Granit Xhaka has reached an agreement with Hertha Berlin and informed Arsenal he wants to join the Bundesliga club, according to the player s agent.

Xhaka s future at Emirates Stadium has been in doubt since the midfielder reacted angrily to being replaced during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in October.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach star cupped his ears to the home fans, who mockingly cheered his substitution during the Premier League fixture, then removed his shirt before walking straight down the tunnel.

After being stripped of the captaincy by former boss Unai Emery, a January exit appeared likely. Yet new head coach Mikel Arteta has made clear of his admiration for the Switzerland international, revealing how he had suggested that Manchester …

Kylian Mbappe has revealed he spent the World Cup encouraging N Golo Kante to join him at Paris Saint-Germain and recommended the Chelsea midfielder to Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Mbappe and Kante were key figures in France s success at the World Cup in Russia, the pair featuring in every match as Didier Deschamps men lifted the trophy.

Reports suggest PSG are now attempting to reunite them at the Parc des Princes by prising Kante away from Stamford Bridge, where he is set to enter his third season.

The midfielder left Caen for the Premier League in 2015, but a return to Ligue 1 could be on the cards if Mbappe and his club s owner have their way.

It s true that [Al-Khelaifi] has consulted me, Mbappe told France Football. And I told him again that Kante would be…

Erling Haaland needed just seven minutes to score on his return from injury, bringing up his 50th Bundesliga goal and reaching the landmark in record time.

Borussia Dortmund fought back from conceding an early goal to beat Wolfsburg 3-1 on Saturday, with star striker Haaland netting their third shortly after coming on from the bench.

The win took Marco Rose s team, temporarily at least, ahead of Bayern Munich and into top spot.

Haaland had been out of action since playing in Dortmund s 4-0 defeat to Ajax in the Champions League on October 19.

Though only passed fit for the bench, he wasted no time in netting his 13th goal of the season in just his 11th appearance, with the Norway forward stretching to cushion in Julian Brandt s cross on the volley.

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Ousmane Dembele has been called up to the France squad for the first time since November 2018 for their World Cup qualifiers later this month. 

The Barcelona forward has scored eight goals in 34 appearances across all competitions this season, and has done enough to convince Didier Deschamps he deserves another chance at international level. 

The 23-year-old s last appearance for Les Bleus came as a substitute in a 2-0 Nations League defeat to Netherlands more than two years ago. 

He is joined in the squad for the games against Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bosnia-Herzegovina by Tottenham s Tanguy Ndombele and Atletico Madrid s Thomas Lemar.

Les 26 Bleus retenus pour débuter les Qualifications pour la Coupe du Monde 2022 !  

— Equipe de France �…

Harry Kane appeared weighed down by the presence of his Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris as his late penalty miss saw England exit the World Cup against France, says Alan Shearer.

Kane equalled Wayne Rooney s record of 53 England goals from the spot nine minutes into the second half at Al Bayt Stadium, but he blazed a second penalty over the crossbar 30 minutes later as France held on for a 2-1 quarter-final win.

Shearer believes the sight of Kane s club team-mate between the sticks impacted his ill-fated second kick, which he says will hurt the Three Lions captain for the rest of his life .

Having taken one already, the difference was the difference itself. It becomes a mind game, not only with the goalkeeper but with yourself, Shearer wrote in a column for the…

West Ham United are interested in signing Nathan Ake from Manchester City in the January transfer window, according to . It has been reported that Newcastle’s owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) want to reunite Ake with his former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.

Ake is struggling for playing time at West Ham, and the Netherlands international central defender himself is open to a move to West Ham in the January transfer window. David Moyes’s side are looking for a new central defender due to the long-term injury to Kurt Zouma.

The City no. 6 has made four starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, scoring one goal in the process. Ake has scored one goal in three Champions League games for P…

Everton could return to the Premier League s top four with victory at White Hart Lane against Tottenham on Sunday.

If crosstown rivals Liverpool lose at table-toppers Arsenal on Saturday, Roberto Martinez s side can leapfrog them into fourth with a win, despite their 4-0 defeat at Anfield last month.

Everton responded from that defeat with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Aston Villa last week as goals in the last 20 minutes from Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas saw them record their 300th Premier League win.

Tottenham, who sit sixth, also have top-four ambitions and have scored in all eight league matches since Tim Sherwood took charge in December.

And Everton defender Phil Jagielka is looking forward to the challenge of keeping free-scoring Spurs quiet.

P…

Prediction: West Bromwich Albion to win 2-0

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West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United will lock horns with each other in the Championship this weekend. The match in the second tier of English football will take place at West Brom’s home ground, The Hawthorns, and is scheduled to kick off at 3pm UK time on Saturday.

West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion were playing in the Premier League not so long ago, but they are now in danger of getting relegated from the Championship at the end of the season. The Baggies have fallen from grace, and there is a very good chance that they could end up in League One next season.

The Baggies are 17th in the Championship table at the moment with 26 points from 21 matches. West Brom …

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has poured cold water on speculations linking him with a move to Santiago Bernabeu.

The Brazilian has reportedly become a target for los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti, who could stay without both Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso in the near future.

However, Ramires has moved to deny there has been any truth in the links with Real Madrid.

For me it has not come to anything it is perhaps speculation. I am better served in Chelsea. It would be disrespectful to say something if the club did not come to talk to me, the Brazilian told O Globo.

I have a contract until 2017 and do not think about leaving. I will only exit if the club really want me to. Other than that, I m fine.

Ramires featured for Joinville and Cruzeiro before …

Lionel Messi s future remains unclear, but Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi says any decision over a new deal will be made in the best interests of both parties .

Argentina captain Messi joined PSG in a shock move after his Barcelona contract expired last year and he is set to become a free agent once again at the end of this season.

Reports during the World Cup suggested Messi has already agreed terms with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, though they have since been rejected by his agent.

Speaking ahead of Sunday s Qatar 2022 final between Messi s Argentina and France, Al-Khelaifi reiterated contract talks will not take place until the new year.

The club and player will do what is right and in the best interests of both parties, Al-…