Fans set to return at nine EFL grounds in pilot scheme

Valencia captain Dani Parejo has extended his contract at Mestalla until June 30, 2022.

The midfielder joined Valencia from Getafe in 2011, quickly establishing himself as a key figure, and continued his fine form this season with his sixth LaLiga goal of the campaign in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Barcelona.

The club confirmed the length of his contract renewal on Monday and the new buyout clause, set at €50million.

Parejo said: In all these years at Valencia, I ve grown as a person. Now I m a proud family man, father to two Valencian children who are, of course, Valencia fans.

I can tell them with pride that I m captain of a club with 100 years of history and that I work hard every day to wear the armband and to continue to form part of this club.

…

Luis Garcia hopes Diego Simeone can win another trophy before he leaves Atletico Madrid as he praised the Argentinian s decision to put a timeline on his future at the club.

June 2018 is when Simeone s contract as head coach expires at Atletico after he negotiated a reduction in the length of his deal following the 2015-16 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.

Simeone could yet re-sign with the LaLiga title challengers, though the 47-year-old has spoken openly of his desire to take over at former club Inter in Serie A.

Speaking exclusively to Omnisport, Garcia was asked whether 2017-18 could really be Simeone s final season in charge of Atletico and the former Spain attacker said: It depends on a few factors. He has always been very honest. I think that s …

Bayern Munich have selected Arjen Robben for what will be the winger s 100th Champions League match in Wednesday s Group B clash with Celtic.

The 33-year-old becomes only the second Dutch player to reach the landmark after Clarence Seedorf, who recorded 125 appearances.

A product of Eredivisie side Groningen, Robben established his reputation as one of the world s most feared attackers in stints with Chelsea and Real Madrid before moving to Bavaria at the beginning of the 2009-10 season.

The Netherlands legend cemented his place as a Bayern icon by netting an 89th-minute winner in the Champions League final triumph over Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)

The visit of Celtic marks Jupp Heynckes first…

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne said he wants to remain at the Premier League giants as he provided an update on his contract situation.

De Bruyne s future has been the topic of discussion, with City looking to re-sign the Belgium international midfielder to a new five-year deal.

The 29-year-old – who arrived from Wolfsburg in 2015 – is contracted to Pep Guardiola s City until 2023.

Asked about his future following Belgium s 2-0 Nations League win over England on Sunday, De Bruyne told VTM Nieuws: I am at a good club [with] good owners.

We are a bit in talks – not advanced. At the moment I am doing the talks myself.

I would like to stay with the club, so it s easy. If I didn t want to stay, it would take someone to mediate. But when y…

According to a recent report from Corriere dello Sport, Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has let Chris Smalling’s agent know that they are planning on increasing their offer to sign him from Manchester United to around €18 million, which comes alongside the €3 million loan fee that they have already paid. 

It’s no secret that Roma want to make the defender’s move to the club a permanent one, and it seems like only a matter of time before that becomes a reality. 

Smalling wasn’t given much of a chance with United but has certainly taken his opportunity with both hands over in Italy, leaving many Red Devils fans to wonder whether or not he could’ve made a significant impact after all. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may try and persuade Smalli…

Thomas Tuchel felt that Chelsea stole three points with their 2-1 victory at Watford on Wednesday. 

The Blues were far from their best from the off at Vicarage Road. They completed just 71 per cent of their passes for their lowest passing accuracy in all competitions under Tuchel and their worst since facing Liverpool in the Premier League in May 2018.

Mason Mount put them in front after a 30-minute break in play while a fan received medical attention after suffering from a cardiac arrest Watford later confirmed the supporter had been stabilised. However, Emmanuel Dennis became the first Watford player to score in three consecutive top-plight games since Troy Deeney in 2017 when he equalised before half-time.

Tuchel s men looked destined to drop points for the …

Paris Saint-Germain s Kylian Mbappe said Neymar is the centre of the club s project as he hailed the Brazilian star.

Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in a world-record € 222million deal in 2017, but he has been repeatedly linked with a return to his former club or LaLiga champions Real Madrid.

The PSG forward pledged to remain in Paris alongside Mbappe prior to Sunday s shock 3-2 Ligue 1 defeat to Lorient.

Mbappe – who is also out of contract in 2022 – has similarly been tipped to leave PSG for Madrid amid doubts over his future but talked up his relationship with superstar team-mate Neymar.

I ve always thought that great players were made to play together and that s clear between us two,  Mbappe told France Football.

Our roles were est…

Thomas Frank admitted Ivan Toney made mistakes but questioned the Football Association’s decision to ban him from training for four months as part of his suspension for betting rule breaches.

Toney pleaded guilty to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules and has been banned from football for eight months and is not allowed to train with Brentford until half of the term has been served on September 17.

Frank jumped to Toney’s side as Brentford adjust to being without their 20-goal striker for the first half of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Brentford boss said: “Yes, Ivan did something wrong but what I don’t get at all is how can you not let him be involved in football at all for the first four months?

“What do you gain from that? If you want to reh…

Sean Dyche is nothing if not realistic and within minutes of achieving his sole aim of saving Everton from relegation he delivered his verdict on the state of the club – and it will have made for difficult listening for his bosses.

The 51-year-old has built a career on plain speaking and pragmatism but until another season in the top flight – the club’s 70th in succession – was secured he had to keep his own counsel, at least in public, on the state of affairs he inherited from predecessor Frank Lampard.

But in the immediate aftermath of the 1-0 win over Bournemouth which safeguarded the Toffees’ future, Dyche laid bare the extent of the problems he feels have riddled the club and outlined what needs to be done to change.

Whether owner Farhad Moshiri, w…

Putting in another rugged display over the weekend as they clinched a 1-0 victory away at Girona, Barcelona are in the midst of what has become a remarkable domestic flurry this season.

While Xavi s superstars might have eventually finished 13 points adrift of Los Blancos and recapturing their La Liga crown, the Spanish icons have made a string of improvements this time around.

Although Barca might have endured another public Champions League nightmare prior to the World Cup s winter break, Xavi s side now have their sights set on completing a famous domestic sweep.

With the mood around the Nou Camp at the highest it has been in recent memory, Barcelona now open February tipped as a runaway pick to claim a first La Liga title since 2019.

Laying down what…