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Wayne Rooney has pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving at Stockport Magistrates' Court. Wayne Rooney has pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving at Stockport Magistrates' Court. After the hearing, he has issued a statement expressing his remorse. The 31-year-old was released on bail after being arrested by Cheshire Police on suspicion of the offence at around 2am on September 1. A spokesman for Cheshire Police later said: "A man has been charged with drink-driving following a vehicle stop in Wilmslow. "Wayne Rooney, aged 31, has since been charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit." Rooney, whose wife Coleen is pregnant with their fourth child, returned to Old Trafford on Sunday for the first time since leaving Manchester United to rejoin Everton. The former United captain was given a warm welcome and left to a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 82nd minute of a comfortable 4-0 victory for the home side. Ther...

Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for up to four months after rupturing the tendon in his femoral bicep in his left thigh against Getafe . The France international, who was making his first La Liga start since his big money move from Borussia Dortmund this summer, lasted just 29 minutes at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez as he had to be replaced by ex-Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu. At the time it was reported that Dembele was set to undergo further tests on his left leg and now the extent of the injury has been revealed via the Catalan giants’ official website and the winger is set for a lengthy period on the sidelines. A statement read: “The tests have come back following first team player Ousmane Dembélé has ruptured the tendon in his femoral bicep in his left thigh. “The player will be operated on by Dr. Sakari Orava in Finland this week. He is expected to be out for between three and a half months and four months.” Describe...

The countdown is complete as EA Sports have revealed who their top rated player in the upcoming FIFA 18 game will be. 10. Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) 9. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) 8. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 7. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 6. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) 5. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) 4. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) 3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Leicester confirm they have agreed a club-record fee with Chelsea for the sale of Drinkwater.

Chelsea have completed the signing of Italian defender Davide Zappacosta from Torino for reported €30m on a four-year deal. The Blues have been in the market for a right wing-back for Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 formation, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rejecting a move to Stamford Bridge as he didn’t want to play there. The 25-year-old can play at right-back, right wing-back or on the right of midfield, and has been capped four times by Italy. On 10 July 2015 he was sold to Torino, in the same transfer that brought the midfielder Daniele Baselli to Piedmont, for a total of €10.3 million (Baselli €6M, Zappacosta €4M, plus €300,000 other fee from Zappacosta's transfer). He scored his first goal for the club on 28 October during a 3–3 draw at home to Genoa. Statement Official of Chelsea We have today completed the signing of Davide Zappacosta from Torino. The 25-year-old can play at wing-back or full-back and has been capped by Italy. He has signed a four-year deal at ...

BREAKING: Thomas Lemar's proposed £92m move from Monaco to Arsenal is now off, meaning Alexis Sanchez will remain at the Emirates, Sky Sports News understands.  Arsenal have been interested in Thomas Lemar throughout the summer and made their latest bid today despite the price going up significantly compared to what they thought would secure the transfer earlier in the window. The offer of just over £92million was accepted by Monaco. However, Lemar expressed concerns that he hadn't had enough time to consider such a big move.  There was also the issue of logistics because Lemar started France's World Cup qualifier against Holland in Paris this evening, making the possibility of a medical and discussion of personal terms very difficult. Arsenal are delighted, however, that Alexis Sanchez is staying at the club. Arsenal's position was always that they would only sell the Chilean IF they could sign a high-calibre replacement. They say they are pleased with their ...

  Paris Saint-Germain sign Monaco wonderkid Kylian Mbappe on loan with an option to buy for reported €180 million. Official Statement Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the immediate arrival of Kylian Mbappé. The international French striker is transferred on a loan basis  from AS Monaco until June 30 2018. The loan agreement also includes a  call option for Paris Saint-Germain which, when exercised, will bind the player to Paris Saint-Germain until June 30 2022. Mbappe made his first team debut on 2 December 2015 in Monaco's 1–1 Ligue 1 home draw against SM Caen, replacing Fabio Coentrão after 88 minutes, becoming Monaco’s youngest-ever first team player aged 16 years 347 days and breaking Thierry Henry’s record set 21 years previously. Mbappe scored the first hat-trick of his first team career on 14 December 2016 in the 7–0 rout of Stade Rennais F.C. in the Coupe de la Ligue round of 16 at the Stade Louis II- the first hat-trick scored by...

BREAKING: Zlatan Ibrahimovic signs new one-year contract with Manchester United. Ibrahimović, 35, made 46 appearances and scored 28 goals for the club during the 2016/17 campaign before suffering a knee injury, which ended his season prematurely. Zlatan has won championships in four different leagues since beginning his professional career with Malmo in 1999.  Jose Mourinho said: "We are delighted Zlatan is on the road to recovery and we are equally delighted to have his ambition and experience back with us. After his contribution last season he deserves our trust and we will be patient waiting for him to return. I have no doubt that he will be important in the second part of the season." Zlatan Ibrahimovic said: "I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club's intention for me to stay. I cannot wait to get back out on that Old Trafford pitch, but I also know that I have to take my time to make sure that I am ready. I have been wor...

According to Spanish media Mundo Deportivo , Barcelona are increasingly close to signing Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old winger  Ousmane Dembele . It is reported by Mundo Deportivo that Barcelona and Dortmund have achieved a breakthrough in past few hours' time. Both parties should reach a complete agreement on the deal as early in the next few hours, provided that no twist in the plot would occur. As reported earlier, also by Mundo Deportivo, Barca and Dortmund have agreed on a basic transfer fee of €100m, and the two parties have gone on to discuss further details, including add-ons. However, Dortmund wanted add-ons of €30m, but Barca are somehow reluctant to agree on that. They are still negotiating.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ready to sign a contract as early as this week to return to Manchester United just a few months after he was released following an knee injury sustained in April, according to ESPN. Ibrahimovic picked up the injury during United's Europa League quarter-final victory over Anderlecht at the back end of last season and had expected to be out until 2018, but the speed of his recovery has persuaded the club to bring last season's top scorer back into the fold. Ibrahimovic scored 17 goals in 27 games in the Premier League last season and 28 in all competitions.

AFRICA’S richest man wants to buy Arsenal and sack Arsene Wenger. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote plans to make an offer to owner Stan Kroenke. Dangote – who is worth £8.6billion – has supported the Gunners since the mid-Eighties. He aims to submit his bid once the construction of a new oil refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, is completed. Dangote told Bloomberg: “The first thing I would change is the coach. He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.” Wenger has been boss at Arsenal for 21 years and is the longest-serving manager of any side in Europe. Fan protests against his rule rumbled on throughout last season but the Frenchman agreed a two-year contract extension in May. Kroenke’s fellow Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov had a £1bn takeover offer for the club turned down earlier this year. But Dangote, 60, believes his power of persuasion can work on the billionaire shareholders. He said: “If they get the right offer, I’m sure they would walk away. “So...

Tottenham have confirmed they have signed Davinson Sanchez from Ajax subject to medical & work permit. The Colombia international, 21, has signed a contract with the Club until 2023. The defender moved to Ajax from Colombian club Atletico Nacional in June, 2016 and made 47 appearances for the Dutch side, scoring seven goals. Sanchez won Ajax’s ‘Rinus Michels’ Player of the Year Award in his only season at the Club, which was previously won by Jan Vertonghen in 2012 and Rafael van der Vaart in 2002. He made his professional debut for Atletico Nacional aged 17 and was part of their Copa Libertadores winning side in 2016. Having represented his country at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels, Sanchez made his senior Colombia debut in November, 2016 and has made two appearances for the national side. Davinson said: "I would like to thank the coach, management, players and fans of Ajax.  It is a great move for me to come here to develop my career. “...

The French international took his medicals with the Bianconeri on Wednesday and Thursday, and his signing has now been officially confirmed. “Juventus Football Club S.p.A announces the agreement with Paris Saint-Germain or the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Blaise Matuidi has been finalised for a consideration of € 20m payable in three financial years,” the club confirmed on their official website. “The purchase value may increase by a further maximum of € 10.5m dependent on the number of player’s appearances in official Juventus matches in the next three seasons. “Juventus and the player have signed a three-year contract of employment until 30 June 2020.” Blaise Matuidi was born on 9 April 1989, now a French international footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain as a central midfielder. He is described as a "fierce and strong tackler".  Matuidi began his football career playing for amateur clubs in the ...

BREAKING: Liverpool have rejected a new bid of €125m from Barcelona for Coutinho Liverpool have rejected a third bid from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho - believed to be in the region of £114m. Last week, the Reds rejected a £90m bid from the Spanish giants for the 25-year-old Brazil attacking midfielder, who then submitted a transfer request.

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare has been speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Brighton and says striker Kelechi Iheanacho has visited a specialist as he continues to struggle with a toe complaint.  Iheanacho seeing specialist "He didn't (train on Thursday). He's had a bit of discomfort with his toe so we've taken him out. I'll make a late decision tomorrow morning," Shakespeare said. "We've been able to extend his fitness because of the discomfort he's got in there. But he's been to see a specialist and we're trying to give him enough time to recover from that.  "It's been very hard because he's been behind the fitness levels of the others because of his late start with us. So we're giving him every opportunity to get his fitness levels up and so we'll make a late decision on that.  "He can run but not at full pelt. Striking a ball, if he catches it wrong on his toe, it's a problem. So sometimes ...

BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo gets a 5-match ban, 1 for his sending off and 4 for pushing the referee during El Clasico in the 1st leg of Spanish Super Cup. The Real Madrid forward lost his cool after being shown a red card during their 3-1 victory over Barcelona. The Portuguese forward reacted angrily to being dismissed during the second half of a 3-1 victory for Zinedine Zidane’s side over Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Ronaldo had joined the action as a substitute, helping to put Real 2-1 in front with a typically stunning strike at Camp Nou. He was booked after removing his shirt in celebration, with the 32-year-old going on to mimic Lionel Messi’s iconic jersey-holding celebration at the Santiago Bernabeu from April. A second booking followed for diving, under pressure from Samuel Umtiti, and Ronaldo did not take too kindly to the decision of match official Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea. The Spanish Football Federation have now delivere...

The Brazilian, who has been with Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande since 2015, has been a target for the Nou Camp club for much of the summer and has now completed his move. Signing for Barcelona marks a return to European football for a 29-year-old who spent two seasons at White Hart Lane, without hitting the heights expected of him following a £17 million switch from Corinthians. He played 67 times for Spurs during those two seasons, scoring 11 times, but was eventually sold for a fee of around £10million as he headed to China in the summer of 2015. Paulinho has been described as a box-to-box midfielder, with powerful running and good movement into the box. He possesses the ability to push his side forward from midfield to supplement his strong defensive work. Paulinho also offers a useful presence in set piece situations at both ends of the pitch.

Stoke City are closing on the loan signing of Jese Rodriguez from Paris Saint-Germain , according to Guillem Balague . The former Real Madrid forward, who spent last season on loan at Las Palmas, is understood to want to play under Mark Hughes, and an announcement is expected imminently. "Jese's one-year loan move to Stoke is going to be announced very soon," Balague told Sky Sports. The 24-year-old has battled with injuries and poor form after he left the Bernabeu in 2016, but Balague believes a fresh challenge in the Premier League will rejuvenate the Spaniard. "Jese's progression has stopped in recent years with injuries, and an infection he had while he was recuperating," Balague added. "That meant his progression has stopped, there's no doubt about it. Now he writes Reggaeton songs and seems distracted from football. "So, I think he wants to test himself in a place where he will be playing and where he is going to be challenged. ...

RONALDO COULD MISS UP TO 12 MATCHES FOR SHOVE ON REFEREE Cristiano Ronaldo could be suspended for as many as 12 matches after referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea included the Real Madrid star's shove in his match report. After scoring and removing his shirt to earn a yellow card in the Spanish Super Cup first leg against Barcelona, Ronaldo was shown a second yellow card for an alleged dive in the box just minutes later, prompting him to momentarily lose his cool and shove the referee. Bengoetxea included the altercation in his post-game match report, writing: "Player: Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro. Once the red card was shown, the player pushed me slightly in a sign of disagreement." The shove could trigger a ban of up to 12 matches under Article 96 of the Spanish federation's rule book, which deals with "Slight violence towards referees". Article 96 applies to players who "grab, push or shake" a referee in a manner that is "sligh...

According to Spanish media Mundo Deportivo , Borussia Dortmund would agree to sell Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona on one condition: Barca willing to pay €100m plus €25 to 30m variables. What is more, Dortmund would demand absolutely no pressure from the player and Barca. Mundo Deportivo reports that the transfer of Dembele to Barca is far from over as Dortmund are willing to let the player go once potential buyers meet the Dortmund's valuation on Dembele, which is €100m plus variables worth €25 to 30m. On the other hand, just like how most Bundesliga sides do their business, Dortmund put discipline of players at highest order, thus accepting no 'transfer shows' from players in any kind, nor would they be lenient towards any rebellious behaviours. Currently, Dembele is suspended by the club as he allegedlly missed training sessions to try to force a move to Barcelona.