Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama warns that his side will not be sitting back and admiring Barcelona in their Champions League encounter.

The Hoops star describes the La Liga outfit as one of the best teams in the world and has urged his team-mates to be focused throughout the entire match if they hope to come out of the fixture with their heads held high.

We all know about the quality of this (Barcelona) team, the players, how they play and what they have won, Wanyama told Goal.com.

But we are not going there to sit back and admire them as they pass the ball around. I am sure all the players selected will be ready to put in a top-class performance.

We have had a good start (to the Champions League) and it s important to maintain that and eye qualific…

Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has decided to move to Espanyol from Celtic after talks over a transfer to his former club Yokohama Marinos collapsed, according to Jiji Press.

Officials of the J-League club confirmed the decision after holding talks with Nakamura s agent on Monday, Jiji Press reported.
Club officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nakamura, 31, had initially expressed his readiness to re-sign with the Marinos when his contract with the former Scottish champions expires at the end of this month.

But the talks with Yokohama stalled, with Nakamura s side reportedly citing the club s insincerity over financial matters and requests for his appearances in club events before he signed a contract.

Yokohama had offered him a…

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard has conceded he is concerned about his position at the club amid a poor run of form.

A 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday marked Villa s fourth defeat in the opening five matches of the Premier League season, sitting second last in the standings at this early stage.

Having been jeered by his own supporters following the loss to West Ham at the weekend, a third defeat on the bounce has increased the pressure upon Gerrard.

Premier League clubs infamously lack patience with those in charge, shown by Bournemouth axing Scott Parker with just four games played, and Gerrard admitted he fears he could find himself in a similar position.

I am really honest and self-critical of myself. I will do my job the best I can, I will s…

With World Cup-winning coaches in both dugouts, some of the world s finest players on show and South Africa 2010 in sight, Argentina s match with Brazil on Saturday is as big as they get.

Encounters between the South American giants are always passionate affairs but the weekend s World Cup qualifier in the Argentine city of Rosario has been given further spice by Argentina s desperate need for points.

Brazil top the regional qualifying standings ahead of Chile and Paraguay and could conceivably book their place in next summer s tournament if results go their way this weekend, but Argentina are struggling.

The appointment of the legendary Diego Maradona as coach has failed to inspire an upturn in Argentine fortunes after a below-par start to the campaign and they…

Southampton are ready to offer a new contract to midfielder Victor Wanyama, .

The Kenya international moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic two years ago, and has since racked up sixty-two appearances in all competitions for the south coast club, scoring three goals.

Prior to his move to the Saints, the twenty-four year old secured back to back league titles north of the border and was named the Scottish top flight’s Young Player of the Year in 2013.

Manager Ronald Koeman is keen to retain Wanyama’s services after seeing a number of his sides big names move on in the past twelve months or so.

Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin have moved on to pastures new in the close season, a year after Dejan Lovren, Rick…

Bournemouth look set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to the Mirror.

The England U21 international was been monitored by Cherries boss Eddie Howe last season, not least after seeing his opportunities limited following the arrival of Cenk Tosun from Besiktas.

However, despite starting just two league games this calendar year he is keen to remain at Goodison Park to fight for his place.

Calvert-Lewin made his Toffees debut in December 2016 having signed from Sheffield United the previous summer and has since racked up fifty-five appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals.

Internationally, before breaking into the U21s squad he played fourteen times for the U20s, scoring six goals – one o…

France coach Raymond Domenech insisted Tuesday he would never consider quitting his post despite his unpopularity with the French public which has deepened since last week s World Cup play-off furore.

Domenech has proved something of a survivor, keeping his job despite France s first round knockout from Euro 2008.

But after struggling in World Cup qualifying then securing their ticket only as a result of Thierry Henry s blatant handball in the playoff with the Republic of Ireland his popularity appears to have hit an all time low.

Yet the 57-year-old came out fighting in an interview with l express.fr, telling the website: I have never resigned, and I will never resign. The harder the pressure, the more I become motivated.

I thrive on adversity. When ev…

It is easy to criticise Michel Platini and UEFA. They have made some very strange statements and decisions over the past few years and they have shown a real unwillingness to tackle the cancer of racist abuse across the football grounds of Europe.

Tackle

Now, they have announced new measures to tackle the problem. They do not go nearly far enough but at least it is an attempt to do something and they should be congratulated for that.

Our policy on racism is one of zero tolerance, said Platini. That simply isn’t true and the one game played behind closed doors by Juventus after their fans racially abused Inter’s Mario Balotelli and the paltry fine handed out to Spain after several of England’s black players were…

are in advanced talks over the possible signing of s Alisson Becker, according to a number of sources.

Jürgen Klopp had given his best to express support for Loris Karius after his blunders in the Champions League final practically gave the most prestigious trophy in club football to , but after the latest mistake in Liverpool s friendly against Tranmere Rovers last week, it seems he s finally come to terms with the fact that he needs a new goalkeeper.

The Reds have therefore submitted an official bid for Alisson, offering €60million upfront plus €10million in easily achievable bonuses.

Even though the transfer under those conditions would almost double the current world-record fee for a goalkeeper Manchester City s Ederson Moraes, the bid still falls sho…

FA Cup holders Chelsea shrugged off the absence of captain John Terry to cruise into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Championship side Cardiff in the fifth round on Saturday.

With Terry granted time off to fly to Dubai to be with his wife as he deals with allegations of an affair, Ashley Cole sidelined after ankle surgery and Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka rested, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti sent out a slightly unfamiliar line-up at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian s team was still strong enough to kill off Cardiff. In the second minute, Didier Drogba ran onto Jon Obi Mikel s long pass and fired past Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall for his 23rd goal of the season.

Cardiff forward Michael Chopra stunned the hosts when he punished poor marking to head the equa…