Ligue 1 giants Lyon have announced the sacking of head coach Claude Puel, effective immediately.

Despite the fact that Lyon finished third in France last season, they finished 12 points behind title-winners Lille and failed to pick up a trophy for the third year in succession.

For a club like Lyon who won seven successive Ligue 1 titles from 2001 to 2008 the results were simply not good enough, leading to Puel s departure.

Lyon wishes to announce the departure of Claude Puel, who is no longer the head coach of the club as of today (Monday), Lyon s blunt statement said.

The sacking is expected to cost Lyon approximately 3.5 million pounds, with Remi Garde, Lyon s current director of youth training, one of the favourites to take the job.

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Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has confirmed that Arsenal have had a bid rejected for defender Gary Cahill.

The centre-back has only a year remaining on his contract with the Trotters and Coyle has maintained throughout the summer that the England international will be allowed to leave for the right price.

Arsenal are looking to delve into the transfer market to spend the money received for Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas this summer and a partner for vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen is among the club s top priorities.

However, Coyle has now revealed that the Gunners offer, which is believed to be in the region of seven million pounds, falls way short of Bolton s valuation.

There was a conversation between [chairman] Phil Gartside and a representative o…

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Sporting defender Cedric, .

The North London club are set to make signing a defender their priority when the transfer window reopens in January, and have identified the Portugal international as their top target.

The 23 year old is rated as one of Europe’s best full-backs, having racked up almost fifty first team appearances for the Portuguese giants, while in 2011/12, he enjoyed a season long loan with Academia.

The Gunners brought in Mathieu Debuchy in the close season, though he is set to remain on the side-lines until late December, with fellow summer arrival Calum Chambers currently deputising despite largely being seen as a centre back.

Arsene Wenger’s side host bottom-of-the-table Burnely on Saturday a…

Competition: World Cup
Market: Colombia to win against Uruguay
Odds:

Colombia have enjoyed a great World Cup campaign so far and are dreaming of reaching the quarter-finals if they can see past South American rivals Uruguay.

Taking nine points from a group which included Greece, Japan and the Ivory Coast has certainly made people start considering Colombia as dark horses for this tournament. But they will have a difficult challenge this weekend when they come up against Uruguay.

Italy and England have both fallen by their sword in the group stages, but Uruguay will be without their influential striker Luis Suarez, who has been suspended for biting. As a result, Colombia are expected to make the difference count, and are being given odds of 20/21 to …

Former England manager Roy Hodgson has urged Everton s Ross Barkley to find himself a new club to fulfil his potential, warning he could become a lost talent.

Barkley s Everton contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 season and his failure to agree a new deal at Goodison Park has led to suggestions Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United will attempt to lure him away from Merseyside.

Barkley started one game and came off the bench twice for Hodgson s England team at the 2014 World Cup but failed to make an appearance at Euro 2016.

Hodgson, speaking about the development of young footballers at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in Beijing, said: If Ross can find a club where people believe in him as much as we did in the England set-up he will do well.

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Celtic have completed the signing of centre-back Kolo Toure, .

The move sees the thirty-five year old reunite with Brendan Rodgers, the man who took him to Anfield in the summer of 2013.

In three season’s with the Merseyside club, the Ivory Coast international racked up seventy-one appearances in all competitions, scoring his one and only goal coming in a 6-0 win over Aston Villa back in February.

Prior to his switch to the Reds he spent four seasons with Manchester City, winning the Premier League title with them in 2013 while he also lifted the trophy with Arsenal in 2004 making him one of just six players to bag winners medals with two clubs.

He also has been capped one hundred and eighteen times for his country and was part of their squad that …

Liverpool were controversially denied a Merseyside derby victory as Jordan Henderson saw a late winner ruled out by VAR in a 2-2 draw with 10-man Everton. 

Premier League leaders Everton twice came from behind to level in an absorbing contest at Goodison Park. 

Michael Keane cancelled out Sadio Mane s third-minute opener and Dominic Calvert-Lewin did the same after Mohamed Salah scored his 100th goal for Liverpool. 

Richarlison was sent off for a rash challenge on Thiago Alcantara and that indiscretion looked to have been doubly punished in injury time by Henderson, only for VAR to intervene and keep Everton three points ahead of Liverpool, who are unbeaten in 23 Merseyside derbies in all competitions, at the top of the table.

23 are now unbeaten…

Napoli have said Marek Hamsik will forever remain in our history after the club captain s move to Dalian Yifang was finally confirmed.

Aurelio De Laurentiis, who is president of the Serie A side, announced via Twitter on Thursday that Hamsik s long-awaited transfer has been completed.

The Chinese Super League club will pay a reported €20million fee for Hamsik, who usurped legendary forward Diego Maradona to become Napoli s all-time leading goalscorer in December 2017.

And a club statement confirming Hamsik s departure paid tribute to one of the most important players in Napoli s recent history.

Napoli affectionately embrace Marek Hamsik and thank him for these 12 wonderful years spent together, characterised by great dedication and a deep feeling…

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has insisted that qualifying for the World Cup remains his priority, explaining he will take it slow with Eden Hazard as the Real Madrid forward makes his way back to full fitness.

The Red Devils are five points clear at the top of Group E with two games left to play and can seal their spot at the World Cup with a win over Estonia on Saturday.

Hazard has not started a game at club or international level since the 3-2 defeat against France in the semi-finals of the Nations League last month, however, with his last start for Madrid coming in a 2-1 loss to Sheriff on September 28.

The 30-year-old is set to feature in some way over Belgium s next two games, but Martinez is more concerned with his side confirming their place at the Wo…

AS Roma are interested in signing Alex Telles from Manchester United, according to . It has been reported that Jose Mourinho’s new club have made contact with his former side in order to sign the 28-year-old left-back.

It has been reported that Roma want to sign Telles on loan from Premier League giants United. The Serie A outfit are looking for a short-term option due to the injury suffered by Leonardo Spinazzola during the Euro 2020 with Italy. The 28-year-old left-back is likely to be out for six months.

Telles joined United from FC Porto last summer. The Brazil international left-back made and one substitute appearance in the Premier League last season, providing two assists in the process. The 28-year-old also made four appearances in the Champions League and se…