Fulham are interested in signing Franck Kessie from Barcelona in the January transfer window, according to . The report in the Spanish publication has claimed that Aston Villa, Fulham and Inter Milan are also keen on Kessie.

Kessie has struggled to make a huge impact at Barcelona since his move on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 after leaving AC Milan at the end of last season. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international midfielder has had injury problems and has not been at his best at Camp Nou in the first half of the season.

The former Atalanta star has made three starts and three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona so far this season, scoring one goal in the process. Kessie has made two starts and five substitute appearances in La L…

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique is preparing for the usual intensity in his side’s game against Lyon despite both teams’ below-par starts to the season.

PSG finally got up and running with victory over Lens, following draws with Lorient and Toulouse. On Sunday, they visit a winless Lyon side who are kept off the bottom of Ligue 1 only by Clermont.

“We have prepared for tomorrow’s game in the same way as every game at Paris St Germain – with a serious approach, with professionalism,” Enrique said at a pre-match press conference broadcast on the club’s website.

First meeting with our supporters for our signing Randal Kolo Muani

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

“Lyon are a big historic club. They are one of best sides in …

Brazil defender David Luiz is available for Wednesday s last-four clash against Uruguay after recovering from a bruised leg.

Midfielder Paulinho is set to return to the starting XI after missing the 4-2 win over Italy with an ankle injury, but Bernard (foot) is a doubt.

Hulk is expected to start ahead of Lucas Moura in attack, despite failing to impress in the group stage.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano returns after serving a one-match ban for accumulating two yellow cards, but fellow defender Andres Scotti is ruled out after getting sent off in the 8-0 win over Tahiti.

Coach Oscar Tabarez is likely to persist with the attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani despite Abel Hernandez s four-goal haul against the Pacific islanders.

…

Arsenal have confirmed that captain Thomas Vermaelen will not join them on their pre-season tour of Asia.

The Belgium international is struggling with a back injury and will remain in London to recover with the help of the club s medical department.

The defender has been a regular fixture for Arsenal since signing from Ajax in 2009, and played in 29 matches in all competitions last season. However, reports suggest his chronic back problem could cause him to miss the start of the 2013-14 Premier League campaign as well as the trip to Asia.

Tweeting about the injury, Vermaelen pledged to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, due to a back injury I can’t join my team mates on the Asia Tour the next few weeks. I will be staying in London…

Thiago Motta has signed a new one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 club have announced.

The 34-year-old has agreed to a deal that will keep him at Parc des Princes for the 2017-18 season.

Motta had been linked with a return to Serie A once his contract expired, with former club Genoa reportedly keen to offer him a deal.

However, the former Barcelona man says he is thrilled to continue his adventure with PSG.

Le est heureux d’annoncer la prolongation du contrat de Thiago Motta jusqu’au 30 juin 2018.

— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside)

It s a great pleasure to extend my contract with Paris Saint-Germain, he said. I have a special history with this club, who have put a lot of confidence in me over the last five years.

Bayern Munich took another step towards retaining their Bundesliga title thanks to a hard fought 3-1 victory away to Stuttgart on Saturday. 

A Georg Niedermeier own goal on the half-hour mark and David Alaba s smartly taken first league goal of the season shortly after the interval looked to have given Bayern a comfortable win, before a remarkable piece of improvisation from Daniel Didavi threatened to make a game of it for Stuttgart.

A Douglas Costa strike sealed the victory late on, and moved Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who play Schalke on Sunday. 

Bayern were gifted the lead when Stuttgart captain Niedermeier deflected a low Franck Ribery cross from the left into his own net. Niedermeier was at full stretch in a vain attempt…

Jupp Heynckes is back in football after agreeing to take over Bayern Munich for a fourth time until the end of the season on Friday.

The experienced German has been out of the game since leaving Bayern in 2013 following a hugely successful campaign which saw the club win the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

Heynckes succeeds Carlo Ancelotti after he was sacked in the wake of a 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, with widespread reports claiming the Italian lost the support of several key players.

Here, we assess the 72-year-old s previous experiences in Opta numbers.

Welcome back , Jupp Heynckes! / Willkommen zurück, Jupp Heynckes!  

— Franck Ribéry (@FranckRibery)

1011 – Heynckes boasts a huge amount of…

Competition: Premier League
Market: Benteke to join West Ham
Odds:

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has been linked with a move away from Anfield after a disappointing debut season in Merseyside. The Belgian international has been short of goals and game time since manager Jurgen Klopp took after last season, and is expected to leave the club this summer as a result.

Benteke scored nine Premier League games in 29 appearances for Liverpool this season, but ended the campaign as a regular substitute after falling behind the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in the striker pecking order. He’s reportedly attracting the interest of West Ham United, who are looking for a target man to compete with Andy Carroll for a starting place in 2016/17.