THE FA Cup fifth round is in full swing with Manchester United pulling off an extra-time victory over West Ham.
Meanwhile Chelsea have discovered that they will play Atletico Madrid away in Bucharest, meaning five English clubs have now had their European ties moved.
Read our live blog below to get the latest from around the clubs…
TOFF LUCK
Everton stormed into the FA Cup quarters with a thrilling 5-4 extra time win over Spurs.
Davinson Sanchez put the visitors ahead at Goodison Park before Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson had Everton 3-1 up.
Erik Lamela pulled one back before the break and Sanchez then scored again for 3-3.
But Richarlison bagged his second of the night before Kane’s 83rd minute strike made it 4-4.
However, Bernard stepped up for Everton in the 97th minute to secure the stunning victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Man City, Leicester and Sheffield United were the other sides to make the last 8 on Wednesday night.
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FROM SUNSPORT’S DUNCAN WRIGHT
Liverpool’s message to Bayern Munich is: Mo Salah is not for sale.
The German giants are the latest club to target the Kop striker after chief exec Karl-Heinz Rummenigge branded him the ‘Lionel Messi of Africa’.
But the Premier League champions have no intention of letting go of their prized asset.
The Egyptian’s current £200,000-a-week Anfield contract does not run out until 2023.
And last month the 28-year-old insisted he wants to be a Reds player for the rest of his career and ‘win as many trophies as possible’.
However, Bayern have now joined Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid in chasing Salah.
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ELL OF A DEAL
Fulham have landed £4million for Harvey Elliott following a tribunal.
Wonderkid Elliott, now on loan at Blackburn Rovers, left Craven Cottage for Liverpool in July 2019 aged just 16.
The Reds were offering just £750,000 in compensation – well short of the £8m Fulham were believed to be seeking for one of the hottest prospects in English football.
The decision went to a tribunal with a verdict being delivered that left the Cottagers ‘very pleased’.
It also includes a sell-on clause, understood to be around 20 per cent.
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GLOVES ARE OFF
Thomas Tuchel has promised Kepa Arrizabalaga a fresh start against Barnsley.
He said: “From outside we had a view on his situation and some difficulties on the sporting side. Maybe the circumstances of his transfer are a little bit on his shoulders.
“That was the impression from outside. From inside, I see an open personality. A hard working guy with a lot of quality. He deserves to be here.
“The good thing for him is that we start new, that this is a new start for him because I don’t have a history with him.
“He does everything to impress in training and this is the only thing he could do. It is a special position, it has its own rules.
“If you make mistakes, everybody sees it, talks about it so you need a lot of mental strength and quality.
“Kepa gets the chance tomorrow and I hope he can show what he shows in training.”
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FARCELONA
Barcelona are on the brink of a Copa del Rey exit after losing 2-0 to Sevilla in the first leg of their semi final.
Nou Camp old boy Ivan Rakitic came back to haunt his former side with a goal
Jules Kounde scored Sevilla’s other to leave Barca sweating on their place in the final.
Ronald Koeman’s side are already eight points off LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid, who still have a game in hand.
And the Dutchman previously said the Copa del Rey represented Barca’s best hopes of a trophy this term, with a Champions League last-16 clash against PSG to contend with too.
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NEY WORRIES
PSG were dealt a major blow after Neymar hobbled off injured during the French Cup clash with Caen.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions take on Barcelona in the pick of the Champions League last-16 games on Tuesday.
And their chances of winning their first-ever European crown have now been hit hard after Neymar limped off pitch after an hour against Caen.
Neymar, 29, was replaced by Kylian Mbappe for the final half an hour of the cup showdown.
The Brazilian only recovered from a month-long ankle injury in mid-January.
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JIM GOOD SHAPE
Raul Jimenez is training with ‘good intensity’ as he continues his rehabilitation from a skull fracture.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “He is doing good. He had a consultation and the results are amazing.
“So, gradually he will progress. It’s too soon yet to predict an exact point.
“He’s working by himself, but with a good intensity in his training sessions, so we’re really positive and delighted with how he is doing.”
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MAGIC TUCH
Antonio Rudiger has hailed ‘positive’ new Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel for ‘knowing what he wants’.
Rudiger told Sky Germany: “The most important impression he’s made is that he knows what he wants.
“He has his way of playing football, which is positive for many players. This is also reflected in the latest results. This has been a good, positive start for him.”
And on his own pre-Christmas plight he said: “At the end of the day you want to be on the pitch as a footballer.
“As a footballer, you can’t be satisfied and you want more, you want to play so that’s been a real positive for me.
“He (Tuchel) wanted to bring me to PSG in the summer but otherwise we had not spoken.”
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ANFIELD RAP
Liverpool have set their sights on Leeds sensation Raphinha ahead of a summer transfer, according to reports.
Jurgen Klopp has made Leeds whiz Raphinha his No1 attacking option ahead of the summer window, according to France Football.
Leeds only signed the Brazilian winger in October for a £17million fee.
Raphinha, 24, moved to Elland Road from Ligue 1 side Rennes, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.
But he could be on the move just one year into his contract, with the reigning Premier League champions set to come knocking.
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CHRIST THE REDEEMER
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is reportedly ready to abandon plans to sign a centre-back this summer given the form of Andreas Christensen.
The German manager, 47, was expected to strengthen his backline at the end of this season but may no longer push for a new star, according to Football London.
Christensen has excelled since he was called upon to replace an injured Thiago Silva against Tottenham.
And the Dane took his chance in the heart of Tuchel’s back three with an impressive showing from the start in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
He made 12 clearances and won six aerial duels – more than any other Blues star.
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SOL SEARCHING
Arsenal target Manor Solomon is in talks with teams from England.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Israeli winger said: “There are talks with teams from England. There are things that can happen in the summer.
“My dream is to play in England and it also seems to be the most realistic option for me. And teams in England can pay.”
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TIME WILL TELE
Premier League chiefs’ decision to put their next TV rights deal process on hold is justified by the financial chaos hitting European rivals.
Italy’s Serie A clubs will vote on whether to accept the ‘winning’ £745million-per-season bid by DAZN for the next three-year deal.
DAZN outbid Sky Italia by £87m but offered £117m per season LESS than the current deal – and £250m below the auction reserve price.
Serie A is also facing the potential scrapping of the £1.5billion deal with private equity company CVC struck in November.
The crisis comes with French Ligue 1 bosses forced into a cut-price deal with Canal+, knocking a third off estimated incomes this season, after terminating their new £1bn annual deal with Mediapro.
In Spain, LaLiga chief Javier Tebas anticipates the 20 clubs will lose £1.6bn as a direct cost of the pandemic.
Germany’s next four-year Bundesliga deal with Sky and DAZN also dropped by £50m per season.
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TOURE DE FORCE
Yaya Toure has confirmed he has taken over the role of coach at Ukrainian top-flight side Olympic Donetsk.
The Manchester City legend, 37, retired from football a little over a year ago after playing his final game for Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai.
Early on in his career, Toure played for now-defunct Metalurh Donetsk in the same city.
And now the Ivorian has revealed he decided to kick-off his career in coaching in Donetsk thanks to his love of the city – and desire to learn his trade out of the spotlight.
FROM SUNSPORT’S MARTIN LIPTON
Embarrassed Uefa chiefs are now seeking the THIRD venue for Arsenal’s Europa League second leg tie with Benfica.
Euro bosses announced that the first leg between the sides next Thursday would be moved from Lisbon to Rome because Portugal is on the UK ‘red list’ requiring 10 days of hotel quarantine.
Arsenal then confirmed Uefa had agreed their ‘home’ leg on February 25 would instead be played at Olympiakos’ Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, the port of Athens.
But within hours, Arsenal were forced to delete their statement after Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced an Athens-wide lockdown would come into effect immediately until the end of the month.
That will force Arsenal and Uefa to scramble to find another alternative host that will allow both clubs into the country for the tie.
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FROM SUNSPORT’S TOM BARCLAY
Patrick Vieira and David Wagner are among the candidates vying to be Bournemouth’s new boss.
The Cherries have been conducting Zoom interviews since today and will continue tomorrow.
Arsenal legend Vieira has been out of work since leaving French side Nice in December and would be keen on the role, as would ex-Huddersfield chief Wagner.
Bournemouth are understood to be keen on a manager with previous experience, which seems to have ruled out Aston Villa No2 John Terry.
They would love Frank Lampard and Scott Parker, but both are a no-go with Lampard taking a break after his Chelsea axing and Parker in situ at Fulham.
First team coach Jonathan Woodgate could continue on a temporary basis for Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but it is not thought to be in the running full-time with the club keen on an external appointment.
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UP FOR THE CUP
Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup quarters with a 3-1 win at Swansea.
Goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus sealed the win for Pep Guardiola’s juggernauts.
And the Spanish tactician will be hoping to add a second FA Cup to his trophy cabinet after also opening up a potential eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
KANTE BELIEVE IT
Chelsea chief Thomas Tuchel is set to unleash N’Golo Kante in a new ‘double six’ role for the Blues’ FA Cup clash with Barnsley.
Tuchel said: “N’Golo Kante fits into every manager’s plans on the planet. I was desperate to have him in my teams.
“He is a Chelsea player and a big one and one of the best midfielders in the world. I am so lucky to have him in my squad.
“He will start tomorrow. For me, his best position is double-six – he can play single six but his strength is to have a freedom in his game. We use his range in his game.”
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PS-GLEE
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel could swoop for Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield starlet Kays Ruiz-Atil this summer.
Stamford Bridge officials are already understood to have held talks with the former Barcelona schoolboy’s advisors, having first shown interest last season.
And reports in France claim Chelsea will step up their interest as Ruiz-Atil will be available for free when his contract expires at the end of the term.
Negotiations over a new PSG contract have stalled, with worries over limited game-time and a dispute over bonuses thought to be the main issues.
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CITY SLICKER
Man City are set to pip Premier League rivals Liverpool to the signing of £15million Fluminense wonderkid Kayky.
The 17-year-old has drawn comparisons to PSG and Brazil hitman Neymar.
And according to Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano, City have won the race.
He reports that Kayky will join up with City’s youth team in 2022 ‘if paperworks/work permit will be completed’.
The City scouting team ‘are convinced he’s one of the best U18 talents in South America’.
The fee will be around £8.5m up front, rising to £15m with add-ons.
Liverpool were reportedly in the hunt for the Brazilian teenager, as well as Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.
And a number of unnamed Spanish clubs were also sniffing around.
MR PERFECT
Liverpool have been urged to rival Manchester City in the race to land Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland.
But the pair will still have to content with reported interest from Man United and Chelsea.
Glen Johnson told bettingexpert.com: “Haaland is a perfect asset for any top team at the moment. He’s big, strong and a proper goalscorer.
“He’s very young so whoever buys him next could have the opportunity to sell him for an awful lot of money in five years time so, business-wise, it could be good to look at someone like that.
“Premier League clubs will want him because it will be a case of not wanting to miss out.
“If City go for him, Liverpool will think ‘we can’t let City have him’. And it could become a race to the line. I think there will be numerous clubs that will want him if they can afford him.”
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THAT’S INTERTAINMENT
Inter Milan’s new badge has apparently been leaked online.
The Serie A giants had planned to undergo controversial changes to their name and crest to celebrate their 113th anniversary.
The change is said to be planned for March 9 – exactly 113 years after the club came into existence back in 1908.
The club are reportedly going for a new modern approach which includes changing their name from “Football Club Internazionale Milano” to simply “Inter Milano”.
But they may need to get back to the drawing board with their badge.
An image on Footy Headlines’ website shows the club have adopted their famous blue, black and white colours.
They have also taken inspiration from Juventus’ badge change in 2017 by styling it around their initials ‘I’ and ‘M’.
RAM RAID
Man United are yet to make contact with Sergio Ramos over a stunning summer swoop, reports say.
The Old Trafford club are reportedly weighing up a move for the Real Madrid captain when his contract expires.
Ramos, 34, is a free agent this summer and United are rumoured to be interested along with PSG.
But respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano said that no contact has yet been made over a possible deal.
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STORM BRU-ING
Kevin de Bruyne is ‘annoyed’ over Manchester City’s offer of a new contract, according to reports.
The Belgian superstar’s deal expires in 2023 but the club are eager to tie him down to a new long-term contract.
De Bruyne, 29, last signed a contract in January 2018 worth in the region of £250,000-a-week.
The Athletic claim City’s latest offer is lower than what he currently pockets due to the effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on football.
However, De Bruyne’s frustration stems from speculation that Man City are preparing a huge lucrative wage packet for Lionel Messi.
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UPA AWAY
Bayern Munich lead Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for Dayot Upamecano.
But Man United are not looking to sign the RB Leipzig star despite reports claiming they were in ‘advanced talks’.
Fabrizio Romano claims the Red Devils are fans of Upamecano but are unlikely to make a move.
That’s because Bayern are leading the race and are ready to meet the Frenchman’s £38million release clause.
However, Chelsea and Liverpool are still keeping tabs in the hopes Upamecano fancies trying his luck in England.
HE’S A KEPA
Chelsea are reportedly optimistic Kepa Arrizabalaga will eventually come good – despite demoting him to their second-choice goalkeeper.
The Daily Telegraph claim the Blues would like to give the stopper ‘a second chance’ before deciding his fate in the summer, although their patience with their former record signing is said to be wearing thin.
Director Marina Granovskaia is said to have had a ‘heart-to-heart’ with the Spain international last year to offer him support and plot a route back to the starting XI.
That’s despite Edouard Mendy’s impressive form since joining from Rennes last summer.
And links with a free transfer swoop for AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma also remain.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
