Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen in talks with Chelsea over Schuerrle

Berlin: Bayer Leverkusen have had talks with Chelsea over the possible transfer of 22-year-old attacking midfielder Andre Schuerrle, the Bundesliga soccer club said on Friday, though they denied the deal was close to being finalised.

"I can confirm the talks in London," Leverkusen spokesman Meinolf Sprink told reporters, confirming German media reports of sports director Rudi Voeller's trip to the English capital on Thursday.

Sprink said no decision had yet been made. Voeller told Bild newspaper he had been to London for talks with Chelsea but declined to give details.

Germany international Schuerrle, who is one of the most exciting young players to come out of the Bundesliga in the past three years, was also linked with a move to Chelsea last year....more    

Leverkusen players told to give up Messi shirts

Leverkusen: After seeing his defenders thoroughly outclassed by Lionel Messi, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller was dismayed that his players squabbled over the souvenir when Messi gave the shirt off his back - at half-time. Messi scored one goal, set up another and hit a post in Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League win at Leverkusen on Tuesday night, when two of the home team's players were a little too keen...  

Leverkusen pose physical test, says Guardiola

Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen hold a physical advantage over holders Barcelona and will be a tough nut to crack in their Champions League last-16 tie, Barca coach Pep Guardiola said on Monday. "They are a physically a stronger team than us and they will be stronger than us when we do not have possession," Guardiola told reporters ahead of Tuesday's first leg in Leverkusen. "They are dangerous from set pieces and...  

Guardiola defiant even as title hopes recede

Barcelona: Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola refused to concede the title after Saturday night's 3-2 defeat at Osasuna, but admitted that his side's hopes of catching Real Madrid at the top of La Liga have become "more complicated." The Catalans could have drawn within four points of the leaders with a victory at the Reyno de Navarra but, as their coach admitted, the defending champions now look set to fall 10...  

Tottenham sign Saha as Pavlyuchenko, Corluka exit

London: Tottenham signed striker Louis Saha from Premier League rivals Everton and reached a deal to offload Roman Pavlyuchenko to Lokomotiv Moscow in the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday. Manager Harry Redknapp signed Saha despite the 33-year-old Frenchman scoring just twice in 20 appearances for Everton this season and struggling with injuries in recent years. "He's got good movement, can score goals but probably needs a change,"...  

Three Spanish clubs in UEFA semis

Sevilla, Osasuna and Espanyol are the three Spanish clubs with the first two playing each other in the semis. ...