Xavi ´open to anything´ amid Barcelona rumours

Niklas Sule has offered his support to Borussia Dortmund team-mate Sebastien Haller after he discovered a testicular tumour, insisting on-pitch matters are one hundred per cent in the background while he recovers.

Haller, a new signing at Dortmund, was forced to leave the club s pre-season training camp in Switzerland after feeling unwell on Monday, with subsequent tests revealing the tumour.

Dortmund boss Edin Terzic then revealed the striker had returned to Germany for further tests, describing the news as brutally difficult .

Haller s former Ajax and Utrecht coach Erik ten Hag was among those to wish the Ivory Coast international a speedy recovery yesterday, sentiments which have now been echoed by fellow Dortmund new boy Sule.

The sporting aspect i…

Sebastien Haller has offered a positive update on his condition after undergoing the first stage of treatment for a testicular tumour.

The Borussia Dortmund new boy was forced to leave the club s pre-season training camp after complaining of feeling unwell on Monday, with subsequent tests discovering the tumour.

Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic subsequently revealed the Ivory Coast striker had returned to Germany for further examinations and described the news as brutally difficult .

The former West Ham and Ajax striker has now provided the first update on his condition, posting an image of himself displaying a thumbs-up in hospital alongside the caption; Good evening everyone, I wanted to inform you that the first step has been accomplished!

I would like…

According to a recent report from Marca, Neymar is still considered to be one of Real Madrid’s primary targets during the summer transfer window. Real are aiming to substantially improve their attacking options over the course of the next few months, mainly due to the poor season they have wound up having in 2018/19. Zidane seems to have his heart set on bringing in at least one or two blockbuster signings, and Neymar would certainly fit into that category.

The Brazilian sensation is currently with Paris Saint-Germain, however, Madrid are said to be waiting patiently to see if there is any indication from the French giants that they are willing to sell him.

Prior to joining PSG, Neymar spent a good few years with Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona. If this deal does end…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt Fred s tackle that saw him sent off was nowhere near a foul but said the midfielder may have been lucky earlier.

Fred was sent off in the second half of United s 3-1 Champions League loss at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

The Brazilian was booked in the first half for an apparent headbutt on Leandro Paredes, before getting his second yellow card after appearing to win the ball ahead of Ander Herrera.

Fred conceded four fouls but his eight possessions gained were the equal most at Old Trafford despite seeing red with 20 minutes remaining.

Solskjaer lamented the decision that saw the midfielder sent off, although admitted he may have been fortunate earlier.

We spoke to him at half-time …

Germany head coach Joachim Low has added Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah to his Euro 2016 squad after Antonio Rudiger was forced to pull out due to a knee injury.

The Roma defender suffered the injury during training on Tuesday, collapsing to the ground in clear discomfort after making a tackle, with the German Football Association later confirming the centre-back had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

Rudiger s place has now been taken by Tah, who recently made his senior debut for Germany in the friendly defeat versus England, but missed out on a spot in the world champions initial squad.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a superb 2015-16 season with Leverkusen, helping them to third place in the Bundesliga table with a string of fine performances.

It s…

Saul Niguez scored one of the great Champions League goals to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 semi-final lead over Bayern Munich after a pulsating first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

Outgoing Bayern coach Pep Guardiola declared before the match that his decorated spell in Bavaria will be defined by how this European campaign concludes following last-four losses to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the past two seasons.

And it could be another tale of misery against teams from his homeland for the Manchester City-bound tactician, who could only look on as Saul crowned his breakthrough season with a sensational solo goal in the 11th minute.

Bayern were second best as the tenacious brilliance of Diego Simeone s side held sway in the first half.

The visitors looked…

Yohan Cabaye has attributed France s improvement since 2010 to coach Laurent Blanc.

Blanc, who took over at the helm of the French national side from Raymond Domenech following a dismal showing at the 2010 World Cup, has suffered just one defeat during his tenure, a 1-0 reverse to Belarus during his first match in charge but has since led his country to top in their Euro 2012 qualifying group and has remained undefeated for 21 games.

He made us forget the last World Cup, which was a complete failure, Cabaye told BBC Sport.

He has instilled a group mentality and team spirit like you find in a club.

Cabaye has underlined the importance of a good showing under Blanc at Euro 2012 to ensure that the hard work done to rebuild the national team does not go t…

Jermain Defoe has returned to the England camp after flying home on Thursday morning to be with his family after the death of his father.

The Tottenham striker arrived back at the team s hotel base in Krakow and will take part in Saturday morning s training session, which will come as a welcome and timely boost to manager Roy Hodgson ahead of his preparations for Monday s opening group game against Laurent Blanc s heavily-fancied France side.

Defoe s father, Jimmy, was thought to have been ill for quite some time prior to his death. Although Defoe s initial statement said that he would rejoin the squad in due course , which many saw as a sign that he would at least miss the game against Les Bleus, the forward has returned earlier than expected.

The 29-year-old g…

Petr Cech has told Arsenal they have to improve or risk failing to qualify for the Champions League for the second season in a row.

The Gunners finished fifth in the Premier League in 2016-17 and they are in danger of having to settle for Europa League action again as they sit sixth this time around, five points outside the top four.

Arsenal have only won one of their last four league games, although last week they beat Chelsea 2-1 to book a date with Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, and Cech called for his side to focus on the battle for the top four.

We are a club that belongs in the Champions League, Cech said ahead of Tuesday s trip to Swansea City. 

You don t want to spend years outside of the Champions League spots.

But every year t…

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang insisted he would only get better after impressing on debut for the Premier League club.

Aubameyang, a £56million arrival from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day, marked his Arsenal debut with a goal in a 5-1 thrashing of Everton Saturday.

The Gabon international may have shown good signs on his debut, but the 28-year-old said he would improve.

Of course I was really happy, Aubameyang said, via the club s website.

We won the game in the first half and the second was a bit different. We are all happy.

Is there more to come from me? I think so.

 Arsenal appearance
 Arsenal goal

This place is feeling like home already, right ?

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)

Aubameyang arri…