Andreolli poised for Inter return

Lyon manager Remi Garde has admitted his side have not been at their best this year, but is hopeful they can finish the season strongly.

The former champions have struggled for consistency this term but currently find themselves in third position in Ligue 1, battling with Saint Etienne for the final UEFA Champions League place.

Two points is all that separates Lyon in third from their fierce rivals in fourth and Garde admits that the season has not gone as he had planned, but he is focused on maintaining their top-three place by the end of the campaign.

It is not a secret. Lyon 2013 is not Lyon 2012, he said. But we are still working
on our objectives. We want to be on the podium at the end of the season.

We have
to continue in this way and get good …

Leicester City have reached an agreement with Genk for the transfer of Wilfred Ndidi, subject to a work permit being granted.

The Premier League champions confirmed that the midfielder has agreed personal terms on a five-and-a-half year deal that runs until June 2022.

Ndidi has already undergone his medical at the King Power Stadium and Leicester expect the formalities of his transfer to be completed later this week.

The 20-year-old has spent the past two seasons in the Belgian Pro League after joining Genk on his 18th birthday and helped the club finish top of Group F in the Europa League this season.

Since selling N Golo Kante to Chelsea in July, Leicester have lacked the bite the France midfielder provided in their remarkable title-winning season.

…

Mauricio Pochettino says Son Heung-min will be ready to take on Newcastle United after serving a Premier League suspension, but warned fans not to expect too much too soon from Giovani Lo Celso.

Son missed Spurs first two games of the new season due to a ban after he was sent off against Bournemouth at the end of last term, while Lo Celso made his debut in a short cameo at Manchester City last weekend.

The South Korea star hit 12 league goals in 2018-19, a campaign disrupted by the Asian Games, where he led his country to glory and avoided being called up for military service as a result, and their subsequent run to the Asian Cup quarter-finals.

Son s availability to face Newcastle on Sunday comes with Tanguy Ndombele ruled out by a thigh injury, while England…

Struggling Premier League side Sunderland added some much needed firepower to their out of form strikeforce on Tuesday with the loan signing of Zimbabwean international Benjani Mwaruwari from rivals Manchester City.

The Black Cats got the benefit of the doubt from the Premier League over signing the 31-year-old even though they failed to process the required paperwork before Monday s 1700 GMT transfer deadline.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce whose side have been in freefall after a winless run of 11 games had blamed technical problems for the delay.

Benjani scorer of 29 goals in 43 international appearances is a free agent in the summer but Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said he can move on if he wants to.

The paperwork was lodged but we had …

Alan Curbishley

What is it with clubs forcing their manager’s out of the door by unfair means?

Unfair

Just a few weeks ago Kevin Keegan won his case for unfair, or constructive, dismissal against Newcastle United. That verdict was reached when the tribunal heard that Newcastle had bought a player into the club that Keegan was not consulted about and didn’t want.

Now, Alan Curbishley has won his case for unfair, or constructive, dismissal against his former employers West Ham. In this case, West Ham sold two players, Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney without Curbishley’s agreement.

Contract

It would seem that in both cases the managers in question had a clear contract stating that they would have the final say in all …

Liverpool s Adam Lallana is becoming increasingly influential for England

The fact that England defeated Scotland 3-0 at Wembley on Friday night in World Cup qualifying came as little surprise.

In truth, though, the scoreline flattered the hosts, as the visitors spurn a number of good opportunities in front of goal.

England had three shots on target through Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill that all found the back of the net.

It was not a perfect display from England, but one player stood for the home side for me, Adam Lallana.

Starting to become more influential

Liverpool’s attacking midfielder has always had a good football brain and good technique to boot. In League One and the Championship he was outstanding for Southam…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wanted to punch himself after failing to sign Sadio Mane at Borussia Dortmund, making it very easy for him to decide to bring the forward to Anfield.

The German considered taking Mane – then at Red Bull Salzburg – to the Bundesliga in 2014.

But Klopp ensured he completed the signing two years later as Liverpool paid Southampton £34million for the Senegal international.

Mane has helped his team to the top of the Premier League with six goals and two assists and Klopp said it was a straightforward decision to make a second time around.

With Sadio it was pretty simple because I made the mistake at Dortmund where I didn t take him, Klopp said.

We talked. I think everyone knows we met each other and by the end I…

Erling Haaland was not lured away from Borussia Dortmund in the most recent transfer window despite widespread interest.

But the race to sign the 21-year-old Norway international will heat up in the coming months.

Haaland scored 41 goals for Dortmund last term, making him one of European football s hottest properties.

TOP STORY MADRID LEAD HAALAND RACE

Real Madrid have a verbal agreement for Dortmund star Haaland to join the club next year, reports Diario Madridista.

The Spanish club leads the way amid widespread interest in the Norwegian forward, including from Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Additionally, Los Blancos decision to respect Dortmund s stance to not sell the 21-year-old during the previous window has …

Roger Federer made the whole world dream through his tennis, French football great Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday.

The Swiss superstar contested his final match on Friday night in London, as he bowed out at the age of 41, accepting knee trouble in recent years would not allow him to carry on.

Zidane s last match as a player famously ended in a headbutt, a red card and crushing disappointment in the 2006 World Cup final, as France lost out to Italy on penalties in Berlin.

That was a far cry from the celebratory scenes at the O2 where 20-time grand slam winner Federer exited in a hail of adulation and high emotion, as the man from Basle broke down in a flood of tears on court.

The poignancy came after Federer lost alongside Rafael Nadal in a Laver Cup d…

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has confirmed he wants to sell the Championship club.

The 74-year-old took charge of Wednesday in 2010 with the club suffering from financial difficulties following relegation to League One.

While the former Portsmouth chairman wishes to relinquish control of the club due to family and my business commitments , he also explained there are no offers currently on the table.

What I can tell you is that yes, there is interest and as I have always said, I will continue to meet people who can potentially help us but there is nothing tangible at this time, Mandaric said in a statement.

This is a big club, a special club with special supporters who expect and deserve to be given information. But there is nothing happening at th…