An Italian football manager has been banned for five months for violently headbutting a member of the opposing team’s staff. Giancarlo Favarin also told one of his players to break an opponent’s leg. Shocking footage of the incident shows the boss of Serie C side Lucchese launch the vicious attack on Gaetano Mancino, assistant coach of Alessandria, during a brawl in their 2-2 draw on Sunday. A video of the incident was posted on social media showing Mancino fall to the ground clutching his face after the incident. The Lucchese boss defended his actions claiming he was spat at, saying: “The Alessandria bench offended and spat at us. “I would…

Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic is nearing a move to Arsenal before the January transfer window closes. The Croatian ace, set to turn 30 at the start of February, is wanted to give Unai Emery’s side another dimension with his left wing forays. He’s had a fine career so far, which includes winning the Bundesliga title in 2012 and reaching the World Cup 2018 final with Croatia, scoring in the 4-2 defeat to France. Arsenal transfer news: How Gunners could line-up with Ivan Perisic, Christopher Nkunku and Denis Suarez It’s been an interesting way to the top too, taking in France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy, having never played a single…

Chelsea plan to contact Barcelona about taking Ivan Rakitic to Stamford Bridge in the summer. Manager Maurizio Sarri is keen to add to his midfield and provide cover for Jorginho following the sale of Cesc Fabregas. Nicolo Barella and Leandro Paredes were both targets in the January transfer window, but the former has decided to remain in Cagliari for the time being and the latter has joined Paris Saint-Germain. Spanish publication Sport, report Chelsea will now wait until the summer before making anymore signings and Rakitic is on the shortlist. Frenkie de Jong is joining Barcelona in the summer and there is speculation the 30-year-old Croatia interntaional could make way.…

Leicester City are set to seal the loan signing of Youri Tielemans from Monaco, with Adrien Silva heading the other way, according to reports. According to The Sun, King Power chiefs are in the final stages of talks to sign the 21-year-old on a six-month loan deal with no option to buy included in the agreement. Foxes flop Adrien Silva will head to Ligue 1 and reunite with his former manager Leonardo Jardim. The pair worked together at Sporting Lisbon and formed a good relationship in the Portuguese capital. Silva has had a torrid time since his £22million move to Leicester from the Leoes in 2018 – he has made…

Arsenal host Manchester United on Friday night at the Emirates in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The historically entertaining fixture, which kicks off at 7.55pm, can be heard live on talkSPORT as we bring you live and exclusive commentary of the clash in north London. While both sides will want to ensure they progress as far as possible in the oldest cup competition in football, the chance to rest players is an enticing prospect for both managers. Unai Emery faces the prospect of being without Hector Bellerin for nine months already, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has an extensive injury list of senior players. It is entirely possible then…

Grant Leadbitter has rejoined Sunderland from Championship play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough. The midfielder, 33, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the League One promotion chasers. Leadbitter, a lifelong Sunderland fan who began his career at the Stadium of Light, says the opportunity to return to the club he left for Ipswich Town in 2009 was too good to turn down. “When you’re a born and bred Sunderland fan and there’s an opportunity to come back…I was never going to say no,” he told Sunderland’s website.  Boro signed Leadbitter from Ipswich in 2012 and he made 244 appearances for the Teesside club, playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League…

Emotions were running high at Stamford Bridge during Thursday night’s semi-final match between Chelsea and Tottenham and the action was not restricted to the pitch, as a gesture from Blues boss Maurizio Sarri got under the skin of his opposite number. With barely 10 minutes on the clock, David Luiz was on the receiving end of a crunching, late challenge from Eric Dier, much to the annoyance of both Chelsea players and Sarri. As the Brazilian lay writhing on the pitch, Dier, predictably protested his innocence and Sarri gestured to referee Martin Atkinson to show the England midfielder a yellow card, as Luiz gingerly limped off to receive treatment. This…

Manchester United face an unnerving run of fixtures from the middle of February to the middle of March that is sure to define their season. Not only will they play eight matches over 32 days between February 12 and March 16, it is the calibre of opponents they play that will severely test Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. By the end of the run they could be out of the FA Cup, Champions League and race for the top four. Or Solskjaer’s side could be in the quarter-finals of both cup competitions and have the prospect of Champions League football again next season. Here is the tough run of fixtures: A…

Emiliano Sala’s former club Nantes have reacted with anger at the decision to formally call off the search for his missing plane and have demanded it be resumed. The French club’s call came as the Argentinian striker’s sister begged rescue workers to keep looking for the plane. An emotional Romina Sala, speaking in Spanish, told reporters in Cardiff that she believes her brother and his pilot are still alive. Ms Sala travelled to South Wales to meet Cardiff City bosses after a light aircraft carrying her brother, 28, and pilot Dave Ibbotson disappeared from radar on Monday night. Guernsey’s harbour master Captain David Barker earlier confirmed the ‘difficult’ decision to…

The deal to bring Denis Suarez to Arsenal on loan could be completed “in the next few hours,” according to reports. The move for the Barcelona midfielder had hit a stumbling block as the La Liga giants wanted a commitment from Arsenal’s end to buy Suarez at the end of the loan spell. They wanted this clause included as Suarez would be entering the final year of his contract and therefore his value would decrease – should Arsenal decide not to sign him on a permanent basis. However, Mundo Deportivo claim that this issue has now been resolved, as Suarez has agreed to a one-year contract extension at the Camp Nou.…