Rodgers plays down Reina exit rumours; Heskey pens Jets’ extension

Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic has announced he will be out of action for six months due to a knee injury.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international suffered the injury in Wednesday s friendly between Everton and Manchester United, limping off just 11 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in Wayne Rooney s testimonial at Old Trafford.

He underwent a series of tests on Thursday to determine the extent of the knock and it has now been revealed he will be sidelined until February.

A brief message on his official Twitter account read: 6 months out! #devastated.

6 months out!

— MoBesic (@Mo_Besic)

Besic joined Everton from Hamburg in July 2014, but injuries have prevented him from making much of an impact at Goodison Park.

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Santos F.C. starlet Victor Andrade is reportedly attracting interest from a host of top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, understands.

Andrade, whose current contract at the Estádio Vila Belmiro expires next summer, wants to move to Europe as soon as possible in order to boost his chances of playing for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.

The Brazil youth international, 17, has made it clear he will not sign a new deal with Peixe, making him available for a cut-price fee of less than £2.5 million.

Andrade, the ‘New Neymar,’ made his final decision after consulting his godfather, AC Milan forward Robinho. Smart move.

The 29-year-old, formerly of Santos (2002/05), eventually convinced Andrade to seek pastu…

Following a week of criticism aimed at Raheem Sterling, his Manchester City teammate Kevin De Bruyne has hit back at those singling him out from behind a keyboard .

Sterling has been at the centre of controversy after a picture of his gun tattoo surfaced on social media, which sparked outrage from a British tabloid.

He was in the headlines once again a few days later; this time because it was revealed he arrived late to the England training camp due to a delayed flight coming back from a holiday in Jamaica.

But De Bruyne believes the media focus should be shifted to Sterling s talent on the pitch instead.

He is an unbelievable player, the Belgium international told reporters. I don t know why people in England always want to criticise him. He is a good g…

Germany limbered up for their World Cup defence with a patchy 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday.

Timo Werner gave Joachim Low s men an early lead and Omar Othman s unfortunate own goal undermined Saudi Arabia as they briefly threatened to find a way into the contest.

Marco Reus made his first international start since March 2016 and dazzled during the first half, laying on Werner s opener and linking pleasingly with the RB Leipzig striker and Thomas Muller.

A former Dortmund team-mate of Reus will enter Russia 2018 under a cloud – Ilkay Gundogan again receiving boos following his meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Saudi Arabia were humiliated 8-0 in the 2002 World Cup by Germany but their current vintage, led by former …

Market: Viktoria Koln win

Odds: 21/20 @

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Monday evening, Viktoria Koln will host a struggling Duisburg at Sportpark Hohenberg.

Starting with the hosts, eventually slumping to an action-packed 3-2 loss away at leading promotion contenders Elversberg on April 10th, Viktoria Koln should be smelling the chance to find an immediate boost here. Although Olaf Janben’s side might find themselves sat in third-tier limbo, the Whites have continued on an eye-catching run over the past couple of months. Opening April with a 2-1 win at home against Verl, the one-time Dynamo Dresden boss has seen his side lose just one of their last seven appearances a run that stems all the way back to February 27th. Likewise, collectin…

Erik ten Hag has not ruled out using the transfer market to strengthen his squad as injuries and illness continue to hit Manchester United hard.

The number of absentees reached double figures for Monday’s 2-0 FA Cup win away to League Two Wigan, with Christian Eriksen out due to illness and Antony injured.

Although Ten Hag is optimistic a number of players could return in time for Sunday’s Premier League match at home to Tottenham, a United bench made up almost entirely of youngsters at the DW Stadium pointed to the stretched resources.

“We consider everything,” Ten Hag said when asked about the January window. “So what is in the best interests of the players and also the best interests for us, the team, for Manchester United. So we’ll see how we prog…

Juventus have revealed they will offer midfield star Arturo Vidal a lucrative contract extension in the near future.

The Chile international has starred for Juventus ever since switching from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011, and played a big part in the club s back-to-back Serie A titles over the past two seasons.

Vidal scored 15 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions for Juve last term and his form attracted the likes of Real Madrid over the close-season.

But Vidal is likely to stay in Italy after Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta has revealed his efforts are set to be rewarded with a contract extension.

Marotta told Tuttosport: Vidal arrived in Turin and the move was met with some scepticism.

But he has done very well and now he should be rewarded.

T…

Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates warned his team not to focus solely on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their World Cup last-16 clash with Portugal.

Ronaldo has already scored four goals at Russia 2018, helping Fernando Santos men progress from Group B.

The Euro 2016 champions face a huge test against Uruguay in Sochi Saturday, with the South Americans holding a perfect record at this year s tournament.

But while Ronaldo has scored four of his team s five goals at the showpiece event, Coates said Uruguay could not afford to focus only on the star forward.

We will defend him with the same respect that we defend others, he told a news conference.

He is a worldwide star, but you don t prepare for a match thinking about one player, but thinking about t…

In the aftermath of Arsenal s comprehensive 3-0 derby win over Chelsea last weekend, Arsene Wenger did not sound like a man simply content with overcoming regular tormentors who soiled a previous landmark for him two-and-a-half years ago.

Basel were subsequently dispatched 2-0 in the Champions League in midweek and on Saturday the 66-year-old Frenchman will mark 20 years in charge of the north London club.

I m hungrier now than I was because I know I have not got 20 more years in front of me, he said after beating the club who dished out a 6-0 thumping at Stamford Bridge in 2014, turning his 1000th match in charge into a vicious nightmare.

I also feel a responsibility. You can t be 20 years somewhere and not care, so I m more conscious now about what Arsenal is…

Roque Mesa has completed a permanent move from Swansea City to Sevilla.

The 29-year-old midfielder spent the second half of the 2017-18 season on loan at the LaLiga side after struggling to make an impact during his time in south Wales.

Mesa joined Swansea from Las Palmas for a reported fee of €12.5million in July 2017 but made just 11 Premier League appearances while at the Liberty Stadium.

He featured seven times for Sevilla including starting their last two league fixtures during his temporary spell, but has now signed a three-year contract after completing a medical.

Everyone at Swansea City would like to thank Roque for his services and wish him well for the future, Swansea said in a statement on their website.

— Sevilla FC (@S…