as the Gunners have marched to the top of the Premier League table, heading into this international break with an eight-point lead over closest challengers Manchester City, though the champions have a game in hand.

With just 10 games to play, Arsenal look the favourites to bring their Premier League title drought to an end, having last lifted the trophy with the 2003-04 Invincibles side.

Smith Rowe returned for the Gunners with four substitute appearances before scoring on his first start for club or country since June with the England Under-21s against France on Saturday, and wi…

Paris Saint-Germain forward Hatem Ben Arfa would be welcomed at Montreal Impact, according to coach Remi Garde.

The 31-year-old has been made an outcast by coach Unai Emery and recently confirmed that he will leave the Ligue 1 champions-elect at the end of the season.

Ben Arfa has not featured for the club since April 2017 and his lawyer, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, has accused them of violating France s professional football charter due to their treatment of his client.

If he decides to move to Major League Soccer then Garde has made it clear he would be warmly received in Canada.

We know each other very well,  the former Lyon and Aston Villa coach said.

If Hatem is coming to MLS, he is welcome here.

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