Los Angeles Galaxy

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reportedly close to completing a switch from Manchester United to Los Angeles Galaxy.

According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC, "multiple sources" have said a move is close to being finalised, with ESPN FC analyst Taylor Twellman reporting fresh links between the Major League Soccer club and the striker.

"Sources have also said that Ibrahimovic, if he does indeed make the move, will be signed with the help of targeted allocation money, which means he will not take up a designated player spot," Carlisle said. "It's unclear at this point if sponsors or other sources are kicking in money to augment Ibrahimovic's salary."

Carlisle reported the player and club were in talks over a possible deal last season before Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee injury in April.

Duncan Castles of the Daily Record also reported Ibrahimovic could be on his way out sooner rather than later.

"Him exiting probably suits all parties, and then it's a question of whether he chooses to exit during the season or wait until the end of the season," he told the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star). "Obviously if he exits during the season that frees up salary which can be put towards improving the squad in the summer which is very important to United."

United released Ibrahimovic at the end of the previous campaign, although the player continued his recovery from injury with the club. He eventually agreed another contract and was part of the first-team squad towards the end of 2017, only for a setback to sideline him once again.

However, the veteran has failed to reach the same heights as he did during the 2016-17 campaign, when he led the line magnificently for Jose Mourinho's team, scoring 28 goals in all competitions.

Football writer Liam Canning commented on the forward's disappointing return recently:

There's more competition at Old Trafford in the forward positions too, with Mourinho spending big to ensure his side is packed with attacking potency.

Romelu Lukaku arrived in the summer from Everton, while the Red Devils continued to splash the cash in January with the swap deal to bring in Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. Factor in the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and a much-improved Jesse Lingard, and it's no surprise Ibrahimovic has struggled for minutes.

If the mercurial forward does want to extend his illustrious playing career, then a move to MLS would be intriguing.

Journalist Tom McDermott believes the Galaxy would be the ideal club for the striker:

United supporters will remember Ibrahimovic fondly, as he shone in his debut season at the club and was crucial to the team's EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League triumphs. His display in the final of the former, where he netted twice in the 3-2 win over Southampton, was a standout effort.

The forward has struggled to hit his stride following the injury he suffered in April, and with that in mind, it's no surprise United have moved on. Even at 36, Ibrahimovic will feel as though he still has plenty to offer, and he has the talent to be a major force in MLS.

MLS club LA Galaxy have parted ways with manager Curt Onalfo and hired Sigi Schmid as his replacement.

The team announced the news via Twitter:

Per a club statement, Schmid will immediately replace the outgoing manager and will already be on the bench for Saturday's match against the Seattle Sounders.

Club president Chris Klein explained the decision to take the team in a different direction:

"After a great deal of evaluation and careful consideration, we believe that Sigi Schmid is the best person to coach our team for the remainder of this season and into the future. Sigi is one of the most experienced coaches in the history of soccer in the United States and he is an extremely successful manager that has proven himself to be a winner within Major League Soccer.

"[...]Curt Onalfo has been a loyal servant to the Galaxy and Galaxy II for a number of seasons and we wish him well."

At the time the move was made, the Galaxy found themselves outside of the play-off spots in the Western Conference. The team sits in ninth place in the West, five points behind the Vancouver Whitecaps and the final ticket to the post-season.

The five-time MLS Cup winners lost their last outing against the New England Revolution, a 4-3 thriller that likely sealed Onalfo's fate. The 47-year-old Brazilian had worked as an assistant or manager at the club since 2011, but the results weren't good enough during his lone season as the head coach.

Fox Sports' Rob Stone felt for Onalfo:

Schmid already had a stint in charge of the Galaxy, between 1999 and 2004. He guided the team to the 2002 MLS Cup and last coached the Sounders.

Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp is exploring an ambitious move to bring about Ashley Cole's return to English football.

The 70-year-old is desperately seeking reliable, experienced players to help him mount a promotion push next season.

And he has identified former Chelsea star Cole, 36, as one of the men he would love to have on board for his club's attempt to reach the Premier League.

During discussions about how to move forward next term, it is understood signing Cole was mentioned as an option the Championship side should explore. But getting a deal done will not prove straightforward.

Cole is playing for the L.A. Galaxy in MLS and has appeared 14 times this campaign. He has been enjoying his time in California.

He moved to the U.S. in 2016 and recently told FourFourTwo he would one day like to return to England—as a member of Chelsea's backroom staff.

Redknapp will have his work cut out in talking Cole into a move to the second tier of English football, although Birmingham's board is giving him big financial backing to try to make some major transfers.

Earlier this summer, Redknapp made an attempt to sign Cole's former team-mate John Terry, who was available on a free transfer. However, he ended up joining local rivals Aston Villa instead.

Former Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic will reportedly join MLS club LA Galaxy on a free transfer once he recovers from a knee ligament injury.

That's according to Marca's Jose Felix Diaz, who reported on Saturday the Sweden international agreed to the move back in March. However, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reported a Galaxy source told him the report is "inaccurate" and that the team isn't pursuing Ibrahimovic "at present."

United chose not to extend the veteran striker's contract for the 2017-18 season, ending his one-year run in the Premier League. Even at the age of 35, he showed he has plenty in the tank, scoring a team-leading 28 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions.

He missed out on the UEFA Europa League final versus Ajax with the injury, which he suffered while facing Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-final, and it would have left him out of the running for pre-season in Europe as well. The next MLS season doesn't start until the spring of 2018, giving the Swede ample time to recover.

Ibrahimovic has long been linked with a move to the United States, with the LA Galaxy seen as the favourites for his signature. 

BR Video

Nico is an 11-year-old who tried out for the Los Angeles Galaxy's under-12 team.

As you can tell from the video above, he made it, and it was awesome.

[LA Galaxy]

L.A. Galaxy have announced former England captain Steven Gerrard is set to leave the MLS club following the conclusion of his deal with the Californian team. 

The club's official website shared the news, revealing the Liverpool legend will not return for the 2017 season.

The midfielder joined coach Bruce Arena's outfit in 2015 after opting to leave the Premier League and has scored five goals and provided 14 assists in 34 MLS appearances, per the club's official website.

Gerrard explained his disappointment in not securing silverware during his stint in the United States, per the website:

When I left Liverpool, I came to Los Angeles with the goal of helping the Galaxy lift another MLS Cup. I am of course disappointed to have not achieved that objective, but I can look back at my time at the club with pride at what we accomplished, including two straight playoff appearances and countless memorable moments on the pitch.

He also thanked the organization and the fans for a positive experience:

I would like to thank Mr. Anschutz, Dan Beckerman, Chris Klein and Bruce Arena for this opportunity. I would also like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, all of the support staff and most importantly the fans for their fantastic support during my time at Galaxy; I am excited to see this league and this great club continue to grow. I am now looking forward to spending time with my family as I consider the next stage of my career.

Arena led the tributes to Gerrard once the iconic individual made his decision to part company with Los Angeles, per the club's official website:

We were honored to have a player and person of Steven’s caliber represent the LA Galaxy over the past two seasons. His experience, class and leadership made him a valuable member of this team both on and off the field. I will always remember his last kick for the LA Galaxy as he smashed home his penalty against Tim Howard. We thank Steven for his time and contributions to this club and we wish him the best in whatever comes next. He is one of the most iconic players of all-time and he will always be a part of the LA Galaxy family.

Gerrard is one of the most lauded players of his generation, famous for his heroic efforts at Anfield and on the international stage.

The 36-year-old made his Liverpool debut in 1998 and captained the Reds to a number of trophies, including the 2005 UEFA Champions League against AC Milan—one of the most fabled finals in the modern era, as the Merseyside giants recovered from a three-goal deficit.

Gerrard has cemented his position as a Premier League great after his years of service to Liverpool, but he was unable to bring glory back to L.A during his short time at the StubHub Centre.

His departure leaves a gap in the club's squad for next season, and the Galaxy will want to attract a big name from Europe or South America to fill the void.

Former Premier League stars Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane needed a late winner to see off a team of 30 eight-year-old schoolchildren as part of LA Galaxy's "Ridiculous Soccer Challenge." 

Per Sky Sports, the younger team set up in an unorthodox 10-10-9 formation, packing the defence in an attempt to stifle the two 36-year-old Galaxy stars.

As can be seen below, Gerrard and Keane opted for a long-ball approach in the main—clearly hoping to make their height advantage count—with the former Liverpool midfielder opening the scoring before their opposition drew level:

Keane put his side ahead again at 2-1 after earlier spurning a chipped opportunity, but the team of 30 kids pegged them back and looked to have earned a hard-fought draw.

However, in a display of bravado, Keane launched a mazy run from just inside the opposition half late on in proceedings.

He skipped past numerous defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and all but walking the ball in for the winner to rob the 30 children of a famous draw.

Longtime Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan is coming out of retirement to rejoin the club for the remaining portion of the 2016 season.

Blake Thomsen of The Cauldron first reported the news Thursday.

Donovan is the most decorated player in Major League Soccer history. The 34-year-old forward is the league's all-time leader in both goals (144) and assists (136) after stints with both the San Jose Earthquakes and the Galaxy.

He also owns both of those records for the United States national team with 57 goals and 58 assists at international level.

Donovan, whose career with the U.S. squad didn't receive a storybook ending after head coach Jurgen Klinsmann left him off the 2014 World Cup squad, walked away from the sport after winning the 2014 MLS Cup, his sixth league title overall, with Los Angeles.

There were some hints over the past few years that a return could happen, though.

Last June, he told Scott French of MLSSoccer.com he missed the feeling of competing on a weekly basis.

"I miss the game days," Donovan said. "When I'm here in the stadium on game days, I miss that. I don't miss the travel, I don't miss the hot summer training sessions, I don't miss having to take care of yourself 24-7, but the game days, the energy in the stadium, I certainly miss."

Those feelings clearly didn't subside because he explained to Gilbert Manzano of the Las Vegas Review-Journal in February that he was playing in the Global Legends Series in an attempt to satisfy that lingering competitive fire.

"I'm happy with my life right now, and maybe a game like this gives me the opportunity to compete a little bit and get the juices going again without being involved in a full way," Donovan said.

Apparently those efforts to keep playing without getting back involved with the professional grind weren't successful. So he's returning to the Galaxy.

Although it's unclear how long it will take Donovan to get back up to full speed and match fitness, it's a massive addition for the stretch run. The Galaxy sit third in the Western Conference with six matches to go as they cruise toward a playoff berth.

The California native is set to join an attacking group that's tied for the West lead in goals and includes Giovani Dos Santos, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard. His return also comes after fellow forward Gyasi Zardes suffered a broken foot that will keep him out for at least the rest of the regular season.

Nigel de Jong's horror tackle on Darlington Nagbe forced the American midfielder to be stretchered off in the 72nd minute as Los Angeles Galaxy and Portland Timbers drew 1-1 at the StubHub Center on April 10. 

The pair both went in for a 50-50 ball, but Dutchman De Jong's lunge was wildly mistimed, and he ended up stamping on Nagbe's ankle—see below video, via sportswriter Eduard Cauich:

As shared by Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, Nagbe suffered a sprain and contusion to his ankle during the clash, and it's unclear when he'll be ready to return to the pitch:

On Friday, the club announced De Jong has been suspended three matches and fined an undisclosed amount.

De Jong said after the match that it was never his intention to hurt Nagbe, per the club's website:

It was a ball that came my way. It was 50-50 and normally I always have those balls. But I went over the ball and caught the ball a little bit and caught most of his ankle.

It was a pity; it was never my intention to hurt him. He’s a good kid, as well, and I said that after the game, as well, to him. It’s a pity, but that’s football, as well. It was never my intention, and when a ball comes in that situation, you always go for it 100 per cent. Unfortunately, I caught him.

The incident prompted a Twitter spat between the two clubs:

Meanwhile, FS1 analyst Stuart Holden—who was the victim of another dangerous De Jong tackle in March 2010—made a damning assessment of the Dutchman's tackle and predicted further punishment for the former AC Milan player, per Simon Borg of the official MLS website:

I’m sitting here and now I’m seeing this challenge firs hand on Darlington Nagbe, and it makes me feel sick. Because I know what Darlington Nagbe is going through. We saw him sitting there. He had the towel over his head. We saw his body mannerism and that’s a man that knows he’s done something serious. I don’t want to speculate what it is, but I know it’s not good. And De Jong did go over and apologize, but there is absolutely no excuse for that type of challenge. We don’t need it in the game. It’s horrific. It’s horrible. And he’s going to get retroactive punishment.

It is far from the first time that De Jong, 31, has been involved in on-field aggression. He infamously planted his foot into Xabi Alonso's chest in the 2010 World Cup final between Netherlands and Spain:

On that occasion, he surprisingly escaped with only a yellow card, as he also did after Sunday's tackle on Nagbe.

Think of Liverpool, and you'll likely think of Steven Gerrard.

The 35-year-old is synonymous with the Reds, and the idea of the Anfield legend missing his boyhood club's League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday is unfathomable.

And it seems his new boss at Los Angeles Galaxy, Bruce Arena, agrees with that sentiment, per Jack Bezants of the Daily Mail.

Gerrard, who left Liverpool for the Major League Soccer side last summer, is in the midst of a CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final tie against Mexican outfit Santos Laguna. It seems he was at risk of missing the Wembley showpiece due to the Galaxy's flight schedule ahead of Wednesday's second leg.

But Arena came to his rescue.

"When I told Bruce the kick-off time, he pushed training and our flight to Mexico back an hour on Sunday to ensure I didn't miss it," Gerrard said, per Bezants.

The boss will be hoping his English midfielder can repay his generosity by providing the spark in Torreon after the two sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg on Thursday.

[Daily Mail]