Nani joins Lazio on loan from Valencia

Jose Mourinho is a man in demand at international level, with Brazil reportedly rivalling Portugal in pursuit of his signature.

The 59-year-old is currently employed by Serie A club Roma, having joined in 2021 on a three-year contract.

There are reports that Mourinho is not entirely happy in the Italian capital, specifically regarding player attitudes and the club s financial limitations.

TOP STORY – BRAZIL TO MAKE SHOCK MOVE FOR MOURINHO

Brazil will make a sensational swoop to make Jose Mourinho their new national team boss to replace the departed Tite, according to la Repubblica.

An intermediary of Brazil s national setup will fly into Italy to meet up with the Roma head coach – who has also been linked to the Portugal job – and begin nego…

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Ludovic Ajorque from Strasbourg in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Palace’s Premier League rivals, Leicester City and Newcastle United, are also keen on securing the services of the 28-year-old French striker.

Ajorque has been on the books of Strasbourg since 2018 and has established himself as an important player for the French club over the years. The striker made 31 starts and five substitute appearances in Ligue 1 last season, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists in the process. During the 2020-21 campaign, Ajorque made 34 starts and one substitute appearance in the league for Strasbourg, scoring 16 goals and given four assists in the process.

have reported that Ajorque has tw…

Danny Welbeck hailed Kaoru Mitoma as a special talent as Brighton and Hove Albion got off a flier under Fabian Hurzeler with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Everton.

Mitoma missed the final few months of last season with a lower back injury but was on target at Goodison Park alongside Welbeck and Simon Adingra as the Seagulls started the Premier League campaign in convincing fashion.

Former Manchester United and Arsenal forward Welbeck was particularly impressed by what Mitoma brought to the team.

In quotes reported by the club s official website, he said: He is a special talent and we all know the ability he’s got.

In one v ones there’s not many better in the Premier League and it’s great to have him back and adding to the firepower we’ve got.

…

Manchester United are interested in signing Ivan Perisic from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that United left-back Luke Shaw is injured at the moment, and manager Erik ten Hag is looking to bring in a cover.

United have made contact with the agent of Perisic about a loan deal. The Croatian left-back’s representative has turned down the approach and has told the Red Devils not to make contact with Tottenham. Perisic, who can also play as a wing-back, joined Spurs in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer after leaving Inter Milan and is under contract at the North London club until the end of the season.

Both United and Tottenham are aiming to finish in the top four of the Premier League table…

Aston Villa are interested in signing Tanguy Ndombele from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, . The French news outlet has reported that Villa are among a number of clubs, including Marseille, who are keen on securing the services of the France international midfielder.

Ndombele has been on the books of Tottenham since 2019, but the Frenchman has not always had the best of times. Spurs head coach Antonio Conte sent the 25-year-old on loan back to his former club Lyon in January 2022 for the second half of last season.

Villa are a big and established club in the Premier League and will be aiming to finish in the top 10. A move to the Villans could appeal to Ndombele, especially if Tottenham continue to keep him out of their Premie League squad.

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Liverpool star Mohamed Salah will aim to upset some familiar faces when he lines up for the Reds against former club Roma in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.

The newly crowned PFA Player of the Year comes up against his old employers at Anfield, and will aim to emulate a club goalscoring feat achieved by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in Europe s premier competition.

Roma proved their pedigree by producing a sensational second-leg comeback to down heavyweights Barcelona in the quarter-finals, with Edin Dzeko s prowess perhaps key to improving their away-day woes in Europe.

Below we take a look at the pick of the Opta stats ahead of a crunch last-four first leg on Merseyside.

7 – Mohamed Salah is the seventh different Liverpool player to wi…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Quinten Timber from Feyenoord, according to . The report has claimed that Tottenham have been scouting the 22-year-old Dutch midfielder and has been impressed by him.

Quinten Timber is the twin brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, who moved to the Gunners in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old midfielder has been on the books of Feyenoord since 2022 and has established himself as one of the best young players in his position. Timber has scored one goal and given three assists in seven Eredivisie matches for Feyenoord so far this season. The youngster has also played twice in the UEFA Champions League this campaign.

Tottenham are second in the Premier League table at the moment with 17 points from seven matches, …

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This weekend, it s matchday 27 in the Premier Leauge, though of course, due to numerous postponements for various reasons throughout the campaign, not one of the 20 teams will have 27 matches played by its end on Monday evening, when Brentford host Fulham at the Brentford Community stadium. It ll be game No. 24 for the hosts, No. 26 for the visitors.

Brentford

Brentford have established themselves as a regular member of the English top flight since gaining that status in 2021. They ve proven a tough nut to crack for any team in the league, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and United on their list of victims this term, and even  table toppers Arsenal failing to beat them at the Emirates.

Realistically speaking, a pl…

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has been detained by police in France as part of an investigation into the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

The French Ministry of Justice confirmed that anti-corruption officers took the 63-year-old in for questioning in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday morning.

Platini is currently serving a four-year ban from football after FIFA s Ethics Committee found that he received a disloyal payment  from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

A statement from the Ministry of Justice, given to Omnisport, read: Platini was taken in for questioning on Tuesday by officers of the Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police.

Following questioning, he was detained.

Qatar was awarded the 2022 World…

Barcelona great Xavi believes Neymar will win the Ballon d Or after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo s dominance ends.

The past 10 Ballons d Or have been won by Barcelona star Messi and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, with Kaka in 2007 the last player outside that duo to claim the coveted individual honour.

Xavi, who finished third for the prize from 2009-11, feels Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar will claim the Ballon d Or immediately after the two modern-day greats slow down.

I have tremendous respect for Neymar, he s an amazing footballer, he told RMC on Wednesday.

When Messi or Ronaldo will be in a bad shape, and we ll see more at Cristiano because of his age [33], Neymar will be the next Ballon d Or winner. I m sure of that.

Xavi and Neymar …