Reja: Napoli, Lazio could be challengers

Harry Kane has left another record in his wake by becoming Tottenham s highest scorer in the Premier League.

England striker Kane rounded off a stellar 2017 by breaking Alan Shearer s record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year and outscored Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi for club and country over the 12-month period.

Kane has picked up where he left off in 2018, netting a brace against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup before another double against Everton at Wembley on Saturday took him past Teddy Sheringham s previous Premier League best for Spurs.

Sherringham netted 97 in the top flight for Tottenham across two spells, placing him ahead of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe on 91.

Kane is now on to 98, having punished Everton twi…

Schalke have moved to confirm reports that Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay is set to return to Barcelona at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old joined Miners on loan from Barcelona last summer and after the bright start to his career in Germany, the midfielder was tipped to make his loan move permanent at the end of the season.

Afellay has since torn a muscle in his thigh, and Schalke officials have been pretty disappointed by the player’s behaviour during the lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Schalke general manager Horst Heldt has confirmed that the player will be returning to Camp Nou at the end of the season.

“I suppose so,” Heldt in Sport Bild.

Ibrahim Afellay has spent most of his career at PSV Eindhoven, but then opted joined Barc…

Paul Pogba s future at Manchester United has been uncertain for the past 12 months.

But the Red Devils are understood to be eager to hang on to the France international.

Pogba is entering into the final 12 months of his contract with United.

TOP STORY – UNITED TO OFFER POGBA SENSATIONAL DEAL

Manchester United are readying a sensational new contract offer to make Paul Pogba the highest-paid Premier League player, reports The Sun.

Pogba has been linked with a move away from United in recent times, with Juventus rumoured to be interested.

The Red Devils are poised to ward off that interest with a new 104million deal, offering him wages of 400,000 a week for the next five years.

Man Utd ready to make Paul Pogba the Prem s…

English football s money-spinning nature broke new ground in the 2014-15 season, as £4billion was generated by the 92 League clubs, it has been revealed.

Led by the Premier League s ever-increasing television deals, which helped top-flight clubs generate £3.3bn two seasons ago, the English game is by far the most valuable, figures released by Deloitte show.

Wages in the Premier League have also hit record levels top-flight players earned over £2bn for the first time.

However, these figures will likely pale into comparison against those for the upcoming season, with Premier League matches set to be worth over £10million at a time as a new television deal kicks in.

Dan Jones of Deloitte said: The pace of football s financial growth in two and a half dec…

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo won the European Footballer of the Year Award in Paris on Monday.

The 23-year-old Portuguese star is the first from his country to win the coveted Ballon D Or award since Luis Figo in 2000.

His award which he has widely spoken about having said in the last week that not only is he the best footballer in the world but also the second and third best comes on the back of exceptional performances for his club side last season.

He scored a remarkable 42 times in 49 matches as United secured a memorable league and European Cup double.

Spaniard Fernando Torres was also in contention after scoring many great goals for Liverpool in the Premiership and the only goal in the Euro 2008 final against Germany.

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Club football all over the world stops during the next 10 or 12 days, but that does not mean we won t have action all over the globe. In fact, it will be quite the opposite since this will be the final international break before the season ends. And with the 2018 World Cup looming closer and closer, national teams all over the world need to tighten things up before it s too late.

As one would expect, there will be great, intense games all over the world. But here are three matches you absolutely cannot miss this week.

Germany vs Spain (Friday, 19:45 BST)

Who does not like it when two of the top teams in Europe collide against each other? Even though it would be better to see them play on a bigger stage such as a quarter-final or a semi-final match, the expectations are…

Ryan Giggs 29-year association with Manchester United came to a low-key end on Saturday, but former winger Gordon Hill has praised Jose Mourinho for clearing the decks at Old Trafford ahead of his debut season at the club.

Giggs joined United s youth set-up in 1987, before embarking on a stellar senior playing career that produced 963 appearances, 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League crowns.

As his playing career came to an end, Giggs became a member of David Moyes coaching staff and then interim manager following the sacking of the Scot in 2014, overseeing two wins, a draw and a loss before being appointed Louis van Gaal s assistant manager ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Despite the legendary status of the former Wales …

Serie A club Napoli have been hit with match fixing allegations amid a UEFA ban for the state of affairs at their Stadio San Paolo.

The club is facing heavy sanctions after the Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed it is investigating allegations of match-fixing during a Serie A match against Sampdoria in 2010.

Former goalkeeper Matteo Gianello is at heart of the scandal while defenders Gianluca Grava and Paolo Cannavaro are under investigation for allegedly not reporting incidents after being approached.

The FIGC can confirm that, following an investigation by the public prosecutor of Naples, the federal prosecutor will open disciplinary proceedings in relation to the Sampdoria-Napoli match of 16 May, 2010, the statement read.

Matteo Gianello,…

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has hit back at recent criticism of the reigning World Cup champions, which has focused on the team s largely veteran status in the wake of their Confederations Cup flop.

Marcello Lippi s side beat the United States 3-1 but were then shocked by Egypt 1-0 before Brazil hammered the final nail in their coffin with a comprehensive 3-0 thrashing on Sunday.

Italy missed the semi-final stages on goal difference, and have been widely labelled as underachievers.

In Italy that criticism has mainly focused on the fact that seven of Lippi s starting 11 against Brazil were aged 30 or more, with captain Cannavaro almost 36.

However central defender Cannavaro said it was time for the criticism to stop.

Let s bring an end to this …

Market: Minnesota United win

Odds: 8/11 @

Looking to make a return to winning ways in the early hours of Sunday morning, Minnesota will welcome Houston Dynamo to Allianz Field this weekend.

Starting with the hosts, throwing away the lead earlier in the week and watching Vancouver snatch a last-gasp equalizer in a thrilling 2-2 draw, there is no doubt that Minnesota will be glad to make a return to home soil. Now playing out back-to-back draws on the road, Adrian Heath s side have continued to shine with their performances at Allianz Field. Sat firmly in pole position to secure another Final Series spot this season, The Loons were last seen in Saint Paul landing a deserved 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers. Smelling what should be a real chance to make a w…