Lisandro Lopez on Juventus radar

Juventus are set to launch an assault on Lyon star Lisandro Lopez, .

With Nicklas Bendtner set to miss next three months of action, Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte is eager to sign a new striker in January.

Italian newspaper Tuttosport claims the Old Lady will attempt to lure Lisandro Lopez from Stade Gerland.

Lopez, 29, has one and a half years left on his deal at Lyon, and he is believed to be looking for a new challenge.

The French giants were holding out for €15 million last summer, but the forward can now be acquired for much less.

Lopez’s representative recently revealed that his client planned to end his career at Racing Club, but there is every chance he will embark on another last challenge befo…

Luiz Felipe Scolari will be keen to pick up his first win since returning as Brazil coach when they take on Russia at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

The trainer is expected to bring in additional experience to a defence that surrendered a two-goal lead against Italy last week, with Thiago Silva and Marcelo replacing Dante and Filipe Luis respectively. Fernando and Hernanes are expected to continue their partnership in midfield with Ramires doubtful after struggling to shake off a knock.

The only other change from the former Chelsea boss will see Hulk drop to the bench with Kaka awarded a starting berth behind Fred.

Russia s preparations, meanwhile, have been far from ideal with their World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland postponed twice. However, the only like…

FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale will face questions after being accused of running a low-profile campaign to succeed Sepp Blatter.

Sexwale is one of five men in contention to replace the Swiss at the elections on February 26, along with Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini were banned from all football-related activity for eight years after claims a disloyal payment was made from FIFA to the Frenchman in 2011.

With the presidential race seemingly wide open with no standout favourite, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has asked Sexwale to explain why his campaign has had little media exposure.

The NEC (National Ex…

Fikayo Tomori is eager to learn as much as he can from legendary defender Paolo Maldini after joining Milan from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old this week completed a switch to Milan on an initial loan deal until the end of the season with the option to make that move permanent.

Tomori struggled for first-team opportunities under Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge, featuring just once in the Premier League this term.

But the centre-back now has the opportunity to kickstart his career at San Siro, where he is hoping to follow in the steps of the great Maldini.

Five-time European Cup winner Maldini is now working as Milan s technical director and Tomori says he could not turn down the chance to link up with one of the all-time greats.

I chose to come here…

Mateo Kovacic has run out of patience at Real Madrid and wants to leave the club in search of regular action.

Croatia international Kovacic joined Madrid in 2015 from Inter after developing into one of Serie A s most promising players, costing Los Blancos a reported €35million.

But it has been a constant struggle for Kovacic to carve out a niche in the Madrid midfield, failing to oust countryman Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro in Zinedine Zidane s favoured trio.

After Zidane made his decision to resign following a third successive Champions League success, Kovacic still just 24 was seen by many as one of the players most likely to benefit.

But, frustrated with starting just 37 LaLiga games in three years, Kovacic is going to look for a new start …

Kevin De Bruyne has played through serious pain with Manchester City this season but feels his condition is starting to improve.

The Belgium international has had a tough few months due to physical ailments, starting with the collision with Antonio Rudiger in the Champions League final that left him with a fractured nose and eye socket.

De Bruyne was able to recover in time to play a part in Belgium s ultimately unsuccessful Euro 2020 campaign, though he sustained another injury in the last-16 victory over Portugal.

It was ankle ligament damage on that occasion, yet De Bruyne still played Belgium s next game as they were eliminated by eventual champions Italy.

The midfielder was able to have a brief cameo in City s Premier League opener but then disappe…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged Jesse Lingard s disappointment at a lack of playing time following rumours suggesting contract talks with the midfielder had collapsed.

Various publications claimed on Thursday that discussions over a new Manchester United deal for England international Lingard had broken down.

The 28-year-old s contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and United seemingly look set to lose a valuable asset on a free transfer.

The speculation has stoked criticism of United s decision-making, given the club almost certainly could have fetched £25million for Lingard in pre-season after he enjoyed a scintillating loan spell at West Ham.

Between his Hammers debut in February and the end of 2020-21, Lingard scored nine times in the …

Unai Emery has his sights set on winning the Premier League or Champions League with Aston Villa after securing a top-four finish earlier this week.

Fifth-place Tottenham s defeat to title-chasing Manchester City on Tuesday meant Villa will play in Europe s premier club competition next season for the first time in 41 years.

Emery s side conclude a memorable season – in which they also reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals – away at Crystal Palace on the final day.

And the Spaniard is already focused on achieving bigger and better things with Villa.

It really was amazing when the [Tottenham-Manchester City] match finished, he smiled. At the beginning of the season, it was really a dream. Of course, we worked hard to try to be there.

…

Zlatko Dalic pinpointed Dominik Livakovic as the difference in Croatia s World Cup quarter-final win over Brazil, while he hailed the unbelievable Luka Modric.

Croatia, as they did against Japan in the round of 16, progressed in Qatar with a penalty shoot-out victory over Tite s side on Friday after a 1-1 draw at Education City Stadium.

A well-crafted Neymar strike before half-time in extra-time seemed to have Brazil on course for the final four, only for substitute Bruno Petkovic to level with a deflected strike with four minutes remaining.

Livakovic made the most saves by a Croatian in a World Cup match (11) before stepping up in the shoot-out to deny Rodrygo as Croatia reached the semi-finals in FIFA s top tournament for just a third time.

A couple of…

Nathan Dyer has vowed to fulfil his potential at Swansea City after pledging his future to the club by signing a new four-year deal.

Dyer has made no secret of his desire to remain at the Liberty Stadium over the past month despite being a reported transfer target for Everton, and he has now penned terms until July 2017.

The 25-year-old winger joined from Southampton in 2009 following an initial loan spell and has since played an integral part in helping the club achieve promotion and subsequently stay in the Premier League last season.

A brace from Dyer, who was due to be out of contract in 12 months time, in the League Cup final against Bradford City in February also ensured that Swansea secured their first major trophy.

Having agreed his new deal, Dyer is exci…