Bournemouth will not be increasing the capacity of their Goldsands Stadium in time for their first season in the Premier League.
The Goldsands Stadium can seat only 11,700 and it was ex-pected work would begin to meet the need for rising ticket demand soon after the south-coast club had sealed promotion.
But other obligatory improvements to the stadium’s infrastructure must be completed to meet with Premier League criteria and the club claim it will not be possible to increase the number of seats in time for the 2015-16 season.
“When all of the factors were weighed up, it just wasn’t feasible to push ahead with expansion of the stadium,” chief executive Neill Blake said.
Hoeger returns
Schalke 04’s Marco Hoeger can return to training and will be available for their Bundesliga finale on Saturday against relegation-threatened Hamburg after club bosses lifted a suspension on the midfielder.
Hoeger was excluded from the squad over loyalty concerns last week after Schalke also released Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sidney Sam following a poor run of form after the winter break that had put their Euro hopes in jeopardy.
Last week’s 1-0 victory over Paderborn ensured fifth-placed Schalke’s qualification for next season’s Europa League.
Dortmund tour
Eight-times German champions Borussia Dortmund have added a July match against Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale to their Asia tour.
Dortmund’s Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa hoped the July 7 fixture at Todoroko Stadium in Southern Tokyo would help increase the German club’s popularity among local fans.
“I hope more Japanese people will get to know the club through this friendly,” Kagawa said.
The tour, which also features stops in Malaysia and Singapore, will be the first for new coach Thomas Tuchel, who will replace Jurgen Klopp later this month.
Juve’s Romulo out with injury
A thigh strain will keep Juventus midfielder Romulo out for the rest of the season, the club said in a statement yesterday.
The Brazilian right-back only managed three Serie A starts this season after failing to recover fully from a groin injury.
He is currently on loan at Juve from Verona but the Italy champions have the option of making the deal permanent for this summer for the 27-year-old.
“Romulo underwent an MRI scan on his left thigh after reporting discomfort at the end of Saturday’s 2-1 victory away at Inter,” Juve reported on their website.
“The test showed he has suffered a tear of the rectus femoris muscle, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.”
Agent reacts to Sterling exit story
The agent of Raheem Sterling claims reports the Liverpool forward is set to the tell the club he wants to leave this summer have “been blown out of proportion”.
Aidy Ward, the 20-year-old’s long-time representative, said he and the player were always scheduled to meet Reds officials this week and insists they will move forward from there.
“The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion,” he said in a statement.
“Raheem and his representatives have a meeting scheduled with Liverpool later this week, and we will take proceedings from there.”
Sterling has two years left on his current deal but rejected a reported £100,000-a-week offer earlier this year and negotiations were put on hold until the end of the season.
Depay completes United medical
Memphis Depay has completed his medical at Manchester United, the club have confirmed.
United said that they will “now work towards finalising his registration when the international transfer window opens in June”.
Depay, top scorer in the Eredivisie with 22 goals, has signed from PSV for £25 million.
United manager Louis van Gaal handed Depay his international debut in 2013 and took him to the World Cup the following summer, where he scored twice in four appearances for Holland.
“I have worked with Memphis during last summer’s World Cup with the Netherlands and he has great potential,” Van Gaal said.
Kane may miss start of next term
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits Harry Kane may miss the start of next season if he plays for England at the European Under-21 Championships this summer.
Gareth Southgate names his squad for the tournament in the Czech Republic today and if Kane is included, it will leave the striker only 18 days to recuperate after Tottenham’s post-season tour of Malaysia and Australia.
Pochettino has previously said Kane will need a long holiday to recover from a campaign that will stretch to 53 matches if he plays against Everton on Sunday.
“Could he miss the start of the season? Maybe,” Pochettino said.
“But it is because of that I am sure the FA will take the right decision for Harry Kane.”