Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has refused to travel to the United States for preseason training with his team, according to multiple reports. Koscielny has clear doubt about his future with the club as he is nearing his final year of his contract with the squad, yet to sign a new deal.

Arsenal released a statement regarding Koscielny’s actions, saying, “We are very disappointed by Laurent’s actions, which are against our clear instructions. We hope to resolve this matter and will not be providing any further comment at this time,” the clubs told ESPN.

Koscielny is nearing his last few years as a professional at age 33, and is reported to have interest from French side Bordeaux, according to BBC, they are offering him a three-year deal.

This is a depleted Arsenal squad that lacks significant leadership and playmaking. Arsenal finished fifth in the Premier League last season, just one spot above Manchester United who outdid Arsenal in terms of lackluster performances. Shkodran Mustafi, a center-half for Arsenal, is reported to be on the move as well as Koscielny. With both of their starting center backs on reported moves, Unai Emery and the Arsenal board seem to be lacking first-team defenders.

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Koscielny has battled a multitude of injuries, sidelining him all season but for 13 starts he had in the Premier league in 2018. According to Bleacher Report, Emery has been given a limited budget for this upcoming season for summer transfers, and two possible new center backs seems to be added to the shopping list. Arsenal placed a bid for Celtic’s Kieran Tierney, but according to Goal’s Chris Burton, Celtic manager Neil Lennon criticized Emery and the board of directors for a bid that was drastically too low.

Whatever Emery and the board decides to do with their defense and lack of first team players, it remains to be seen.

Koscielny has started 353 times for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup two times and playing for the squad for almost a decade.

Former Celtic and Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller is battling cancer.

Liam Miller Cancer Diagnosis News

The 36-year-old Irishman is reportedly headed back to his homeland from the United States, where he has been receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Miller helped lead Ireland to 21 victories between 2004 and 2009. His only senior international goal came against Sweden in 2006.

“I hope he can get through this difficult time of his life,” said former Celtic team-mate John Hartson.

“Obviously all our thoughts go out to him and his family,” added Republic of Ireland manger Martin O’Neill.

Miller began his career with Celtic in 1997 as a youth and then moved on to the senior team in 2000. He also played for Leeds, Sunderland, QPR and Hibernian before heading to Australia to play for Perth Glory (2011-2013), Brisbane Roar (2013-2014) and Melbourne City (2014).

He then returned to Ireland to play for Cork City before playing for semi-professional American team Wilmington Hammerheads in North Carolina in 2016.

Celtic wrote on their official Twitter account: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with Liam Miller and his family at this time.”

And Manchester United tweeted: “The thoughts of everyone at Manchester United go out to Liam Miller and his loved ones at this difficult time.”

According to The Guardian, Miller is suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Miller helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League title in 2004.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 04: Liam Miller of the Roar celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game during the round 13 A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on January 4, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Tommy Gemmell, a former player for Scottish club Celtic’s ‘Lisbon Lions’ team that won the 1967 European Cup, has died following a long illness. He was 73.

Former Celtic ‘Lisbon Lion’ Tommy Gemmell Dies at 73

The former Scottish defender scored in the 2-1 victory against Inter Milan in 1967.

Celtic said in a statement Thursday morning: “The whole Celtic family is mourning his passing, and everyone associated with the club sends their thoughts and prayers to his family, his fellow Lions and his many friends at this desperately sad time.”

Gemmell, who was capped 18 by Scotland and played in the 3-2 win against World Cup winners England at Wembley in 1967, also scored in the 1970 final when the Hoops lost to Dutch club Feyenoord. He played 10 seasons for Celtic, between 1961 and 1971, scoring 63 goals in 418 appearances.

He won six league titles, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups in addition to the 1967 European Cup. Celtic were the first British team to win the tournament.

Just days before Gemmell’s death– as well as the 50th anniversary of that European victory– the family of Billy McNeill confirmed the Lisbon Lions captain has dementia.

Celtic’s statement said: “Tommy Gemmell is a true Celtic legend, part of the greatest side in the club’s history and a man who played a pivotal role in our greatest ever triumph when, in Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional, 11 men all born within a 30-mile radius of Celtic Park, beat Inter Milan to win the European Cup.

“The legend of the Lisbon Lions was created that night, and Tommy and his team-mates were assured their place in the pantheon of Celtic greats. And, like the rest of the Lions, Tommy remained humble about his incredible football achievements.”

Dozens of tributes have poured in. Former Celtic Murdo MacLeod called Gemmell’s passing “very sad news,” and described Gemmell as “one of the greats.”

Celtic’s chief executive, Peter Lawwell, said: “Tommy was a Celtic great, one of football’s greats and I know he will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew him. He was a man of huge stature in the game and someone who made such an important mark on Celtic Football Club.

“Tommy will forever hold his rightful place as one of the true Celtic legends. In this particular year it is so very sad to lose such an important figure – while we mourn his loss, I am sure all our supporters will also celebrate the life and the wonderful achievements of the great Tommy Gemmell.”

After retiring as a player with Dundee in 1977, Gemmell managed the club for three years, and also had two stints in charge of Albion Rovers.

There are only seven Lisbon Lions still alive: McNeill, Bertie Auld, Bobby Lennox, Willie Wallace, Jim Craig, Stevie Chalmers and John Clark. 

12th May 1967: Tommy Gemmell of the Celtic side that beat Inter Milan by two goals to one in the European Cup final in Lisbon. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his team could be a ‘top six’ club if they were playing soccer in the English Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers Thinks Celtic Would Be Major Threat In Premier League

Rodgers spoke after the Scottish club’s 3-3 Champions League tie with Premier league leaders Manchester City on Wednesday.

“There’s no doubt Celtic are a major threat to nearly every English club,” said the 43-year-old former Liverpool boss.

The English Football League announced last week that no Scottish clubs would be invited into any expanded setup in the future.

“If Celtic were in England, they would be in the top four/top six clubs there,” said Rodgers, who took over for Ronny Deila as Celtic boss in May. “If you are another club playing in that league or Championship, or League One, would you want that type of threat coming in? I don’t think you’d want it and that’s the reality.”

Rodgers continued: “It is going to be difficult for Celtic to be in the English pyramid system because of the sheer scale of the club. Most of our games are packed out now. Can you imagine Celtic with that resource? Then it can go as far as it wants then. It would be frightening prospect but an exciting prospect.”

The EFL are also considering adding eight new members, so they can create four divisions of 20 below the Premier League.

Rodgers added that Celtic’s performance against Manchester City was proof that the Champions League should not become a closed shop to all but teams with the largest finances.

“Wednesday was a perfect example of that,” said the manager, whose side bounced back from an opening 7-0 defeat by Barcelona. “After the Barcelona game, there were critics, which is natural when you lose so heavily.”

Rodgers continued: “But I think, when you put it into perspective, there has to be opportunities for clubs like Celtic – one of the great clubs of world football – to play in this competition and the competition is better for a club like Celtic being in it.

“I know League One clubs that probably have greater resources than Celtic, but that shouldn’t stop us having an opportunity.”

Following pressure from Europe’s richest teams, UEFA agreed in August to guarantee each of the continent’s top four domestic leagues– currently Spain, Germany, England and Italy– four spots each in the group stage.

Nevertheless, Rodgers believes Celtic proved that they deserve the opportunity to be in Europe’s elite club competition.

“It was an incredible advert for Glasgow Celtic,” he said of the draw with Pep Guardiola’s City.

Furthermore, Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has warned of the risk of “an inexorable slide towards an NFL-style closed-shop system.”

Celtic next face Dundee in a Scottish Premiership game on Saturday.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 23: Celtic unveil their new manager, Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park, Glasgow on May 23, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Some fans will clearly do whatever it takes to meet their favorite sports stars.

Fan Leaps Into Tunnel To Meet Lionel Messi, Gets Tackled By Security Guard

One such eager fan went overboard when he attempted to meet star forward Lionel Messi by jumping into the tunnel at Aviva Stadium in Dublin during Barcelona’s friendly game against Celtic over the weekend.

The video of the incident shows the man briefly touch the Barcelona captain after jumping down right in front of him, before being viciously tackled by a running security guard.

The video was taken from a high angle, so neither the fan’s nor Messi’s faces can be clearly seen, although judging from the fact that the Argentine player momentarily stood still and put his hands out in front of him, it seems clear that he was very surprised by the fan’s actions, as anyone would have been.

Barcelona defeated Celtic 3-1 on Saturday.

Barcelona came to Dublin without Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, Claudio Bravo and Jordi Alba, who aren’t back in training until tomorrow, while Neymar is preparing for the Olympics in Brazil.

Messi, 29, recently stated that he wanted to retire from international soccer following Argentina’s defeat in penalties to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final in June, the fourth tournament final he has lost with his country. However, speculation has arisen that the forward could return for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and that his decision to retire was simply an announcement he made out of frustration.

Messi and his father were also recently investigated for tax fraud, though it was said he was likely to avoid the corresponding prison sentence.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 26: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks on against Chile during the Copa America Centenario Championship match at MetLife Stadium on June 26, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Chile defeated Argentina 4-2 in penalty kicks. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stated there was “no embarrassment” in losing 1-0 to Gibraltar part-timers Lincoln Red Imps in his first competitive game in charge of the Scottish Premiership club in Gibraltar on Tuesday.

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Not Embarrassed By 1-0 Loss

Lee Casciaro, a police officer, scored the only goal in Tuesday’s first-leg Champions League qualifier in the 47th minute.

The Imps also included a fireman, a customs officer and a taxi driver.

“I’m not really [shocked]. I know these results can happen,” said Rodgers, the former Liverpool boss who took over from Ronny Deila in May. “We stay calm. We need a performance next week.”

Celtic will welcome the champions of Gibraltar to Glasgow next Wednesday for the second leg of their second qualifying round tie.

“We dominated and had enough chances, but sometimes it can happen like that… one ball up the pitch and they’re in,” said the 43-year-old Rodgers.

“You let the local team have their night, we press on, another week’s training and be better for it.

“We’ve given ourselves a bit of work to do, but there’s no panic. It’s a two-legged affair and our objective is to get through.”

The manager’s message to Celtic fans, over 300 of whom were in the tiny stadium that was not full to its 2,000 capacity, was to “stay calm.”

Lincoln Red Imps’ captain, customs officer Roy Chipolina, stood behind his comments earlier in the week when he said victory over Celtic would be the biggest shock in European football.

“When you look at the history of both clubs, nothing has changed,” he said. “Celtic are still a massive club and they are still favourites in the tie, but I don’t think anyone expected us to be going over to Glasgow with a 1-0 lead.

“We will be going over there more confident than we thought and, if miracles can happen again, we will knock Celtic out of the Champions League.”

Casciaro added that his team benefited from the artificial turf, weather conditions and the fact that they have been training for almost two months.

“The manager set us up to get them on the counter attack,” he said. “It was really, really a dream for us, to score and win 1-0 against the mighty Celtic.

“Just walking out and have Celtic supporters singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and it’s a historic pitch, we have to enjoy ourselves this doesn’t happen very often for us. We’ve only been in Uefa last three years.”

Rodgers led Liverpool from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that, he managed Swansea City and Reading, for whom he also played from 1990 to 1993.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M55B3oceoo

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 23: Celtic unveil their new manager, Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park, Glasgow on May 23, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)