SAINT PETERSBURG will be stripped of the Champions League final in an emergency Uefa meeting tomorrow.
Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine has sparked a backlash against Uefa, who are sponsored by gas supplier Gazprom, whose name is also on the 64,000-capacity stadium in the Russian city.
Chelsea are on the verge of losing experienced defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen for FREE this summer.
However, the West London outfit are reportedly interested in a move for Wolves defender Max Kilman, following his impressive performances this season.
Kilman is a boyhood Blues fan and could be open to the move if he hears the club are in for him.
Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe is said to have been offered whopping £1m-a-week wages to stay with PSG.
The Frenchman has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid, who he scored a winner in the Champions League against last week.
Follow ALL the latest transfer gossip and news with our live blog below…
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Tam to come back
Tammy Abraham ‘hopes to return’ to his boyhood club Chelsea in the future, according to reports.
The 24-year-old striker joined Serie A outfit Roma in the summer for £34million, linking up with legendary Premier League boss Jose Mourinho.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Abraham ‘hopes to return’ to Chelsea in the future.
Abraham might get his wish in a year’s time with Chelsea’s £68m buy-back option becoming active.
Newcastle receive Rabiot boost
Newcastle have received a boost in their pursuit of Adrien Rabiot with Juventus ‘ready to say goodbye’ to the midfielder.
The 26-year-old France international moved to Turin from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
However, he has come under fire recently from supporters following his poor performance in last week’s Champions League clash with Villarreal.
That has not deterred Newcastle, who are eyeing up a summer swoop for Rabiot.
Now Calciomercato claims Juventus are ready to sell should they receive an ‘adequate’ offer.
They state that a transfer bid between £8.3million and £12.5m would be enough for them ‘say goodbye’ to the star.
Hamman: Klopp will outlast Tuchel
Didi Hamman is adamant that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel won’t be at Stamford Bridge for aslong as Liverpool compatriot Jurgen Klopp will remain at Anfield.
Hamman reckons Klopp’s man-management skills are better than Tuchel’s – and that’s the reason why the Liverpool man will outlast his German peer.
Speaking to Genting Casino, Hamman said: “Tuchel, when he left Dortmund there was always talk that he didn’t have that relationship with the players, and I don’t think Tuchel will be at Chelsea as long as Klopp has been at Liverpool, because I don’t think he’s that type of manager.
“He’s a very strategic manager, where man management comes second, or third.
“With Klopp, it’s first, and this is why I think they are two completely different coaches, with two completely different teams. I don’t think Tuchel will achieve what Klopp did at Liverpool.”
Ajax’s cash cow
Man United transfer target Ryan Gravenberch has claimed he will not leave Ajax unless they get good cash for him.
He told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: “It is up to my agent and father, I don’t know whether I will leave Ajax next summer.
“What I know for sure is that I will not leave if Ajax are not earning anything from me.
“I have played here all my career. Ajax have been good to me and I owe a lot to the club.
“I cannot just leave on a free transfer. That will not happen.”
United to drop Russian airline
Manchester United are the latest club to distance themselves from Russian sponsors following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Old Trafford officials confirmed that they were reviewing their deal with airline Aeroflot, now with the intention of bringing the partnership to an end 12 months earlier than intended.
The company have been one of United’s main sponsors for nine years, and would have been expecting to renegotiate that deal in 2023 before recent developments.
Earlier this afternoon, German club Schalke dropped Russian energy corporation Gazprom as their main shirt sponsors.
Foxes fan banned for decade
The Leicester City supporter than ran on to the pitch and assaulted three Nottingham Forest players in a recent FA Cup match has been given a four-month sentence and banned from attending football games for ten years.
Nineteen-year-old Cameron Toner was charged with three counts of common assault on appearing at a Nottinghamshire court.
He will serve half of his four-month sentence for assault, and then be released on licence. The teenager was also handed a £100 fine for entering the field of play.
Toner ran on to the pitch as Forest players celebrated their third goal in this month’s FA Cup fourth round tie, and assaulted Brennan Johnson, Djed Spence and Keinan Davis.
Schalke drop Gazprom as sponsors
The world of sport continues to react to developments in Ukraine, and the latest announcement has now seen 2. Bundesliga club Schalke drop Gazprom as their main sponsors.
Gazprom, a Russian majority state-owned multinational energy corporation, were the shirt sponsors of the Royal Blues.
The company are also heavily linked with the UEFA Champions League, and own the naming rights to the Krestovsky Stadium, where this season’s final was due to take place.
A tweet from the German outfit said: “FC Schalke 04 have decided to remove the logo of main sponsor GAZPROM from the club’s shirts. It will be replaced by lettering reading ‘Schalke 04’ instead.”
Brazilians plead for Ukraine evacuation
Several Brazilian footballers have appealed to their government for safe evacuation out of Ukraine, according to the Daily Mail.
Video footage has surfaced of Brazilian players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv gathered together inside a hotel in the Ukrainian capital in the hope that they will be offered a route out of the war-torn country.
Shakhtar’s Junior Moraes is reported as describing a ‘situation of despair’, and pleased in a message: “I ask you to disclose this video so that it reaches the [Brazilian] government.”
“Borders are closed, banks [are shut], there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money.”
Zinchenko’s Instagram post deleted
Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has had an Instagram post in which he wished death upon Vladimir Putin deleted.
The Ukrainian international posted an image of the Russian president on his Instagram story along with the caption “I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.”
Zinchenko was originally thought to have deleted the post himself, but the player has since suggested that it was removed by the social media company themselves.
The three-time Premier League winner said on Tuesday that he ‘can’t stand back’ while ‘the whole civilised world is concerned about my country.’
FIFA also urged to boot out Russia
Following news of UEFA’s emergency meeting, FIFA are now under huge pressure to boot Russia out of next month’s World Cup play-offs.
Valeri Karpin’s team are to face Poland over two legs with the first game due to be played in Moscow on March 24.
However, Polish FA chiefs have already signalled their ‘concerns’ at the prospect of being made to play in the Russian capital after their government condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
It now appears impossible for the match to take place as scheduled, and increasingly unlikely that other nations will accept Russia’s continued involvement in football.
Germany and Japan were both banned from entering qualification for the 1950 World Cup in the aftermath of World War Two, while South Africa was kicked out of FIFA in 1961 as the game sanctioned the Apartheid regime.
Russia to lose Champions League final
UEFA will strip St Petersburg of their Champions League Final when they converge for an emergency meeting tomorrow.
The Russian city was due to host European football’s showpiece event next May, but an alternative venue will now be sought.
The move comes “following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine in the last 24 hours” and that the meeting would “evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions”.
European football’s governing body confirmed President Aleksander Ceferin had summoned an “extraordinary meeting” of his ruling executive committee for 9am tomorrow morning.
Third time lucky for McCann
Grant McCann has been named as manager of Peterborough United for the third time.
The Championship club have officially announced the appointment of their new boss, who previously led them in 2015, and then again between 2016 and 2018.
McCann was recently sacked by Hull City, following the Tigers’ takeover by a Turkish consortium.
In a twist of football fate, McCann’s first game in charge of Posh will be at home to Hull on Saturday.
Peterborough are currently second-bottom in the second tier, and eight points from safety after losing to leaders Fulham last night.
Happy Hammers trigger Johnson extension
West Ham will trigger an automatic two-year extension to Ben Johnson’s contract in order to ward off interest from Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.
The 22-year-old has caught the eye for the Hammers this season when he has been called upon, pushing Vladimir Coufal as first choice right-back, and filling in admirably for Aaron Cresswell on the left.
The defender’s current deal was due to run out this summer, but his club had an option to activate a further two years and are set to do just that.
The Evening Standard report that the academy graduate will secure a significant pay rise as part of the extension.
Breaking: Hughes back as Bantam menace
Mark Hughes has been named as the new manager of League Two Bradford City after more than three-and-a-half years out of of the game.
The 58-year-old has previously managed Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke and Southampton in the Premier League, taking charge of over 450 games in the top-flight.
Hughes told the Bradford City website: “I am really pleased to be here and am looking forward to the role. It has been an exciting few days.
“It is maybe a little bit of a surprise that I have come in, but do not be put off by that!
“I am here for a reason: to make Bradford City a team people want to come and watch – and are proud to watch.”
The Bantams are currently 15th in League Two, ten points off the play-off positions. The West Yorkshire club recently parted company with previous boss Derek Adams.
Credit: bradfordcityafc.com United prepared to spend big
Manchester United will push the boat out this summer to sign elite players – even if they FAIL to qualify for Champions League football.
The Red Devils’ transfer hopes were thought to rest on the club securing their place in Europe’s elite competition, but ESPN sources have been informed that United will spend big regardless of how this season pans out.
Declan Rice and Harry Kane are said to head United’s shopping list, and United officials are confident that they can bring in a series of marquee signings.
Premier pair in transfer Serge
Chelsea and Tottenham are preparing to pounce for Serge Gnabry after his contract negotiations with Bayern Munich hit the buffers.
With just one year to run on his current deal, the German international has been in talks with his club over an extension.
However, BILD suggest that discussions have become complicated, and that news has put the Premier League on red alert.
Arsenal had previously been linked with a move for their former player, but it’s their main London rivals that are now considered to be the most interested parties.
Glum Rom seeking Chelsea exit
Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea career (again) appears in serious doubt with Gazetta dello Sport reporting that the striker has made contact with former club Inter Milan about a return (again).
Earlier in the season, the Belgian apologised for an interview with Sky Italia when he expressed a desire to return to Inter amid his unhappiness with life at Stamford Bridge.
However, his relationship with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is now said to be at rock bottom.
The German coach favoured Kai Havertz up front in Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Lille, and is likely to do so again for the weekend’s League Cup final against Liverpool.
Tuchel vowed to protect Lukaku after his seven-touch horror show at Crystal Palace last Saturday, but today’s news will infuriate Blues officials.
The striker has apparently offered to take a wage cut in order to rejoin Inter, but the Italian champions don’t see the player as part of their plans.
Roma return for Arsenal’s Xhaka
Serie A side Roma will revisit their interest in Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka this summer, according to reports in Italy.
The Switzerland midfielder was the subject of prolonged negotiations with the Italians last year, but a deal failed to materialise when the two clubs couldn’t agree upon a fee.
However, the Gunners are now expected to drop their asking price of £15million with just one year remaining on Xhaka’s contract.
Roma boss Jose Mourinho is understood to be an admirer of the 29-year-old, who first moved to the Emirates back in 2016.
Blues in fight for freebie
Chelsea face competition from Paris Saint-Germain to sign Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer when his Barcelona contract comes to an end this summer.
According to 90Min, the Blues have monitored the Frenchman since his time at Borussia Dortmund, and now plan to make a move to bring the forward to Stamford Bridge.
However, PSG has emerged as a potential destination for Dembele, and are one of few clubs in Europe that could meet the player’s wage demands after negotiations over an extended stay at Barca stalled.
Dembele’s time at the Nou Camp has been plagued by injuries since his £96million transfer in 2017.
Conte’s Spurs future in doubt
Just three days on from Tottenham’s fabulous win at Manchester City, it all came crashing down Antonio Conte.
Spurs were beaten 1-0 by relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday evening, and afterwards the emotional Italian made some bizarre comments that appeared to suggest he was willing to walk away after just three months in the job.
He said: “I am not used to this situation. I am trying everything but the situation is not changing. I am available and open with the club to do what the club wants.
“I want to help the club, I work a lot, I work very hard. I am giving 20 hours a day to Tottenham and the other four hours I sleep, but it is not enough.
“The performance can be good and the commitment was good but we lost. For me the situation is unacceptable. To lose four of five [games] for Tottenham has to be a disaster.
“I came in to try to improve the situation. Maybe in this moment I am not so good to improve the situation. I am too honest to close my eyes and continue in this way.
“For sure we are to speak and have a conversation with the club to try and find the best solution to help the team not have this type of situation.
“It is the right moment to make assessment. I repeat, I am really frustrated.”
Good morning football fans
Manchester United managed a 1-1 draw in their Champions League Last 16 first leg against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico opened the scoring after just seven minutes with Joao Felix, but Anthony Elanga came off the bench and equalised for United 10 minutes before full-time.
Benfica and Ajax drew 2-2 at the Estadio da Luz with the visitors’ Dusan Tadic opening the scoring before Sebastien Haller doubled Erik ten Hag’s men’s lead, shortly after his own goal.
But the Portuguese giants managed to equalise on 72 minutes with Roman Yaremchuk.
There was also a lot of action in the Premier League as Burnley beat Tottenham 1-0 at Turf Moor thanks to Ben Mee’s winner on 71 minutes.
Crystal Palace thrashed Watford at Vicarage Road following a 4-1 score with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener, Conor Gallagher’s cracker and Wilfried Zaha’s brace – Moussa Sissoko equalised temporarily.
Liverpool thrashed Leeds at Anfield and added even more pressure on the visitors’ under-fire manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Mohamed Salah scored a brace from the penalty spot before Sadio Mane scored twice as well, while the Reds’ centre-back duo of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk were also on target.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe could ultimately stay in Paris despite links with Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
According to The Independent, PSG are prepared to make Mbappe the highest-paid player in the world to convince him to stay at the Parc des Princes.
The report claims the French giants are ready to pay the striker a basic wage of close to £1million a week.
That would far outvalue anything Real – who are favourites to land the France international in the summer – could offer.
And United may re-ignite their interest in Tottenham superstar Harry Kane ahead of the summer transfer window.
But the Red Devils’ next managerial appointment can be crucial to any potential pursuit.
Kane made his desire to depart from Spurs clear last summer, with the Manchester giants being one of his main suitors.
According to ESPN, a move for the star striker this summer is said to be a ‘possibility’ though it will cost a fee in the region of £100million.
The likelihood of such a swoop being made would only increase should PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino be appointed as United’s new permanent head coach.
Finally, Barcelona could wreck Arsenal and Chelsea’s transfer plans if they miss out on Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.
According to Sport, Barca have identified Real Sociedad star and the Gunners’ target Alexander Isak should they fail to land Haaland.
The Blaugrana’s funds could also switch to Sevilla ace Jules Kounde, who has been linked with the Blues.
The west Londoners are looking to bolster their defence with Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and captain Cesar Azpilicueta out of contract in June
FT: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Man Utd
Manchester United managed to snatch an important draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico opened the scoring with Joao Felix after just seven minutes into the first half.
But United ultimately equalised with Anthony Elanga 10 minutes before full-time.
The Red Devils picked up a positive score ahead of the Champions League second-leg at Old Trafford
GETTY IMAGES Liverpool 6-0 Leeds
Liverpool thrashed Leeds at Anfield and added even more pressure on the visitors’ under-fire manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Mohamed Salah scored a brace from the penalty spot and Sadio Mane scored twice as well.
The Reds’ centre-back duo Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk were also on target.
The Merseysiders are now 13 points away from Premier League high-flyers Manchester City
Atletico Madrid 1-1 Man Utd
Manchester United have equalised against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Anthony Elanga levelled things up on 80 minutes and has given the visitors a positive score ahead of the Champions League’s second-leg at Old Trafford
Full-time scores
Burnley beat Tottenham 1-0 at Turf Moor thanks to Ben Mee’s winner on 71 minutes.
Crystal Palace thrashed Watford at Vicarage Road with a score of 4-1 with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener, Conor Gallagher’s cracker and Wilfried Zaha’s brace – Moussa Sissoko equalised temporarily.
Liverpool are still 4-0 ahead against Leeds at Anfield with Mohamed Salah’s brace as well as Joel Matip and Sadio Mane’s goals
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
