Anderlecht in talks with Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt

Schalke have suspended Max Meyer for the rest of the season after the midfielder criticised the club s hierarchy in an unauthorised interview.

Already certain to be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, the 22-year-old midfielder accused the Bundesliga side of bullying him.

Speaking to Bild, Meyer also revealed sporting director Christian Heidel is the reason behind his impending departure.

Schalke denied the allegation in a statement, while also confirming the player will no longer participate in first-team training or feature for the club , bringing his career at Veltins-Arena to a premature end.

We can t tolerate such statements and such behaviour, Heidel said.

We re upset more by his accusations of bullying, which we …

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is already under-pressure after the Hammers poor start to the campaign

West Ham United welcome newly-promoted Middlesbrough to the Olympic Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, and are desperate for a result after a woeful start to the new season.

So much was expected under manager Slaven Bilic this campaign after the Londoners secured Europa League football in 2015/16, but United are currently embroiled in a relegation battle.

With next opponents Middlesbrough also struggling in recent weeks, can West Ham finally arrest the slide?

West Ham’s porous defence needs addressing

West Ham’s biggest problem this season has been their defence. The Londoners have conceded more goals than any other side, and ha…

Schalke have confirmed Leroy Sane is in Manchester ahead of an expected transfer to Manchester City in a deal believed to be worth £45 million.

Sane has informed Schalke of his desire to leave the club and reports on Sunday claimed he had arrived in the United Kingdom for a medical ahead of an impending switch to City.

The Bundesliga club tweeted on Monday to say Sane is indeed in Manchester and not travelling with the squad to Austria for a pre-season training camp.

Leroy is currently in Manchester and will not be travelling with to the training camp.

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en)

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder came through the ranks at Schalke, making his debut in 2014 before establishing himself as a key member of the first tea…

Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski scored in the last five minutes as Arsenal claimed an incredible 2-1 win at Anderlecht on Wednesday.

Arsenal looked down and out after Andy Najar s 71st-minute header gave Anderlecht a deserved lead in the Group D UEFA Champions League encounter.

But Anthony Vanden Borre hit the post and Anderlecht wasted other late chances, for which they were made to pay.

Gibbs first drew Arsenal level in the 88th minute, volleying home at the back post before Podolski rifled in from close range in the 91st minute.

Chancel Mbemba Mangulu could not clear Alexis Sanchez s cut-back and the rebound fell invitingly to the Germany international, who sent the away fans wild when he fired home from four yards.

And the win means Arsenal ar…

Raheem Sterling has left his public image in tatters but Liverpool must take their share of the blame for the forward s expected move to Manchester City, according to the editor of a leading fanzine.

England international Sterling is on the brink of moving to the Etihad Stadium, after manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed earlier on Monday that a deal has been agreed with an unnamed club.

The transfer will bring an end to a long-running saga that has seen Sterling receive criticism over his conduct for reportedly trying to force his way out of Anfield.

Gareth Roberts editor of The Anfield Wrap has been left with a sour taste over the actions of Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward, but says Liverpool should have rewarded the 20-year-old with a new contract after a stella…

With Russia gripped by accusations of doping, former Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has suggested all athletes competing in certain Olympic sports take performance-enhancing drugs.

In an interview apparently conducted by a Kazakh sports news site, the outspoken Arshavin was quoted as saying that athletic success in cyclic sports , those which require constant repetitive movement, was simply impossible without doping .

Arshavin s comments come amid the ongoing scandal in Russia that has seen some of the country s athletes banned from the Olympic games, following accusations of state-sponsored doping.

He also claims that politics played a role in the decision to bar the country from competing in some disciplines in Rio.

In my opinion, a…

Napoli have confirmed Hirving Lozano has been cleared of any facial fractures after being stretchered off during Saturday s 2-1 win over Lazio in Serie A.

The Mexico international was forced out of the game at Rome s Stadio Olimpico shortly prior to half-time after a clash of heads with Lazio s Adam Marusic.

Lozano was taken to hospital where he underwent X-rays following the incident, with fears of a possible fractured cheekbone.

However, the Italian club have confirmed he has been cleared and was permitted to travel back to Naples on Saturday evening with the group.

Napoli fought back after going behind early from Mattia Zaccagni s opener to claim a win which moved them into top spot with 11 points from five league games.

Kim Min-Jae equalised b…

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in the squad for Chelsea s Champions League opener against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

The Gabon international was one of the final major signings of a busy transfer window for Thomas Tuchel s Blues, as they seek to offset the loss of Romelu Lukaku.

The former Barcelona forward arrived at Stamford Bridge with a broken jaw however, throwing into doubt when he would be able to participate.

But with confirmation of Chelsea s 23-man party for their European opener in Croatia comes the news he could be in line for his debut, alongside fellow new recruit Denis Zakaria.

N Golo Kante and Thiago Silva are the two men who drop out for the Blues, as the Premier League side look to take the momentum from their victory over West Ham at th…

Former Flamengo captain Bruno Fernandes has been handed a 22-year prison sentence for ordering the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Eliza Samudio, 25, was abducted, tortured and murdered in 2010 after giving birth to Fernandes child, who was later found abandoned in a slum.

Parts of her body were allegedly fed to the player s dogs, with other remains thought to have been buried in concrete. They have never been found.

Fernandes, a goalkeeper who was tipped to represent Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, admitted knowing about Samudio s death but denied ordering the kidnapping and murder.

Two other men, Fernandes friend Luiz Henrique Ferreira Romao and former policeman Marcos Aparecido dos Santos, have also been charged in connection with the murder.

…

Numerous potential Manchester United shirt sponsors are beginning to emerge following the withdrawal of AIG as the main shirts sponsors for the club.

AIG s current four-year £56.5 million deal is set to expire in May 2010 and the failing US insurance company has confirmed they will not renew the deal due to the current financial crisis affecting the company.

Several multi-national businesses have been approached, with the club sending out sample United shirts complete with each company logo to show how they would look to potential sponsors.

Malaysian based company Air Asia are one of the favourites for the deal after CEO Tony Fernandes, a self-proclaimed West Ham fan, posted pictures on his blog wearing a sample shirt Man Utd sent the company as well as …