Chelsea ‘back in for discounted Kounde and Lautaro Martinez’, Newcastle ‘make £85m Vlahovic transfer offer’

LEEDS DECIMATED

Leeds are down to just NINE senior players but their home game against Arsenal on Saturday night will still go ahead.

Covid has ripped through the Premier League with the Elland Road clash the last Saturday fixture left standing.

And a combination of coronavirus and injuries has seen the Whites squad decimated.

Charlie Cresswell is the latest to be added to the treatment list after he dislocated his shoulder in training.

But Marcelo Bielsa still had enough players at his disposal to fulfill the fixture.

Cresswell joins top stars Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford on the sidelines through injury.

More from the Premier League

“The Board assesses applications to postpone matches on a case-by-case basis, based on existing rules and COVID-19 postponement guidance issued to all clubs.

“It will assess a number of factors, including the ability of a club to field a team; the status, severity and potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak at the club; and the ability of the players to safely prepare for and play the match. The Board must also consider the wider risks to the opposition and other people the club representatives may come into contact with.

“With the health and wellbeing of all players and staff the priority, and in light of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Premier League has reintroduced Emergency Measures.

“These include protocols such as more frequent testing, wearing face coverings while indoors, observing social distancing and limiting treatment time”

Premier League reaction

The Premier League issued the following statement following the postponement of Aston Villa vs Burnley.

The statement read: “Due to more positive cases in the Aston Villa squad today, the Premier League Board has regrettably had to postpone the club’s home fixture against Burnley, due to kick off at 15:00 GMT this afternoon.

“After reviewing all the new information provided by Villa this morning and receiving separate medical advice, the Board approved the request as a result of the club not having enough players to field a team.

“This decision was based on the number of COVID-19 cases, injuries and illness.

“The League understands the decision to postpone the match at such short notice will frustrate and disappoint supporters, and apologises for the inconvenience and disruption caused.

“The remaining four Premier League matches due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned”

Stuck with Martial

Manchester United may get stuck with wantaway ace Anthony Martial.

That is according to the Daily Mail, who report that United may be forced to keep Martial for longer as interest from other clubs hasn’t turned concrete.

The forward’s agent has made his client’s intentions to leave clear.

A number of candidates are reportedly keeping tabs, such as Newcastle, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal

Arteta on Pepe

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Nicolas Pepe isn’t getting enough minutes because Bukayo Saka has thrived in his position.

Arteta said: “It’s with all the players that they are not having a lot of minutes. With the amount of games we’re having there’s not enough room.

“With Nico’s situation it’s something similar. He needs more opportunities to show what he can do and in the last games he hasn’t had them.

“I understand but again I have to try to make the decision based on what I see every day.

“Nico is really willing to help the team. The reality is that in the position that he’s playing, Bukayo [Saka] is there and has been fantastic”

Cav at it

Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani looks set to move to Barcelona.

That is according to Marca, who report that Cavani has accepted Barca’s offer.

The striker will be a free agent this summer and has already started talking with clubs overseas.

The Uruguay international has also turned down a bid from Boca Juniors in favour of the Blaugrana

Vlahovic wish

Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic prefers to join a club with the ability to challenge in the Champions League.

That is according to a report from Eurosport, which suggests that Vlahovic’s Premier League suitors should be on alert.

The striker has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham ahead of the January transfer window.

Newcastle are also keeping tabs on the Serbia international

Premier League vaccinations

Recent Premier League data from October revealed that 81 per cent of Prem players had had at least one jab, while 68 per cent had been given both doses.

So far, a total of six fixtures have been called off this weekend due to a coronavirus outbreak within various squads.

Among them is Manchester United’s match with Brighton, which was set to take place today.

Aston Villa vs Burnley is the most recent game that has been postponed

Players vaccinations

According to the BBC, 25 per cent of players in the English Football League say they do not intend to get the jab.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Getting the jab is the socially responsible thing to do.

“The most important thing anyone – including footballers – can do to protect themselves, co-workers and loved ones is to get vaccinated and get a booster.

“I know the football authorities are also working with players to understand why some are vaccine hesitant”

Aston Villa vs Burnley postponed

Aston Villa’s match with Burnley has been postponed!

This comes after Villa registered additional COVID-19 cases.

The Villans were expected to host Burnley at Villa Park tonight however their fixture becomes the sixth to be postponed this weekend

ALL AUBA

Arsenal’s out-of-favour ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reported for training on Friday an hour-and-a-half before the rest of the squad showed up.

Aubameyang is understood to be training on his own for the time being after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta stripped him of the captain’s armband following a disciplinary breach.

The centre-forward has been frozen out of the club and may not play again for the north Londoners until mid-February.

Arteta has revealed he will not consider the deposed skipper for tonight’s clash with Leeds, and his exile is set to continue for the Boxing Day match with Norwich.

After that the 32-year-old is due to report for international duty with Gabon ahead of the Copa Africa which starts on January 6.

That means if Gabon progress deep into the competition, he may not be back in contention for a place until Arsenal face Wolves on February 10

Barcelona target Rashford

Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who claim that Rashford would be keen to join Barca as he is finding it hard to establish himself in the starting line-up due to an abundance of forwards at United.

Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping tabs and have already contacted the 24-year-old’s agent.

The England international’s deal with the Red Devils runs out in 2023

FSG target new club

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have tabled a ‘proposal’ to buy Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro.

According to reports in South America, the storied club became the first Brazilian team to make the switch from a non-profit entity to a corporate one in a bid to restructure its finances, forming a ‘Sociedade Anonima’ (SA) to attract investors, which had been forbidden under the non-profit model that had come under strain during the coronavirus pandemic.

That means 90 per cent of shares of the controlling SA are now available to sell and Cruzeiro has been seeking potential investors to purchase them.

Cruzeiro bigwig Aloisio Vasconcellos, told members at the club’s general assembly that the team could receive an offer from FSG

Loftus-Cheek interest

Roma boss Jose Mourinho has turned to his former club Chelsea for reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window.

According to Il Romanista, Mourinho is keeping tabs on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Blues are reluctant to sell one of their own academy graduates mid-season.

However, the lack of first-team football could convince Loftus-Cheek to look for a move elsewhere

Auba and out

Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will again be frozen out by Mikel Arteta as punishment for the late return to England that cost him the captain’s armband.

Aubameyang has missed the last two matches as furious manager Arteta lost patience with his skipper for the latest lack of discipline.

And the Spanish head coach has revealed the Gabon international will have no part to play in the match at Leeds as his exile continues.

Arteta said: “No, he is not available for this game.”

Asked if Aubameyang has a future at the club, the Arsenal manager added: “He is not available for this game”

Barca project

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is understood to have a close relationship with Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland’s super agent Mino Raiola.

Haaland is reported to be interested in moving somewhere with a convincing ‘sports project’, not just for a high salary.

Barca are undergoing a rebuild under new manager and club legend Xavi, who has a host of young academy talent at his disposal like Ansu Fati, Pedri and Gavi.

The Spanish head coach also combines it with experienced players like Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique.

The star striker would come in as the new superstar to lead the team at the LaLiga heavyweights – something that’s thought to appeal to the Norway international

Nou deal

Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland could be willing to join Barcelona in the summer transfer window – but on one condition.

That is to qualify for next season’s Champions League, according to reports in Spain.

The star striker wants the guarantee of elite European competition in any move.

The same goes for other suitors, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus

Unvaccinated players

Unvaccinated Premier League stars must isolate for 10 days if they are in close contact with anyone who tests positive for COVID-19.

The new hardline directive under the Government’s Plan B, which has no exceptions, has already left some Prem squads skeleton-thin.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters plans to confirm the Festive football programme is on at a summit on Monday.

Masters laid down the law in a letter sent to all 20 clubs as he put the onus on them to drum home the need for vaccinations to prevent a serious shutdown.

Masters wrote: “Everyone needs to be aware of the importance of completing the season, while maintaining the safety of players, staff and fans.

“We have collectively highlighted the importance of vaccination and it has never been more important”

EFL POSTPONEMENTS

Here are all the EFL matches that have been postponed this weekend:

Championship

Cardiff P-P Derby
Coventry P-P Stoke
Millwall P-P Preston
QPR P-P Swansea
Reading P-P Luton

League One

Bolton P-P Wycombe
Burton P-P MK Dons
Gillingham P-P Crewe
Lincoln P-P Doncaster

Wimbledon P-P Portsmouth

Sheff Wed P-P Accrington

League Two

Crawley P-P Oldham
Northampton P-P Barrow
Port Vale P-P Exeter
Swindon P-P Walsall

Carlisle United P-P Bradford City

Colchester United P-P Hartlepool United

Forest Green P-P Mansfield Town

Scunthorpe United P-P Bristol Rovers

Premier League postponement

A total of FIVE Premier League matches, scheduled for the weekend, have been postponed.

Manchester United vs Brighton poses as the most significant following a COVID-19 outbreak within the Red Devils’ camp.

The other four are Southampton vs Brentford, Watford vs Crystal Palace, West Ham vs Norwich and Everton vs Leicester

Pep’s negative test

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave his club quite a COVID-19 scare when he was forced to sit out training on Friday.

Guardiola reported to the training ground in the morning but returned an ‘inconclusive’ test – meaning he immediately had to isolate.

The Catalan head coach did two further tests – one a PCR and another lateral flow – and was relieved to discover that both were negative.

The 50-year-old will be back to take charge of his squad on Saturday morning and can travel north with his team ready for Sunday’s game at Newcastle

Newcastle’s Vlahovic interest

Newcastle have joined the transfer war for Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic.

That is according to CalcioMercato, who report that the Toon have launched a whopping €100million (£85m) bid for Vlahovic.

That would make the striker the fourth-most expensive signing in Premier League history.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are also keen on the Serbia international

Lautaro Martinez interest

Chelsea are still keen on signing Inter Milan star striker Lautaro Martinez.

That is according to Fichajes, who report that the Blues may be set to reignite their interest in Lautaro this summer.

When the Argentina international was available for the right price this year, and in 2020, none of the interested clubs met Inter’s valuation.

However, the west Londoners may have to make some room in their squad first before contemplating a potential deal involving the 24-year-old

MORNING FOOTBALL FANS

Unvaccinated Prem stars MUST isolate for 10 days if they are in close contact with anyone who is Covid positive.

The new hardline directive under the Government’s Plan B, which has NO exceptions, has already left some Premier League squads skeleton-thin.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters plans to confirm the Festive football programme is ON at a summit meeting on Monday.

The chief executive laid down the law in a letter sent to all 20 clubs as he put the onus on them to drum home the need for vaccinations to prevent a serious shutdown.

Masters wrote: “Everyone needs to be aware of the importance of completing the season, while maintaining the safety of players, staff and fans.

“We have collectively highlighted the importance of vaccination and it has never been more important.”

Elsewhere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banished from Arsenal first-team training and will continue to be exiled from Mikel Arteta’s plans until the end of 2021 at the earliest.

The striker’s future at Emirates is looking increasingly bleak following the decision to strip him of the club captaincy on Monday, for what Arsenal called his ‘latest disciplinary breach’ after returning late from an agreed trip to France to collect his sick mum.

The Telegraph report the 32-year-old has not been involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney HQ this week, a development that casts further doubt over his future in north London.

Instead, the striker has been training alone, away from the squad. Arteta confirmed on Friday that Aubameyang would not be considered for the weekend game versus Leeds and it is understood his non-inclusion in first-team affairs will continue until he leaves for Africa Cup of Nations duty at the end of the month.

In other news, Inter Milan have officially terminated the contract of Christian Eriksen by mutual consent.Eriksen has not been allowed to play in Serie A after the league banned the heart-monitoring device fitted to the playmaker following his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.

Reports have emerged in recent days that a contract termination was imminent.
And now in an official statement, Inter wrote: “FC Internazionale Milano can confirm that an agreement has been reached to terminate Christian Eriksen’s contract by mutual consent.

“The club and the entire Nerazzurri family wish Christian all the very best for his future.

No new deal for Arteta

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed he has held NO talks with the club about extending his contract at the Emirates.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds, Arteta was asked whether he has held discussions with the Gunners over his future.

To which he said: “No, we haven’t discussed anything like that.

“I think we have many other priorities at the moment that are far more important than that.

“I don’t know [if we will have talks in the summer], really I’m not thinking about that.

“I’m just trying to get the best out of the team, trying to cope with all the situations that we are facing at the moment. Things will happen naturally.”