Aston Villa consider Collins deal

Carlos Corberan expressed his pride at turning around West Brom’s season despite a 3-2 final-day loss at Swansea as they fell short of the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.

West Brom had started the final day of the regular season as play-off outsiders, needing to beat Swansea and hope for favourable results elsewhere.

The Baggies ultimately finished ninth, as Sunderland and Coventry claimed the final two play-off places, after Corberan took over in October with the club second bottom of the Championship.

“The target we had was difficult, to change the momentum of the season,” said Corberan, whose side won only three of their final 10 games.

“It was very uncomfortable. We moved fast, we focused on the possibilities and I feel very proud.

“…

Former Rangers full-back Alan Hutton believes Josh Doig would be an ideal solution to the Ibrox club’s impending decisions at left-back.

Borna Barisic is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a return to Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb.

Ridvan Yilmaz has struggled for game time since arriving in the summer of 2022 but has impressed in recent weeks amid the absence of the injured Barisic.

However, the Turkey international has been linked with a switch to Hellas Verona, where Doig has plied his trade since moving from Hibernian to Italy.

Doig is also the subject of reported interest from Torino and Udinese and Hutton believes the 21-year-old would be a good fit at Ibrox.

“I thought that he was a player that both teams in Glasgow woul…

England interim manager Lee Carsley believes he is capable of taking the job on a full-time basis, but conceded he had his doubts.

Carsley oversaw a 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in his first match in charge since stepping in to replace Gareth Southgate on a temporary basis.

An extended audition continues on Tuesday when England take on Finland in their second Nations League match.

And Carsley acknowledged the performance and result against Ireland, who he represented as a player, has provided a much-needed confidence boost.

He said: In the back of your mind you always think you know, it s easy to be the England manager, isn t it, when you re sat in the house.

There have been times when I ve thought I m not sure if I could do it.

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Ross County have secured the return of left-back Josh Reid on a three-year contract.

Reid left County for Coventry in January 2021 after playing 24 times for the Dingwall side’s first team.

But the 21-year-old only made two appearances in England, one for the Sky Blues in the League Cup and one on loan with Stevenage.

Manager Malky Mackay told County’s website: “I am delighted to see Josh return to the club, he knows the club and area very well and is a player who has had recent international experience with the Scotland Under-21s.”

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Champions Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday thanks to a dazzling performance by Victor Boniface.

The Nigerian scored two goals and laid on an assist, ensuring Leverkusen got back to winning ways in their first game since the international break.

The visitors struck twice in the first half an hour for a 2-0 lead, with Boniface setting up Martin Terrier for a tap-in in the 17th minute before turning scorer with a clever finish.

Mergim Berisha, making his first appearances since a knee ligament tear last November, cut the deficit for Hoffenheim just before the break from close range.

Leverkusen restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a penalty, buried by Florian Wirtz in the 72nd minute, after Dennis Geiger fouled Alex Grim…

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs who are interested in signing Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window, according to . The report in the Spanish publication has claimed that Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea are also keen on the 24-year-old France international forward.

Mbappe has told PSG that he will not extend his current contract which runs out at the end of the next season. This means that, as things stand, the Frenchman will leave the Ligue 1 champions as a free agent next summer. PSG are not happy with the situation and want to cash in on the forward now.

The striker scored 29 goals and gave five assists in Ligue 1 and scored seven goals and provided three assists in the UEFA Champions League for PSG last season. Mbappe …

Former Uruguay and Manchester United forward Diego Forlan has announced his retirement from professional football.

Forlan, 40, last played for Kitchee in Hong Kong, with his final appearance coming in May last year.

The forward, who also played for the likes of Inter and Atletico Madrid during a fine career in Europe, confirmed his retirement on Tuesday.

It hasn t been easy, I didn t want the time to come, but I knew it was going to come, Forlan told Telemundo.

I have decided to stop playing football professionally.

Forlan started his professional career with Independiente in Argentina before earning a £6.9million move to Manchester United in January 2002.

He won the Premier League with United in 2002-03 and the FA Cup the following se…

Paulo Sousa has left his role as Bordeaux head coach by mutual agreement, with Jean-Louis Gasset appointed in his place on a two-year deal.

Sousa had been in charge of the Ligue 1 club since March 2019, although he was last week linked with Juventus who he represented as a player as Maurizio Sarri was sacked in Turin.

The Portuguese was said to be a popular choice with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, but Juve instead appointed Andrea Pirlo.

Sousa has departed Bordeaux regardless ahead of the new season, having guided his side to 12th in 2019-20 before the campaign was suspended.

Gasset returns to Bordeaux, where he served as assistant to Laurent Blanc during his successful reign that returned the 2008-09 Ligue 1 title.

Alongside Gasset, the club co…

Sevilla and Real Madrid were title rivals when they last met in LaLiga back in November.

Then, as is the case now, Madrid led the table, but Sevilla were just two points back in third having played the same number of games. Optimism was growing for a genuine title fight.

But the team the capital from behind to win 2-1 through a late Vinicius Junior goal and have since opened a significant gap to Sevilla.

Including the three earned at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid have collected 10 more points than Sevilla in the intervening period.

Now, as the sides prepare to face off again at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Carlo Ancelotti s men – fresh from reaching the Champions League semi-finals – look to be coasting towards a 35th championship.

Even victor…