Bologna have signed Dutch forward Thijs Dallinga from Toulouse for a reported €15million fee, a statement confirmed on Tuesday.
Dallinga, who joined Toulouse from Excelsior having scored 32 goals in 37 appearances in the 2021-22 Eredivisie season, ends a two-year spell with Le Tefece.
The 23-year-old netted 19 times in 44 outings in all competitions for the French side last season, including two goals against Liverpool in the Europa League group stage.
The Dutch international helped Toulouse win their first major trophy with their Coupe de France success in 2023, scoring two goals in the final against Nantes.
Dallinga will serve as a replacement for Joshua Zirkzee, who completed a £36.5million switch to Manchester United last week.
Zirkzee …
Cristiano Ronaldo s Manchester United contract should be terminated in the coming days, according to former Red Devils team-mate Gary Neville.
Portugal superstar Ronaldo, who has cut a frustrated figure at Old Trafford this term following an off-season spent reportedly seeking an exit, roundly criticised the club in an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan this week.
The 37-year-old took aim at boss Erik ten Hag, United s ownership under the Glazer family, and several other members of their hierarchy.
He also lambasted Neville, who he played alongside for United between 2003 and 2009, suggesting his former team-mate was too critical of him in his role as a high-profile pundit.
United are yet to confirm if they will take action against Ronaldo, but Nevil…
Manchester United and Chelsea’s dreadful starts to the Premier League season continued as they dropped points again this weekend.
United were well beaten 3-1 by Brighton on Saturday to leave them 13th in the table while Chelsea, held by Bournemouth on Sunday, are one place worse off – and only one ahead of their winless opponents.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the two clubs’ records in their first five games.
Points
United have six points from their first five games this season and Chelsea just five, in both cases matching their second-worst record in the Premier League era.
United had only five points at this stage in 2014-15 and six in 2004-05, eventually finishing those seasons in fourth and third place respectively. They had seven in both 2…
Toby Alderweireld has retired from Belgium duty, with the defender the latest member of their Golden Generation to hang up his boots.
The 34-year-old, who played 127 times for his country in a career spanning 13 years, is the third most-capped player in Red Devils history.
Former Tottenham and Atletico Madrid centre-back Alderweireld represented Belgium at five consecutive major tournaments, including three World Cups and two European Championships, and was a member of the squad that finished third at Russia 2018.
But following a disappointing group stage exit in Qatar last year, he has now become the latest experienced member of their squad to call time on his international career.
As a little boy, I dreamed of playing for the national team, Alderweirel…
Best odds: 17/20
Bookmaker:
In their first of two all-Scandinavian friendlies, Euro 2024-bound Denmark will face Sweden at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.
While Kasper Hjulmand s team is fine-tuning their preparations for the European Championship, their visitors will not be competing for continental glory this summer.
Denmark
Despite being pushed hard by an improving Slovenia side in Euro 2024 qualifying Group H, Denmark secured first place through a superior head-to-head record, matching Slovenia s 22 points from 10 matches.
Hjulmand s team actually finished with a lower goal difference than Slovenia, but the tie-breakers became moot as both nations were drawn into the same Euros section, Group C, along with Serbia and 2…
Best odds: 6/4
Bookmaker:
Back on Merseyside following a strong start to their Champions League campaign, Liverpool welcome Bournemouth for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds secured another comeback win, defeating AC Milan 3-1 at San Siro on Tuesday, while the Cherries have spent the week reflecting on their painful 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Liverpool
Before Liverpool s recent clash with historic rivals Milan, Arne Slot downplayed his birthday celebrations at the San Siro, but the newly-appointed Reds manager had reason to celebrate after his team s impressive comeback.
Six-time European champions Liverpool found themselves trailing after a Christian Pulisic opener, but headers from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate turned th…
Manchester United have signed Manuel Ugarte on a five-year contract, while Scott McTominay has left the club after a 22-year stay.
Ugarte joined the Red Devils in a deal worth up to £50.5million from Paris Saint-Germain, with the option to extend his contract for a further year.
The Uruguayan has been linked to United throughout the transfer window, with the club getting the deal through on transfer deadline day, though not in time for him to play Liverpool on Sunday.
Ugarte had the most interceptions among PSG players in Ligue 1 last season (40), while he also contested the most duels (302, 160 successful).
It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world, Ugarte said. The project that the football …
Enzo Maresca has been delighted with Chelsea s attacking prowess in the early weeks of his reign but says they have much to improve at the other end ahead of hosting Nottingham Forest.
Maresca has made a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues unbeaten in five Premier League matches (four wins, one draw) since a matchday one defeat to Manchester City.
No team s Premier League games have produced more goals than Chelsea s so far in 2024-25, with Maresca s men scoring 15 times and conceding seven.
Forest s games, meanwhile, have contained the fewest goals of any side in the top flight (11, six for and five against).
Chelsea edged another goalfest on Thursday as they beat Gent 4-2 in the Europa Conference League, leading Maresca to call for …
D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne insisted his players must be ready to fight to halt their winless streak ahead of their meeting with Nashville SC this weekend.
The Black-and-Red were beaten 5-0 by Orlando City last time out, extending their losing run to 11 MLS matches, which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
D.C.’s last triumph came back in May against Atlanta United courtesy of Christian Benteke’s hat-trick.
Lesesne said his players will regroup once again, going on to explain that no one will feel sorry for his side during their baron spell of results.
“We’re in a tough spot right now, there is no doubt about it,” Lesesne said. “I think the last eight matches, there’s got to be more from us to get us ou…
Rodri has suggested Arsenal s mentality cost them the Premier League title, after Manchester City became the first team to win four straight English top-flight crowns.
City edged out Arsenal by two points on the final day of the season, their 3-1 win over West Ham ensuring the Gunners comeback victory over Everton was immaterial.
Rodri scored the crucial third goal just before the hour mark to settle nerves at the Etihad Stadium, after Mohammed Kudus had drawn West Ham within one goal.
City finished the season with nine straight wins after playing out a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in late March, while the Gunners dropped three points in a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in April.
Reflecting on that goalless draw, Rodri accused Arsenal of se…