NEWCASTLE are reportedly in advanced talks with Paulo Fonseca after the club’s Saudi owners sacked Steve Bruce after his first match in charge.
Upset Bruce told Toon fans: “I think this might be my last job. It’s not just about me; it’s taken its toll on my whole family because they are all Geordies and I can’t ignore that.
“They have been worried about me… especially my wife Jan.
“I’m 60 years old and I don’t know if I want to put her through it again.
“We’ve got a good life so, yeah, this will probably be me done as a manager – until I get a phone call from a chairman somewhere asking if I can give them a hand. Never say never, I’ve learnt that.”
However, Toon star Allan Saint-Maximin sent a big statement of support to his former boss, labelling him “one of the most gentle people that I have ever met”.
But the moneybags owners may be about to stiffen Saint-Maximin’s competition for places, with Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele reportedly seeking a move to Tyneside.
Meanwhile Thomas Tuchel has talked up a potential Erling Haaland-Romelu Lukaku strikeforce, with the Dortmund striker’s release clause set to kick in this summer.
For the time being however, Lukaku will be on the sidelines for up to a MONTH after picking up an injury in the win over Malmo.
Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
ART OF THE MATTER
Mikel Arteta insists he was never going to sell Emile Smith Rowe to Aston Villa.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s match against Villa on Friday, he said: “Any club has the right to make an enquiry about a player and if they believe they have the financial power to get him, they are entitled to make a bid.
“There was communication between clubs regarding Emile and we made it really clear he was not for sale.
“I was never worried he could leave because he is a big part of our future and what we’re trying to do as a club.
“He is really happy where he is and I’m delighted to have him in my team.”
EXCLUSIVE BY NEIL CUSTIS
Bruno Fernandes is a shock injury doubt for Manchester United’s game against Liverpool.
Fernandes completed a full 90 minutes against Atalanta on Wednesday but was on the end of some strong challenges.
He went into Carrington for warm down training on Thursday but clearly by the afternoon the extent of his exertions had caught up with and he was limping heavily.
Now manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping it is nothing more than aches and pains when he is assessed on Friday so his Portuguese playmaker can line up in Sunday’s vital Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
WEST HAM 3 GENK 0
West Ham are on the brink of the Europa League knockout stages after smashing three goals past Genk in London.
Craig Dawson, Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen were all on the scoresheet for David Moyes’ men tonight.
West Ham have won all three of their group games so far, and need just four points from their final three games to seal top spot.
TOON HOT TO HANDLE
Paulo Fonseca is reportedly closing in on the Newcastle job.
And the former Roma boss is set to splurge in January to transform the Toon’s squad.
Is this how Newcastle will line up in 2022?
COLE TO ARMS
Chelsea need Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi to step up following injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, according to former player Joe Cole.
He said: “Tuchel said that they’ve won matches without Timo and Romelu.
“Players like Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi, they’ve come on tonight, they impacted the game, can they do that again on Saturday?
“All of a sudden you’re looking round and you can wait for Timo to get back, the manager’s not driving the physio mad by asking when’s he back, because you’re winning games and players are stepping up.”
NO WAY, JOSE
Jose Mourinho has suffered the heaviest defeat of his managerial career after Roma were thumped 6-1 by Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt.
The Serie A side were outclassed by the Scandinavian outfit at the Aspmyra Stadion in their Europa Conference League clash.
Incredibly, Thursday’s affair is the first time a team coached by the Special One has shipped in six goals in a single game.
It’s a stat made even more staggering considering that was the 58-year-old’s 1008th match of his career.
His previous biggest loss was Real Madrid’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of rivals Barcelona in November 2010.
VITESSE 1 TOTTENHAM 0
Second-string Spurs were humbled in Holland as they lost 1-0 to Vitesse in Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash.
Max Wittek scored the only goal of the game in the 78th minute as Tottenham made 11 changes from Sunday’s match at Newcastle.
And Nuno Espirito Santo’s bold selection backfired as his side struggled to get out of first gear.
GUNNER BE A STAR
Arsenal have denied signing a wonderkid who’s still at NURSERY.
The Gunners were reported to have taken their youth recruitment to a new level by snapping up Zayn Ali Salman, now five, when he was just four years old.
But a club spokesman said: “At his current age, Zayn is not part of the official Arsenal Academy.
“He is currently enjoying football sessions at the West London Development Centre, one of the development centres that we run across London, providing local and fun football sessions for Under-6 to Under-8 year olds.
“The youngest age group at the Arsenal Hale End Academy is the under-9 age group.
“Our mission to be the most caring and challenging football academy is reflected in the way we develop our young people.
‘’The priority is to ensure that any child or young person attending the development centres or our Hale End Academy enjoys their football, with a focus on their all-round development and wellbeing.”
HAAL THE MONEY
Man Utd or Chelsea will reportedly have to cough up £575,000-a-week to secure Erling Haaland’s signature.
He looks likely to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the campaign when a £64million release clause kicks into his deal.
Now ESPN say whichever club win the race will need to fork out over £30m per year to Haaland.
However, they also state that his wage demands have not put the big guns off from pursuing a swoop.
DOUBLE WHAMMY
Man Utd have been fined a total of £7,400 for a pitch invasion and missile throwing during their Champions League comeback win over Villarreal.
And West Ham have been hit with a £50,500 fine after crowd trouble at their Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna last month.
United were charged after a pitch invader celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winner, as well as the throwing of objects at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, The Hammers have been punished by Uefa after fans threw missiles at each other – some containing bottles of urine – throughout the game against Rapid at the London Stadium on September 30.
Uefa have hit the Austrian club with a similar fine, and also ordered their away fans to be banned from attending one match in the competition.
DON THE WAY OUT
Donny van de Beek has a ‘huge chance’ of leaving Manchester United in January as Everton and Newcastle hover.
Fabrizio Romano ruled out links between the 24-year-old and his former club Ajax.
And he also dismissed ‘rumours’ of Van de Beek earning a fresh start with United in January as ‘fake’.
Instead he reckons there is a ‘huge chance’ the 19-cap playmaker will be sold or loaned out in the next transfer window.
EXCLUSIVE BY ANDY DILLON
Romelu Lukaku faces a month out – dealing Chelsea a serious blow in the title race.
The club’s record £97.5million signing twisted his ankle during Wednesday’s 4-0 Champions League win over Malmo.
And he now faces three to four weeks on the sidelines during a key part of the season.
After a tough run of fixtures, the Premier League leaders have a favourable spell with games again Norwich, Newcastle, Burnley and Leicester.
But with Timo Werner also injured, Chelsea are now without a recognised striker.
FATI CHANCE
Man Utd were reportedly one of three clubs who launched bids for Ansu Fati before he signed a new Barcelona deal.
El Partidazo claims the Red Devils made a mega-money offer for the teenage sensation.
And there were also big bids from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
The approaches saw Barca enter crisis mode after they lost club legend Lionel Messi on a free transfer to PSG.
And club chiefs frantically raced behind the scenes to prepare a new long-term deal for their latest starlet.
Fati finally signed his new six-year contract yesterday, inheriting Messi’s No10 shirt while being given a staggering £846million release clause.
NO PRESSURE
Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati has revealed he feels no pressure after being given Lionel Messi’s old No.10 shirt.
The 18-year-old just penned a six-year deal with Barca with a staggering €1BILLION (£846million) release clause.
And he’s been awarded Messi’s old jersey as a reward for his loyalty, but Fati isn’t phased by the number.
He said: “It’s true that the No. 10 jersey has been worn by Leo [Messi] and many players but I’m calm.
“For me it’s not a pressure. No one is going to equal what Leo has done.
“I’m going to follow my own journey. I still haven’t done anything.”
WENG WILL DO
Ex-Newcastle United owner John Hall reckons his old club should appoint Arsene Wenger as their new manager.
The Magpies are on the hunt for a new boss following the dismissal of Steve Bruce whose days were numbered once new owners came in.
Speaking on talkSport, Hall revealed what he would do if he was still in charge pn Tyneside, and said: “If I was looking out for a manager, in my day I had the utmost regard for Arsene Wenger.
“I thought he was an intellectual in the game. The game has changed and you need thinkers for the game.
“I would be looking for someone of the calibre of Arsene Wenger.”
NOT HAMMAN IT
Dietmar Hamman has slammed Liverpool star Naby Kieta who he doesn’t think is good enough to wear the club’s shirt.
Kieta scored a stunner in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but ex-Red Hamman reckons he was at fault for both of his teams conceded goals.
Speaking after the game to talkSPORT, the German fumed: “I’ve got to say, I think Keita was at fault for both goals.
“I know he’s had some injuries, but I don’t think he’s good enough for Liverpool.
“If you score a goal like he did, you should be full of confidence, you have to do your defensive duties and I get the feeling he just wants to play with the ball and when Liverpool have got possession.
“You just can’t do that and he’s not good enough to do that. The way he got beaten for the first two goals was just too easy.”
LAP CLAP
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has heaped praise on wonderkid Ansu after the club tied him down to a new long-term deal.
The Catalan giants convinced the 18-yearold to sign a six-year contract it was revealed today.
And he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon because Barca inserted a staggering €1BILLION (£846million) release clause into the agreement.
Upon the deals completion, an elated Laporta beamed: “It’s a huge day for Barca because we have signed the present and the future.
“We are very excited. For us, it was very important to regularise this situation.
“At just 18 years, he has an extraordinary maturity and a super talent.
“Your objectives are our objectives. Thank you to your family and your agent for their efforts because everyone has played their part.
“We have found an agreement and here we are.”
REISS ON RISE
Arsenal star Reiss Nelson’s next chapter finally began this weekend with his long-awaited debu on loan at Feyenoord.
And there were hints in his 30-minute cameo in the 2-2 draw with RKC Waalwijk that his nightmare start and middle to this year could have a happy ending.
The 21-year-old was full of energy, tricks and, most encouragingly, confidence, as he teed up a team-mate to hit the post before having a powerful effort well-saved himself.
The level in the Eredivisie may be below that of the Premier League but it served as a reminder of what this largely-forgotten young talent can do.
MINI MESSI
Arsenal are wasting no time in getting their hands on an Instagram sensation dubbed ‘little Messi’ for his talents when he was just FOUR-years-old.
Zayn Ali Salman, now five, became Arsenal’s youngest-ever recruit when they signed him to their pre-academy after his dazzling skills went viral on Instagram.
Speaking on the Gunners’ historic coup, their coach scout Stephen Deans said: “He was doing things you shouldn’t be doing at that age.
“When I saw him, I called a friend who confirmed he was four. I couldn’t believe that he is still in nursery.
“Then I spoke to his parents and brought him to a few sessions. He is no fluke.”
MAR TALK
Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez is interested in returning to the Premier League to manage Newcastle, according to reports.
Should the Spaniard return to England to manage the Magpies, he’d be reunited with ex-Belgium assistant Graeme Jones.
According to The Guardian, Belgium boss Martinez is open to replacing Steve Bruce – who was sacked yesterday – as Newcastle manager.
But there’s a host of names being looked at, including former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is also being linked with a move to Newcastle.
Former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre is also one of the names in the running for the job.
Favre almost came to the Premier League in the summer to manage Crystal Palace.
Paulo Fonseca – who was the frontrunner for the Tottenham job in the summer before the plug was pulled on the deal – has emerged as one of the favourites for the job.
VARDY INSPIRATION
Leicester City striker Patson Daka has credited teammate Jamie Vardy for inspiring him to grab a hat-trick against Spartak Moscow in the Europa League.
The Zambian’s quick-fire treble helped the Foxes to a 4-3 victory over Spartak, but it wouldn’t of been possible without the help of Vardy. Daka revealed.
Speaking after the game, Daka said: Jamie has been one of my inspirations.
“I am sure you can tell with the kind of playing style that I have, which is similar to him.
“It is a big privilege for me to be working alongside him. He helps me a lot in training.
“I keep learning each and every day and I am blessed to be in this position.”
SUPER BLOW
The European Super League initiative has been dealt with another blow as 16 EU countries have rejected it.
Back in April, 12 clubs signed up to the controversial breakaway competition that sparked a furious reaction by players, legends, fans, pundits, football governing bodies and politicians.
Among the ESL founders were six Premier League teams, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
The ferocious backlash forced the big six, as well as AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid to pull back.
However, Real, Barca and Juve refuse to admit defeat and are still pushing for this unpopular project.
Los Blancos’ president Florentino Perez is the main driving force behind the three rebels’ effort to revive the initiative.
According to AP, though 16 out of 27 EU countries, including Spain and Italy, have pulled the breaks on the initiative.
Germany is also expected to submit a statement to the European Court of Justice.
SO SU ME
Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati confirmed that he turned down offers from the Premier League to stay at the Nou Camp.
Fati was linked with a move to Manchester United and Manchester City but his constant priority was to stay at Barca.
And so the Blaugrana managed to tie the winger down to a six-year deal with a staggering €1BILLION (£846million) release clause.
The Spain international confirmed that he did receive offers from abroad, such as England, but told his agent Jorge Mendes that he wishes to stay in Catalonia.
Fati said: “Yes, I’ve had offers from abroad, but my dream was to be here.
“From the first day I told Jorge Mendes that my first option was always to stay at Barca.
“He understood it perfectly and I am very happy that the club has trusted me”.
BRUCE DEFENCE
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta isn’t happy about how ex-Newcastle United boss was treated during his reign at the club.
Bruce was sacked by the Magpies new regime yesterday and in his leaving statement, the 60-year-old lashed out at the club’s fans for their alleged verbal assaults aimed towards him.
After reading how Bruce felt, Arteta revealed he was saddened because he knows him on a personal level.
Speaking before Arsenal take on Aston Villa on Friday, he said: “I was really sad after reading that statement from Steve.
“First of all, because I know him personally, and secondly, because of what he transmitted in his words.
“You’re talking about somebody who has been in the game for over 40 years as a player and as a manager.
“He’s managed over 1,000 games and he’s telling you, with that experience, with that level of expertise that he has – because you have to to be able to sustain yourself at that level – that he struggles with that kind of situation, with that kind of abuse.”
SPENDING POWER
German clubs are struggling to keep up with the Premier League’s spending power in the transfer market, according to Bayer Leverkusen’s chief Fernando Carro.
Carro is worried that the Bundesliga could end up being a development league for the Prem because at the moment only Bayern Munich can compete with English sides when it comes to buying players.
Leverkusen made an attempt to buy a player this summer but were stumped by a newly-promoted Prem side who beat them to the punch.
And Carro reckons that’s a situation that will repeat itself in future.
He explained to the Guardian: “We tried to buy a player in the summer and in the end a promoted side from the Premier League was able to pay more money and a higher salary than us, a top four side in Germany.
“The Premier League has so much more money and resources than any other country. This is not good for us. Definitely not.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
