Man Utd ‘offer Coman whopping £260k-a-week deal’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City transfer news

LIVERPOOL ‘PERFECT’ FOR MBAPPE

Jamie Carragher reckons PSG striker Kylian Mbappe should join Liverpool – before moving to Real Madrid.

But Kop legend Carra’s view stunned even many Liverpool fans – as Jurgen Klopp’s defending Premier League champions struggle down in sixth place.

PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is regarded by many as the long-term successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the worldCredit: PA:Press Association

Some doubt French World Cup winner Mbappe, 22, would be willing to join the Reds if they missed out on a Champions League spot.

And others wondered how Liverpool could could fund such a move

Goal quote ex-England defender Carragher as saying: “I think he will play for Real Madrid at some stage but maybe Liverpool is that perfect destination for a player like that before you make that next step.”

SAN UTD A TOP TIP

Manchester United are 3/1 favourites to sign Jadon Sancho – with Liverpool at 6/1.

Borussia Dortmund’s England attacker Sancho, 20, is rated likely to move this summer.

Dortmund’s 18-cap winger Jadon Sancho is tipped to join long-term suitors Man UtdCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And today’s odds from Coral’s also include Chelsea and Sancho’s old club Manchester City at 10-1.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are next on the list at 14/1.

NEARLY CON TO A WINNER

A fake footballer has told the story of how he convinced a Champions League club to offer him a £15,000-a-month contract.

Frenchman Gregoire Akcelrod sent out a fake CV and created a website filled with made-up match reports in a bid to fool some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Akcelrod also utilised the fact that he played for Paris Saint-Germain’s amateur side – a level of football he describes as the ‘worst in France’ – to fool other teams.

And after receiving trial offers from Norwich, Bournemouth, and Swindon, he eventually attracted the attention of Champions League side CSKA Sofia.

With the Bulgarian club believing he was a PSG reserve team player, a deal looked set to go through before it was scuppered in the final stages when some discrepancies were detected by fans.

Speaking to The Mail, he said: “I did the two-day trial and on the Sunday the coach told my agent that he wanted to sign me.

“They took photos of me in the CKSA official jersey, I signed the contract, they published on the CSKA website that I was signing.

“But it was the PSG fans who destroyed me. Overnight, one CSKA Sofia fan contacted a PSG online forum and asked, ‘We are about to sign Greg Akcelrod, what do you think about him?’

TWITTER BANS NKETIAH TROLL

Twitter has banned an account which sent racist abuse to Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah.

The Gunners striker, 21, was racially abused on social media after posting a picture of himself at training.

A response to Nketiah’s photo captioned ‘working with a smile’ told him to leave the club along with a racist message.

And a spokesperson for Twitter told Sky Sports News: “Racist behaviour has no place on our service and when we identify accounts that violate any of the Twitter Rules, we take enforcement action.

“The account referenced has been permanently suspended.”

Top pros have demanded action from social media giants after vile abuse from trolls.

Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial are among those to have suffered racist hate. Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger also revealed he was targeted with racist abuse.

Managers Mikel Arteta and Steve Bruce along with referee Mike Dean have all received death threats on social media.

XAVI ADMITS BARCA DREAM

Barcelona legend Xavi has admitted his dream to manage Barcelona just as pressure begins to mount on current boss Ronald Koeman.

The Catalans were humiliated this week in the Champions League as they were thrashed 4-1 at home by Paris Saint-Germain.

That was the latest blow to Barca in what has turned out to be an awful season by their standards.

Koeman only took charge last summer but instantly caused upset by offloading Luis Suarez and several other favourites, which is one of the reasons Lionel Messi tried to force a move away.

The club are also in a precarious situation financially amid the coronavirus pandemic as well as in the midst of a presidential election.

And to top off all of the above, their LaLiga title hopes are in tatters as they sit nine points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

The PSG embarrassment heaped even more scrutiny on Dutchman Koeman as he looks set to end the campaign without any silverware.

And with the prospect of losing Messi to either Manchester City or PSG in June, Barca presidential candidate Victor Font has already made it clear he would axe Koeman and replace him with Xavi.

FIK’S THE DEAL

AC Milan could be offered Fikayo Tomori as part of a swap involving Franck Kessie.

The 23-year-old defender fell out of favour under Frank Lampard and was allowed to leave for the San Siro on loan until the end of the season.

Lampard’s departure and the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in the dug-out has potentially opened the door to a Chelsea return for Tomori.

However, Il Milanista claims the Blues boss could target a move for Milan’s £35m-rated midfielder Franck Kessie.

And it has now been suggested Tomori may be used as an incentive to try and strike a transfer agreement.

WILL BE HAARD

Erling Haaland feared he wouldn’t be able to hack it in the Bundesliga before his transfer from RB Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund.

But the Norwegian has ripped things up in Germany and become one of the game’s biggest stars.

His old Salzburg boss, Jess March, told Sportbuzzer: “That was exactly what he asked me at the beginning of his time in Dortmund.

“I replied: ‘What would have really surprised me is if you do not end up succeeding.

“I was convinced that the Bundesliga was made for him.

“I keep in touch with Erling. We usually write or talk on the phone.”

CAV SOME OF THAT

Argentine giants Boca Juniors have stepped up their attempts to prise Edinson Cavani away from Manchester United, it’s claimed.

The Uruguay striker, 34, signed a one-year deal at Old Trafford last October after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

And he has already become a huge favourite with the Red Devils after seven goals in 24 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

However, United have yet to take up their option to extend his stay by another year with the hotshot believed to be keen on staying.

And now Ole.com claims he could join Boca on a free transfer this summer.

Edinson Cavani is reportedly wanted by Boca JuniorsCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail

FAN-TASTIC NEWS

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has not given up on seeing fans back in stadiums this season.

And the footy big-wig is confident supporters will fill grounds again next campaign.

Speaking during the Financial Times’ Business of Football summit on Thursday, he said: “The economic‌ ‌cost‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌Premier League clubs and the whole‌ ‌of‌ ‌football‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌significant‌ ‌and‌ ‌hard‌ ‌to‌ ‌deal‌ ‌with‌. ‌

“Clubs‌ ‌have‌ ‌stepped‌ ‌up‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌right‌ ‌way‌ ‌in‌ ‌terms‌ ‌of‌ ‌reinvesting‌ ‌in‌ ‌their‌ ‌squads‌ ‌and‌ ‌getting‌ ‌on‌ with‌ ‌it‌ generally. ‌What’s been missing is the fans.

“We’re getting‌ ‌used‌ ‌to‌ ‌watching‌ ‌live football on television without‌ ‌fans‌ ‌in the stadium but‌ ‌I don’t‌ ‌want‌ ‌us‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌used‌ ‌to‌ ‌that‌ ‌too‌ ‌much‌ ‌longer‌.”

Fans could still be allowed back in stadiums this seasonCredit: AFP – Getty

GUNNING FOR IT

Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira are the favourites to take over as Bournemouth manager.

The Cherries sacked Jason Tindall earlier this month, placing Jonathan Woodgate in charge on an interim basis.

Now Bournemouth are set to decide between Gunners idols Henry and Vieira for the role.

But who would be the better man for the job?

Heres how Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira compare

ULTIMATE RON

Cristiano Ronaldo could have become a UFC champion if he was born in Dagestan, according to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Alongside a picture of himself at the Nou Camp during Paris Saint-Germain’s demolition of Barcelona, Nurmagomedov wrote: “I’ve loved football since my childhood and always dreamed of becoming a footballer.

“But I was born in Dagestan and you know yourselves, what the priority is.

“Who knows, maybe if Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Dagestan, he would have also become a UFC champion.

“I want to say that football is sport and I became a fighter by accident. I’m joking, not by accident.”

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured with the retired UFC superstarCredit: instagram

ODE TO ANNOY

Arsenal loanee Martin Odegaard has reportedly upset Real Madrid by failing to confirm that his future lies at the Bernabeu.

Odegaard, 22, has joined the Gunners until the end of the season after just nine appearances for Zinedine Zidane’s side in the first half of the 2020-21 campaign.

Odegaard said: “You never know what happens, but first of all my focus is about the rest of the season.

“Hopefully (I will) help the team, and then we’ll see what happens.”

According to reports from Defensa Central, his comments have annoyed those at Madrid.

Odegaard made the move to Arsenal after a lack of first team football at MadridCredit: AFP

JUAN-DERFUL

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Juan Mata has ‘been away a little while’ – but could return to play against Real Sociedad.

The midfielder has not featured since United’s 1-0 FA Cup win against Watford on January 9, his only appearance in 2021.

He said: “He’s been away for a little while. Of course, against West Brom, you’re thinking, ‘Can we have someone to unlock the door?’

“If we had Juan there, to create that pass… because he has done well in the earlier part of the season, Juan. Now he’s back, he’s travelling with us. 

“He’s been bright in training, so if we see Juan on the pitch, he’ll want to prove to his Spanish fans as well what a quality player he is.“

Juan Mata pictured with manager Ole Gunnar SolskjaerCredit: EPA

AL OR NOTHING

David Alaba will become the best-paid player in the Premier League should he join Chelsea this summer.

The Austrian star, 28, has confirmed he will quit Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Alaba is out of contract at the Allianz Arena and has turned down a number of extension offers, believing the club to be undervaluing him.

It’s claimed the versatile defender is chasing wages of £400,000 a week – with Bayern unwilling to go that high.

David Alaba will become the highest-paid PL player if he joins Chelsea

BLUE BARGAINING

Chelsea could reportedly offer Fikayo Tomori as part of a transfer swap with AC Milan for Franck Kessie.

The 23-year-old defender fell out of favour under Frank Lampard and was allowed to leave for the San Siro on loan until the end of the season.

Lampard’s departure and the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in the dug-out has potentially opened the door to a Chelsea return for Tomori.

However, Il Milanista claims the Blues boss could target a move for Milan’s £35m-rated midfielder Franck Kessie.

And it has now been suggested Tomori may be used as an incentive to try and strike a transfer agreement.

Fikayo Tomori could be used as part of a transfer incentive by ChelseaCredit: Reuters

‘EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH’

Mikel Arteta said criticism of Willian is ‘not unfair’ given the Brazilian has failed to perform since his move from Chelsea last August.

The winger has not scored in 24 Arsenal games and has looked a shadow of his former self at the Emirates.

Speaking ahead of the Gunners’ Europa League game against Benfica on Thursday, Arteta said: “I don’t say it’s unfair because expectations are really high in terms of the goals he can score and the assists he can create.

“You expect him to be in the starting line-up, so it is normal that people write things about him.”

Willian has failed to impress for the Gunners this seasonCredit: Reuters

NEW GOAT IN TOWN

For the better part of 20 years the question has been: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

But now it’s fair to say people should be asking: Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland?

Ronaldo, 36, and Messi, 33, have thrilled – and utterly divided – fans in their battle for the ‘GOAT’ crown since their rivalry began in the early-mid 00s.

They’ve won a combined 11 Ballons d’Or and more Big Five league titles and Champions League medals than you can shake a stick at.

However, if recent months are anything to go by, there’s something of a changing of the guard.

Here’s how the four superstars compare

TIME OUT

Darren Drysdale will not referee this weekend after his heated clash with Ipswich’s Alan Judge.

The official was charged with improper conduct by the FA following the confrontation with midfielder Judge on Tuesday night.

As a result, PGMOL, who represent the referees, have now replaced him with Declan Bourne for Southend’s match with Bolton on Saturday.

A day after the incident, Drysdale issued a grovelling apology in a statement released by the PGMOL.

WENG AND A PRAYER

Arsene Wenger revealed Cristiano Ronaldo almost joined Arsenal in 2004 instead of Manchester United.

But Carlos Queiroz joining Sir Alex Ferguson’s back-room staff at Old Trafford sealed the deal for Ronaldo.

Wenger told BeIN Sports: “The bad luck for us was Carlos Queiroz joining Manchester United, and in a week he persuaded Ferguson to buy Ronaldo.”

Before he added: “We speak about Ronaldo, he was at our training ground with our shirt, but with Mbappe we were at his home when he was undecided to extend his contract in Monaco.

“He could’ve come to Arsenal for free, but I would say every club is full of histories like that.”

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2004Credit: AFP – Getty

MAR TO IT

The late Diego Maradona’s agent once tried to secure the Argentina legend a Premier League manager’s job at Aston Villa.

The icon never played or managed in England, but he was ‘very open’ to the idea a decade ago.

Maradona, who died aged 60 on November 25, was represented by Walter Soriano in Europe and had just managed Argentina at the 2010 World Cup.

And Soriano told the Sunday Mercury at the time: “I think Diego would be very open to the idea of coming to England and managing Aston Villa.

“He is very attracted to English football and the way of life in your country and I know he would be very willing to move there.”

Diego Maradona could’ve managed in the Premier League, if his agent had his wayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

INCREDIBLE HULK

Brazil star Hulk stunned fans with his impressive physique during training for Atletico Mineiro.

The muscle bound striker looked in phenomenal shape in pictures posted online with one fan joking ‘Hulk’s muscles have muscles’.

One shot showed the forward, 34, striking a ball with his leg muscles bulging through his shorts.

And in the other image, the former Porto man is seen executing an acrobatic over-head kick with his toned arms and torso on show.

CITIZEN KANE

Manchester City have stormed ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign Harry Kane, according to the bookies.

The Red Devils were the previous front-runners for the Tottenham star’s signature at 2/1 with Betfair.

Now the odds look like this…

• Manchester City – WAS 4/1 NOW 9/4
• Paris Saint-Germain – 11/4
• Manchester United – WAS 2/1 NOW 10/3
• Real Madrid – 14/1
• Juventus – 20/1

Harry Kane has been linked with a move away from SpursCredit: PA:Press Association

CRIS OF DEATH

Cristiano Ronaldo was branded ‘selfish’ by former Italy striker Antonio Cassano last night.

The ex-Real Madrid and Roma forward said Ronaldo doesn’t care about team-mates scoring.

Cassano, 38, said: “He’s always been a bit selfish, he doesn’t give a damn about others scoring goals.

“He does not live for the game – he lives for the goal and in this moment the situation is getting worse.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has been the star of the show for Juventus this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

RAV SOME OF THAT

Ravel Morrison has revealed how he told Gary Neville he wanted to leave Manchester United for rivals Arsenal because they were BETTER.

Rio Ferdinand recalled: “At the training ground, this is how confident this kid was, we would be getting our lunch, me, Giggsy, Nev, Scholes, Wazza, everyone, we are sitting down at the first-team table.

“And he would be in the queue and I remember him telling Gary Neville that Arsenal are better than United.

“He said, ‘I’m gonna go Arsenal, I am gonna sign for Arsenal soon if I can.’ Do you remember that, Rav?”

Ravel replied: “Yeah, because I wanted to play with Thierry Henry.”

Ravel Morrison failed to live up to expectationsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

SUAR SUBJECT

Luis Suarez says he has ‘years left’ and ‘no one will get rid of me’ amid suggestions he may soon retire.

The Atletico Madrid star told ESPN: “I still feel like I’m enjoying this moment that I’m in today, in football’s elite.

“Being at Atletico, you’re in football’s elite. Some people didn’t believe that I could still be at this level. I’ve got the same enthusiasm.

“I hope that this year, next year and for however many years it is, I keep competing and giving my best, until you realise that you’ve gone as far as you can.

“But no one will get rid of me. I’ll decide when I go.”

The striker has been a resounding success at Atletico Madrid since he left BarcelonaCredit: Alamy Live News