ENGLAND will be without John Stones for the remainder of the international break.
The Man City defender picked up a knock in training and has returned to his club to seek further rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign two-time Fifa Best award winner Robert Lewandowski, according to reports.
Canada have reached their first World Cup since 1986 after beating Jamaica 4-0 to top the North American qualifying table.
USA and Mexico look set to join them if they can manage a point in their respective final games while Costa Rica are set for the play-offs.
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United duo ready for England
Manchester United stars Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire look ready for England duty in Tuesday’s friendly against Ivory Coast.
Both defenders took part in training for the Three Lions today and look ready for the friendly clash at Wembley.
Maguire was an unused sub in Saturday’s 2-1 clash with Switzerland but Shaw started and scored the equaliser as England came from behind to win 2-1.
Fernandes ‘set for new deal’
Bruno Fernandez is about to agree a new contract extension with Manchester United, according to reports.
United news outlet @UtdPlug says ‘it will be announced in the coming days’.
Portugal playmaker Fernandez, 27, has been a key man for the Red Devils since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.
Chelsea quartet travel to America
Four Chelsea players not in action for their countries during the international break have travelled to America together, it has been has reported.
Hakim Ziyech, who recently declined a call-up for Morocco, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, un-capped Englishman Trevoh Chalobah, and Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga enjoyed the break in each other’s company.
The Chelsea Chronicle’s article says they have ‘decided to spend some time watching an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets at FTX Arena in Florida.’
Terry watches England training
Chelsea legend John Terry watched England’s current crop in training for tomorrow’s friendly with Ivory Coast.
The retired England skipper, 41, was present to see the Three Lions squad warming up at Tottenham Hotspur’s Enfield HQ.
Abramovich ‘suffers suspected poisoning’
Chelsea’s embattled and outgoing owner Roman Abramovich suffered suspected poisoning along with Ukraine peace negotiators earlier this month, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Russian oligarch and two officials are said to have developed symptoms including red eyes, painful tearing and peeling skin while in the role of peacemakers at a meeting in Kyiv. They have now recovered.
Abramovich is currently selling the Blues as a result of pressure put on him by the UK government in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Cascarino calls Rashford ‘not clinical’
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino says Marcus Rashford is ‘not clinical’ enough to lead the line for Arsenal.
United forward Rashford is reportedly a transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s Champions League-chasing Gunners.
Cascarino told talkSPORT: “I’m not sure if Marcus is a solution for Arsenal because Marcus is not clinical.
“He doesn’t particularly lead the line well and that’s one of the two traits you need if you’re going to play in an Arteta team.”
Pulisic insight into ‘worm’ celebration
Christian Pulisic says his ‘worm’ goal celebration – after he scored for the USA in their 5-1 win over Panama – was for a young fan with cancer.
The Chelsea winger revealed it was for 15-year-old Mason Ogle, who has osteosarcoma and was the USA’s matchday ambassador for the game.
Pulisic said: “I met someone really special yesterday.
“His name was Mason and his one request was that if I scored, he wanted to see a worm celebration. That’s what that was for.”
Arsenal tie down prospect Ibrahim
Teenage midfielder Bradley Ibrahim has signed his first pro deal with Arsenal.
The 17-year-old joined from Queen’s Park Rangers last summer and has been impressing in the Gunners’ youth ranks.
The versatile starlet can play in the middle of the park as well as well at centre-half.
Arsenal youngster Bradley Ibrahim has signed his first ever professional contractCredit: Twitter Werner finds comfort in country
Chelsea striker Timo Werner has admitted that he feels more comfortable playing football for Germany than he does at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League since joining the Blues for £47million two years ago, scoring just seven times in 49 appearances.
However, Werner hasn’t lost his touch in front of goal when it comes to the international stage, and was again on the mark on Saturday when the Germans defeated Israel 2-0 in a friendly.
Werner has netted six times in his last six appearances for his country, and afterwards said: “I’m a striker and always want to score.
“Things aren’t going the way I’d like at Chelsea so it’s all the better that things are going well here under Hansi Flick.
“I really enjoy playing football, no matter where I’m playing. There are differences in the style of play between football at Chelsea and here.
“Maybe the national team suits me better. Here, I always have scoring chances, I can score goals. I feel very comfortable here.”
Eddie Glad to be going
Borussia Monchengladbach are considering a move for Arsenal outcast Eddie Nketiah.
The Gunners had high hopes for the 22-year-old striker, but he’s failed to make a serious breakthrough at the Emirates despite a shortage of attacking options at the club.
Nketiah is yet to start a Premier League game this season, and has totalled just 114 minutes of game time during 11 substitute appearances.
The forward is out of contract at the Emirates the summer, and, according to BILD (via Sport Witness), his name is on a ‘secret shortlist’ being drawn up by the Bundesliga club.
Teen ‘hurt’ after rejecting Reds
Andreas Schjelderup has revealed his ‘hurt’ at having to reject a move to Liverpool, but hopes to join the Premier League giants in the future.
The 17-year-old sensation was on trial at Anfield two years ago, but turned down a permanent move in order to stay in his homeland with Nordsjaelland.
Schjelderup has since built a reputation as being Norway’s latest wonderkid, and again has the eyes of top European clubs upon him after two impressive seasons in the first team.
The attacking midfielder told Goal: “Of course, it was a bit hard [to reject Liverpool] because when you grow up, you watch the big names and then you hear that they want you so your head starts to spin.
“But I got a lot of help from my father and agents, who helped me make the right decision.
“It hurt a little bit for me and my dad in our hearts [not to join Liverpool], but the move here was instead of going to an academy at under-19 or under-17 level.
“Of course, maybe I can go to a big team in the future. In the long run, for me, this was the best step. When I am ready, I will take the next step.”
No Real deal for Tchouameni – yet
Premier League pair Chelsea and Manchester United have been handed a boost by the news that – contrary to reports – Aurelien Tchouameni has not agreed to sign for Real Madrid.
Spanish media had claimed a deal had been done, but Tchouameni’s agent insists that no such move has been confirmed.
The two English clubs have been monitoring the 22-year-old’s development at Monaco, and both see the player as the ideal midfielder to build their side around for years to come.
However, Madrid remain very interested despite the press jumping the gun, as do Ligue 1 big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain.
Tchouameni scored his first international goal for France on Friday, heading home a stoppage time winner against Ivory Coast.
Credit: @WhoScored Twitter United planning Shaw and Rashford talks
Manchester United are planning to enter discussions with Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford over new contracts, according to ESPN’S Rob Dawson.
The future of the England pair had been considered uncertain with both underperforming this season, and seemingly unhappy with life at Old Trafford.
Yet the duo ‘are considered part of a key group of core players that United want to keep’ ahead of a significant squad overhaul in the summer.
The current deals of both players are due to expire in June 2023.
Why Port Vale are England’s best
League Two Port Vale set a unique record on Saturday afternoon, setting them apart from every other club in the English football pyramid.
The Valiants defeated Sutton United 2-0 at Vale Park, and, in doing so, became the first side to have beaten each of the other 91 clubs in the Premier League and Football League in a league encounter.
Perhaps more importantly for the Staffordshire club, the three points was a fourth win in five games, and moved them up to fourth spot in the table.
Credit: MBaggers37 Twitter Blues bidders to learn fate
The four parties still in the running to buy Chelsea will discover which has the backing of Raine Group next month.
The bank overseeing the sale of the football club has told the remaining bidders that it intends to present their preferred bid to the government and the Premier League during the week of April 18.
Sky News understands that a letter has been sent to those on the shortlist, indicating that the government will also be approached to issue a licence enabling a quick sale that could be completed by the end of the season.
The remaining contenders were told over the weekend that they had until April 11 to refine their final offers.
League One strugglers sack Robinson
AFC Wimbledon have parted company with head coach Mark Robinson, the League One club have announced.
The news came after the south London club slipped to a 1-0 home defeat to Cambridge on Saturday, making it 21 league games without a win.
The Dons have dropped from being sat in fourth place in September to being fourth from bottom and in the relegation zone.
Blues monitoring contract rebel Marquinhos
If Romelu Lukaku is to head to Paris this summer, then at least one player may be heading in the opposition direction.
It is understood that Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on Marquinhos’ situation at PSG, and are prepared to make an offer for the defender as soon as they receive the green light from their new owners.
The 27-year-old has two years to run on his deal in the French capital, and, according to L’Equipe, is no closer to signing a new contract with his club.
However, the Brazilian defender supposedly wants a significant increase in his salary – currently thought to be around £250k-per-week – and it remains to be seen whether Chelsea in a post-Roman Abramovich era could afford such wages.
Mancini to remain Azzurri boss
Roberto Mancini hopes to keep his job as Italy head coach despite the country’s embarrassing failure to reach this year’s World Cup.
The European champions were beaten to top spot in their qualifying group by Switzerland last year, and were then shocked at home by North Macedonia in Thursday’s play-off semi-final.
Many expected Mancini to step down in the aftermath, but the former Manchester City boss has confirmed that he wants to stay on in the role.
He said: “We’re on the same point with the [Italian Football] Federation – I’m happy about that, we’re gonna discuss it again in the coming days.
“We’ll speak about plans for the future and things to be improved as soon as possible.”
Southgate to rotate Three Lions
Gareth Southgate will freshen up his England side for tomorrow evening’s friendly with Ivory Coast at Wembley.
The Three Lions boss has promised to rotate his squad during this international break, and will give game time to as many players in the group as possible.
That’s likely to mean starts in defence for Harry Maguire and Tyrone Mings, who both sat out Saturday’s win over Switzerland.
It may also mean a change in goal despite Jordan Pickford’s impressive performance against the Swiss with Nick Pope and Fraser Forster – back in the England squad for the first time since 2017 – waiting in the wings.
PSG ready to rescue Romelu
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to end Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea nightmare by bringing the striker to the Parc des Princes.
The Football Insider understands that the Ligue 1 club hope to take advantage of the Belgian’s unhappiness at the Bridge to pick him up on the ‘cheap’.
Lukaku cost the Blues £97m last summer when returning to the London club for a second spell.
The 28-year-old insisted that it was his dream move at the time, but it has since turned sour due to a series of below-par performances and misguided interviews.
The former Manchester United forward has netted just five Premier League goals this term, and only two since early September.
PSG view Lukaku as the best option to replace Kylian Mbappe, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Deal prepared for happy Saka
Arsenal have been busy finalising a bumper contract to offer Bukayo Saka at the end of the season.
Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the plan remains for Gunners officials to sit down with the England international in the summer to discuss his future.
Liverpool and Manchester City have bees linked with the young star, but Romano believes Arsenal fans have nothing to worry about.
He states that the 20-year-old is ‘really happy’ with life at the Emirates, and is fully focused on helping the club qualify for the Champions League.
Spurs heading chase for Memphis
Tottenham are leading the race to sign Barcelona’s Memphis Depay, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Spanish publication believe that Spurs are one of a number of European clubs monitoring the Dutchman’s situation at the Nou Camp.
Depay is Barca’s top scorer this season with ten goals, but has played less of prominent role since Xavi’s arrival as manager.
The 28-year-old insists he’s happy at the LaLiga club despite the current form of Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang restricting him to appearances from the bench.
However, with only a year to run on his current contract, there is the acceptance that both player and club will be considering options in the summer.
Thiago Silva tight-lipped on future
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has refused to comment on the rumours of a possible return to Fluminense.
Despite signing a one-year extension with the Blues, the 37-year-old has recently been linked with a move back to the Brazilian club he represented between 2006 and 2008.
The centre-back was speaking to the press after captaining Brazil to a 4-0 win over Chile in World Cup qualifying.
According to Netflu (via Sport Witness), the player was asked about a possible move back to the club where he is so fondly remembered.
Thiago Silva has made no secret of his desire to play again for Fluminense before he retires but, on this occasion, he simply smiled and replied: “Next question.”
Leeds suffer new Bamford blow
Patrick Bamford will miss Leeds’ crucial relegation run-in after he was ruled out for at least six weeks with a foot injury.
The England striker has endured a torrid season, managing only ten appearances in all competitions due to a range of different fitness issues.
The 28-year-old, who hasn’t completed 90 minutes since September, has now ruptured a ligament in his foot after the exacerbation of a previous injury.
Bamford doesn’t require surgery, but will struggle to feature again this season as the Yorkshire club battle the drop.
Back-to-back wins have given Leeds some breathing space at the bottom, but they remain only two places outside of the relegation zone.
Tierney move a Real possibility
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has once again been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid.
The Scottish defender has been tracked by the Spanish giants all season, and now looks set to be the focus of a £50million bid.
The Sunday Post report that Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti has long been an admirer of the 24-year-old, and attempted to sign him from Celtic for Napoli back in 2019.
Tierney, who scored his first goal for Scotland in Thursday’s friendly draw with Poland, has four years to run on his contract with the Gunners.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
