James-Francis @james-francis ?

As Paul Pogba struck twice from outside the box in Juventus’ 4-0 victory over Udinese, it would be difficult to fully believe any Manchester United fan that told you he wasn’t bothered by the fact that the 19-year-old, one of Europe’s most talented starlets, had not been kept on the books at Old Trafford. Pogba joined Juventus for [...]

In recent years, lower league clubs have increasingly become breeding grounds, where young Premier League players are sent out on loan in order to further their professional development. On the face of things, this may seem a convenient situation for all parties concerned. The Premier League clubs benefit from having players of greater maturity after their [...]

In a bygone era, Vincent Kompany would have received praise and admiration for his well-timed, ball-winning tackle, which helped avert the danger posed by Jack Wilshere’s probing run. Escaping punishment would have been the least of the Manchester City captain’s worries in an age when the likes of Ron “Chopper” Harris and Norman “Bites Yer Legs” Hunter [...]

Sunderland have become the latest Premier League club to be linked with a move for Denmark centre-half Jores Okore. The Black Cats are understood to have watched the 20-year-old in action for Danish outfit Nordsjaelland, who Chelsea condemned to two heavy defeats in the group stages of the Champions League this season. According to reports from The Shields [...]

Everton midfielder John Lundstram has been named in the England Under-19 squad for next month’s friendly against Denmark, but fellow Toffees youngster Hallam Hope narrowly missed the cut. The 18-year-old is the current captain of the Three Lions and is likely to line up on the left side of midfield for the game on Thursday 5 [...]

Sunderland have made it clear they want to freshen up their striking options this transfer window by replacing the departed Louis Saha with Swansea striker Danny Graham . The Gateshead-born forward began his career at Middlesbrough before productive spells at Carlisle and Watford led to a £3.5million move to Swansea following their promotion to the Premier League in 2011. [...]

San Lorenzo insist Newcastle will have to release Fabricio Coloccini if the current Magpies captain is to secure a return to his native country with the Argentine club. Coloccini, 30, has told the Toon he wants to return to Argentina due to personal reasons, and he is interested in joining San Lorenzo, one of his former clubs, [...]

Nancy full-back Massaido Haïdara says he would be interested in moving to the Premier League following a bid from Newcastle United but admits he is in no hurry to leave France. Newcastle are believed to have submitted a bid in the region of €2.5 million for the French Under-21 international, but Nancy are believed to be [...]

Martin O’Neill has admitted that he half-expected Adam Johnson to find life difficult at the start of his Sunderland career. The winger joined the Wearside club for £10million from Manchester City last August, but has taken time to rediscover the form that helped him build a strong reputation at The Etihad. Johnson scored his third goal in [...]

Oldham manager Paul Dickov believes that former Everton striker Jose Baxter will make a return to the Premier League later in his career. The 20-year-old, tipped as a future star while with Everton, found himself without a club during the summer. But Baxter has proved his worth at Boundary Park, scoring 11 times in 25 games, and [...]

Newcastle hope to secure the signing of Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland this transfer window. The Magpies have already informed the Championship club of their interest and are prepared to offer £4m for the teenager, The Chronicle reports. They are likely to face stiff competition from a host of Premier League clubs for Butland’s signature, with Arsenal, Fulham and [...]

Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue is closing in on a move to Everton during the January transfer window. According to reports from French newspaper Sud Ouest , the 24-year-old Capoue will undertake a medical at Goodison Park in the next couple of days. It is understood that the Toffees have agreed a transfer fee of between 10 and 12 million euros [...]

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has praised Ross Barkley after the Everton loanee put in an encouraging performance in the weekend’s clash against Barnsley. The match against their Yorkshire rivals ended in disappointment for Leeds, who went down to a 2-0 defeat against the Championship strugglers. But the performance of Barkley, who has joined on loan from the [...]

Martin O’Neill believes January signings Abdou Kader Mangane and Alfred N’Diaye will prove useful additions to his Sunderland side. Mangane, 29, has joined on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for an initial cost of €300,000, with the Black Cats holding the option to make the deal permanent in the summer for €3 million. And O’Neill is [...]

Queens Park Rangers ’ hopes of hijacking Loic Remy’s transfer to Newcastle have taken a turn for the good, after Marseille confirmed they have accepted their bid for the striker. On Sunday, reports suggested that Remy’s move to Tyneside was nearing completion, but it is now understood that Rangers and another unnamed club have seen their bids of [...]

David Moyes has been linked with the managerial positions at German clubs Schalke and Werder Bremen this summer. The Everton boss’ future on Merseyside is in doubt, with the Scot yet to agree to a new contract. His current deal at Goodison Park ends in June. And Moyes’ recent revelation that he has ambitions to manage abroad – [...]

Martin O’Neill has declared that Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is finally coming to terms with Premier League football. The 19-year-old has struggled to make an impact on Wearside since his £8m arrival from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2011. Having made very few appearances in the first half of this season, the England under-21 international has made [...]

David Moyes reserved plenty of praise for Seamus Coleman after Everton’s 0-0 draw at home to Swansea on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland international has started the last two matches after a three-week absence through injury over the festive period. With Tony Hibbert, the club’s only other recognised right-back, also following calf surgery, Moyes had been forced into [...]

Everton are tracking Brazilian left-back Fernando Marcal with a view to a possible January move, according to the player’s agent. The news will increase speculation about the future of Toffees full-back and star performer this season, Leighton Baines, who is being linked with a transfer away from Goodison Park in the summer. Despite having Bryan Oviedo [...]

Sam Allardyce has denied the illness of West Ham ‘s co-chairman David Gold will affect the club’s business in the January transfer window. Gold, 76, is in hospital recovering from pneumonia after being taken ill following the FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United. Hammers boss Allardyce revealed he had yet to speak to Gold, who also needed [...]