Slow starts are nothing new to Harry Kane. Not until 2018 did the England captain score a Premier League goal in the month of August, by which point he had twice won the Golden Boot.

But there is added focus on Kane this year in the aftermath of his failed move from Tottenham to Manchester City.

And through three appearances – including two starts – in the opening four games of the 2021-22 campaign, the striker has attempted just two shots without scoring.

The last time Kane had two or fewer attempts across a three-match span in the Premier League was back in October 2014, but he did not start any of those outings against Sunderland, Southampton and Newcastle United, which produced a sole effort combined.

Since establishing himself as one of Europe s …

Spain boss Luis Enrique insisted no amount of pressure could affect him ahead of his side s key World Cup qualifier against Greece.

The 2010 world champions are in action in Athens on Friday, with an automatic place at Qatar 2022 potentially on the line.

Should Sweden defeat Georgia in the earlier Group B match, Spain will be unable to catch them in top spot if they do not take all three points against Greece.

John van t Schip s side could still clinch a top-two finish if they beat La Roja, whom they held to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in March.

Yet Luis Enrique does not believe the fear of missing out on a guaranteed place at next year s finals will disrupt their preparation. 

Luis Enrique was born with pressure, he told reporters on Wedn…

Kevin De Bruyne has no fear over any lasting impact of the facial injury he sustained ahead of Euro 2020 after making his first appearance of the tournament for Belgium.

Manchester City star De Bruyne suffered a fractured nose and left orbital in a challenge with Chelsea s Antonio Rudiger during the Champions League final last month.

The injury did not prevent him from featuring in Roberto Martinez s Belgium squad, with the 29-year-old undergoing what the Red Devils coach described as a small intervention – rather than full surgery – to help protect the affected area and ensure De Bruyne did not have to wear a mask when he returned to action.

After missing Belgium s first Group B game, a 3-0 win over Russia, De Bruyne came off the bench to inspire Martinez s…

Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard are back in tandem, nine years after they first began to forge an alliance at Liverpool.

Gerrard referred to Coutinho as a friend this week, but he is also set to be his boss at Aston Villa after the Brazilian agreed to join from Barcelona.

The theory is that if anyone can get a tune out of Coutinho, it should be his former Liverpool captain, given the strong relationship they had on the pitch, which has endured in the years since.

Barcelona hoped Coutinho would be a leader in their orchestra, but instead his displays often struck a bum note, and the Blaugrana are happy to have offloaded one of the most expensive signings in their history.

Exactly how much they have ended up paying Liverpool for Coutinho is unclear, …

Substitute Fred was the hero as Manchester United withstood a second-half fightback to defeat rivals Leeds United 4-2 and become the first team to register 700 Premier League wins.

First-half goals from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes had the visitors seemingly coasting towards three points in Sunday s contest at a sodden Elland Road.

But Leeds reputation for chaos coupled with United s for showing a soft centre each came to fruition as two goals in the space of 59 seconds from Rodrigo and Raphinha turned the game on its head.

There would be another twist, though, as Fred drilled home just three minutes after entering the fray to help the Red Devils secure a double over their cross-Pennine rivals, with a slice of history confirmed when fellow sub Anthony Elanga…

Marco Asensio wants to stay at Real Madrid for 10 more years as the Spain international continues to negotiate a new contract with the club.

Asensio, who is on duty with La Roja at the World Cup, is set to become a free agent when his existing deal with Los Blancos expires at the end of June.

Repeatedly linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Barcelona reported to be among his possible destinations, the forward has started just once in LaLiga for Madrid this season.

Nevertheless, the 26-year-old hopes he can prolong his stay with the reigning Champions League winners, for whom he has made 250 appearances since arriving from Mallorca in December 2014.

There is talk that I am changing Real Madrid s mind. But I have always tried to give the…

Juventus are ready to sell Federico Chiesa in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist has reported on X that the former Serie A and UEFA Champions League winners are looking for around €25m with add-ons for the 26-year-old Italy international winger.

Romano wrote on : Juventus consider price tag around €25m with add-ons included for Federico Chiesa as current deal expires in June 2025, not being extended.

“Juventus are prepared to sell Chiesa who s currently not part of Thiago Motta s plans, as confirmed yesterday.”

Chiesa has been on the books of Juventus since 2022 on a permanent deal after a loan spell from Fiorentina. The Italy international is one of the best wingers in Serie A, but he has had injury problems…

Eric Ramsay believes Manchester United have all the ingredients to go to the next level under Ineos – but Erik ten Hag’s former coach felt he had to leave for a dream first managerial job at Minnesota United.

The 32-year-old swapped Uniteds following March’s derby defeat at Manchester City, with his move to the Twin Cities seeing him become the youngest permanent manager in Major League Soccer history.

It is an exciting new chapter in an impressive coaching journey that led Ramsay to Swansea, Shrewsbury and Chelsea before joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching set-up in June 2021.

The club has announced Eric Ramsay as the second head coach in Minnesota United s Major League Soccer history. Ramsay joins the club from Manchester United, where he served as …

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chris Smalling is set to leave AS Roma to join Al-Fahya, and Mario Hermoso is close to arriving to the Serie A side to replace the former Manchester United defender.

Al-Fahya and Roma have reached a full agreement on the transfer of Smalling, and the 34-year-old centre-back is expected to sign a two-year contract with the Saudi side. He spent the opening two games of the season on the bench, and he obviously won t be a part of the matchday squad to face Juventus on Sunday.

Chris Smalling leaves European football and he will play for Al-Fahya FC in Saudi Arabia, here we go!

Deal done with AS Roma and also with the player now as former CB will sign contract until 2026.

Medical on Monday in Rome.

AS Roma will sign Her…

Ernesto Valverde has secured a return to Athletic Bilbao after being appointed the club s head coach on president Jon Uriarte s first day in office.

Valverde remains a popular figure at the club following a successful second stint as the first team s coach between 2013 and 2017.

During that four-year spell, Valverde took Athletic into the Champions League, reached the final of the 2015 Copa del Rey and a few months later ended the club s 31-year trophy drought with a 5-1 aggregate defeat of Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana.

He eventually left in May 2017 to take over from Luis Enrique at Barcelona, with whom Valverde won two LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa before being dismissed in January 2020.

The Blaugrana have won just one trophy si…