Milan 3-0 SPAL: Piatek provides reminder of his class as Rossoneri cruise in Coppa Italia

Krzysztof Piatek provided a reminder of his talent amid transfer rumours with a goal and an assist as Milan beat SPAL 3-0 to set up a Coppa Italia quarter-final against Torino.

Poland international Piatek has endured a difficult second season in San Siro, having scored just four times in Serie A, but on Wednesday the reported Tottenham target looked more like his old self.

Perhaps SPAL are not the most suitable team to use as a barometer of Piatek s abilities, as they never looked a threat, but the 24-year-old showed good composure to open the scoring, before then teeing up Samu Castillejo for his glorious effort to increase the lead.

Milan continued to dominate after the break and added a third goal just past the hour – Theo Hernandez drilling home in style, s…

Morata move ´very, very complicated´, says Sevilla director

Sevilla director of football Joaquin Caparros believes Alvaro Morata wants to join the LaLiga club, but he admits a deal with Chelsea would prove very, very complicated .

The Spain international has scored just 16 Premier League goals since joining Chelsea in July 2017 in a reported £60m deal and he has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this month.

Caparros is said to have met with Morata s agent as Sevilla position themselves to make a loan bid, but a transfer is unlikely to be straightforward and the Spanish side are not optimistic.

It is true that we have an interest in this player [Morata], but it is a very, very complicated operation, Caparros told the club s official television channel.

The player may want to come here over other …

Too soon for Ten Hag to agree with Guardiola´s assessment of Man Utd ´coming back´

Erik ten Hag does not yet believe Manchester United can threaten Manchester City, even if Pep Guardiola warned of the Red Devils coming back .

Speaking ahead of the weekend s Premier League action, Guardiola highlighted United and Newcastle United as challengers to City.

I have the feeling United are coming back, Guardiola said. Finally United is coming back. I ve seen it against Chelsea, the first half. I like what I see of United right now.

United beat West Ham 1-0 on Sunday to climb to fifth, a point behind fourth-placed Newcastle but still six shy of City and eight off leaders Arsenal.

While United manager Ten Hag is pleased with his side s progress, he could not agree with Guardiola s assessment after that match.

I think it s a little bit …

Tottenham Hotspur determined to sign Dusan Vlahovic, €60m needed

Tottenham Hotspur are determined to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, according to .. Vlahovic has turned down the offer of a new contract from Fiorentina, with his current deal at the Italian club running out in the summer of 2023.

Fiorentina could be forced to sell the 21-year-old in the summer of 2022 or in the January transfer window, and Premier League club Tottenham are ready to pounce. Former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has been appointed as the new Tottenham manager, and the Italian would know all about the Serbia international.

Juventus, a club Conte has previously managed, are interested in Vlahovic. Fiorentina chairman Rocco Commisso prefers to sell the striker for at least €60m abroad and preferably to a club in the Premier League,

Champions League Group G preview: Zenit stand in way of APOEL glory

APOEL Nicosia s bid to create history and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League will be tested in Russia on Wednesday.

APOEL who are hoping to become the first Cypriot side to ever get past the first round of the competition will travel to Zenit St Petersburg as the top two sides in Group G clash.

APOEL have two wins and two draws from their four matches, giving them a tally of eight points, with Zenit trailing by just one point.

Given that Porto (four points) and Shakhtar Donetsk (two) have struggled so far, APOEL can seal qualification with a win at the Stadion Petrovskij, while three points for the hosts would mean that they could also qualify, pending on Porto s result.

Zenit enter the match full of confidence after a 12-match unbeaten run …

Miami, Kansas City sack coaches

NFL strugglers Miami and Kansas City both sacked their respective coaches on Monday.

The Dolphins dismissed Tony Sparano after their 0-7 start to the season, while the Chiefs with a record of 5-8 parted ways with Todd Haley.

The Dolphins had since recovered their win-loss ratio to 4-9, but the recent surge was not enough to save Sparano s job, and he will be replaced in the interim by defensive backs coach Todd Bowles.

Sparano spent nearly four years at the Miami franchise, and departs with a 29-32 record, but took the side to their only playoffs visit in 2008 in the past decade.

It s a lot of regret that I feel that it s in the best interest in the Miami Dolphins that we replace him at this time, Miami owner Stephen Ross said at a press conference.

Xhaka agrees Arsenal move

Granit Xhaka has agreed to join Arsenal on a long-term deal from Borussia Monchengladbach, the Premier League club have confirmed.

Xhaka captained Gladbach as they secured qualification for next season s Champions League through a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old has been included in Switzerland s preliminary squad for Euro 2016 and following the completion of the competition, he will link-up with his new team-mates in London.

1.7 With averaged 1.7 points per game, compared to just 0.9 points per game without him. Loss.

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz)

In a statement, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said: Granit Xhaka is an exciting young player, already with good Champions League and Bundesliga experience.

We have been wa…

Pardew: De Jong can be among my best

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes Siem de Jong could prove to be one of the best players he has coached.

The Netherlands international completed his switch to St James Park from Ajax at the beginning of July, penning a six-year deal at the club.

De Jong made a name for himself in Amsterdam, winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles between 2010 and 2014 and captaining the club to the last two of those triumphs.

Pardew is convinced the 25-year-old can continue to progress in the Premier League, and likened him to former England striker Teddy Sheringham, who he managed at West Ham.

I think he is a terrific player, Pardew told Sky Sports News.

I have been lucky enough in my career to manage some great players and I think he could be o…

Henderson hails ´heart and desire´ as Liverpool destroy apathetic Arsenal

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson praised his side for their heart and desire following the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal at Anfield.

Goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge gave Jurgen Klopp s side a stunning and fully deserved victory in Sunday s clash.

The Gunners, who have now lost by four or more goals on four occasions away to Liverpool in the Premier League, failed to register a shot on target in what was a listless performance that prompted some travelling fans to call once again for manager Arsene Wenger s sacking.

Speaking afterwards, Henderson appeared to underline the difference between the teams when he highlighted the importance of Liverpool s work rate.

I thought we did very well, started well again, Arsena…

West Brom announce Chadli signing

West Brom have confirmed the signing of Tottenham winger Nacer Chadli for an undisclosed fee.

The Belgium international, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Twente in 2013, has signed a four-year contract with Tony Pulis side after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mauricio Pochettino.

Chadli becomes West Brom s second permanent signing of the transfer window after the arrival of Matt Phillips from QPR, while Brendan Galloway has also joined on loan from Everton.

Albion have signed from for an undisclosed fee

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA)

Having seen his side pick up four points from their opening three Premier League games, Pulis was adamant that he needed to add further quality to his squad.

And the Welshman, who is sti…