Milan close in on Dede

Milan director Paolo Maldini hinted Franck Kessie could be sold, insisting the Serie A club must do what is sustainable amid contract negotiations with the Rossoneri star.

Kessie is in the final year of his Milan contract and the Ivory Coast midfielder appears no closer to re-signing, despite voicing his desire to remain at San Siro forever .

The 24-year-old has been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and even city rivals Inter, while Tottenham reportedly had an offer rejected by Kessie.

Having already lost star pair Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) and Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter) on free transfers at the end of 2020-21, Milan would like to keep Kessie but Maldini warned not at the expense of the club s economic structure.

I thin…

Pep Guardiola is confident Bernardo Silva will enjoy a strong season for Manchester City after a below-par 2019-20.

Silva scored for Portugal against Sweden in the Nations League on Wednesday, and received backing from Guardiola ahead of City s clash with Arsenal.

While the playmaker was directly involved in 13 goals last Premier League season – compared to 14 in 2018-19 – he created fewer chances.

Silva created 71 chances, including assists, in 2018-19 and that number dropped to 51 last season, when he played 824 fewer minutes.

Guardiola said the 26-year-old was exhausted last season, having helped City win four domestic trophies and Portugal clinch the Nations League the campaign prior.

He was injured in some moments and he didn t reach the…

Birmingham received an inspirational pep talk from NFL great Tom Brady before a last-gasp victory against Leeds that boss John Eustace dedicated to the late Trevor Francis.

A sold-out St Andrew’s celebrated the club’s greatest ever player and an exciting future under new ownership as Daniel Farke’s relegated side came to the second city.

It is a month since American businessman Tom Wagner completed his takeover at Birmingham, who nine days ago saw seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady join as minority owner.

The former NFL star enjoyed a memorable first trip to St Andrew’s, visiting a local pub before meeting the players and watching a 1-0 stoppage-time win.

GET IN THERE!

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady)

“The new owners came into the dr…

Lucas Hernandez has successfully undergone surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in France s 4-1 World Cup opening win against Australia on Tuesday.

Hernandez s club Bayern Munich confirmed he had the operation in Innsbruck on Thursday, with his rehabilitation to commence in Munich in the coming days.

The defender was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup due to the injury that saw him replaced after only 13 minutes.

Bayern did not provide a timeframe on Hernandez s recovery but it is expected he will miss the rest of the 2022-23 season.

has undergone successful knee surgery.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Lucas!

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN)

Hernandez is the latest injury blow for the world champions…

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has described his frustration at hearing the Champions League anthem only from the sofa in recent years.

After missing out on playing in the tournament since 2009, the Italy captain has been an envious onlooker of the competition as Juve played in the Europa League in 2010/11 and missed out on Europe altogether last season.

That piece of music? I ll be glad to hear it again, Buffon told Corriere dello Sport.

I ve had to listen to it from my sofa over these years and I didn t think that was right.

Juventus begin their campaign against last year s winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday, and will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

The new Serie A season has again been disrupted by allegations …

Former star Ronaldo has claimed Brazil are working really hard to ensure the 2014 World Cup will be the best ever.

The 36-year-old former striker, who was capped 98 times for Brazil and has scored the most goals of any player at World Cups, is looking forward to his country proving they can host big sporting events.

With the Olympics set to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and with Brazil having last hosted the World Cup in 1950, a successful tournament would be huge for the South American country s collective confidence.

We are working really hard to make this the best World Cup of all time, Ronaldo said.

We are ready and confident to show the world that we can also organize great sporting events.

Ronaldo scored 15 goals across three separ…

Barcelona are poised to seal a last-16 Champions League berth as Benfica and Spartak Moscow also square up in Group G.

Another win should seal a spot knockout stages for Barcelona although Benfica s clash with Spartak Moscow may just be the encounter that holds the key to seeing who will advance from this group.

Barcelona, the 2009, 2011 champions travel to Glasgow, however, to face Scottish champions Celtic in Group G, who are enjoying their return to Europe s elite club competition in 2012.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique could return in the heart of Tito Vilanova s back four and has been included in their squad for the first time since suffering a foot injury in September.

Defensive partner Carles Puyol is still absent as are Adriano and Tiago, while …

Schalke general manager Christian Heidel has hit out at rumours that Bayern Munich have agreed to sign Leon Goretzka.

A Sky Deutschland report on Saturday, shortly before Schalke s match with Hamburg, claimed the Bundesliga champions have struck a deal that will see the highly-rated 22-year-old move to the Allianz Arena at the end of the season.

Heidel, however, is unhappy with the speculation and says that talks over a new contract for the midfielder are ongoing.

It s not decent for Sky to make an announcement, which is completely baseless, an hour before kick-off, Heidel said. People shouldn t spread this information as if it s a done deal when it s merely speculation.

It s absolute nonsense. Bayern have not even made contact with Schalke and I ve ha…

Jermain Defoe is in line to win his first England cap since 2013 after being called into Gareth Southgate s squad to face Germany and Lithuania.

Injuries to Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney have left Southgate short in attack – leading to a call-up for the 34-year-old Sunderland man.

Former West Ham and Tottenham forward Defoe has been in prolific form for Sunderland this season, despite David Moyes side languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, scoring 14 times in 27 top-flight outings.

The last of his 55 international appearances came as a substitute in a November 2013 friendly loss to Chile at Wembley. 

Defoe made his debut for the Three Lions in March 2004 versus Sweden and has 19 goals at internation…

Frank Lampard says some context is needed over Kai Havertz s early struggles at Chelsea as he backed the attacking midfielder to show his undoubted talent once he fully settles.

The Germany international has struggled to transfer the form he showed at Bayer Leverkusen since joining Chelsea in a reported £72million (€80m) deal in September.

Havertz has just one goal and one assist in 14 Premier League appearances and has been named among the substitutes for the Blues last three outings.

However, Lampard insists the 21-year-old is still finding his feet after moving to a new country, a period of adaption not helped after being laid low by coronavirus earlier in the season.

Just as Kai was just coming to terms with the Premier League and he had some re…