Chelsea vs Man City Champions League final build-up, Konate Liverpool transfer, Pochettino to Tottenham, Zidane LATEST

CON HIS WAY

Antonio Conte is reportedly ‘interested’ in taking over at Tottenham amid claims he’s been added to the shortlist of managers the club are looking at.

The 51-year-old Italian remarkably quit his role as Inter Milan boss on Wednesday despite having led them to a first Serie A title in 11 years

And the ex-Juventus coach has immediately popped up as one of the favourites for the Spurs job.

According to The Guardian, Conte is interested in joining the Lilywhites, but he is still not leading the way as favourite for the role.

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MORE FROM WHITE

He told Sky Sports News: “I couldn’t really believe it and I don’t think it’s settled in yet.

“I didnt really think that I would be called, I thought it was a bit too late.

“I’ve heard you get called way before it and you know, but I obviously didn’t.

“When that call did come I was over the moon with it and shocked really.

“No pressure, I’ve got to go what I’ve got to do, do my best and if I get game time, I’ve got to produce my quality and show what I’ve got.”

HAVING A BAWL

Ben White has revealed he ‘cried for an hour’ after learning of his call-up to England’s provisional Euro 2020 squad.

He told Sky Sports News: “I got a phone call while I was out for dinner, I didn’t really believe it!

“[When I was] told me all the news, when I was going, it was obviously unbelievable.

“I put the phone down, rang my mum straight away, sat down there, cried…

“Mum was crying, my dad, had all my sisters there and, yeah, I just sat and cried for about an hour.”

GUNNER STAY

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly set to sign a new three-year deal worth £27million despite suffering heartbreak in the Europa League final.

The Red Devils lost an astonishing penalty shoot-out 11-10 to Villarreal as Solskjaer missed the opportunity to claim his first silverware as manager of the club.

But The Telegraph claims that the disappointing end to the campaign has not dissuaded Man Utd bosses from offering the Norwegian a new contract.

And it has also been reported that Solskjaer will be backed in the summer transfer window.

It is said that he will be given the funds to sign up to four players before the start of the new season as they look to close the 12-point gap to Premier League champions Manchester City.

DAVID DRAMA

Ajax star David Neres is facing a £15,000 fine – or even a prison term – after breaking coronavirus rules in Brazil.

The winger, 24, has just helped his club win the Eredivisie league and cup double.

Brazil international Neres has previously been a target for Manchester United and Everton.

But the Sao Paulo-born ace landed in hot water in his home city when police arrested him during a nightclub raid around 2am on Friday.

Local anti-Covid restrictions forbid events from taking place after 9pm.

Brazil is among the world’s worst-affected nations, with the pandemic causing nearly half a million deaths.

Neres was among 124 people seized, with many not wearing masks at the illegal party.

RICE TO MEET YOU

Manchester United will look to pip rivals Chelsea to the signing of Declan Rice, according to reports.

The West Ham ace is hot property following yet another brilliant season in East London.

Chelsea were desperate to land him last summer under ex-boss Frank Lampard but refused to match his £70million asking price.

Despite replacing Lampard with Thomas Tuchel in January, the German boss is still open to the idea of bringing Rice back to his former club.

But the Standard write how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to swoop from under the noses of the Blues.

The Norwegian is ready to splash the cash this summer after Europa League final defeat to Villarreal meant it is now four years since their last silverware.

SANCHO UPDATE

Manchester United are still in talks with Borussia Dortmund ace Jadon Sancho’s representatives over a potential summer deal.

According to Sky Sports, “as it stands, United represents the most realistic destination” for Sancho ahead of next season.

United won’t have to worry about personal terms as they already agreed last summer when they tried to sign the star winger.

Dortmund are listening to offers for the England international and have not publicly named a price yet.

But it seems like the 21-year-old could be available for £80million, which is significantly less than the £108m the Bundesliga giants demanded last year

HAALAND LATEST

Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland has attracted immense interest from some of Europe’s biggest bidders.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been linked with Haaland but are facing fierce competition.

According to Marca, Real Madrid are still keeping tabs on the star centre-forward.

However, the Norway international has turned into a plan B as Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe remains Los Blancos’ priority

CONT ON HIM

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte appears to be among the top candidates to replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.

That is according to Sky Sports, who claim that Real initially tried to sign Massimo Allegri before he agreed to rejoin Juventus.

Conte has been a free agent after his departure from Inter Milan where he won this season’s Serie A title.

Zidane resigned for the second time after failing to win a trophy with Real this term

KONATE SIGNED

Liverpool have signed RB Leipzig star Ibrahima Konate in what marks their first summer transfer.

Konate has put pen to paper on a long-term deal, believed to cover five years, after passing his medical.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has been wanting to strengthen his defence following a turbulent campaign.

Klopp lost Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to injury

UNITED TRANSFER LATEST

Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Raphael Varane and Pau Torres are seen as Manchester United’s top targets ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to The Guardian, Sancho is the likeliest candidate to join United as Borussia Dortmund are more open on letting him go this year.

Kane, on the other hand, is the unlikeliest signing as Manchester City pose as favourites to land the Tottenham superstar.

West Ham are not willing to sell Rice whereas Torres and Varane are going to cost £26million and £60m respectively in the summer

TOP POG

Tottenham star Harry Kane has admitted he would like to have Paul Pogba’s skills amid reports suggesting that Manchester United want to sign him.

Kane had a talk with TCL Europe where he discussed areas of others’ games he would like to include into his own.

The England captain said: “Pogba’s skills, [Marco] Reus’ amazing free-kicks, Saul [Niguez’s] perfect dribbling, [Krzysztof ]Piatek’s intuition and [Gianluigi] Donnarumma’s big arm span.

“I think having a strong mindset is a big part of that I think.

“I always say self-belief and hard work are the two most important things to go along with talent. Of course, you need talent to get you a certain way but the other two are very important”

ENGLAND FAVOURITES

England are 4/1 favourites to win Euro 2020 in the summer ahead of France after Gareth Southgate picked his squad for the delayed tournament, according to Betfair.

Here’s how the Three Lions fare compare to their competition:

England 4/1
France 5/1
Belgium 13/2
Spain 7/1
Italy, Germany 15/2
Portugal 9/1
Netherlands 11/1
Denmark 22/1
Croatia 25/1

ARSENAL BOOST

Arsenal have been handed a boost by Liverpool in their bid to sign Brighton star Yves Bissouma.

That is because the Reds will not enter the race to land Bissouma despite Georginio Wijnaldum’s imminent departure.

According to The Athletic, manager Jurgen Klopp believes an already existing member of the squad can fill in for Wijnaldum in midfield.

Klopp has faith in Curtis Jones and is not likely to sell Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

TOP PICK

Everton star goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is going to be England’s No1 at Euro 2020 ahead of Manchester United ace Dean Henderson, according to former Three Lions goalkeeper Rob Green.

Green said: “It’s a case of one from one. Jordan will play. Gareth [Southgate] has been very persistent and very clear with that.

“He’s one that, the way that they play, he’s never made a mistake whilst playing for England that has cost a goal. I think what’s good is that Dean Henderson has already made his debut so he’s got that bit out of the way.

“He’s played 50 per cent of the games that David de Gea has played at United.

“But it’s not like he’s played a full season there. He’s had to bide his time at Manchester United so if he does get to play every week, then he’d have a louder case.

“But we’ll have to see where we are in 12 months’ time. At the moment it doesn’t seem to suggest that it should be pointing in any other direction really”

FOR GREAL

Aston Villa ace Jack Grealish is “100% fit” for Euro 2020 according to Villa manager Dean Smith.

Smith said: “He is 100% fit. Firstly, we had to make sure he was ready to play for Aston Villa. We wouldn’t take a risk with only four games to go, with a player of Jack’s standing and quality, unless it was the right thing to do.

“We all believed it was the right thing to do – for him and for Aston Villa. Then once the season finished, if he gets picked, which hopefully he does, then it’s the right thing for England as well.

“If we felt there was any kind of future risk then we would have just shut him down for the rest of the season and he wouldn’t have had the chance to go to the Euros”

BALE RETIREMENT

Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale, who spent the season on loan at Tottenham, was recently linked with early retirement.

Reports in Spain have claimed that Bale may negotiate a payout from Real and could even quit football altogether after Euro 2020, where he will play for Wales.

However, the star winger’s agent Jonathan Barnett has poured cold water on these rumours with an explosive statement.

Barnett told talkSPORT when asked about the matter: “Sorry, don’t speak about rubbish reporting”

FAN TROUBLE

Chelsea and Manchester City fans were involved in minor clashes with police in Porto on Thursday ahead of the Champions League Final.

The city’s mayor Rui Moreira claimed the incident took place near the River Douro where supporters were drinking.

According to Sky Sports, no arrests were made but one fan was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The Blues and City will have nearly 6,000 supporters in the Estadio do Dragao for the game, which will take place in front of a total of 16,500 spectators.

JO AWAY

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has rejected a potential swap deal with Barcelona over Joao Felix.

Reports from Spain have suggested that Barca wish to sign Felix in the summer transfer window and are willing to let Antoine Griezmann go the other way.

Cerezo said on El Larguero: “There’s no way [Felix] leaves.

“He has to adapt, but when he takes off he’ll be one of the most important players on the planet.

“Players aren’t machines; they have good days and bad, and he’ll have many glorious afternoons at this club”

IBRA-KADABRA

Liverpool have triggered RB Leipzig star Ibrahima Konate’s £36million release clause.

According to Sky Sports, the Reds are hoping to finalise Konate’s move in the next few days.

The centre-back has completed his medical a few weeks ago and is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Merseysiders.

Manager Jurgen Klopp wants to strengthen his defence following a turbulent season, which saw him losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to injury

ZIDANE REPLACEMENTS

Zinedine Zidane has resigned from Real Madrid’s dugout for the second time.

Real were hoping to replace Zidane with Massimiliano Allegri but the Italian manager has agreed to return to Juventus.

According to Marca, that leaves Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino and club legends Raul as well as Xabi Alonso as the Frenchman’s likeliest successors.

Zidane experienced immense success throughout his two stints at Los Blancos as he won a total of two LaLiga titles as well as three successive Champions League trophies

MAUR UPDATES

Tottenham have held talks with former manager Mauricio Pochettino over a sensational return to the club.

That is according to The Guardian, who claim that Pochettino is interested in reviving Spurs just 18 months after his exit from north London.

The Argentine is reportedly unsatisfied at Paris Saint-Germain following a turbulent season that saw the Parisians losing their Ligue 1 crown to shock winners Lille.

The 49-year-old is also said to be unhappy with the power structure as it doesn’t allow him much influence in the club.

Plus, Pochettino and his staff have yet to settle in Paris as they’ve spent most of their time in hotels

WHAT A PHIL-ING

Barcelona could let Arsenal transfer target Philippe Coutinho leave in the summer.

That is according to Sky Sports, who claim that Coutinho’s turbulent stint at Barca is likely to come to an end soon.

However, the Blaugrana are not willing to let the former Liverpool star go before July as he continues his rehabilitation from a number of injury problems.

The attacking midfielder has gone through three separate surgeries on his knee alone since January

GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS,

Daniel Levy is confident he can pull off Mauricio Pochettino’s sensational return to Tottenham.

And Poch is willing to come back to North London after extended talks this week.

SunSport revealed on Tuesday that Spurs chairman Levy was ready to ask Pochettino to take over as manager for a second time.

We also told you the Argentine is prepared to leave Paris Saint-Germain and head back to White Hart Lane as he has been unhappy in France.

Both parties have now held talks over a reunion that would improve the chances of Harry Kane staying put — as Levy faces a battle to keep his star striker this summer.

Pochettino, devastated by his 2019 axe, also believes he has unfinished business at Spurs.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger says he has been ‘marked’ by racial abuse forever.

Chelsea’s German defender fought his way up from poverty to tomorrow’s Champions League final in Portugal.

Ahead of facing Manchester City, Rudiger said: “Do you know how many times I have been called a n****r? Do you know how many times I have been told to go back to Africa?

“Eight years old, I had to ask Dad: ‘What is this word, n****r?’

“When you grow up being called that, you can choose to ignore it or you can fight.

“Many times, I had to fight — I had to bleed.

“The whole world will watch the Champions League final and I want to use my voice.

“This is not a ten-minute conversation, or an Instagram caption, this is my life.”

And finally, RB Leipzig star Ibrahima Konate has passed a medical and is set to join Liverpool.

That is according to ESPN, who claim that Konate is set to become the Reds’ first signing of the summer transfer window.

Konate completed his medical a few weeks ago and is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Merseysiders.

Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of meeting the talented centre-back’s £35million asking price, which they will have to pay in one instalment.

If all goes well then the 22-year-old will link up with his new team after the Under-21 European Championship where he competes with France.

Jurgen Klopp has been keeping tabs on Konate ever since 2017 when the defender was playing for Sochaux.

MAUR TO COME

Exclusive by Charlie Wyett: Daniel Levy is confident he can pull off Mauricio Pochettino’s sensational return to Tottenham.

And Poch is willing to come back to North London after extended talks this week.

SunSport revealed on Tuesday that Spurs chairman Levy was ready to ask Pochettino to take over as manager for a second time.

We also told you the Argentine is prepared to leave Paris Saint-Germain and head back to White Hart Lane as he has been unhappy in France.

Both parties have now held talks over a reunion that would improve the chances of Harry Kane staying put — as Levy faces a battle to keep his star striker this summer.

Pochettino, devastated by his 2019 axe, also believes he has unfinished business at Spurs.