RUMOURS: Juventus eye Pepe as Thiago Silva alternative

Real Madrid centre-back Pepe has emerged as a candidate to move to Juventus next summer, Tuttosport reports. Thiago Silva remains first choice on the Turin side’s shopping list, yet the PSG defender’s deal is unlikely to expire until 2018, with only failure to qualify for the Champions League freeing him of his obligation to the Parc des Princes side next summer.

Obafemi Martins buys 2017 Bentley Bentayga worth $281,170

Shanghai Shenhua forward Obafemi Martins apparently needs to maintain his yard of pace as he approaches the peak of his career with a sassy 301 kilometre per hour new ride, the 2017 Bentley Bentayga which is worth $281,170. Martins has netted nine times in 17 appearances for the Shanghai club since joining them from MLS side Seattle Sounders in February, making him the second top scorer for the Hongkou stadium outfit after Sengalese Demba Ba this year. The 31-year-old's latest ride complements his speed on the ball with acceleration from 0-60m in 4secs.

Fanendo Adi and Gbenga Arokoyo fail to lead Portland Timbers to MLS playoff

Fanendo Adi and Gbenga Arokoyo were on parade for Portland Timbers in their disappointing 4-1 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps at the BC place, as their dream of retaining the MLS Cup faded away. Caleb Porter's side who were 2015 MLS Cup champions needed a win to contend for this year's title after an horrific season of 14 losses, but a disappointing team performance and a poor defensive display in their final league game ended their chances of making to the top six of the Western Conference. Nigeria's Fanendo Adi who was in action for the entire duration couldn't increase his goal tally to 17 league goals as Diego Valeri’s penalty gave Timbers their only goal in the 72nd minute after Giles Barnes’ brace plus goals from Nicolas Mezquida and Pedro Morales fired the Caps to victory.

'I will keep on working very hard' - Leicester City's Musa

Ahmed Musa has promised to keep working hard after scoring his first goal in the English Premier League on Saturday. Musa’s 20-yard effort in the 42nd minute set Claudio Ranieri’s side for an emphatic 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium and the 24-year-old noted the impact the goal had on the game. “For me, it’s a very good beginning scoring a goal like that,” Musa told LCFCTV. "I will keep on working very hard with my teammates and the coach and we will see what is going to happen.

Neymar: Playing for Barcelona is easy!

The Brazilian forward signed a new contract on Friday to keep him at Camp Nou until 2021 and afterwards admitted that he had been a little cautious upon his arrival in 2013. The Brazilian revealed being intimidated when he first came to Camp Nou but is now out to emulate his celebrated compatriots after signing a new contract. However, having settled in Spain, Neymar is delighted to have been able to secure his future with Barca. "It is now easy to be Barca player but you must work hard," the 24-year-old told Barca TV.

'He's a special player and few compare him with others' - Nani lauds Messi

Valencia attacker Nani talked up "special" Lionel Messi ahead of his side's meeting with Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday. 'Ronaldo injury an advantage for Portugal' Messi has returned from a groin injury in scintillating form, scoring four times in two games – including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League. And Nani knows the threat posed by the Barca star ahead of the clash between the teams at the Mestalla. "Messi is a special player and few compare," he said. He said: "We know we have Cristiano, contesting all year the Golden Ball with Messi.

Tattoo master! Carl Ikeme gets new tattoo on his leg

The Wolverhampton Wandearers shot stopper has revealed his new tattoo of a woman and a rose flower on his leg. The Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme loves to get his body tattooed with another piece of a tattoo on his body.Ikeme who is unarguably one of the power forces in Gernot Rohr's team displayed his latest tattoo on his leg via his Twitter page. The 30-year old's tattoo is of a woman and a rose flower on his right leg. "Started the leg sleeve Saturday night , thanks to my bro @willygrattan for taking the time to come over! Great artist and top guy." Ikeme tweeted.

RUMOURS: Juve to offer Mandzukic in part-swap for Alexis

Juventus are plotting an adventurous bid to sign Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez with Mario Mandzukic included as a makeweight in a potential player-plus-cash deal, according to CalcioMercatoWeb. The Bianconeri have been admirers of the Chilean for some time and will offer the Croatian as part of a potential player-plus-cash exchange in order to land him Alexis is currently in talks with the Gunners over a new contract, though negotiations are said to have stalled due to the Chilean's demands of a hefty increase on his current wage of £130,000 per week. Juve CEO Beppe Marotta is a big admirer of the Sanchez and hopes that Arsenal's reluctance to cave to the attacker's wishes will prove useful in an any attempt to lure the 27-year-old to Turin.

Firmino hopes to become the Neymar of Liverpool

 The Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino has enjoyed a close relationship with Klopp since the German's arrival at Anfield in October 2015 were he hopes to become "the Neymar of Liverpool" with the help of Jurgen Klopp, but admits that fulfilling that ambition is ultimately up to him. And he is keen to take the next step in his career under the 49-year-old, who played a key role in the development of stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze and Marco Reus at Borussia Dortmund. "I played against Klopp's teams for four-and-a-half years [in the Bundesliga]," former Hoffenheim forward Firmino told The Daily Mail. "I know what he wants from a player. When I heard that he was coming to be Liverpool manager, I was so pleased.