Milan and Benfica vying for Damiao

Having already opened his Newcastle United goalscoring account, Siem de Jong has targeted a goal in his first Premier League match.

De Jong scored in his first appearance for Newcastle on Tuesday, hitting the back of the net in his new club s 2-1 friendly loss to Oldham Athletic and, although Alan Pardew s men will start their Premier League campaign against champions Manchester City, the Dutch forward is not worried.

In his previous two fixtures against City, De Jong while playing for former club Ajax scored three goals in the UEFA Champions League and the 25-year-old hopes to continue that form on August 17 at St James Park.

I played against Man City a couple of years ago in the Champions League and scored three goals in the two games, he told The Northern Ech…

Dusan Vlahovic expressed his delight at the opportunity to play with Angel Di Maria, as the two combined to inspire Juventus to a 3-0 win against Sassuolo.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star opened the deadlock with a bouncing volley and teed up Vlahovic in the second half, which came either side of the Serbian winning and converting a penalty.

Sterner tests will await for Juventus this season, particularly when their Champions League campaign begins next month, but the performance from the two attackers will provide encouragement after last season s frustrations.

Di Maria s creativity is likely to add further opportunities for Vlahovic to extend his excellent record for Juventus, and he took the opportunity after the win to praise his new teammate.

I…

Robert Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool ended a five-game winless run away from home in the Premier League with an emphatic 7-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Jurgen Klopp s champions had drawn four and lost one of their top-flight games on the road following a 2-0 win at Chelsea on September 20, but a return to winning ways away from Anfield was never in doubt after Takumi Minamino s opener after 125 seconds. 

They followed that up with fine goals from Sadio Mane and Firmino before half-time, while Jordan Henderson, Firmino and a brace from substitute Salah sealed a stunning victory in the second period. 

The dominant win stretched Liverpool s lead at the summit to six points, although Tottenham could reduce that back to thre…

Dick Advocaat has confirmed that he is in talks with Fenerbahce after quitting his role as assistant coach to the Netherlands national team.

The 68-year-old was appointed to work with head coach Danny Blind in May, having left his post as Sunderland manager in October 2015.

However, despite a World Cup qualifier with Sweden less than a month away, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced on Monday that Advocaat was stepping down.

The former PSV and Zenit boss later told Voetbal International: At this moment, I am in talks with Fenerbahce, that s right.

Blind expressed his surprise at Advocaat s decision but called for focus ahead of their friendly match with Greece on September 1, before the qualifiers for Russia 2018 against Sweden and Bel…

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas is not convinced that Celta Vigo have the financial strength to lure Mathieu Valbuena to Galicia after reports linked the Frenchman with a move.

The France international joined Lyon in August 2015 after a season in Russia with Dinamo Moscow, helping the club to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 last term.

Celta have reportedly been mulling over a move for the 31-year-old after seeing Nolito depart for Manchester City.

But Aulas has debunked such speculation, claiming he has had no contact with the LaLiga club and suggested they would not be able to afford him anyway.

He told beIN Sports: I have no information about this and it surprises me a lot because Mathieu is very motivated and we will need him.

If there is an…

Fiorentina confirm Richards set to join

Serie A outfit Fiorentina have revealed that they are set to sign Manchester City full-back Micah Richards.

The former England international, who has another year left on his deal at Etihad, was widely tipped to leave this summer as the Citizens recruited Bacary Sagna from Arsenal.

And it appears he is finally on the verge of summer exit, as Fiorentina seem to have agreed a deal for his services.

The Serie A side have moved to confirm that Richards has arrived in Florence on transfer deadline day.

“26-year-old MCFC right-back Micah Richards has landed in Florence ahead of a potential move,” a statement on club s official Twitter account read.

Viola have lacked cover at right-back with Serbian d…

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi was very sorry about predecessor Graham Potter s sacking by Chelsea but lauded his Seagulls legacy.

Potter left Brighton to take the reins at Stamford Bridge last September following the Blues decision to dismiss Thomas Tuchel.

But the Englishman was shown the door just over six months into the job, with Chelsea mired in mid-table and saddled with a slew of expensive signings.

De Zerbi, who filled the void at Brighton, has sympathy for the man he replaced, thanking him for the squad he was able to inherit.

I am very sorry [to see him go], he said. It is bad news for the coaches. I think you give too much importance to the coaches.

The players are always the most important and I don t like when coach…

Fluminense right-back Wallace Oliveira dos Santos is on the verge of moving to European champions Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth £4.4 million, .

If Chelsea reach an agreement with Fluminense, Wallace is expected to stay at the Brazilian club on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Blues were granted first option and a 40% stake in Wallace following Deco s free transfer to the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in August 2010.

Wallace, 18, has attracted the interest of Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus, according to Fluminense boss Abel Braga.

Wallace has been negotiated for a long time. He is a player that has impressed. Do you think people abroad sign someone based on one game? Braga told Terra.

They watch a player for …

While PSG might have been desperate to lay down another marker on Sunday night, the defending Ligue 1 champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Monaco.

Looking to make it four domestic wins on the bounce after opening the 2022/23 campaign, Les Parisiens had to mount a second-half rally as they avoided a potential banana skin in the French capital.

Heading down the Parc des Princes tunnel for the first-half break trailing 1-0 due to Kevin Volland s shock opener, new boss Christophe Galtier would have been pleased by the way his side rallied after the interval.

Watching Neymar extend on his free-scoring start to the new campaign as the Brazilian superstar slotted home from the penalty spot with 20 minutes left on the clock, what did we learn from Sunday s hea…

Real Madrid are interested in signing Ivan Toney from Brentford, according to . The report has claimed that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Madrid are keeping tabs on the England international striker.

Madrid, though, will face competition for the England international striker, who is serving a ban at the moment and will be available to play from January 2024. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing the striker to the Emirates Stadium in the middle of the season. Chelsea are also interested in Toney

Toney has made 68 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The striker has scored 32 goals and given nine assists in those games. Brentford are 12th in the Premier League table at the moment with 19 points from 17 matches. Meanwhile, …