USA striker Mallory Swanson looks set to miss the Women s World Cup after suffering a torn patella tendon in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

The defending champions intended to include Swanson prominently in their plans for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, which spans July and August.

However, the Chicago Red Stars forward was hurt in Saturday s 2-0 win over Ireland in Austin. She was taken off on a stretcher after suffering the blow shortly before half-time and taken to hospital.

Tests have revealed the extent of the injury, with a team statement announcing her squad place would be taken by Alyssa Thompson for Tuesday s game in St. Louis, also against Ireland.

The statement added: Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee i…

The Guardian understands that Leicester City have completed the permanent signing of Youri Tielemans from Monaco.

The fee, thought to be in the region of £40m and sees the club smash their transfer record for the second time in a week after securing the services of striker Ayoze Perez just four days ago.

Tielemans spent the second half of last season on loan at the King Power Stadium, and impressed with three goals in twelve appearances.

In one-and-a-half-years with Monaco, the twenty-two-year-old racked up sixty-five appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals having spent four seasons in the first team of Anderlecht the club where he began his career.

He has been capped twenty-three times for Belgium and was part of their squad that finis…

Chelsea could be able to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli in the summer of 2024, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. The well-known and well-respected reporter has claimed that among the clubs who want to secure the services of the Nigeria international striker, former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea could be the likeliest to win the race.

Jacobs said on : “Osimhen’s primary concern is to take his time and to move most likely in the summer of 2024, and most likely to the Premier League. 

“I don’t think it’s locked in that it’s Chelsea or any other club. I think if there is one club that is audacious and ambitious enough to try their luck in January with a view to a summer that would most likely be Chelsea.”

Osimhen has made…

A decision on George Burley s future or lack of one as Scotland manager will not be made before next week, his employers at the Scottish Football Association (SFA) indicated on Thursday.

A 1-0 defeat by the Netherlands on Wednesday ended Scotland s chances of reaching next year s World Cup finals and is widely expected to trigger the dismissal of Burley, who has ruled out resigning in the wake of what was a deeply disappointing qualifying campaign.

A spokesman for the SFA insisted there would be no rush to pass judgement.

There are no meetings at Hampden today regarding the campaign just passed or the manager, he said. The president (of the SFA, George Peat) spoke to the manager after the game last night and they agreed to meet up next week sometime.

B…

Didier Drogba believes Chelsea are more entertaining than ever, but is aware they will ultimately be judged on how many trophies they secure.

Jose Mourinho s side lead the Premier League by six points, having claimed 10 wins and two draws from 12 outings this season, and booked their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday with an eye-catching 5-0 victory at Schalke.

The win in Gelsenkirchen left Mourinho purring over his team s performance and Drogba who, like the manager, is in his second spell at Stamford Bridge has also been impressed by Chelsea s attacking prowess.

However, the veteran Ivorian striker who inspired Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012  knows results are key to ensuring a place in the history books.

I th…

Everton will reject Chelsea’s bid of £30m for John Stones, .

The centre-back donned the number five shirt for the Toffees on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by newly promoted Watford, and his manager Roberto Martinez is determined to retain his services.

His appearance at the weekend was his fifty-fifth since signing from Barnsley in the summer of 2013, with his only goal for the club so far coming in a 3-0 win over Manchester United back in April.

Internationally, the twenty-one year old has made four senior appearances for England having won twelve caps for the Under 21s.

The Merseyside club are on the lookout for a new defender regardless of whether Stones stays of not with Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk…

Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski will not be sold and reports of a €200million price tag are nonsense, club president Uli Hoeness said.

Lewandowski, 29, is linked with a move away from the Bundesliga giants after his agent said last month the Poland international wanted to leave.

Manchester United and Chelsea have emerged as possible destinations, while Real Madrid were initially reported to be interested.

Amid reports Bayern wanted at least €200m for Lewandowski, Hoeness rubbished those claims and said the forward was going nowhere.

A €200m price tag is nonsense, he told Sky.

Robert will not be sold and will play next season with us. Everything has been said about that.

Lewandowski, who is contracted until 2021, has spent…

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed are interested in signing Nabil Fekir.

The attacking midfielder was an inch away from moving to before the World Cup, but the deal suddenly broke down as the two clubs pulled out of the negotiations. A few days ago, his agent said the deal wasn t dead, but now Aulas says Real Madrid are about to enter the race.

Speaking to RT France, the head of Lyon said he had given the green light for Fekir to be sold to Liverpool but the deal had taken too long and eventually fell through. He praised the France international as an exceptional player, able to keep the ball in tight spaces and with incredible talent. And he claims the collapse of the deal has attracted the interest of Real Madrid and their new coach Julen Lopetegui, and …

Barcelona have given their biggest hint yet that Robinho could be on his way to the Nou Camp after technical secretary Txiki Begiristain revealed their interest.

The Spanish champions have been heavily linked with the Manchester City striker since Pep Guardiola took over at the club and revealed he was a fan of the Brazilian.

However, Manchester City landed the former Real Madrid striker back in September 2008, but reports believe that the European champions are still in the hunt for Robinho.

Begiristain told Spanish newspaper Sport: He is a very interesting player and can play in the Champions League.

The Blaugrana s technical secretary went on to reignite the Cesc Fabregas debate by reiterating his belief that the Arsenal star will end up at Barcelona…

Chelsea paid Championship side Middlesbrough back in style on Tuesday. After losing the first leg of their clash in the Carabao Cup semifinals by 1-0, the Blues won the second leg at Stamford Bridge by 6-1. Though the quality of the opposition might be questioned, such a result was bound to lift the confidence of Mauricio Pochettino s players in the middle of a largely underwhelming season.

Atlético Madrid will pay €500k loan fee for Moise Kean joining from Juventus.

Salary covered by Atléti, deal to be signed and sealed in the next days just waiting on final green light.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)

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