Godin passes Inter medical

West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun has vowed to impress at Upton Park despite limited first-team opportunities early in the season.

His lack of Premier League game time so far this season has seen him dropped from the Israel national team despite his status as his country s captain.

But Benayoun is hopeful that he will have a successful season at east London while he is on loan at the club from Chelsea.

There is an option to extend my loan, he told reporters.

My ambition is to be here for a full season and to make it a good one. It s great to be here but there s strength in depth.

Benayoun arrived in England at West Ham and was impressive enough to earn a move to Liverpool in 2007.

Last season, he spent a campaign on loan at Arsenal f…

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been handed an eight-match ban after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham s FA Cup defeat at Manchester United last month.

Mitrovic was sent off for pushing Kavanagh after the official dismissed his Fulham team-mate Willian for handball during the second half of their 3-1 quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford.

The Serbia international subsequently apologised for his actions, though he always appeared likely to receive an extended ban after the Football Association (FA) said a three-match suspension was clearly insufficient .

Mitrovic was subsequently charged with violent conduct, as well as with using improper, abusive, insulting and threatening language towards Kavanagh.

Following a hearing by an independent regulatory co…

Wigan Athletic FC have announced their signing under new manager Roberto Martinez.

Jordi Gomez, who has already played under Martinez during his year-long loan at Swansea from RCD Espanyol, has signed a three year contract which is thought to have cost £1.7m.

Jordi, who served his apprenticeship at his local club Barcelona before moving across the city to Espanyol, made his professional debut with the latter in 2008.

Later that year Jordi signed for Swansea City on a one-year loan move.

The 24 year-old Spanish playmaker was a major success at Swansea City scoring 14 goals for them in the process, and was also voted by his fellow professionals into the Championship PFA team of the year

Jordi is a real quality player. I have no doubts th…

Real Madrid have signed Barcelona youth product Iker Bravo from Bayer Leverkusen on an initial season-long loan deal.

The 17-year-old spent more than a decade in Barca s famed La Masia academy prior to joining Leverkusen last year.

Bravo, capped by Spain at various age levels through to Under-19, made two substitute appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions last season.

Bundesliga club Leverkusen confirmed on their official website on Monday that an agreement had been reached with Madrid for the teenage forward to return to Spain.

Carlo Ancelotti s side are said to have seen off competition from Atletico Madrid and are reported to have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for €6million.

Bravo is expected to spend…

Son Heung-min and Harry Kane are doing special things for Tottenham this season, Jose Mourinho said after they inspired Spurs to a 3-0 Premier League win over Leeds United.

Tottenham ended a run of four games without a win in the Premier League in comfortable fashion on Saturday, Son reaching a landmark in the process.

After Kane s penalty put Spurs ahead, Son doubled their advantage with his 100th goal for the club, the England international unsurprisingly the provider.

It marked the 13th time the pair have combined for a goal in the Premier League in 2020-21, tying a record in a single season.

Toby Alderweireld converted Son s corner to make it 3-0 early in the second half as Spurs moved within four points of Liverpool and Manchester United at the top.…

Chelsea great Frank Lampard has taken his first step into management with his appointment at Championship club Derby County.

Lampard emerged as a frontrunner at the weekend and swiftly became the favourite when he revealed Derby s interest. He signed a three-year contract on Thursday.

The Rams were on the lookout for a new manager after Gary Rowett departed for Stoke City in the wake of Derby s play-off semi-final defeat to Fulham.

Lampard ended his playing career in 2016, as two brief spells with Manchester City and New York City followed his remarkably successful 13-year spell at Chelsea.

While some are likely to point at his lack of experience, the 39-year-old is confident in his abilities after learning from the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelo…

Steven Gerrard has backed Aston Villa s decision not to sell Douglas Luiz to Arsenal on deadline day and does not foresee the failed transfer being an issue for the Brazil international.

Arsenal were widely reported to have made a move for Douglas Luiz on Thursday due to injury problems in their midfield.

It was claimed Villa were firmly opposed to a sale at a price Arsenal were willing to go to, though.

A bid of around £20million was said to be lodged, but Villa were instead holding out for £40m for a player in the final year of his contract.

Even with Gerrard s men bringing in fellow midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Wolves, no deal could be done, perhaps leaving Douglas Luiz a little disappointed.

Knowing the boy and the player, I doubt it …

Thomas Tuchel declared Bayern Munich are dying for revenge after their humbling by Manchester City as he revealed Manuel Neuer is stepping up his comeback from injury.

The Bayern head coach oversaw a 3-0 defeat at City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

It was only in the last quarter of the game that City brought down the hammer, taking advantage of generous defending from the Bundesliga leaders.

Many would suppose the tie is all but over, yet Tuchel does not see it that way, with Bayern looking to make their home advantage count in the second leg next Wednesday.

It s important not to lose focus, Tuchel said. The task seems almost impossible, but nothing is impossible in football. I can feel that we are dying for revenge …

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury on Saturday.

The 20-year-old has added to the club s woes after colliding with Aston Villa s Antonio Luna during the 3-1 Premier League defeat, and it looks like it could see him out for a while.

Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that the promising youngster will definitely miss the UEFA Champions League play-off match against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, with reports in the British media claiming that he could be out for as long as six months.

He is out, definitely out (for the Fenerbache clash), Wenger was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.

It s a knee problem. It s a bad injury.

The England international has become a regular fixture for…

Barcelona can enter the New Year just one point behind Real Madrid, if they can surpass Cordoba in La Liga on Saturday.

Luis Enrique s men could not break down Getafe in a 0-0 stalemate last time out in the top flight but can put the pressure back on Carlo Ancelotti s leaders given the latter s league duties are complete for 2014, due to Club World Cup commitments.

Barca were also buoyed by an 8-1 Copa del Rey victory over Huesca on Tuesday, with Pedro on target with a hat-trick in the 12-1 aggregate triumph.

The meeting will be the sides first in La Liga, with Barca winning their Copa del Rey tie in 2012-13 7-0 on aggregate including a 5-0 win at Camp Nou.

Third-placed Atletico Madrid are also looking to bounce back from a last-start league slip-up in th…