March 2018 - Soccer Wiretap

Bayern Plans To Hire New Manager By End Of April

Mar 31, 2018 5:57 PM

Bayern Munich plan on hiring a new manager by the end of April.

CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has also finally ended speculation that Jupp Heynckes could return next season

"It's Heynckes wish to retire at the end of the season," Rummenigge said.

Bayern will not pursue any manager who does not speak German.

"We want a German-speaking coach," Rummenigge added. "That's the way it will be."

Rummenigge confirmed Thomas Tuchel was a candidate but he's committed to another club.

"Our sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has held talks with coaches and Tuchel was among them," the CEO said, noting that he couldn't say a "bad word" about Tuchel.

"He informed us that he's signed for another club. But that isn't a problem for us, we are relaxed."

ESPN

Tags: Bayern Munich, Misc Rumor

Discuss
City To Open Extension Talks With Raheem Sterling

Mar 30, 2018 6:07 PM

Manchester City will open talks with Raheem Sterling this summer on an improved contract extension.

Sterling is under contract until 2020.

Sterling's future with City appeared uncertain last season, but he has since become an essential part of Pep Guardiola's squad.

“Txiki [Begiristain, the club’s director of football] is talking about that,” Guardiola said before City’s visit to Everton on Saturday evening. “There is no doubt we have to keep him. Maybe other clubs are now interested in him because he is playing so well but he knows how important he is to us.”

Paul Wilson/The Guardian

Tags: Manchester City, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Gabriel Jesus Still Wants To Remain With City Long-Term

Mar 29, 2018 3:27 PM

Gabriel Jesus and Manchester City are putting their extension talks on hold but he wants to remain with the club over the long-term.

Jesus is under contract through 2021.

Jesus had been expected to sign a new deal before Christmas that would take him through 2021.

Jesus is set to be Brazil's first-choice striker at this summer's World Cup in Russia. 

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Tags: Manchester City, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Lazio Considers Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Worth Much More Than $110M

Mar 29, 2018 3:27 PM

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been identified as a summer target for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has said it will take "much more" than €90 million ($110.6 million) to sell Milinkovic-Savic.

Milinkovic-Savic is considered one of the world's best young box-to-box midfielders.

"We know where we want to get and I don't like to talk about it now because we're in the midst of a battle for many important objectives and there is a time and a place to talk about things," he told Sportitalia.

Asked whether €80-90 million was a fair valuation, he said: "Yes -- even much more. There have already been offers in this region last summer and we didn't consider them.

"There are major European clubs interested in Milinkovic-Savic, but we don't have anything definite on the table."

Ben Gladwell/ESPN

Tags: Lazio, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Available To Play In Saturday's Los Angeles Derby

Mar 29, 2018 10:17 AM

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available for the LA Galaxy's first derby against LAFC on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday and will train with the club on Friday.

"We'll see how he is when he arrives, obviously he gets here on Thursday and then we have to see how he is physically and everything else," Sigi Schmid said after training on Tuesday.

"I think there's a chance he can play a part in the [LAFC] game. I don't think he's going to play 90 minutes, but we have to evaluate once he gets here. It's a long flight and [we have to] see how he feels.

"Friday is a pretty easy practice the day before the game. We just expect him to be able to be a part of the group and start to introduce himself to the group."

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy

Discuss
Isco: I'm More Confident With Spain Than Playing Under Zidane

Mar 28, 2018 10:16 AM

Isco admitted he feels more confident playing with the Spanish national team than he does Real Madrid.

Isco's standing with Zinedine Zidane has varied over their tenure working together. Isco scored a hattrick in Spain's 6-1 win over Argentina on Tuesday.

"In Madrid I don't have the confidence a player needs,'' Isco said in a postmatch interview with Marca. "The matches with the national team give me life. Here I have the confidence of the coach.

"I want to show that I'm a good player. Lopetegui shows me confidence with the minutes he gives me.

"Maybe I'm the problem in Madrid. I don't know how to win Zidane's confidence.''

PA Sport

Tags: Real Madrid, Spain, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
UEFA Eliminates Cup-Tied Rule

Mar 27, 2018 11:09 AM

UEFA will eliminate their cup-tied rule impacting players who begin the season with one club and are registered to another at a later date.

Philippe Coutinho would be able to play for Barcelona in the Champions League despite already featuring for Liverpool.

"This is in line with the existing regulatory situation in the different domestic leagues, which does not impose restrictions on the eligibility for competitions of players registered for a new club during the winter transfer window," UEFA said in a statement explaining its decision to end the "cup tied" rule.

PA Sport

Tags: UEFA Champions League

Discuss
Eden Hazard Will Wait Until After World Cup On Chelsea Extension

Mar 27, 2018 11:05 AM

Eden Hazard is prioritizing Belgium's World Cup run over signing an extension with Chelsea.

Hazard is under contract until 2020 and does not expect a quick resolution to his future.

“Look, I’m going to finish the season first, then play the World Cup and then I’ll leave on holiday,” Hazard said. “We’ll see what happens next. I haven’t thought about it yet; I have another two years’ contract with Chelsea. I am very happy. I just think about the end of the season and the World Cup.”

There have been suggestions Hazard will wait to see if Real Madrid will prioritize signing him this summer before committing to Chelsea. Hazard may also wait to see if Chelsea secures a spot in the Champions League next season.

Jacob Steinberg/The Guardian

Tags: Belgium, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Cesc Fabregas Open To Coaching At Arsenal Someday

Mar 26, 2018 10:30 AM

Cesc Fabregas is open to returning to Arsenal one day as a coach.

Fabregas left Arsenal for a return to Barcelona in 2011 and then went to Chelsea in 2014 after Arsene Wenger turned down a chance to re-sign him.

Fabregas was asked about the possibility during a question and answer session with fans on Twitter on Sunday and replied: "Of course."

Mattias Karen/ESPN

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, Misc Rumor

Discuss
Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann Talk About Playing On Same Club

Mar 26, 2018 10:26 AM

Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann said they would like to play together at the club level, but that doesn't mean it will happen with Manchester United.

Pogba returned to United from Juventus in 2016 but his time there has been uneven.

Griezmann has been linked with a move to United in the past.

"If only we could do this every day," Pogba said, with Griezmann responding: "That would be great. But hey, that doesn't mean I'm going to go to Man U."

Pogba added: "The whole year together, winning trophies. I really hope we're going to do that one day."

Ian Holyman/ESPN

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

Discuss
Thomas Tuchel Rejects Bayern Offer, Likely To Join Arsenal
Thomas Tuchel is the former manager of Borussia Dortmund.

ESPN

Mino Raiola: Pep Guardiola Is A Cowardly Dog
Mino Raiola represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and others.

ESPN

PSG Opens Talks With Antonio Conte
PSG also has interest in Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri, but those three managers will be more difficult to attract than Antonio Conte.

Fabrizio Romano/The Guardian

PSG Targeting Massimiliano Allegri For Manager Job
CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been impressed by how Juventus has performed in the Champions League.

Jonathan Johnson/ESPN

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Will Join LA Galaxy
Jose Mourinho has allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave now in order to sign in the MLS.

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Javi Martinez Waiting To Hear Why Spain Left Him Off Roster
Javi Martinez played for Spain in the 2010 World Cup along with the 2012 Euro and 2014 World Cup.

Raphael Honigstein/ESPN

Everton Interested In Transfer For Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the last two seasons, with Ashley Young the first-choice left-back.

Peter O'Rourke/ESPN

Antoine Griezmann Expects Future To Be Decided Before World Cup
Antoine Griezmann has been linked with United and Barcelona.

Ian Holyman/ESPN

N'Golo Kante Not Interested In Leaving Chelsea For PSG
Chelsea face a summer of uncertainty in the transfer market.

Liam Twomey/ESPN

Lionel Messi Credits Improved Diet For No Longer Vomiting On Pitch
There had been concerns Lionel Messi was suffering from an illness or stress.

Adriana Garcia/ESPN

US Soccer Chief Believes World Will Follow On Heading Ban
The US has already taken action with a ban in place since 2015.

Press Association

Liverpool-City Headline UCL Quarterfinals
The matches will be played on April 3rd and 4th with the return legs on April 10th and 11th.

RealGM Staff Report

Vincenzo Montella Admits He Could Leave Sevilla For Italian Team Job
Sevilla similarly lost Jorge Sampaoli one year ago to the Argentina national team job.

As.com

Gareth Southgate 'Desperate' To Take England To World Cup
Gareth Southgate remains focused on preparing his England team for the World Cup despite the increase in political tensions with Russia.

Press Association

Harry Kane Out Four Weeks With Ankle Injury
This is the third time since the beginning of last season Harry Kane has suffered the injury.

David Hytner/The Guardian

Mark Hughes Identified As Top Candidate By Southampton
Mark Hughes was fired by Stoke City in January.

David Hytner/The Guardian

Saints Fire Mauricio Pellegrino As Manager
Southampton have won only five league games this season, two of them against the bottom club, West Bromwich Albion.

Ben Fisher/The Guardian

Reports Suggest Neymar Could End Up With Barcelona Or Real Madrid
Neymar has been linked with a return to Barcelona.

ESPN

Marco Reus Signs Extension With Dortmund Through 2023
Marco Reus joined Dortmund in 2012 from Gladbach.

PA Sports

PSG Hopes Champions League Exit Won't Lead To Neymar's Exit
Neymar arrived last summer for a world record fee but his first season has been problematic on and off the pitch.

Jaime Candil/As.com