Month: April 2019

Paul Pogba has told team-mates he wants to leave Manchester United this summer, claim reports in France. It is suggested the Red Devils would NOT block the World Cup winner’s move to Real Madrid if the Spanish giants made an offer. (L’Equipe)

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak tops United’s list of replacements for David de Gea, as doubt over the goalkeeper’s future at Old Trafford continues. (Metro)

Philippe Coutinho’s future at Barcelona hinges on whether Chelsea’s transfer ban is delayed, although Manchester United are also keen on the Brazil playmaker. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United will make a move to sign Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier if they fail to sign top target Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace. (Daily Mirror)

Cristiano Ronaldo has offered his own list of transfer targets to the Juventus hierarchy ahead of the summer transfer window. (Corriere dello Sport)

Benfica’s 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Joao Felix – who had a €120m buy-out clause – tops Ronaldo’s shortlist, while former Real Madrid team-mates Isco and Raphael Varane also feature. (Corriere dello Sport)

Crystal Palace will have to lower their £75m asking price for Wilfried Zaha if the forward is to get his desired move to a Champions League club this summer. Tottenham, Arsenal and Man United are all interested in the 26-year-old, but want a better deal.  (Daily Star)

Chelsea will offer Callum Hudson-Odoi a new contract, with Bayern Munich reportedly no longer interested in the 18-year-old after his season-ending injury. (Daily Telegraph)

Liverpool will demand €40m for 23-year-old Serbia midfielder Marko Grujic, amid interest from Spanish side Atletico Madrid. (ESPN)

Manchester City are concerned Leroy Sane is considering a move away from the club as talks over a new contract stall. (Metro)

Man City are hoping to beat rivals Man United to the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 24, for £90m. (The Sun)

Arsenal are keen on signing 17-year-old Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli, who currently plays at Ituano. (UOL Esporte)

Everton star Richarlison is a target for AC Milan, but the Italian club must secure Champions League football and meet the Premier League club’s €75m evaluation in order to sign the Brazilian. (Calciomercato)

Roma striker Edin Dzeko will turn down West Ham this summer, as he wants to join Inter Milan. (Calciomercato)

Stoke City are demanding £30m for English goalkeeper Jack Butland, who is a target for Premier League clubs Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle are considering AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso as a replacement for Rafael Benitez, if the Magpies boss decides to leave at the end of the season. (Gazzetta)

Sterling is one of the favourites to pick up the award with 17 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season.

The Manchester City winger is only behind Virgil van Dijk in the running for the top individual award.

The 24-year-old explained why he selected England team-mate Kane over the Liverpool defender.

“My vote for him is because he scores so many goals every year, he does so much for the team, gives so much for his team,” Sterling said.

“There was a lot of talk about Virgil van Dijk. I knew he would have a lot of the votes, so I looked at someone I thought being around him in the national team, how he puts in his work, his work ethic, how he looks after himself.

“He’s always there, especially coming back from injury, as a professional I looked at him and that’s my reason for voting for him, seeing him on a day-to-day with the national team.”

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Kane was not on the six-man shortlist for the award when it was announced last week.

Sterling was one of three Manchester City players, alongside Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero, while Liverpool were represented by Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane.

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard rounded off the shortlist.

City and Liverpool are locked in a battle for the Premier League title with the season entering its final stage.

Sterling was pleased to be on the shortlist but would rather win the league and FA Cup.

“It’s nice to be recognised on that front but, to be honest, if we don’t win the Premier League, I don’t really want to be in contention,” said Sterling.

The Red Devils boss suggests his team will have to deal with tactical fouling during tonight’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer is not the first United manager to have claimed City might strategically foul opponents high up the pitch to prevent counter-attacks, with his predecessor Jose Mourinho having mentioned it last season.

“When we win it we have got to be ready for their aggression because they will snap at your ankles and heels and kick you,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference. “They will not allow us easy counter-attacking. There will be fouls, no doubt about it.”

Guardiola reacted with surprise when this was mentioned at his own media briefing.

Ugly scenes broke out towards the end of the Stamford Bridge clash on Monday night after the Blues boss was sent to the stands in stoppage time.

The FA said in a statement: “Maurizio Sarri has been charged with misconduct in relation to his behaviour in the 94th minute of Monday’s Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Burnley.

“The Chelsea manager has until 18:00 on Friday to provide a response.”

Reports have since emerged claiming Sarri was repeatedly called a ‘s*** Italian’ by members of Burnley’s backroom staff and Chelsea are believed to have lodged a formal complaint.

The Red Devils were run ragged at Goodison Park on Sunday, with Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott all scoring to condemn United to their most embarrassing defeat since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

The result dealt a real blow to United’s top four hopes also, as they are now three points behind fourth place Chelsea, and their game in hand over the Blues just happens to be Wednesday’s local derby with title-chasing rivals Manchester City.

There was widespread criticism of the Old Trafford outfit following Sunday’s clash, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the manager, remained largely free of the blame.

It was United’s players who were instead vilified post-game, with many questioning the attitudes of the likes of David de Gea, Anthony Martial and Pogba, the France midfielder whose mindset was previously doubted by former manager Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah claimed the Golden Boot last season with his record-breaking tally of 32.

And the Egyptian maestro is right in the mix to secure back-to-back awards this season, but has a host of challengers.

In addition, the creative players and goalkeepers are fighting for the prize for most assists as well as most clean sheets.

Here’s a full rundown of all the stats and figures from the 2018/19 Premier League season.

Sheffield United are three points clear of Marcelo Bielsa’s men and have a far superior goal difference, heading into the final two matches of the season.

The Whites face in-form Aston Villa next, who have remarkably won their last 10 league games, thus their chances of finishing in the top two look somewhat slim as things currently stand.

The omens don’t look good for Leeds as they seek to end a 15-year exile from the Premier League.

Over the past three seasons, April hasn’t been a happy month for the Yorkshire outfit – winning just four of the 18 games they’ve competed in.

Mustafi was responsible for two of Palace’s three goals, which proved costly as the Gunners’ slipped to a 3-2 defeat and lost ground in their race to finish in the top four.

It’s not the first time the 27-year-old’s defending has come under scrutiny – and Carragher says the horror show was hardly surprising.

“I wasn’t surprised by this,” he told Sky Sports.

“He’s been a mess since he joined the club really and this is another example of it.

De Bruyne was forced to leave the pitch during City’s defeat of Tottenham on Saturday, which returned Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the table.

Liverpool moved back ahead of City into first the following day with a 2-0 win at Cardiff.

Guardiola immediately ruled De Bruyne, who has struggled with injury problems all season, out of Wednesday evening’s Manchester derby, and it appears he now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted he is not completely happy with his current squad and is keen to give it a facelift when the transfer window opens.

A number of players’ futures are uncertain, with David de Gea, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and a host of others linked with possible moves away from Old Trafford.

Club legend Solskjaer is unlikely to be left wanting for funds as he looks to build a side capable of closing the gap to rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

But former Tottenham and Egypt striker Mido believes signing too many new stars would be a big mistake from the boss.

Speaking as a special guest on Tuesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, he said: “If you make a lot of changes, you will have another horrible season.