Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor saluted veteran striker Chris Martin after he took out his “frustration” on Charlton with both goals in a 2-1 win at The Memorial Stadium.

Martin came off the bench to put the Gas ahead after 68 minutes and then had the final say four minutes into stoppage time after Manchester City loanee Slobodan Tedic had drawn Charlton level late on.

Taylor sang the 35-year-old’s praises after he revealed the Scotland international has been unhappy at having to play second-fiddle to fellow striker John Marquis in recent weeks.

He said: “Chris has probably been disappointed over the last few games not to have been starting.

“John Marquis has been leading the line well and scoring goals but tonight as the game was panning out…

AS Roma are interested in signing Ayoze Perez from Leicester City in the January transfer window, according to . The report in the Spanish news outlet has claimed that Real Betis are also keen on the former Newcastle United attacker, but the La Liga club want to sign him on a free transfer next summer when he is out of contract at former Premier League champions Leicester. Roma want to sign the 29-year-old this month.

Perez, who can operate as a forward or as an attacking midfielder, has been on the books of Leicester since 2019. The Spaniard has also played for Newcastle in the Premier League. So far in his career, the 29-year-old has scored 45 goals in 223 appearances. 

AS Roma are sixth in the Serie A table at the moment with 30 points from 16 matches, three points …

Jude Bellingham has revealed he took the number five shirt upon joining Real Madrid as he is inspired by Zinedine Zidane.

The England midfielder completed his initial 103million euros (£88.5m) move to Real on Thursday afternoon, signing a six-year deal after leaving Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham spoke of it being the “proudest day” of his life as he addressed the media having taken the number five jersey at the Bernabeu.

He later explained his reasoning behind asking Jesus Vallejo to give up the number for him – citing Zidane, who won 16 major honours as a player and manager at Real – as an inspiration.

“I really admire Zidane and the legacy he has at this club with the number five,” Bellingham said.

“It’s a number that inspires m…

Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool made the first big move ahead of the imminent January transfer window.

Cody Gakpo had been strongly linked with a move to their old rivals down the East Lancs Road, but instead of Manchester United, the 23-year-old Dutchman will be playing his football at Anfield after sealing a move to Merseyside worth a reported initial £37million (€42m).

One of the other reasons it came as a surprise was all the talk around Liverpool s transfer activity being based on the midfield, an area where Jurgen Klopp has struggled for consistency both in terms of performances and availability.

However, with attacking pair Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz both out of action for the next two or three months at least, Klopp has focused on adding to his forwa…

Herve Renard s arrival as France coach has made Les Bleues think they are the best in the world and fostered belief in their chances of winning the Women s World Cup, says Selma Bacha.

Renard, who oversaw Saudi Arabia s incredible win over eventual champions Argentina at the men s World Cup last year, took the reins in March following the dismissal of Corinne Diacre.

The French Football Federation removed Diacre from the role after a group of players – including captain Wendie Renard – refused to represent the team if she remained in charge.

With France gearing up to face Jamaica in their Group F opener in Sydney on July 23, Lyon star Bacha has been impressed by Renard s impact, telling Stats Perform: He put us in a good mood.

He made us realise tha…

Xavi never doubted Frenkie de Jong s commitment to Barcelona amid speculation linking the midfielder with a move to Manchester United last year.

United identified De Jong, who came through at Ajax under Erik ten Hag, as a priority target ahead of their new manager s first season in charge.

A move never materialised, with United instead buying Casemiro from Real Madrid.

Casemiro has gone on to solidify himself as one of the most impressive midfielders in the Premier League, but ahead of Thursday s Europa League encounter between United and Barca, Xavi said De Jong never wanted to leave the Blaugrana.

I think he was really clear to me: he wanted to stay with us. So there was no doubt, Xavi said at a press conference.

Now he s our player, I’m rea…

Manchester United are willing to sell Mason Greenwood in the summer transfer window, according to . Greenwood is on loan at Getafe at the moment, and United are ready to cash in on him at the end of the season.

Greenwood joined Spanish club Getate on loan from former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners United in the summer of 2023. He is scheduled to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season. The 22-year-old forward has made 21 starts and three substitute appearances in La Liga this season. He has scored six goals and given five assists in those games.

Football Transfers has reported that Atletico Madrid want to sign Greenwood in the summer transfer window. Barcelona are also keen on the youngster. United, who are aiming to finish in the top four of t…

Sarina Wiegman s success with England shows female coaches are deserving of further opportunities, says former Italy boss Carolina Morace.

Wiegman led the Lionesses to their first major tournament triumph at Euro 2022 before overseeing this year s run to the World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain.

She has earned plenty of plaudits since succeeding Phil Neville in the role in 2021, only losing two of her 39 matches at the helm (30 wins, seven draws) and overseeing a positive World Cup campaign despite injuries to key players including Leah Williamson and Beth Mead.

While the 2023 World Cup featured 32 teams for the first time, Wiegman was one of just 12 female head coaches present at the tournament.

Morace wants …

He raised the level of competitiveness in the three years that he was here, Perez said.

And since 2011 we have reached nine of 11 Champions League semi-finals. I will always be grateful to him for that gene that he implanted in us. Before [Mourinho arrived] we were always getting knocked out in the last 16.

There were moments during this season when the position of Zinedine Zidane as the head coach at Real was reportedly in serious doubt. Real s results have picked up lately they ve reached the Champions League semifinals and are very much in the race for the La Liga title, but various speculative reports still suggest the club could be in the market for a new man in charge of the team this summer.

…

Everton have been deducted 10 points by an independent commission after being found to have breached Premier League financial rules.

The league referred Everton to the commission in March for an alleged breach of its profitability and sustainability rules in the period ending in the 2021-22 season.

The rules allow clubs to lose a maximum £105million over a three-year period or face sanctions.

Everton issued a statement confirming their intention to appeal against the sanction.

The Premier League said in a statement published on its official website: “During the proceedings, the club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending Season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.

“Following a five-day hearing last mo…