Wilshere on West Ham’s radar

Liverpool announce their first profit for seven years in new financial results.

Liverpool returned to profit for the first time in seven years in the last financial year, new figures have revealed.

A statement released by the Premier League club on Tuesday confirmed they posted a small profit in the year ending May 31 2014 a stark contrast to a loss of around £50million reported 12 months previously  while their revenue increased by 19 per cent to £255.6m.

This upturn in revenue has been primarily attributed to the rise in income from the Premier League s lucrative TV rights deal, with Liverpool moving back up to ninth from 12th in the Deloitte Football Money League.

Since Fenway Sports Group completed its takeover of Liverpool FC in October 2010, …

Spain are the best side at Euro 2024, so says La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente.

Tournament debutants Georgia were no match for Spain on Sunday, as De la Fuente s team ran out 4-1 victors in Cologne.

Spain accumulated 3.25 expected goals (xG) and allowed just 0.25 going the other way in another emphatic performance in which their youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Willams dazzled.

La Roja will now face hosts Germany in an enthralling quarter-final tie, but De la Fuente says they must hold no fear.

We have a lot of confidence and a team with talent, quality and commitment.

Being convinced of your ability is very important. I don t want to offend anyone but we have the best team at this tournament.

35 Spain

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Verdict: England handicap -3

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Group F bottom-dwellers Malta play host to leaders England in a match that is expected to be a one-sided affair. The Three Lions are without a defeat so far in the World Cup qualifiers and are most certainly not expected to ruin their record with a match at lowly Maltese side.

Malta

Arguably one of the weakest sides in European football, Malta national team is yet to make it to the finals of any major international competition. The Group F minnows have found it too difficult to fight against the likes of Lithuania, Scotland, Slovenia and England, and are currently sitting rock bottom with six defeats from as many matches. Maltese conceded fifteen goals and scored only two during the qualifying process…

Dani Carvajal is facing a UEFA investigation after the defender was shown a yellow card late in Real Madrid s Champions League win over APOEL on Tuesday.

Carvajal delayed a throw-in during stoppage time at the end of Madrid s 6-0 demolition, with referee Artur Dias Soares showing the full-back the only yellow card of the game.

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body now plans to investigate the incident to examine whether Carvajal was guilty of breaching Article 15 of its Disciplinary Regulations by receiving a yellow card on purpose .

Carvajal s booking, his third of this season s Champions League, means he would be ruled out of Madrid s matchday six clash with Borussia Dortmund through suspension, freeing him to return for the knockout rounds.

Bu…

Philippe Coutinho was a humble boy who had everything in terms of ability even at the age of 18, according to Rafael Benitez.

The Brazil star completed his protracted transfer to Barcelona on Saturday for a fee that could reportedly reach a club-record €160million.

Coutinho s blockbuster move to Camp Nou comes almost five years on from his transfer to Liverpool from Inter for a bargain price said to have been just €10m.

Benitez coached Coutinho for just a few months during his ill-fated spell with the Nerazzurri in 2010 but the Newcastle United boss admits it was clear then that they had a special talent.

It was a pleasant surprise to meet a player with the abilities of Philippe Coutinho, Benitez told Mundo Deportivo.  We had the chance to have a bo…

New West Ham signing Nayef Aguerd has undergone surgery after sustaining an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly. 

The Hammers spent a reported £30million to sign Aguerd from Rennes in June but he is now a doubt for the start of the new season after being forced off in the first half of last Tuesday s 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox. 

West Ham did not give a time frame for the Morocco defender s return to action, with David Moyes side entertaining Premier League champions Manchester City in their opening game of the season on August 7. 

Aguerd was signed after playing a role in 19 clean sheets in Ligue 1 over the previous two seasons with Rennes. The only defenders with more were Wout Faes (20), Marquinhos (26), Sven Botman (28) and Jose Fonte (29). 

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Following the news that Real Madrid will be banned from registering players for the next two transfer windows, Omnisport examines five possible consequences of the Santiago Bernabeu giants breaching FIFA transfer regulations.

Ronaldo: The Real romance continues

Cristiano Ronaldo s future has been a source of constant speculation throughout this season. The three-time Ballon d Or winner, unseated as the holder of football s premier individual honour by Barcelona rival Lionel Messi this week, often cut a disgruntled figure on the field during Rafael Benitez s ill-fated tenure as Madrid boss. Ronaldo was reported to be unhappy with the methods of the now sacked head coach.

A return of 14 goals from 19 Liga matches would be a handsome return for most forwards, but R…

Harry Kane’s late brace earned Bayern Munich a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League after beating Galatasaray 2-1.

A frustrating first half saw Bayern have the better chances, with Kane and Leroy Sane testing Fernando Muslera, but Galatasaray began to grow into the game after the break and had a goal ruled out for offside.

The hosts earned their reward with Kane scoring twice in the final 10 minutes and they saw out the victory despite Cedric Bakambu’s stoppage-time strike.

Through to the last 16!

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN)

Bayern progress to the knock-out stages having won all four of their matches in Group A so far, while defeat leaves Galatasaray third in the table.

Bayern had chances early on when Sane cut inside…

Market: Forward Madison win

Odds: 6/11 @

Looking to extend their buffer in the play-off chase, Forward Madison will welcome Central Valley Fuego to Wisconsin in the early hours of Thursday.

Starting with the hosts, making a return to winning ways last weekend as they secured a gritty 1-0 victory at home against Lexington, Forward Madison should be smelling the chance to make another statement here. Leading the chase to claim a play-off ticket this season and opening Thursday’s showdown in Wisconsin holding a five-point buffer from dropping out of the top-six, the Flamingos will now have their sights set on making up some ground in the title chase. Suffering just a single defeat from any of their first 10 USL League One appearances, Matt Glaeser’s side will a…

England toiled to a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia as their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign came to a lacklustre close.

Gareth Southgate’s side secured qualification to next summer’s finals in Germany last month and a forgettable draw in Skopje was at least enough to confirm them among the top seeds for December’s draw.

Debutant Rico Lewis endured a night to forget at the Tose Proeski Arena as he conceded a controversial first-half penalty which Jordan Pickford saved before Enis Bardhi turned home the rebound.

Captain Harry Kane came off the bench and played a part in the leveller as Jani Atanasov scored an own goal but England failed to find a winner.

The points are shared in the final match of 2023.

— England (@England)

England sho…