Newcastle ‘make £85m Vlahovic transfer bid’, Chelsea ‘want Lautaro Martinez’, Pep Guardiola inconclusive Covid test

Like father like son

The son of Emile Heskey is set to sign a scholarship deal at Manchester City after turning 16.

Jaden Heskey has been in the club’s academy for a number of years, rising through the age groups as a midfielder and has been rewarded for his progress and potential with the offer of a scholarship that commits his future to the club.

His younger brother, Reigan, joined him at the academy in 2016 when he came in at Under-9 level.

Aguero’s classy touch

Sergio Aguero has agreed to forego the final year of his £100,000-a-week contract, according to Spanish outlet L’Ara.

A heart condition ended Aguero’s glittering career and he leaves Barcelona having scored once in five appearances.

His generous gesture will be of great help to the cash-strapped Catalans, especially after already agreeing a two-year deal with a 75% pay cut compared to what he was earning at Manchester City.

The Argentine has now lost out on an additional £5.1million, but will still be paid the remainder of his salary for this season.

London Calling?

West Ham have emerged as favourites to sign Anthony Martial from Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to the bookies.

According to SkyBet, West Ham are firm favourites to secure Martial’s signature at a price of 5/1.

Their closest competitors are Newcastle United and PSG at 10/1 and 14/1 respectively, with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid all priced at 16/1.

Everton are rank outsiders at 25/1.

Cav that

Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has reportedly turned down a move to Argentine side Boca Juniors in favour of a switch to Barcelona.

Cavani has been linked with Barcelona in the past, and the Spaniards remain the 34-year-old’s first choice destination in January.

The Manchester United man has been in contact with Boca Juniors chiefs and informed them of his decision to join Barcelona, according to Argentine outlet TyC Sports.

Barca are in need of another striker after Sergio Aguero was forced to emotionally retire due to heart problems.

And Cavani is the man lined up to replace Aguero at the Nou Camp.

Cup of Costa

Diego Costa is subject to transfer interest in Spain after helping Atletico Mineiro to silverware this season.

The striker in December 2020 agreed to terminate his contract and was left without a club for seven months.

And despite almost signing for Benfica in Portugal, Costa moved back to Brazil with Atletico Mineiro, signing till December 2022.

It proved an inspired deal as the forward hit five goals in 19 games and helped them to a league and cup double.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Cadiz and Elche are monitoring Costa’s situation.

BALL OVER

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov picked Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski and Real Madrid star Karim Benzema as his most deserving of the Ballon d’Or award.

Nurmagomedov said: “I would give it to Lewandowski or Benzema. One of them.

“Lewandowski, I think. Last three years, he is the best football player.

“We can just look at his results. What he does. He has won the Champions League. He has scored more than 120 goals last two years.

“For the national team and club. It is an amazing result.

“For the entire football history, I cannot remember, we can name a pair of players who scored 120 goals over two years.

“He has 65 goals this year. It is too much. For football I think it is too much. I think he deserves Ballon d’Or”

ERIKSEN BREAKING

Inter Milan have officially terminated the contract of Christian Eriksen by mutual consent.

Eriksen has not been allowed to play in Serie A after the league banned the heart-monitoring device fitted to the playmaker following his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

Reports have emerged in recent days that a contract termination was imminent.

And now in an official statement, Inter wrote: “FC Internazionale Milano can confirm that an agreement has been reached to terminate Christian Eriksen’s contract by mutual consent.

“The club and the entire Nerazzurri family wish Christian all the very best for his future.

“Although Inter and Christian are now parting ways, the bond shall never be broken.

“The good times, the goals, the victories, those Scudetto celebrations with fans outside San Siro – all this will remain forever in Nerazzurri history”

VLAHOVIC WISH

Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic prefers to join a club with the ability to challenge in the Champions League.

According to Eurosport, Vlahovic may not be too keen to join Arsenal, Tottenham or Manchester United.

It’s been five years since the Gunners made it to the competition, Spurs missed out on the Europa League and United are currently sixth.

The Serbia international is also being targeted by other clubs

MAN COMES AROUND

Kostas Manolas rejected offers from the Bundesliga and LaLiga for a return to his beloved Olympiacos, reports SunSport’s Kostas Lianos.

Manolas completed a sensational comeback to the Greek champions seven years after leaving for the Serie A where he stood out for Roma and then Napoli.

SunSport understand the centre-back turned down a potential move to Germany and Spain just two years after being targeted by some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

The Greece international’s performances in Italy attracted the interest of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in 2018 and 2019.

Reports at the time suggested the Premier League trio was willing to splash over £30million before the now 30-year-old defender joined Napoli two years ago

EFL POSTPONEMENTS

Here are all the EFL matches that have been postponed:

Championship

Cardiff P-P Derby
Coventry P-P Stoke
Millwall P-P Preston
QPR P-P Swansea
Reading P-P Luton

League One

Bolton P-P Wycombe
Burton P-P MK Dons
Gillingham P-P Crewe
Lincoln P-P Doncaster
Sheff Wed P-P Accrington

League Two

Crawley P-P Oldham
Northampton P-P Barrow
Port Vale P-P Exeter
Swindon P-P Walsall

COVID HIT

So far a total of FIVE Premier League games, scheduled for the weekend, have been postponed:

Saturday

Man Utd P-P Brighton
Southampton P-P Brentford
Watford P-P Crystal Palace
West Ham P-P Norwich

Sunday

Everton P-P Leicester

GOOD AFTERNOON FOOTBALL FANS

A total of FIVE Premier League matches, scheduled for the coming weekend, have been postponed.

Those are Manchester United vs Brighton, Southampton vs Brentford, Watford vs Crystal Palace, West Ham vs Norwich and Everton vs Leicester.

Meanwhile, United are the ‘only’ serious bidder for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

That is according to SportBild, who report that the Red Devils are strong candidates for Haaland’s signature compared to other suitors, but will first have to make it to the Champions League.

Chelsea have already landed Romelu Lukaku, while Real Madrid’s priority is to buy Kylian Mbappe.

Haaland could replace Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain but a transfer to Paris ‘would only be an alternative’ for him.

Manchester City, meanwhile, were keen on signing Harry Kane in the summer and the Tottenham star remains a ‘dream’ target for Pep Guardiola.

Bayern Munich won’t be considered as long as Robert Lewandowski is still leading the attack while Barcelona are still struggling financially.

And Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will again be frozen out by Mikel Arteta as punishment for the late return that cost him the captain’s armband.

Aubameyang has missed the last two games as manager Arteta lost patience with his striker for the latest lack of discipline.

And the Spanish head coach has revealed the 31-year-old will have no part to play in Saturday’s match at Leeds as his exile continues.

Arteta said: “No, he is not available for this game.”

Asked if Aubameyang has a future at the club, Arteta added: “He is not available for this game.”

Finally, City boss Guardiola has cancelled his press conference following an inconclusive COVID-19 coronavirus test result.

The Spanish head coach is now waiting on results of a follow-up test, but the pre-match presser has been called off.

This comes after five Premier League matches, scheduled for the weekend, got postponed. That’s due to a COVID-19 outbreak that has taken over several clubs