ARSENAL fans want Miguel Azeez in the first team after his stunning display in the FA Youth Cup.
Meanwhile Gareth Southgate is starting to fear Jordan Pickford’s injury woes may force him to miss Euro 2020.
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HAMMERS LEAD AT HALF-TIME
Arsenal are 3-1 down at the break.
Goals from Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek gave West Ham a 3-0 lead before Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back.
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CHELSEA THROUGH
It’s full time at Stamford Bridge – Chelsea have beaten Sheffield United 2-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Blues took the lead in the first-half when Ben Chilwell’s cross was deflected into his own net by Oliver Norwood.
The Blades wasted several chances in the second half and were punished when Hakim Ziyech made the result safe in stoppage time.
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DRAG RACE
Crystal Palace are eyeing Juventus’ teenage centre-back Radu Dragusin.
The Eagles are planning a swoop for the Romanian, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Dragusin, 19, cannot break into the Juve side on a regular basis but has made his Serie A debut.
The powerful defender has also attracted other clubs with his displays for junior sides at both club and international level.
Another up-and-coming star the Eagles are reportedly chasing is Conor Gallagher.
Palace were linked with a swoop for the midfielder at the start of the season but instead opted to bring in his Chelsea team-mate Michy Batshuayi instead.
Radu Dragusin is reportedly on Crystal Palace’s summer shortlist
‘THE FUTURE’
Arsenal fans have called for Miguel Azeez to play in the first team after his stunning display in the FA Youth Cup.
The Gunners progressed into the fifth round after beating Blackburn 4-1.
The pick of the bunch came from midfielder Azeez, whose effort from outside the box sailed into the top corner.
It left Arsenal fans calling on manager Mikel Arteta to promote the 18-year-old into the first team.
One said: “The future of Arsenal.”
Another said: “Who needs Guendouzi when we have Azeez.”
A third added: “Can’t wait to see him start in the Premier League. Top lad!”
LONDON CALLING
The London derby between West Ham and Arsenal is five minutes away.
Keep up to date with all the action with the SunSport LIVE blog.
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SICK ABUSE
Jude Bellingham has received support from the Football Association after the England teen star was subjected to racial online abuse.
Bellingham, 17, shared a screenshot of a vile Instagram message following Borussia Dortmund’s 2-2 draw against Cologne in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The Three Lions starlet posted: “Just another day on social media…” in reply to the abusive message towards his mother which led to a racist post including monkey emojis.
England tweeted: “We continue to be disgusted by the discriminatory abuse our players – and others across the game – are being subjected to online. Something needs to change. We stand with you, @BellinghamJude”
Bellingham was included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifying triple-header against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
But the Covid-19 regulations in Germany are expected to prevent the Dortmund midfielder from linking up with the Three Lions.
Jude Bellingham revealed the extent of the abuse in his Instagram comments SECOND HALF
Chelsea go into the second half with a 1-0 lead.
The Blues broke the deadlock in the 24th minute after Oliver Norwood scored an own goal.
A big 45 minutes is needed from the Blades.
COOL HAND LUKE
Luke Shaw is set to land a lucrative new contract at Manchester United after his stunning form this season.
The left-back was all but out at Old Trafford after years of being dogged by injury and poor form but has turned it around under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
According to the Mirror, club chiefs are preparing a new deal for Shaw despite there still being two years left to run on his current £150,000-a-week agreement.
The report states Solskajer has indicated Shaw is a key part of his plans for the future and he will get a bump in pay to put him in line with the club’s top earners.
Goalkeeper David de Gea is United’s top earner on an eye-watering £375,000 a week but his future at Old Trafford looks uncertain.
Paul Pogba is the next highest on £290,000 a week, with Anthony Martial picking up £250,000.
WEST HAM VS ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Here is how West Ham and Arsenal start in their derby clash at the London Stadium.
JUR NOT HAPPY
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is reportedly on a ‘collision course’ with manager Jurgen Klopp over his desire to play in the Euros.
The world class centre-back has been out since October when he suffered an ACL injury after being clattered by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
Van Dijk is not expected to return to the first-team before the season is out.
But according to The Mirror, Van Dijk has eyes on the European Championships with The Netherlands.
Klopp instead wants his star man to ‘focus on a full pre-season with Liverpool before kick-starting his career again’.
The German gaffer is reportedly ‘horrified’ that he could feature for his country this summer.
BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE
The FA Cup clash between Chelsea and Sheffield United is just over ten minutes away.
And you can keep up to date with all the action from West London on the SunSport LIVE blog.
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HALF-TIME
It’s half-time between Celtic and Rangers, and it’s level at 1-1 in the Old Firm.
The Hoops broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute through Mohamed Elyounoussi, before Alfredo Morelos equalised in the 38th minute.
Keep up to date with all the action on the SunSport LIVE blog.
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SHAW THING
Man Utd left-back Luke Shaw has revealed he didn’t expect to be called back up for England having last featured in 2018.
After returning to Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers, he said: “
At times, I made bad mistakes, pulling out of squads maybe at times when I shouldn’t have. That was down to me.
“Of course, back then, I was going through bad times. There was in the back of my mind, especially my family and my girlfriend, they thought that it was done.
“At the start of the season I had ambitions and sat down with my girlfriend and said that I wanted to get back in the England squad, doing everything I can to be back there.
“
You know, of course with my form, I thought there was a bigger chance than ever that I could be back in it.
“Gladly, Gareth’s given me another opportunity to be involved in there, so I’m just really happy and honoured to be selected again. Hopefully I can show Gareth why I deserve a spot in the squad.”
FA CUP TEAM NEWS
Here is how both Chelsea and Sheffield United start in their FA Cup quarter-final clash at Stamford Bridge.
BRU-TAL
Newcastle fans held a banner outside St James’ Park calling manager Steve Bruce a ‘coward’ and told him to ‘leave now’.
Toon supporters are growing increasingly frustrated as the club dropped to just two points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle suffered yet more misery on Saturday night, as they were thrashed 3-0 away at Brighton.
In an exclusive picture obtained by SunSport, fans took their fury to St James Park as they protested for Bruce’s exit.
The banner also said: “You are not one of us.”
Two wins from 18 leaves the Magpies struggling to stay afloat after plunging from mid-table safety in the Premier League.
Newcastle fans held a banner outside St Jamesâ Park calling manager Steve Bruce a âcowardâ
WIJN TASTING
Liverpool midfielder Georgino Wijnaldum has reportedly agreed a deal to join Barcelona in the summer.
The midfielder’s current contract with the Reds is set to expire in the summer, despite prolonged talks over a new deal.
Wijnaldum, 30, was reportedly offered a new long-term contract but is said to have snubbed the offer.
And according to The Times, the Netherlands international has since signed a ‘pre-contract deal’ with Barca.
If Wijnaldum has indeed agreed terms with the Catalan club, he’ll become the first signing of Joan Laporta’s second spell as president.
Barcelona wanted to sign the former Newcastle man last summer but were unable to due to financial constraints.
Georgino Wijnaldum has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool POTT LUCK
Brighton are heading for Premier League safety after ditching home comforts for an away-day route to success.
Boss Graham Potter decided lounging around at the Amex for hours before kick-off was doing nothing but harm for his players.
He said: “I thought it was a long day hanging around before at the Amex so we just changed it up a little bit
“We just reported to the hotel in the afternoon and rested up there, we can just turn up an hour and a half before the game .
“We came with the feeling of ‘Let’s get in, get job done, we know what we are doing. Let’s crack on and do it’. In that respect, it has worked.
“I think the next game we have is another evening game so I think it makes sense for the evening game it makes sense for us to do what we did again today because I think it just stops us hanging around the Amex for too long.”
SLUMP
Man Utd’s new shirt sponsor TeamViewer saw their share prices drop a whopping 16 per cent following the announcement of their deal with the Red Devils.
The Premier League big boys announced a five-year deal with the global technology company on Friday.
But according to Bloomberg, the tech firm’s share values slumped shortly after the announcement due to concerns over their huge outlay for the sponsorship.
United are set to earn a staggering £235million from the deal, which equates to £47m each year.
But reports in the US suggest the Red Devils will pocket less than that figure, which is just under half of what American car company Chevrolet paid for their seven-year deal.
United’s partnership with TeamViewer plans to introduce the club’s ‘1.1billion fans and followers around the world to exciting new technology drawing on TeamViewer’s expertise in remote connectivity services’.
WORLD CUP 2022 DATES
Get the lowdown on all the key dates for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
HOMES UNDER THE SLAMMER
Cops are carrying out Covid spot-checks on the Premier League’s Euro stars to ensure they self-isolate.
Surprise visits have been paid to the homes of some top-flight players who have travelled away in the Champions and Europa leagues to see if they are obeying the restrictions on their return.
All players and staff who have flown to the continent with their clubs must self-isolate for five days when they get back.
They are only permitted to travel to and from training and matches and are not allowed to leave their homes or go out for any other reason during that time — not even to shop or exercise.
Competing clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, have been warned they must stick to the rules.
The random police checks are to ensure stars are staying home — and so far it is understood they have uncovered no Covidiots breaking the rules.
NO RUN OF THE MIL
Man Utd are reportedly NOT looking to bring Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic to Old Trafford in the summer.
It has been widely speculated that the Serbia international has been touted as a partner for Harry Maguire at the back.
But according to the Express, the 23-year-old is not on the Red Devils’ list of targets.
They state that French pair Raphael Varane and Jules Kounde are serious options.
The news report also claims that United are interested in West Ham’s Declan Rice and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.
JOK AND ROLL
EXCLUSIVE – Sheffield United want to tempt Slavisa Jokanovic back to England to lead them back to the Premier League at the first try.
The Blades, who look doomed, have started their hunt for a long-term boss and the Serb is their first choice if they can come up with the money.
The former Watford and Fulham chief has two promotions on his CV and United want him to make it a lucky third.
The 52-year-old is in Qatar with Al-Gharafa on a lucrative deal, so it would be an expensive recruit.
He would need to be the best paid manager in the Championship in the £2million-a-year range.
Jokanovic is very choosy about where to go, so the Bramall Lane outfit would have to sell it to him.
Slavisa Jokanovic is being lined up by Sheffield United as they prepare for life in the Championship next season FIVE OF THE BEST
Take a look at some of the best goals Arsenal have scored away at West Ham.
And three of them came in the 3-1 win at the London Stadium last term.
OWEN GOAL
Michael Owen is backing former employers Man Utd to beat Leicester 1-0 and advance into the FA Cup semi-finals.
He told Bet Victor: “Manchester United have been imperious away from home this season and their amazing streak continued when they defeated Manchester City at the Etihad a couple of weeks ago.
“They repeated the trick midweek at the San Siro, so there’s no doubt confidence will be high in the Red Devils camp.
“Leicester are a good side. However, other than last weeks 5-0 win against doomed Sheffield United, they’ve been too in and out for me lately.
“With that in mind, I think Manchester United will walk away from the King Power with all three points.”
‘COMPLETE SHOCK’
World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst has spoken of his sorrow for football’s child sex abuse victims.
The 79-year-old issued a statement in the wake of a damning report. Clive Sheldon QC identified at least 692 victims.
His report named eight paedos including Chelsea chief scout Eddie Heath.
Sir Geoff sacked Heath six months after taking the manager’s job at Stamford Bridge in 1979.
The 1966 England hero said: “It was purely a footballing decision.
“I feel incredible sorrow for the victims of Heath and the other protagonists in this sad affair, but at no point did I have any knowledge whatsoever of any wrongdoing.
“It came as a complete shock to me.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
