Russian side Spartak Moscow reportedly want out-of-favour Manchester United winger Memphis Depay.

Sport Express reports that the club is willing to get the player on a loan deal before deciding on a permanent deal.

Everton is the leading side focused on getting Depay, but they would have to battle the Russians for the Netherlands international. Spartak already have Quincy Promes and they would be hoping the Holland international would be able to convince his close pal to join him. Both players holidayed in Los Angeles during the summer.

Liverpool are reportedly on the heels of Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun.

The 21-year old rising star plies his trade at Russian club FC Rostov. Azmoun developed playing for Iranian youth team sides but quickly piqued the interests of various clubs. Top European sides were watching him, and local Irani sides like Esteghlal, Sepahan and others offered him deals but he rejected them. Azmoun preferred a move to Russia when he decided to play for Rubin Kazan. The move made him the first Iranian footballer to switch to the Russian Premier League.

Andrei Arshavin stated that he is currently happy to be playing for FC Kairat.

The player is currently in form despite reaching his 35th birthday. The former Arsenal forward has managed to make 25 appearances for the club out of which 4 have been in the Europa League.

Andrei Arshavin reckons if people don’t take the prohibited drugs, there’s no way they can meet the demands of a few sports.

In Arshavin’s view, there are two types of sports, Cyclic and non-cyclic. Non-cyclic are the ones where similar movement is not needed all the time, like in soccer, a player doesn’t always move the same way. He can take different positions at different times depending on how his opponent is going. So, the drugs are not necessarily needed for the performance in such sports. You can manage without drugs as well.

Former Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin has stated that the London club is too conservative, and this is what is preventing the club from going forward.

He said that the team had a great chance to win the title last season, but unfortunately they did not do it.

The last day of the summer transfer window witnessed a lot of deals completed, with some coming as a surprise to many.

One of the shocking deals was the move by Chelsea to reclaim Brazilian defender David Luiz from Paris Saint Germain. Luiz’s return to Stamford Bridge is a three year deal.

Clubs had up to 11pm to get the deals done, though deals have been known to drag past the limit but only in special cases. The clubs would have to send the transfer documents to the Premier League – contract, transfer agreement and levies, work permit and so on.

The Olympic Games ended in spectacular fashion, leaving Brazil happy despite the numerous fears that greeted the host nation from the start of this campaign.

After the successful Games in London, the baton was passed to Rio to continue, but the situations leading to the games were worrying with many threatening a boycott.

Arsenal have struggled with their lack of change in tactics and it has affected their form so far.

With the purchase of Swiss play maker Granit Xhaka, there are hopes that Arsene Wenger will change the tactics a bit to ensure the reach greater heights. The Frenchman has come under fire like never before for failing to lift the English Premier League for years.

Unlike say Leicester City or Atletico Madrid who can sit deep, concede possession of the ball and make counter-attack, Arsenal are inclined to hold the ball more. Real Madrid is another club that tried something Arsenal could consider ahead of the new season.

Russia is on the brink of crashing out of the Euro 2016 after a poor performance in the game against Slovakia.

They were expected to place much higher but with a team bedeviled with injuries, they stand in last place and are set to crash out of the continental tournament.

They were ranked low ahead of the tournament with even some pundits saying none of the players in the team would make the Three Lions squad. They defeated England to get a place at the 2008 Euro tournament, with many blaming the artificial pitch at the Luzhiniki Stadium. Spurs former player Roman Pavlyuchenko grabbed a brace in the keenly contested encounter in October, prior to the tournament the next year.

There are concerns that the current crop of players in the Russian national team set to play in France lack certain characteristics to push them far in the continental tournament.

In exactly two years time, the country will play hosts to the FIFA World Cup, for the first time in their country’s history. 2018 would be a defining moment for the country.