SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

Jack Wilshere has given Arsene Wenger a nudge by saying he is happier playing through the middle with England than out wide at Arsenal. The fit-again midfielder returned to Roy Hodgson’s XI in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Turkey, having started only once for the Gunners at the end of a season ruined by a broken leg. The 24-year-old was understandably short of his top form in the Euro 2016 warm-up and came off after 66 minutes but all indications are that he will be on the plane to France barring an unexpected breakdown. And Hodgson’s faith extends not only to Wilshere’s fitness but also to his best position. At Arsenal he is often required to play on the flank when available but Hodgson immediately restored him to his preferred slot in the centre. Wilshere is bullish about his readiness for the tournament, despite his lack of game time and reputation for fragility. Wenger could have used him earlier than he did at the end of the campaign but erred on the side of caution. That has left...

A hamstring injury picked up on Sunday means Uruguay will not expect Luis Suarez to be fit until the latter stages of the Copa America. Luis Suarez is unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play in Uruguay's group-stage matches at the Copa America Centenario. Suarez had to be replaced during Barcelona's 2-0 Copa del Rey final victory over Sevilla on Sunday after pulling up in discomfort. On Monday, Barcelona confirmed the forward would undergo the initial stage of his recovery with the club before joining up with the national team in the United States on June 1. However, Suarez is only expected to feature if Uruguay makes it to the knockout stages of the Copa America. "Suarez has a hamstring injury that will take about three weeks for recovery," said team doctor Alberto Pan. "He will travel directly to the United States. He can play in the knockout stages. "The coach [Oscar] Tabarez agreed to select him to have him in any stage ...

Mallorca v Elche Tuesday May 24, 19:30 Live on Betfair Live Video Draw specialists  Elche are three points off the promotion playoff zone, and with three games to go they could still sneak in. However, Los Franjiverdes do find it difficult to turn draws into wins - 17 of their 39 league games have ended level, including seven of the last ten. Of course, that propensity to draw games makes Elche tough to beat. They have lost just one of their last 12 games, and although they lost 3-1 at Cordoba at the weekend, it's worth noting that was their only away defeat since February. Even though Mallorca are strong at home, there's no way they should be evens to win this. Their form isn't great, and they are 13 points worse off than an Elche side who have suffered the fewest defeats  of any side outside the top three. I'm opposing the hosts. Recommended Bet Lay Mallorca at   2.00  

Nurnberg v Eintracht Frankfurt Monday May 23, 19:30 The German domestic season is nearly over, and all that remains is to discover who will take the final slot in the top-flight Bundesliga next term. Nurnberg and Eintracht Frankfurt are locked together at  one goal apiece  after the first leg at the Commerzbank Arena. Frankfurt looked doomed to the drop a few weeks ago, but a hat-trick of wins over Mainz, Darmstadt and Borussia Dortmund took the Eagles out of the bottom three, only for them to slip back into the  relegation playoff  because of a dramatic 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Werder Bremen on the final day. Although Nurnberg are regular scorers at home, netting 15 times in their last six home games, I don't think they'll find things so easy against Kovac's well-drilled defence. FCN's last three games have featured fewer than three goals, so we'll go down that route again. Recommended Bet Back Under 2.5 Goals at   1.88

Belgrano v Rosario Central Monday May 23, 23:00 BST Rosario Central  were involved in a hugely controversial Copa Libertadores tie on Thursday night as they conceded a 95th minute goal at Atletico Nacional which knocked them out of the competition and there were also four red cards in injury time - three for them. I quite like our chances of seeing the  ball in the net  at least three times, so with under 2.5 goals trading at around the  1.60  mark, I have to make it my  lay of the day . Recommended Bet Lay Under 2.5 goals in Belgrano v Rosario Central @   1.60

Gonzalo Higuain could replace the outgoing Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Paris Saint-Germain with the French club believed to be looking to spend 60million euros on the former Real Madrid striker. Higuain has enjoyed a phenomenal season with Napoli in Serie A scoring 36 league goals as his club just fell short of a sustained title challenge. Ibrahimovic has confirmed he will leave on a free transfer this summer with Manchester United currently leading the race. According to French newspaper 'Le Parisien,' sporting director Olivier Letang has already met with Higuain and his brother, who is also his representative, in Paris last weekend. Relations between PSG and Napoli are believed to be good after the Edinson Cavani transfer in 2013 which remains the most expensive ever deal in French football. PSG's reported interest in the Argentine centre-forward is not at all surprising given the fact they tried to sign him whilst he was at Real Madrid. The Spanish giants refused...

JOSE MOURINHO will be handed a £200m transfer war chest to turn Manchester United into Premier League champions next season. Louis van Gaal signalled the end of his two-years in charge when he announced "it's over" as he left United's hotel the morning after guiding them to the FA Cup – their first trophy in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes will fly into Manchester on Tuesday to tie up a contract for his client to take over. Van Gaal is understood to have been told on Sunday morning that his services were being dispensed with despite the FA Cup triumph. It was their first in the competition since 2004 but the Dutchman has paid for United's failure to qualify for the Champions League as well as discontent among players and fans. United were making no comment on developments last night but they were not denying the managerial change is about to happen. Three members of the Glazer family who own the club – brothers Joel,...

Zinedine Zidane believes Real Madrid faces a tough task in the final of the Champions League against city rival Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The capital clubs meet in European club football's showpiece occasion for the second time in three years, with Madrid winning 4-1 after extra time in Lisbon in 2014. Zidane's side comes into the final on an incredible run of 12 league wins in a row, although that was not enough to snatch the Liga title from Barcelona. The Frenchman says the clash with Atletico is 50-50, although Madrid is "in good physical and mental shape." "We know it will be a difficult game but we are in good physical and mental shape," Zidane told UEFA's official website. "When you're at this club you always have to give the maximum to win. And now we face the biggest game of the season. The end of league season has been extraordinary. We know it will be difficult against Atletico. As I said, it is 50-50 and it will be from the...

Crystal Palace  5.90  v Man United  1.77 ; The Draw  3.70 Saturday, 17:30 Live on BBC One and BT Sport 2 Match Odds Having argued in  February ,  March  and  April  that Crystal Palace were going to claim this season's FA Cup, this writer isn't going to jump ship now, especially as they can still be backed at  5.90   to triumph in 90 minutes and  3.55   to lift the trophy. Both Teams to Score? No The 1990 FA Cup final between this pair might have been a 3-3 epic, but there aren't many trends hinting at anything as wild as that on Saturday,  with at least one of the sides failing to fire appearing to be a more sensible bet at   1.81 . This punt has paid out in five of their six showdowns since Palace returned to the Premier League in 2013, ten of the most recent 14 FA Cup finals and three of Pardew's men's last four contests in the competition. Recommended Bets: Lay Man United to win @ ...

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund Saturday May 21, 19:00 Live on BT Sport Europe Match Odds Bayern are trading at  2.04  to win inside 90 minutes, and despite their stellar domestic form (they have won nine of their last ten games against German opposition), I expect them to be fully tested. Dortmund's 5-1 hammering at the Allianz Arena was arguably their worst performance of the season, and they were much more like their normal selves in the goalless draw at Signal Iduna Park. Over/Under 2.5 Goals Ten of BVB's last 12 games in all competitions have featured at least three goals, as have six of Bayern's last ten outings, so I can understand why overs is trading at  1.85 . To Score Given his record against BVB, Lewandowski is an obvious choice to score in 90 minutes at 1.94 . Dortmund's top scorer Aubameyang is  2.28 , while Mkhitaryan is worth a look at  3.15 . The Armenian has netted three times in his last five games, has scored five German Cup...

AC Milan  7.60  v Juventus  1.64 ; The Draw  3.80 Saturday, 19:45 Live on Sky Sports 2 Match Odds You might think that the price difference between the two teams to win in 90 minutes -  with Juventus   1.64  and AC Milan  7.60  - exaggerates the gulf in class between Italy's two most decorated clubs, but the statistics suggest that backing the favourites actually represents value. Juventus Win to Nil They have only been breached twice in their last five collisions with the AC Millan too as well, with both of those goals coming from defenders to demonstrate the fine job that they do frustrating the Rossoneri attack.  The win to nil is an enticing   2.32  shot. Recommended Bet: Back Juventus to win to nil @   2.32

The 35-year-old defender has made 703 appearances since his debut in October 1998, but was suspended for the season-concluding 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Leicester. Terry's current contract was set to expire on June 30, but an agreement has been reached for him to stay on at Stamford Bridge under new manager Antonio Conte next season. "I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club," Terry told the club's website. "Everyone knows I'm Chelsea through and through. "I am looking forward to next season under the new manager and hopefully we can make it a successful one. "Also, a special mention to the fans for their continued support. You're the best in the world." Terry had looked set for a Chelsea exit after a career in which he won four league titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League and the Europa League, along with 78 England caps. However, a new one-year deal was put on the table last wee...

Fernando Torres says he is not thinking about his omission from Spain's provisional 25-man squad for Euro 2016 with the Champions League final on the horizon. Torres has been in great form for Atletico Madrid this season, netting 11 goals in La Liga, but it wasn't enough to impress Vicente Del Bosque, who left a number of big names out. The 32-year-old had admitted he was keen to play a part in La Roja's defence of the European Championship, but insists he has bigger things to think about right now. "I'm not worried about the Euro, I've got the biggest game of my life to play," he said. "We are facing an opportunity that life does not give you many times. "The growth of this club, to reach two finals in three years, was unimaginable, but we are facing a new chapter in our history and we must write it with a happy ending. "Atleti face city-rivals Real at Milan's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28 in a repeat of the showpiece f...