Champs Preview

Moroccan striker Mounir El Hamdaoui was one of the stars of the Eredivisie last season, scoring 21 goals in 40 games to help win AZ Alkmaar the league and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.Read more  Read More →

by Chris Dowding It has been a summer of intrigue at Old Trafford so far. On the back of losing to Barcelona in the Champions League Final. The footballer widely recognised as the finest in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo has departed for Real Madrid, Carlos Tevez and his dummy appear to be on their way... More

The Yankees moved Tuesday to add a versatile bat to Joe Girardi’s lineup card, acquiring Eric Hinske from the Pirates in exchange for Minor League right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer. A 31-year-old left-handed hitter who was part of Boston’s 2007 World Series championship... More

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has labelled the Champions League as the world’s “best competition”, and has stated that it is an ambition of his to bring the European Cup to Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti talked up the club’s recent record on the continent but now hopes to win the... More

Premier League fixtures: the 2009-10 season starts here By Ian Herbert Sir Alex Ferguson will need to get his re-engineered strike force firing early. Though the Premier League champions will face five of last season’s top five clubs at home before Christmas – compared with nine away in the first... More

Upson, in line to become the new Hammers skipper, will continue to deputise for the injured Rio Ferdinand for England against Andorra tomorrow night. But he fears his lack of big-match experience will count against him when it comes to claiming a place in Fabio Capello’s starting line-up in South... More

IPL franchises for the super-rich Champions League Twenty20 tournament in October. In a stunning shift in power, IPL teams no longer have first call on their international stars, as was suggested when guidelines were drawn up for the $US6 million ($7.44m) series. Now a player such as David Warner, who... More

England’s top-flight clubs will buck the economic downturn by continuing to increase revenues next season but rising levels of debt could signal trouble ahead, according to the annual review of football finances from accountancy group Deloitte. Read more  Read More →

Wigan Athletic have been given permission to hold talks with Swansea City boss Roberto Martinez over the vacant manager’s job at the JJB Stadium, as the Spaniard closes in on a move to the club. Martinez, also being targeted by Celtic, played for Wigan for six years and immediately became chairman... More

Frank Lampard has welcomed Roman Abramovich’s apparent willingness to return to the lavish spending of his first few years at Stamford Bridge and called for the new Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, to add “fantasy” to the team’s attacking options this summer. While the Premier... More