Vikings vs Lions Week 13 Picks and Predictions: 'Sota Plays Down Again

Pep Guardiola reiterated he is hopeful of keeping hold of Bernardo Silva and suggested Manchester City s transfer business is finished for the year.

Silva has been repeatedly linked with a move to Guardiola s former club Barcelona this window after spending five successful seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

City manager Guardiola made clear once again on Friday that he wants the playmaker to stay at the club, although he cannot guarantee that will be the case.

He s our player and he knows our wishes, me as a manager and even his mates. Guardiola said at a press conference. What is going to happen? I don t know.

Reigning Premier League champions City have been busy this window, which shuts in a little under two weeks time.

Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phil…

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has signed a new five-year deal with the Premier League champions.

The Brazil international is into his fifth season with City and is now under contract until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Ederson has been a regular under Pep Guardiola since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Benfica in June 2017, making 195 appearances for the club in total.

He has kept 94 clean sheets and won every domestic honour available, a haul that includes three Premier League titles, four EFL Cups and one FA Cup.

Former Rio Ave stopper Ederson had another four years to run on his previous contract, but City announced on Wednesday they had tied down their undisputed first-choice keeper for a further 12 months.

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— Manch…

While the focus is on Barcelona, Atletico Madrid should be getting immediate improvement with the arrival of Luis Suarez.

After six trophy-laden seasons at Camp Nou, Suarez s €6million move from Barca to Atletico was confirmed on Wednesday.

As Ronald Koeman s rebuild continues at Barcelona, one of their former stars heads to Atletico.

And Diego Simeone s team should get an instant reward as we assess Suarez s move using Opta data.

, Barça legend

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Immediate improvement for Atletico?

Amid the links to Suarez, Atletico allowed Alvaro Morata to return to Juventus – initially on loan – and Diego Costa could also reportedly leave. There is little wonder Atletico chased Suarez when comparing his a…

Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Christopher Nkunku is likely to make his Chelsea debut during Tuesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge but urged fans not to expect him to instantly solve his team’s problems.

Nkunku, 26, has not played competitively for the club after injuring his knee on the pre-season United States tour, weeks after joining from RB Leipzig for £52million.

Last season’s Bundesliga top scorer with 16 goals, he was named in Pochettino’s squad for the first time for Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sheffield United as the team registered back-to-back Premier League home wins for the first time in over a year.

19/12: Newcastle United (H) 24/12: Wolves (A)

A big week ahead! Let s get it, Blues.

— Chel…

Marcus Bettinelli committed his future to Chelsea after signing a new deal with the Premier League side.

The goalkeeper put pen to paper on an extension to his existing contract, keeping him with the Blues until 2026.

Bettinelli has mainly served as a back-up option to Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy since joining Chelsea from West London rivals Fulham in 2021.

The 30-year-old s sole competitive appearance for the Blues came during their commanding 5-1 victory over Chesterfield in last season s FA Cup.

Nevertheless, he is thrilled to extend his stay with Graham Potter s side.

Feeling right at home!

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

It is a privilege to be at a club like Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, he told the cl…

Harry Kane pinpointed David Beckham as his inspiration as the England captain looks to deliver the ultimate success at the World Cup.

Tottenham talisman Kane heads to Qatar just three strikes away from breaking Wayne Rooney s 53-goal record for England, who will look to build on recent success in major tournaments by targeting the trophy.

Gareth Southgate s team reached the semi-finals at Russia 2018 before losing on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

Kane played an integral role in both those campaigns, and former England star Beckham was the childhood hero who inspired him to achieve his dreams.

When I was five, I wrote a note which said: ‘I want to play football’. I just fell in love with it. |

— England (@England)

I…

Paulo Fonseca says Milan have been working hard in training after a poor start to the Serie A season and will be prepared to bounce back when they face Lazio.

The newly appointed head coach is already under pressure after a lacklustre start to the campaign, with a 2-2 draw against Torino on matchday one being followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Parma.

We are aware that we haven’t started well. But we are all united and we want to find solutions. That’s what we’ve been doing this week, Fonseca told reporters.

We are united so it’s easier to work. It was a good week and I think we understood where we really need to improve. I expect a different Milan tomorrow.

The Portuguese coach denied that some players were having trouble …

Steve Cooper dismissed fears about losing his job as pressure mounts on the Nottingham Forest boss.

Forest were hammered 5-0 at Fulham on Wednesday – a fourth straight Premier League defeat – which left them six points above the drop zone.

The former Swansea manager accepts his position will be under scrutiny – with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui thought to be a serious contender if he leaves – but ahead of Saturday’s trip to Molineux Cooper insisted he cannot consider the sack.

Full time at Craven Cottage.

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC)

He said: “I don’t think like that. That is not a good way to think, it is like saying to a player ‘you have to play well or you will not play again’ – it is not a thought process I believe…

Rob Page says Wales must improve their discipline against opponents “good at the dark arts” of football.

Wales were reduced to 10 men for the second successive game as Joe Morrell was sent off in Monday’s 2-0 European Championship qualifying defeat to Turkey.

Morrell’s first-half dismissal in Samsun for a studs-up challenge on Ferdi Kadioglu came just a few days after Kieffer Moore was sent off for kicking Armenia goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich.

Losing players to red cards has become a recurring theme for Wales who had goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey sent off against Iran at the World Cup in November and Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson banished at the delayed Euro 2020 finals two years ago.

“We should be disciplined enough to keep 11 players on the pi…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still evaluating his future and is not in negotiations with Milan over a January transfer, according to the Serie A club s director Frederic Massara.

The 38-year-old has been linked with a return the Rossoneri, where he spent two seasons between 2010 and 2012, after leaving Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy.

MLS commissioner Don Garber last month suggested Ibrahimovic is set to rejoin the Milan, but Massara insists talks between the club and the player are not ongoing.

There is no news on Ibrahimovic, because this is not a negotiation, he told Sky Sport Italia.

I came, I saw, I conquered. Thank you for making me feel alive again. To the Galaxy fans you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome. The story continues Now go b…