Olivier Giroud is convinced he can still play a part for Chelsea but admitted he will reconsider his future in January if opportunities continue to be limited.
The striker has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot in two and a half years at Stamford Bridge since joining from Arsenal and has repeatedly been linked with an exit.
He fought off competition from Tammy Abraham to become first choice towards the end of last season but has fallen back down the pecking order under head coach Frank Lampard since the arrival of Timo Werner.
After being used for just 17 minutes in Chelsea s first four Premier League games this term, Giroud is determined to prove his worth and win back his place in the side.
I ve written a book called Always Believe It so I …
Middlesbrough have parted company with boss Tony Pulis following their failure to win promotion to the Premier League.
Boro finished seventh in the Championship, missing out on a place in the play-offs by one point.
Pulis, who replaced Garry Monk midway through the 2017-18 campaign, was reportedly due to be out of contract next month and the club will not be extending his deal.
The 61-year-old was regularly criticised by supporters for his style of play, with Middlesbrough scoring just 49 goals in 46 league matches in 2018-19, but chairman Steve Gibson has thanked the departing manager for stabilising the club.
Over the past 18 months Tony has been proactive, not only in the ambition to win football matches and promotion to the Premier League, but also i…
Liverpool are in the market to add depth and quality to their midfield.
The Reds are currently second in the Premier League, after four straight wins.
Liverpool have scored a Premier League-high 44 goals in 15 games.
TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL CHASING FABIAN RUIZ
Liverpool want to sign Napoli s Spain international Fabian Ruiz next off-season to bolster their midfield, reports Fichajes.
The Reds view the 25-year-old as an ideal player on an upward trajectory in his career.
Georginio Wijnaldum exited Liverpool for Paris Saint-Germain last off-season with no obvious replacement added.
ROUND-UP
Fichajes reports that Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Ajax s Argentinean left-back Nicolas Tagliafic…
Roberto Martinez was pleased with the maturity shown by his Belgium side after they recovered from an early setback in their World Cup qualifying win over Estonia.
The Red Devils fell behind for the third time in four Group E matches when Mattias Kait turned over possession and rifled a shot past Thibaut Courtois inside the first two minutes of Thursday s contest.
But Hans Vanaken had Belgium on level terms 20 minutes later and Romelu Lukaku scored either side of half-time to give the visitors some breathing space in Tallinn.
Substitute Thomas Foket bagged his first international goal after Axel Witsel had further extended Belgium s lead, rendering Erik Sorga s late strike nothing more than a consolation.
Despite conceding a couple of s…
Bayern Munich were victims of Real Madrid s lethal efficiency in Tuesday s 2-2 draw but the Germans are ready to beat them in next week s Champions League semi-final return leg, says coach Thomas Tuchel.
The Bavarians struck twice in four minutes early in the second half with a shot from Leroy Sane and a Harry Kane penalty to turn the game around after Vinicius Junior had put the visitors ahead in the 24th against the run of play.
Brazilian striker Vinicius also bagged an equaliser with an 83rd-minute spot kick as Bayern were pushing for a third goal.
Tuchel felt Bayern were in a strong position to stretch their lead going into the closing stages, but instead they will travel to Madrid next Wednesday with the tie all square.
The result is what it is and …
Barcelona head coach Xavi wants to sign Brazilian teenager Endrick, revealing he has held talks with the player and his father.
The 16-year-old Palmeiras forward is widely considered to be one of the finest prospects in South American football, drawing the attention of some of Europe s biggest sides.
Endrick s father will reportedly travel to Spain to tour Real Madrid s facilities later this month, but a fight is expected for his services, with Barcelona s own interest now being confirmed.
We ve been talking to his father and also directly to the player. I explained the project we have in Barcelona, Xavi told ESPN.
We want talent and he s a talent, able to make a difference. He can score goals, he can dribble, he s got a brutal ability to make a differe…
On the eve of his 50th A-League appearance, Melbourne Heart skipper Fred has applauded the continuing improvement in Australia.
The 33-year-old midfielder began his A-League career six years ago with Melbourne Victory before stints with DC United and Philadelphia Union in the US.
He had a brief stint on loan at Wellington in 2008, before returning to Melbourne to play with the Heart in June 2011.
Ahead of Friday night s game against the league leaders Central Coast Mariners in Gosford, the influential Brazilian said the improvement in quality over that time has been huge.
It s much better (the standard) than the time that I played with Victory, Fred said after training in hot conditions at La Trobe University on Thursday.
The players are better…
Atletico Madrid closed in on a Champions League spot after winger Rodrigo Riquelme s early strike earned his side a 1-0 win at Mallorca in LaLiga on Saturday.
With four games remaining, Diego Simeone s side are fourth in the standings on 67 points, six ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who beat Getafe on Friday.
There was an end-of-the-season feel at a half-empty Son Moix stadium with both teams lacking urgency in a lacklustre match, with the only standout moment being Riquelme s fine individual effort in the fifth minute, which ultimately secured the win for the visitors.
Riquelme pounced on a loose ball in the edge of the box and cleared two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable strike just inside the right post.
3 points on the road
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Brian McDermott has been set the target of steering Reading into the Premier League for a second time after returning to take charge of the Championship club.
The former Leeds United boss was confirmed on Thursday as Steve Clarke s successor at the Madejski Stadium, the 51-year-old inheriting a side 13th in the second tier of English football.
McDermott guiding Reading into the top flight as champions in 2011-12, only to depart the following March.
I m absolutely delighted to welcome Brian back, Reading co-chairman John Madejski told the club s official website.
He was able to win us promotion to the Premier League before and now it is his mission to do it again.
I ve always enjoyed working with Brian, he is a great manager and I wish h…
Lassana Diarra has thanked Didier Deschamps for giving him another opportunity to represent France.
Having previously said in 2013 that his time with the national team was finished, the midfielder had a change of heart and accepted a recall to the squad for the upcoming friendlies with Armenia and Denmark.
The former Real Madrid man, whose last cap came against Norway in August 2010, admitted to informing Deschamps that we wished to return to the set-up and thanked the coach for obliging.
I had a discussion with the coach. I told him of my motivation, Diarra said in a news conference.
I wanted to return for France. I had this objective in joining Marseille and obviously I convinced him. I thank him for calling me.
A contractual dispute w…