Liverpool are interested in and have made contact with Poland international Piotr Zielinski, the midfielder said yesterday.
It was reported last month the Reds were set to hold talks over the prospective signing of Zielinski, the 21-year-old who is on loan at Empoli from Udinese.
And yesterday he was quoted by Polish media outlet Sportowe Fakty as saying: “There is a lot of truth in the interest of (Liverpool boss) Juergen Klopp in me.
“There was contact, I do not deny that.”
Zielinski, on loan at Empoli last season as well as this, on Sunday scored in their 2-0 victory over Fiorentina. He has 13 caps for Poland and is set to be part of their squad for Euro 2016.
Eran Zahavi breaks six-decade record
Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Eran Zahavi broke the Israeli league scoring record this week with his 31st goal of the season, beating the 1954-55 record and leading his team to a 3-2 victory against Beitar Jerusalem.
Zahavi scored twice in a thrilling match in Tel Aviv on Monday to send Maccabi to the top of the Premier League table with 71 points, one ahead of Hapoel Beersheba, with six matches still to play.
Nissim Elmaliah, of Beitar Tel Aviv, achieved his record 30 goals 61 years ago in a season of 26 league fixtures, four fewer than Zahavi has required.
Ballardini takes charge of Palermo
Davide Ballardini has taken over as the new coach of Serie A strugglers Palermo following the departure of Walter Novellino.
Although Novellino’s departure has yet to be officially confirmed by the club, the news of Ballardini’s return for a second spell in charge this season was announced on the website after he took training.
“Under the guidance of Davide Ballardini, (Palermo players) played technical exercises, tactical work and a game in midfield,” said a report on the club website.
Novellino’s reign lasted just four games.
Argentina want Funes Mori for Rio
Argentina have asked English club Everton to make defender Ramiro Funes Mori available for the Rio Olympics, national team coach Gerardo Martino said.
The 2016/17 Premier League season is scheduled to start on Aug. 13 and clubs are under no obligation to release players as the Olympics are not on the FIFA calendar.
The Olympic soccer tournament is contested by under-23 teams with a maximum of three over-age players.
“We’re thinking of Ramiro Funes Mori for the Games in Rio,” Martino said.
“We still have to see if Everton agree to our request though.”
Rooney unscathed on Cold Trafford return
England captain Wayne Rooney emerged unscathed when he played just over an hour for Manchester United’s Under-21 side at Old Trafford late Monday, having missed 12 first-team matches with a knee injury.
The striker last featured for his club in a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on February 13 but looked fit, if ring rusty, in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough’s Under-21s.
Manager Louis van Gaal was among a 6,000-plus crowd who turned up on a cold, wet night to see the return of England’s 51-goal record scorer.
Vardy barred from shooting drill
Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy is banned from taking part in shooting drills at the training ground, the prolific striker re-vealed, because manager Claudio Ranieri wants him to rest his legs for Premier League matches.
“I don’t really get the chance to practise that much on my finishing because we have our shooting drills early in the week when the gaffer’s wanting me to rest my legs,” Vardy said.
“So, normally, when there’s a bit of shooting, the gaffer tells me to go inside! I’ll keep doing that if it means I’m saving my legs for games.”
Australia and Japan paired together
Asian champions Australia were grouped in a formidable pool alongside Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifying yesterday.
Joining the quartet in Group B were Iraq and Thailand.
Group A was headlined by consistent qualifiers South Korea and Asia’s top-ranked team Iran, who both represented the continent at the last World Cup in Brazil along with Australia and Japan.
China, Qatar, Syria and Uzbekistan were also drawn in Group A, yesterday.
The top two from each pool will qualify for Russia 2018, with the two third-placed sides facing off to see who will advance to a two-legged inter-confederation play-off with a CONCACAF qualifier for another spot in Russia.
The round robin matches will start on September 1.