TRANSFER news and gossip is intensifying ahead of a massive summer window.
Erling Haaland is the man on most clubs’ lips but there’s also interesting news from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona.
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has reportedly told PSG he will turn down a new contract and wants to join Real Madrid.
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Stay up to date with all the latest football news in our rolling blog…
ANTONI-WOE
Michail Antonio could miss most of West Ham’s Champions League charge in another injury blow to the club.
The Irons’ only main striker has undergone a scan on his latest hamstring strain and there are fears it could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Antonio was forced off after half an hour of Monday’s thrilling 3-2 win at Wolves which lifted West Ham into the top four with eight games to go.
Boss David Moyes is already contemplating the next month without key midfielder Declan Rice because of a knee problem.
Now it looks like both will be out for a time – with a crunch clash at home to fifth placed Chelsea on April 24 looming on the horizon.
Antonio has already missed a chunk of the season due to hamstring problems and West Ham do not have a back up centre forward.
PASS-SPORT
The Premier League has written to Boris Johnson to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
The letter says all the sports “can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers” in order to fill out stands.
But they warn: “The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria.”
The letter was sent to the PM, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster leaders of all the other parties.
It said that if certificates fail and attendance are capped for the foreseeable it will “be insufficient to end sport’s Covid financial crisis.”
ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta has commented on Arsenal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague.
He told BT Sport: “The game was under control. We got the goal we wanted but we missed some big chances as well.
“We played two or three balls we shouldn’t do and we put ourselves on the back foot and conceded the corner. They put bodies in there and it can happen. It changes the feeling after the game.
“We know that we had the possibility to change things with five substitutes. We thought it was the right time for the set-up we had.
“It was the right moment and they had a big impact. We know the subs have a lot to say in this competition. Unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on it.”
‘RESET’
Trent Alexander-Arnold must ‘reset and go back to basics’ after a tricky 2020-21, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: “Trent Alexander-Arnold, he’s going to be seeing things now.
“He had a great run, he’s under a bit of pressure now… it’s about learning.
“I’ve been in the position when you make mistakes and you look back.
“These are elementary, fundamentals, that you should have locked down in your game.
“You’re playing at that level but sometimes you have to reset.”
FULL-TIME
It’s a disastrous night for Arsenal as Slavia Prague equalised in the 93rd minute after Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock in the 86th minute.
Mikel Arteta’s men should once again be ashamed of their performance, and the Spaniard will be sweating over his job at the Emirates.
As for Man Utd, they are all but through after easing to a 2-0 win away at Granada.
Bruno Fernandes doubled the visitors’ lead with a penalty at the death to make it a comfortable night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Elsewhere, Roma came back from behind to beat Ajax 2-1, while Villarreal beat Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
RUD AWAKENING
Antonio Rudiger has called Kepa Arrizabalaga his ‘brother’ after finally breaking his silence following their training ground bust-up.
The two Chelsea stars had to be pulled apart during a tempestuous Easter Sunday session.
Boss Thomas Tuchel described the fight as being ‘serious’.
But Rudiger has moved to play down the row by calling Kepa ‘mi hermano’ – which translates to ‘my brother’ in the goalkeeper’s native Spanish.
In a post to his Instagram Story, the German defender shared a picture of the pair hugging during a game, with the caption sprawled across it.
Antonio Rudiger played down his scrap with Chelsea team-mate Kepa – calling the Spaniard his ‘brother’ in a post on Instagram HAA LA LAND
Juventus can beat Chelsea, Manchester City and United to Erling Haaland.
Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT: “A very likely possible move will be Juventus because they bought Ronaldo at 33 for £99m.
“You’re starting to see the spending, like they did in the 80s where they are prepared to pay big wages and big sign-on fees.
“If you’re prepared to go and sign Ronaldo at 33 at £99m, you could easily go and sign Haaland.
“They’re going to be a team challenging [for the Champions League] in the next five years.
“Juve would definitely go for Haaland because Ronaldo is 36, but you’d still want to get him to the football club.”
BIT OF ALRIGHT
Southampton have the option to be paid bonuses in Bitcoin after landing their biggest-ever sponsorship deal.
The South Coast club announced a three-year extension of their partnership with the Coingaming Group on Thursday.
Fresh terms are believed to be worth more than £7.5million a year.
And it will see the cryptocurrency company’s gambling arm Sportsbet.io continue as that club’s shirt sponsors.
That fee will be paid in sterling cash but Southampton can choose payment for certain performance-based bonuses – such as if they qualify for Europe – to be in Bitcoin at the end of each season.
A club statement read: “Southamptonis pleased to announce it has agreed to extend its partnership with the Coingaming Group as Main Club Partner for a further three years in a deal that will see their brand, Sportsbet.io continue as the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
“The deal is the biggest sponsorship agreement in the club’s history and also includes the option for the club to be paid certain performance-based bonuses in Bitcoin at the end of each season…
“[That allows’ the club the opportunity to take advantage of the new, high-growth currency if it feels it will bring significant future benefits.
“This partnership will allow Sportsbet.io to continue to build on the strong relationship it has built with the club and its supporters in the last year.”
HALF-TIME
Man Utd go into the break with a 1-0 aggregate after Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Elsewhere Arsenal are drawing 0-0, with Mikel Arteta’s side spurning a host of opportunities.
Meanwhile Villarreal are beating Dinamo Zagreb 1-0, with Ajax 1-0 up against Roma.
NO JE-MOANING CHARGE
Chelsea and Arsenal target Jerome Boateng is a step nearer a Premier League move after Bayern Munich confirmed their ex-Germany centre-back will leave this summer.
The Blues are also keen on Boateng’s outgoing club-mate David Alaba, who would be the Prem’s top earner if his reported pay demands of £400,000 a week were met.
And Bayern say Boateng, 32, who has missed the last two games, will not have his contract renewed, so will depart for free.
The Bundesliga champs’ sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told Sky: “That was a joint decision of the club’s management and the coach was also involved in it.
“I explained it to Jerome and he was very understanding.”
Berliner Boateng has played 354 games for Bayern, with 10 goals and 25 assists, since joining from Manchester City ten years ago.
WEMBLEY AYE
Scotland could have 4,000 fans at their Euro 2020 showdown with England at Wembley.
The FA have confirmed to Uefa they anticipate opening 25 per cent of Wembley’s tournament capacity for the initial group stage round of games.
That will see 22,500 underneath the Arch, with FA chiefs looking at a minimum of 45,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of the Euros.
But with Scotland being part of the UK, Uefa has agreed the visiting team on June 18 should be handed the planned 16 per cent allocation.
That will mean 3,600 seats being made available for the Tartan Army when ticket sales open next month.
And with some English-based Scottish fans believed to have already bought tickets for the game, the Three Lions may be confronted by 4,000 bellowing Scots in the most authentic atmosphere of the tournament.
KICK-OFF
Manchester United and Arsenal’s Europa League clashes are underway.
And you can keep up to date with both matches with the SunSport LIVE blogs.
Click HERE to follow the Red Devils’ encouner.
And click HERE to follow the Gunners’ match.
BLACK AND BLUE
Failing to make the grade at Old Trafford might have bruised his ego – but Ravel Morrison is now getting battered for real after starting MMA.
The ex-Red Devils wonderkid is without a football club and showed off a huge bruise on his arm after beginning sessions in the octagon with UFC star Lerone Murphy.
Morrison cancelled his contract with Dutch side ADO Den Haag in January.
And the 28-year-old has not been holding back in training, as he keeps fit with close pal and featherweight fighter Murphy.
The midfielder is on the look-out for his 12th club since leaving Manchester United in 2012, having been tipped for greatness after making his debut aged 17.
Ravel Morrison showed off his war wounds from MMA training HOUSE PROUD
Zinedine Zidane hit back at Jurgen Klopp’s training ground jibe by insisting Real Madrid are ‘proud’ of their home.
The LaLiga giants have been playing games at their training ground in Valdebebas since the coronavirus outbreak as they refurbish the Bernabeu.
Klopp told reporters during his post-match press conference: “This was strange tonight because it was really difficult with the stadium but Anfield is at least a proper stadium and it will be good for us.
“It must be a really tricky task for Real Madrid at Anfield.”
Commenting’s on Klopp’s remarks, Zidane said: “I don’t have an opinion about what Jurgen says, we are proud to play in this stadium.
“Liverpool is the opponent and we know they are going to leave all they have on the pitch, I have no question about that.
“We just need to be ready and it is going to be a very good second leg match. We will need to do the same thing in the second leg.”
TEAM NEWS
Here is how Manchester United and Arsenal line-up for their Europa League quarter-final first legs.
The Red Devils face Granada in Spain, while the Gunners face Slavia Prague.
SWAP-PORTUNITY KNOCKS
Man Utd are reportedly exploring a swap deal involving Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard after ‘talks on England duty’.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long been a fan of the Hammers star, 22, who has continued his meteoric rise to become the Three Lions’ top defensive midfielder.
Chelsea are among a host of European giants keen to sign former Blues academy product Rice.
And David Moyes has warned it would take bids in excess of £100MILLION to sign him.
Even then, Moyes wants to keep Rice at the London Stadium – particularly if West Ham manage to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But according to The Athletic, Man Utd are keen to discuss a swap deal involving Lingard in order to tempt the Hammers into selling their star man.
KYL-ER BLOW
Kylian Mbappe has dealt PSG a blow by reportedly stating his intentions to leave.
According to Spanish broadcasters Cuatro and Cadena SER, the French striker has told the French side he wishes to depart.
Mbappe is out of contract in 2022 and is claimed to have no desire to pen a new deal at Parc des Princes.
The 22-year-old is known to be willing to join Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane a huge fan of the player.
NOU’S THE DADDY
Antoine Griezmann is celebrating a unique hat-trick – as his new baby arrived with the same birthday as his first two children at odds of 133,000-1.
The Barcelona striker welcomed second daughter Alba on Thursday – joining Mia, five, and son Amaro, two.
Alba is Griezmann’s first Nou baby – as the French World Cup winner only completed his £107million move to Barca from Atletico Madrid in July 2019.
The 30-year-old announced the birth of his latest child on social media: “Alba Griezmann April 8, 2021 at 10:24 a.m” – followed by a heart emoticon.
Barcelona tweeted their congratulations, while Griezmann’s Spanish wife Erika Choperena posted birthday wishes to the couple’s other two kids.
ITALY BLUES
Chelsea star Jorginho has revealed his love for Naples and left the door open for a Serie A return.
The Blues midfielder spent four memorable years with Napoli before joining Chelsea in 2018 under Maurizio Sarri.
He told Sky Italy: “When you live in Naples you can never forget. I had a wonderful experience and I am very fond of the city and the fans.
“Now, honestly I’m not thinking about it because my concentration is all on Chelsea, but if there is the possibility, one day, to return, of course I’d like it.”
Speaking to Italian TV network Canale 21, Jorginho said: “There are no words to describe how much I miss Naples.
“‘Who wouldn’t miss Naples? It’s so cold in London, they don’t even know what the sun is.”
Jorginho has left the door open for a Napoli return ‘one day’ TIER WE GO
Charlie Adam reckons Real Madrid and Manchester City should be fighting over Kieran Tierney this summer – and the bidding could start at £50million.
The Arsenal defender, 23, has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a knee injury against Liverpool on Saturday.
Tierney still should be fit to play for Scotland at the Euros after being a pivotal player in last month’s three World Cup qualifiers.
But ex-Liverpool and Stoke midfielder Adam – now at Dundee – thinks the bigger clubs will be circling.
Adam said: “Would it surprise me if a Real Madrid, a Man City or any of the clubs in the top echelons come in for him in the summer?
“I think he’s ready now. He’s 23, he signed for Arsenal injured and was out for a spell with groin and shoulders problems.
“But he’s come back and has matured into a top player. I believe he can go to the next level again. You’re starting at £50m too.”
BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Usain Bolt has picked Cristiano Ronaldo as the football GOAT over Lionel Messi.
The fastest man on Earth sided with the Juventus star despite being a fan of Messi’s national side Argentina.
For well over a decade, fans, players and pundits have argued over whether Messi or Ronaldo is the greatest of all time.
The Jamaican speedster revealed his allegiances to club side Manchester United swung the debate in favour of Ronaldo after the Portuguese superstar made his name at Old Trafford.
Bolt, 34, told Gazetta dello Sport: “It is difficult for me to choose because I support Argentina, but I am a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I admire Ronaldo since he played for Manchester United and I support the Red Devils.
“I think he has something more than Messi because he has proven himself in many leagues. That’s why I choose Ronaldo.”
RACISM PROTECTION
Instagram have shockingly ruled a social media post calling an England Women’s star a n**** does NOT flout their guidelines.
Liverpool and Lioness winger Rinsola Babajide revealed she had been abused by someone on Instagram in a post which left her feeling sick.
The 22-year-old was stunned to see someone post a reply on her timeline from an account in the name of azliz1 which said: “Football is only for men you n****”.
But after other users reported what they thought was clear racist abuse, they were stunned when Instagram replied: “We’ve reviewed azliz1’s account and found that it doesn’t go against our Community Guidelines.”
The social media giant, owned by Facebook, told SunSport discrimination had no place on its platforms and claimed they “want to hold people who share it accountable”.
After we made them aware of the alarming review on Babajide’s abuse, they vowed to investigate.
NO FERGIE TIME
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he could no longer dish out his infamous “hairdryer” blasts in the modern-day game because snowflake footballers have been known to cry.
The ex-Manchester United boss became renowned for his many close-up screaming and spitting outbursts.
But Fergie now bemoans the fact that current football managers are restricted from using his fearsome motivational weapon because society has changed and players have become too sensitive.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Jim Smith told me one of his players started crying when he got criticised.
“I thought, ‘What is the game like now? Where are we going?’
“Obviously you have to be tactful nowadays about the criticism you give them.”
SAINTS ROW
Ralph Hasenhuttl says he is certain Theo Walcott will be a Southampton player next season – even though a deal still has to be thrashed out with the former England star.
Hasenhuttl believes Walcott’s loan move from Everton has been a big success despite a recent injury and claims he needs professionals like him at the club.
Walcott, 32, is a free agent in the summer and the Saints boss said: “We are in negotiations with his agent and with him and I’m sure not only this player but we will have next season a very balanced and mentally strong side for sure.
“It’s no secret that I was very happy with him, because I think he did a fantastic job. We missed him definitely when he was injured.
“I like a lot of things of this player, not only his workload but also his mentality, his attitude, his professionalism. This is something every team needs to have. It’s a player, every manager likes to work with.
“He is positive, always very open minded for new things and in the end, never wanted never stop getting better.”
ROYAL FLUSH
Arsenal are reportedly planning a takeover bid for Belgian top-flight club Royal Excel Mouscron.
The Pro League strugglers have recently failed to pay their players on time due to financial concerns.
Mouscron officials have been seeking outside investment amid fears the Belgian FA will strip away the club’s licence to operate.
Reports in Brussels now claim Arsenal aim to take a sizeable stake in the southern outfit in order to use them as a nursery club.
According to La Derniere Heure, the Gunners would employ their former defender Pascal Cygan, 46, to manage Mouscron.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
