It s entirely possible the staging of the 2021 European Under-21 Championship will have passed many people by, given the fact it s taken on a somewhat peculiar format of a mid-season group stage with the knockout phase following two months later.
Originally due to take place solely in June, organisers were forced into a re-think following last year s postponement of the senior competition. It was decided to split the Under-21s event in two, therefore avoiding a clash.
Despite the rather unconventional format, the competition will see many of the continent s most-promising prodigies on display.
The tournament, based in Hungary and Slovenia, begins on Wednesday with the Magyars hosting Germany, and we have identified some high-potential talents to keep an eye on.
Premier League heavyweights Liverpool are believed to be closing the circle around AS Roma star winger Mohamed Salah.
As reported by the Guardian, the Egypt international is the subject of a £35 million bid from the Reds, who are hoping to finalise Salah’s move to Anfield this week.
Liverpool have been engaged in negotiations with Serie A outfit for a couple of weeks now. AS Roma initially rejected a £28 million approach for the star player, who is thought to be keen on making the switch.
The Reds have sent an improved offer for Salah, and are [prepared to make him the joint most-expensive signing ever, following the £35 million purchase of Andy Carrols from Newcastle United back in 2011.
The Reds were believed to be on the verge of signing the Egyp…
Kylian Mbappe says he will be a Paris Saint-Germain player next season no matter what .
The World Cup winner continues to be linked with moves away from PSG, the club he joined from Monaco in 2017 on an initial loan that was followed by a €180million transfer.
Mbappe scored 30 goals in all competitions before the Ligue 1 giants saw their season suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The France forward will get the opportunity to add to that tally as the Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Champions League continue in the coming weeks, and he will also remain at the Parc des Princes in 2020-21.
I m here. I am in the project for a fourth year, Mbappe told beIN SPORTS.
The 50th year of the club is an important year for the club, the suppor…
Gabriel Paulista believes he was not given enough chances to impress at Arsenal but is far happier with life at Valencia.
The centre-back joined from Villarreal in 2015 but failed to impress consistently under Arsene Wenger, making 37 starts in the Premier League in two and a half seasons at Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel returned to LaLiga with Valencia in August 2017 to reunite with former Villarreal boss Marcelino, and he has become a key component of the defence at Mestalla.
The 28-year-old thinks he is only now getting the regular football he deserves after getting away from the s*** he believes he was subjected to in England.
With all respect to Arsenal, I have nothing to prove to them anymore, he told the Independent ahead of the first leg of the Europ…
Eden Hazard has revealed that Manchester United s Jose Mourinho is the one manager he wants to work with again.
Hazard played under the Portuguese at Chelsea between 2013 and 2015, assuming an instrumental role in the Blues Premier League title win in the 2014-15 season.
Mourinho oversaw a torrid start to the following campaign – losing nine of his first 16 league games – and was dismissed in December amid rumours of bust-ups with senior players, including Hazard.
Hazard is set to come up against his former boss when United travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday, and despite admitting that it was the right decision for Mourinho to leave Chelsea three years ago, Hazard maintains there is no other manager he would rather play for again.
The last…
Romelu Lukaku could make a huge difference to Inter s attack should he return to the club from Chelsea, according to Blues legend Gianfranco Zola.
Lukaku is closing in on a return to San Siro less than a year after joining Chelsea in a club-record £97.5million transfer, with Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta revealing on Monday the club are in talks to sign both the Belgian and Juventus Paulo Dybala.
The Chelsea striker only scored eight Premier League goals as Chelsea finished third in the English top flight last term, and reportedly wants to return to the club with whom he won Serie A in 2020-21.
Lukaku scored 30 goals and recorded 11 assists in 44 appearances for Inter in his last season with the Nerazzurri, averaging a goal every 118.77 minutes.
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Brazil star Neymar is reportedly interested in a move to the Premier League after being informed Paris Saint-Germain will not stand in his way if he wishes to depart.
ESPN is reporting that Neymar s agent has been in touch with Chelsea to gauge their interest in bringing in the 30-year-old, who scored 13 goals and added six assists in 22 Ligue 1 contests this past season.
While Neymar s talent is not in question, his health may be, having missed over two months of this campaign after suffering an ankle injury, and that is coming off a 2020-21 season where he only played 18 league games due to ankle and adductor injuries.
TOP STORY – NEYMAR WEIGHS UP CHELSEA MOVE AS PSG GIVE GREEN LIGHT
ESPN s report mentions that Neymar s agent, Pini Zahavi, believes the…
Slovakia will seek to build on a famous opening-game triumph over Poland at Euro 2020 when they face Sweden on Friday.
Stefan Tarkovic s side sit proudly atop Group E after a 2-1 win in St Petersburg on Monday, with the in-form Milan Skriniar s goal decisive.
It represented just a second victory at a European Championship for Slovakia, who are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
After those joyous celebrations at the start of the week, Tarkovic has had to contend with the unwelcome distraction of two coronavirus positives within the camp.
Defender Denis Vavro and a member of staff are the duo affected but Tarkovic said UEFA protocols had been followed to avoid the spread of the infection , with the pair now in self-isolation.
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The lure of Mourinho has reportedly secured the services of free agent Paulo Dybala, whose contract expired at Juventus at the end of last season.
With Mile Svilar, Nemanja Matic and Zeki Celik already signed this transfer window, Smalling believes Roma will continue improving to compete with the likes of Inter, Juve, Napoli and Milan.
I like this team, it is normal for expectations to rise and the bar to move upwards, added Smalling, who made 27 Serie A appearances last season.
We found good continuity at the end of last season, which we lacked before when we had left points on the road. The backbone of the team is good, the group is united, we know the coach, who has been working with us for a year.
All the teams can improve, whoever arrives would …
David Alaba says Bayern Munich are dreaming of a repeat of their 2013 treble as well as victory over Liverpool in the Champions League.
The Bavarians have recovered from a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign and are second behind Borussia Dortmund as they prepare for their domestic season to resume on January 18 against Hoffenheim.
Niko Kovac s men travel to Anfield on February 19 to face Liverpool in the Champions League round of 16 and Austria defender Alaba said the club is aiming for success on three fronts, with a DFB-Pokal clash against Hertha Berlin also around the corner.
Alaba, 26, was part of the Bayern team that clinched the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in 2012-13 and he said a repeat this season was not out of the question.
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