Russia 2018 will be best World Cup – Pavlyuchenko

Japan and Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura is on the verge of signing with Espanyol to realise his longtime dream of playing in the Spanish league, according to a press report.

Nakamura s agent Roberto Tsukuda and Espanyol have already reached a basic agreement on the midfielder s transfer to the Spanish club, the Sports Hochi reported citing an unnamed source involved in the talks under way in Barcelona.

The daily said that Espanyol sporting director Ramon Planes had secretly visited Japan recently and offered Nakamura a two-year deal with an annual pre-tax wage of 200 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Tsukuda has been talking with Planes and Espanyol executive German de la Cruz four times a day since he arrived in Barcelona late Saturday, Hochi said.

The…

Napoli would find it difficult to say no to a €100million (£85m) offer should Manchester United make a move for Victor Osimhen, head coach Luciano Spalletti has said.

United have reportedly been weighing up a big-money bid for the Nigeria forward, though those rumours have quietened since their focus switched to signing Antony from Ajax.

Osimhen has also attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Bayern Munich this window, but he remains a Napoli player ahead of Thursday s transfer deadline.

However, speaking after Napoli s goalless draw with Fiorentina on Sunday, Spalletti admitted his side would struggle to turn down a mammoth sum for the 22-year-old.

The club thinks of any situation that is of interest to our players, he told DAZ…

Atalanta are preparing an offer for Tammy Abraham, according to Fabrizio Romano. However, their move for the Chelsea striker depends on whether Inter Milan sell Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea and the Nerazzurri come for Duvan Zapata as a replacement for the Belgium international.

Arsenal are also reportedly interested in Abraham, but it remains to be seen if the Gunners persist in the race against Atalanta who are willing to pay €40 million for the services of the 23-year-old. What s more, Chelsea would be happier to sell the player abroad than to a Premier League rival.

As things stand, it seems that Lukaku s move back to Stamford Bridge may actually happen this month. Inter have already rejected an offer of €100m from the Champions League holders, but Chelsea are still …

Antonio Conte insists his commitment to Chelsea has not wavered this season, despite ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

The Italian won the Premier League title in his first season at Chelsea, but the defence of their crown failed dismally, with Conte rumoured to be on the brink of leaving long before his side s disappointing fifth-placed finish was confirmed.

As the former Juventus coach searches for answers on the eve of the FA Cup final, he is adamant his dedication to his job never changed and so was not the cause of Chelsea s woes.

I didn t change my commitment for the club, Conte told a news conference. My commitment has always been the same.

Maybe this season we worked even harder than last season. I don t know if something has changed…

Premier League clubs have agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship on the front of matchday shirts by the start of the 2026-27 season.

Eight English top-flight clubs, including Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham, have gambling companies as their primary shirt sponsor, and have been allowed up to three years to transition away .

The decision was reached after consultation between the Premier League, clubs and the UK government.

A statement released by the Premier League on Friday read: Premier League clubs have today collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs matchday shirts, becoming the first sports league in the UK to take such a measure voluntarily in order to reduce gambling advertising.

The announcement follows a…

Massimiliano Allegri has urged his Juventus side to shift their focus away from the top of the Serie A table as they prepare to travel to bottom club Salernitana on Sunday.

Inter Milan’s win over Verona on Saturday saw them stretch their lead back to five points, but Allegri is in no doubt where his priorities lie for the rest of the campaign.

Allegri told a press conference: “First of all it is fundamental to maintain the gap to fifth in the standings. Our first objective must be to qualify for the next Champions League.”

The squad for

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

Juventus head into the game unbeaten in 13 Serie A games and will start as strong favourites against a side whom they swept aside 6-1 last Thursday in the Coppa Italia.

…

Sunderland were forced to pay for not taking their chances as Fulham claimed a narrow 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The hosts dominated proceedings from the outset and had a number of good goalscoring opportunities through striker Jozy Altidore, but the visitors only needed one chance as Pajtim Kasami headed home from a corner in the second half.

Paolo Di Canio was without suspended duo Craig Gardner and David Vaughan for the opening fixture, while Steven Fletcher was forced to miss out with the ankle injury that ended his previous campaign in March.

But the Italian coach was able to hand debuts to five of his 10 summer signings, including striker Altidore, Emanuele Giaccherini and Cabral.

Meanwhile, Alexander Kacaniklic was the only nota…

Three Zambia players have been injured in a fatal car crash on their way to a pre-Africa Cup of Nations training camp.

The 2012 AFCON champions were due to hold a camp for 24 locally based players this week, ahead of a pre-tournament friendly against South Africa early in January.

A statement on the Football Association of Zambia s (FAZ) official website reported that four lives had been taken in the incident after a bus carrying the players crashed into an oncoming vehicle.

The FAZ confirmed that Nyambe Mulenga a member of the successful 2012 squad  suffered a broken leg in the incident, seemingly putting paid to his chances of featuring in the tournament to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea from next month.

A statement read: Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United…

Antoine Griezmann understands why Atletico Madrid supporters were anxious about his future amid continued strong speculation linking the striker to Barcelona.

Griezmann announced his intention to stay at Atletico in a televised documentary prior to France s first game at the World Cup.

The forward then confirmed his plans to remain with the LaLiga side for the 2018-19 season by extending his contract at the Wanda Metropolitano by a further year, through to 2023.

Barcelona have reportedly tried to sign Griezmann two years in a row but the Catalan giants have been unable to tempt him away from Atletico.

And Greizmann said his close connection with the club is the reason he has decided to stay.

We are family and that is evident in the pitch, we all…

FIFA has rejected appeals from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid against transfer bans, meaning the LaLiga clubs will be barred from registering players for the next two transfer windows.

World football s governing body initially imposed the punishment in January due to the capital clubs breaching rules in relation to the transfer of minors but suspended them later in the month, pending appeal.

Madrid and Atletico will now be unable to register new players until January 2018, with their respective initial fines of 360,000 Swiss francs and 900,000 Swiss francs remaining.

Barcelona were given a similar punishment in 2014 and signed Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal before the start of last season, even though the registration ban prevented either man from representing the …