LIONEL MESSI scored a magical first goal for PSG against Man City in the Champions League last night.
The curling effort produced spectacular scenes at the Parc des Princes as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners.
Meanwhile on the transfer front, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has continued to impress this season.
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LACAZETTE SWAP
Arsenal are considering a swap deal involving Alexandre Lacazette in January.
According to La Razon, the Gunners would be open to exchanging Lacazette for Sevilla ace Youssef En-Nesyri.
The north Londoners are not at all keen to let the France international go for free.
The centre-forward’s contract with Arsenal expires in June and the two sides have yet to reach a new deal
MARTIAL PLAN
Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Manchester United ace Anthony Martial.
That is according to Marca, who hinted that this sort of move could lead to Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland going the other way.
The same report also suggests United could seek a player-plus-cash type of deal that would involve star striker Haaland.
But the Red Devils could still get embroiled in a transfer war with other suitors, such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid, who are also keeping tabs on the Norway international
DAN AND DUSTED
Liverpool will be watching Villarreal ace Arnaut Danjuma in action tonight against Manchester United.
That is according to Voetbal International, who claim that the Reds will have scouts watching Danjuma in the Champions League.
The Merseysiders are reportedly monitoring the winger “closely” as they consider their options ahead of the January transfer window.
The Netherlands international joined the Yellow Submarine from Bournemouth earlier this year
PAUL-ING TOGETHER
Manchester United have received a significant boost in their bid to keep Paul Pogba at Old Trafford.
Pogba’s contract with United expires in June and his future appears to be uncertain as some of Europe’s biggest hitters are circling in hoping for a free transfer.
According to Sport, Barcelona are among the star midfielder’s suitors and have been monitoring him for a long time.
However, the France international would be forced to take a significant pay cut if he agreed to move to the Nou Camp.
The Blaugrana have endured a major economic fallout during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to meet LaLiga’s new salary cap rules
GETTY IMAGES LENO UPDATE
Inter Milan are not interested in signing Arsenal star Bernd Leno during the January transfer window.
That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims Inter are close to landing Ajax star Andre Onana instead.
That means the reigning Italian champions are not going to move for Leno, whose future at the Gunners is now uncertain.
The Germany international has been linked with a move away while battling to become the north Londoners’ No1 with fellow keeper Aaron Ramsdale
BONUCCI WARNING
Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci has suggested he knows how to handle Chelsea ace Romelu Lukaku ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash between the two clubs in Turin.
Bonucci told The Athletic: “Romelu Lukaku has proven himself to be a complete striker.
“He can win games on his own. When you come up against him you have to be switched on for 100 minutes a game.
“You must never engage Lukaku in a physical battle or play touch-tight. Instead, be ready to drop off because when his team has the ball, he will try to run in behind.
“In the box, he’s great at playing man-to-man so you need to be on the front foot, try to read the game and play hard”
LENO STATEMENT
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno insists he is “comfortable” at the Emirates despite reports suggesting he will leave during the January transfer window.
Leno told BILD: “London is very nice; Milan is not bad either and closer to my home Stuttgart.
“But I’m not seriously thinking about that yet. I feel comfortable at Arsenal and in London.
“Only if nothing changes in my situation by winter would I have to think about things: what option do I have, how can I continue?
“But I’m concentrating on my work in training; I can’t commit to anything else at the moment”
KLOPP ON CITY
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Reds’ 5-1 victory at Porto can only help them so much against Manchester City, whom they face on Sunday at Anfield.
Klopp said: “[It] always helps [momentum] but against City it doesn’t help at all.
“We need much more things than just momentum and we need to play better than we did tonight but that’s clear anyway.
“It will be a different game, I only heard the result now from the PSG-City game so City will and want to strike back.
“We are back at home after a few games without our crowd so let’s give it a go”
GETTY IMAGES ON THE LUKE OUT
Manchester United ace Luke Shaw could play against Villarreal tonight at Old Trafford.
Shaw didn’t train with the rest of the squad ahead of the upcoming Champions League encounter.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will “give him a chance to be involved” against the Yellow Submarine.
Solskjaer said: “Luke has been in today so I’ll give him a chance to be involved, he didn’t train with the team”
PEP TALK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola issued a message of defiance following the Premier League title-holders’ Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Guardiola told BT Sport: “Now we’re going to eat good tonight, we’re going to drink a glass of wine, we’re going to recover and prepare for the game on Sunday [against Liverpool].
“At the end, yeah, the last 10 minutes were better, good performance we did everything we couldn’t score.
“We defend well, they defend deep and of course the counter attack of them is always dangerous with the quality they had but we controlled them unfortunately we couldn’t score but that’s football.
“Nothing to say more than my biggest compliment for the team”
ALREADY DECID-ED
Arsenal technical director Edu has already decided on the first two signings of the upcoming January transfer window.
According to football.london, the Gunners are expected to target a new midfielder and defender this coming winter.
The north Londoners could also go for a new goalkeeper if Bernd Leno leaves the club.
That is why Arsenal are keeping tabs on Ajax shot-stopper Andre Onana
XHAKA STATEMENT
Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has issued a defiant message following news of his injury.
Xhaka suffered a medial knee ligament injury during the weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham.
The midfielder will be out for three months but won’t require surgery.
Xhaka posted on Instagram: “The recovery starts now. Giving everything to get back onto the pitch as soon as I can”
INSTAGRAM RUD AWAKENING
Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger has not decided to leave Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
That is according to Bild report Christian Falk, who claims that Rudiger is not guaranteed to leave the Blues in the summer.
Falk added that Bayern haven’t offered the centre-back a salary of £400,000 a week.
The Germany international’s contract with the west Londoners runs out in June
ONANA BOOST
Arsenal have received a transfer boost in their bid to sign Ajax star Andre Onana.
The Gunners haven’t got an established goalkeeper between the sticks this season as Bernd Leno and Aaron Ramsdale are battling to be No1.
And it seems like the north Londoners are also keeping tabs on Onana ahead of the January transfer window.
According to Voetbal International, Arsenal have received some good news as Ajax have cut off negotiations over a contract extension with the Cameroon international
CAVANI BID
Barcelona are keeping tabs on Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to the Daily Star, who report that Barca are keen to land Cavani on loan.
The same report claims the Blaugrana would also need United to subsidise part of the centre-forward’s £250,000 weekly wages, something that is highly unlikely.
The Uruguay international has come back from injury but is likely to struggle for minutes following the return of Cristiano Ronaldo
GRAN INJURY BLOW
Arsenal have suffered a major injury blow as Granit Xhaka has been sidelined for three months due to a medial knee ligament injury.
Xhaka got hurt during last weekend’s north London derby triumph over Tottenham.
The midfielder looks set to be out until December but he does not require surgery.
That works as quite a blow for manager Mikel Arteta, who turned things around after a miserable start to the campaign
LET’S AV IT
Liverpool are still keeping tabs on Porto star Otavio after scouting him last night in the Champions League.
That is according to Record, who claim the Reds haven’t given up on the attacking midfielder.
The Portugal international started for Sergio Conceicao’s side against the Merseysiders at the Dragao.
But the 26-year-old couldn’t help the Portuguese giants avoid a heavy 5-1 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s men
GETTY IMAGES GOING FOR THE KYL
Juventus have joined the bidding war over Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
A raft of Europe’s biggest hitters are keeping tabs on Mbappe, whose contract at PSG runs out next year.
The likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool have both showed interest with the former posing as absolute favourites to land the star striker.
According to Tuttosport, however, Juve have joined the race even though they may not have the necessary funds to attract the France international
JUVE TEAM NEWS
There will be no Chelsea reunion for Juventus star Alvaro Morata tonight at the Juventus Stadium.
Morata hobbled off during Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Sampdoria with a hamstring injury.
To make matters worse for Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri, Paulo Dybala also limped off with a thigh muscle problem during the weekend.
The Bianconeri have announced that the two forwards won’t be back until after the international break
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Chelsea star N’Golo Kante will miss the Champions League clash against Juventus in Turin.
That is because Kante recently tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel will also be missing Mason Mount as the England international is nursing a knock.
Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic and Reece James are both sidelined with an ankle injury
TUCH AND GO
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel disagrees with Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino’s statement that the Blues are “the team to beat” in the Champions League.
Tuchel said: “It’s no secret we like this role to come from an outsider or challenger for this title, which we still are.
“I don’t think we are the favourites but we showed everybody the performances we’re capable of.”
Chelsea are in action tonight against Juventus in Turin in their bid to defend their European crown
GETTY IMAGES
FOUR REAL
Arsenal legend, and TV pundit, Paul Merson believes there is still a chance his former club could finish in the Premier League’s top four.
Merson told Sky Sports: “If Arsenal keep those players fit and they play every week, they would have a chance of getting in the top four and cause problems.
“They have no Europe this season – so will have time to recover and work on the team.
“But this is Arsenal though and has been since they last won the league in 2004, since when they have never really looked like winning the league”
VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS
Villarreal boss – and former Arsenal head coach – Unai Emery is not without problems of his own heading to tonight’s Champions League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Yellow Submarine will be without ex-Gunners midfielder Francis Coquelin, who is suspended.
To make matters worse, Emery will also be missing star striker Gerard Moreno, who scored in the Europa League final.
Gerard is nursing a hamstring injury and won’t play against the Red Devils
MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
Manchester United are set for a rematch with Villarreal following last season’s losing effort in the Europa League Final.
United will be missing captain Harry Maguire for a “few weeks” due to a calf injury.
Luke Shaw also didn’t participate training but is expected to be fit in time for the Champions League clash with Unai Emery’s men tonight at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils, though, will still be without Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo due to a shoulder and thigh problem respectively.
And of course, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is suspended after being sent off against Young Boys
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
As we all know Manchester City lost the derby of the billionaires to Paris Saint-Germain on the same night Lionel Messi scored his first ever goal for his new team.
And Liverpool continued to dominate the “group of death” as they thrashed Porto 5-1 away.
But none of last night’s results compare to minnows Sheriff Tiraspol picking up arguably the biggest upset in Champions League history as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
