Frank Lampard's Derby County secured a playoff semifinal against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United with a 2-1 win over West Brom, pipping Middlesbrough to sixth place. Former Argentina forward Gabriel Batistuta has told ESPN FC he is open to managing Middlesbrough, but added that the Championship side have yet to make any contact.Batistuta is among the names linked with the vacancy at the club following Tony Pulis' departure after Boro failed to make the playoffs. Former England international Jonathan Woodgate is also in contention.Editor's PicksTop 30 players under 21 in men's soccerFreddy Adu: 'I'm not ready to give it up'- Viewers' guide: Stream ESPN+ in U.S.- Follow Transfer Talk LIVE- Fantasy: Set lineups, check scores!Batistuta, who has completed his coaching badges but has never managed a club, told ESPN FC he has not been contacted by Middlesbrough...

Frank Lampard's Derby County secured a playoff semifinal against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United with a 2-1 win over West Brom, pipping Middlesbrough to sixth place. John Obi Mikel is closing in on a return to the Premier League with a source telling ESPN FC that the former Chelsea star is considering multiple offers from around the league  and could make a decision before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.- AFCON: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations daily fixtures schedule- When does the Premier League transfer window open? Mikel, 32, left Chelsea on a free transfer for Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League in 2017 after...

Nigeria's release of their 25-man provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday was marked by one notable return, that of skipper John Obi Mikel.The midfielder, 32, has not suited up for the Super Eagles since June of 2018 when the Nigerians were eliminated by Argentina in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup.There was some uncertainty about whether he would play for Nigeria again, although coach Gernot Rohr left the door open for the Middlesbrough midfielder to walk through...

Britt Assombalonga's penalty was the difference in Middlesbrough's 2-1 win against Reading at the Riverside stadium.

Onel Hernandez's second-half goal kept the Canaries five points clear of Leeds United atop the Championship table.

By the time Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations training camp rolls around in May, it will have been closing on 11 months since team captain John Obi Mikel last pulled on the Super Eagles strip.Mikel's post-World Cup absence when he missed the AFCON qualifier against the Seychelles, and then the double-header against Libya, was initially put down to injury.He was expected to return for the important AFCON qualifier against South Africa in Johannesburg in November, when the Super Eagles secured passage...