Pot luck: Big guns out to avoid Champions League surprise

The draw for the Champions League group stages takes place on Thursday afternoon with Europe's heavyweights set to learn their fate.

All eyes will be on the draw pots come 16.30 BST, with Gianni Infantino and Michel Platini taking to the stage in an attempt to ensure everything runs smoothly.

And there could be a nasty surprise in store for the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are sitting pretty in Pot 1, with Manchester City and Napoli lurking in Pots 3 and 4 respectively.

AC Milan, PSG and Juventus are the stellar names occupying Pot 2, and the English contingent making up Pot 1 will undoubtedly be desperate to avoid reeling in last year's finalists Borussia Dortmund, who sit in Pot 3.
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De Laurentiis the ambulance chaser

Calling all ambulance drivers - watch your back, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is on the loose!

The Partenopei chief is demanding a whopping £86 million in compensation after star striker Gonzalo Higuain suffered cuts to his face after diving from a hired boat and landing on submerged rocks.

De Laurentiis was far from pleased with the medical attention received by the Argentina international but, despite potentially having enough spare cash to buy Gareth Bale, he plans to donate the money to charity.

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Nothing separates Manchester United & Chelsea

A cagey game in which both sides were happy to settle for a point, Monday night's stalemate at Old Trafford lacked the explosiveness many had predicted.

Perhaps not as unlikely, however, were the comments from Jose Mourinho after the match, who called on Wayne Rooney to clarify his situation at Manchester United.

"If now, he doesn't want to leave, we are out of the thing. We need to know what is happening," said the Chelsea boss.
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My VK Page reach the 50K fans

I was happy to see my VK (Russian Facebook) page to reach the 50,000 fans

Check out the page: http://vk.com/momani

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Bale prepared to join pantheon of Real Madrid greats

Gareth Bale is set to join some of the greatest players in the history of football as his move to Real Madrid draws closer.

Goal understands a world record £86 million fee has been agreed between Tottenham and the Spanish giants, with the Wales star set to complete the transfer in the next 48 hours.

Bale will rub shoulders with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and follows a long list of legends - including Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano - in plying his trade at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Benzema the latest to escape Wenger's paws

It's fair to say Arsene Wenger has had a tough time of it in the transfer market this summer. After Gonzalo Higuain got away as Arsenal turned their attentions to Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan himself proved to be off limits!

There appeared to be some light at the end of the tunnel, though, when it emerged that Karim Benzema was next on Wenger's hitlist. But now the Frenchman will not be coming either, it remains to be seen if the Gunners boss has the energy to carry on transfer hunting.

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الفريق جاهز.. الضوء الأخضر وين؟

علمتنا التجارب السابقة أن وجود فريق وزاري ذا توجهات إصلاحية لا يكفي لإحداث فرق جوهري في السياسات، وقد أصدرت منصة تقدَّم بياناً تعبر فيه عن موقفها من التعديل الوزاري الأخير الذي جرى بتاريخ 22 آب من العام 2013. 

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Will.I.Am?! Mourinho sneaks in to gazump Spurs & AVB

Tottenham looked certain to sign Willian from Anzhi this week, as the Brazilian flew to London for a medical in north London.

But Spurs appear to have been trumped at the last moment, when Chelsea and Jose Mourinho swooped in for the forward, capturing him from right under their rivals' noses.

"He’s an extra target [to Rooney]," Mourinho told reporters when asked about the deal. "We have to do a medical.

"I am happy with my squad but every one of us says we are happy. We always want something more and never close the door."

With Gareth Bale looking increasingly likely to join Real Madrid, Tottenham are once again forced to look for an alternative.

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My interview with 24 Football in Ukrainian

Here is my interview with the Ukrainian sport website 24 football, go and click on the link below.

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Big Sam & West Ham strapped for transfer cash

With just 10 days remaining before the transfer window closes, a number of Premier League clubs are still trying to make big money signings to add quality to their squads for the 2013-14 season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident of making new signings and Goal understands Real Madrid pair Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria are among his targets.

Manchester United, meanwhile, continue to pursue Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, while Tottenham's attempt to sign Willian could be thwarted by Chelsea, who have made a late move for the Brazilian and will bid again for Wayne Rooney.

Spare a thought, then, for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, who wants to make more transfer deadline purchases, but is simply out of funds.

"I've got no more money left," he told reporters on Thursday. "So the squad I've got is the squad I've got."

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