EVERTON are making a final push to hire Rafa Benitez as their manager, despite a fan backlash over the appointment of the former Liverpool boss.
Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri are looking for a new manager after Carlo Ancelotti left Goodison Park to return to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile Tottenham have been knocked back by yet another manager after making a “dizzying” offer to Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui.
And champions Manchester City have reportedly offered up £100MILLION to Spurs for Harry Kane’s signature, though Daniel Levy has NO desire to accept the deal.
Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game
Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
IN THE BAG
West Brom have announced that Valerian Ismael has been named as their new gaffer.
The Frenchman joins on a four-year deal from fellow Championship side Barnsley.
Baggies Chief Executive Officer, Xu Ke, said: “We are all aware of what will be required in order to be successful and player recruitment will be of the utmost importance.
“Valerien and I will immediately focus on preparing the squad for the new season, working together with Ian Pearce, our Head of Recruitment, to secure talented transfer targets who will strengthen us for the challenges ahead, ensuring fans are once more proud to support this great club.
“I am excited to be working with Valérien and I am sure we will soon establish a strong relationship that will be to the benefit of the football club and its supporters.”
GUNNER GET YA
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Ben White from Brighton.
Brighton are holding out for a £50million fee for the centre-back, with the Gunners claimed to be willing to hand over £45m plus add-ons.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein tweeted: “Arsenal moving closer to agreement with Brighton for Ben White.
“#BHAFC want guaranteed ~£50m, #AFC offering ~£45m + £5m.
“Face-to-face talks have taken place & negotiations continue over add-ons, payment structure etc. No other bidders yet.”
TOTTLE TALE
Tottenham has shared a damning insight into Tottenham in a message sent to Italy star Lorenzo Insigne.
The former Napoli and AC Milan manager was linked with the vacant Spurs job earlier this month.
But backlash from Tottenham supporters meant Daniel Levy quickly turned his focus to other candidates.
Gattuso was a surprise name, with Levy turning to the Italian after failing to land Brendan Rodgers, Antonio Conte and Erik ten Hag.
And after talks broke down to take over at the Tottenham Stadium Gattuso issued a harsh verdict of the running of the club.
Insigne told Football Italia: “We’ve texted each other, he told me there was a bit of mess.
“But now I am focused on the Euros, while he’s on holiday so I am not going to ask him such questions.”
GUNNING RON
Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to ‘insults and beatings’ from Arsenal when the former Manchester United star tried tricks.
That is the revelation by ex-Arsenal attacker Robert Pires on a harsh start to life in England for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s introduction to English football was greeted with plenty of harsh challenges and Pires admitted opposing players did not appreciate the star’s showboating.
Pires told Record: “Cristiano made feints and the English didn’t like it. It was just a beating.
“You can’t play like that against the English and you couldn’t do that at Highbury, Arsenal’s home. It was just insults and beatings.
“At first he didn’t stand it very well, it was complicated for him. Football in England is completely different.”
VIRUS FEARS
England are embroiled in a coronavirus scare after a Sky Sports reporter tested positive at the training base.
The Daily Mail report how the journalist and cameraman were asked to leave St George’s Park.
The reporter is now self-isolating at a hotel, just five days before England’s crunch Round of 16 clash with Germany.
It comes after Three Lions duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were forced to self-isolate for 10 days after coming into close contact with Billy Gilmour.
A Sky Sports spokesperson commented: “A reporter is isolating in a hotel and awaiting the result of a PCR test.
“The camera operative tested negative and has left St George’s Park to self-isolate.”
It remains unknown whether the positive test will have any further repercussions on anybody involved within the camp.
EAGLES SOAR
Crystal Palace are reportedly closing in on hiring Lucien Favre as their new boss to replace Roy Hodgson.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano: “Lucien Favre is set to sign until June 2024 as new Crystal Palace manager.
“Work permit process already started in order to complete the agreement as soon as possible – club confident after Bruno Lage case with Wolves.”
AWAY WE GO
Uefa have confirmed they have removed away goals from European competition from the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
They tweeted: “The away goals rule will be removed from all UEFA club competitions from the 2021/22 season.
“Ties in which the two teams score the same number of goals over the two legs will now have two 15-minute periods of extra time, and, if required, penalty kicks.
“Statistics since the mid-1970s show a clear trend of continuous reduction in the gap between the number of home-away wins (from 61%-19% to 47%-30%) and the average number of goals per match scored at home-away (from 2.02-0.95 to 1.58-1.15) in men’s competitions.
“Since 2009/10, the average goals per game have remained very steady in the #UWCL with the overall average of 1.92 for home teams and 1.6 for away teams.”
GONNA NICK HIM
Burnley are lining up a move for Czech Republic international keeper Jiri Pavlenka.
The 6ft 5ins giant has spent the last four seasons as a virtual ever-present for Werder Bremen.
However the German club has just been relegated from the Bundesliga, and has been forced to cut costs.
Turf Moor officials have now reportedly approached their Bremen counterparts about a deal for Pavlenka.
The 29-year-old has won 14 Czech Republic caps, but missed out on their Euro 2020 squad after suffering a back injury.
He is a national teammate of Burnley striker Matej Vydra, 29.
Clarets boss Sean Dyche is seeking a replacement if in-demand No.1 Nick Pope leaves during the summer.
NUNO THE WISER
Tottenham are reportedly set for a U-turn and will hold talks with Nuno Espirito Santo.
Spurs ruled the former Wolves boss out of the running but appear to have had a change of heart as their managerial saga drags on.
Tottenham ruled out appointing Nuno earlier this summer but the club have changed their mind and are poised for talks with him, according to Football Insider.
Nuno left Wolves at the end of last season and has held talks with Everton and Crystal Palace over their vacant positions.
But Spurs are now back in the running for the Portuguese coach after failing to land a host of managerial targets.
Graham Potter is the latest name to be heavily linked with the job as his odds were slashed to move to Tottenham.
LOW AND BEHOLD
England will face old foes Germany for the first time since 2017 in their crunch Euro 2020 last-16 clash.
The Three Lions take on Die Mannschaft on Tuesday at Wembley after Joachim Low’s side scraped second spot in their group.
It has been just under four years since the pair last met, battling out an underwhelming 0-0 draw at the home of football.
Boss Gareth Southgate picked England’s most inexperienced side since 1980 for the friendly as he looked to cast an eye over a number of names.
Here’a how that starting XI looked.
YOU MESSING?
Barcelona are no closer to signing Lionel Messi up to a new contract, according to reports in Spain.
The clock is ticking on the Argentine putting pen to paper before his deal expires on June 30.
The LaLiga giants hoped to sort his future as soon as possible, allowing them to formulate a budget for the summer ahead and assure both fans and sponsors that they remain among football’s elite clubs.
Yet it has now been claimed that an official contract offer has still not landed on Messi’s desk.
And the player himself is even described as ‘undecided’ over whether to stay with Barcelona next season.
That is according to Marca, who detail a two-year deal worth £850,000-a-week being put together by the Catalans.
This is a sizeable cent pay cut on the astronomical deal that Messi was handed in 2017.
SAN STORM
Man Utd have reportedly told Borussia Dortmund they are willing to pay £73m for Jadon Sancho plus add-ons.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made signing the England international his priority after failing to secure his services last summer.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Manchester United officially told BVB they’re prepared to pay €85m for Sancho.
“Add-ons included as part of the negotiation ‘to reach an agreement soon’. BVB still asking for €95m guaranteed.
“Clubs in talks about add-ons structure. Jadon made it clear: he wants Man Utd.”
RENATO RETURN
Bayern Munich reportedly want to bring Renato Sanches back to the Allianz Arena following his impressive start for Portugal at Euro 2020.
The German giants sold Sanches to Lille for £21million in 2019 but are now willing to exercise a buy-back clause of £25m to secure his return, according to reporter Rudy Galetti.
He wrote on Twitter: “#BayernMunich is aiming for the return of Renato #Sanches from #Lille.
“The club has the possibility to exercise the buyback clause set at around €30M.”
The 23-year-old initially joined the Bundesliga champions in 2016 from Benfica.
FOR REALSIES
Arsenal have missed out on extending Martin Odegaard’s loan stay after the midfielder confirmed his future lies with Real Madrid.
It had previously been reported that the Gunners had given up on signing the Norwegian despite a promising six-month spell in North London.
And Odegaard, 22, is looking forward to finally getting a full season at the Bernabeu having signed back in 2015.
He told Norway’s TV2: “Real Madrid have been clear that they would like me back. So then it will be time to go there when the training starts up again.
“Of course it has always been a dream to play there. I have been in the club for over six years now, and that has always been the goal.
“I always want to play, I have said that all the time. Playing hard is important.”
DAN THE MAN
Arnaut Danjuma has sent Leeds a “come and get me” appeal – and revealed he is desperate to quit Bournemouth.
The Dutch international winger scored 17 goals and set up eight more for the Cherries last season, however the Cherries failed to secure a return to the Premier League.
He told Voetbal International: “Ajax have followed me and enquired after me while I have been with NEC, Brugge and Boournemouth.
“I’m flattered by their interest, but I don’t think I will be joining them this summer. I rather see myself joining a club such as Leeds United.
“Leeds are a bigger club than Bournemouth, they have a very impressive history, and they are in the Premier League.
“I don’t think I can face another season in the Championship. It is a league that I have outgrown a bit. Leeds would be an attractive step for me to take.”
WAYNE’S PAIN
Derby have been handed an ‘interchangeable’ fixture list as they face the threat of relegation to the third tier.
Wayne Rooney’s Rams have been handed a £100,000 fine following an investigation into their financial irregularities.
Derby avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, finishing one point above Wycombe.
Last month, the EFL won an appeal to have a disciplinary commission against Derby before an independent body opted to hand out a fine instead of a points deduction.
That decision can still be appealed by the EFL meaning the possibility of a points deduction remains.
Sheffield Wednesday were handed a 12-point deduction last year for breaking spending rules.
That was later reduced to six and Wycombe will argue that Derby deserve similar treatment.If that’s the case, the fixture list will be interchangeable with League One side Wycombe.
HAK OFF
Achraf Hakimi has put a dent in Chelsea’s summer plans by reportedly signing a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG seem to have beaten the Blues to the punch by hashing out a deal worth £59.8million for the Inter Milan ace, according to Sky Sports.
They also claim the price could rise even more as Inter are said to have a higher valuation of the right-back.
As the final price is yet to be agreed by Inter and PSG, Thomas Tuchel’s Blues are still with a shout of signing the Moroccan ace.
Both the Blues and PSG had initial bids of £56m turned down by Inter for the star they signed from Real Madrid last summer.
Chelsea then planned to launch a cash-plus-player exchange for Hakimi, but Simone Inzaghi’s side just want money for the defender.
PSG have the edge in the proceedings as they’ve reportedly agreed terms with Hakimi, who’s said to prefer a move to France.
BODES WELL
Danny Welbeck has signed on for another year at Brighton.
The ex-Arsenal and Manchester United ace, 30, was a hit at the Amex last term after joining as a free agent on a one-year deal from relegated Watford.
He played a key role in the Seagulls beating the drop, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists in 24 league appearances.
Welbeck said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far – happiness is key. Being at a club where I am really enjoying playing my football, playing under the manager, his style of play and the good people around the club, it just feels right.
“I’ve got the foundation now, that understanding of the group. You come to a new club and you’re learning about how things work, where you can fit in and what you need do to impact games.
“We developed that towards the back end of the season and I want to be pushing on and giving much, much more.
“It’s important to feel appreciated and feel settled. Once you’re happy you can focus on doing your work, making sure you’re ready for training and games. Everything builds from there and it’s a good platform to start.”
SACRE BLEU
Cristiano Ronaldo may have equalled Ali Daei’s international record… but French publication L’Equipe were still far from impressed.
The Portugal superstar scored twice from the spot in a hugely entertaining 2-2 draw with rivals France.
It took his international tally to 109 – meaning he is just one goal away from beating Iranian legend Daei’s all-time feat.
Ronaldo is also now surging ahead in the race for the Euro 2020 Golden Boot with five from his opening three matches.
Despite his achievements, L’Equipe still handed Ronaldo a measly six in their notoriously tough player ratings.
The publication are renowned for their brutal rating system with a perfect 10 rating being dished out just 12 times.
L’Equipe gave Cristiano Ronaldo a six rating for his performance against France SHEAR BELIEF
Alan Shearer believes England are not the only top team at Euro 2020 to have shown negatives so far.
He told the BBC: “I’m sure Gareth has looked at it and thought if England had a weakness it was defensively. They’ve done very well with that.
“It’s taken a bit away from the attacking side but … there’s plenty of positives to look forward to.
“Look at the teams tonight in Portugal and France. They have their downsides too.”
TRA AGAIN
Chelsea have reportedly suffered a blow in their transfer pursuit of Adama Traore.
The Spanish winger came on for his country in last night’s 5-0 win over Slovakia to seal a spot in the last-16 of Euro 2020.
That came after claims the Wolves star was on Thomas Tuchel’s radar.
Barcelona have also been linked with the ace, who came through their famed La Masia academy, before heading to Aston Villa in 2015.
When quizzed over his future he has now thrown the door open to a switch back to the Nou Camp.
Discussing the Barca rumours on RAC1, Traore said: “Barcelona is my home. I grew up there, and was there for 10 years.
“I have to discuss things with my agents, and see what role Barca needs for a return.”
SAK RACE
Arsenal are joining the transfer race for Sweden’s Euro 2020 star Alexander Isak, according to reports.
The Real Sociedad forward, 21, has yet to hit the target at the tournament but has proven his potential with three impressive performances.
Isak was already being watched closely by European giants after bagging 17 LaLiga goals last season.
Real Madrid are one of the teams interested and have reportedly made contact with the player’s agent.
But AS write how Arsenal have stolen a march, having also spoken to the Swede’s representatives.
The Gunners want to determine whether Isak would be eager to make the switch to London before making their move.
The report adds how Arsenal would even be willing to match his release that currently stands at £59million.
NIK OF TIME
Man Utd face a challenge from West Ham to sign Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic.
The Serbian defender has been on the radar of Old Trafford scouts for a number of seasons now.
The 23-year-old is out of contract in 2022 and it is understood he will not sign a new deal.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to bring in a new United centre-back this summer, in search of a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.
A number of top sides are showing interest in Milenkovic, with Chelsea believed to be keen.
Now Sky Italia are claiming West Ham are also interested in the centre-half, and they are ‘ready to step up’ their pursuit to sign Milenkovic.
Man Utd face competition from West Ham for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS
SunSport can exclusively reveal Alisher Usmanov is the driving force behind the move to make Rafa Benitez Everton’s new boss.
He was instrumental in the appointment of Sam Allardyce and Moshiri sought his advice before bringing in Marco Silva as Big Sam’s replacement.
And despite a large number of fans unhappy with the thought of former Liverpool boss Benitez in charge, Moshiri is intent on making the Spaniard the fifth manager since he took over five years ago.
Meanwhile, SunSport understands Man United are closing in on an £80million deal to buy Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The Old Trafford club made a £72m bid yesterday but they are prepared to go to £80m to get their man.
Personal terms based on a five-year deal worth £350,000-a-week have already been agreed.
United also spoke to Erling Haaland before the Euros, but the Dortmund striker has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.
Elsewhere, Chelsea transfer target Niklas Sule could extend his Bayern Munich contract, according to reports.
The defender is set to become a free agent in 2022.
But he is now in talks with Bayern over an extension, dealing a blow to Chelsea’s hopes this summer.
The Blues could also miss out on Achraf Hakimi, with the Inter Milan star reportedly agreeing personal terms with Inter Milan.
Finally, Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has rejected a ‘dizzying’ offer from Tottenham.
Club president Jose Castro told Cadena Ser: “Julen rang me and told me.
“He said he’d received offers he’d not listened to in addition to a dizzying one from Tottenham.
“But he said he doesn’t forget things and that he is very motivated here.”
EXCLUSIVE BY KEN LAWRENCE
Alisher Usmanov is the driving force behind the move to make Rafa Benitez Everton’s new boss.
The influence of the Russian oligarch — a close friend of Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri — is growing behind the scenes at Goodison.
He was instrumental in the appointment of Sam Allardyce and Moshiri sought his advice before bringing in Marco Silva as Big Sam’s replacement.
And despite a large number of fans unhappy with the thought of former Liverpool boss Benitez in charge, Moshiri is intent on making the Spaniard the fifth manager since he took over five years ago.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
