News Headlines

Getting a good deal on deadline day

Take it to the wire, play clubs off against each other, use the media, ask for everything - agents reveal their trade secrets.

Will silence be golden for Mourinho?

Jose Mourinho is adopting familiar tactics as he plots Chelsea's route to the Premier League title, writes Phil McNulty.

Football in brief

• Equatorial Guinea’s defeat of Tunisia sparks chaotic scenes • Huddersfield defender Tommy Smith stable following collision Continue reading...

'Zouma reminds me of Desailly'

MOTD pundit Danny Murphy on how young Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma stood out in their draw against Manchester City.

Sunday's gossip column

Premier League strugglers eye Lambert, Anderson set for Brazilian move, Reus wants to work with Wenger, plus more.

Roma sign £10m CSKA striker Doumbia

Serie A title challengers Roma sign Ivory Coast international striker Seydou Doumbia from CSKA Moscow for £10.8m.

Said & Done: Barcelona’s brand; Dinamo Minsk; and Satan’s nun

Also featuring: José Mourinho on Juan Cuadrado; David Ginola’s emotions; and why footballers are hard to like Barcelona – ready to drop Qatar as its shirt sponsor due to the reputational brand damage – but not to bring back Unicef instead. “It’s Utopian for Unicef…

Stamp was not on purpose - Costa

Chelsea striker Diego Costa says there was no malicious intent behind his stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can.

Chelsea’s Diego Costa: I’m no angel but didn’t deserve to be banned

• Striker denies he stamped on Liverpool’s Emre Can • Costa says he will not change the way he plays Diego Costa has denied he deliberately stamped on Liverpool’s Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi-final but admitted: “I am no angel.” The Chelsea striker was…