Whelan: No Spurs contact for Martinez

Olivier Giroud s evergreen form has made a big impression upon Kai Havertz at Chelsea.

Germany international Havertz joined a star-studded squad at Stamford Bridge for the 2020-21 season after a busy and productive transfer window for head coach Frank Lampard.

But it is one of the existing, experienced stars who has made the 21-year-old sit up and take note.

Unperturbed by the arrival of Havertz s international colleague Timo Werner and the ongoing development of England youngster Tammy Abraham, Giroud has proved he is still hugely valuable to the Chelsea cause.

The 34-year-old, who is second on France s list of all-time top scorers with 44, had to bide his time waiting for a Premier League start this season, but Lampard could no longer ignore his claims…

Gerardo Martino has lifted the lid on his time in charge at Barcelona, revealing he could not be happy in the role.

Former Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has revealed he could not be happy during his time in charge at Camp Nou.

Martino led the Catalan giants from July 2013 to May 2014, failing to win any silverware other than the Supercopa de Espana.

And the Argentine says he struggled to cope with the magnitude of the job, which is now held by Luis Enrique.

These are the feelings one has after 10 months of work and analysing everything,  he told AS. I felt I couldn t improve this fantastic team and I could not happy at reaching one of the best clubs in the world.

[The current Barca] is a much improved version. They don t create as much as a …

Former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce told The Sun yesterday (Thursday) that he would be interested in managing Sunderland.

Sunderland are without a manager following the resignation of Roy Keane who had earlier stated that he felt that he was unable to take the club any further.

The fifty four year old Allardyce had already spent a year at the club (1980-1981) as a player. He has also managed Limerick (1991-1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007) and Newcastle United (2007-2008).

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Gareth Southgate praised England for coming through a good test against Ronald Koeman s Netherlands, but insists there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Jesse Lingard s first international goal secured a 1-0 victory for the visitors in Amsterdam, the Manchester United player finding the net with a first-time strike in the 59th minute.

England comfortably retained their slender lead through to the final whistle to secure a first win over their opponents since a 4-1 triumph at Euro 96.

I think that was a good test for us, England boss Southgate told ITV Sport.

We came away from home and controlled the game. We used the ball really well, especially in the first 60-65 minutes.

Maybe a little more quality in the final third was required, b…

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has come in for criticism this season from both media and fans alike

There seems to be a growing feeling that Gareth Bale’s stay at Real Madrid is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable one.

The Welshman joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2013 from Tottenham in a world-record £86million move.

His first campaign in the Spanish capital was deemed a success by many, as he helped the club capture ‘La Decima’ (tenth European Cup).

Shadow

However, there was always the thought that the former-Southampton star was in the shadow of Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, as most players are, but it seems that Bale has not been able to shine because of Ronaldo’s ego and character.

Bale was always going to fa…

Germany veteran Bernd Schneider made his first appearance for more than 13 months on Saturday and set up a goal to show national coach Joachim Loew he is ready for an international recall.

Schneider, 35, has spent 398 days out after a back injury and a hernia operation, but he came off the bench for Leverkusen in the 73rd minute in the 5-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach and set up the fourth goal for Michal Kadlec.

With Germany set to tour China and the United Arab Emirates later this month, Schneider could well be named when the squad is announced on Tuesday and hopes to add to his 81 caps.

He played his last competitive match on April 24, 2008 and missed the whole of Euro 2008.

Germany play China in Shanghai on May 29 and the UAE in Dubai on June 2…

Gordon’s 55th-minute intervention proved decisive on the night as he timed his run to meet Kieran Trippier’s inviting cross and slot past keeper Andre Onana.

He also scored the winner against Arsenal on November and registered against both Crystal Palace and Chelsea to underline his rich vein of form.

Asked if his consistent level of performance put him in contention for England’s Euros campaign, Howe said: “I’d agree that he’s playing at a very, very high level and he has done this season. When you’ve come here to watch Anthony, that’s been his level.

“He is getting the goals and you need the headlines if you are going to force your way into the England squad with the competition that he has in those positions.

“There’s a long way t…

Jurgen Klopp has made clear Liverpool will only be active in the January transfer window if it is the right thing to do, as they have solutions within the squad to cover for injuries in defence. 

Already missing long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, the reigning champions are now without Joel Matip due to a groin injury suffered against West Brom. 

Rhys Williams replaced the injured Matip in the second half of the 1-1 draw at Anfield, while Nathaniel Phillips started alongside Fabinho in the heart of the defence for the 0-0 result at Newcastle United three days later. 

Liverpool have been linked with centre-backs as potential options to strengthen the squad midway through the campaign, including Ozan Kabak at Bundesliga strugglers S…

Having caught the eye for the national team after scoring in last weekend s 2-0 win over South Africa, the transfer poker around Germany s latest star Mesut Oezil from Werder Bremen has already begun.

The 20-year-old is contracted to Bremen until June 2011, but his performance and debut goal on his first start for the national team has raised his profile considerably with the midfielder set to face Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

Mesut s contract still runs for two years and at present there is no need to extend his contract, his advisor Reza Fazeli told German tabloid Bild ahead of Wednesday s World Cup qualifier in Hanover.

Already Spanish giants Valencia and Premier League club Manchester City have expressed an interest in signing him, but Bremen s director of spor…

Liverpool and Manchester United are both set to battle for the services of Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne, .

The defender has been one of the stand-out performers for the Saints in an impressive start to the Premier League campaign which currently sees them sit in third place despite suffering back to back defeats for the first time since April.

His form has also seen him break into the England set up, with the former Crystal Palace man winning his first two caps last month against Slovenia and Scotland.

Since arriving at St Mary’s in the summer of 2012, the 23 year old has made seventy-eight appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals.

Liverpool are keeping an eye on Clyne’s situation as they look for a long term replacement for G…