ERLING HAALAND’S representatives have held a positive meeting with Barcelona today regarding a potential transfer to the club.
Agent Mino Raiola and dad Alf-Inge Haaland flew to Spain and met with Barca president Joan Laporta as Europe’s top clubs vie for the Norwegian’s signature.
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FRENCH CONNECTION
Real Madrid have reportedly set their asking price for Manchester United target Raphael Varane.
Spanish newspaper ABC claim the Spanish side are chasing between £51million and £59m for the French international this summer.
FRIENDS WITH BEN-EFITS
Benfica have entered the running to sign Sergio Aguero, according to reports in Portugal.
The Argentine, 32, will leave Manchester City in the summer when his contract expires.
A growing number of clubs are linked with offering him a contract, now including Benfica.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, club bosses began formulating a deal to sign Aguero immediately after his exit was announced.
A three-year contract worth around £65,000-a-week, plus a hefty signing-on fee, is reportedly in the works.
VAZ CHASE
Manchester United and Chelsea could be involved in a transfer fight for Lucas Vazquez after he told Real Madrid he will not sign a new deal, according to reports.
The Spanish wideman, 29, is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
According to ABC in Spain, Vazquez has rejected ‘several’ extensions from Los Blancos – the latest of which was a three-year deal but included a ten per cent pay cut due to the pandemic.
The report states he has made it clear he will refuse to put pen to paper and that could open the floodgates for a battle for his signature.
Premier League giants United and Chelsea are among the frontrunners to bring the nine-cap international in on a free transfer.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME
Roma could be about to hand Maurizio Sarri a return to management following reports of talks between the two parties.
Paulo Fonseca is set to leave the Serie A club following a disappointing season, and discussions with Sarri began some time ago.
According to Leggo, the 62-year-old was contacted by Roma earlier this year and talks have since accelerated.
Negotiations are described as going well with the ex-Chelsea and Juventus boss said to like the prospect of coaching the Giallorossi.
REAL DEAL
Erling Haaland’s representative are now reportedly holding talks with Real Madrid after a meeting with rivals Real Madrid this afternoon.
DOR OPEN
Erling Haaland’s representative reportedly held positive talks with Barcelona this afternoon.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed that the striker’s agent Mino Raiola has already discussed a price with Borussia Dortmund while Bayern Munich are not in the race!
MODEL PRO
Chelsea flop Danny Drinkwater’s ex-girlfriend claims she ended their whirlwind 18-month fling to focus on her modelling career.
Carol Tozaki has spoken out about their relationship for the first time – labelling the romance ‘intense’.
Opening up about her romance with the England international, she told Jam Press: “It was such an intense relationship of one-and-a-half years.
“I was together in many important moments of his career.
“I would always have a huge affection for him.
“It was a great time in my life but it was not what I liked to do, so I decided to go out and pursue my modelling profession.”
REAL PAIN
Sergio Ramos is set to miss the crunch clashes against rivals Liverpool and Barcelona through injury.
The Real Madrid captain, 35, returned from two months out in mid-March but sustained another problem representing Spain on Wednesday night.
Los Blancos said: “After the tests carried out today on our captain Sergio Ramos by the Real Madrid medical services, he was diagnosed with a muscle injury in the internal twin of his left leg.”
Ramos will undergo further examination and although no timescale has been given on his absence, he is expected to be out for a month, according to Marca.
NOT WANDA FUL
Mauro Icardi left wife Wanda Nara unimpressed with an Instagram post dubbing her his ‘female dog’.
In a shot of the couple and their pet mutt, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, 28, left an eyebrow-raising caption.
He wrote ‘mi Perro y mi Perra’ with dog emojis, which roughly translates into ‘my dog and my female dog’.
Wanda, 34, left a side-eye emoji on her reply, which read: “How funny.”
NOU ADVENTURE
Barcelona are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.
COVIDIOTS
Juventus stars Weston McKennie, Paulo Dybala and Arthur are reportedly in hot water for breaking Covid rules and attending a party.
The trio are all set to be fined by the club after American McKennie, 22, defied restrictions to hold the bash at his home last night.
That is according to La Stampa, who report that the former Schalke midfielder partied with his team-mates and around 17 other pals.
NO TIM FOR JOKES
Timo Werner has been made an ‘honourary North Macedonian citizen’ with his own hilarious fake ID card.
The Germany striker, 25, fluffed his lines in embarrassing fashion to produce a horror miss on Wednesday.
His almighty blunder proved costly as Joachim Low’s side lost 2-1 at home to North Macedonia – their first defeat in a World Cup qualifier since the 5-1 loss to England in 2001.
And it did not take long for one North Macedonian newspaper to rub in the mockery after a famous victory.
The photoshopped ID includes his name, a headshot picture of the striker, his Macedonian nationality and a child-like ‘TW’ scrawled in the signature box.
The date of issue was March 31, 2021 – the day of the match – and expires in ten years.
RIP LEE
Yeovil Town have announced the sad news that their captain Lee Collins had died aged 32.
A statement read on the club’s website: “All at Yeovil Town Football Club are mourning the loss of club captain Lee Collins.
“Lee sadly passed away yesterday and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this time.
“The club will make no further comment at this time. Our game with Altrincham tomorrow has been postponed.”
Collins started his career with Wolves, coming through their youth system before making his debut in 2007.
ED HEADHUNTS
Arsenal technical chief Edu will aid the search for a new manager to replace Joe Montemurro as boss of the Gunners’ WSL side.
Montemurro, 51, revealed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season after joining in 2017.
Although Arsenal say they are “disappointed” with his decision to depart, officials have begun the hunt for his successor immediately.
And club chief, Vinai Venkatesham said he will be involved in the process, alongside Edu and Clare Wheatley, Gunners head of women’s football and their people director Karen Ann Joesphides.
Venkatesham, 40, said: “In terms of process, there will be a few of us involved to find Joe’s replacement.
“We will have the management of Arsenal Women, our people director, our technical director, Edu, and of course I’ll be involved in the process.”
Credit: Getty – Contributor FER REAL
Rio Ferdinand revealed he can’t hate Sergio Aguero despite the departing Manchester City star crushing Manchester United’s title dreams in 2012 with that legendary goal.
City announced Aguero will leave the club after a decade when his contract expires at the end of the season and Ferdinand took to Instagram to share his thoughts.
The BT Sport pundit revealed he is still haunted by the goal that gave noisy neighbours City their first ever Prem title – with United thinking they had done enough after winning their last game.
Ferdinand wrote: “Agueroooooooooooo. This name, this goal, this moment still hits me at times when I least expect it like a bolt out the blue! Our closest rivals just across the city, snatching the PL title from out of our hands – bearing in mind our game had just finished and we had won our game…
“What was the score in City’s game…they need a goal with seconds to go….surely we have won…I think we have done it…..then….Agueroooooooooo. Absolutely floored, distraught, devastated….a whole season demolished in the final seconds of the last game.
“What I will say is that as much as I hated the outcome I never hated (or disliked) Sergio for his moment – like I thought I would.”
Credit: Getty
PS-FLEE
Kylian Mbappe has dropped a transfer bombshell by hinting he could quit Paris Saint-Germain over increasing criticism in France.
The superstar winger, 22, took the flak after his national side edged out Bosnia 1-0 in a drab display. It came on the back of a 1-1 draw with Ukraine and a far-from-convincing 2-0 win over minnows Kazakhstan in which he missed a penalty.
Mbappe’s future had already been called into question with his contract with the French giants expiring next summer. And he admitted he is growing increasingly infuriated over negative headlines in the French press.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, he said: “After a while, of course criticism tires, especially when you play for a team from your country and you give everything for your team as well.
“In the end all this tires. Playing for France is different for those who come from abroad. I am here all the time, playing for PSG and with the French national team.
“It’s a different context and I knew it when I signed for PSG. We’ll see later. Could this influence my decision to stay at PSG in the summer? Of course. But it’s not just that. The most important thing is to feel good where you are and have fun every day.”
Credit: AFP RED HOT FORM
Bruno Fernandes has felt the wrath of David De Gea as the Manchester United goalkeeper gained Twitter revenge on his team-mate.
The Portuguese midfielder took to social media this morning to share a snap of him wearing a blue and white striped shirt and jeans while enjoying a coffee.
Pictured with a huge smile on his face, Fernandes captioned it with: “Ok, morning coffee is over… Q&A time… Who’s got a question? #AskBruno.”
That led to a cheeky response from United goalkeeper De Gea, who could not resist asking: “Are you a model?”
His good-natured shot comes in response to Fernandes taking aim at the stopper over the international break.
Credit: Instagram @brunofernandes.10 UP FOR THE CUP
Leicester’s clash with Southampton has been selected as the FA Cup semi-final that will have 4,000 spectators.
But the crowd at Wembley on April 18 will be restricted to local residents living in the borough of Brent.
And the decision means the tie between Chelsea and Manchester City the previous evening will be played behind closed doors.
The FA asked the Government to be allowed to use one of the semi-finals as part of the ‘pilot’ programme ahead of the May 17 date for the return of crowds of up to 10,000.
That was signed off by the DCMS but Brent Council asked for its residents to be the ones given access on safety grounds as a condition of green-lighting the trial.
It is likely that health service and local authority employees will be invited to walk through the turnstiles, rather than fans of either side who happen to live in the borough.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty FAMILY FEARS
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mum revealed her ten-year-old grandson Cristiano Jr begged her: “Grandma don’t die.”
Dolores Aveiro also confessed she was so unsure she would pull through after her stroke the first thing she did when she woke up was tell her eldest daughter Elma the code for the safe where she kept her valuables.
The 66-year-old, who was rushed to hospital in her native island of Madeira last spring, said in an emotional TV interview in which she broke down in tears: “I saw all my children cry, although they didn’t want to worry me.
“I’ve been operated on both breasts and that was never as hard as this has been.
“When Cristianinho saw me cry so much, he told me, ‘Grandma don’t die.’
“It moved me. When he phones he always asks me if I’m better. I live for my family, especially my grandchildren.”
Credit: Dois às 10 GOONER BE GREAT
Arsenal fans may be able to dream of the club landing Duvan Zapata after the striker opened the door to a Premier League move.
The Atalanta star, 30, has been a Serie A mainstay since signing for Napoli in 2013.
But a move to England could be on the cards after he revealed his love for watching Prem matches while growing up in Colombia.
And Arsenal‘s interest may well be piqued by his past Gooner tendencies.
When asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport about a switch to England, Zapata replied: “In football, never say never. As a boy in Colombia, the Premier League was shown the most. I supported Arsenal and woke up early on the weekend to watch their games on TV.”
Zapata has hit 14 goals for Atalanta this season as the Bergamo club continue their impressive assault on the Champions League.
Credit: Getty SOME MIGHT SAY
Noel Gallagher has called out Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scot claimed the signing of Phil Jones was better than City’s capture of Sergio Aguero.
The Oasis founder chuckled as he recalled what Fergie had said when the players signed for the two Manchester clubs.
City fan Noel, 53, said: “I remember we signed Aguero at the same time United signed Phil Jones and Sir Alex claimed that Jones would prove to be the best centre half in the world within a year or two.
“He also pointed to the Aguero signing and said ‘City have been reckless again in the transfer market’.
“One has gone on to be a club legend, scoring goal after goal and winning trophy after trophy and there is even talk of a statue outside the ground. I don’t think we’ll be seeing a statue of Phil Jones at Old Trafford anytime soon.”
Both players arrived in Manchester in 2011. Aguero, aged 32, cost £35million from Atletico Madrid, while Utd paid Blackburn £16.5m for Jones, 29.
Credit: Reuters Credit: PA
KOP THAT
Liverpool’s owners have confirmed a £543million investment from RedBird Capital and have welcomed NBA legend LeBron James to their ownership group.
The basketball superstar, 36, has owned a two per cent stake in the Premier League champions since 2011. Now James has upped his stake in Liverpool after becoming a partner in their American ownership group Fenway.
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 £543m investment from RedBird Capital, who became the third largest shareholders in Fenway Sports Group.
The champions are now hopeful the deal will help bring some financial stability after an estimated £120m loss in revenues since the coronavirus outbrreak.
It is also expected to help secure the redevelopment of the Anfield Road Stand, which is currently in the process of gaining planning permission, to increase capacity at the Reds’ iconic home to 61,000.
Credit: AFP ERLI FLIGHT
Barcelona could be set to steal a march in the race for Erling Haaland after the player’s representatives began talks with the club.
On Thursday morning, the striker’s dad and advisor Alf-Inge Haaland and agent Mino Raiola were spotted at Barcelona airport.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, the pair were then whisked away in a car driven by club president Joan Laporta’s right-hand man.
The newly-elected Barcelona chief hinted at a move for the Borussia Dortmund striker before winning the post last month. The club is dealing with a difficult financial situation while also attempting to renew Lionel Messi’s contract, which expires in June.
But reports suggest Raiola and Laporta hold a strong working relationship, potentially standing them in good stead to win the race for Haaland.
SunSport revealed this week that a deal to sign the 20-year-old could cost as much as £300million. That includes a £150m transfer fee and a five-year contract featuring £600,000-a-week wages.
Credit: Getty LUKE-ING GOOD FOR UNITED
Alex Telles says competition for the left-back spot at Manchester United can only be a good thing.
He said: “When you’ve got a situation like that, then the team can only benefit from it.
“And it’s Man Utd that wins from that [situation].
“In terms of the two of us, we both motivate each other and push each other further forward and we help each other.
“That’s really, really important throughout the team, independent of the positions we play.”
FOR BUK’S SAKE
Bukayo Saka is yet to return to training, according to Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal winger was pulled out of England duty with an injury and Arteta said he still has a way to go.
He said: “He hasn’t trained with the team yet.
“He’s been doing some individual work. We had to pull him out of the England squad, unfortunately.
“He’s feeling better, but he hasn’t trained with the team yet.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
