Everton beat Monday s transfer deadline to sign James McCarthy from Wigan Athletic, England international Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku.
Roberto Martinez has gone back to the DW Stadium for the fourth time after also bringing Antolin Alcaraz, Arouna Kone and Joel Robles to the club after managing them at Wigan last season.
The 16-time Ireland international has cost a fee of £13million and signed a long-term deal, while Barry and Lukaku arrive at Goodison Park on season-long loan moves from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.
McCarthy joined Wigan in July 2009 from Hamilton Academical, reportedly turning down ffers from Arsenal and Manchester United in search of regular first-team football.
It proved to be a wise decision as McCarthy made 127 appearances …
Fiorentina will be out for revenge when they face Juventus for the second time in a week in Thursday s UEFA Europa League last-16 first leg.
Vincenzo Montella’s charges visited the impregnable Juventus Stadium in Serie A on Sunday and, like many before them this season, fell to defeat with Kwadwo Asamoah’s 42nd-minute winner proving enough to seal a 1-0 win for the hosts.
They travel to Turin for the second time in five days on Thursday for the first leg of their all-Italian clash hoping to upset the form books and become the first side to win at the home of the reigning Serie A champions since Bayern Munich in the Champions League on April 10.
Juve have won 12 consecutive home games in all competitions, and have a perfect record in the league with 14 wins out of 1…
Eder is confident that Portugal have what it takes to go all the way as they prepare to take on Iceland in their Euro 2016 Group F opener on Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates stumbled at the penultimate hurdle in 2012 after a penalty shootout defeat to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals.
Portugal will attempt to better that attempt in France, and on paper Fernando Santos men have a favourable group with Austria and Hungary completing the pool.
And forward Eder is expecting to progress from the group and challenge towards the latter stages, promising plenty of goals in the process.
We re working towards winning the tournament. We ve got huge ambition and we want to get the right results, Eder told reporters.
We re very confiden…
Wanderers secured the Uruguay Primera Division Clausura title courtesy of a 1-0 win over El Tanque Sisley on Sunday.
Maximiliano Olivera grabbed the all-important goal in the 54th minute to send Wanderers to their first Torneo Final since 1985.
Wanderers have not been crowned Uruguayan champions since 1931 when the top flight remained an amateur competition.
However, a seven-game winning run has propelled them to the top and they will now face Apertura winners Danubio for the championship.
The duo s presence in the showpiece means Uruguay will have a champion other than the giant pairing of Nacional and Penarol for the first time since 2008-09.
Penarol stumbled last week against Liverpool to hand Wanderers the initiative and the favour they needed to top th…
England and Scotland players paid tribute to Sheffield United’s Maddy Cusack, who has died aged 27, during their Women’s Nations League match on Friday night.
The midfielder, named the club’s vice-captain last month, had just started her sixth season with the Blades in the Women’s Championship and was the longest-serving player in their squad.
Both England and Scotland wore black armbands and a period of silence was impeccably observed prior to kick-off at the Stadium of Light.
Forever in our hearts.
Rest in peace, Maddy Cusack
— Lionesses (@Lionesses)
Sheffield United’s men’s manager Paul Heckingbottom earlier said the club was “suffering” following Cusack’s death.
The Blades intend to pay tribute to Cusack, …
Diego Costa insisted Atletico Madrid are capable of defeating anyone with their desire and courage after upstaging Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
A brace from Costa saw Atletico to a 4-2 extra-time victory against Champions League holders and city rivals Madrid in Tallinn on Wednesday.
Costa scored the fastest ever Super Cup goal after just 49 seconds in sensational fashion midweek before Karim Benzema equalised 26 minutes later and Sergio Ramos penalty put Madrid ahead with 29 minutes remaining in the Estonian capital.
Europa League champions Atletico, however, were not done as Costa struck again 16 minutes later to force extra time, where Saul Niguez s stunner and Koke s sealer clinched a seventh title for head coach Diego Simeone.
Speaking afterwar…
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois insists he is happy at Stamford Bridge, despite reiterating his intention to one day return to Spain.
The Belgium international won LaLiga with Atletico Madrid in 2014 and has been linked with a switch to their city rivals Real Madrid this season.
Having previously admitted an interest in moving back to Spain, Courtois was keen to clarify that he remains committed to Chelsea and may not leave until after his retirement.
I understand the commotion with the Chelsea fans, he said in quotes reported by the Mirror.
But I just meant that I want to return to Spain one day, but it can also be after my career.
I m happy to be at Chelsea. For how long, we will see. But now I want to win prizes with this club.
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil lauded Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the greatest footballers of all-time.
The pair spent three seasons together at Real Madrid from 2010-13, winning LaLiga, a Cope del Rey and Supercopa de Espana.
Ozil hailed the three-time Ballon d Or winner, with whom he combined well during their time together at the Spanish giants.
I really enjoyed playing with him because he made me better on the pitch, the German told Arsenal Media.
He s a good guy and a good friend of mine. Of course I gave my assists, a lot to him, and he knows, but I really enjoyed playing with him because it was easy.
He doesn t need a lot of chances, even if I give him two assists, he scored two. He s a very amazing player, one of the greatest footballers in hi…
Palestine celebrated their first point in Asian Cup history after holding Syria to a 0-0 draw in Sharjah on Sunday despite playing the final 22 minutes with 10 men.
Beaten in each of their three matches on debut in 2015, unheralded Palestine were more competitive on this occasion as they succeeded in frustrating stronger opposition despite Mohammed Saleh s harsh dismissal.
The defender received a second yellow card in the 68th minute following a clash of heads with Omar Khrbin but Syria, who have designs on a place in the knockout rounds after impressing in World Cup qualifying, were unable to make their numerical advantage count.
An inability to capitalise on a pair of first-half chances allowed Palestine to grow into the contest and Noureddine Ould Ali s men ca…
Valencia have joined the race to sign Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, according to Talksport.
The Belgium international is out of contract in the summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray though Valencia have thrown their hat into the ring as they prepare for a probable return Champions League football.
Galatasary actually attempted to secure the the thirty year old’s services last summer though Jose Mourinho was reluctant to let him go.
However, with the former Everton man making just three Premier League starts so far this season his time at Old Trafford finally appears to be coming to an end.
Since signing for the Red Devils in the summer of 2013 he has racked up one hundred and fifty-one appea…