Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce says there is no way his could have known about Emmanuel Eboue s one-year ban was imminent when they signed him last month.
The former Arsenal right-back was suspended by FIFA for failing to pay his former agent and the club have given Eboue two weeks to settle the dispute, otherwise he will be sacked.
But Allardyce said there was no way the club could have known Eboue s indiscretion, which backdates to September 2014 when he was fined £22,000 for his non-payment.
There s not really any way the club could have known it because it was purely and simply confidential, the Black Cats boss said.
I asked when this came to light, Would it drop with the FA and the Premier League as a red flag? The answer was no it was confident…
Felix Kroos feels his brother Toni has settled in well to the new Real Madrid regime under Zinedine Zidane, and has no plans to leave the Santiago Bernabeu as far as he is aware despite links with the Premier League.
The Germany international has featured heavily since Zidane took over the Real helm in January and was integral to their Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona on Saturday.
Frenchman Zidane is the third coach he has worked under since making the move to the Spanish capital from Bayern Munich in 2014 for a fee believed to be in the region of €19million, having also played under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez.
But despite that changing of the guard and repeated newspaper links with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal, …
Ryan Bertrand plans talks over his Chelsea future in the close-season and insists he deserves a chance to become a Stamford Bridge regular.
The 24-year-old defender has spent time on loan at six different clubs including his current spell at Aston Villa following his move to Chelsea from Gillingham in 2006.
In total, Bertrand has made just over 50 appearances for Chelsea, but has played in big games for the club, none more so than the 2012 UEFA Champions League final win over Bayern Munich.
Bertrand has also been capped at senior level for England and believes the time is right for him to force his way into the Chelsea first team.
However, he has hinted that he is willing to leave if he is viewed as a squad player.
I ll go back to Chelsea in the summer and …
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday evening, and are desperate for a result to ensure they don’t allow clubs outside of the top-four to gain ground on them in the table.
City in form while Chelsea are spiralling
The Sky Blues are enjoying an upturn in form of late at a time where Chelsea appear to be struggling, so Manuel Pellegrini’s men may fancy their chances of taking advantage. City are coming off the back of an impressive midweek win in the Champions League too, so they will be buoyant going into Saturday’s meeting with the Premier League holders.
Manchester City are fourth in the Premier League table with 57 points 32 games this season, and while …
Gremio have announced the signing of Fabio Aurelio on a free transfer following his release from Liverpool.
The left-back, who had been at Anfield for six seasons, has put pen to paper on a contract with the Brazilian club that will keep him in Porto Alegre until December 2013.
Aurelio joined Liverpool from Valencia in 2006 but the 32-year-old s time at Anfield was blighted by injuries and he made just 86 appearances for the Premier League outfit.
The Brazilian looked set to part company with the Reds in 2010 when his previous contract with the club expired that summer.
However, Aurelio was subsequently re-signed by Rafa Benitez s successor, Roy Hodgson.
Gremio announced the signing on their official website.
Gremio confirm agreement wi…