Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas believes Nice star Hatem Ben Arfa has set his sights on a return to the club, but has acknowledged they could miss out on the 29-year-old as they cannot match the wages on offer at Europe s top clubs.

Ben Arfa is available on a free transfer come July and recently revealed that 18 clubs have shown an interest in signing him following his stellar 2015-16 campaign with Nice, including La Liga champions Barcelona.

Aulas thinks Ben Arfa personally prefers a return to his boyhood club, but feels his representatives are pushing for a move elsewhere.

We have to take the economic situation into consideration, Aulas told the official Lyon website.

Europe s biggest clubs are after Hatem s signature.

But I would love it if…

Norwich City winger Robert Snodgrass has not given up on the club s Premier League status, despite their precarious position.

Norwich s goalless draw against Chelsea on Sunday did little to bolster their hopes of survival, leaving them two points adrift of safety and requiring a victory over Arsenal in their final game to stay up.

Even with a win over Arsene Wenger s men, Norwich will still likely require Sunderland to lose twice to maintain their top-flight status.

However, Snodgrass was positive after Norwich gave themselves a fighting chance and insists they will not give up.

We wouldn t have been able to look at ourselves in the mirror if we hadn t given it our all (against Chelsea) and given ourselves the chance of taking it down to the very last day, he to…

Giuseppe Rossi has expressed delight at signing for Fiorentina after sealing his move to Florence from Villarreal on Friday.

The Italy international has been out of action since October 2011 after a recurring knee ligament injury which has needed two operations, but is expected to be back playing before the end of the season.

And the striker believes he has chosen the right club to reignite his career at.

I would have made this move sooner, even last (European) summer, Rossi told reporters at his unveiling.

I m happy to be at Fiorentina. They are the only side who came forward with facts and not just with words. That was very important to me.

I like the Viola project a lot. I want to be a part of it. There are many youngsters here, but also pl…

Mohamed Salah has shared the Premier League s Golden Boot award with Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane and Arsenal s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Salah went into the final day of the season two clear of the chasing pack but he failed to find the net as Manchester City retained the title ahead of the Reds.

The Egypt star could not match his incredible return of 32 Premier League goals from last term, but 22 was enough to share the award with two fellow Africans.

Aubameyang hit a double in Arsenal s 3-1 win at Burnley while Mane scored both Liverpool goals in their 2-0 home win against Wolves on Sunday.

Here it is! 

Congratulations, Auba golden boot winner 2018/19  

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)

Salah follows players including Harry Ka…

Australia midfielder Massimo Luongo is confident ahead of Thursday s Asian Cup quarter-final against China in Brisbane.

Australia midfielder Massimo Luongo believes Brisbane hosting Thursday s Asia Cup quarter-final against China will work to his team s advantage.

The Socceroos missed out on a Melbourne quarter-final against Uzbekistan after losing 1-0 to South Korea at Brisbane s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

That now pits the tournament hosts against a red-hot China side, who won all three Group B matches under the guidance of Alain Perrin.

And the Socceroos now know they will face reigning champions Japan in the semi-finals if both win their last-eight clashes. 

Japan play the United Arab Emirates on Friday.

But despite the Brisbane sur…

Marcus Rashford s strike earned Manchester United a 1-0 win at Real Betis and a straightforward route into the Europa League quarter-finals as they advanced 5-1 on aggregate.

Erik ten Hag s side did the hard work last week in a crushing 4-1 victory, leaving Betis with a huge mountain to climb in Thursday s second leg at Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Betis edged a first half in which both sides hit the woodwork, but Rashford s 27th goal of the campaign completely killed off the tie shortly after the break.

With their slim hopes punctured, LaLiga s fifth-placed side offered little in response as United comfortably booked their place in the last eight.

We all know what happens next… ||

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

The sides managed 11 sh…

Leaders Barcelona opened the door for Atletico Madrid in the LaLiga title race as they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw away at relegation-threatened Las Palmas.

After Antoine Griezmann inspired Atletico to a 4-0 win on Wednesday, Ernesto Valverde s side knew a win would restore their seven-point cushion before they face their nearest rivals at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

Lionel Messi thundered in a 21st-minute free-kick to put Barcelona in front and, in the process, score for the first time at the Estadio Gran Canaria.

However, the struggling hosts were gifted the chance to equalise straight after the break, Jonathan Calleri confidently converting a penalty after Matias Aguirregaray had seemingly been fouled at a corner, and Barca could not find a way to r…

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has signed a new deal at Borussia Dortmund to keep him at the club until 2016.

Weidenfeller has made nearly 300 appearances for Dortmund in an 11-year spell with the club and has been a key figure in their charge to the UEFA Champions League final this season.

Juergen Klopp s men face Bayern Munich in the final at Wembley on May 25 and Weidenfeller had no hesitation in signing a new deal with a club which has undergone a rapid transformation in recent times.
Transferring to another club had never crossed my mind, said Weidenfeller.
What has grown here at Dortmund over the past few years is a uniquely positive football story which I want to play a big part in writing in the years to come.
I am proud to be part of this s…

While might have once again praised his side’s display at Goodison Park on Saturday evening, it was another day to forget for Arsenal.

Slumping to a 2-1 defeat against on the road and now in the midst of their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1974, the Gunners are a club in the midst of a real crisis.

Collecting just 14 points since opening the 2020/2021 campaign and firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone, it is no surprise that many around North London are calling for a change in the dugout.

While Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man might have guided Arsenal to lifting the FA Cup over the summer, Arteta faces a string of issues both on and off the pitch, something even the most experienced managers would find a challenge.

…

Danny Welbeck insists his only concern is finishing the season strongly with Arsenal despite boosting his World Cup hopes with a match-winning display against Southampton.

The forward had failed to score a Premier League goal in 2018 but struck twice in his side s 3-2 triumph at the Emirates Stadium, including heading in the winner in the 81st minute.

He has been beset by injury problems in the past two seasons and he has rarely figured for England since playing a leading role in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

However, in the absence of Harry Kane through injury, national boss Gareth Southgate included the former Manchester United player for the friendlies against Netherlands and Italy in March.

Welbeck s recall suggests he is in contention …