Kovac ´convinced´ he will be Bayern Munich boss next season

Stuttgart have completed the signing of 23-year-old striker Daniel Ginczek from Nuremberg on a four-year deal.

Following their relegation from the Bundesliga, Nuremberg have lost a host of players including Makoto Hasebe and Markus Feulner.

Former Borussia Dortmund frontman Ginczek is the latest to join the exodus, and he will link up with former Nuremberg team-mate Adam Hlousek snapped up by Stuttgart earlier this week again.

In a season where he struggled with injuries, Ginczek made just 18 appearances in all competitions last term and found the net four times.

Ginczek is confident he can prove a hit at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, telling the club s official website: I was having a good time in Nuremberg up until my injury but I wanted to continue playing in the …

Brighton and Hove Albion have confirmed Sami Hyypia as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The ex-Bayer Leverkusen coach, who left the BayArena in April following a poor run of form, replaces Oscar Garcia at the Amex Stadium.

Spaniard Garcia exited after Brighton s Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Derby County last month, and Hyypia who made over 450 appearances for Liverpool during his playing career is delighted to have been handed his first managerial position in English football.

I am absolutely thrilled by this appointment; Brighton and Hove Albion are an ambitious club and I am very pleased to have been given this opportunity, the Finn told the club s official website.

I ve held extensive talks with the chairman Tony Bloom and chief execu…

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs says he is more than happy to see Rio Ferdinand omitted from England squads because it helps the club.

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs says he is more than happy to see Rio Ferdinand omitted from England squads because it helps the club.

The 34-year-old centre-back has been impressive this season and produced another fine display on Wednesday as the Red Devils drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Ferdinand has not played for his country since June 2011, and manager Roy Hodgson has admitted to becoming irritated over questions about an England return for the defender, but Giggs feels it is helping United.

Yes, it is, he s been playing like that all season, Giggs told the Daily Mirror. His ex…

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Two sides who have their sights set on securing a Ligue 1 return this season, Metz will welcome Le Havre to the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Monday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Metz might have lost their top-flight status last season, it is no secret that Laszlo Boloni s men have their sights set on securing an immediate Ligue 1 return in 2023. Last seen putting in another rampant display as they opened March with a 3-0 romp away at Annecy, the Maroons now find themselves sat just three points adrift of breaking into the top-two. Only continuing to shine on either side of the World Cup s winter break, the Lorraine-based outfit are unbeaten in each of their last 13 straight Ligue 2 showdowns a run that stems all the way ba…

Werder Bremen have confirmed 40-year-old striker Claudio Pizarro will remain with the club next season.

The veteran has reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side to carry on playing for a 21st campaign in Europe, having first moved to Werder in 1999.

Werder sporting director Frank Baumann said Pizarro, who has also played for Bayern Munich and Chelsea during his career, will now sign a suitable contract in the coming days .

The Peruvian, who returned to Werder for a fourth spell in July 2018, told the club s official website: I have always said that my future plans would depend on what my body was telling me.

I still feel good, so I m glad to be staying here for another year.

We have developed really well as a team this season and I m su…

Kingsley Coman believes there is no bigger club he could join than Bayern Munich but would be open to a return to Paris Saint-Germain.

France winger Coman is contracted to Bayern until 2023, having made his loan switch from Juventus permanent last year before penning extended terms in December.

The 21-year-old, a product of PSG s youth system, boasts the impressive record of being a league champion in every season of his professional career, with Bayern s 16-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga meaning that run is set to continue.

Understandably, Coman s long-term plans only feature members of Europe s elite.

I m certainly here for five or six years, but I cannot say that in 10 years when I would be 31 I m still here, he told Bild. But it is certain t…

Thibaut Courtois claims Chelsea plan to bring him back to the club within two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Thibaut Courtois claims Chelsea plan to bring him back to the club within two years to replace first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Courtois completed his moved to Chelsea from Genk in 2011, but was sent out on loan to Atletico Madrid after David de Gea departed the La Liga side to join Manchester United.

Courtois, 20, has since established himself as one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe, prompting rumours of interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico.

However, Courtois has confirmed Chelsea intend to keep hold of him and bring him back to Stamford Bridge in the near future.

He told the London Evening…

Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has no idea about Antonio Conte s future at the club as rumours the Italian is on his way out of Stamford Bridge continue to build.

Former Juventus coach Conte, who led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, has regularly spoken about his desire to return to Italy.

Chelsea are 15 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City this term, although they reached the EFL Cup semi-finals and remain in the Champions League with a last-16 tie against Barcelona to come in February.

Chelsea and Conte are reportedly split on the club s transfer strategy, but Cahill believes City s extraordinary form is more of a reason for their massive lead than the Blues underperforming.

Asked if the squad rema…

Paris Saint-Germain are hot on the trail of Sporting CP midfielder William Carvalho, according to A Bola.

The Saints are in the market for a long-term successor to Thiago Motta and the Portugal international is one of the first names on their hit-list.

PSG are expected to step up their efforts ahead of the summer transfer window, but they could face stiff competition from other interested sides.

Namely, Sporting CP have already rejected a €45 million offer for Tianjin Quanjian, with West Ham and few other Premier League clubs also keen.

William Carvalho, 25, has been a key player for both club and country for several years now, starting five matches for Portugal on the road to the Euro 2016 trophy.

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Steven Defour faces a race to be fit in time for the World Cup after the Burnley midfielder had surgery on a knee injury.

Sean Dyche said Defour is likely to be out for the rest of the season, with the 29-year-old having been ever-present in the Premier League before suffering the problem.

Defour posted a positive update to social media after going under the knife.

All went fine, he wrote on Instagram. Thanks for all your messages. Motivates me to come back as soon as possible.

Despite a nine-game winless run in the Premier League, Dyche s men are seventh in the table following a 1-1 draw at home to runaway leaders Manchester City on Saturday.

Defour was a regular in Belgium s squad through World Cup qualifying, but only featured against Gibralt…