MANCHESTER CITY are ready to SLASH their mooted £600m contract offer to Lionel Messi to £430m following Barcelona’s 4-1 loss to PSG.
Pep Guardiola’s men are still extremely keen on the six-time Ballon d’Or winner but due to the pandemic and Messi turning 34 in summer, they have chosen to reduce any potential bid by £170m.
Read our live blog below to get the latest from around the clubs…
OFF-SIGHED
Arsenal set an unwanted record during Thursday night’s Europa League draw with Benfica – after being caught offside TEN times.
The Gunners fought back from a goal down to snatch a draw – and an all-important away goal – in their Europa League last-32 first-leg clash in Rome.
Pizzi scored a 55th-minute penalty only for Bukayo Saka to give Arsenal the edge in the tie with an equalising goal just moments later.
But, had it not been for their persistent straying beyond the last defender, they could have walked away with the win.
Incredibly, Mikel Arteta’s side were caught offside a staggering TEN times.
That’s more than any other Premier League side in all competitions this season – with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang responsible for four of those.
Arsenal set the unfortunate record against Benfica
D£AL WITH IT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants no excuses and no moaning from his highly-paid Manchester United stars about the relentless run of fixtures.
He said: “Of course it’s relentless and we demand we turn up every game and earn the right to win.
“You’ve got to run more than the opposition, you’ve got to want to win more than the opposition, you’ve got to suffer more than the opposition, you’ve got to put your body on the line.
“Every game in the Premier League is high demand and that’s why the players are paid the money they are to perform every time they’re asked to.
“We ask for relentlessness and attitude every single game.”
David de Gea is Man Utd’s highest paid player
LOOKING AHEAD
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has opened up on his horrific head injury that left him with a fractured skull.
Speaking to EstiloDF, he said: “It was a hard, complicated moment, you never want to experience that kind of thing.
“I think it was the most difficult thing for her because the game was in London, we are two hours away, she is watching from home.
“I don’t even remember the moment, I just remember waking up in the hospital after the operation.
“But it’s hard coming home and not being able to do many things, walking slowly, it’s difficult, but she was always here to support me, I had to have my breakfast in bed.”
Raul Jimenez smiles as he continues his rehabilitationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
OH CRIST
Cristiano Ronaldo has been slated for his ’embarrassing’ performance against Porto.
The Portuguese star, 36, failed to impress as Juventus lost the Champions League clash 2-1.
Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti likened Ronaldo to an ‘old man’ after Wednesday’s game.
Writing for Corriere della Sera, he said: “It was almost embarrassing.
“Until now, he limited himself to scoring goals and not playing so well.
“Now he disappeared. In one play, he kicked the air like an old man without balance.”
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t have his best game against PortoCredit: EPA
‘NOW IS A GOOD TIME’
Allan told Hibs TV: “I’ve had a period of being back on the training pitch and got what I was aiming for back on the football pitch.
“So I feel now is a good time and I feel well within myself to speak about what I went through.
“I was diagnosed with a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. That’s where the walls of the heart chamber become slightly thicker and it makes it hard to pump blood in and out of the heart.
“Relating to the symptoms I felt, which led me to get these tests, it makes you fatigued with less oxygen throughout your body. I was getting dizzy spells – it all kind of integrated together.
“I really feared I wouldn’t play again. The way I’d been feeling up until I had that test physically and what I could give on a football pitch at that time was really worrying.”
Scott Allan opened up on his diagnosis for Hypertrophic CardiomyopathyCredit: Instagram
SCOTT’S FEAR
Former Celtic star Scott Allan opened up on the rare heart condition which left him fearing he’d never play football again.
The Hibs ace was sidelined for a number of months earlier this season after suffering badly from health issues.
Aged 29, there were major worries that the former Celtic midfielder would have to retire from the game early.
Allan was diagnosed with a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy around September last year.
But the classy playmaker has made a comeback to the Easter Road first team and has featured off the bench in the Scottish Premiership over the last month for Jack Ross’ side.
GUNNER A GONER
Robert Pires has blamed Brexit for his decision to quit London for Ibiza while his wife revels in their new sunshine setting.
The 47-year-old ex-Gunner has enrolled their three children at a British language school on the island after joining the coaching staff at second division B side Pena Deportiva Santa Eulalia.
He quit the UK last August to move to a rented home in Ibiza with stunning ex-model wife Jessica Lemarie Pires and their children Naia, 15, Theo, 13, and Alessio, nine.
Pires told local paper Periodico de Ibiza: “I’ve enjoyed a lot of time in London but what’s happened with Brexit is that the mentality of the British and the atmosphere has changed.
“In the family, we spoke about changing and did it.
“Finding a new place to live is not easy but I think Ibiza has it all, quality, sun. Now what I’m feeling is that people are very affectionate with me.
“I’m also Spanish because my mum is Spanish, from Oviedo in the north, so I’ve got this in my blood. Being in Ibiza is a dream.”
Robert Pires and wife Jessica Lemarie have quit the UK for Ibiza following BrexitCredit: Getty – Contributor
TROUBLE BRUING
Bruno Fernandes called for Manchester United’s squad to ‘grow up’ if they want to win trophies despite thrashing Real Sociedad 4-0.
The midfielder, 26, continued to impress as he scored twice during the Europa League showdown on Thursday.
Speaking after the game, he told BT Sport: “We need to understand that we have to grow up, we have to get better and better.
“Of course the most important is the results that give you a bit of confidence to go into the next game and try to win again.
“The most important target is the trophies. Trophies will be more important than scoring goals.”
THE APPRENTICE
Guardiola will come up against his former assistant Mikel Arteta on Sunday.
The Gunners boss left the Etihad in December 2019 to take over at the Emirates.
Asked about Arteta, Guardiola added: “I didn’t inspire him, he knows it for himself, I know absolutely it wasn’t any influence, he takes all the credit with his staff.
“I didn’t have influence on him, I learned off him and we worked together. I listen a lot to my assistants, most of the time we take decisions together. I worked really well with him and now he’s doing it for himself.
“All the managers need time but in the last month or two, they play better than the opponent in every game. As a manager you want the results you deserve, sometimes it doesn’t happen.
“But in the games they are always better, analysing the control of the game, creating chances and conceding few. They are already contenders and will be in the future.”
Pep Guardiola heaped plenty of praise on his former assistant Mikel ArtetaCredit: Reuters
PEP SPEAKS
Pep Guardiola has been addressing the media this afternoon ahead of the clash at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti gave his side practically no chance before facing Manchester City in midweek.
But Guardiola, whose side have now won 17 matches in a row, refuted the comments.
He said: “I appreciate it but I don’t agree with him, we can lose, the opponents are good and we try to do better. I love Carlo, he’s an inspiration for me but I don’t agree with him.
“In the past, we didn’t think about it [the records], just played the next game, all the good results are the consequence of not competing to break records. Try to win games, play good and win.”
MORE OF MOYES
SunSport can exclusively reveal West Ham are trying to tie David Moyes down to a new long-term deal – even though he is committed to the club for another season.
Moyes has already triggered a 12-month option on his current contract which ensures he will stay at the London Stadium until 2022.
But his performance in the 13 months since taking charge at the club for a second time has been so impressive the Hammers board approached the boss to discuss a new agreement – thought to be for another three years.
In a year at the club Moyes, 57, has turned them from relegation strugglers to Champions League candidates and delivered a consistency of displays rarely seen at West Ham.
And the Scot has made no secret of how much he is enjoying life in East London.
GUNNER START
Arsenal face a mammoth clash at home to in-form Manchester City on Sunday afternoon – but could be buoyed by the return of Kieran Tierney.
The left-back could make his first start in more than a month after coming off the bench against Benfica.
However, the Gunners look set to be without midfield powerhouse Thomas Partey, meaning Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos are on course to start together.
But yet again Mikel Arteta will have to decide who is going to start in the No10 role with Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard vying for the spot.
Here are a couple of options for starting XIs the Arsenal boss may go with…
Here’s one way the Gunners could start against Manchester City
Here’s another way Mikel Arteta could start the game against City
SCOTT OF BOTHER
Manchester United take on Newcastle on Sunday evening – but may be without Scott McTominay.
The 24-year-old was taken off on the hour mark against the LaLiga outfit during their 4-0 win on Thursday night in the Europa League.
Paul Pogba is still out with a thigh injury and Donny van de Beek is unlikely to start, meaning Nemanja Matic and Fred may be the midfield pair behind Bruno Fernandes.
Here are a couple of options Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could go with at Old Trafford this weekend…
This is how Manchester United could line-up against Newcastle on Sunday
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could ring the changes in the upcoming clash against the Magpies at Old Trafford
KEPT CALM
Kepa Arrizabalaga insists there is no bad blood with Frank Lampard despite the ex-Blues boss axing him from the starting XI.
Lampard bombed the Spaniard out the team in September after losing faith in his ability and signed £22million Edouard Mendy from Rennes to replace him.
But the 11-cap Spain international holds no grudges and told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: “In my the second year a new manager [Lampard] arrived and it was hard.
“I want to clarify that I never had any problems with Lampard.
“Maybe I couldn’t play my best football under him, but I played many games that season, even though I wasn’t at my best.
“And in my third season I didn’t play much up until now. It is a complicated and frustrating situation.”
Kepa Arrizabalaga insists there is no bad blood between him and Frank LampardCredit: AP:Associated Press
BLUE THE KEYHOLE
John Terry revealed he’s building a swimming pool and tennis court at his home by showing off the drastic transformation to his garden.
The Chelsea legend, 40, proudly took to Instagram to show the exterior of his £4.35million mansion turned into a muddy building site.
Terry posted a series of videos to his Insta story, captioning them with tennis ball and swimming emojis.
In the impressive overhaul, the Aston Villa assistant manager panned the camera across his sprawling grounds to reveal where the tennis court and swimming pool would sit.
Throwing himself well into the site visit, Terry even threw on a high-vis jacket with the No26 on the back – the shirt he wore throughout his illustrious career.
John Terry revealed the building work behind his dramatic garden transformation
GETTING AG-GY
Sergio Aguero revealed he is still friends with maverick Italian former team-mate Mario Balotelli despite an argument over his ‘Why always me’ shirt.
The Manchester City frontman says they remain in contact despite the different paths their careers have taken eight years after Balotelli’s backdoor exit from the club.
The Argentine told famous Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos on Twitch: “We still talk even today. Balotelli was good and he wasn’t crazy like they say but he was very short-tempered.
“Having a short fuse in football makes you do things you don’t think.”
Aguero tried to get the striker to see sense by getting a friend to put together a scrapbook of his run-ins on and off the pitch.
Claiming he wanted to make Balotelli understand he was the architect of his own downfall and had to stop blaming the press, the Argentine confessed: “I told my pal to get together all the newspaper cuttings with his screw-ups and put them in front of him one day over breakfast.”
“I told him, ‘Why is it always you? Look.’ He took them and said, ‘These are lies’, insulted me and threw them away.”
Sergio Aguero confronted Mario Balotelli over his infamous ‘Why always me?’ t-shirt
SAN STORM
Manchester Unted were handed a boost in their pursuit of Jadon Sancho with reports Borussia Dortmund are open to selling the winger in the summer.
Having failed to lure the 20-year-old to Old Trafford last campaign, the Red Devils are understood to have retained their interest in the England international.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also let it be known that he is keeping tabs on Sancho’s Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland.
But according to Bild, the Bundesliga outfit are desperate to keep hold of the Norwegian striker beyond this year.
That is despite the Norwegian striker being available for just £65million in 2022 due to a clause in his contract.
Instead of cashing in on the ex-Red Bull Salzburg marksman, the German news outlet states Dortmund would rather sell Sancho at the end of the season instead of Haaland.
They state that they are willing to part ways with the former Manchester City youth star if they receive a fee in the region of £104million.
TIER WE GO AGAIN
Kieran Tierney rocked up to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in just a t-shirt while his team-mates wrapped up warm in their best winter gear.
The former Celtic star came on as a substitute during the second half of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday.
Tierney, who returned to training this week, was pictured walking across the pitch before kick-off.
Despite the chilly conditions, he refused to break the habit of a lifetime by wearing a warm jacket.
The 23-year-old looked dressed for a summer’s evening as he strolled around in a polo shirt.
Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin was spotted wearing a puffer jacket and a woolly hat before the game.
Some fans were concerned because Kieran Tierney opted for tracksuit bottoms rather than shortsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
FOX HUNTING
Leicester City are reportedly chasing Lille star Boubacary Soumare, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The France U21 international came through PSG’s academy before joining Lille in 2017.
He has previously been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool , Arsenal and AC Milan.
SAINTS SLAYERS
Chelsea have the lunchtime kick-off at St Mary’s tomorrow with Thomas Tuchel looking to extend his unbeaten run as Blues boss.
But he has a few dilemmas to work out in terms of his team selection.
Olivier Giroud is set o start up front after coming on for Tammy Abraham and scoring against Newcastle.
Timo Werner ended his goal drought while Kai Havertz could get the nod on the right.
Here are a couple of options we think Tuchel could go for…
This is how SunSport suspects Chelsea may line up at Southamptin tomorrow
Another option could see Mason Mount further forward and Andreas Christensen in defence
NIKE TAKING FLIGHT
And eagle-eyes fans will spot a new ball in use from tonight’s game until the end of the season.
So rather than the same white ball used either side of the winter yellow one, a new style will come in from this weekend – just like last year.
The latest Nike Flight football features the old-school Total 90 ring famously used between 2004 and 2006.
It also incorporates Nike’s AerowSculpt technology, used in the two previous models this term.
According to the Premier League, it ‘carries a bespoke graphic designed to reflect the intensity of the final stages of the Premier League, when the focus of the teams and players narrows and the Premier League trophy is in sight’.
The ball is now available to purchase from nike.com.
The new Nike Flight ball is available to buy now from the manufacturer’s website
PREMIER LEAGUE RETURNS
After a day off yesterday for Europa League action, the Premier League is back tonight with Wolves hosting Leeds.
And there are plenty of blockbuster clashes this weekend.
It is the Merseyside derby tomorrow evening before Arsenal vs Manchester City on Sunday.
Here is the full fixture list for matchweek 25…
Here is how matchweek 25 looks in the Premier League this weekend
MORE FROM TONEY
Toney’s comments come just days after Wilfried Zaha said it was ‘degrading’ for black people to have to take part in football’s symbolic attempts to eradicate racism.
The Bees star continued: “The punishments need to be stronger. You’re going to do so much and, in a way, you have to get that helping hand, but it doesn’t look like it’s coming at the moment.
“So you have to push for that and hopefully things change.
“You have to try and educate people more but the question is, do people want to be educated? That’s another topic.
“You can only do so much, you can only try and help certain people. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t force him to drink.”
Ivan Toney spoke out passionately about the Black Lives Matter movement and why he is not taking the knee alongside his Brentford team-matesCredit: Alamy Live News
‘NOTHING IS CHANGING’
Brentford star Ivan Toney claims players are being ‘used as puppets’ as he explained why the club’s squad are no longer taking a knee before games.
The Championship’s 24-goal top scorer believes the anti-racism gesture is allowing ‘people at the top’ to just rest on the subject and as a result it has not changed anything.
The 24-year-old striker told Sky Sports: “We have had a long discussion about that; why we are not taking a knee.
“Everyone has had their say, and everyone agrees [that] we have been taking the knee for however long now and still nothing has changed.
“We are kind of being used as puppets, in my eyes; take the knee and the people at the top can rest for a while now, which is pretty silly and pretty pointless. Nothing is changing.”
ROD HEADING BACK
Everton playmaker James Rodriguez is reportedly already considering leaving the club after just one season.
The 29-year-old has been a key player for the Toffees after joining in September – chipping in with five goals and seven assists.
However according to Defensa Central, the Colombia international could be on the move already, sensationally claiming the ex-Monaco magician is beginning to become unhappy with living in England.
The news outlet alleges that Rodriguez is not a fan of the weather as well as the physicality of Premier League football.
Should Rodriguez decide to depart Goodison Park, Defensa Central state he would be willing to return to Madrid.
Though he wouldn’t like to re-sign for Real, but instead their city rivals Atletico.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
