SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

Paris St Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring against Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will surprise everyone with his next move when he leaves Paris Saint-Germain. Ibrahimovic has been linked with a number of clubs this summer but insists that he is “very happy” at PSG. As it stands, however, he will leave next summer as he has only one year remaining on his contract. The 33-year-old has spoken of his desire to play in MLS at some stage but where the Sweden international will ply his trade next is a mystery and the player intends on keeping it that way for now. "Where I go next, it will be a surprise, a very big surprise," the PSG striker said after scoring in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in Chicago on Thursday. Related: Manchester United 0-2 PSG | Match report Ibrahimovic has seen PSG develop into a major force in European football since he arrived at the club. Last season they beat Chelsea to reach the quarter-finals of the...

Southampton enjoyed a dream return to continental football, hitting three past Vitesse Arnhem as they secured a first European win in nearly 34 years. Saints have endured a topsy-turvy time since their last dalliance with football on this stage in 2003, dropping down to League One and the verge of liquidation before rising to last year secure their best ever Premier League finish. That surprise seventh place brought with it qualification for the Europa League, which Ronald Koeman's men started with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long. A sold-out St Mary's witnessed Saints' first European victory since overcoming Limerick in September 1981, with the result setting them up nicely for the return leg of the third qualifying round tie against the club with whom Koeman cut his managerial teeth. Vitesse certainly started well enough on the south coast, but the hosts ended an even first half on top and Pelle opened the scoring after la...

Edin Dzeko has agreed personal terms with Roma, according to Sky Italia. Sky report that the Bosnian’s move to the Romans has been agreed with Manchester City chiefs, and that all that remains is to agree upon a transfer fee in order for the move to be finalized. With Steven Jovetic set for a loan move to Inter, the surprise sale of Dzeko will leave City with just two recognized strikers in Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero and Wilfried Bony (although new signing Raheem Sterling can operate as a central striker.) Although perhaps it shouldn’t be so great a surprise: with just 50 league goals for the Citizens from 130 league games, Dzeko perhaps benefits from an unduly strong reputation. Having arrived from Wolfsburg in 2011, Dzeko had a storming start to life in Manchester, but his form has gradually tailed off with each passing season. As to City’s striker situation going forward – surely they have an ace up their sleeve they’re keeping quiet?

The former Napoli boss says it is not his place to comment on the Manchester United goalkeeper but would not rule out more summer arrivals. Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn on David de Gea's future but admits he will welcome further signings this summer. Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed this week that speculation over the goalkeeper's possible move to Madrid is not doing any favors to either club, though he accepted the Spain international may well be keen on a transfer. Benitez, however, told reporters on Thursday that De Gea's future "is a question for Van Gaal and De Gea" before adding that he is happy with the three goalkeepers currently at his disposal. Speaking after his side's penalty shootout win over AC Milan, he said: "I had a great keeper in the first half [Keylor Navas], a very good keeper in the second [Kiko Casilla], and another very good one waiting ... on the bench [Pacheco]." The former...

The departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao over the summer mean the goalscoring burden falls firmly on Wayne Rooney at Manchester United once more. Manager Louis van Gaal talked up the possibility of signing a "surprise" striker before the transfer window comes to a close, and while that may still come to fruition; United, at the time of writing, head into the season with Rooney as the primary frontman. Supporters, though, needn't be too downbeat about it. While the prospect of signing a big-name frontman is enough to excite fans, there is the chance it will backfire: Roberto Soldado's move to Tottenham in 2013 for a then-club-record £26m a case in point, with limited options available at present. And besides, in Rooney, Van Gaal has himself a striker who is more than capable of finding the net on a consistent basis. Since signing from Everton in 2004, only twice has the England international been handed the opportunity to consistently spearhead the Un...

Scotland coach Gordon Strachan is relishing the prospect of facing England in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying Group F campaign. The Tartan Army were drawn alongside Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta before the Auld Enemy came out to complete the six-team group which will see the two countries battle it out in a competitive international for the first time since their two-legged play-off for a place at the Euro 2000 finals. England will host Scotland at Wembley on Friday 11th November, 2016 with the return fixture at Hampden Park on Saturday 10th June, 2017. And Strachan claims his delight at the draw which was made in St Petersburg on Saturday night will be mirrored by Scotland fans up and down the country. He said: "There must have been some sort of intervention there, because the sun came out and England got pulled out of the pot at the same time and the place erupted. "I imagine that is the way everyone in Scotland felt. "From the coaches'...

The Football Association has backed Michel Platini’s bid to replace Sepp Blatter as Fifa president but warned that world football’s governing body must be “fundamentally changed” following the recent corruption scandal. Platini, having received assurances he is likely to win the vote for the Fifa presidency next February, announced his candidacy in a letter sent to the organisation’s 209 member associations on Wednesday. The Uefa president has promised to transform Fifa’s disgraced reputation but within hours of launching the bid, he was accused by Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, a potential rival in the election, of being tainted by association with the Blatter era. The FA, however, has pledged to support Platini’s attempt to reform Fifa despite not having seen a manifesto from the former France midfielder. Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, said: “We support Michel Platini’s candidacy. We have a good relationship with him and hope he can gain the necessary global backing to lead a new Fif...

The likes of Borussia Dortmund and Sampdoria start their campaigns in this week's third qualifying round first legs. UEFA.com's correspondents mark your cards. Wolfsberg-Dortmund in spotlight A UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie involving a German side is usually of interest only to the team or region itself, not the talk of the nation. But that is different this time as Borussia Dortmund play Austrian debutants Wolfsberg. Dortmund, a club with Germany's biggest attendances, found themselves outside the UEFA Champions League places last term,   yet now boast a new coach in Thomas Tuchel , one of the country's up-and-coming trainers. So how will BVB fare this season? How will they cope with the new system which values possession over quick transitions? And will Marco Reus really operate as a false nine? Midfielder İlkay Gündoğan said: "Tuchel started with the simple things: Which foot do I control the ball with? Which foot does my team-mate like to r...

Celtic's Champions League prospect became a whole lot brighter after Dedryck Boyata's late header gave them a narrow 1-0 victory over Qarabag at Parkhead. The home side put in an insipid, error-strewn first-half performance in the first-leg of the third qualifier to give the Azerbaijan champions plenty of encouragement. Ronny Deila's men improved after the break but aside from a great save by Qarabag keeper Ibrahim Sehic from a Virgil van Dijk header, they posed little threat until the 82nd minute when the former Manchester City defender, recruited in the summer, headed in a corner from substitute Kris Commons. The Scottish champions have the goal to defend in the return game in Baku next Wednesday night - and they will be grateful for it - although on the evidence of the first-leg the tie is far from over. Deila's men had beaten Icelandic part-times Stjarnan 6-1 on aggregate in their previous qualifier but Qarabag delivered on their promise to be a much tough...

Marseille have announced that they have agreed a deal to sign former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby. The 29-year-old was released by Arsenal at the end of last season after nine years at the London club in which his progress was severely hampered by injuries. He was offered the chance to stay in the Premier League with West Brom but turned down a move to The Hawthorns. Instead he will be heading back to France after playing only two games in the last two seasons for Arsenal. "Olympique de Marseille and Abou Diaby have this Tuesday evening reached an agreement in principle for the international midfielder to join the club," Marseille said on their website. The 29-year-old joined Arsenal from French club Auxerre in 2006 but his last match for the Gunners was September 2014. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he has "enormous respect" for Diaby but added: "Each time he came back, we had to start again from zero because of another injury. "H...

The midfielder outlined his reasons for joining the Bundesliga champions after being unveiled on Tuesday afternoon Arturo Vidal says Bayern Munich provide him with the "best opportunity" of winning the Champions League after completing his €40 million move from Juventus. Vidal - who has signed a contract until 2019 at the Allianz Arena - was part of the Bianconeri side who were beaten by Barcelona in the final of the competition back in May, while Bayern were knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals at the hands of the Catalans. However, the Chile international believes the transfer represents a step forward in his career as he bids to win a title that has so far eluded him during his career. He told Bayern's official website: "I’m very happy. This is a new step in my career and I hope I do well here. I want to help the team and win trophies. It’s a dream come true for me personally. "I wanted to take another big step forward in my career. I ...

Arsenal's Polish international goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has joined Serie A side AS Roma on loan for the season. The 25-year-old helped the Premier League side win the FA Cup last season, one of just 29 appearances in all competitions in 2014-15. The Pole's departure follows Arsenal's signing of Czech international Petr Cech from champions Chelsea, with Szczesny already losing out last season to Colombian David Ospina in the pecking order. Roma said Szczesny, who has made 181 appearances for Arsenal since his senior debut in 2009 as a 19-year-old, had signed a one-year contract on Wednesday after successfully completing a medical in Rome. "I've come here to win games and trophies with AS Roma and I believe that the team is strong enough to do so," the Pole, who joined Arsenal's academy from Legia Warsaw in 2006, told Roma TV. "I think there's great potential. I know the faces of the players and I know their names, so hopefully I will settle...

Pedro is eager to move on from Barca following his struggles to get regular game-time ahead of the superstar trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. United were understood to be closing in on a £22m deal for the Spanish winger. But now, The Mirror cite reports in Munich-based newspaper TZ that say the 27-year-old wants a reunion with former Barca boss Pep Guardiola. TZ have revealed that Bayern's interest is real and the Bundesliga champions are considering a swoop for him. The news comes as a major shock to United who had thought they had their deal wrapped up. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has returned to the UK to finalise the transfer, that would see the club take their summer spending over the £100m mark. But, with Bayern's surprise interest, Pedro's future is still unclear.

NEMANJA MATIC reckons Chelsea aren't scared of anyone, at home or abroad. The Blues arrived back in England yesterday after their three-match North American tour which ended with a penalty shoot-out win over Barcelona. Jose Mourinho's men now have Arsenal in their sights this Sunday in the Community Shield, but after reacquainting themselves with the best in Europe on Tuesday night, Matic couldn't help thinking about going for Champions League glory. The first knock-out round defeat to PSG last term was the one blot on the Blues copybook, and Mourinho's Serbian midfield enforcer is convinced that won't happen again. "Of course we're not happy that we didn't play so well in the Champions League but we hope this season we can go further," said Matic. "My dream is to win it and we will see if we are ready this season. "To be champion you need to have everything - quality, luck, everything. This season I hope we have more luck and...