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Chelsea 's protracted move for AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko looks to be nearing the end with a £35m ($44.3m) deal said to be close to being finalised between the two clubs. Antonio Conte has made the France midfielder one of his priority targets this summer as he looks to bolster his midfield ahead of Chelsea's return to the Champions League next season. Bakayoko's imminent arrival is likely to signal the end of Nemanja Matic's time at Stamford Bridge with  the Serbian keen to reunite with Jose Mourinho  at  Manchester United . Bakayoko enjoyed a fine season with Monaco last season, having played a key role in helping them to their first Ligue 1 title in 20 years as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League. The 22-year-old's performances attracted interest from a number of clubs, including the Red Devils, but the midfielder is  said to be keen to work with Conte at Chelsea. According to the Daily Mail , the Premier League champions are close

MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea have made “serious” offers to sign Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, according to reports. Rodriguez, 25, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League as he wants to leave the Bernabeu in search of regular game time.  United and Chelsea are both keen to bolster their ranks ahead of next season and have earmarked the Colombia international as a possible target.   Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential departure from  Real Madrid  could have scuppered his move after he was accused of tax evasion by Spanish authorities.  But he has since been calmed down by Real chief Florentino Perez and looks set to stay at the club. Despite all this, Spanish outlet Diario Madrista say Rodriguez’s stance has not changed and he is still adamant about leaving the club. Perez confirmed last week that no bids have come in for Rodriguez.  But  Diario Madrista  reckon three concrete offers have been made for the playmaker.  It is said that  Manchester Unit

How Liverpool Would Lineup With Mohamed Salah In The Team Liverpool are on the verge of announcing their second signing of the summer with Mohamed Salah expected to complete a move worth  £39million  to Anfield. The Egyptian international winger is a long awaited transfer for the Reds considering that the saga has been going on for a long time now. When compared to some other players in the current market, Salah’s £39million valuation is an absolute steal for the Reds. Mohamed Salah could well turn out to be one of the best signings of the summer, having enjoyed a tremendous spell at AS Roma. Stats wise, Salah is amongst the best in Europe when it comes to creating chances along with goals and assists. The Egyptian will bring unpredictability and variety to the already established Reds attack and reduce the overdependence that the team has on Sadio Mane. As Liverpool prepare for their quest for the Premier League and Champions League next season, let’s take a look at

Barcelona forward Rafinha is reportedly pushing for a shock switch to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the summer. Spanish publication  Don Balon  have reported that Rafinha is eyeing a controversial move to switch allegiances from Barcelona to Real Madrid. The Brazilian playmaker has had his representatives contact Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over a possible move in the summer transfer window. Rafinha progressed through the ranks at Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy after joining the youth setup as a 13-year-old. The player finally made the grade in the senior squad in 2014, since when he has established himself as a key player in first-team picture. But while he has been influential with his performances for the  Blaugrana , Rafinhas has struggled to be one of the first names of the team sheet, having had to compete with the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez for one spot in the starting eleven. While the 24-year-old did outdo the aforementi

Australia are aiming to harness the bitter taste of defeat against Germany to inspire a complete performance in their must-win meeting with Cameroon at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Fragile in the first half and feisty in the second during the 3-2 loss to the world champions, Australia are in desperate need of 90-minutes of urgency and inspiration to give relevance to their final Group B game against Chile in Moscow next week. It all comes down to the clash with the African champions in St Petersburg on Friday morning (AEST), and attacker Robbie Kruse, 28, sees no shortage of motivation. Set for a starting role as a No.10 alongside Tom Rogic, Kruse, is still carrying the scars of the opening game defeat in Sochi. "It's not a nice feeling, particularly when we were playing well in the second half," he said. "When you play one of the best teams in the world, if you take your foot off the pedal pedal for a split moment they really make you pay for it.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent has been discussing the interest in his client following his release by Manchester United. Mino Raiola claims the 35-year-old has already received several offers. Ibrahimovic is out of contract at the end of the month after United decided against taking up the option for a second season in the one-year contract he signed when he joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. But the Swedish veteran is currently recovering from knee surgery after sustaining a serious ligament injury during the Europa League game against Anderlecht at Old Trafford and will stay at United’s Carrington training ground to complete his rehabilitation programme. Within that context is appears unlikely that Ibrahimovic will join a new club in the current transfer window – not least because he will be free to sign for his next side outside of a window as a free agent – but Raiola reckons the interest is there. He told  Gazzetta dello Sport : “Ibra is fi

Mexico's football federation (FMF) has appealed to its fans at the Confederations Cup in Russia to stop a long-used chant which soccer's governing body FIFA says is homophobic. FIFA said on Tuesday it had warned the FMF about the misconduct of a "small group of Mexican fans in relation to insulting and discriminatory chants" during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Portugal. Mexico fans have long shouted an insult at keepers taking goal kicks which gay rights groups argue is homophobic. Mexican media said the chant was heard again on Sunday when Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio took goal kicks, though on a smaller scale than in the past. "As you know, FIFA is very serious about the chanting that we do when the goalkeeper takes a kick, and the possible sanctions are serious," FMF said in a statement directed at the team's supporters. "Our efforts on the pitch will come to nothing if, because of this (behaviour), we lose the match, the game i

Spanish prosecutors have filed a claim against Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on two counts of tax fraud dating back to when he coached Real Madrid Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.  Photo:  PHOTOSPORT The Portuguese manager owes Spanish tax authorities $5 million, a Madrid prosecutor said in a statement, adding it had presented a claim to a local court. Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 to manage English club Chelsea for a second spell before signing with United in 2016. Prosecutors said he had failed to declare revenues from his image rights in his Spanish income tax declarations from 2011 and 2012, "with the aim of obtaining illicit profits". They said Mourinho had already settled a previous claim relating to his Spanish taxes, which resulted in a penalty of $1.8 million in 2014. But tax authorities later found that some of the information presented in that settlement was incorrect, the prosecutors said. Known as "the Special One", Mo

Manchester United will face no action over their role in Paul Pogba move Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Juventus, FIFA confirmed  They are investigating possible breach of their third-party ownership of a player It comes after Sportsmail's revelations Mino Raiola will earn £41m from the deal  Manchester United will face no action for their role in Paul Pogba's transfer from Juventus, but the Italian club have had disciplinary proceedings opened against them, FIFA have announced. An investigation into the world-record £89.3million transfer was opened by football's governing body last month after   Sportsmail  revealed agent Mino Raiola  will take an extraordinary £41m cut from the deal. United were originally asked for clarification about all aspects of their part in the transfer and were understood to be completely relaxed about the situation throughout the process. Manchester United are no longer being investigated for their role in the Paul

Chelsea  midfielder Nemanja Matic is keen to join  Manchester United  this summer and book a reunion with Jose Mourinho, reports say. Matic has been a dependable figure in Chelsea’s midfield since signing from Benfica in 2014 and played a key role as the Blues won the title last season. But according to  The Sun , the Serbian star fears he is now surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and has played his last game for Chelsea. Matic enjoyed a largely productive relationship with Mourinho in west London but was left embarrassed when the Portuguese subbed him 28 minutes after being thrown on in the 3-1 defeat to Southampton in October 2015. Mourinho is a fan of the player having worked with him at Stamford Bridge The Serbian star believes Antonio Conte is ready to sanction his exit However, it is claimed both parties have moved on from the incident and are hoping to agree a deal in the coming months as Mourinho targets a number of summer reinforcements. Serie A gia

Argentina's football legend Diego Maradona has revealed that he would have liked to see Real  Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo line up alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina's national side, although  he is adamant he still prefers the Barcelona forward. Maradona on Monday was full of praise for Ronaldo, but he would still take Messi over the Portugal  superstar regardless of his inability to to help Argentina win the  world title. "Cristiano is an animal," Maradona told TyC Sports. "I wish he was Argentine. "But I still prefer Messi. He is enjoying playing football and goes by opponents with ease. "Leo cannot deliver the World Cup on his own. Even if he does not win a World Cup, we will still remember him." Ronaldo was in action for his national team Portugal in their 2-2 draw against Mexico in the second  match of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Follow Brainz Sport news on Twitter  @Brainzbizz

Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of fraud by the Spanish tax authorities The Portuguese superstar is alleged to avoided paying up to £13million of tax Madrid president Florentino Perez has backed Ronaldo over the accusations Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appeared to defend Cristiano Ronaldo on Spanish radio on Monday night in a move that will be seen as  warding off interest in the player from Manchester United. Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu - possibly back to the Red Devils - after becoming unhappy at a perceived lack of  support from Madrid over his current tax issues.  The Portugal captain has been accused of ceding his image rights to a company in the British Virgin Islands so as to avoid paying £13million tax on  them in Spain.  'I know him and he's a top professional and person and all this is very strange,' Perez said. 'We have complete faith that Cristiano has always acted out of good fai

Premier League side Swansea City announced Asian-focused online betting and casino operator Letou will be its official shirt sponsor for the '17-18 season, according to Ted Menmuir of SBC NEWS. The club hosted an unveiling ceremony for its new "home & away shirts" designed by Spanish kit manufacturer Joma. The new shirt features the branding of Letou on the front and is "accompanied by web-security firm Barracuda," which will  sponsor the club’s sleeves . Swansea COO Chris Pearlman said that the sponsorship "continues the football club's initiative of expanding its commercial presence within Asian consumer markets." Pearlman added, "Swansea City has ambitions to grow our brand in Asia where Letou has a strong presence and a lot of experience" ( SBC NEWS, 6/19 ). In Cardiff, Andrew Gwilym reported Swansea has "plans under way to develop a Chinese version" of its website and social media channels. The home kit is in Swan

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez insists that he has not had a bid from  Paris Saint-Germain  for  Cristiano Ronaldo  . Reports emerged last weekend that the Portuguese star wants to quit  Real Madrid  and leave Spain after it emerged authorities are pursuing £13m in unpaid tax. With his prohibitively high release clause of £1billion, only a handful of clubs would be able to contemplate moving for the 32-year-old. Paris Saint-Germain have the financial clout to make a deal happen, but Perez categorically denied the French side have made an offer for Madrid's star man. "The clause for Cristiano is £1bn," he told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. "We have not had an offer from Cristiano... the Sheikh at PSG is a friend of mine and he hasn't called me nor have we talked. Perez also blamed the media for the furore surrounding Ronaldo's future. "It has affected me how the media treated Cristiano; the presumption of innocence was not respe