Newly promoted Crystal Palace have completed the signing of striker Marouane Chamakh from Arsenal.

The Morocco international joins on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee after largely failing to establish himself in the first-team squad during a three-year spell at the Emirates.

Chamakh joined Arsenal from Bordeaux in 2010 after scoring 71 goals for the Aquitane club who he helped to the Ligue 1 title under Laurent Blanc in 2009.

However, Chamakh has since scored a mere 14 goals in just 67 appearances for Arsene Wenger s side.

The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at West Ham, but made only three appearances in that stint, with Andy Carroll cementing his place as the Upton Park club s first-choice striker.

Chamakh will now look to revive his career…

Competition: Premier League
Market: Tottenham to win against Newcastle
Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon, and will fancy their chances of beating the already-relegated Magpies to seal their runners-up spot in the table.

The Londoners are second in the Premier League table with 70 points from 37 games, and are two points clear of third-placed Arsenal. Spurs only realistically need a draw against Newcastle to keep Arsenal from leapfrogging them in the division due to their superior goal difference, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side will want the win.

Tottenham have been struggling for form of late, having dropped points in their last three games, culminating in them losing th…

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has told former club Sevilla to be content with winning the Europa League this season as he aims to triumph in Sunday s Copa del Rey final.

Unai Emery s side made history this week as they claimed Europe s secondary competition for the third year in a row with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the final in Basle.

Sevilla now turn their attentions to facing holders Barca at the Vicente Calderon as they look to lift the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2010, when they beat Atletico Madrid in the final at Camp Nou.

But Rakitic, who says he will not celebrate if he scores a goal against the club he left in 2014, is determined to secure a second domestic double in a row with Barca. 

Of course I have a bit of my heart on t…

Diego Simeone is not worried about Diego Costa s arrival giving Atletico Madrid too many options in attack, as he believes important teams grow because of major players .

Chelsea and Atletico reached an agreement for the transfer of Costa on Thursday, with the unsettled striker reportedly set to cost €60million, depending on bonuses.

The move will see the Spain international return to the club where he rose to prominence in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns, scoring 56 goals across the two seasons.

When Atletico are able to register Costa in January, he will add to Simeone s significant number of forwards, with Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, Kevin Gameiro and Luciano Vietto all in the squad to face Sevilla on Saturday, with Fernando Torres missing this weeke…

World champions Germany and Group C rivals Poland played out a goalless draw at the Stade de France, which leaves both nations in good shape to qualify for the last 16 and eliminates Ukraine from contention.

After opening-match wins, victory on Thursday for either side would have secured a spot in the knockout phase, but for the most part the game failed to capture the imagination.

Indeed, it was not until the opening minute of the second half that the first real opening materialised – Arkadiusz Milik somehow failing to connect with a dangerous Kamil Grosicki cross.

Mario Gotze stung Lukasz Fabianski s palms at the other end, with the Poland goalkeeper also alert to keep out Mesut Ozil.

There was still time for another moment to forget for Milik as h…

Defender Silvio has left Atletico Madrid and signed for Wolves on a one-year contract, with the club holding the option for an additional year.

The Championship club confirmed they have landed the 28-year-old one day after Walter Zenga was announced as the new head coach at Molineux.

Wolves have had a busy off-season, with a takeover by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International now complete and Silvio, a full-back, is their newest addition.

The versatile full back has put pen to paper on a one year contract – with a further year’s option in the club’s favour – having reached a settlement to have his contract cancelled with Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid, read Wolves statement.

Silvio signed for Atletico in May 2011, winning the Europa…

A-League leaders Brisbane Roar will play host to title rivals Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Roar have delighted their fans with free-flowing football to occupy top spot in the competition, eight points clear of third-placed Victory.

Mike Mulvey s men showcased their title credentials with a crushing 5-2 win over Sydney FC, while Victory salvaged a point at home to Western Sydney Wanderers thanks to Gui Finker s last-gasp free-kick at AAMI Park.

Brisbane will once again be without star striker Besart Berisha, who is still recovering from a hip injury but veteran Archie Thompson could return for Victory.

The biggest concern for Kevin Muscat s side is their away form with the team yet to win a game outside of Melbourne since March a run of five g…

Andrea Pirlo described Pep Guardiola as a  model for the whole football movement and admits he never dreamed he would one day be coaching Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Italy great Pirlo has taken his first steps into coaching with Juventus this season and his side have eight points from his four Serie A games in charge. 

There are some parallels to be drawn with Guardiola, who cut his managerial teeth at Barcelona – initially with Los Cules B team before going on to oversee one of the greatest sides of any generation with a star-studded cast including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. 

He consequently went on to coach Bayern Munich before joining Manchester City in 2016 and Pirlo sees Guardiola as an example for any rookie coach. 

Guardiola is an …

Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell wants to become one of the best left-backs that England has ever had and has set his sights on being Gareth Southgate s first choice in next year s Nations League finals.

The 21-year-old has made five appearances for the Three Lions, four as a member of the starting line-up, and his performances for the Foxes are ensuring he retains a strong claim to the left-back spot in Southgate s team.

Chilwell, who signed a new six-year contract at King Power Stadium in October, has helped Leicester keep clean sheets against Watford, Burnley and Cardiff City in recent weeks and is focussed on maintaining his form until England s European Championship qualifiers in March.

He told Sky Sports of his ambitions to become an England great, …

Olivier Giroud says the decision to join Chelsea was an obvious one when it became clear Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was to join Arsenal.

Giroud left for Stamford Bridge on the final day of the January transfer window, completing a move reportedly worth £18million.

The Frenchman looked set to become third choice at Arsenal behind Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang, who joined the Gunners on the same day.

Giroud had been linked with a switch for much of the month after struggling to oust Lacazette from the starting XI in the first half of the season and he revealed that Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Roma were all in the hunt.

However, once Antonio Conte s interest was known, Giroud s mind was made up.

27 – Since his debut in August 2012, Olivier…