England star Rooney hopes Portugal misses the World Cup

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Turning their attention back to FA Cup duties on Wednesday night, Manchester United will welcome West Ham to Old Trafford.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, ending their six-year wait to lift a piece of silverware over the weekend as they were crowned EFL Cup champions, Manchester United are in the midst of what has been a stellar purple patch. Eventually claiming a 2-0 victory against top-four contenders Newcastle, Erik ten Hag’s side now have their sights set on completing a silverware sweep in 2023. With the mood around Old Trafford at the highest it has been in recent memory, the former Ajax boss has seen his side gain a string of plaudits. Really hitting the ground running since returning from the World Cup’s winter …

Erling Haaland s long-term future has been a source of speculation for months and reports of a release clause in mid-2024 in his Manchester City contract have put Barcelona and Real Madrid on high alert.

The Norwegian was pursued by a host of clubs last off-season, with City winning the race ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Haaland has since scored 25 Premier League goals in 21 appearances and 31 in all competitions after joining City.

TOP STORY – HAALAND SET FOR SPANISH SWITCH NEXT YEAR

Erling Haaland has decided he wants to leave England for Spain next year when the release clause in his City contract can be activated, reports Fichajes.

The report claims Real Madrid and Barcelona are …

Eden Hazard is Chelsea s greatest foreign player, says assistant manager Gianfranco Zola.

The Belgium international has been at Stamford Bridge for seven years, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, the Europa League and an EFL Cup since joining from Lille.

Chelsea have boasted stars including Didier Drogba and Zola himself in the modern era but the Italian says Hazard, who has been linked with a summer exit to Real Madrid, is the pick of the bunch.

Eden Hazard s definitely at the very top,  said Zola, ranking the 28-year-old as Chelsea s best overseas signing.

He s such an unbelievable player. The more I ve spent time with him the more I appreciate him as a player, but also as a boy.

He s been great. I would love to have him for lon…

Tottenham youngster Troy Parrott has extended his contract with Antonio Conte s team until 2025 before heading to Preston North End on a season-long loan.

Promising 20-year-old forward Parrott scored nine goals as he helped League One side MK Dons to a third-place finish as a loanee last season, and will now make the step up to the Championship with Preston.

Parrott already has 15 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, and scored the most recent of his four international goals against Scotland in June.

Having come through the ranks at Tottenham, Parrott has made just four senior appearances for the club – two in the Premier League – as he struggles to break into a star-studded frontline, which has been boosted by the arrivals of Ivan Perisic and Richarliso…

Henrikh Mkhitaryan wants a pay rise in order to secure a move to Arsenal, according to the Mirror.

The Armenia international has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in a switch that would pave the way for Alexis Sanchez to head in the opposite direction.

However, with him having three-and-a-half years remaining on his current £150,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford and is looking for an improvement on those terms, and a ‘golden handshake’ from the Red Devils.

The twenty-eight year old moved to United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016 and has so far racked up sixty-three appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring thirteen times.

He helped the club to success in both the EFL Cup and the Europa League in hi…

Damien Delaney has agreed a one-year extension with Crystal Palace that will see the central defender remain with Alan Pardew s side next season.

The 34-year-old s previous deal at Selhurst Park was due to expire at the end of the month, but Palace have opted to sign him up for another campaign.

Veteran goalkeeper Julian Speroni, 37, has also penned a deal until the end of the 2016-17 campaign despite only making two appearances last season.

Speroni joined the club back in 2004 and equalled Palace s club appearance record in all competitions – 388 – on the final day of the 2015-16 Premier League campaign.

However, there were no new deals for five of Pardew s squad, including strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh.

Adebayor arrived at …

Lucas Moura confirms Real Madrid interest

Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura has confirmed reports that Real Madrid are keen on his signature.

The young attacking midfielder is one of the most sought-after players in world football, with top European clubs lining up for his signature.

The player’s agent revealed few days ago that Inter Milan had an €18 million bid rejected by Sao Paulo, but it is Real Madrid who are the favourites to sign the highly rated player.

The Brazilian now confirms that he is interested in joining los Blancos, while he also confirms initial talks have already taken place.

“They (Real Madrid) are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he told Esporte Espetacular, a program on Globo TV. “But for now I am thinking o…

Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorebieta could be joining Arsenal in the summer transfer window, the player’s representative has revealed.

The highly rated defender has less than five months left on his deal at San Mames and he has already informed the club chiefs that he won’t be signing a new deal.

Russian newspaper he has already received offers from Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Stoke, but the Venezuela international has yet to make a final decision on his future.

The player’s agent reveals that Amorebieta has rejected a winter move to Anzhi, hinting that Arsenal are in a pole position to sign the player on a free transfer in the summer.

“We have had contacts with Russian side Anzhi, who are seriously interested in Fernando’s service…

Olivier Giroud has signed a new one-year contract at Chelsea, the Premier League club have confirmed.

Giroud, who joined from Arsenal in January 2018, will now remain with the Blues for the 2019-20 season.

The striker has scored a competition-high 10 Europa League goals this season and is set to face his old club in next week s final in Baku.

And he will do so with his future settled by putting pen to paper on a 12-month extension.

I am very happy and looking forward to the next year!  

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

I am very happy to sign a new contract, France forward Giroud told Chelsea s official club website.

I really wanted to stay at least one more year I have felt a part of the team, the family, since the beginning and …

England goalkeeper Nick Pope has signed a long-term contract extension at Burnley, the Premier League club have confirmed.

The 27-year-old has committed to life at Turf Moor until June 2023, with an option of a further 12 months.

Pope s performances last term earned him a place in Gareth Southgate s squad for the 2018 World Cup, although a dislocated shoulder sustained during a Europa League tie at Aberdeen last July left him sidelined for five months.

He then found his route to the first team blocked by Tom Heaton and Joe Hart, with only a pair of FA Cup appearances to show for his efforts, but Pope is relishing the challenge of re-establishing himself under Sean Dyche in 2019-20.

I am in a good place. The shoulder feels good and I m looking forward to …