Nicolas Jackson is ready to hit the ground running at Chelsea after swapping LaLiga for the Premier League, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

The pressure on the 22-year-old striker, who joined from Villarreal for £31million in June, to adapt quickly to English football has been increased by injury to fellow new signing Christopher Nkunku, who is now unlikely to play for the club before December.

The pair impressed in attack for Pochettino’s new-look side during the tour of the United States, raising hopes that the team’s struggles in front of goal last season had been fixed.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

But injury to Nkunku – together with the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Fofana (on loan), unavailability of Armando B…

Rennes have contested Tottenham s announcement of their Europa Conference League game being postponed, claiming it to be a unilateral decision that is yet to be ratified by UEFA.

Spurs released a statement on Wednesday informing the public of an apparent agreement to postpone Thursday s visit of Rennes due to a coronavirus outbreak.

Antonio Conte revealed earlier in the day that eight players and five members of staff had tested positive for the illness. As a result, Spurs have shut their first-team training facility.

UEFA rules state teams must fulfil a fixture in the competition if they have 13 players, plus a goalkeeper, available for selection.

But Conte claimed Spurs only have 11 players to choose from, with the club subsequently indicating the Group…

Chelsea winger Victor Moses says his parents would be proud of his success after his 11 million-euro move from Wigan during the transfer window.

The Nigerian winger endured a personal tragedy 10 years ago, as religious riots in his hometown saw Moses lose both his parents in a violent battle. The 11-year-old was told the news as he played football, before fleeing the country as an asylum seeker and reaching England alone.

It has been a long journey (from Nigeria) and I just want to keep strong and work hard for myself, whether it s football or not football, Moses told The Guardian.

I have to thank God for being where I am, it s like a dream come true and, if I keep working hard, who knows, I ll probably end up in Barcelona one day.

Definitely, wherev…

French giants Lyon have moved to reject speculations linking star striker Lisandro Lopez with a January exit from Gerland.

The Argentine striker has been paired with free-spending Fiorentina of late, with the Serie A side admitting interest in the player.

However, Lyon coach Remi Garde is hoping the star forward will not be sold in the January transfer window.

“For now we do not think he will move in January,” the talented coach said at a Press conference yesterday.

“Our priority at the moment is to seek continuity and balance. I do not think he will leave Lyon at the moment.

“I am not aware of any concrete bids, despite what the newspapers say. I am not surprised though that he is being watched by other European clubs. He is a great stri…

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez says the club are not under any pressure to sell goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, with Liverpool reportedly circling.

Al-Habsi has been linked with a move to Anfield following a drop in form by Spaniard Pepe Reina.

Martinez believes the rumours are a big compliment to his first-choice shot-stopper but stressed Wigan have no need to sell anyone.

We re in a good moment financially. We don t have to sell players and that s a real strength of ours, the Spaniard told reporters.

It s a really nice compliment for Ali and he s been outstanding since coming to the football club.

We have a few players who are reaching a very good level of form and I m not against having a lot of good football compliments.

Wigan have sold …

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has played down reports linking him with a move to Serie A giants Juventus, insisting that he is very happy at Anfield, .

The Uruguay international has rediscovered his 2009-10 goal-scoring form this season, registering 13 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, including 10 goals in 15 Premier League matches.

Suarez, who is valued at £28 million, has emerged as a potential January transfer target for the Old Lady due to the struggles of No. 9 Mirko Vucinic, Alessandro Matri and on-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

However, striker duo Fabio Quagliarella and Sebastian Giovinco have done well for the Bianconeri, combining for 11 goals and four assists in 24 league appearances (17 starts) this s…

Inter coach Stefano Pioli expects Sunday s clash with Roma to be a tight encounter in which details will make the difference.

The Nerazzurri have climbed to fourth spot in the table after winning nine of their last 10 Serie A games, trailing second-placed Roma by eight points.

And Pioli is under no illusion as to the importance of Sunday s clash as Inter look to finish in the top three and seal a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2012.

It will be a very important game. We have done everything within our powers to make sure we head into this game relatively close to Roma in the table, Pioli stated at a news conference.

We want to give our all against a very strong team like Roma. We are preparing for the game like for any other gam…

Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic has dismissed suggestions he is on his way to Real Madrid.

A number of reports recently have suggested the 25-year-old is close to joining the Santiago Bernabeu side, but the Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder has insisted he is not thinking about a transfer at this stage of the season.

Real Madrid interest? I am focused on Roma at the moment, Pjanic told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

We are still fighting for the Scudetto and have the Champions League round of 16 coming up. That s why leaving Roma is impossible right now.

His agent Michael Becker, meanwhile, was quick to stress there had not been contact with any interested clubs.

These rumours surprise me. I don t know where they are coming from, Becker added.

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According to a recent report from Liverpool Echo, Everton have opened talks with Lucas Digne about a new contract with the club.

Contrary to many other players in the current landscape of world football, talks are actually believed to be going quite well with the Toffees being confident in their ability to lock him down to a long term deal. He is currently half-way through the five year deal that he signed back in summer 2018, and even though he’s faced a spell on the sideline through injury, he’s still viewed as one of Everton’s best players in the current era.

On the pitch he needs to keep that confidence going when he eventually returns to full fitness, and while we all know that s much easier said than done, he s the sort of player who seems capable of switchi…

The Star understands that Jonjo Shelvey is not looking to leave Newcastle United this summer.

The North East outfit have faced a summer of turmoil so far after parting company with both Joselu and Ayoze Perez, while Solomon Rondon has returned to West Bromwich Albion after a season long loan.

They have also seen Rafael Benitez move to China, though his replacement Steve Bruce was confirmed on Wednesday.

Shelvey is one of just four senior central midfielders on the club s books, though he has admitted he is happy at St. James s Park and looks set to still be with them in the 2019/20 campaign.

Since signing from Swansea City in January 2016, the twenty-seven-year-old has played one hundred and eleven times in all competitions, scoring eight goals, whil…