Antonio Conte will stay as Chelsea manager amid links to Inter because the challenge of taking them back into the Champions League is too good to resist, according to Marcello Lippi.

Lippi, who like Conte formerly managed Juventus and Italy, does not believe the prospect of taking the Inter job would appeal to the Stamford Bridge boss at this early stage of his career in England.

Despite the 47-year-old s continued denials, speculation still links him with a move to San Siro, while Diego Simeone is another rumoured candidate to replace Stefano Pioli as the Serie A club s Chinese owners Suning target a big name.

But Lippi, who coached Conte at Juve in his playing days, is not buying reports that that he could be tempted to leave Chelsea, even with a five-year…

Inter strengthened their position at the Serie A summit as Lautaro Martinez s late header secured a slender 2-1 win over Torino on Sunday.

The Nerazzurri never looked like scoring during a dismal first half, but they forged ahead in the 62nd minute when Romelu Lukaku slotted home from the penalty spot.

Antonio Sanabria pulled the hosts level eight minutes later, yet Inter celebrated an eighth consecutive top-flight win courtesy of Martinez s 14th league goal of the season five minutes from full-time.

The result moved Antonio Conte s side nine points clear at the top of Serie A, although Milan had the chance to restore a six-point gap by overcoming Napoli later on Sunday.

Eight in a row!

— Inter (@Inter_en)

Martinez headed wide ear…

Jose Mourinho looks set to play the waiting game at Tottenham despite the looming threat of key player departures.

According to reports, Mourinho will not be spooked into a January spending spree even as Spurs consider selling out-of-contract stars to Premier League rivals.

The head coach does, however, have two England Under-19 internationals in his sights.

TOP STORY – MOURINHO TREATING TRANSFERS WITH CAUTION

Tottenham will make transfer funds available in January but Mourinho is set to put his squad overhaul on hold, according to the Daily Mail.

Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen can all walk out on the club at the end of the season and chairman Daniel Levy has said he is prepared to make deals with other Premi…

Manchester United are interested in signing RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dani Olmo, according to , as relayed by . The Red Devils are reportedly leading the race for the Spain international, who is open to leaving Leipzig if they are unable to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Olmo has been on the books of Leipzig since 2020 when he joined from Dinamo Zagreb. The attacking midfielder made 26 starts and six substitute appearances in the Bundesliga last season, scoring five goals and providing nine assists in the process. Olmo also scored one goal in eight Champions League games last season.

The Spain international has made two starts and two substitute appearances in the Bundesliga so far this season. Olmo has also made one start and one substitute appeara…

Wahbi Khazri had a second-half penalty saved as Tunisia fell to a contentious 1-0 loss against Mali in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in which referee Janny Sikazwe was at the centre of controversy.

Sikazwe awarded both sides a penalty in the second half and dismissed Mali forward El Bilal Toure before blowing for full-time early to spark angry scenes at Stade Limbe.

After a low-key first half that saw neither side go particularly close, Ibrahima Kone converted past debutant keeper Bechir Ben Said from 12 yards after Ellyes Skhiri blocked Boubakar Kouyate s shot with his hand.

Tunisia, the fourth-highest ranked African side, toiled without truly being able to test Ibrahim Mounkoro in the Group F clash between the sides expected to advance in the top two spots…

European champions Bayern Munich will travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Matchday 2 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Bavarian giants have been on impressive form in recent weeks, having won six consecutive matches since being held to a 1-1 draw at Freiburg on 27 August.

Meanwhile, City have been hit-or-miss this season.

The hosts have already lost two league games against Cardiff City and Aston Villa in 2013/14, but dominant performances against Newcastle, Viktoria Plzen, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic have given the club s supporters just enough reason for optimism.

Bayern are to win Group D, with the bookmakers backing City at .

Possible Team Selections

Manchester City: Hart;…

Steve Clarke has not sought any kind of guarantees from Elliot Anderson about the midfielder’s Scotland future.

The Whitley Bay-born Newcastle United player, who has a Scottish grandmother, has played at youth level for both Scotland and England.

The 20-year-old was called up by the Scotland boss for the first time for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus in Larnaca on Friday and the challenge match against England at Hampden Park next week after deciding against switching allegiance to England following positive discussions with Clarke.

Squad update.

IN: Robby McCrorie.OUT: Liam Kelly and Elliot Anderson.

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT)

However, Anderson officially withdrew from the squad on Wednesday night after picking u…

Fulham have made a fresh bid for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, .

Villa manager Paul Lambert is looking to offload the England international, who made just eight starts in the Premier League last season, and is hoping to receive around £6m for the striker – just a quarter of what the Midlands club paid for him two and a half years ago.

The Cottagers opening bid of £4m for the 29 year old was considered too low, though Martin Jol is still hoping that he can land his top transfer target for less that the asking price, and has tabled a £5m offer.

Bent has already had two spells in the capital, spending two seasons at both Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Sunderland in 2009.

He has also played for Ipswich Town, where he bega…

Manchester City striker John Guidetti is set for a loan move away from the club, manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed.

The Swedish frontman has been linked with a move to Stoke City in recent weeks, having previously worked under Britannia Stadium boss Mark Hughes during the Welshman s spell in charge of City.

And Pellegrini revealed on Tuesday that Guidetti would be making a temporary move away from the Etihad Stadium, but was unsure whether a switch to Stoke is a done deal.

Yes, John (Guidetti) is going on loan, he said. I don t know if he has already arranged with Stoke, but he is going on loan.

Guidetti has made just one League Cup appearance since signing for City in 2008, and previously spent time on loan at former club IF Brommapojkarna, Burnley and Fey…

Atletico Madrid face three more matches this season that could define the club s history and it all starts with Sunday s trip to relegated Levante.

Diego Simeone s men battled through to the Champions League final despite Tuesday s second-leg loss to Bayern Munich and will face rivals Real in Milan on May 28.

The Liga title is also up for grabs, with Atletico second to leaders Barcelona only by virtue of an inferior head-to-head record against Luis Enrique s side.

While this weekend s visitors to the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia have their sights set on domestic and European glory, the hosts are heading for the Segunda Division.

Levante s fate was sealed by Monday s 3-1 loss to Malaga, ending their six-year stay in La Liga.

Such contrasting fortu…