Boyata returns to City

Chelsea are in danger of losing third position in the English Premier League if they fail to beat strugglers Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

The visit of lowly Wigan should be a straightforward proposition for a team in the automatic UEFA Champions League places, especially given the match will be at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea have been anything but a sure thing in 2013.

Since the start of January, the Blues have suffered defeats to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle, while they were also knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by Swansea City.

The London outfit also had to settle for a draw with third-tier Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup while Reading and Southampton – both sitting in the bottom five of the English Prem…

Among all the nostalgic emotions that swirled on Friday when Arsene Wenger called time on one of the most definitive eras experienced by any modern European football club, the strongest feeling in terms of the here and now was relief.

Relief the fan protests against a man who revolutionised football in England around the turn of the century would be no more; relief the sad spectacle of him presiding over a sparsely populated Emirates Stadium would cease; relief Wenger had made his Arsenal exit – just – on his own terms.

The idea anyone other than the 68-year-old Frenchman the mastermind of three Premier League triumphs, leader of the Invincibles and winner of a record seven FA Cups  would have the decisive say on when his 22-year tenure in north London came to a clo…

that Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson this summer.

The Seagulls, who secured their long-awaited return to the top-flight last on Monday are already looking to strengthen their squad for next season as are the team who are likely to join then in going up.

Jenkinson returned to the Emirates Stadium for preseason having spent the last two seasons on loan with West Ham United but has barely featured, with his only league appearance for Arsene Wenger’s side coming in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United back in November.

In total, he has played sixty-two times for the Gunners, scoring once while he hit twice as many goals during his time with the Hammers.

His only senior cap for …

Manchester United have secured talented youngster Hannibal Mejbri to a new long-term contract.

The 18-year-old France youth international joined in a reported £9million deal from Monaco in 2019 and has quickly established himself at the club.

Mejbri has already been deemed to have outgrown the Under-18s and is a regular for the club s Under-23s, scoring four goals and registering seven assists this term.

In February, Mejbri and Under-23s team-mate Shole Shoretire were promoted to the senior squad for the rest of the season, only for the former to sustain an injury soon after.

Hannibal has committed his future to United!

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Therefore, Mejbri is likely to return to action first with the second team before mak…

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim insists he remains calm over his future at the Ligue 1 club, despite his position seemingly being under threat.

Jardim is in his second spell in charge of Monaco, having previously guided the side to the league title and a Champions League semi-final in 2016-17.

His first stint came to an end in October 2018, when he was sacked with Monaco languishing in the lower reaches of Ligue 1.

However, Jardim was back at the club in January, replacing his successor Thierry Henry, who had failed to improve results.

Monaco sit ninth in Ligue 1 after 17 games in 2019-20, having won seven matches and suffered six defeats, leading to reports that Jardim is in line to lose his position.

Yet the 45-year-old claims he is not feeling th…

Eddie Howe acknowledges the thought of spending Newcastle United s riches in January is exciting but his immediate focus is on getting the best out of the club s existing playing squad.

Newcastle were taken over last month by a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund, which became the richest football club owner in the world.

New director Amanda Staveley has spoken of targeting a Premier League title win in the next five to 10 years, with heavy investment expected to transform the team.

A host of high-profile players have been linked, including Barcelona trio Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But Newcastle have nine Premier League fixtures to negotiate before the transfer window opens at the start of 2022 and…

Prediction: Senegal to win 2-0

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Senegal and Guinea will face each other in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B this week. The match will be held at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam and is scheduled to kick off at 1pm UK time on Friday.

Senegal

Senegal are second in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group B at the moment with three points from one match, level on points with leaders Guinea. Aliou Cisse’s side kicked off their Afcon campaign with a 1-0 win against Zimbabwe at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam, thanks to a 97th minute penalty from Liverpol forward Sadio Mane.

Team News:

Idrissa Gana Gueye, Fode Ballo-Toure, Bamba Dieng, Mame Baba Thiam, Alfred Gomis, Mamadou Loum Ndiaye, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly…

Mayra Ramirez turned in a stellar performance to propel Chelsea to the WSL title in Emma Hayes final match in charge as the Blues thrashed Manchester United 6-0.

Earlier in May, Hayes – who is ending a 12-year stint in charge of the Blues to become the United States coach – had all but given up on claiming a fifth straight WSL crown.

Yet Chelsea s 8-0 victory over Bristol City two weeks ago, combined with Manchester City s defeat to Arsenal, opened the door, and after beating Tottenham in midweek, the Blues knew a win, while maintaining their positive goal difference, would be enough.

And they made sure there was no room for error with an incredible first-half display inspired by Ramirez, who scored twice and set up goals for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Sjoek…

Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has called on his players to produce the performance of their lives after their Euro 2024 qualification hopes were left dangling by a thread.

A 2-0 Group B defeat in Paris on Thursday evening means Ireland have taken just three points from their first four games, and realistically they need to beat the Netherlands in Dublin on Sunday to stand any chance of progressing.

Speaking in the bowels of the Parc des Princes after an energy-sapping night at the hands of the mesmeric Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, Kenny said: “We’ve just got to get ready for Sunday now.

The best fans in the world, of that there s no doubt

Thank you for your support and safe journey home

— Ireland Football …

Wigan Athletic F.C. manager Owen Coyle has revealed the Latics have yet to receive any offers for highly-rated midfielder James McCarthy, understands.

Former Latics boss Roberto Martinez, who has already signed three former Wigan players  Antolín Alcaraz, Arouna Koné and Joel Robles   this summer, is reportedly keen on bringing McCarthy to Goodison Park.

In turn, McCarthy, who joined Wigan from Hamilton Academical F.C. for a fee believed to be in the region of £1.2 million in July 2009, has been linked with a £15 million move to Everton in recent weeks (Liverpool Echo).

I ve not had any inquiries, let alone offers, for any of my players, said Coyle.

But ultimately good players attract attention and there s no getting away from …