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Frank Lampard has indicated Chelsea will look to sign at least one new attacker in January after having their transfer ban halved.

An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport brought an early end to the original two-window embargo last week, enabling the Blues to become active participants in the transfer market.

An inexperienced squad reached the Champions League last 16 with Tuesday s 2-1 home win over Lille and could now be reinforced.

Chelsea scored 11 times in their six Group H games and have notched a further 31 goals in the Premier League, but head coach Lampard outlined plans to seek a replacement for Eden Hazard.

I think it will be a bit fluid, Lampard told BT Sport after beating Lille at Stamford Bridge.

There will be discussions …

Italian football has been tainted by yet another racist tirade with Arrigo Sacchi saying there are too many blacks in the youth divisions.

Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi claimed Italian football has no dignity or pride on Monday because there are too many blacks and foreigners in top clubs youth teams.

In yet another example of racism in Italian football, Sacchi hit out at the number of foreign players and non-ethnic Italians playing for Italian clubs at this month s Torneo di Viareggio, which is considered one of the premier youth football tournaments in the world.

While Sacchi, who famously coached Milan to successive European Cup titles and was in charge of Italy when they finished runners-up at the 1994 World Cup, laughed off suggestions he is racist, his c…

Ledley King did not train with the England squad on Tuesday during their first practice session ahead of Saturday s friendly against Slovakia and next week s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.

The 28-year-old Tottenham Hotspur captain does not train with the Premier League side between matches because of a chronic knee condition.

King s longstanding fitness problems have cast a shadow over his international career because it is hard to see how his body could stand up to the rigours of tournament football, where major matches come thick and fast.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was shocked by the decision of Fabio Capello to call-up King, who has not played for England since the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia almost two years ago, saying it risked his club availabili…

Ante Rebic says Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only on-field leader Milan need as he hailed the veteran striker s impact since returning to the club in January.

Ibrahimovic, 38, scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for Milan after joining on a free transfer at the turn of the year and signed a one-year extension last month.

The ex-Sweden international helped to revive the Rossoneri s flagging campaign, with Rebic among those to step up in a strong end to 2019-20 that ended with a 13-game unbeaten run.

Rebic has earned praise for his leadership qualities but insists Ibrahimovic is head coach Stefano Pioli s commander-in-chief on the pitch.

Zlatan is a great player he helps the team and has a major effect on everyone, he told Milan TV.

It s always a pleas…

Starting with Monday s hosts, enduring a woeful second campaign in England s top-tier last season and breaking a string of unwanted records, Huddersfield are a side desperately looking to rebuild. With the likes of Jonas Lössl and Philip Billing securing summer moves to Everton and Bournemouth respectively, the Terriers have decided to stick with Head Coach Jan Siewert and they have begun to show some signs of an improvement over the summer. Picking up a 1-1 draw against French outfit Montpellier in their final pre-season appearance, the former Borussia Dortmund coach has seen his side enjoy a six-match unbeaten run during their pre-season preparations, winning four of those contests. If Huddersfield are to secure a surprise immediate return to the Premier League, then Siewert will be …

Carlo Ancelotti said I am not Gareth Bale s father but launched a defence of the Real Madrid forward and insists he will play if he deserves to when returning from international duty.

Since coming back from a loan stint with Tottenham last season, Bale has made just three appearances for Los Blancos – the same number of times he has played for Wales in 2021-22 – due to a troublesome thigh injury.

Despite including two LaLiga titles, four Champions League medals and a Copa del Rey on an impressive resume with Madrid, the club s fanbase have often made Bale the subject of their ire.

It was put to head coach Ancelotti that he had protected Bale like a father in the past, but the Italian said his achievements at the club should always be remembered.

I m …

Angus Gunn feels like he has been a Scotland player for years given the way he has fitted into the squad and enjoyed some major memories.

Now he believes he and his Scotland team-mates can cap off an extraordinary six months by getting a result in Spain on Thursday and qualifying for Euro 2024.

The goalkeeper only made his debut in March but has experienced victory over Spain – on his second appearance – and a dramatic comeback win against Norway in Oslo.

In five competitive games, the Norwich player has only conceded one goal – an Erling Haaland penalty.

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— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT)

“It’s been seamless really,” the 27-year-old said. “The lads have mad…

Italy can continue their unbeaten record in Euro 2012 qualifying when they face Estonia in Modena in Group C on Friday.

Cesare Prandelli s side have won four of their five matches so far and top the group by five points, with Estonia six points behind the leaders in fourth.

Prandelli has selected a strong squad for the visit of Estonia, in what he describes as a decisive match.

Estonia is going to be the decisive game, Prandelli said.

I want a group prepared to graft. We ve always struggled when we play in June and September.

Prandelli has tasted defeat just once as national team boss, that coming in August when Italy were defeated 1-0 by the Ivory Coast in a friendly.

That was his first match in charge, but Prandelli has since shown h…