Stephen Robinson vows to ‘keep building’ after agreeing new St Mirren deal

Boss Stephen Robinson vowed to “keep building” at St Mirren after agreeing a new deal until the summer of 2026.

Assistant manager Diarmuid O’Carroll has also agreed a new contract that keeps him in Paisley for the same period.

Robinson, who took over in February, 2022, led the Buddies to their most successful top-flight campaign since 1985 as well as finishing in the top six for the first time in the cinch Premiership’s current format.

Last season saw the Paisley side finish with 46 points, the highest points tally in the current format as well as winning nine home matches in a season in the top flight for the first time since 1987.

Robinson told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted and very grateful to the board and the fans for thei…

Real to offer Bale plus £70m for Sterling

Real Madrid are preparing an offer that would consist of Gareth Bale and £70 million for the services of Manchester City s Raheem Sterling, according to Sky Sports.

Sterling has enjoyed a stellar uprise since his arrival to the Etihad from Liverpool in 2015. He has so far scored 82 goals in 206 games in the sky-blue shirt, winning two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups in the process. The system manager Pep Guardiola has established for his team seems perfect for Sterling s pace and trickery, as well as a natural knack for exploiting space between the opposition lines.

Real spent over €300 million on new recruits this summer, with the likes of Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic meant to boost their forward line and fill the gap left by the departure of Cri…

Prediction: Croatia vs Wales

Prediction: 2-2

Odds:

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Wales will be aiming to continue their excellent start in Euro 2020 qualifying as they take on Croatia on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Giggs men had the perfect start to their qualification campaign but now have a stern test in the form 0f the 2018 World Cup runners-up.

Croatia

Heading to the Stadion Gradski vrt, Zlatko Dalic s men are experiencing a slight patch of indifferent form. Following defeat to England in the final match of the UEFA Nations League group games, they have notched one win and loss apiece in qualification so far; they edged past Azerbaijan before falling to a shock 2-1 defeat to Hungary last time out. As a matter of fact, their results in recent times have been inconsistent since they reached …

Musiala or Bellingham more deserving of Kopa Trophy than Gavi, claims Nagelsmann

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann believes either Jamal Musiala or Jude Bellingham should have beaten Gavi to the Kopa Trophy at Monday s Ballon d Or ceremony.

The award – given to the best under-21 player in the world – went to a Barcelona midfielder for the second year in a row, as Gavi replicated Pedri s 2021 success.

Bundesliga duo Musiala and Bellingham were both in contention for the prize, finishing third and fourth in the voting respectively, with Real Madrid s Eduardo Camavinga coming second.

Asked about Musiala s failure to land the award ahead of Bayern s trip to Augsburg in the DFB-Pokal, Nagelsmann said: You wear club glasses.

In my eyes, both Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham have had better seasons than the winner. Gavi is an out…

Arsenal have to be at top of their game to beat ´best team in England´, Arteta claims ahead of Liver

Arsenal must be at their very best if they hope to defeat Liverpool in the Premier League, says Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard hailing the Reds as the best team in England .

The Gunners welcome Jurgen Klopp s title-chasers to Emirates Stadium for a crucial crash that could shape both of their respective seasons.

Liverpool will fulfil their game in hand on champions Manchester City and could move a point behind them with victory, while a win for Arsenal would further consolidate their top-four spot.

Arsenal have not played in the Champions League since the 2016-17 season and are desperate to return, and Wednesday s fixture might prove something of a litmus test as to just where the Gunners are at. Indeed, Arsenal went into the reverse fixture at Anfield in N…

What You Might Have Missed: Quagliarella ton-up, Dolberg shines and Leipzig lead the way

Europe s top leagues were not short of heavyweight clashes over the weekend.

Jose Mourinho left Old Trafford in his customarily chipper mood after old foe Arsene Wenger and Arsenal escaped with a last-gasp 1-1 draw and there were plenty more old scores being settled all over again elsewhere.

Cristiano Ronaldo proved to be the scourge of the Vicente Calderon as his hat-trick inspired LaLiga leaders Real Madrid to a 3-0 derby win over Atletico Madrid, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang revitalised Borussia Dortmund s Bundesliga bid by downing Bayern Munich with the only goal at Signal Iduna Park a result that left surprise package RB Leipzig top as the division s only remaining unbeaten side.

Fenerbahce claimed the bragging rights in Istanbul, as a Robin van Persie br…

Pulisic showed the full package – Lampard ´absolutely delighted´ for Chelsea hat-trick hero

Christian Pulisic showed the full package with his perfect hat-trick in Chelsea s 4-2 victory against Burnley, according to head coach Frank Lampard.

United States international Pulisic scored with his left foot, right foot and his head to give Chelsea a three-goal lead in Saturday s Premier League clash at Turf Moor.

Willian added a fourth goal before Jay Rodriguez and Dwight McNeil pulled a couple back for Burnley in the final five minutes, but the Blues saw out a seventh successive win in all competitions.

Lampard lavished praise on Pulisic after the match and is hopeful his hat-trick hero will take confidence from scoring his first goals in English football.

The moment became our youngest player ever to score a Premier League hat-trick!  

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Grenier arrives for Roma medical

Roma have announced that midfielder Clement Grenier has arrived in the Italian capital to complete a medical.

The 26-year-old has only managed four Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon this season, having struggled to break back into the team following a shin injury in September.

He is expected to join Luciano Spalletti s side on an initial loan deal, with Roma reported to have the option of making the move permanent for a €3.5million fee at the end of the season.

France international midfielder Clement Grenier arrived in Rome on Friday, landing at Ciampino airport shortly before 18:00 CET, a Roma statement read.

The Olympique Lyon player, 26, has made more than 150 appearances for Les Gones after emerging from the club s fabled youth academy in 2009.

Rumour Has It: Man City to include Jack Grealish in offer for Milan forward Rafael Leao

Manchester City are reportedly prepared to offer Jack Grealish as well as a hefty transfer fee to Milan for in-demand forward Rafael Leao.

Leao, 23, has scored six goals with five assists in his 14 Serie A fixtures this campaign, following a 2021-22 season where he contributed 11 goals and 10 assists in 34 league appearances.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Grealish has been trending in the opposite direction, with the most expensive Englishman in football history only playing a complete 90 minutes in two of his 10 Premier League outings this season.

Chelsea have reportedly already seen a £62million (€70m) bid for Leao brushed off by Milan, who have apparently said they will wait for someone to meet his £133m (€150m) release clause, though a new report suggests City…

Borussia Dortmund send Rode on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt

Sebastian Rode has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan from fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

Rode has struggled to make an impact since joining Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2016.

The midfielder last appeared in the Bundesliga in May 2017 and will spend the rest of the campaign on loan with Eintracht, where he played between 2010 and 2014.

We thank Sebastian Rode for his commitment to this day and wish him much health and match practice for his time at Eintracht, said BVB sporting director Michael Zorc.

Rode has been out of action with a groin injury, but the 28-year-old declared he is ready to make an impact on his Eintracht return.

I am very happy to be able to attack fully again, he told Eintracht s website.  I have the time in har…