CHELSEA have suffered a big blow in their pursuit of Norwegian wonderkid Erling Haaland, with the Dortmund start reportedly ready to choose one of Man Utd, Man City or Liverpool.
Meanwhile Arsenal are rumoured to be keen on replacing Alexandre Lacazette with former AC Milan striker Andre Silva.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Follow our LIVE blog below to get the latest from around the clubs…
LOST WITHOUT BRU
SunSport’s Danny Higginbotham says: Manchester United do miss Paul Pogba — it is as simple as that.
Since coming off injured in their 3-3 draw with Everton, United have only scored more than one goal in a Prem game against Newcastle.
And it is no coincidence. They are missing his range of passing and his ability to drive at players.
The question was, ‘Can Pogba and Bruno Fernandes play together?’.
But now it is clear that, without Pogba, a certain amount of Fernandes’ freedom is taken away.
When they are both on the field they make space for each other, depending on who the opposition decide to mark.
KURT COLE-BAIN
Wales manager Chris Coleman has picked up the guitar and begun jamming during his time away from football.
The ex-Fulham man was filmed rocking out to Nirvana classic ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ on Thursday as he enjoys life away from coaching.
RON THE MONEY
Real Madrid paid Ronaldo £860,000-a-year WITHOUT a contract, Football Leaks documents allege.
The legendary Brazilian scored 104 goals in 177 appearances as a star of the Galacticos between 2002 and 2007.
Ronaldo, 44, has since worked as a club ambassador, alongside the likes of Roberto Carlos and Raul.
But according to Football Leaks, in documents shared by German newspaper Der Spiegel, it is claimed that Ronaldo was not given a formal contract by the Bernabeu club.
The leak alleges that Ronaldo therefore has not had to declare this income to tax authorities.
ICYMI
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swears he isn’t trying to freeze out David De Gea in favour of Dean Henderson.
Solskjaer said: “As soon as David travels back, we just have to follow the government rules. But I expect him to be available very soon, not too far.
“Making up stories is not fair on our fans, not fair on David, we want our players back as soon as poss. But there’s a human being in there and David was there for this fantastic day for him and his girlfriend.
“This is the biggest occasion in any parents’ lives and it’s a fantastic day for David, of course.
“When you become a dad that’s the best possible feeling you could have and the ones lucky enough to have that feeling know.”
ON A QU-EST
Leeds have joined Tottenham and AC Milan in the race to sign Lucas Vazquez on a free transfer, according to reports.
The Real Madrid winger, 29, is out of contract at the end of the season.
And Sport Witness claim Marcelo Bielsa’s side are weighing up an offer for the nine-cap Spain international.
GOTH TO BE DONE
Marek Hamsik will join IFK Gothenburg on Monday, following former boss Rafael Benitez out the door at Dalian Pro.
The Napoli legend joined Dalian in 2019, following 12 glittering years in Serie A.
But following new salary cap rules in the Chinese Super League, Hamsik, 33, has become one of a number of high-profile stars to leave China this year.
Hamsik’s current deal, thought to be worth around £150,000-a-week, still has another nine months to run.
But according to Fabrizio Romano, he is on the verge of joining IFK Gothenburg on a free transfer.
TONI TRAUMA
Toni Kroos has slammed fans who called him a ‘Nazi’ for criticising Mesut Ozil’s racism claims.
He told reporters, via Marca: “After the 2018 World Cup I said that I did not like the retirement of Mesut Ozil and the manner in which he did it.
“And then I was directly a Nazi for a lot of people: blond, blue eyes…everything fit for a lot of people.
“I managed to overcome it, anyone can hide behind a fake profile and then insult other people with almost no problem.”
GUNNING FOR TARIQ
Chelsea could be set to receive a cash boost if Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey signs for Arsenal.
Lamptey, 20, joined the Seagulls from Stamford Bridge in January 2020 for the bargain price of just £3million.
And if he does leave Brighton in the summer, Chelsea will receive a percentage of Brighton’s fee due to a clause in his contract.
When Lamptey joined the south coast outfit, Graham Potter’s side agreed an undisclosed sell-on clause with the Blues.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are the front-runners to sign the England youngster.
NOT KEANE
Roy Keane’s continued involvement in football after his career-ending challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland is ‘appalling’, according to former FA chief David Bernstein.
He told The Athletic ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby: “I’ve never forgotten it. From a personal point of view, that was the worst individual thing I’ve been directly involved in, and the worst I’ve ever seen on the pitch.
“As a human being, it was an awful thing to see. Roy Keane stood over him and basically said, ‘Take that, you b.’
“It was done in cold blood. I have never forgiven Keane for that. I think, frankly, it’s dreadful he’s accepted in football the way he is. After doing something like that, I think it’s absolutely appalling.”
LOOK INTER THEM
David Beckham’s Inter Miami are being investigated by the MLS for ‘violating the salary budget’ by signing Blaise Matuidi.
The Frenchman joined the new Florida-based franchise on a free transfer from Juventus last August.
But the MLS confirmed they are looking into the deal to determine whether Becks’ club broke the league’s regulations.
An MLS statement released on Friday said: “Major League Soccer has begun a formal review of Inter Miami CF’s signing of midfielder Blaise Matuidi, specifically investigating whether the signing of the player complied with Major League Soccer’s salary budget and roster guidelines.
“MLS will not make further comment until the completion of its investigation.”
QUILT-IN’ TIME
The sight of Chelsea substitutes being handed blankets to warm up during the win over Liverpool left fans calling for the footage to be hidden from Roy Keane.
DORTMUND DUO
Former Manchester United player Lee Sharpe believes the club should sign Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.
He told Ladbrokes: “There are always areas on the pitch you can strengthen as a side and I think there are two lads currently playing for Dortmund that Man United should seriously be looking at.
“Jadon Sancho on the right – I think United are still lacking real quality out in that position.
“Mason Greenwood has filled in and Daniel James has come in and had a good month or so but I think they need to improve on that position if they want to be challenging for titles and Champions Leagues.
“And the other name is obviously Erling Haaland.
“On his day Anthony Martial can be a world-beater but he doesn’t have enough of those days.
“Edinson Cavani, we’re seen, struggles to stay fit and perform week-in, week-out, whereas Haaland has proven himself over the last few years as one of the best in the world in that position.
“If they were to go out and get those two names in then they wouldn’t be far off being a real team.”
RED ALERT
Arsenal lost almost £48million in the last financial year – in a downturn blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.
Figures announced on Friday revealed the second year in a row that the club has suffered a loss following 18 consecutive years in profit.
Yet the true extent of the economic meltdown is still to be told, with today’s accounts running only to the end of May 2020.
The Gunners’ pre-tax losses amounted to £47.8m, rising from £27.1m in the previous year.
BELLS AND WHISTLES
England will benefit from Jude Bellingham swapping Birmingham for Borussia Dortmund, Jens Lehmann reckons.
He told talkSPORT: “I don’t feel that because when you come from Birmingham, a team out of the Premier League, then you expect something of him.
“I like him as a player; his posture, his physicality, but also his technique. And he can score goals at a very young age.
“So it is good for the Bundesliga that, all of a sudden, young English players go the other way round.
“Before it was always German players going to England, now it is the other way around.”
Lehmann added: “It’s good for his personal experience, his development, just in case he goes back or plays for the English national team.
“But, right now, I guess he wants to experience the fantastic atmosphere of the Signal Iduna Park because due to coronavirus, there were not many occasions when people were allowed to come to the stadiums.”
WILD IDEAS
Danny Mills has shot down suggestions Chris Wilder could manage Manchester City – by pointing towards David Moyes’ Manchester United struggles.
Speaking to Dream Team Coach TV, ex-Citizens right-back Mills said: “Just throwing the best players together doesn’t make you the best team. Just spending money doesn’t work.
“You’ve got to manage the squad. You’ve got to manage egos, which is a huge part of it. You’ve got to have the respect of the dressing room and you do that by being previously successful.
“When David Moyes stepped into Manchester United and tried to do things differently and the players were going ‘well that’s not what we’ve done before’.
“Somebody said the other day that Chris Wilder could come in and manage this City team. No he couldn’t.”
MOR TALENT
Manchester United have launched a bid for Barcelona prodigy Ilaix Moriba, according to reports.
The midfielder, 18, has won rave reviews since breaking into the Catalans’ first team earlier this season.
Spain Under-18 international Moriba has been labelled the new Paul Pogba, with similar strength and creativity to the Red Devils superstar.
And Barcelona sports daily Mundo Deportivo claimed Old Trafford officials have tabled an offer for the Guinea-born teenager.
RB Leipzig are also said to have made an offer for Moriba, whose Nou Camp contract is due to expire next year.
TECH A BOW
Fifa has confirmed it wants ‘robo linesmen’ to call offsides at next year’s World Cup finals.
And world chiefs are keen to roll out Arsene Wenger’s new ‘daylight’ offside idea in a bid to guarantee more goals.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino revealed he is ploughing full steam ahead with ‘semi automatic offsides’.
That sees the use of artificial intelligence ‘skeletal technology’ to give assistant referees instant signals of an attacker transgressing.
Infantino said: “We tested it at two games in the Club World Cup in January and the tests were very positive.
“VAR can take too long on occasions, although it brings justice, but with this technology we will get instant decisions.”
ED OF THE LINE
Leicester are close to beating Arsenal to Celtic star Odsonne Edouard ahead of the summer transfer window, reports suggest.
According to MailOnline, The Foxes see Edouard as a long-term replacement for legendary centre-forward Jamie Vardy.
The star striker appears keen on reuniting with Brendan Rodgers, his former manager at Celtic Park, and a £15million deal is said to be close to being completed.
FAN-TASTIC
The Premier League could push back the 36th and 37th gameweeks of the 2020-21 season so every team can welcome back fans to at least one game.
Boris Johnson opened the way to crowds of up to 10,000 attending matches for the final round of fixtures last week.
But the Premier League is said to have held ‘casual’ talks about moving the 36th and 37th gameweeks, according to The Athletic.
BARC FOR MORE?
Neymar has hinted that he will be fit for Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Barcelona following a month out with a groin injury.
LAKI SHOT
Arsenal’s Europa League opponents Olympiacos qualified for the Greek Cup semi-finals thanks to a hilarious late goal.
And the Gunners might want to have a look as it show they will have to be constantly focused when they clash with the same team that threw them out of Europe last year.
PEP TALK
Pep Guardiola has told players due to fly to Covid ‘red zones’ in the international break they will not be allowed to travel.
He said: “We will wait until after this game against United and I am pretty sure that next week we’ll talk about that.
“But I think it makes no sense if the players go to the national team and then have to isolate for ten days when they come back.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard for seven, eight or nine months and after the international break comes the real part of the season.
“And important players – maybe six, seven, eight, nine players – cannot play for ten days?
“It makes no sense – they are not going to fly. That’s for sure.
“If they can fly, play with the national team and come straight back to training, they’ll fly.
“We invest a lot of time and money for the important part of the season.
“Maybe Uefa or Fifa might make something special for them. I’m sure they’ll understand this argument.”
AUBA TIME
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to return to Arsenal’s starting line-up for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
Here’s how they could line-up…
GET ENG LINE
Gareth Southgate somehow needs to pick a 23-man squad for this summer’s rearranged Euro 2020 tournament.
And then he will be tasked with narrowing that down a starting XI to face Croatia on June 13.
Between now and then, there will be plenty of factors to consider – not least form and injuries.
But here are five players we think should, as things stand, definitely be lining up at Wembley that afternoon HERE…
SILVA PINING
Arsenal have joined Manchester United in the hunt for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, according to reports.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Co recently registered an interest in the Portuguese striker.
United appeared to have a clear run at Silva, but Arsenal have now revealed they are interested, according to Calciomercato.
The report in Italy claims Gunners chief Mikel Arteta views Silva as a direct replacement for Lacazette.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
