Manchester United linked with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema

Real Madrid are seriously considering summer move for Espanyol goalkeeper Francisco Casilla, .

With neither Diego Lopez nor Iker Casillas getting any younger and both linked with moves away from the club, los Blancos want to have a plan B in place should one of the two leave the Bernabeu.

According to Marca, it is for that reason that Real Madrid are lining up a summer bid for Espanyol shot-stopper Kiko Casilla.

The 27-year-old has developed into one of La Liga s top goalkeepers since leaving Santiago Bernabeu in 2008 and his current contract situation will allow his former club to sign him at a bargain price.

Namely, with his contract due to expire in June 2015, Espanyol would probably settle for €10 million next summer.

The best thing here is…

Former FIFA World Cup winner Berti Vogts has been appointed special advisor to Jurgen Klinsmann s United States side.

Part of the Germany team that won the 1974 Cup, Vogts joins Klinsmann – who he coached at Euro 1996 – at the US ahead of Brazil 2014.

Klinsmann said Vogts experience would be a key for the USA, who will face Germany, Portugal and Ghana in Group G at the World Cup.

In the role, Vogts, who earned 96 Germany caps, will help develop training plans, scouting reports and travel to watch the teams the USA will face in Brazil.

Vogts will continue in his role as Azerbaijan coach, a position he has held since April 2008.

We are absolutely thrilled to have Berti join us as an advisor, Klinsmann said.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and experi…

Football Australia promised it would impose strong sanctions after a violent pitch invasion by supporters saw the A-League Men derby between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory abandoned.

The game at AAMI Park saw flares thrown by both sets of fans during the first 22 minutes, before trouble escalated when a flare seemed to hit a pitch-side cameraman before exploding, while City goalkeeper Tom Glover threw another flare back into the crowd.

This led to many fans storming the pitch, with Glover being hit in the face with a metal bin that had been used for other flares. His club later said the 24-year-old likely has a concussion and was being treated by medical staff.

Football Australia was dismayed by what it called shocking scenes , saying the match officials ha…

John Herdman described Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson as an MLS legend ahead of Saturday s meeting with D.C. United at Audi Field.

Toronto sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings after playing out a goalless draw with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.

That was their first clean sheet since April 21 (a 2-0 win over the New England Revolution) but their sixth overall in MLS play this year. Only Charlotte FC have more, with seven.

When the big man is called on, he brings it, Herdman said after their win over the Union. This man, he s starting to become a bit of an MLS legend.

He s on 400 games now in MLS and probably doesn t get the recognition he deserves… 10 clean sheets for TFC.

I can t say enough about the big man. He s done …

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes Barcelona president Joan Laporta merely demonstrated his intelligence and good taste by expressing interest in Joao Felix.

The Portuguese attacker has recorded six goal involvements in his last five games in LaLiga – four goals and two assists – which is as many as he managed in his previous 30 games in the competition, when he tallied just three goals and three assists.

Joao Felix is helping his side to a strong run of form as they chase Champions League qualification for another season, impressing not only Simeone.

Earlier this week, Barcelona chief Laporta confirmed an admiration for the 22-year-old, revealing he attempted to engineer a swap for the forward when Antoine Griezmann agreed to leave Camp Nou for A…

David Luiz has completed his deadline-day return to Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea confirmed earlier on Wednesday that they had agreed a deal with PSG to bring Luiz back to Stamford Bridge.

And the Brazil defender has now completed personal terms with Chelsea and passed a medical, putting pen to paper on an three-year contract.

The Brazil defender left Stamford Bridge to join the French champions in June 2014 in a transfer believed to have been worth £50million.

Luiz claimed two domestic trebles at PSG and will look to add to the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup trophies he won during his first spell with Chelsea from 2011-2014.

After his return was confirmed, Luiz told the club s official website: I m delighted to retu…

Anger and madness define Diego Costa / Image via express.co.uk

If it’s a pronounced villain that makes every good story a great one, football should be happy to have Diego Costa as its main entertainer, shouldn’t it?

With his teeth out and eyes bulging at rivalling players, Diego Costa is one of those players who feed on the pressure, and who uses his temper to add an edge to his game. This edge often proves to be a big difference on the pitch, but Diego Costa frequently oversteps the mark thus becoming a huge liability for his squad, both at club and country.

Such was the case in his last game for Spain in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Italy, which was just another demonstration of Diego Costa’s untamed nature.

Madness Undermining Talent
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Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt believes Euro 2016 represents the country s best chance of ending their major tournament drought.

Michael O Neill s men get their campaign up and running against Hungary in Budapest and Brunt is confident they can end a rather barren run after being drawn into Group F with Faroe Islands, Greece, Romania, Finland and Sunday s opponents.

Since reaching the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where they were knocked out in the group stage, Northern Ireland have failed to reach a major tournament.

Under the stewardship of Lawrie Sanchez and then Nigel Worthington, they finished third behind Spain and Sweden in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008, despite beating Luis Aragones side.

In fact, Northern Ireland have never reached t…

The Daily Star understand that Manchester United are the favourites to sign Luka Modric from Real Madrid this summer.

The Croatia international has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu over the past few months with the European Champions set for an overhaul of their squad this summer.

A move to Old Trafford would see Modric reunited with Jose Mourinho the man who took him to the Spanish capital from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012.

Since signing for Real, the thirty-two year old has racked up almost two hundred and fifty appearances in all competitions, scoring thirteen goals.

During that time he has helped his side win a number of major honours most notably the Champions League in three of the past four seasons.

He also has a La Liga c…

Leonardo Bonucci has extended his contract at Juventus by a further year, agreeing a deal to remain at the club until 2021.

The centre-back was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City prior to the 2016-17 season, but the Italian champions announced his new agreement on Monday.

Bonucci, 29, was previously contracted until 2020, but has added a further year to the deal he signed in July 2015.

He wrote on Twitter: I renewed until 2021! I chose the house where I became great among the greats. One goal: keep winning!

Ho rinnovato fino al 2021! Ho scelto la casa dove sono diventato grande tra i grandi. Un solo obiettivo: continuare a vincere!

— Leonardo Bonucci (@bonucci_leo19)

Bonucci added to the Juve s website: I am pleased and p…