Finland sack Paatelainen as Euro 2016 hopes fade

Sekou Mara is hoping to make an instant impact at Southampton after completing his move from Bordeaux. 

The France Under-21 international has signed a four-year deal at St Mary s and is rumoured to have cost £11million (€12.9m) when including add-ons.

Mara made 34 appearances for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 – just 10 of those being starts – and scored five of his seven goals in his final seven outings for the French side.

Ça va, ?

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)

He is Southampton s sixth signing of the window and the Paris Saint-Germain youth product, who turns 20 on Sunday, believes the club will provide the perfect place for him to further his career.

I m really happy to sign for Southampton and to be a Saint for the next years, …

Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet has denied reaching an agreement to join Juventus at the end of the season.

Reports in Italy last week suggested the Serie A champions have struck a deal to sign the 23-year-old this year for less than his release clause, which is said to be €25million.

Praet has not denied that Juve have shown interest but insists nothing has been finalised when it comes to his future.

Yes, but it wasn t like they wrote, that everything is done, he told Tuttosport when asked about the Juve reports.

The interest of Juventus is pleasing but they re just words for now. I m very happy here, even though things have gone less well in recent times.

Praet joined from Anderlecht in 2016 for a reported fee of €10m and his performanc…

Miralem Pjanic has signed a five-year deal with Juventus after the Serie A champions agreed a €32million deal with Roma.

The midfielder enjoyed a stunning 2015-16 campaign for Roma – who finished third – as he scored 10 goals in 33 league appearances.

That form attracted interest from across Europe, but the 26-year-old has committed his future to Juve.

Bosnia-Herzegovina international Pjanic was on target when Roma beat Massimiliano Allegri s side in August.

He spent just under five years with the capital club after joining from Lyon.

Pjanic s technical qualities marked him as a stand-out player under a succession of managers and, although silverware eluded him at the Stadio Olimpico, he was a two-time Serie A runner-up under the guidance …

Joe Hart is looking forward to his first major tournament as England s number-one goalkeeper when Euro 2012 begins this month.

The Manchester City shot-stopper was part of the England squad for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, but only as back-up to Rob Green and David James.

Now an English Premier League winner with Manchester City and England s undisputed number one, Hart is eagerly anticipating the start of the competition and has no fears about the extra responsibility placed on his shoulders.

I must have improved in that time (since the World Cup). I seem to be getting better, Hart told reporters.

Whether that comes from playing regularly but I ve always felt like I m improving although I feel like I ve got loads more to do.

South Africa was a…

Former Everton midfielder Royston Drenthe has thanked David Moyes for turning his life around and saving his career.

Former Everton midfielder Royston Drenthe has thanked David Moyes for turning his life around and saving his career.

The 25-year-old Dutchman moved to Goodison Park on loan from Real Madrid in 2011 on a season-long loan deal but did not see out the entirety of the contract after becoming involved in a number of controversial incidents.
However, Drenthe now at Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz feels his involvement with Moyes has helped him to secure his future as a footballer but regretted that he could not stay with the Premier League side.
It was David Moyes who has opened my eyes, he told reporters.
I can only say that Moyes was right in every way. …

France head coach Didier Deschamps is happy to give Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba his opinion on their futures but has warned them to be sure they make the right choice for their careers.

Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann confirmed last week that he intends to leave the Wanda Metropolitano at the end of the season, despite only agreeing a new five-year contract last year.

Pogba, meanwhile, has been heavily linked with a move to LaLiga giants Real Madrid after a largely difficult season with Manchester United.

Deschamps – who has named both players in his squad for a friendly against Bolivia and subsequent Euro 2020 qualifiers against Turkey and Andorra next month – will give them his view but is keen for them not to come to regret their decisions.

…

FC Barcelona have always been active when it comes to find the newest young talent in the world. In recent years they have signed names such as Arthur and Malcom for the senior squad, but they have also added some talent for the B side. Some of the names you might find playing for Barcelona soon include Ballou Tabla, Moussa Wague, Gabriel Novaes, Jean-Clair Todibo and Take Kubo.

We can add another name to the list in Ludovit Reis. An 18-year-old central midfielder who played for Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, Los Blaugranas got ahead of several other teams and snapped the talented playmaker for a mere €3.25 million. He will report with the B team at first, but the plan is to have him with the senior squad for pre-season and take things from there.

Let�…

La Liga outfit Valencia are showing interest in Malaga attacker Samu Garcia Sanchez, .

Los Che have been keeping close tabs on the footballer s performances, and los Che sporting director Francisco Rufete even enquired about the possibility of recruiting the 24-year-old.

Given that his current contract is due to expire in June 2016, Samu could be available on a cut-price deal in the summer, although Malaga officials are working hard in an attempt to persuade the winger to extend his deal.

Having spent three years playing for the reserves at La Rosaleda, the forward was finally promoted to the first team set-up in the summer of 2013.

Samu did really well during his debut season in La Liga, scoring 4 goals in 27 outings, while he has bagged as many in just…

Los Angeles Galaxy captain Robbie Keane denied he will hand over the armband to incoming star Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard will not captain the Los Angeles Galaxy when he completes his lucrative move to the United States in July, according to MLS MVP Robbie Keane.

Gerrard will link up with Galaxy once his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the 2014-15 Premier League after signing an 18-month deal with the MLS champions in January.

The 34-year-old former England international a Designated Player is expected to play a key role for Bruce Arena s men but that will not involve wearing the captain s armband.

Republic of Ireland international Keane has no intention of relinquishing the captaincy, having led the team since 2013.

…

Here we go with this week s predictions. Of course, there were no predictions last week due to the international weekend and the less said about my performance from the week before, the better!

I reckon I ve got it right this week though. Do you?

Saturday 18th October 2008

Arsenal v Everton

Arsenal come into the game after a shocking defeat at home to Hull and a last gasp draw at struggling Sunderland. The way Arsenal play, you wonder if someone might feel a backlash soon.

Everton go into the game with a little stability after David Moyes finally signed his five year contract. They don’t go into the game in any sort of form however, and they won’t fancy a trip to Arsenal where they were beaten 7-0 just a couple of years…