5:56 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Barcelona have made Alvaro Morata their top target for January following the signing of Ferran Torres for €55 million, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Morata, 29, is on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid, but sources told ESPN he is ready to cut his stay in Italy short
Football
6:45 AM ET Chelsea have announced a post-tax loss of £145.6 million ($196.4m) for the year ending June 30, 2021. The figure is in stark contrast to a £36.4m ($49m) profit for the previous year, reflecting the huge financial impact of COVID-19. – ESPN FC 100: The top male players and managers of 2021– Darke:
6:55 AM ET Attendances at LaLiga games have been reduced to 75% after the Spanish government introduced new restrictions for sports events amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. The cap will come into effect on Jan. 1 in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The measures will be reviewed
7:45 AM ET The Africa Cup of Nations is “disrespected” more than any other international tournament, according to former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright. Wright said aspects of the coverage of the tournament, which will be held in Cameroon from Jan.9 to Feb.6, are “tinged with racism” after players were made to defend their
5:52 PM ET Pep Guardiola said the “exceptional” quality of Chelsea and Liverpool make it impossible for him to believe that Manchester City are on course for a fourth Premier League title in five seasons, despite a 1-0 win at Brentford moving the champions eight points clear at the top of the table. – ESPN
6:15 PM ET Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel vented frustration at a snowballing injury crisis, and some refereeing decisions, as his side fell further behind Premier League leaders Manchester City with a 1-1 home draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday. Tuchel was left hopping on the touch-line as his players put in an error-strewn
7:34 PM ET Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa signed a deal to manage Rio de Janeiro club Flamengo on Wednesday, just hours after the Polish Football Association (FA) terminated his employment as national team coach. – ESPN FC 100: Ranking the world’s best men’s players– ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)– Stream ESPN
11:06 PM ET Chinese authorities have banned footballers from getting tattoos and instructed national team players who have been inked to remove or cover them up to set a “good example for society.” A growing number of high-profile Chinese players have been sporting tattoos, including international defender Zhang Linpeng, who has previously been told to
5:59 PM ET LONDON — Even when Manchester City fail to hit the heights we have come to expect of Pep Guardiola’s team, they still end up basking on the sunny side of the street. The Premier League champions laboured to a 1-0 win at Brentford on Wednesday, yet they ended the day having stretched
6:36 PM ET Adam Brown The January transfer window is almost upon us and, naturally, all the gossip on who’s moving where is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz as we count down to the 2022 winter window. TOP STORY: Schick in City’s sights Manchester City could be ready to reveal