April 2017 - Soccer Wiretap

Kevin De Bruyne Escapes Serious Injury After Being Stretchered Off

Dec 31, 2017 10:36 AM

Kevin de Bruyne was stretchered off Manchester City's 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace after a tackle by Jason Puncheon.

De Bruyne, however, was seen walking back to the City dressing room. 

"With Kevin we were lucky," said Pep Guardiola. "I don't know what happened today. We were lucky in the past. But I don't know what happens in the future."

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Injury

Discuss
Paul Pogba: Something Has To Change

Dec 31, 2017 10:27 AM

Paul Pogba called out Manchester United for their current run of poor form.

United has recorded draws against Leicester City and Burnley on either side of Christmas.

"We didn't lose but we have to wake up, bounce back and get back to winning," he told MUTV. "We drew again. Three draws we have to win, something has to change and we have to change to win.

"It's only one day and then we have to play against Everton -- that's football. Tomorrow's another day and we have to go out there and win."

PA Sport

Tags: Manchester United

Discuss
Gabriel Jesus Out 1-2 Months With Knee Injury

Dec 31, 2017 10:23 AM

Gabriel Jesus injured his knee in Manchester City's 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.

Pep Guardiola told BT Sport: "He [Gabriel] is injured. Hopefully not tough, but maybe one or two months he will be out."

Jesus has eight goals and two assists in just over 1,000 minutes this season in the Premier League.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Injury

Discuss
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Out One Month With Recurrence Of Knee Injury

Dec 30, 2017 6:31 PM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out at least one month with a recurrence of his knee injury.

Ibrahimovic was out for seven months following a tear of his ACL.

"It's the same knee, it's the knee with an incredible problem," Jose Mourinho said. "A [36]-year-old man -- a lion, like you say he's a real lion -- but not easy and now he's had a little recurrence and one month out."

United also lost Romelu Lukaku on Saturday.

ESPN

Tags: Manchester United, Injury

Discuss
Romelu Lukaku Stretchered Off Field Following Head Injury

Dec 30, 2017 6:28 PM

Romelu Lukaku was stretchered off the field in the first half of Manchester United's 0-0 draw against Southampton.

Lukaku clashed heads with Wesley Hoedt.

Jose Mourinho told the BBC after the game that Lukaku would be "out of football for a while." 

Lukaku was attended to by United's medical staff on the pitch for around six minutes before leaving on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask.

Rob Dawson/ESPN

Tags: Manchester United, Injury

Discuss
Chelsea Posts Record Turnover In 16-17 Despite Missing UCL

Dec 29, 2017 1:11 PM

Chelsea had an annual profit of £15.3 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

The club's turnover increased 9.8 percent from £329.1 million to £361.3 million, underpinned by receiving a greater share of Premier League broadcast revenue as a result of winning the title in the 2016-17 season.

The record turnover was despite not playing in the Champions League.

Chelsea's finances were ultimately pulled into the black by a £69.2 million profit on player trading, in a year that saw Oscar offloaded to Shanghai SIPG for a club-record £60 million and fringe players Papy Djilobodji and Patrick Bamford sold for around £15 million combined.

Chelsea expect next year's results to be boosted by the return of Champions League broadcast revenue, coupled with the start of a 15-year technical partnership with Nike worth £900 million.

Liam Twomey/ESPN

Tags: Chelsea, IQ

Discuss
Jurgen Klopp: Big Clubs Must Adapt To Rising Transfer Fees

Dec 29, 2017 1:09 PM

Jurgen Klopp suggested clubs must adapt to the rising cost of transfers.

Liverpool spent a world record £75 million on Virgil van Dijk.

Speaking about the transfer market at news conference on Friday, Klopp said: "I'm surprised about the development in the last two years, let me say, because there were big steps.

"But the last half a year changed pretty much everything and we, as a club, cannot change that.

"Of course, not each club would be able to do it, but a lot of clubs are able to do it and will do it in the future. How the market always is, it's all about the need and the opportunity.

"If you want to sign a player, the last thing I think about actually is the price, to be honest -- not because I like throwing money around, it's only because we are thinking about the player. There's one moment when you get the price and then you have to accept it or not.

"It's a big change in football in the last few months and years. We have to adapt to it. That's how it is.

"It changed already and it doesn't now mean that all transfers will now be in this category, but it's the same how it was before. Half a year ago, I think, there was a big transfer for an offensive player and now we have a big transfer for a defensive player.

"It's not nice, but that's the market, that's the world. We have to adapt."

Glenn Price/ESPN

Tags: Liverpool, IQ, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Sevilla Hires Vincenzo Montella As Manager

Dec 28, 2017 1:36 PM

Sevilla has hired Vincenzo Montella as manager.

Eduardo Berizzo was fired by Sevilla on Dec. 22.

Montella was fired by AC Milan in November.

BBC

Tags: Sevilla, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Everton Buys Cenk Tosun From Besiktas For $33.6M

Dec 28, 2017 10:03 AM

Everton has agreed upon a £25 million ($33.6 million) deal with Besiktas to sign striker Cenk Tosun.

Sam Allardyce has tracked the former Eintracht Frankfurt and Gaziantepspor player for some time and recommended him to Crystal Palace.

Everton previously tried to sign Olivier Giroud both in the summer and earlier in December.

Everton has been searching for a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Tags: Everton, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Swansea City Hires Carlos Carvalhal As Manager

Dec 28, 2017 9:29 AM

Carlos Carvalhal has been hired as manager of Swansea City.

Carvalhal left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent on Christmas Eve.

Carvalhal succeeds Paul Clement, who was sacked a little over two weeks ago.

Huw Jenkins, the Swansea chairman, said: “We are very pleased with the appointment. We felt we needed to get the managerial situation resolved as soon as possible and while the timing is not always perfect, we can look forward to the second half of the campaign with renewed optimism.

Stuart James/The Guardian

Tags: Swansea City, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Liverpool Agrees To World Record $100.6M Fee For Virgil Van Dijk
Saints only paid £11.5 million for Virgil van Dijk in 2015.

David Hytner, Ben Fisher/The Guardian

PSG Interested In Signing Lassana Diarra
Lassana Diarra has been of interest to the Ligue 1 leaders as a successor to holding midfielder Thiago Motta since he was spell at Marseille from 2015-17.

Jonathan Johnson/ESPN

Kylian Mbappe: PSG Can Become Best Team In The World
Kylian Mbappe said Cristiano Ronaldo was his idol when he was young.

Adriana Garcia/ESPN

Wenger Denies Claim Olivier Giroud's Wife Blocked Everton Transfer
Olivier Giroud said earlier this season that he was "very close" to joining Everton.

Mattias Karen/ESPN

United Considering $94.9M Offer To Juve For Paulo Dybala
Jose Mourinho is searching for a number 10.

As.com

Marouane Fellaini Unsure Of Future With United
Marouane Fellaini rejected an offer in September.

Rob Dawson/ESPN

Jose Mourinho Laments United's Lack Of Spending Power Compared To City
Following their 2-2 tie with Burney, Jose Mourinho pointed to the difference in spending power between Manchester United and Manchester City.

Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Manchester City Interested In Summer Move For Fred
Fred is capable of playing as holding midfielder.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Zinedine Zidane Doesn't Think La Liga Title Race Over Yet
Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-0 at the Bernabeu to go 14 points ahead in La Liga.

Sid Lowe/The Guardian

Sergio Aguero Concerned Over Long-Term Future With City
Sergio Aguero has been rotated with Gabriel Jesus by Pep Guardiola.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Sevilla Fires Eduardo Berizzo
Eduardo Berizzo replaced Jorge Sampaoli this past summer.

Adriana Garcia/ESPN

Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, KDB, Kane Headline Guardian's 2017 Top 100
Real Madrid and Barcelona combine to have 23 players on the list.

The Guardian

Diego Simeone: Antoine Griezmann Remains Committed To Atleti
Antoine Griezmann revealed in his recent biography that he turned down Barca in 2011 and could yet join Manchester United in future.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Kevin De Bruyne To Sign New Six-Year Deal With City
Kevin de Bruyne's new deal will pay him $281,000 per week.

Ed Aarons, Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

City Prioritize Transfers For Alexis Sanchez, Virgil Van Dijk
Pep Guardiola has Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk at the top of his wish list.

Ed Aarons, Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

Nashville Becomes 24th MLS Franchise
With Nashville named, the race for the last spot is widely viewed as a two-city race between Cincinnati and Sacramento.

Jeff Carlisle/ESPN

Liverpool Won't Take Short-Term View During January Transfer Window
Liverpool wanted to sign Virgil van Dijk in the summer to improve their back line, but they've not conceded a goal from open play for nearly a month.

Glenn Price/ESPN

Cristiano Ronaldo Misses Training With Calf Issue Ahead Of Clasico
Cristiano Ronaldo admitted to having felt some pain in his calf following a crunching foul by Gremio captain Geromel.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Christian Pulisic One Of Two Teenagers On The Guardian's Top 100 List
Christian Pulisic is also the only American on the list.

Ed Aarons/The Guardian

Pep Guardiola Dismisses Possibility Of City Winning Quadruple
City has reached the semifinals of the Carabao Cup with their win over Leicester City.

Stuart James/The Guardian