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      Awkward moment flustered Musiala fails to name single Feyenoord player as Bayern Munich star’s interview ages very badly

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      JAMAL MUSIALA has been left red-faced by his interview before Bayern Munich’s clash with Feyenoord.Dutch giants Feyenoord pulled off one of the shock results of the penultimate round of Champions League group matches by romping to a win over the Germans.Bayern Munich were left redfaced by Feyenoord in their Champions League clashCredit: GETTYJamal Musiala insisted his Bayern team-mates wouldn’t underestimate the Dutch clubCredit: AFPThe German has been left red-faced by his pre-match commentsCredit: YouTubeBrian Priske’s side – who are unknowns in comparison to the star-studded Germans – ran out 3-0 winners to keep their hopes of a top-eight finish alive.The comprehensive defeat was embarrassing for Vincent Kompany’s side.But not as much as Musiala’s failure to name a single opposition player before the match.When pressed on the Rotterdam club’s star men, the midfielder said on Tuesday night: “I’m bad with names. Can you tell me a name.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”We already had a meeting. I’m not good with names too much.”We’ve known that they’re really good at their counterattacks and have a lot of quality.”They have a young 19-year-old in midfield as well and they have a lot of quality.”We’re not gonna underestimate them tomorrow.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSNew Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink.Feynoord’s stunning win surprised many, but not Bayern boss Kompany.He said: “We weren’t surprised. We are used to playing against this type of team.Michael Olise looks incredibly awkward as Bayern Munich stars get into Christmas mood by singing Jingle Bells “We often find a solution, find good moments. That didn’t work out today.”We did run, we fought and gave it our all to have a good game, but the performance wasn’t good enough. “Feyenoord used their moments, we also had our moments but didn’t use them.”The former Manchester City skipper continued: “I have to be honest, Feyenoord deserved their win.Vincent Kompany was quick to praise Feyenoord for their stunning victoryCredit: EPA“They fought hard and ran. We had many chances, I felt we could’ve scored one, two, or even more goals.”Feyenoord used their moments well. Individually and collectively it wasn’t enough from our side today.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The best thing is that there’s another game in a couple of days and we can show a reaction.”Bayern – who are 15th in the 36-team table – will welcome Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava to the Allianz Arena in their final group match next Wednesday. More

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      Former Barcelona star shows off withered leg as he shows how much muscle he lost after devastating ACL injury

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      FORMER Barcelona prodigy Riqui Puig has revealed pictures of his withered leg after suffering a devastating ACL injury.Puig, who now plays for LA Galaxy, lost a significant amount of muscle in his right leg after undergoing reconstructive surgery last month.Riqui Puig has shown off his withered right legThe 25-year-old tore his ACL in NovemberPuig came through the ranks with Barcelona’s La Masia set upPuig joined LA in 2022Puig suffered a nasty ACL injury during LA Galaxy’s 1-0 win over Seattle Sonders FC in the Western Conference final in November.But he played over 30 minutes with a torn ACL and even provided the game-winning assist for Dejan Joveljic’s 85th minute goal.Scans after the trophy celebrations showed a rupture and surgery was performed in a Barcelona hospital a month later.The 25-year-old has shared an update on the rehab process of his knee.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSPictures show the midfielder has lost a ton of muscle on his right leg as he works with specialists.Puig grabbed 37 goal contributions in 36 matches played across all competitions for the LA Galaxy during the 2024 campaign.He left Barcelona for America as a free agent in 2022 after falling out of favour with former manager Xavi’s plans.His exit was a shock for fans after Barca’s legends indicated he was a special talent.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBack in 2018, one report read: “Lionel Messi quickly realised that after Riqui started going to some training sessions with the first team last season.”He wanted him at his side and, of course, the kid was happy to have his idol in front of him and on top of that, that he gave him the ball.Ex-Everton and Barcelona star Gerard Deulofeu works out in gym after horror injury “He was not the only one who was astonished.”Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta – a player whom he has many resemblances towards – were also captivated by his football.”Despite his promising talent as a teenager, Puig found himself way down the pecking order at the Nou Camp and left in 2022.Gavi and Pedri are two of the highest-rated young central midfielders in Europe and have continued to prosper.Meanwhile, Puig is one of the best players in the MLS and is a two-time All-Star.Puig found himself way down the pecking order at the Nou Camp More

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      Tyson Fury’s beloved Morecambe’s crisis hits new low as EFL not certain club will be funded to end of season

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      MORECAMBE’S board slammed the club’s ownership group as they confirmed that they cannot make any further January transfers.The cash-strapped Lancashire side are 23rd in League Two amid serious financial issues.Morecambe have endured a torrid few yearsCredit: RexBoss Derek Adams has had to work in difficult circumstancesCredit: RexMorecambe are owned by the Bond Group, whose director is Jason Whittingham.They have been up for sale since September 2022 and have since been relegated from League One.The Shrimps were placed under a transfer embargo last March due to the non-payment of a VAT bill.After the matter was settled with HMRC, boss Derek Adams was forced to cobble together a squad – signing 15 players on July 12 after the embargo was lifted.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt was later claimed that Kuljeet Singh Momi had agreed a deal with Whittingham to buy the club.But the credibility of Singh Momi’s bid is yet to be ratified by the EFL.Earlier this month, Morecambe co-chairmen Rod Taylor and Graham Howse were asked about the status of the club’s takeover during a fans’ forum.During the evening, Howse said: “The share capital which came in at the end of November is ring-fenced for the January budget.Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY”We have allocated that figure in the last couple of days and Derek (Adams) has been informed of that.”We believe he has a decent sum of money to do well in the market. We are looking at loan (players) predominantly.”Tyson Fury spotted filming series 2 of At Home With The Furys in Morecambe as Gypsy King takes break from Usyk training Morecambe have so far recruited Ryan Schofield and Callum Cooke this month to help bolster their survival bid.But in a fresh twist, a statement from directors have confirmed that they are “currently prevented from making further signings in the January transfer window, despite recent cup successes and capital injections”.They add that this due to the fact that “written assurances from Bond Group that the club will be funded to the end of the season have not been supported by sufficient proof of source and sufficiency of funding”.The statement goes on to claim: “Bond Group had assured the Club that it would meet these requirements and support additional player recruitment in January, but when proof of funding was requested, it failed to provide it.”Bond Group has informed the Club today that it is working on sourcing additional funds, but there is no guarantee that these will land in time to impact the rest of the transfer window.”Morecambe’s board of directors then took an incredible swipe at the Bond Group.’THE CLUB HAS BEEN LET DOWN BY ITS OWNER’Their statement added: “The board wishes to place on record that once again the club has been let down by its owner, undermining the efforts and hard work of the manager, staff, and directors at this critical time.”The EFL declined to comment on the matter when contacted, but SunSport understands that they remain in dialogue with Morecambe regarding adhering to league regulations.Shrimps were slapped with a suspended two-point deduction last month – having been deducted three last term.Morecambe are five points from safety with 21 games remaining.The Shrimps are former boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s local club.The Gypsy King has sponsored the club’s shorts in the past, and even claimed in 2022 that he was considering buying them.He told talkSPORT at the time: “I’m thinking about buying Morecambe Football Club, they’re in League One at the moment.”So I was thinking I invest X amount of millions in them. Basically throw it at them and keep them going up.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’ve been offered to buy Morecambe Football Club. I own all the training facilities anyway and the training gym. So who knows?”You might be looking at a football club owner.”Tyson Fury has worked with his local club beforeCredit: Morecambe FC More

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      Meet Kaelen Casey, 20, West Ham’s old-school centre-half with a passion for defending like England legends

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      THERE is nothing more West Ham fans like to see than one of their own stepping up and shining from the academy.Since Declan Rice emerged in 2017 there have been glimpses of others coming through – and there are now high hopes for young defender Kaelan Casey, who could be close to starting in the Premier League under Graham Potter.Kaelan Casey replacing Angelo Ogbonna for his Premier League debut in May 2024Credit: GettyCasey (right) was on the bench for West Ham’s 2-0 defeat by Crystal PalaceCredit: RexCasey celebrating with the FA Youth Cup in 2023Credit: GettyCasey (right) with fellow West Ham academy graduate George Earthy at Upton Park tube station as kidsThe old-school defender has been compared to former England captain Terry ButcherCredit: RexHow do they play and who do they remind you of?Like all young defenders, Casey is confident on the ball and happy to play out of the back.However, those who watch the youngster closely often say there is a more old-school feel about the 20-year-old.Casey has a real passion for defending and has picked the brains of some of the best around West Ham.He has been compared to greats of the past such as Martin Keown or Terry Butcher given his more aggressive and safety-first approach to defending.READ MORE IN BOY WONDERSTell us about their rise…Casey was on the West Ham radar from the age of five and joined their famed academy aged eight.He has been guided through the ranks by some of the Hammers’ finest, leaning on advice from former captains Rice and Mark Noble at times.Academy coach Kevin Keen has also been a huge influence, while Angelo Ogbonna – who he replaced for his Premier League debut – also took a keen interest in Casey’s development before departing at the end of his contract last summer.Paul Nevin and Kevin Nolan, both first team coaches under David Moyes, have worked with Casey at both club and international level.Most read in FootballBefore making the step up to the senior team in East London – Casey had a huge moment with the Under-18s, scoring in their FA Youth Cup final win over Arsenal at the Emirates in April last year.Julen Lopetegui took a shine to the youngster, opting to include him in the first team rather than sign experienced defender John Egan on a free this summer.Boy Wonders: Is Southampton star Tyler Dibling the new Grealish?The Spaniard has now been replaced by Potter and the crisis at the back means Casey might be thrust into the starting XIWhat are the experts saying?After promoting Casey to the senior ranks permanently, Lopetegui liked what he saw.The former Hammers boss said: “Casey is a good player, a good profile and academy profile.”He is working very well with us and we are happy with him.”He’s trained well, he conducts himself well, he wants to learn, he wants to improve… so he’s an option.GRAHAM POTTERPotter said: “He’s been training with us. He’s done well.”Obviously, we haven’t had too many full training sessions, so I can’t give you a full assessment of him.”But in the training sessions that we’ve had, he’s trained well, he’s done well.”It’s a big step, obviously, into the Premier League. But again, he’s someone that is well thought of.”He’s trained well, he conducts himself well, he wants to learn, he wants to improve. So he’s an option.”What does the next 12 months hold?Interest in Casey has already been knocked back, with German club Hoffenheim – playing in the Europa League this season – making an approach in the summer.But Casey is firmly focused on graduating from the Academy of Football and making his name in east London.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Hammers’ early-season struggles meant Lopetegui was less likely to take a risk at the back.But West Ham’s limited pool of just three senior central defenders means that when injuries and suspensions bite, the big opportunity may come along.MORE BOY WONDERSHere are some more in our Boy Wonders series More

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      Six amazing knockout matches new Champions League format could serve up including Liverpool nightmare and El Clasico

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      THE exciting new Champions League format has the potential to serve up some cracking last-16 and play-off ties.It is all to play for heading into the final matchday next Wednesday when there will be 18 MATCHES on at the same time.Man City could be drawn against Real Madrid or Aston Villa in the play-offs should they make it throughCredit: GettyEl Clasico is a possibility in the last-16 if Real Madrid do not finish in the top eightCredit: GettyThe Champions League tournament treeManchester City are in danger of crashing out and need to beat Club Brugge and hope other results go in their favour.Aston Villa will aim to see off Celtic and land a spot in the all-important top eight of the table.European giants like PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus all have their positions hanging in the balance.Meanwhile, Liverpool are guaranteed to swerve the play-offs and go into the last-16 as a seed.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd it would take several surprise results to see Arsenal not in the top eight.Once the league phase comes to an end next Wednesday, the bottom 12 teams are eliminated from the competition and there is no dropping down to the Europa League.The top eight sides go straight into the last-16 as the seeded teams in a tennis-style draw that maps the path to the final.Sides that finish from 9th to 24th go into a play-off round to join them, with the top eight of this middle section seeded.Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThey are then put in pairs, for example, 9th and 10th together, 11th and 12th together, and so on.The duos are then put into fours based on their league finishes and there is then a draw to decide the match-ups from the quartets.Champions League clash suspended after just 72 seconds with players unable to see due to smoke caused by fans’ flaresFor example, 9th and 10th will play worst qualifiers either 23rd or 24th; 11th or 12th will be drawn against either 21st or 22nd, and so on.If you have managed to wrap your head around that – here are some eye-catching ties that could come our way in the play-off and last-16 rounds.Barcelona vs Real Madrid – last-16There are no rules preventing teams from the same nation going head-to-had after the league phase.And there is a real chance El Clasico could be a thrilling last-16 contest.Barcelona have cruised through the first phase of the tournament, including an incredible 5-4 comeback win over Benfica.As for Real Madrid, they suffered defeat to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool and they are in danger of not finishing in the top eight.As things currently stand, Los Blancos are 16th and Barca are 2nd, meaning a last-16 clash is possible.Liverpool vs Celtic – last 16A battle of Britain could await Liverpool after their bye from the play-off round.Celtic currently find themselves 18th and would therefore be in a quartet set to play either Barca or Liverpool should they come through the play-off round.Liverpool vs Bayern Munich – last 16If the table after seven games was final, we would have a 25 per cent chance of seeing Liverpool vs Bayern.But for Harry Kane to get his comeback to England, the German giants may have to come through a play-off clash.Bayern will be fancying their chances of coming in the top eight as they have Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday and the Slovaks are second-bottom without a point to their name.But defeats earlier in the campaign to Feyenoord, Barca and Villa means it is out of their hands.Bayern have a chance of facing Liverpool if the current table was finalCredit: RexMan City vs Aston Villa – play-off roundCity are on the brink of elimination after throwing away their two-goal lead to PSG last night.Pep Guardiola’s side need to beat Club Brugge next Wednesday to sneak into the top 24.Three points will only take them to the bottom end of the qualifying teams, meaning they will face one of the unlucky clubs narrowly missing out on the bye.Villa could easily be one of them as they are currently out the top eight on goal difference.A draw against Celtic could see them be in opposing pairs for the play-offs.Man City/Aston Villa vs Arsenal – last 16City and Villa may not be needing their passports for some time.They could get paired together and then face Arsenal, who look extremely likely to be a seed in the last-16 draw.The Gunners are currently third in the standings and if results fell a certain way, including a City win and a Villa draw, there is a real chance of an all-Premier League battle to the quarter-final.Man City vs Real Madrid – play-offReal Madrid and City have faced each other in the last three seasons in the knockout stages of the Champions League.And whoever has won the tie has gone on to lift the trophy.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe current holders are currently a point off the magic eight – but there is seven teams between them and the last remaining spot.A blockbuster play-off clash is a possibility. Man City and Real Madrid could face each other in the play-off roundCredit: Rex More

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      I helped turn Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly into Arsenal stars with my unconventional youth coaching methods

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      DAN MICCICHE played a key role in developing Arsenal talents Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly using some unique methods.The experienced youth coach was previously England Under-16s boss where he worked with Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, to name just a few.Dan Micciche is Player Development Lead Coach in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – GettyMicciche, left, helped Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Marc Guehi become starsHe also helped nurture Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan NwaneriCredit: GettyHe has since worked at Arsenal, where he nurtured the talent of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, helping the former to create history by becoming the youngest player to make his debut in the Premier League.Micciche, 45, worked as Arsenal U15s boss for three years before moving on to the U18s for the 2021-22 campaign, and he is not surprised to see that pair now in the first-team given their focus as teenagers.Both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly have slotted seamlessly into the first-team – the end product of a long journey that is as much about developing the person as the player.Micciche knows better than most the importance of coaching every aspect of a player, and while they have to be technically excellent to handle first-team training, their physicality and education is equally important.READ MORE ON ARSENALMicciche told SunSport: “You’ve got to be careful not to specialise them too early. One, it is important they play other sports, in particular ones that transfer into football, but secondly positionally as well.”The more they can, for physical literacy, utilise other sports in a controlled manner, the better.”[Take] yoga and gymnastics. Gymnastics is brilliant for non-weight bearing, flexibility and suppleness and discipline as well. What a lot of these sports often test in individuals is being disciplined.”So it’s important that we keep an open mind in football to what benefits we can get from other sports that can then transfer across.”Most read in FootballEducation on and off the pitch can be crucial for a young player to succeed.But rather than bombard budding footballers with instructions and rules, Micciche likes to place his trust in his players and allow them to come up with their own strategies, either as a group or individually.Former Arsenal coach Dan Micciche explains the hidden challenges with youth footballers He continued: “Their education is very important to making sure that you are developing the whole person and not just the footballer, and giving them a lot of variety, because if you want good decision makers and problem solvers, they have got to be able to think independently rather than be controlled by a coach.”You need them to be outstanding decision-makers, so you develop that by one, creating an environment that allows them to make decisions and two, giving them a lot of variety, in terms of competition, game formats, systems of play, etc.”Because the variety gives them different problems to solve, and that’s the game as well. They’re going to come up in their career against different types of opponents and different systems.It’s about giving more ownership and responsibility to the playersDan Micciche”And they got to be able to deal with that and they have got to be able to recognise what they are up against and how to get the better of their direct opponent.”So if he is quicker than them, how are they going to outwit them, how are they going to make up for the fact they are not as quick as their direct opponent, how are they going to overcome that?”Leadership is a big one as well. We often hear people say ‘we’ve got no leaders anymore, we’ve got no characters anymore’. “And obviously, society has changed and they have got a lot more distractions now than back in the day, but you can still do so many things to develop those leadership qualities and that is sort of taking the control away from the coach and giving more ownership and responsibility to the players.”Micciche practices what he preaches and his methods helped him win the Nike International Tournament Cup with a side containing future England stars Marc Guehi, Angel Gomes, Emile Smith Rowe, as well as Foden and Sancho.A lot of the success was down to his players, not just because of their talent but the fact they led meetings and sessions thanks to Micciche’s encouragement.Liverpool star Curtis Jones once came up with a corner routine inspired by Philippe Couthino on the training pitches at Melwood.Jones ended up scoring from a corner in a match for England, leading it to be called the “Curtinho”.Delivering on the pitch has helped the likes of Jones, Foden and Palmer break into their respective teams and represent England at major tournaments.Top 20 players Dan Micciche has coachedPhil FodenCole PalmerJadon SanchoMarc GuehiCurtis JonesAngel GomesEmile Smith RoweMorgan Gibbs-WhiteCalum Hudson-OdoiEthan NwaneriMyles Lewis-SkellyTrevoh ChalobahMatt O’RileyRyan SessegnonOliver SkippOmari HutchinsonRhian BrewsterBali MumbaCharlie PatinoEthan AmpaduNwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could be the next in line for Thomas Tuchel’s side after breaking through this season, having also stood out with big moments in their youth careers.Asked what made them catch his eye, Micciche said: “Those two are technically outstanding. He’s (Mikel Arteta) had them over there since a very young age. He knew about them when they were 14.”First of all it was their focus to play football. They’re great lads but when it is time to train and play they were always 100 per cent focused and committed to what they are doing.”There was never at any time an issue of them lacking focus or that willingness to improve, their mentality was incredible, although they ticked all the boxes. “Technically outstanding, physically they were efficient movers, their football athleticism was good.READ MORE SUN STORIES”They delivered when it counts. They won a lot of youth tournaments together, when it came to semi-finals and finals they would deliver that.”They would score goals, they would create goals, they would dominate games. That’s what the best players do, they deliver in big moments and that’s what they did.” More

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      Is Liverpool’s Mo Salah replacement hiding in plain sight? Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo’s stats show an eerie similarity

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      THOMAS FRANK claims there is no limit to how good Bryan Mbeumo can be.So could he be the next Mohamed Salah?Bryan Mbeumo has been on fire this seasonCredit: GettyWith much speculation over his future, so far he’s managed to block out the noiseCredit: PAThe Brentford forward, 25, has scored 13 Premier League goals this season as the Bees eye their highest top-flight league position for almost 90 years.Only Salah, Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Cole Palmer and Chris Wood have scored more this campaign.Asked how good his star man could become over the next few years, Bees boss Frank said: “Good question – I don’t know.“My job, and my coaches’ job, is to maximise every player’s potential. When you maximise potential, you don’t know what the ceiling is.READ MORE TRANSFERS“It’s impossible to guess. I’ve learned that over many, many years.“We have a tendency to say, ‘ah, he’ll never make it’ or, ‘he’ll be so, so good’. We don’t really know. But what I do know is he has big potential. And we need to keep maximising that.“He’s complete as a player. He scores goals, he assists, he creates chances, he works unbelievably hard, he’s a good pressing player.“His hold-up play, especially in the trickier situations, has been added.Most read in Football“The precise weight of that final pass. His competitiveness in the air and those aerial duels is also something he has added to his game.“He’s developing into being a very, very good player. And by the way he’s very good on penalties. Look at his stats.Gary Neville tells Jamie Carragher to ‘f off’ after Liverpool legend performs incredible U-turn on ‘selfish’ Salah“One day maybe he’ll leave us and then we’ll see another part of his development.“That’s the privilege of being here for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of players grow to the next level — he has definitely grown to an unbelievable level.”It is little surprise then that the Liverpool hierarchy are casting admiring glances in Mbeumo’s direction.With Salah’s future uncertain, they may have found the heir to the Egyptian King’s throne.Mbeumo, signed by Brentford in 2019 from Troyes for £5.8million, has been likened to Salah in terms of his style and impact.The duo play in similar positions and incredible data shows the pair even score from similar places.Stats show that Mbeumo isn’t quite as shot happy as Salah, with the Egyptian having 83 attempts at goal (the second highest in the league) compared to 42 for the Brentford man.That plays a part in Salah missing 14 big chances so far this term compared to a far less wasteful six for Mbeumo.Both share an ability to retain the ball – and vicious acceleration.If Salah goes, and he continues to be courted by Saudi Arabia, Liverpool would be hard pressed to find a more fitting replacement.Decision timeThat Mbeumo is out of contract in the summer of 2026 is likely to force Brentford to make a decision on whether to sell for big money this summer or allow him to run his contract down and leave for nothing.For now though, the rising star is keeping his focus on Brentford.Frank added: “Bryan still has a big, happy smile. He’s laughing and joking with his team-mates. He’s training harder and focused on training.“He has almost been unplayable in a lot of matches. I don’t think (speculation) has affected anything in his training.“Very, very rarely do I ask a player, ‘ah, all these rumours, you probably should just focus’. I don’t think about it too much myself.“Where it’s a problem is probably when it gets closer and it needs to be a done deal. There’s not a problem right now.”Liverpool won’t be the only side interested in signing Mbeumo.READ MORE SUN STORIESSunSport understands Arsenal and Newcastle are also keen on the French-born forward.Wherever the future lies for Mbeumo, it seems there really is no limit. More

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      Borussia Dortmund ‘priced out of Marcus Rashford move’ with only one option left as star looks set for Man Utd stay

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      BORUSSIA Dortmund have been priced out of buying Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, according to reports.It means Rashford has just one option left if he is to walk away from Old Trafford this January.Dortmund have been priced out of buying Marcus RashfordDortmund were one of the European clubs in for RashfordDortmund were one of the clubs in talks with Rashford’s team, after losing Donyell Malen to Aston Villa.But his £325,000-per-week wages have all but ruled the German side out of the running for his signature, according to The Mail.The deal could still be revisited at the end of window if the cost comes down, but Rashford looks set to stay at his boyhood club for now.Dortmund’s sacking of manager Nuri Sahin has complicated the situation this week.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe club’s 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday night was the final straw- their fourth loss in a row.They sit 12th in the Uefa league standings, but are still set to qualify for a European play off place.Dortmund’s decision leaves Rashford with only one landing spot before the window shuts on February 3.AC Milan are no longer an option after the Serie A side completed a loan move for Manchester City captain Kyle Walker on Thursday.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThis means Barcelona is Rashford’s last hope if he wants out.The 27-year-old’s representatives spoke to Barca’s sporting director Deco on Tuesday.Marcus Rashford smiles as he’s seen in Man Utd training for first time since admitting he wants transfer exit The Spanish giants are understood to have always been Rashford’s preference.But SunSport exclusively reported that the England international was keen on fighting for his place at United – a month after his bombshell revelation that he’s “ready for a new challenge”.The winger was pictured training with Ruben Amorim’s squad on Wednesday, ahead of United’s Europa League clash with Rangers.And Barca are in their own conundrum. The Catalans don’t have the salary space required to register Rashford should they be able to strike a deal with the Red Devils.Barca have struggled to register Euro 2024 Spain winner Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, who both joined last summer.LaLiga rejected the club’s request to register both forwards in December, before the Spanish national sports council granted provisional permission in January. More