Lukaku offers thanks to Mourinho

Lazio have finally completed a protracted deal to bring Santos playmaker Felipe Anderson to the Stadio Olimpico.

The 20-year-old has penned a five-year deal with the Rome club, with a fee of €8 million thought to have been agreed between the sides last month.

Anderson was half-owned by a third party, who are reportedly entitled to half of the transfer fee.

However, Lazio director of football Igli Tare launched a furious tirade at the company involved, accusing them of moving the goalposts on more than one occasion during the process.

He told Il Messaggero: It will remain in history as the most paradoxical and shocking negotiations I have ever been a part of.

These third-party owners changed their minds continually.

When we had everything decided, th…

Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel says the club are open to a permanent transfer for Manchester City s John Guidetti.

The Swede joined City in 2010 but has failed to establish himself among the first time, and enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at the Eredivisie side during the 2011-12 season, in which he scored 20 goals in 23 outings.

With Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko the leading strikers, and new manager Manuel Pellegrini keen on new forward additions, Guidetti s future at the Etihad Stadium is unclear.

And Van Geel says Feyenoord would be keen to take the 21-year-old back to the Netherlands, but stressed no deal has been submitted.

Guidetti is in our hearts and the door is always open for him, he told AD.

If a godsend occurs, we would naturally in…

An Eden Hazard-inspired Chelsea extended their lead at the Premier League summit with a dominant 3-1 win over title rivals Arsenal.

Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a 13th-minute lead, heading home the rebound when Diego Costa s header looped up off the crossbar.

The wing-back s robust challenge on Hector Bellerin that allowed him to score is likely to draw post-match rancour from Arsene Wenger, but the suspended Gunners manager could have no complaints when those alongside him in the stand were brought to their feet in the 53rd minute.

Hazard made his mazy way from his own half to the edge of the Arsenal six-yard box to score the kind of goal that can come to define title triumphs.

Arsenal could muster little in the way of a response as they limply succumbe…

Chelsea have paid a reported world-record £71.6million to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao as a successor to Real Madrid-bound Thibaut Courtois.

The highly rated Spain international was announced as signing a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge just hours after the club confirmed the sale of Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid pending the completion of a medical.

Kepa, 23, came close to joining Madrid in January before a late change of heart led him to see out the campaign with Bilbao.

He now heads to the Premier League as the most expensive goalkeeper in history, eclipsing the £65million fee Liverpool paid to take Alisson from Roma in July.

Chelsea were compelled to activate Kepa s eye-watering release clause as they scrambled to find a replace…

Real Madrid have revealed Jude Bellingham sprained his ankle during his side’s 4-0 win against LaLiga title rivals Girona on Saturday.

Los Blancos, who moved five points clear of Girona in the table, have allayed fears the England midfielder sustained a serious injury after scoring twice in his side’s emphatic win.

A brief statement on the club’s official website read: “Following tests carried out today on Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a sprain in his left ankle. His recovery will be monitored.”

Bellingham medical report.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)

Bellingham took his goals tally to 20 in 31 appearances in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season before being f…

(GSM) Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has revealed that his form was affected by last summer s transfer talks regarding a possible move from Liverpool to Barcelona.

And it now seems that the Argentina captain has left the door open again for Catalans by stating that it was a shame for himself and his family after failure to secure a move to Spain.

The former West Ham United midfielder was in talks over joining the Spanish champions but a switch did not materialise.

He then made a slow start to the season with Liverpool and although he finished the campaign strongly, it was an ultimately disappointing year for the Reds as they finished seventh.

Rafael Benitez signed him on a four-year deal in February 2008 after joining on loan from West Ham a year…

West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob has signed a new two-year deal with the club.

The Argentine moved to The Hawthorns from Racing Club in July 2012 and has gone on to make 85 first-team appearances.

Yacob featured in 20 Premier League games last term and formed a promising pairing in central midfield with Darren Fletcher following Tony Pulis appointment as head coach.

His new deal will keep him at the club until June 2017.

…

Best odds: 27/25

Bookmaker:

Having confirmed their 34th La Liga title with a win over Villarreal on Thursday, Real Madrid will travel to play Leganes in the final round of the 2019/20 season.

Leganes

This match is absolutely crucial for Leganes and on the whole, they won t be thankful that they re facing the new champions in it, although it might prove a blessing in disguise. Going into the last matchday of the season, they are in 18th place, which means in the relegation zone, and only a positive result can give them any hope of a last-ditch escape. They have 35 points, one less that Celta Vigo directly above who are the only team they can possibly hope to overtake. Meanwhile, it s all over for Espanyol and Mallorca.

For a side battling against a drop …

Best odds: 15/8

Bookmaker:

West Ham United will play host to Aston Villa at the London Stadium on the final matchday on Sunday in a contest the result of which is likely to have a big impact on the relegation battle still raging in the Premier League.

West Ham

Sitting in 15th place with 38 points, survival has been secured in what has been a difficult season for the Hammers as they finally find themselves out of the reach of those still in danger. Behind them, Brighton and Hove Albion have the same tally, while Aston Villa and Watford with 34 appear set to battle it out to avoid finishing 18th. Bournemouth s chances, with their own tally of 31, are very remote, while Norwich City at the bottom have been relegated for some time now. 

Having suffered…

Germany coach Joachim Loew said his team would be looking to neutralise Spain in Wednesday s World Cup semi-final here, but without losing their own attacking instincts.

Germany have been one of the most positive and attacking teams in this tournament, scoring four goals in three of their five matches.

Their total of 13 goals is more than double the number Spain have managed and Loew says they must continue to play the way that carried them to a 4-1 victory against England and a 4-0 demolition of Argentina if they are to reach Sunday s final in Johannesburg.

Spain are the team with the strongest organisation and the best fire-power, they re all very skillful and they function in perfect harmony with each other, said Loew at Tuesday s pre-match press conference.…