Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara has all but confirmed that he would love to join Napoli at the earliest opportunity.

The new Azzurri coach Maurizio Sarri attempted to take the midfielder with him to Stadio San Paolo this summer, but the two clubs ultimately failed to agree on a transfer fee.

Saponara, nevertheless, hopes he will eventually join Napoli and continue his career at the club challenging for major honours.

Napoli has been the only possible operation of my summer, Saponara told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Empoli refused and I did not have to decide, because it would be difficult to refuse. Empoli s fine, but Napoli is a great place.

Ricardo Saponara came through the youth ranks at Empoli and went on to make 89 league appearances, sc…

Mario Balotelli can reconquer Italy if he steers clear of the problems that have stunted his development so far, according to former Azzurri defender Gianluca Zambrotta.

Balotelli has failed to deliver on his early promise and his career appeared to be in free fall following a disappointing spell with Liverpool, which included an underwhelming loan period at former club AC Milan.

The former Manchester City forward was given the opportunity to resurrect his career by Ligue 1 outfit Nice this season and he has started brightly, scoring six goals in five appearances in all competitions.

Balotelli, 26, has been accused of having a poor attitude in the past and has not played for his country since the 2014 World Cup.

However, 98-cap Zambrotta believes Balo…

Spanish top-flight women s football will resume this week after a deal was struck to end a referee s strike, handing professional status to the country s female officials.  

The new Primera Division Femenina season was due to get under way last weekend, but a dispute between the Professional Women s Football League (LPFF) and the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) led to strike action from officials.

After the RFEF announced the officials unanimous decision not to direct any match of the First Division National Championship , the full set of matchday one fixtures was postponed.

On Thursday, however, the RFEF announced the relevant parties had reached an agreement, paving the way for the Primera Division s resumption.

A statement from the RFEF read: The…

Scottish right-back Alan Hutton has admitted he is delighted to have joined Sunderland on loan from Tottenham.

Hutton made the move on transfer deadline-day in search of more regular football with the Black Cats.

Hutton has failed to make an impact at White Hart Lane since joining the club from Scottish side Rangers in 2008.

Everyone wants to play football and I m no different, he said in the Daily Mirror.

But I know that, like anyone else, I ll have to give 110 per cent to show I m worthy of a starting place.

I m over the moon to be here. When I was at Rangers the fans were superb and I m sure Sunderland s will be the same.

[Source: The Daily Mirror]

…

that Swansea are wrapping up the deal to sign Mexican defender Hector Moreno from Espanyol.

Boss Michael Laudrup is looking to boost his defensive options in the winter and he seems to have made Moreno his number one target.

With the 25-year-old very interested in a switch to Liberty Stadium, the Swans are expected to finalize the deal in the coming weeks.

Hector Moreno played for Pumas UNAM and AZ Alkmaar before joining Espanyol in the summer of 2011, where he immediately developed into an important member of the side.

The Mexico international went on to make 78 La Liga appearances for los Periquitos, scoring 5 goals in the process.

Moreno also started 12 World Cup qualifying matches for Mexico, helping El Tri qualify for the tournament finals,…

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has told coach Pep Guardiola he wants him to remain at the helm.

Lahm was part of the Bayern side that crushed Cologne 4-0 on Saturday for their 10th win in as many Bundesliga games this campaign.

With his contract due to expire next year, Guardiola s future remains uncertain and speculation surrounding him is constant.

But Lahm said Bayern s players were eager for the Spaniard to stay at the Allianz Arena.

The team s opinion is clear. We enjoy working together with our coach and he is an outstanding manager, he said.

Everything else is not in our hands. The only thing I can say is that the team would like Guardiola to stay.

Asked if he had told Guardiola, Lahm said: Yes, I have.

Guardiola has…

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Looking to extend on what has been a real purple patch of late, Chelsea will make the trip to an empty Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime.

Leeds

Starting with the hosts, while Leeds might have gained a string of plaudits so far this season, The Whites are in the midst of a worrying spell. Despite a bright start in the capital on Monday night, the Premier League returners were eventually hit with a 2-0 defeat away at European outsiders West Ham. Still finding themselves sat three points adrift of breaking into the top-half of the table, Marcelo Bielsa s side are seeking a much-welcomed boost at Elland Road this weekend. Suffering back-to-back top-flight defeats against The Hammers and Aston Villa, Leeds have lost four of their last five…

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick insisted the tension between himself and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic is behind them.

Champions League holders Bayern breezed into the quarter-finals of the competition on Wednesday, a 2-1 win over Lazio completing a 6-2 aggregate triumph in the last 16.

However, the build-up and the aftermath of the game was dominated by questions about Flick s strained relationship with Salihamidzic, which it was said could lead the coach to leave his post at the end of the season.

But Flick is adamant the pair are moving past their differences, telling a post-match media conference: We spoke together and we wanted to leave these things behind us.

Now we just look in front and we are very optimistic.

Asked what they…

PSV Eindhoven face Milan and Arsenal have been pitted against Fenerbahce in the play-off round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The Turkish club are still under investigation by UEFA for accusations of match-fixing and corruption, but were allowed to take part in Friday s draw after the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended their two-year ban.

A final hearing on the club s case is expected by August 28, the day when the play-off round will conclude.

PSV and Milan meet in a repeat of the 2004/05 Champions League semi-final, a game that the Serie A side won before being defeated on penalties against Liverpool in the final in Istanbul.

Lyon, playing in their 13th Champions League campaign, tackle La Liga side Real Sociedad, who have not played in the …

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure feels team-mates Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have the potential to become world-class players.

Sterling has rediscovered his best form under Pep Guardiola after a difficult 2015-16 campaign, while Sane has developed into an important first-team member at the Etihad Stadium in recent months.

And their performances have not gone unnoticed by Toure.

If you look at Raheem or Sane, they are so quick. They can diversify the team so well when counter-attacking. So quick with the ball, without the ball. Raheem with the ball, without the ball, the Ivorian told The Mirror. 

I think they can be world class. I think for them to participate in Champions League, to be able to play against a big defender, they are going to …