Celtic manager Ronny Deila thinks wages would prove to be a major stumbling block if the club moved to try and sign Everton winger Aiden McGeady on loan.

The Republic of Ireland international began his career with the Scottish Premiership club, spending seven seasons with them before leaving in 2010.

McGeady joined Everton from Spartak Moscow in 2014, but has not featured in Roberto Martinez s first-team plans this season, playing only once in the League Cup – a potential problem ahead of his country s participation at Euro 2016.

Deila revealed the 29-year-old was the type of player he would be interested in, but felt McGeady s Premier League wages made any potential Celtic swoop unlikely to be successful.

It has to be players who want to come to Glasg…

Gianni Infantino expressed his gratitude to banned former UEFA boss Michel Platini after the Swiss was elected FIFA president on Friday.

Platini and Infantino s predecessor Sepp Blatter are serving suspensions – reduced this week to six years from eight – for a disloyal payment made by the then-FIFA president to the Frenchman in 2011.

But Infantino, who received the backing of 115 federations in the second round of polling at the extraordinary congress in Zurich, offered his thanks to Platini.

Of course I have some words for him, too, the Swiss said. I have thanked all of those who have supported me on this journey, this adventure. But the adventure really starts now and of course I thank Mr Platini for everything that he has given me, that he has taught me,…

According to Portugal’s Vanderley Dias Marinho (Derley) has agreed to a three-year deal with Primeira Liga side Desportivos das Aves.

The 29-year-old Brazilian cut ties with his former club, Benfica, after joining the then-defending champions of Portugal in 2014 after a stellar showing in 2013/14 season with Marítimo where he made 30 appearances and notched 16 goals, finishing second in goals scored that year.

However, Derley had a hard time adjusting to his new team as he was selected to the starting XI once and made only 15 appearances in his first year with the Lisbon club.

The following year, he was loaned out to Turkish club Kayserispor and the year after that he was again loaned out to Liga MX side Chiapas, where he couldn’t find that magical goal-sc…

According to Marca, Spanish side Atletico Madrid find themselves at a crossroads with Luciano Vietto and Kevin Gameiro, as we draw closer and closer to the start of the new La Liga season. Neither player is expected to get any real playing team throughout the campaign, but until they re both sold on, Atletico will be unable to bring any of the new players in that they desire.

Vietto has been with the club since 2015 and whilst he s failed to impress, for the most part, he s had relatively successful tenures with both Sevilla and Valencia. Gameiro, on the other hand, has only spent two years with Atletico, although the fact that he s in his early thirties may be one of the reasons why the club want to move him elsewhere.

Atletico will be attempting to take advantage of R…

Ousmane Dembele has completed his switch to Barcelona but the France winger must shine at Camp Nou to prevent his dream move from being weighed down by unhelpful comparisons.

The 20-year-old joins Ernesto Valverde s squad from Borussia Dortmund on the back of Neymar s world-record €222million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

It means the vacancy in Barcelona s attacking trident alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is his to fill, but how does Dembele compare to the Brazil superstar?

Using Opta data, we will attempt to find out.

Neymar made 45 appearances in all competitions last season, compared to Dembele s 49 but chalked up more playing minutes (3971 to 3388).
Dembele s tally of 10 goals was doubled by Neymar (20).
Neymar s more prolific return…

Tomer Hemed scored from the penalty spot deep into added time as Wellington Phoenix rallied from a goal down to beat Adelaide United 2-1 on Sunday.

Adelaide had lost one of the previous 13 A-League meetings between the teams and knew a win on ANZAC Day would move them to the top of the table, above both second-placed Central Coast Mariners and leaders Melbourne City.

They appeared set to do just that when Stefan Mauk converted a cut-back cross following a run by Ryan Strain down United s right flank, breaking the deadlock in the 51st minute.

However, that lead did not last too long. Ben Waine made it four goals in as many games to get Wellington level, seizing on a loose ball before rounding goalkeeper Joe Gauci to score.

The contest at WIN Stadium a…

Napoli head coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted Arkadiusz Milik wants a change of scenery as the star forward eyes an exit.

Milik s current deal expires at the end of 2020-21 and the Poland international is no closer to signing an extension amid links to Serie A champions Juventus, LaLiga outfit Atletico Madrid and Premier League side Tottenham among others.

As speculation mounts over Milik – who has scored 37 league goals since arriving from Ajax in 2016 – Gattuso was asked about the 26-year-old following Wednesday s 2-1 win over Genoa.

It s difficult to find someone better than Milik, Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia post-game.

However, when a player believes his time at a club is over and he wants a change of scenery, you have to listen to him.

…

Dusan Vlahovic matched Cristiano Ronaldo s momentous 33-goal year with Juventus as the Fiorentina striker scored again – leaving him a hat-trick short of an all-time Serie A record.

The 21-year-old Serbian scored for the sixth game in succession on Sunday, helping Fiorentina battle back from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Sassuolo.

Vlahovic will match a calendar year goals record set by Gunnar Nordahl in 1950 if he nets three times against Hellas Verona on Wednesday.

That is Fiorentina s last game of the year, as Serie A goes on its winter break, but Vlahovic has already equalled Ronaldo s 21st century record, which was established just last year.

Nordahl s epic 36-goal year for Milan marks the last time any player scored more than 33 in t…

Prediction: Correct Score 1-1

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Everton and Arsenal will be hoping to get their search for European football back underway as they come together at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening.

The two teams sit eighth and ninth respectively in the table ahead of the match and whilst a top four finish is likely to be beyond both of them, a victory in North London could potentially push them towards a UEFA Europa League place come the end of the campaign.

Arsenal

Inconsistency really has plagued the Gunners season thus far and that statement continues to be true after a rollercoaster few weeks for Mikel Arteta s men. Despite having racked up comprehensive victories against Slavia Praha and Sheffield United, those two matches were Arsena…

Benfica boss Roger Schmidt has no fears about losing World Cup stars Enzo Fernandez and Goncalo Ramos.

Head coach Schmidt said the youngsters, both 21, and veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, are integral to his plans to deliver success in Lisbon.

Fernandez and Otamendi are part of the Argentina squad preparing for Sunday s World Cup final against France, when both could be starters.

That has put them in the spotlight, and midfielder Fernandez has been linked with a host of teams, including Liverpool.

Benfica sold striker Darwin Nunez to the Reds in the last transfer window, and Schmidt is determined to retain the best of the talent that has remained at the club.

We are very happy for them and they are happy to play at Benfica. We need players lik…