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Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has died at the age of 78 following his battle with cancer, the club have announced.

Kenwright, who succeeded Sir Phillip Carter as chairman in 2004 after first joining the board at Goodison Park in 1989, had a cancerous tumour removed from his liver in August.

A statement on the club’s website said: “Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones…

Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

— Everton (@Everton)

“The club has lost a chairman, a lea…

Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal with Leeds United for Raphinha in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners have verbally indicated to Leeds that they are willing to pay north of £55 million for the Brazil international winger.

Arsenal and Barcelona are also interested in Raphinha, according to the report. While the Gunners’ bid is lower than the offer from Chelsea, Barcelona are struggling financially and are unlikely to be able to get a deal for Raphinha done.

Raphinha made 34 starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Leeds last season, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in the process. During the 2020-21 campaign, the winger made 26 starts and f…

Nani has confirmed he is leaving Orlando City after three years with the Florida side.

The former Manchester United forward joined Orlando in 2019, having left Serie A club Lazio.

Nani led the club to their first postseason appearances, while Orlando also reached the final of the MLS Is Back Tournament in 2020.

The 35-year-old scored 12 goals in his first season with the Lions, a further nine in 2020 and 10 this season as Orlando lost in the first round of the playoffs, going down 3-1 to Nashville SC.

He explained it was not his decision to leave, but rather Orlando choosing not to extend his contract.

Official statement

— Nani (@luisnani)

In a statement posted to his official social media channels, Nani said: All good thing…

Sandro Tonali, the 23-year-old midfielder Newcastle signed this summer from AC Milan for around £60 million, has been suspended from playing football for 10 months due to betting-related offences.

There are still some issues that need to be clarified in that matter, according to Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

“We’re still waiting for clarity.”

Eddie Howe on Sandro Tonali and what his plans are for him in the next 10 months in which he is banned from football.

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

…

Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann is hopeful Joshua Kimmich s declaration that he is ready to take a COVID-19 vaccine will draw a line under the matter.

Kimmich made headlines in October when he explained he was not willing to receive his first dose due to what he perceived as a lack of research into possible long-term effects.

The 26-year-old has not featured for Bayern since November 6 after twice being forced to isolate due to being a close contact of someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

He was then infected with COVID-19 himself and was last week ruled out until 2022 due to an issue with his lungs.

Kimmich confirmed in an interview with ZDF on Sunday that he is now in a position where he feels ready to get vaccinated.

Nagelsm…

Antoine Griezmann was in inspirational form as Atletico Madrid took firm control of their last-32 Europa League tie against Copenhagen with a 4-1 first-leg away win on Thursday.

Griezmann was involved in three of the four goals as Atleti came from behind to lead before the half-time interval at a snowy Parken Stadium, where Diego Simeone s side twice added to the scoreline after the break to improve an already solid position ahead of next week s return game in Madrid.

Atletico had kept three consecutive clean sheets but they fell behind in the 15th minute, Viktor Fischer flicking in Peter Ankersen s effort to beat Miguel Angel Moya.

Copenhagen s lead lasted just five minutes, though, Griezmann providing a fine cross from the right wing for Saul Niguez to glance h…

There is one more weekend of Premier League action to go before the final international break of the year and some mouthwatering fixtures lie ahead.

Faltering Everton look to get their season back on track at home to lowly Manchester United on Saturday, while the previous two champions Manchester City and Liverpool do battle on Sunday.

But who can you trust to deliver fantasy points in these mammoth clashes? Use our Opta-powered weekly guide to find out.

HUGO LLORIS

The brilliance of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale has prompted title talk at Tottenham, but keeping goals out is just as important. For that, they – and you – can rely on Lloris.

Of Premier League goalkeepers to have played at least 500 minutes since the start of last seaso…

At long last, one of the world s most promising young footballers is eligible to make his professional bow, as Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko turned 16 on Friday.

The Germany Under-20 international has long given Dortmund coaches, players and fans cause for excitement, with his accomplishments in the club s academy over the past few years attracting widespread attention.

He made history on the European stage a little over a year ago in October 2019 when, still just 14, became the youngest ever goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League – the previous record-holders had been well over a year older when they netted their first goals.

The previous season Moukoko had scored 50 goals and earned his promotion to Dortmund s Under-19s, and he took to that level w…

Former Real Madrid star Predrag Mijatovic claims Gareth Bale s best position is still uncertain after the forward was jeered off in the 1-0 Clasico loss to Barcelona on Saturday.

Bale struggled to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Ivan Rakitic s first-half goal sealed a second victory for Barca away to their fierce rivals in the space of four days, Ernesto Valverde s men having run out 3-0 winners in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Wednesday. 

Madrid fans have looked to Bale to fill the void left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in July, but the Wales international, who moved to the Spanish capital from Tottenham for a reported fee of approximately €100 million in 2013, has managed just seven goals in 21 LaLiga appearances this …

Any manager who Chelsea hire now will be a downgrade on Thomas Tuchel, according to Rio Ferdinand.

Former Manchester United and England star Ferdinand insists Chelsea’s decision to sack Tuchel, which was announced on Wednesday, does not make sense.

The German was appointed as the successor to club legend Frank Lampard in January 2021 and promptly led Chelsea to Champions League glory in his first season.

More success followed in the form of trophies in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, but Tuchel also lost two FA Cup finals and an EFL Cup showpiece during his tenure.

A slow start to this season continued on Tuesday with a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb.

But Ferdinand feels new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly – who was …