Prandelli: Former Italy manager Cesare Prandelli will take charge of Valencia after agreeing a contract until 2018, the La Liga club confirmed yesterday. The Italian has been in negotiations with Valencia in the last week and finalised a deal with club president Lay Hoon Chan yesterday. He will watch today’s match against Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla before being presented to the media tomorrow.
Lallana: Midfielder Adam Lallana will miss England’s World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia due to a groin injury, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. The 28-year-old, who scored the winner during manager Sam Allardyce’s only game in charge against Slovakia, was forced off in the first half against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium yesterday. “Adam felt it, tried it again and it didn’t work,” Klopp said.
Modric: Real Madrid are set to be without influential midfielder Luka Modric for up to a month due to a knee injury. The Croatian sustained the injury in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund although he managed to complete the 90 minutes. Modric is set to miss Real’s La Liga fixtures with Eibar, Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao and Alaves as well as their Champions League game at home to Legia Warsaw.
Chandler: Roma are showing interest in Eintracht Frankfurt right-back Timothy Chandler. The US international’s contract at the Bundesliga club expires next summer, meaning he would be able to leave on a free transfer. However, Bild yesterday reported that Roma will try to sign the 26-year-old in January as they look to bolster coach Luciano Spalletti’s options in defence. Chandler was born in Germany but he plays for the US. He has spent his entire career in the Bundesliga.
Villa double: New York City moved to the top of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference on Friday night with a 2-0 win over Houston Dynamo in Texas. David Villa scored twice in the second half, opening the scoring in the 52nd minute before blasting in his 21st goal of the campaign in stoppage time. The result moves City two points clear at the top of faltering Toronto, while Houston’s hopes of making the post-season end with a defeat which means they remain bottom of the Western Conference.