Roma closing in on the next Roberto Carlos

Croatian international striker Nikola Kalinic signed for English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers on Monday for 7.5million euros from Hajduk Split, the selling club announced on its website.

The 21-year-old had been a target for Blackburn s rivals Portsmoth but opted instead to reject their overtures as Hajduk accepted a club record fee.

I can at last focus on football, said Kalinic, who was first capped in May 2008 having been at Hajduk since 2007.

I want to begin training with my new team as soon as possible and get into top form, added Kalinic, who scored 38 goals in the Croatian league.

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The Scottish Football Association have confirmed Gordon Strachan as their new manager, replacing Craig Levein.

Levein was sacked in November by the SFA, and will be replaced by the former Celtic and Middlesbrough manager, who was capped 50 times by the Scots.

Strachan makes his first return to management since leaving Middlesbrough in October 2010 by mutual consent.

I am extremely proud to be appointed as Scotland National Coach, he told the Scottish FA s official website.

There is a considerable challenge ahead in the World Cup qualifying campaign but we can take those first steps towards addressing that in the double header against Wales at Hampden and the visit to Serbia in March.

Next month s match against Estonia will give me an opportun…

FIFA investigators have recommended a life ban be imposed on the disgraced former president of the Honduran Football Association, Rafael Callejas.

The 72-year-old, who was head of the nation s football association from 2002 to 2015, pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in a New York court in March.

Following its own investigation into allegedly illegal payments he received from sports marketing companies, FIFA s independent Ethics Committee has deemed that Callejas breached a number of the organisation s rules, including those relating to bribery and corruption.

A Committee statement released on Wednesday read: Dr [Cornel] Borbely has recommended imposing on Mr Callejas a lifelong ban from taking part in any kind of footb…

Luciano Spalletti acknowledged Napoli s 4-1 Champions League hammering of Liverpool will cause a stir as he urged his players to deliver again after laying down a benchmark.

Goals from Piotr Zielinski, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone sent Napoli in 3-0 up at half-time, though it could have been four if Victor Osimhen s penalty was not saved by Alisson.

That marked just the fourth occasion Liverpool have found themselves three goals down at the interval in the Champions League, with Zielinski adding a fourth soon after the break.

Luis Diaz curled in a fine curling effort to reduce the deficit, but the Reds never recovered from a toothless showing as they fell to their joint-heaviest defeat in the competition.

Napoli are also unbeaten in th…

Brazilian forward Robinho has revealed that he has no plans to leave San Siro in spite of reports linking him with a return to Brazil.

The experienced footballer was on the verge of returning to Santos in the January transfer window, but the deal failed to materialize.

Robinho was recently linked with a switch to Flamengo, but it appears that he will be staying in Milan after all.

“Who says that I am going back home in the summer?” Robinho .

“I keep hearing this but I don’t know anything about it. January was a moment of difficulty for me, but that has passed. I’m very happy in Milan and I’m slowly finding my form. I want to stay here.”

The 29-year-old joined Milan in an €18 million deal from Manchester City back in 2010, but he h…

Real Madrid are lining up a shock move for Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, .

The Belgium international has established himself as one of the hottest shot-stoppers in Europe, having returned from three successful seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid to help Jose Mourinho’s men to the top of the Premier League.

As well as collecting a host of trophies during his time in the Spanish capital, he has firmly established himself as his country’s first choice goalkeeper, with the 22 year old collecting twenty-seven senior caps so far.

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to bring in a new keeper in the summer, as Iker Casillas current form continues to frustrate.

He produced his latest blunder as the European champions lost 4-0 to neighbours Atleti…

Kylian Mbappe appeared angry at being substituted on Saturday but Thomas Tuchel does not think the attacker will use it as a reason to leave Paris Saint-Germain.

Tuchel replaced Mbappe with Mauro Icardi in the 68th minute of PSG s 5-0 win over Montpellier and was involved in a heated discussion with the World Cup-winning France star.

The 21-year-old has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane has made no effort to hide his admiration for the former Monaco striker.

However, Tuchel does not expect their confrontation to be the beginning of the end of Mbappe s time in Paris.

I can t think that Mbappe might use this situation as a reason to leave the club, he said ahead of Tuesday s trip to Nantes in Ligue 1.

He is one of ou…

The 25-year-old made 101 appearances for Sunderland after joining the Wearside club from Sint Truiden in 2010, but will now look to compete with Pepe Reina for the number o
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ne jersey at Anfield.

Liverpool have been busy in the market already in the off-season, signing Spanish duo Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, as well as Kolo Toure, with manager Brendan Rodgers enthused by the shape his squad is taking.

I am delighted that we have been able to sign one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, said Rodgers.

Simon will join a club that will give him an opportunity to demonstrate and improve his huge talent.

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio lamented the departure of his first-choice goalkeeper, but insists he is immediately on the hunt for a replacement.<…

Rafael Benitez believes the current Newcastle squad is not good enough for the Premier League season ahead after a frustrating 2-2 draw with Hull City.

Having steered Newcastle to promotion from the Championship in his first full season in charge, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager made sure the club maintained their top-flight status in 2017-18, as they finished in 10th place.

However, hopes of building on the platform set by Benitez have been hit by a lack of spending in the transfer window.

Martin Dubravka and Kenedy – who were both on loan last season – have returned, the former joining on a permanent basis, while Ki Sung-yueng arrived on a free transfer after leaving Swansea City.

Is the current squad good enough for what we need? I d…

Chorley are hoping to follow the Wrexham “playbook” after revealing they are in negotiations for pop group Boyzone to become the new face of the club.

The part-time National League North outfit announced this week that members of the boy band were due to attend their next fixture with a view to taking an active role in the set-up at Victory Park.

That news came after Chorley were served with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs but the significance of that has been played down by the club.

We’re absolutely thrilled to share the truly exciting news that world renowned, Boyzone, will be in attendance for our game against this Saturday!

This collaboration with Boyzone is part of ongoing discussions that could see them become the face of Cho…