McClaren backs Howe for England job

As he heads towards the twilight years of his career, Jermain Defoe is targeting a return to the World Cup stage with England.

Having joined Bournemouth from Sunderland on a free transfer following the Black Cats relegation from the Premier League, Defoe is focusing on a place in Gareth Southgate s squad for Russia.

Defoe, who netted 15 times in the league last season, will be 35 by the time the tournament comes around and is relishing the opportunity for a second finals appearance, having featured in South Africa seven years ago.

It s only normal to have one eye on the World Cup, Defoe said.

Every English player will want to get in to that squad but it s based on merit, so you ll have to play well for your club.

I ll focus on doing that a…

Liverpool are working hard to secure the services of midfielder Joe Allen, .

The 24 year old was taken to Anfield by Brendan Rodgers in the summer of 2012, having played under the Northern Irishman for Swansea City for two years.

Since arriving on Merseyside, the Wales international has racked up eighty-seven appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals while he has been capped nineteen times for his country since making his debut in 2009.

Reds boss Rodgers must also decide on the futures of defensive duo Kolo Toure and Glen Johnson, with the latter continuously linked with a summer move overseas.

Liverpool drew 0-0 with Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the quarter finals of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, with the replay scheduled fo…

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is hopeful an improvement in form will see him rewarded with a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Serbia international has been at the club since 2008 but his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Ivanovic and Chelsea have endured a tough start to the season and sit in 15th in the Premier League table after 15 games.

But the right-sided defender is hopeful he can help Chelsea turn their form around.

I know I didn’t start the season well but I am back, the 31-year-old said.

I hope the results will be good for the team. In that case I will be good as well. I hope and I think we will have time to speak about my future.

Honestly, I am so happy [here].

Chelsea face the high-f…

Maurizio Sarri believes Ross Barkley has transformed into the complete  midfielder after his starring role in Chelsea s thumping 4-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Barkley created Alvaro Morata s opener with a deft pass before scoring in his third consecutive Premier League game after 52 minutes to double Chelsea s advantage.

Willian and Ruben Loftus-Cheek added gloss to the scoreline as the Blues extended their unbeaten start to the season to 10 games and move up to second, two points behind leaders Liverpool.

Alongside Eden Hazard – who missed the victory over the Clarets with a back problem – former Everton man Barkley has been instrumental in the Blues  fine start to the season, much to the delight of Sarri.

He s doing very well in t…

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has confirmed he is retiring from football at the age of 40.

The former Ivory Coast striker featured for Phoenix Rising in the 2018 United Soccer League (USL) season but will not play on.

Rising, for whom Drogba is a co-owner, lost to Louisville City in the USL Cup final earlier this month, which proved his final match.

Drogba earlier indicated this would be his final year as a professional and the two-time African Footballer of the Year announced his decision on Wednesday.

After 20 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career, he told BBC World Service s Sportshour.

It s the best way to end, helping some young talent to develop.

To give something back to the game was the best way to finish as …

Javier Mascherano has accepted that his time at Barcelona is drawing to a close and he is eager to learn from his Liverpool exit in order to depart Camp Nou on good terms.

The Argentinian joined Barca from Liverpool in 2010 and has gone on to enjoy immense success in Spain, winning the Champions League twice, LaLiga four times and four Copa del Rey titles.

He also successfully adapted to a new role at centre-back after originally being signed as a defensive midfielder.

But at 33 years of age and featuring less frequently under Ernesto Valverde this season even when fit, Mascherano – whose contract expires in 2019 – is aware that his time in Catalonia is running out.

200 Javier Mascherano is the 4th Non-Spanish player to reach 200 apps for Barcelona i…

Lionel Messi sparkled as Barcelona saw off Levante 5-0 on Sunday to restore their three-point lead at the top of LaLiga.

Messi set up Luis Suarez for the opening goal before scoring a hat-trick as Ernesto Valverde s side made amends for their shock 5-4 defeat at Ciutat de Valencia last May.

The 31-year-old has now scored 50 goals for club and country eight times over the last nine calendar years and he helped round off the rout by setting up Gerard Pique for the fifth two minutes from time.

Barca s third straight LaLiga win put daylight between them, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid after 16 matches.

Levante were 2-1 up at half-time of this fixture last season and they caused Barca problems from the off once again, with Emmanuel Boateng, scorer of a hat-trick …

Xavi has told Barcelona to treat the Clasico against Real Madrid on Wednesday as a potential turning point as he prepares to hand Ferran Torres a debut.

The semi-final of the Supercopa de Espana takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and comes in a season when Madrid have been lording it over their great rivals.

Madrid sit top of LaLiga, a distant 17 points clear of sixth-placed Barcelona, and Carlo Ancelotti s team are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Barcelona must survive a nightmarishly difficult play-off against Napoli just to reach the last 16 of the Europa League, having flopped in the Champions League group stages.

Any trophy would be welcome at Camp Nou just now, and Barcelona could yet return from Saudi Arabia with silverwar…

Guus Hiddink has urged the Chelsea squad to look in the mirror as they attempt to transform their faltering season.

Dutchman Hiddink was speaking in his first media conference since being appointed until the end of the season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea beat fellow strugglers Sunderland on Saturday to move up to 15th in the Premier League table but remain just three points above the relegation zone.

Their appalling title defence led to Mourinho s departure and Hiddink, who led Chelsea to FA Cup success during an interim spell in 2009, believes the players should be analysing where it has gone wrong.

He said: On Tuesday I talked fully to the squad and of course we talked a little bit about the past and the reasons why I am here and why …

The latest edition of the Deloitte Football Money League has confirmed the Premier League s status as the cash cow of the game, with 17 of the 20 clubs from the English top flight making the top 30. 

Manchester United had to settle for third spot behind Real Madrid (first, €577 million/£439m) and Barcelona (second, €560.8m/£426.6m), but they remain the highest revenue-generating club from the Premier League, earning €519.5m (£395.2m) over 2014-15 and seemingly destined to catch their Spanish rivals in the not too distant future.

Despite a reduction in revenue year-on-year, the fact that Manchester United remain in the top three of the Money League demonstrates the underlying strength of the club’s business model,  Tim Bridge, senior manager at Deloitte, sai…