Hurzeler hails ´special´ Joao Pedro after late Brighton winner

Five all-Premier League ties highlight the third round of the League Cup as two former winners visit the reigning and record champions.

Manchester City, conquerors of Sunderland in the latest final in March, host Sheffield Wednesday, while Liverpool, who have lifted the trophy an unprecedented eight times, entertain Middlesbrough as the seven top-flight teams involved in European competition enter the fray.

Manuel Pellegrini is expected to rotate his star-studded squad as City begin their quest on Wednesday to become only the fourth club to successfully defend the League Cup, following Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Manchester United.

City thrashed Wigan Athletic and West Ham United 5-0 and 6-0 respectively in their last two League Cup matches at the Etihad Sta…

has revealed that out-of-favour Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh could finally be ready to end his Gunners misery in the January transfer window.

This is because Turkish side Fenerbahce have emerged as admirers of the forward and could make their move in the New Year.

Chamakh arrived in the English Premier League in 2010, but has never really got going for Arsene Wenger’s men and has started just one league game this season.

The Moroccan did however manager to grab himself two goals in the Capital One Cup victory over Reading earlier in the campaign, but when it comes to the league, he seems to be a long way down the pecking order.

Fenerbahce seem ready to step-up their interest in Chamakh and Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux are also open to re-signing their …

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo could play for the club again one day, as he praised the Portugese star s commitment during his six-year spell at Old Trafford.

He may come back, you never know, Ferguson told Britain s Press Association in Kuala Lumpur where the team are on a pre-season Asian tour.

Sometimes it happens that way. He loved United. If you look back at the six years he had with us, he never missed training.

Ronaldo became the world s most expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he made a low-key debut against Shamrock Rovers in Ireland on Monday.

Still just 24, Ferguson was quoted as saying Ronaldo s best was yet to come, descri…

Julian Brandt believes he can achieve something big with Borussia Dortmund after ignoring interest from elsewhere to sign a new three-year contract.

The Germany international has shone in his attacking midfield role for BVB this term, playing a huge role in a title challenge that could go to the wire.

Brandt, who turns 27 in May, signed his latest contract on Tuesday, quashing the prospect of him being able to leave on a free transfer at the end of next season.

Liverpool and Arsenal are among the teams who have been linked with Brandt in recent weeks, and that comes as little surprise considering his strong campaign.

Only three midfielders in the Bundesliga have created more chances this season that Brandt s 57, which puts him 30 ahead of his nearest midf…

Frank Lampard s agent insists there is no truth in reports the Chelsea midfielder is set to join Inter Milan after the Champions League final.

Reports in Italy claim Lampard, 29, is ready to quit Stamford Bridge rather than extend his contract, which expires in 2009.

Lampard, who is preparing to face Manchester United on Wednesday, has yet to agree a new deal with Chelsea. And Inter, who could be managed by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho next season, are keen to sign the England star.

But agent Steve Kutner said: I don t know why Inter Milan would think this. Nobody has talked to me and I am good friends with the owner, Massimo Moratti.

I took Paul Ince there, I took Patrick Vieira there if there was something on, I am sure I would know.

…

Manchester United s French defender Mikael Silvestre has signed for Arsenal on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee, British media reported on Wednesday.

Silvestre had spent nine seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford but his move south to North London means he joins up with manager Arsene Wenger whose defensive options will have increased with his signature.

The United contract of the 31-year-old, who missed a large part of last season with knee ligament damage, was set to expire next season. He had been linked with a move to Bordeaux and Manchester City during the summer but opted to move to the capital city instead.

Silvestre had fallen down the pecking order at United with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand becoming Sir Alex Ferguson s first-choic…

Bundesliga giants Schalke have reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, .

The talented footballer arrives to Veltins Arena on a season-long loan, while a €20 million option to buy could be automatically triggered at a later date.

Schalke were also looking at Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Benjamin Stambouli, but they ultimately opted for the Algeria international.

Nabil Bentaleb has shown a great deal of potential since coming through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, and he was even a first team regular during the 2014/2015 season.

However, a succession of injuries saw him make mere 5 Premier League outings last term, and despite signing a new deal in July 2015, his long-term future at the club is in …

Geoffrey Kondogbia s agent Jonathan Maarek has made it clear the Inter midfielder has not been in contact with Marseille over a potential transfer.

The 23-year-old has been struggling to secure regular first-team action at Inter, making just five appearances in all competitions this term, and has been linked with a move away from the Serie A giants.

Marseille are allegedly willing to offer the Frenchman a way out, but Kondogbia s representative has stressed a return to Ligue 1 is not the preferred option.

We would like to clarify that there has not been any contact with anyone from Marseille regarding their alleged interest to sign Geoffrey, Maarek told RMC.

Right now, Geoffrey is an Inter player and even if we were considering a departure, OM s projec…

Bayern Munich were not the biggest club in their own city, let alone the country, when Gerd Muller signed in 1964.

The Bavarians major trophy haul at that time consisted of a single league championship in 1932 and a maiden DFB-Pokal success 25 years later. Muller joined a second-tier side.

On Tuesday, two days after the club great s passing, Bayern celebrated his life in fitting fashion with a record-extending ninth DFL-Supercup triumph – a competition they have to win silverware simply to enter.

The Bundesliga dominance, cup after cup and six European crowns all that history can be traced back to Muller s decision to head for Bayern rather than rivals 1860 Munich.

He was there for the first four Bundesliga titles – the top scorer on each occasion –…

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers insists they will not sell any of their star players unless the club decides they want them to leave.

With the Foxes second in the Premier League, in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and with an FA Cup clash against Wigan Athletic to come on Saturday, 2019-20 is shaping up to be a strong season.

Leicester s form has seen some of their top players linked with moves elsewhere, with Manchester United said to be interested in James Maddison and Ben Chilwell a reported target for Chelsea and Manchester City.

Rodgers, though, is not prepared to entertain offers for any player he wants to keep at the King Power Stadium.

Nobody will leave here that we don t want to go, he told reporters on Friday. I think we ve had a couple of e…