CHELSEA are reportedly battling Tottenham for Paulo Dybala’s signature, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus future also hangs in the balance.
All these and the latest updates ahead of three nights of Champions League and Europa League action coming up.
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Follow our LIVE blog below to get the latest from around the clubs…
ARTETA WARNS GUNNERS
Mikel Arteta insists tomorrow’s Europa League last-16 clash with Olympiakos is far from resolved despite Arsenal’s 3-1 first-leg win at the Emirates.
The Gunenrs boss said: “It’s a good time for everybody, it is a really important game for us.
“We know it is going to be tough and everyone has to be ready.”
“Everyone is more or less okay. We have a few doubts but hopefully everyone will be involved in the squad.”
POGBA, DE GEA FIT TO RETURN
David de Gea and Paul Pogba are fit to return for United’s Europa League last-16 away tie with AC Milan following the 1-1 first leg draw.
But striker Edinson Cavani misses out after initial hopes he would make it.
And despite De Gea’s availability, Dean Henderson will hope to keep his place.
Midfielder Paul Pogba and keeper David de Gea are available for United against AC MilanCredit: PA REFFING DISGRACE
A referee was forced to abandon a match and run off the pitch after being attacked by players.
The Bulgarian fourth tier game was halted, as the shocking footage reveals, after the ref was abused and chased off the pitch.
The referee comes under attack by players The official is forced to run away from the players Some of the players reacted aggressively to the ref and the official decided he had seen enough.
One player pushed the ref and he responded by pulling out a yellow card. But the players continued to chase him and the ref was forced to run off the pitch.
Some staff members also got involved in the chase and the ref ran for cover as headed into the car park. At one stage a staff member kicks a ball in the direction of the terrified official.
In 2018 a referee was chased by a footballer in Venezuela and wrestled to the ground before being kicked in the head.
But fortunately the ref in Bulgaria managed to get to safety after reacting quickly to the unrest on the pitch.
The ref flees and runs into the car park after coming under attack
IT DOZEN GET BETTER THAN THIS
Mauro Icardi has sex with wife Wanda Nara 12 times a DAY, according to a rumour shared by Daniele Adani.
Former Italian centre-back Adani featured on Christian Vieri’s Twitch channel and the pair discussed footballers’ sex lives.
Mauro Icardi has sex with wife Wanda Nara 12 times a day, according to a rumour shared by Daniele Adani PSG striker Mauro Icardi is married to Argentine Wanda Nara They revealed a rumour that PSG striker Icardi and fellow Argentine Wanda have sex up to 12 times a day.
Wanda, who is also her husband’s agent, has not been shy about revealing secrets to their life in the bedroom before.
She once hit back at trolls and said she performs oral sex on Icardi every night.
Wanda was also asked last year about her thoughts on Antonio Conte’s claims that footballers should make as little effort as possible during sex.
Nara said: “I do not know what to say. He should try it before a match but Mauro is very professional and does not do anything before a match.
“Only after and if the match went well. If it does not go well, he does not even want to look at me.”
WEIGHT HAZARD
This is the shock moment a journalist was kicked off a Spanish television show for calling Eden Hazard ‘fat’.
Jorge D’Alessandro was told to leave the room by ‘El Chiringuito de Jugones’ host Josep Pedredol.
A journalist was kicked off a Spanish television show in dramatic fashion The reporter labelled Real Madrid playmaker Eden Hazard ‘fat’ It came after the reporter called Real Madrid playmaker Hazard ‘fat’ on air.
The show was broadcast during Real’s victory over Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The panel were discussing team selections and options – and Hazard wasn’t even involved.
The Belgian has struggled with injuries ever since sealing his £130m move from Chelsea in 2019.
He admitted he reported for pre-season training in the Spanish capital five kilos overweight.
Hazard told L’Equipe: “[My weight?] I don’t hide it. When I am on vacation, I am on vacation. I am someone who takes weight fast and loses it fast.
“When I was in Lille at 18, I weighed 72 kilos. Afterwards, I gained muscle mass up to 75 kilos. On a bad day I weigh 77 kilos, but weighed 80 this summer. I lost everything in ten days.”
MARC MY WORDS
Marcus Rashford is determined to play through the pain barrier and delay a shoulder operation until after the Euros.
He said: “To be honest I just focus on the next game at hand and that’s just the way I deal with it. What’s needed after we will deal with that. My main focus is just being available for the games.”
Rashford has missed only one of United’s 45 games this season but the 23-year-old insists he is not at risk of burnout and that time for a rest will come when he is retired.
The striker added: “I know my body and I know what I can do physically and that’s it. I take one game at a time it’s the life of a footballer, we can rest when we retire and for now I’m happy playing as many games as I can.
“I recover from games quite well and from injuries well, I have no doubts or fears.”
TUCH NO PRISONERS
Thomas Tuchel told Chelsea he needed the freedom to make any changes he wanted before agreeing to take over, according to reports.
ESPN reports the German told Stamford Bridge chief Marina Granovskaia he needed to be free to pick and drop players as he sees fit.
The former PSG boss was clear in his desire for free rein over team selection.
Tuchel is said to have wanted to be able to put big-money signings Kai Havertz and Timo Werner on the bench when he felt appropriate.
And he also wanted to bring back Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso after the pair were axed by predecessor Frank Lampard.
OLE TRAFFORD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says trophies are for egos and it is the league which shows real progress for a team.
He said: “We are 12 points ahead of what we were at the same time in the league last season, of course we’re aiming to win trophies but as we’ve said sometimes a trophy can hide the other fact of what’s happening at the club.
“In the league position you see if you’re progressing really and sometimes in the cup tournaments you might be lucky or unlucky with draws, games decided on different factors.
“In the league position you see if there’s any progress for me, that’s always the bread and butter of the season, that you see how capable you are of coping with ups and downs.
“Any cup competition can give you a trophy but sometimes it’s more of an ego thing from other managers and clubs to finally win something.
“But we need to see progress and if we perform well enough the trophies will end up at the club again. It’s not like a trophy will say that we’re back, no.”
KANE IS ABLE
Jose Mourinho hopes England boss Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane can reach a “compromise” to protect the Spurs star on World Cup duty next week.
He said: “I cannot do Gareth’s work and he doesn’t try to do mine. But I believe he has good relations with Harry and good relations means good communication.
“I hope between them without me in the middle, they can find some compromise to protect the player a little bit.”
Before adding: “I have no control. If I could choose I would love them all to go because I love my players to be involved in national teams.
“It’s a question of pride for them and it’s good for the club so we like the players to go. But of course if we could choose we wouldn’t like the players to play three matches.
“But it’s not in our hands, it’s in the hands of the international managers. There is nothing we can say.
SCOT OF BOTHER
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes England’s U21 team can beat Scotland’s first XI and Mason Greenwood is better than any of their players.
The outspoken pundit was reacting to Che Adams being called up for Scotland.
Jordan told talkSPORT: “What are you thinking? Do you really want to be part of that debacle of Scotland at the Euros?!
“He’s thinking, ‘where am I guaranteed to play because the quality is so low that I’ll get in every time the squad is picked’?
“I’m not disrespectful about Scotland, I’m honest. I’ve said before that England Under-21s could beat Scotland’s first team, and I don’t climb down from that.
“Look at the quality of our U21s, I think that is genuinely true. Mason Greenwood is better than anything you’ve got in your first XI, better than anything in the Scotland team!”
England’s U21 team have an embarrassment of riches MAD TALK
Joao Felix has denied rumours of a rift with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone after he was pictured shushing towards his own bench after scoring against Villarreal last month.
But the creative midfielder insisted it was a joke with a team-mate and he has no problems with his boss.
Felix explained: “I already said on Instagram that it was a joke with Lodi.
“He was winding me up before the game, telling me I didn’t score against anyone and when I got the goal I did the gesture for him. The press like to talk about things they don’t know.”
The 21-year-old added: “My relationship with the manager is very good. He always tries to help me and we’re here to help each other.
“I am happy here. My family is fine, I am fine, I am fine with the club and like with all players there are moments that are not so good. They can be overcome.”
NO WAY, JOSE
Jose Mourinho has delivered an update on the fitness of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League clash against Dynamo Moscow.
Commenting on Kane, Mourinho told reporters: “Kane is going to play.
“The game is open and it’s an important game so he plays for us.”
However the Special insisted Son will play no part after he went off with a hamstring problem against Arsenal.
Asked when Son will be back, Mourinho remarked: “I don’t know. Definitely out for tomorrow.”
GIFT OF THE GAB
Chelsea reportedly face a battle with Atletico Madrid to sign Palmeiras midfielder Gabriel Menino.
Brazilian outlet UOL reports the 20-year-old is being chased by Atleti but the Blues could have an edge as the Spanish side need to sell a player before they can buy.
The report states Diego Simeone’s team need to ‘balance their accounts’ in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Menino is said to have been valued at between £13-£18million by the LaLiga leaders.
Chelsea are battling Atletico Madrid for Palmeiras ace Gabriel Menino DOR SLAMMED
Luis Figo left Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland out of his list of the best six players in the world.
Haaland, 20, has announced himself as one of the elite talents on the planet this season with an outstanding 31 goals in 30 games for the German side.
But Portuguese legend Figo omitted the Norwegian from his list of current best players.
According to Los Blancos Live, when asked for his thoughts on who are the top players right now, Figo named six stars.
He said: “Cristiano, Messi, Modrić, Salah, Mbappe and Neymar.”
T-EDEN PROJECT
Man Utd starlet Teden Mengi has signed a new three-year deal at the club until June 2024.
The 18-year-old defender made his senior debut in the Europa League last season.
Mengi was promoted to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team squad at the start of this season.
He joined Wayne Rooney’s Derby in January to gain more experience after playing ten times for the Red Devils’ Under-23s in the first half of the season.
Mengi has already starred six times for Rooney’s Rams.
The young centre-back has been at Old Trafford since the age of seven, coming through the academy and captaining age group sides through the ranks.
Teden Mengi has extended his deal at Manchester United
AL TAKE IT
Alan Pardew has reportedly expressed an interest in taking the Portsmouth job.
Pompey sacked Kenny Jackett after their EFL Trophy final defeat to Salford at Wembley on Saturday.
And former West Ham and Newcastle boss Pardew, 59, fancies a crack at the Fratton Park gig, according to reliable south coast football journalist Alex Crook.
The TalkSport presenter tweeted: “Am told Alan Pardew and Phil Parkinson have both expressed an interest in the #Pompey job.”
With his side in dire form in League One and slipping out of the play-off places, the Fratton Park board pulled the trigger on Jackett, 59, on Sunday morning.
Alan Pardew is ‘interested’ in the Portsmouth job BRAIN FEARS
Gary Lineker has said he will get extra checks for dementia and wants heading banned from training at all levels.
Research shows ex-pros are 3.5 times likelier to die from a brain disorder than the general public.
Lineker said: “I’ll have my triannual test this summer and ask if there’s anything they can establish around the brain.
“Because I don’t see how, given the circumstances, any footballer wouldn’t be worried about it.”
He added: “If I’d known what I know now, I would have certainly limited the amount of heading I did.
“It’s hard to imagine the game without heading, but maybe it’s worth trialling.”
TOP PHWOAR
The Premier League season is racing towards what should be a thrilling finale.
While Manchester City are almost-certain to be crowned champions there is still plenty to play for at both ends of the table.
But above all, the race for the top-four looks set to go down to the wire.
Incredibly, should all teams win their games in hand, there are just 13 points separating second from TENTH.
But who will grab those all-important places? We take a look at each club’s run-in to determine who will make the cut…
NEW BRU
Man Utd are reportedly targeting Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves as a half-price alternative to signing Jadon Sancho.
Sporting signed Wolves flop Goncalves in August to fill the void left by Bruno Fernandes’ departure to Old Trafford in January 2020.
And the 22-year-old has bagged 15 goals in just 21 appearances to fire Sporting to the verge of their first league crown for 19 years.
The Telegraph reports United are looking at Goncalves as a cheaper right-sided forward than last year’s No1 target Sancho.
Goncalves’ super form has alerted a number of European giants to his availability for £51.7million, thanks to a buyout clause.
The latest reports from Germany suggest Borussia Dortmund would be willing to sell Sancho, 20, for around £104m this summer.
Triggering Goncalves’ release clause would therefore be more than 50 per cent less expensive than the cost of a successful bid for Three Lions ace Sancho.
Manchester United are lining up Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves NO MOR OF THAT
Mikel Arteta was ‘wrong and disrespectful’ to ‘publicly shame’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after dropping him for the North London derby, according to Piers Morgan.
The Gunners captain turned up late for the 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday and Arteta axed him from the starting XI as a result.
Spaniard Arteta told the media there had been a disciplinary breech but did not go into any more detail.
And former Good Morning Britain presenter and Gunners fan Morgan seems to be channelling the same energy.
Having apparently been stewing on the situation, Morgan tweeted on Tuesday: “The more I think about the Aubameyang/Arteta thing, the less I like it.
“Turning up a bit late shouldn’t warrant being dropped for a NLD, and for our manager to publicly shame our captain & best player in the way he did was wrong & disrespectful. I stand with @Auba. #afc.”
HOOP DREAMS
LeBron James has upped his stake in Liverpool after becoming a partner in their American ownership group Fenway.
The basketball superstar, 36, owned a two per cent stake in the Premier League champions since 2011.
But US reports say the NBA great has now also brought an undisclosed number of shares in Fenway Sports Group.
The company also own legendary baseball team Boston Red Sox.
John Henry remains in charge at Fenway Sports with Tom Werner the second largest shareholder.
The pair approved a new £540m investment from RedBird Capital, who became the third largest shareholders in Fenway Sports Group
LING-LAND STAR
Jesse Lingard is in line for a shock England call-up after his incredible career turnaround on loan at West Ham.
Manager Gareth Southgate will tomorrow name his squad for the forthcoming qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
Southgate also has a number of injury concerns in midfield which could see him turn to Lingard, 28, who has excelled during his stint on loan after leaving Manchester United.
And this would be a major turnaround for a player whose 24th and final international appearance came against Switzerland in the Uefa Nations League finals in June 2019.
Southgate will name a large squad for the qualifiers which starts against San Marino in eight days.
GETTING AGGY
Man City star Sergio Aguero was reportedly heard moaning ‘they never pass me the ball’ after his side’s win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Argentine played the last 15 minutes of the 2-0 Champions Legaue last-16 second-leg win in Hungary but was allegedly unhappy with his team-mates after the victory.
Aguero replaced Bernardo Silva on 75 minutes with City leading 4-0 on aggregate and the tie already won.
But the 32-year-old failed to register a shot on target until the full-time whistle and was heard grumbling to a coach after the game, according to ESPN.
Aguero is understood to have said in Spanish: “No me pasan la pelota.”
Which translates to: ‘They don’t pass me the ball.”
It is suggested Riyad Mahrez was particularly prone to shooting rather than laying it on for the City legend in the closing stages.
RETURN OF THE KING
Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United is looking more likely than Real Madrid, according to reports.
The Spanish side are claimed to have given up on bringing Ronaldo back and instead are focussing their attentions on landing Kylian Mbappe.
And Tuttosport in Italy report that Man Utd is looking the more viable option than Real Madrid.
Ronaldo, 36, spent six years at Old Trafford before nine seasons at Real Madrid.
He joined Serie A champions Juventus in 2018 but could be forced to leave this summer with the club facing a financial crisis.
FER REAL
Rio Ferdinand reckons Man City should forget about Harry Kane and go all out to sign Erling Haaland.
The ex-Manchester United defender thinks Haaland’s age and price tag compared to the Spurs marksman would make him a better choice.
He told BT Sport: “It’s difficult, a season or two ago I think Harry Kane would’ve been their first-choice.
“He can play that number 10, he can come deep, be part of the midfield and create extra numbers in there.
“I think because of the age could be a concern and the price tag.
“When you have people like Haaland, it’s a different proposition in terms of longevity, a player you can build around for a number of years.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
