Tottenham are hopeful of offloading fringe striker Vincent Janssen to Real Betis before Thursday’s transfer deadline in the hope of signing a new midfielder, according to reports. Janssen joined Spurs for £17m from AZ Alkmaar in 2016 but has failed to nail down a regular starting berth in the Spurs starting XI. The Dutchman, who has been told he is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane, is valued around the £12million mark by the north London club. The Evening Standard claim that the La Liga side is the most likely destination for the 24-year-old forward to move to in this window. That asking price has been met with frustration…

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has urged authorities to continue their search for compatriot Emiliano Sala. Sala has been missing for four days since he and pilot Dave Ibbotson were on a light aircraft that disappeared from radar over the Channel Islands as he returned to Cardiff from Nantes. On Friday, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner used his huge social media presence to make an emotional plea in an Instagram story. It said: “As long as there’s a chance, a thread of hope, we ask that you please #DontStopLooking for Emiliano. All of my strength and support to his family and friends. #PrayForSala.” The striker was on his way to join…

Crystal Palace are interested in taking Everton striker Cenk Tosun on loan but unearthed quotes reveal he was not so keen a couple of years ago. The Turkish international has fallen down the pecking order under Marco Silva, who has preferred Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to lead his attack. Tosun has made 19 appearances this season, netting twice, but has been mostly used as a substitute. A move to the Eagles is one that seems to be interesting Tosun, but that did not appear to be the case back in 2017, when Palace had made enquiries about his availability while he was with Besitkas. “About my transfer to Crystal Palace,…

Liverpool’s key match with Leicester headlines another midweek night of Premier League action and you can catch all the goals as they go in with talkSPORT. Manchester City’s defeat at Newcastle last night means Liverpool can open up a seven point lead at the top of the table if they can see off the Foxes. Chelsea, meanwhile, can go three points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal with a win at Bournemouth as Tottenham host Watford in an intriguing north London clash. And Southampton take on Crystal Palace in a huge game at the bottom of the top-flight. With all that in store, talkSPORT will be around the grounds from 7pm this evening.…

Gonzalo Higuain and Maurizio Sarri enjoyed a successful relationship together at Napoli. The Italian manager got the best out of the Argentina striker during the one season they worked together at the Serie A club. Higuain equalled a league record for most goals in a single season by netting 36 in just 35 games. The club also finished runners-up behind Juventus in that 2015/16 season. Napoli sold the striker to the league winners the following season for €90million after netting 91 goals in 146 games. Sarri was not happy that his star striker had moved to a league rival but forgave him for the move soon after. “I could have…

When the greatest footballer debate is raised, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are invariably mentioned. Messi is widely considered the best player of all time and has been locked in a decade-long battle with Cristiano Ronaldo for that accolade. Maradona’s claims to that lofty title are his 1986 World Cup exploits, when Argentina became world champions – a major trophy that has eluded the Barcelona superstar. Legendary former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is well placed to judge given he is considered one of the best managers of all time and his thoughts on the matter came to light during a throwaway comment during a recent interview. Speaking to Sunday…

Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to start Chelsea’s FA Cup clash against Sheffield Wednesday despite reportedly telling friends he does not want to play. The youngster personally handed in a transfer request to Blues chiefs on Saturday evening in order to push through a move to Bayern Munich. Bayern had three bids for the 18-year-old rejected earlier this month, and now the winger has taken his future into his own hands by submitting a formal request to leave to Marina Granovskaia, Chelsea’s sporting director. Hudson-Odoi has been frustrated with his lack of game time at Chelsea and has pinpointed the success of his England youth peers Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson as…

Hibernian have confirmed the permanent exit of manager Neil Lennon and assistant Garry Parker by “mutual consent”. The pair were suspended on Friday and missed Sunday’s Scottish Premiership win over St Mirren in Paisley, and it has been confirmed that they have left the club. A statement on the club’s website said: “The management team of Neil Lennon and Garry Parker has left the club by mutual consent. “They have not been dismissed and have not resigned.” Lennon and Parker were in charge as Hibs secured promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football and oversaw a successful first season, where they reached the top four and qualified for…

Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants to, Maurizio Sarri has claimed. The Blues boss wants his star player to remain at Stamford Bridge but has insisted it is only right to let him leave if he desires a move away. Hazard, 28, has been linked to LaLiga giants Real Madrid over the past several transfer windows, and he has himself has flirted with rumours of a potential move to the Spanish capital. Sarri has recently made it clear that youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi will remain at the club in this window and quite possibly the next. But he claimed Hazard has the right to decide his own future and…

Newcastle secured a shock defeat of Manchester City on Tuesday evening, and Rafa Benitez wants his side to use the victory as a springboard for Premier League survival. Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie netted to grab a first league win over City in 23 attempts at St James’ Park, easing the Magpies five points clear of the drop zone in the process. It came a little short of 12 months since a 1-0 home victory over Manchester United provided the catalyst for their escape last season. Benitez, who is hoping for a transfer window breakthrough on Wednesday with Paraguay international Miguel Almiron scheduled to have a medical on Tyneside, is…