THE TALK OF FOOTBALL

CARDIFF looks set to miss out on becoming a host city for Euro 2020, compounding the agony of Wales failing to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia. UEFA’s executive committee are ready to pick Stockholm over the principality when they vote on Thursday to replace Brussels’ Eurostadium as one of the 13 venues for the one-off pan-European finals. Welsh FA officials have lobbied virtually every exco member, including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, but it seems their case will be thrown out despite having hosted last season’s Champions League final.

MANCHESTER UNITED have joined Arsenal, Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in showing interest in Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, 22.

TOTTENHAM have more than doubled the projected cost of their new stadium to £1billion, which will make it the most expensive in Europe. Chairman Daniel Levy continues to talk with interested parties to help finance the build having confided that the skyrocketing cost of the stadium, due to open ahead of next season, is in part due to the complexity of the project. Spurs will look to front load deals to generate cash upfront and naming rights talks are ongoing.