World Cup winner Benedikt Howedes has agreed a four-year contract with Russian champions Lokomotiv Moscow, ending his long association with Schalke.
The Germany international started all of his country s matches as Joachim Low s men triumphed in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
But the 30-year-old has been dogged by a series of injuries in recent years and was only able to make three Serie A appearances while on loan at Juventus for the 2017-18 season.
However, Lokomotiv said stringent medical tests conducted in Italy did not reveal any issues that would prevent Howedes from joining the club.
Thank you for everything, !
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en)
Howedes spent 16 years at Schalke, progressing through the club to become first-…
France coach Didier Deschamps has named his squad for Les Bleus Nations League games in June, with Boubacar Kamara called up for the first time.
The Nations League holders face Denmark, Austria and Croatia next month, playing their 2018 World Cup final opponents both home and away.
Marseille midfielder Kamara has enjoyed a fine season, and the 22-year-old – who is set to leave the Ligue 1 club as a free agent, with Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Barcelona linked – has been rewarded with a maiden senior international call.
Kamara is part of a 24-man squad and may well have benefited from Paul Pogba s injury absence.
Pogba – who is also out of contract at Manchester United – sustained an injury in a heavy defeat against Live…
Brendan Rodgers has categorically ruled out selling any of his Leicester City players in the upcoming transfer window.
Leicester are soaring in second place, six points ahead of Manchester City – whose title defence looks in tatters – though eight behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Foxes, champions under Claudio Ranieri in 2015-16, face both City and Liverpool in the space of two games across the festive period.
Left-back Ben Chilwell has been linked with a January move to Chelsea, who will be able to sign players next month after their transfer ban was lifted, while centre-back Caglar Soyuncu is reportedly a target for City.
However, Rodgers has moved to quash any rumours, insisting Leicester have no intention to sell in January.
Los Angeles Lakers and NBA great Kobe Bryant recalled his first meeting with Lionel Messi after Ronaldinho predicted the Barcelona star would become the greatest player who ever lived .
Regarded as one of basketball s greatest players, Bryant s links to football are strong, having spent some of his childhood in Italy, and the future Hall of Famer calls himself an AC Milan fan.
But the five-time NBA champion and 2008 MVP has a strong affinity for Barca due to his friendship with Ronaldinho and admiration for Messi.
Speaking about his introduction to an emerging Messi thanks to Ronaldinho, Bryant told ESPN FC: I think Messi must have been 18 at the time, 17 maybe.
Ronaldinho called him over and said, Kobe, I want you to meet the player who is going to be t…
Cristiano Ronaldo rarely goes five games without scoring but he heads into Juventus clash with Manchester United seeking his first Champions League goal in six outings.
He is not the only one hoping to end an unwanted streak, as AEK Athens travel to Bayern Munich aiming for a first away victory in 24 matches in Europe s premier club competition.
With Roma playing away at CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid travelling to Viktoria Plzen, Wednesday s fixtures could deliver some surprises.
Our Opta-powered preview gives the lowdown on the key numbers for each contest.
Benfica v Ajax
5 Ajax have not lost any of their last five competitive games against Benfica, picking up a draw and four wins including their 1-0 victory at Johan Cruijff Arena in …
Harry Redknapp believes Harry Kane will remain loyal to Tottenham even if they do not win any silverware this season.
Kane has firmly established himself as one of the top players in Europe this season with a stunning September that has seen him score 11 goals for club and country.
A perfect hat-trick against APOEL in the Champions League on Tuesday helped Spurs keep pace with Real Madrid in Group H, his treble coming on the back of braces against Everton, Borussia Dortmund and West Ham.
Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood has suggested that Kane may leave Tottenham if they fail to win a trophy, but Redknapp disagrees.
I don t see why he should leave, he ll be captain eventually, he s loved there, Redknapp, who managed the club between 2008 and 2012, told …
Sadio Mane insists Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the world, but does not want to be involved in discussions over his future at Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, with the striker after a new challenge following eight seasons at Sabenerstrasse, and 12 in total in the Bundesliga.
Mane arrives this off-season at Bayern in similar circumstances, seeking a departure from Liverpool with a year left on his deal after six seasons at the club, helping them win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, while also winning the African Cup of Nations with Senegal in 2021.
Speaking in an interview with BILD, Mane did not want to get caught up in any unnecessary drama with that in mind.
Clearly, Rober…
Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic were all on target as Chelsea moved a step closer to the Premier League title with a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough, who are relegated as a result.
Chelsea will be crowned champions if they are able to win at West Brom on Friday, while Boro drop back to the Championship after a single season s stay in the top flight.
Costa gave Chelsea a deserved lead after a dominant opening to the game, finishing off a fine pass from Cesc Fabregas, via a touch off Cesar Azpilicueta.
Within 10 minutes the Chelsea lead was doubled, Alonso stealing in at the back post to steer home his sixth league goal of the season thanks to a deflection from Brad Guzan s thigh.
The goalkeeper was nutmegged again by Matic, Fabregas supplyin…
Everton boss Sean Dyche hailed the togetherness of his side after they beat Newcastle 3-0 to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto scored in the final 11 minutes as the Toffees took the spoils at a raucous Goodison Park.
Dyche has emphasised the importance of team spirit since the club were hit by a 10-point deduction last month and he believes that was evident in their display.
The tale of a wild finale under the Goodison Park lights
— Premier League (@premierleague)
Dyche said: “The performance level at home has been pleasing all season but you have got win games and you have got to score goals.
“We did that well. I thought it was another good performance, particularly first …
Carlo Ancelotti emphatically ruled out the possibility of Eduardo Camavinga leaving Real Madrid following links with Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined Los Blancos in August 2021 in a reported €31million deal after emerging as one of Europe s most promising young players at Rennes.
He unsurprisingly took ownership of a rotation role during his first season, making 13 LaLiga starts from 26 appearances.
But the France international has struggled to kick on this term, with only five of his 16 league outings coming as a starter.
His future was then called into question on Friday when speculation surfaced suggesting Arsenal were particularly keen on a loan move, while big-spending Chelsea have been credited with an interest.
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