Month: May 2019

They have, arguably, the best manager on the planet and, although they are being investigated for breaching Financial Fairplay Rules, they have all the resources available to stay at the top of the English game.

Even since the title was secured on Sunday, City have been linked with a host of top performing stars from across Europe, and if they land just two of them their already superior squad to the rest of the league will only grow better and better.

Liverpool were beaten by just one point this campaign, but Jurgen Klopp will surely have to pull off a miracle if they spend big again this summer.

But who are the targets and how could they line-up if they are bought next season? talkSPORT.com has identified where they could slot in.

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The player swapped Arsenal for United in January 2018 and is on a reported £500,000-a-week.

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However, he has netted just once in 20 Premier League appearances this term and limped off with anther injury in the 1-1 draw against relegated Huddersfield in the penultimate game of the season.

In total, the Chilean has scored just five goals in 45 appearances over the last 16 months.

Speaking to Gary Neville in an interview for Sky Sports, former United left-back Evra said it is likely he was tempted by the wage slip on offer.

“Some players only come for the money, I am not afraid to say that,” Evra said.

Arsenal would take Manchester City’s place in the Champions League should they be banned from next season’s competition.

Uefa investigators want Pep Guardiola’s side to be banned from Europe’s top club competition for a season if they are found guilty of breaking financial rules.

Chief investigator Yves Leterme is set to make a recommendation this week on what their punishment should be.

Should City be banned from the Champions League for a season, it would open the door for fifth placed Arsenal to be handed a place in the competition even if they lose the Europa League final.

The Manchester club are accused of ‘several alleged violations’ of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations when Uefa announced its investigation in March.

According to emails published by German magazine Der Spiegel, City allegedly hid at least £70million in funding from its owners by claiming it was sponsorship income.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2…

• West Brom vs Aston Villa (Tuesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Derby (Wednesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT
• Portsmouth vs Sunderland (Thursday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Charlton vs Doncaster (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Manchester City vs Watford (Saturday, 5pm) – talkSPORT

The club are believed to have been accused by Uefa of providing ‘unconvincing’ explanations over their finances.

City have continued to refute the claims and released a statement questioning the integrity of the Uefa probe after a New York Times report claimed they will be suspended for a year.

Their statement said: “Manchester City FC is fully cooperating in good faith with the CFCB IC’s (Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body Investigatory Chamber) ongoing investigation.

“In doing so the club is reliant on both the CFCB IC’s independence and commitment to due process; and on Uefa’s commitment of the 7th of March that it ‘…will make no further comment on the matter while the investigation is ongoing’.

The Bluebirds finished in 18th place on 34 points and were sent back to the second tier after just a season in the Premier League.

Their campaign did end on a high, though, as they beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford on the final day.

Warnock still has one year left on his Cardiff contract and he looks set to target an immediate return to the Premier League.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2…

• West Brom vs Aston Villa (Tuesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Derby (Wednesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT
• Portsmouth vs Sunderland (Thursday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Charlton vs Doncaster (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Manchester City vs Watford (Saturday, 5pm) – talkSPORT

Chairman Mehmet Dalman confirmed he and chief executive Ken Choo held talks with the 70-year-old over a potential transfer budget and remain positive Warnock will remain in south Wales.

Dalman told the BBC: “He is the best man for the job, there was never any doubt in my mind.”

Warnock had wanted assurances over a budget that would allow him to bring in the players he felt were needed to mount a promotion challenge.

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Bookmakers have slashed odds on Derby boss Frank Lampard becoming the next Brighton manager.

Every single bookie offering odds on Chris Hughton’s successor have cut Lampard, with one major firm slashing odds from 16/1 into just 10/3.

Lampard, who guided the Rams to a play-off position in the Championship this season, is the second most backed in the last 12 hours, with 17% of all bets in the market, overtaking the likes of Phil Neville (11/1) and Slasiva Jokanovic (16/1).

The shift in the market means the former Chelsea midfielder man only trails odds-on favourite Graham Potter, although the Swansea boss’s odds are drifting.

On Monday, Potter was as short as 1/8 to be appointed, although that’s now the best price of 1/2 that he takes over at the Amex.

Next permanent Brighton manager:

Graham Potter – 1/2

Frank Lampard – 10/3

Phil Neville – 11/1

Slasiva Jokanovic – 16/1

Lee Johnson – 16/1

Chris Wilder – 20/1

Saltor Bruno – 20/1

Adi Hutter – 20/1

Rafa Benitez – 20/1

Daniel Farke – 25/1

Claude Puel – 25/1

Steven Gerrard – 25/1

Elsewhere, Lee Johnson is (16/1), Chris Wilder (20/1) and Brighton cult hero Bruno Saltor (20/1).

Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek said: “Derby fans will not be happy to see their boss Lampard being linked to a Premier League job when they still have a huge play-off semi-final clash to come this week against Leeds.

“All the names linked to the post fit a profile of young, promising coaches and it’s a surprise to see Potter’s price drift given the confirmation in the local press that he is on Tony Blooms shortlist.”

Lampard’s name being mentioned comes as his side prepare for their biggest match this season.

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Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already ruled out a title challenge, but aims to regain a top-four spot.

And if they are to stand any chance of doing so, United can’t concede 54 goals like they did in the 2018/19 campaign.

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It was the most of any side in the Premier League’s top six, while Wolves, Everton, Leicester City, and Newcastle United all saw their goal breached less than Man United’s.

So who can help them in their quest to improve their defence? Here are the players that have been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Part of the reason behind their success is, undoubtedly, their sharp-shooting forward line who are all accurate in front of goal, helping them to 94 goals.

But just who are the most precise? talkSPORT.com has churned through the stats to find the top 20 players with the most shots on target per 90.

As expected, the likes of Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling feature, as well as Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane.

There are, however, a couple of interesting inclusions… so check out the full list below.

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No one would have expected Ryan Fraser to bag 14 assists, while Luke Shaw established himself as a regular at Old Trafford.

The duo, though, have done well this campaign and now earned the rewards for it.

It’s not just the PFA’s Player of the Year award that matters, the individual club honours mean a lot to recipients who are being credited for their consistent excellence over a single year.

But who are each Premier League club’s Player of the Year winners from the 2018/19 season? Find out below.

Consistency was key to their success and while Pep Guardiola’s players will have a medal to show for their efforts, others will not have been rewarded despite their refusal to succumb to the demands of top-flight football.

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Neville was at the ground to cover the match for Sky Sports and had to make his way through a group of City fans to get to the stadium.

The Manchester United legend received a torrent of verbal abuse from the fans and had to duck as a pint was launched at his head.

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The incident was caught on video by one City fan and posted to Snapchat with the caption ‘Red c***’.

Some City fans were more diplomatic and appeared to apologise on behalf of the others.

The 44-year-old quickly left the area and managed to get up some stairs before giving the fans a thumbs up when he neared the top.