Arsenal and Newcastle want Seko Fofana

Bayern Munich must be careful not to underestimate Benfica in their Champions League quarter-final tie, Hans-Jorg Butt has warned.

Bayern entertain Benfica at the Allianz Arena in the first leg on Tuesday, with the return fixture at the Estadio da Luz taking place eight days later.

Retired goalkeeper Butt spent four seasons at Bayern from 2008 after spending the previous campaign at Benfica and is confident the Portuguese champions will provide stiff competition as they look to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1989-90 – when they finished as runners-up to AC Milan.

In order to progress, though, the Lisbon-based side will need to overcome the Bundesliga champions for the first time in what will be their seventh attempt.

If Bayern are to bo…

West Ham United are interested in signing Marcos Senesi from Feyenoord, according to . West Ham are looking for a new centre-back due to injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma and have identified Senesi as a potential target in the January transfer window.

Senesi has been on the books of Feyenoord since 2019w when he joined from San Lorenzo. The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the better defenders in the Eredivisie and is an important player for his club.

The Argentine has scored one goal and provided two assists in 15 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord so far this season. Senesi scored three goals and gave two assists in 34 league matches during the 2020-21 campaign.

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Turkish Super Lig champions Besiktas are finalising the signing of Croatia international Domagoj Vida.

The defender s contract at Dynamo Kyiv had been set to expire on Sunday and he will swap the Ukrainian Premier League side for one of Istanbul s powerhouse teams.

Besiktas are yet to release details of the transfer or Vida s length of contract, but did inform Turkey s Capital Markets Board that they were discussing personal terms with the player.

The 28-year-old came through the ranks with Osijek and spent a brief spell at Bayer Leverkusen from 2010, before playing for Dynamo Zagreb between 2011 and 2013.

He has been a regular at Dynamo Kyiv during the last four years and has also earned 51 caps for Croatia.

Able to play at right-back but more…

Philadelphia Union s loss opened the door to Toronto in the race for the Supporters Shield, while New York City won a derby thriller.

Toronto moved level on points with Philadelphia after a 2-1 win over Inter Miami and the Union s 2-1 defeat to Columbus Crew on Sunday.

Columbus took a 37th-minute lead at home, Artur finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.

However, Philadelphia drew level in the 57th minute thanks to a penalty from Jamiro, although the hosts would strike late.

Krisztian Nemeth got on the end of a Luis Diaz Espinoza cross from the right to tap away a winner six minutes from time for Columbus, who are third in the Eastern Conference.

Immediate impact. 

Nemeth subs in and scores his first goal!

— Major League So…

French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has called for Russia to be excluded from the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, following weeks of rising political tensions in the region. The conflict escalated further on Friday, with the fighting reaching the capital city of Kyiv. There was intense fighting in Kharkiv, Ukraine s second-largest city, on Sunday.

France won the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, beating Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.

Russia had been set to host Poland in a qualifying playoff in March, but on Friday, UEFA said any international matches due to be held in Russia or Ukraine would have to be moved to a neutral venue, as well as confirming St Petersburg had been stripped of holding this season s Cha…

Divock Origi claims Liverpool have offered him a contract extension in the wake of his Champions League heroics.

Belgium international Origi scored the sealer in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in last weekend s final at the Wanda Metropolitano and could be rewarded with a new deal.

The 24-year-old only has 12 months to run on his existing agreement but is willing to postpone discussions until after the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Scotland.

Origi made a habit of scoring crucial goals from minimal playing time in 2018-19, hitting a double against Barcelona in the dramatic Champions League semi-final comeback and late winners against Everton and Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Yes, it shows Liverpool s recognition, Origi sai…

Chelsea celebrated their fourth successive Women’s Super League title after beating Reading 3-0 at Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Having seen off Manchester United in the FA Cup final earlier this month, Chelsea wrapped up the double in style as they breezed past relegated Reading courtesy of Guro Reiten and a Sam Kerr double.

The Blues’ recent dominance shone through as their hosts failed to deal with the attacking talent of Emma Hayes’ side, who finished the 2022-23 season victorious and on a seven-game league winning run.

CHELSEA. CH

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Former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri believes his old club can win the quadruple this season, as the EFL Cup winners prepare to host Inter in the Champions League.

The 30-year-old, who is now plying his trade in Major League Soccer after joining Chicago Fire in February, won the Champions League, Premier League, and FIFA Club World cup titles in a three-year spell at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp s side defeated Chelsea to win the EFL Cup last month, and are preparing for a Champions League second-leg clash with the Italian champions, boasting a 2-0 lead from the first leg at San Siro.

With the Reds sitting just six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and advancing to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, recent talk has surrounded the prospect of Klopp…