Speaking exclusively to Le Progrès, Lyon President Jean Michel Aulas confirmed that Alexandre Lacazette’s impending move to Arsenal could be completed in the next “1 to 2 days”. Aulas had the following to say on the deal: “The €67m figure (including €12m in bonuses) announced by English sources and then relayed constitute an impossible sum that…

The United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final fixtures have been confirmed, with the games taking place on the first weekend of May. The play-offs kick off in Belfast on Friday, May 5, where Ulster (2) hosts Connacht (7) in an Irish derby to decide who progresses to the semi-final stage. Saturday’s opening game is a replay…

Ivorian international right-back Serge Aurier’s agent Stéphane Courbis met with Juventus representatives in Milan today, according to Yahoo Sport FR and Gianluca di Marzio. Serge Aurier is still currently on holiday in the US, debunking an earlier story from Foot Mercato that suggested the PSG man was in Turin himself to meet with the Serie A side in question’s…

Former Springbok flanker Schalk Burger says that the South African United Rugby Championship (URC) sides’ exit from the EPCR competitions is a blessing in disguise. The Bulls lost 33-9 to Toulouse in the Champions Cup round-of-16, with the Sharks succumbing to the same team 54-20 in the quarter-finals. The Stormers were defeated 42-17 by Exeter…

L’Équipe confirm this morning that Spanish side Atletico Madrid have indeed submitted a €45m offer for AS Monaco midfielder Fabinho. However, there is no agreement between the two clubs. ASM have a gentleman’s agreement with Fabinho that allows him, in principle, to leave the club this summer, but at the moment his choice of new side,…

Sale Sharks fly-half George Ford has urged his side to get into “a finals mindset” as they approach the business end of the Premiership campaign. Ford claimed his first win in a Sale shirt last Friday as the north-west outfit powered past Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, confirming a play-off place. The next task is…

Toulouse midfielder Jessy Pi has joined Ligue 2 side Brest on a loan for the 2017/18 season. The 23-year-old made 17 appearances for Toulouse last season, providing one assist, and will join up with former coach Jean-Marc Furlan, for whom he worked alongside at Troyes. Brest are hoping that Pi can be ready for the…

The Sharks will have to patiently wait for feedback on injuries to Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi and Curwin Bosch following their 22-22 draw to Munster in the final round of the United Rugby Championship. Kolisi suffered a knee injury early on in the game in the seventh minute and had to be removed from the…

Turkish giants Fenerbahce have had two offers for French striker and AC Milan man Mbaye Niang rejected, according to L’Équipe. Fener’s proposals of a loan deal with an option to buy and a €7m transfer offer which could have risen to €16m if all bonuses were satisfied has been rejected by newly cash-rich Milan. Fenerbahce are…

All the Champions Cup semi-finals will take place in Europe, the EPCR has confirmed. Even if the South African teams, the Sharks and Stormers, win their quarter-finals, they could potentially host games in England. If the two sides do qualify as the top-ranked side in their semi-final, they will host their games in London. Sharks…