Sevilla agree Correa deal

Sevilla have agreed a deal to sign Joaquin Correa from Sampdoria on a five-year contract.

Both clubs confirmed on Sunday that the transfer will go through pending the successful completion of a medical, with the player having agreed terms with the Europa League winners.

Reports in Italy suggest the transfer fee for Correa is in excess of €13million, with significant potential add-ons to be paid by Jorge Sampaoli s new side.

Attacking midfielder Correa, 21, began his senior career with Estudiantes before signing for Sampdoria in January 2015.

Since then he has made 31 Serie A appearances – 25 of which came last season – and scored three goals.

Acuerdo entre y para el traspaso de Joaquín Correa

— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@Sevilla…

Small details will decide Champions League final – Marcelo

Real Madrid s Champions League fate rests in the hands of the small details , according to defender Marcelo.

Zinedine Zidane s men take on city rivals Atletico at San Siro as they go in search of an 11th European crown on Saturday.

It is a repeat of the 2014 final in Lisbon, when Carlo Ancelotti led Madrid to a 4-1 triumph after extra time, and it pits some of football s biggest talents head to head as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann battle it out for continental supremacy.

But Marcelo says the finer points will be decisive and he suggested Zidane s side will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of glory.

We re feeling as good as we could, he said. We re ready, prepared and I think we ll fair quite well.

I think in a fin…

Havelange, Teixeira implicated in FIFA corruption

Switzerland s supreme court has ordered the release of a report further implicating former senior figures at FIFA in long-term corruption.

International Sports and Leisure, a partner organisation of world football s governing body which collapsed in 2001, is alleged to have bribed former FIFA President Joao Havelange and executive committee member Ricardo Teixeira.

The Swiss supreme court this week ordered the release of a previously-suppressed prosecutor s report revealing the two men may have received kickbacks totalling 14.4 million pounds, with Havelange receiving at least 986,000 pounds and Teixeira at least 8.4 million pounds.

Documents made available by the court are believed to identify which senior FIFA officials serving in the organisation at the time …

Glory ready for South Africa camp

Having gone close to being crowned champions of the A-League 2011/12, Perth Glory have returned to South Africa for their pre-season camp.

Ian Ferguson s charges depart for their 14-day trip on Saturday, basing themselves at the Ingwenyama Conference and Sports Resort in Nelspruit home to Chile during the 2010 World Cup and will take on three South African Premier Soccer League clubs in friendlies.

Last season s A-League runners-up meet AmaZulu on July 24, Platinum Stars on July 27 and Bidvest Wits on July 31.

With a host of new signings in the Glory squad, including former Gold Coast United captain Michael Thwaite and former Sydney FC full-back Scott Jamieson, Ferguson hailed the importance of the trip.

We are all looking forward to the camp, he told r…

Barcelona’s summer sale

Despite winning the La Liga title for the eighth time in the last 10 years, Barcelona do not consider their 2018/19 to have been successful by their high standards. The main reason for such self-critical approach is certainly the infamous Champions League failure, though they also fell short in the Copa Del Rey, having lost the final to Valencia.

Big changes in the squad are needed, and having secured the services of Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong, they are preparing to move for other big-name targets in the transfer market. However, before they can go out on a massive spending spree, they need to cut some weight off.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club have had concrete offers for a number of fringe players, namely winger Malcom, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen…

Bayern can expect ´fiery atmosphere´ at Leipzig, says Hasenhuttl

Ralph Hasenhuttl has vowed to frustrate Bayern Munich on Sunday as RB Leipzig look to take points off the Bundesliga leaders for the first time.

In their three top-flight meetings Bayern have secured a maximum return, scoring 10 goals and conceding just four – all of which came in a 5-4 thriller in May 2017.

After a stuttering start to the season Bayern have re-established themselves as the dominant force in Germany and will secure the title with a win combined with both Schalke and Borussia Dortmund dropping points.

Hasenhuttl is keen not to let that happen at the Red Bull Arena and has promised a fiery atmosphere will greet the league leaders.

Jupp Heynckes team have very few, if any, weaknesses and it s no surprise they have walked away with the…

AFC Champions League Review: Lee heroics in vain as Kashiwa progress

Kashiwa Reysol reached the last 16 of the AFC Champions League with victory over Jeonbuk Motors, despite Lee Dong-gook s best efforts.

The 2013 semi-finalists safely assured their progression with a 3-2 victory over their Group E rivals after Lee s brace made him the competition s all-time leading scorer on 27.

Eduardo s opener and a Kosuke Taketomi brace put hosts Kashiwa well on top by half-time at the Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium.

Lee s brace, which included a stunning overhead kick, threatened a comeback and while it never materialised, the former Middlesbrough man etched his name into the history books nonetheless.

Shandong Luneng kept alive their hopes of qualifying alongside Kashiwa with a 3-1 victory over Vietnamese side Binh Duong.

Yang Xu…

Everybody wanted Carroll, says Allardyce

Sam Allardyce refuted suggestions West Ham erred in permanently signing Andy Carroll from Liverpool in 2013.

Striker Carroll spent a year on loan at Upton Park in the 2012-13 season, before switching permanently from Anfield to London for an estimated £15 million transfer fee.

The 25-year-old has endured several injury spells since, with heel and ankle problems restricting him to just 12 Premier League starts last term and ruling him out until November.

But Allardyce said West Ham co-owner David Sullivan s suggestion Carroll s acquisition was a mistake, was off the mark.

Everyone wanted to sign Andy Carroll when he finished the season, everybody, Allardyce insisted.

There wasn t one person from the owners to any members of staff who didn t want…

Pardew signs eight-year deal with Newcastle

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has signed a new eight-year deal with the club which will see him remain at the club until the 2019/20 season.

The 51-year-old has been handed the extension along with three members of his coaching staff John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman.

Pardew guided the Magpies to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last season helping them qualify for the Europa League.

Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley has chosen to reward the former Charlton boss and his coaches for the team s performance last season and to bring long-term stability to the club.

Managing Director Derek Llambias hailed Pardew and is looking to emulate the success of Manchester United and Arsenal who have shown that keeping faith in the manager is the best o…

International friendly preview: France v Japan

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is eager for his players to make an impression against France in Paris on Friday.

Zaccheroni has named a full-strength squad, including Manchester United striker Shinji Kagawa, for the friendly at Stade de France against Didier Deschamps side.

Japan have never beaten France a record Zaccheroni says must change if the four-time Asian champions are to continue to build and make a strong showing at the 2014 World cup in Brazil.

By playing against strong teams that lead Europe and South America, I hope we can gain valuable experience of international-level battles that will help us grow further, Zaccheroni said.

There are more players I wanted to call up who are not in the squad. That I have so many options shows how high the…