March 2016 - Soccer Wiretap

West Ham Preparing $31M Offer To Bournemouth For Callum Wilson

Dec 1, 2016 12:55 PM

West Ham United are preparing an offer worth up to £25 million ($31.3 million) for Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson after it was confirmed Diafra Sakho will miss up to six weeks with a thigh injury.

Wilson has emerged as Slaven Bilic’s main priority in the January transfer window after a poor start to the season that has left West Ham just one point clear of the relegation zone. 

Bournemouth rejected an offer of around £15 million from West Ham in May.

West Ham have been scouting Wilson since his 20 goals helped Bournemouth to promotion from the Championship in 2015.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Tags: Bournemouth, West Ham United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Gareth Southgate Hired As Manager Of England

Nov 30, 2016 3:08 PM

Gareth Southgate has been hired as the new manager of England on a four-year deal.

Southgate replaces Sam Allardyce after a spell as interim manager.

There is a break clause after the World Cup in Russia that can be triggered by either party. It is understood his salary will be around £1.5 million a year.

Southgate was the only candidate interviewed by the governing body. 

The Guardian

Tags: England, Misc Rumor

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United Hire Two Scouts Away From City

Nov 29, 2016 2:05 PM

Manchester United has recruited two academy scouts from Manchester City as they work to revamp their academy.

Dave Harrison and Lyndon Tomlinson, are currently on gardening leave and will begin their new roles on Jan. 1.

A new-look scouting operation is in place at United, with Marcel Bout having been promoted as part of the restructuring. Bout is head of global scouting, working alongside chief scout Jim Lawlor.

Arindam Rej/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Manchester United

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Chapecoense Being Offered Players On Loan, Relegation Exemption

Nov 29, 2016 11:49 AM

Top clubs in Brazil are offering to loan players to Chapecoense for free and are also petitioning for the club to be exempt from relegation for three years.

Directors of Coritiba, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Portuguesa, Santos and São Paulo have put forward the motion.

The plane carrying the entire team crashed in Colombia on Tuesday, killing at least 76 people on board.

John Hutchinson/The Sun

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Plane Carrying Chapecoense Crashes In Colombia

Nov 29, 2016 11:35 AM

An airplane carrying the Chapecoense football team crashed in Colombia on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people.

Six people, three players, two crew and a journalist, are believed to have survived the crash.

The plane, a British Aerospace 146 short-haul aircraft, was carrying the team, club staff and journalists to Chapecoense’s Copa Sudamericana finals match against Atlético Nacional in Medellin.

Chapecoense play in Brazil’s premier division, Série A. The club was founded in 1973 and first won promotion to the top flight in 2014.

The Copa Sudamericana is South America’s second-tier club competition, one rung below the Copa Libertadores, the centrepiece of the continent’s football calendar. The winner of the Copa Sudamericana gains automatic entry into next season’s Copa Libertadores.

The final, like each round of the tournament, is a two-legged tie, consisting of a home match and an away fixture. Atlético Nacional were due to visit Brazil for the return leg on 7 December.

Sam Jones, Tom Phillips/The Guardian

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Report: PSG Make Contact With Lionel Messi On Potential Transfer

Nov 29, 2016 12:13 AM

RTL reports PSG director of football Patrick Kluivert has reportedly contacted Lionel Messi's father and agent, Jorge.

Senior figures at Barcelona have said they are confident Messi will choose to see out the remainder of his career with the club as an extension has been discussed.

Manchester City has also been linked to a move for Messi.

ESPN

Tags: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Zidane Has 14 Players In Mind For Starting XI In Clasico

Nov 29, 2016 12:10 AM

Zinedine Zidane has 14 players in mind for Real Madrid's starting XI in Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona.

Zidane is uncertain in central defense and in midfield.

Real Madrid will enter the Clasico with a six-point lead over Barcelona.

As.com

Tags: Real Madrid

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Coutinho Likely Out Six Weeks With Ankle Injury

Nov 28, 2016 4:42 PM

Philippe Coutinho is expected to be out up to six weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage.

Coutinho was taken from the pitch on a stretcher after an accidental collision with Didier Ndong during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday and was assessed at Spire Hospital on Monday.

Liverpool play Bournemouth, West Ham United, Middlesbrough, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City and Sunderland before Coutinho is expected to return at the start of the January, most probably for the FA Cup third -round weekend. Klopp’s side visit Manchester United in the Premier League on 15 January.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

Tags: Liverpool, Injury

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Jermaine Jones Prefers To Remain In MLS But Open To Europe

Nov 28, 2016 2:53 PM

Jermaine Jones has said that he would like to play again in Major League Soccer as he heads into free agency.

Jones said he would like a pay raise that returns him closer to the $3.05 million he made with New England last year before the Rapids acquired him in March for $650,000.

Jones is open to returning to Europe.

"People know that I came to this league as a [designated player] and this is where I want to go back to," Jones told the Denver Post. "I'm a free agent now. I will sit back and see what comes. I'm not scared to go back to Europe or scared to go to Mexico or somewhere."

ESPN

Tags: Colorado Rapids, Misc Rumor

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Jose Mourinho Sent Off For Throwing Water Bottle

Nov 27, 2016 2:33 PM

Jose Mourinho was sent off in the 27th minute of Manchester United's 1-1 tie against West Ham.

Mourinho sent a water bottle in anger at Paul Pogba's booking for diving by Jonathan Moss that was actually the correct decision.

Mourinho received a one-match ban for verbal misconduct towards Mark Clattenburg during October’s draw against Burnley.

United are now 11 points behind Chelsea in sixth place with 20 points from 13 matches.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Tags: Manchester United

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Neymar Uninjured After Crashing Ferrari
Members of Barcelona's staff joined Neymar on the scene to help with the paperwork and he was not late for the flight.

Samuel Mardsen/ESPN

Philippe Coutinho Stretchered Off With Serious Foot Injury
Philippe Coutinho was carted off with a protective splint on his right foot after several minutes of attention on the field.

Glenn Price/ESPN

Mourinho: Anthony Martial Struggling With United Pace
Louis Van Gaal's slower tempo perhaps better suited Anthony Martial than Jose Mourinho's.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Gareth Bale Out Up To Three Months With Ankle Surgery
Gareth Bale will undergo surgery on the ankle injury he suffered this week in the Champions League.

Press Association

Moussa Dembele Receiving Interest From United, Arsenal, Atleti
Moussa Dembele has been a revelation for Celtic this season, scoring 16 goals in 26 games in all competitions.

Peter O'Rourke/ESPN

City Prepared To Pursue Central Defender During January Window
City had no plans to act in the winter window but Vincent Kompany’s latest injury may force a rethink of that position.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Arsenal Interested In Signing Jack Wilshere To Extension
Arsène Wenger plans to offer Jack Wilshere a contract extension despite being on a season-long loan with Bournemouth.

Amy Lawrence/The Guardian

United To Exercise 17-18 Option On Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Contract
Zlatan Ibrahimovic openly talked about his interest in someday playing in the MLS this week.

ESPN

Isco, Real Madrid Keen On Discussing Contract Extension
Isco's place with Real Madrid has been uncertain due to their crowded midfield.

As.com

Luis Enrique Dismisses Rumors Of Lionel Messi To City
Luis Enrique dismissed a new round of rumors linking Lionel Messi to Manchester City.

Ewan Murray/The Guardian

Study Finds Promotion-Relegation Would Benefit United States
Fans are moderately in favor of the idea, according to a poll used in the study that questioned more than 1,000 soccer fans in the U.S.

ESPN

Chelsea Move Ahead Of PSG, Juve In Pursuit Of Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak scored 10 goals in 24 Allsvenskan appearances last season.

Jonathan Johnson/ESPN

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Envisions 'Conquering U.S.'
Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to have interest in joining the MLS.

PA Sport

Bruce Arena To Replace Jurgen Klinsmann As Manager Of United States
Sunil Gulati fired Arena after the United States were unable to advanced to the knockout stage in 2006 in Germany.

Taylor Twellman/ESPN

United States Fires Jurgen Klinsmann As Manager
Bruce Arena is in talks to take over for Jurgen Klinsmann as manager.

ESPN

Jurgen Klinsmann: Some Critics 'Don't Understand Soccer'
Jurgen Klinsmann said he was "very comfortable" with his position and that he believed those calling for him to be fired were "being disrespectful" and "ignoring the facts."

Sam Borden/New York Times

Gareth Southgate To Be Named Manager Of England
No other candidates have been invited for an interview as Gareth Southgate is set to be appointed manager.

Press Association

Steven Gerrard Rejects Offer Of Managing MK Dons
Steven Gerrard is in no rush to move into management and is considering offers to extend his playing career.

Peter O'Rourke/ESPN

Yaya Toure Scores Twice In First City Start In Six Months
Yaya Toure started for Manchester City for the first time in six months and was decisive in scoring both of their goals in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Dominic Fifield/The Guardian

Wayne Rooney: British Media 'Trying To Write My Obituary'
Wayne Rooney believes he's being treated unfairly by the British media.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian