Erling Haaland has stated a decision on his future will be made soon, with the 21-year-old claiming Borussia Dortmund are pressuring him to make a call.

Haaland scored his 14th and 15th Bundesliga goals of 2021-22 on Friday, in a 5-1 win over Freiburg.

That victory lifted Marco Rose s Dortmund team to within three points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, who are in action on Saturday.

Across 2021, only Robert Lewandowski (58) scored more than Haaland (43) in all competitions, of players in Europe s big five leagues.

Haaland has consistently been linked with a move away from Dortmund, with his agent Mino Raiola regularly flirting with Europe s elite clubs.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester Cit…

Atletico Madrid s Diego Costa says his side are worthy of their spot in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The striker played an important role in Atletico s emphatic 4-0 win over Austria Vienna, a result that preserved the Spanish club s 100 per cent record in Group G and secured a first appearance in the last 16 since 2008-09.

First-half goals from Miranda, Raul Garcia and Filipe Luis gave Diego Simeone s side a commanding advantage at the break, while Costa proved a constant thorn in Vienna s side.

Despite his tenacious performance, the 25-year-old wasted a host of chances over the course of the evening, including a second-half miss from the penalty spot.

Costa was eventually rewarded for his persistent efforts with a late goal, but insisted his…

Marcus Rashford is only second to Kylian Mbappe as the best player in the world right now, says Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

The forward has rediscovered his best form under the Dutchman this season, earning a recall to the England fold and featuring in their World Cup campaign.

Rashford and the rest of the Three Lions ultimately came up short in the quarter-finals against Mbappe and France on Saturday, in a close-fought Qatar 2022 encounter.

But his performances this term have got Ten Hag singing his praises, crediting him for his tactical intelligence and positional play.

From the first moment, I recognised huge potential [in Marcus], the former Ajax boss stated.

When Marcus positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is…

Gareth Bale s move to Real Madrid was finally sealed on Sunday, with the Welshman joining the Spanish giants on a six-year deal.

The fee has not been revealed by either Real or Tottenham, but it is tipped to be a world record, surpassing the £80million spent by Real when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

The transfer represents a significant step in the 24-year-old s already outstanding career and here we look back at Bale s life in football, tracking his meteoric rise from talented teenager to international superstar

1989: Bale is born in Cardiff on July 16, to parents Frank and Debbie. Football is in Bale s blood from birth, with his uncle, Chris Pike, a former Cardiff City player.

1997: He is spotted as an eight-year-old while playing for a Cardiff C…

Real Madrid were fortunate to call upon Toni Kroos for a decade, said Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti, after the Germany midfielder bade farewell to a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu.

Veteran Kroos played his final league game for Madrid on Saturday, with a goalless draw against Real Betis hardly befitting of his illustrious time with the LaLiga champions.

The 34-year-old will still have one more appearance to come for Los Blancos in next Saturday s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.

Yet having played for a final occasion at Madrid s storied home ground, Ancelotti was quick to praise Kroos.

One of the greatest, obviously, Ancelotti told a press conference. A very high-quality midfielder, with a fantastic character, with a…

Colombia international Camilo Zuniga is delighted to have signed a contract extension with Napoli, revealing that Naples feels like home.

The 27-year-old has been with the Serie A side since 2009 after impressing during his short time with Siena, and the new deal penned on Tuesday will see him remain at the Stadio San Paolo until 2018.

Versatile midfielder Zuniga has established himself as an integral part of the Napoli side since his arrival, starting 30 league matches last season as the club finished second behind Juventus.

And the South American has revealed he is thrilled to be remaining in Italy.

I’m happy to have renewed my deal with this club, he told Radio Kiss Kiss. I m happy here and I consider the city of Naples my home.

I want to keep doing …

Sevilla coach Unai Emery will put his feelings for Valencia aside as he looks to reach the UEFA Europa League final with his current club.

Emery spent four years as coach at the Mestalla between 2008-12, leading them to three consecutive third-place finishes in La Liga and the 2011-12 Europa League semi-finals.

On that occasion, Emery s Valencia were vanquished by eventual winners Atletico Madrid, but his hopes of reaching this season s showcase are boosted by a 2-0 first-leg win in Seville.

Valencia reached the semi-finals thanks to a stunning turnaround against Basel, winning 5-3 on aggregate, despite a 3-0 first-leg loss in Switzerland.

And Emery remains wary of his former club s capacity to spring a surprise at the Mestalla on Thursday.

For me to be her…

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic believes the team can mount a title challenge after closing the gap on Arsenal to four points.

After winning the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti in 2009-10, Chelsea have finished nine, 25 and 14 points behind eventual champions Manchester United, Manchester City and United again respectively in each of the past three seasons.

Chelsea have only lost twice in the Premier League this term and extended their unbeaten home league record under Jose Mourinho to 67 matches.

A 3-1 victory over Southampton on Sunday saw Mourinho s men keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal and Ivanovic has talked up the club s chances of lasting the distance.

This is our best chance, but we have to be careful, he told the Daily Star. We must carry o…

The Football Association is in contact with Sheffield United over an appropriate tribute to Maddy Cusack, who has died at the age of 27.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, said the organisation was offering its support to the club.

“On behalf of the FA, the Lionesses, the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Maddy’s family, friends, team-mates and everyone at Sheffield United,” Baroness Campbell said.

Such a lovely girl, enjoyed some amazing times with Maddy and the Blades. Such a sad loss. RIP Maddy

— billy sharp (@billysharp10)

“Maddy also represented England at age-group level and we will pay tribute to her at an appropriate point.”

…

Raheem Sterling looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

Manchester City took a 1-0 lead after half-time in the 2016 EFL Cup final at Wembley through Fernandinho. As Yaya Toure and David Silva surged at a porous Liverpool defence before the hour, Sterling had the chance to definitively silence his tormentors.

The England winger s £49million switch from Anfield to the Etihad Stadium in July 2015 had proved acrimonious. Fleetingly the teen darling of the Kop, Sterling was now Judas. Public enemy number one.

Jeers turned to guffaws as Jurgen Klopp s Reds thumped Manuel Pellegrini s City and Sterling 4-1 in the Premier League that November, but he moved to Manchester to win trophies. Now he could seal one, sweetly at Liverpool s expense.

Silva s…