Borussia Dortmund have had no contact from Arsenal over a potential move for Julian Brandt.

The Gunners are looking for midfield reinforcements in the January transfer window and reports in Germany suggest Brandt is one option.

Arsenal technical director Edu craves creativity in the centre of the pitch, with Mikel Arteta s side having fashioned just 120 chances in the Premier League this season, more only than Sheffield United, Newcastle United, Burnley and West Brom.

Brandt would appear to provide that spark, having played a key role in a Dortmund side who have forged 162 opportunities in 2020-21 to lead the Bundesliga in this regard.

The Germany midfielder has accounted 18 of those key passes, ranking third for BVB behind Raphael Guerreiro (26) and Jado…

There have been reports far and wide of Thibaut Courtois potentially leaving Chelsea this summer, and they’ve been popping out for a while now. He has mostly been linked with as plenty of reports claimed Zinedine Zidane wasn’t perfectly happy with Keylor Navas between the posts and was considering either Courtois or Manchester United’s David De Gea.

However, since the Champions League defeat, Liverpool have also been heavily reported of searching for a new goalkeeper. They’ve mostly been linked with AS Roma’s Alisson Becker, but now Italian journalist that the Reds are considering swooping in for Courtois.

The Belgium international has been at Stamford Bridge for four years now, and has won two Premier League titles with the London club. But now, Di Marzio s…

Carlo Ancelotti has no concerns around the contract situations of several of his veteran Real Madrid stars, with Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos all now into the final 12 months of their existing deals.

The transfer window closed on Thursday, leaving Madrid coach Ancelotti with a squad to work with at least until January.

But there remains work to do in the coming months if this hugely successful group is to stay together beyond the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Madrid have a host of players out of contract at the end of the season; some, like Marco Asensio, seem certain to leave, but Benzema, Modric, Kroos and Nacho are all key men.

Benzema is reportedly expected to sign a one-year extension, however, while Modric has done so in each of the past…

Cristian Stellini has called on Tottenham to take more risks as they approach the first of eight finals in the race to secure a top-four Premier League finish.

Tottenham approach Saturday s meeting with Bournemouth three points adrift of Newcastle United and Manchester United in the battle for Champions League qualification, having played one game more than both sides.

Despite only Arsenal and Manchester City bettering their tally of 55 Premier League goals this term, Spurs attracted criticism for a perceived negative approach under Stellini s predecessor Antonio Conte.

With Tottenham facing an uphill task to reach Europe s premier club competition for a second season in a row, the club s acting head coach is aware they need to step things up in attack.

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Former Bayern Munich defender Breno will spend time on day-release from prison coaching players in the club s youth academy.

Breno was convicted of aggravated arson in 2011 and handed a sentence of three years and nine months.

However, the Bundesliga club, for whom Breno made 21 appearances, have offered him a way back into football.

The 23-year-old will be allowed to work with Bayern s young prospects, initially for five hours a day, under the supervision of the club s head of youth, Wolfgang Dremmler.

The Brazilian admitted that he had struggled in prison but was looking forward to getting involved with the club again.

The time in prison was very hard for me, he said. I have changed as a person and I have learned a lot in there. I am happy to be given thi…

Liverpool in ambitious bid for Cech

that Liverpool will attempt to sign goalkeeper Petr Cech from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has clearly lost his patience with Simon Mignolet, with Brad Jones set to act as the number one shot-stopper in the coming weeks.

Therefore, Liverpool are desperate to sign a quality goalkeeper in the January window and they are being linked with a move for Petr Cech.

The Reds hope they can persuade their league rivals to let the experienced keeper move at Anfield on loan until the end of the season.

Petr Cech, 32, has already made it clear that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge in search of first team football, although it remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho will allow him to join a…

Barcelona star Neymar will be the world s best player in the near future thanks to Lionel Messi s help, according to former Brazil international Mazinho.

Neymar finished third to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d Or in 2015, while he is also on the shortlist this year.

The 24-year-old guided Brazil to Olympic gold, and his four goals and as many assists in nine LaLiga games this season help Barca sit second.

Mazinho, a 1994 World Cup winner, believes it is only a matter of time before Neymar is considered the best in the world.

Neymar will be the best in the world in the near future, he told Globo Esporte.

Every great player helps another great player. Messi helps Neymar a lot and Neymar is already one of the best.

Messi will …

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is not concerned by the fortunes of his side s title rivals, insisting Leicester City s triumph last season shows it is too early to identify favourites.

While the 2014-15 Premier League champions travel to Swansea on Sunday, Manchester United and Manchester City face off in their first derby of the season on Saturday.

But Conte refused to discuss whether the two Manchester sides are favourites for the title, referring to Leicester s success as proof that little can be ascertained at this stage.

I don t like to speak about favourites, he told a news conference. Last season showed us that a team that is not the favourite can win the title.

We all know United and City are two great teams, they have both done a lot in the tra…