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      Erling Haaland names seven strikers he thinks are better than him including Harry Kane and Arsenal star Aubameyang

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      ERLING HAALAND named the seven strikers he thinks are better than him – but would back himself in a crunch tie.
      The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, burst on to the European stage last year with his performances for Red Bull Salzburg.

      Erling Haaland could only think of seven strikers in world football better than him right now

      Scoring goals for fun, Haaland made his transfer to Borussia Dortmund in the winter transfer window where he continued his hot streak with 33 goals in 32 appearances.
      And in an interview with VG, the Norwegian sensation could only think of seven centre-forwards in world football currently better than him – and it is some list.
      The seven is made up of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and last season’s 55-goal hero Robert Lewandowski from rivals Bayern Munich.
      All of the remaining five strikers all ply their trade in the Premier League including Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as Tottenham hero Harry Kane.

      Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Roberto Firmino of Liverpool and Chelsea new boy Timo Werner – who arrived from RB Leipzig in the summer – complete the elite group.
      But despite the hundreds of goals between the seven, Haaland emphasised he had the self-confidence to choose himself to lead the line in a huge match.
      There are, however, a few of the biggest No9 names left out.
      Haaland omitted the likes of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema and Romelu Lukaku.

      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of five Premier League strikers to get on the listCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Haaland rates Harry Kane among the very best No9s in world footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      There was no space for Kylian Mbappe despite the Frenchman’s heroics for club and country alreadyCredit: AFP or licensors

      But the biggest surprise sees no Kylian Mbappe, arguably the most valuable player in the world, on the Norwegian’s list.
      The pair, both transfer targets for Real Madrid, may not see eye to eye after Mbappe, Neymar and their Paris Saint-Germain team-mates mocked the Dortmund star’s celebration following their comeback win in the Champions League last season.
      Haaland was also a target for compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before his Dortmund switch – but revealed the “good vibes” he got from the Bundesliga side convinced him to join Die Schwarzgelben.
      He said: “There were of course a couple of clubs involved, but at the same time I did not know too much about this.
      “But it was I who first mentioned Dortmund to my father (Alf Inge Haaland).
      “We were sitting at home in Salzburg and watching a game Dortmund played, and I said to him, ‘Oi, look at that wall behind the goal. There had been something to play there.’
      “I think he was half asleep on the sofa, but suddenly it became a reality. When I talked to them, I got a good vibe. I felt a little sold after that.
      “What I liked so much about them was how direct they were. They said exactly how it was right for me. I liked that.” More

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      Man City enter Erling Haaland transfer race as Pep Guardiola looks to revamp attack for next season

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      MANCHESTER CITY are set to enter the race to sign Erling Haaland, according to reports.
      City’s bitter rivals Manchester United have been heavily linked with the Borussia Dortmund striker for months but now face a head to head battle with their ‘noisy neighbours’.

      Man City are plotting a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling HaalandCredit: AFP or licensors

      Having signed a new two-year contract at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola is determined to revamp his squad and the 20-year-old is near the top of his wishlist, according to the Times.
      The Norwegian is already on the radar if some of Europe’s biggest clubs including City’s rivals United.
      Real Madrid have also been linked with a move.
      And City have now joined the battle if the youngster decides to leave Dortmund.

      With the club’s all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero out of contract next summer, a striker is said to be the priority.
      The Argentine’s injury record has also seen him play just five times for City this season.
      Haaland’s contract expires in 2024 and his deal includes a £68.7million release clause.
      But that does not become active until the end of the 2021-22 season and Dortmund are likely to want far more than that if anyone comes in for the Norway international before then.

      He would reportedly cost £91m with his agent Mino Raiola and family receiving £27m.
      Haaland has bagged 23 goals from 19 appearances for club and country so far this season.
      And he will have a keen eye on Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford as his dad Alf Inge Haaland played for City between 2000 and 2003.
      Earlier this week, Raiola took aim at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for talking up Haaland.

      Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms Martial is fit to play against Man City More

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      Chelsea transfer blow as David Alaba’s agent ‘approaches’ Real Madrid over free move from Bayern at end of season

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      DAVID ALABA’S agent has reportedly approached Real Madrid over a potential switch.
      The 28-year-old is set to leave Bayern Munich after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

      David Alaba has attracted interest from Bayern Munich Credit: Reuters

      According to Marca, the Austrian is most likely to make a move to the Bernabeu.
      His agent, Pini Zahavi, has made Madrid aware of Alaba’s situation in Germany.
      Zahavi is believed to have a ‘good relationship’ with Zinedine Zidane’s side.
      But Madrid are not the only club interested in signing the 28-year-old.

      Chelsea are one of four teams that have been heavily linked to Alaba.
      The 28-year-old’s wage demands would make him the highest-paid player at Stamford Bridge.
      German publication Bild report on the Austrian star wants £350,000-a-week.
      As well as Madrid and Chelsea, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen.

      Teams are free to begin negotiations with Alaba from January 1 as his Bayern contract expires in June. 
      He will be available on a free transfer, meaning he could drive a hard bargain when it comes to personal terms.
      Alaba, who has 75 caps for Austria, has been with Bayern since he joined from Austria Vienna in 2008.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

      Champions League last-16 draw simulated with Chelsea landing nightmare clash against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona More

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      Rio Ferdinand makes Champions League predictions with Bayern winning and just one other club threatening Prem sides

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      BAYERN MUNICH are the biggest threat to a Premier League side winning this year’s Champions League, according to Rio Ferdinand.
      The former Manchester United defender believes only the reigning champs or Paris Saint-Germain can stop an English side claiming the crown.

      Rio Ferdinand has cast his predictions for the Champions League knockoutsCredit: PA:Press Association

      Defending champions Bayern Munich are tipped to go all the wayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all booked their place in Monday’s last-16 draw with ease.
      And Jurgen Klopp’s side are just behind Bayern in Ferdinand’s prediction for the competition.
      He said on BT Sport: “I put Bayern Munich favourites, but I would have Liverpool close second favourites.
      “It is great to see big teams are in there, the English boys are in there bar Manchester United disappointingly.”

      United’s exit led to the ‘devastated’ Ferdinand joking that he ‘hadn’t slept’ after the defeat to RB Leipzig.
      The Germans could recreate their run to the semi-finals having beaten the Red Devils and PSG en route to the last-16.

      When it restarts we will have to readdress our expectations for certain teams because form and injuries play a big part.
      Rio Ferdinand

      And it is Les Parisiens, last year’s beaten finalists, who the 42-year-old expects to challenge again.
      He added: “I think the English teams will go deep in the tournament, I think they have got some real quality, Bayern and possibly PSG are the only threats.

      “If [Bayern] don’t have injuries, I think they will go on and do it again.
      “With the experience they have in that team and the explosiveness they have got in the wide areas.”
      Monday lunchtime’s draw could see Barcelona drawn against one of the three remaining English teams.
      Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Monchengladbach are also possibilities with teams from the same group kept apart at this stage.

      Chelsea are a potential ‘dark horse’ in Ferdinand’s mind, if they can keep the injuries to a minimum by the knockouts in February.
      He noted: “They are a team that are starting to gel together, you can see Frank has done good business up to now in the transfer market.
      “Get through the Christmas period and New Year and see how the squad is shaping up injury wise and form wise.
      “When the Champions League restarts again we will have to readdress our expectations for certain teams because form and injuries play a big part.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Rio Ferdinand frustrated Man Utd didn’t sign Arsenal new boy Thomas Partey More

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      Watch Stuttgart star Silas Wamangituka get booked for scoring goal after he walked ball into net during Bundesliga clash

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      THIS is the moment Stuttgart star Silas Wamangituka gets booked for walking the ball into the net for a last-gasp goal.
      The ace had put his side 1-0 up at Werder Bremen with a 30th minute penalty.

      Silas Wamangituka scored a bizarre goal for Stuttgart against Werder BremenCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But in the 91st minute Wamangituka found himself clear through on goal following a defensive calamity from the home side.
      There was nobody near the midfielder as he realised his path to goal was completely clear.
      But instead of simply hitting the ball into the back of the net, Wamangituka found another way to rub salt in the wound.
      He jauntily rolled the ball at a snail’s pace towards the empty Bremen goal, stopping occasionally to look over his shoulder as if taunting the opposition.

      The home side’s goalkeeper eventually took the bait and charged towards Wamangituka.
      But he simply picked up his pace and jogged the ball into the back of the net.
      However, the referee did not see the funny side of it.
      And he immediately booked Wamangituka for unsportsmanlike conduct.

      Wamangituka finally kicked the ball into the net when the Bremen goalie chased him downCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The ref booked Wamangituka for unsportsmanlike conductCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Stuttgart were then given a scare when Bremen pulled one back moments later through Davie Selke.
      But they held on for the win which took them to eighth in the Bundesliga table.
      Speaking after the game, Stuttgart’s star man Marc Olivier Kempf was full of praise for Wamangituka.
      He said: “We went into this game with the aim of getting the three points. We can build on this performance.
      “Silas brings a lot of enthusiasm, physical strength and pace. He always manages to create space and danger.
      “It makes it all the nicer that he managed to help us with his two goals today.”

      Nicolás González makes Bundesliga 2 history by scoring ‘fastest goal ever by a substitute’, 12 seconds after coming on for VfB Stuttgart More

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      Watch wonderkid Giovanni Reyna score screamer from Jadon Sancho assist during Borussia Dortmund’s draw with Frankfurt

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      SUNDERLAND-BORN prodigy Giovanni Reyna added another stunner to his ever-growing highlights reel during Dortmund’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
      Lucien Favre’s side found themselves 1-0 down at half-time, through Daichi Kamada’s ninth minute opener.

      Reyna, 18, slapped home Dortmund’s equaliserCredit: AP:Associated Press

      But Reyna, 18, wasn’t going to just fade away and take defeat.
      In the 56th minute, the USA international controlled a Jadon Sancho pass from the left flank on the half-turn.
      His incredible balance and poise enabled him to instantly skip past a challenge, freeing himself for a strike at goal.
      And he made no mistake, rifling the ball past Kevin Trapp and into the back of the net.

      Dortmund then huffed and puffed, but couldn’t find a winner.
      Favre’s men still sit third, and didn’t lose ground on the top two.
      But they failed to capitalise on Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig taking points off each other, as they duked out a 3-3 draw at Allianz Arena.
      Reyna, however, continues to see his stock rise after another influential display.

      The teenage prodigy has become a regular at DortmundCredit: AP:Associated Press

      The magnificent strike was his third of the campaign in all competitions, to go along with six assists.
      The attacking midfielder has dovetailed well with Sancho, becoming a relatively regular starter in the process.
      As for Sancho himself, his numbers have tailed off just slightly by his own incredible standards this season.
      But Dortmund chief Michael Zorc has backed him to swiftly get back to his best.

      Erling Haaland ruled out for rest of year after suffering hamstring injury in bitter blow for Borussia Dortmund More

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      Watch ex-Chelsea ace Jamal Musiala score stunner for Bayern Munich as England youth star shines in 3-3 Leipzig thriller

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      EX-CHELSEA star Jamal Musiala scored a stunning goal as he shone for Bayern Munich in the 3-3 draw with RB Leipzig on Saturday.
      The England Under-21 international, still only 17, came off the bench as an early substitute at the Allianz Arena, replacing Javi Martinez after 25 minutes.

      Jamal Musiala scored a stunning goal to fire Bayern Munich level in the 3-3 draw with RB LeipzigCredit: AP:Associated Press

      And within five minutes of stepping on to the field in arguably the biggest match of his life, Musiala fired his side level.
      Trailing to Christopher Nkunku’s opener, the English teenager picked the ball up from Kingsley Coman 20 yards out.
      He took one touch to get the ball out of his feet and then, with three defenders around him, let fly by cutting across the ball.
      Musiala’s lethal strike stayed true and low, nestling into Peter Gulacsi’s bottom corner.

      It was his third goal of a remarkable season for the playmaker, who left Chelsea after eight years in the academy last year to join Bayern.
      The club’s youngest Bundesliga player ensured he also became their youngest goalscorer on the opening day of the season by finding the net in the 8-0 win over Schalke.
      He was also on target against Eintracht Frankfurt before making his full Champions League debut away at Atletico Madrid in midweek.
      But despite his excellent finish to equalise, Musiala could not inspire his team full of experienced senior internationals to victory.

      Thomas Muller tapped in four minutes later to put Bayern in front.
      But Julian Nagelsmann’s men hit back through Justin Kluivert’s first Leipzig goal and an Emil Forsberg header either side of the break before Muller headed in a second to snatch a point.
      This was the fourth match in a row the Bavarians went behind, rescuing a point in two and winning two.
      The result means Hansi Flick’s side stay top of the Bundesliga table, two points clear of Leipzig in second with Borussia Dortmund a further two behind.

      Musiala is congratulated by his team-mates for his third goal of the seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Kingsley Coman teed up the teenager just five minutes after he replaced Javi MartinezCredit: AP:Associated Press

      The Englishman left the Chelsea academy to join Bayern last year and is reaping the rewards alreadyCredit: AFP

      Thomas Muller headed in his second and Bayern’s third to earn a point against RB LeipzigCredit: Reuters

      Watch ex-Chelsea wonderkid Jamal Musiala become second youngest goalscorer in Germany’s third tier with brace for Bayern Munich II vs FSV Zwickau More

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      Chelsea boss Frank Lampard targeting wantaway Bayern Munich star David Alaba in 2021 transfer to bolster defence

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      FRANK LAMPARD is targeting wantaway Bayern Munich star David Alaba for a New Year transfer, according to reports.
      The Austrian defender, 28, has six months remaining on his current contract at the Allianz Arena.

      David Alaba is a January transfer target for Chelsea as he looks set to leave Bayern MunichCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And it does not look as though he will sign an extension.
      Now, according to Bild in Germany, Chelsea want to pounce.
      Alaba will no doubt be at the centre of a transfer tug of war between some of Europe’s top clubs.
      But the Blues may jump the queue into pole position by making a January swoop, rather than waiting until the end of the season.

      That would mean having to pay a transfer fee but Bayern would surely rather get some cash for their long-serving ace.
      Chelsea brought in Ben Chilwell at left-back and Thiago Silva who plays at left centre-back with both players settling quickly at Stamford Bridge.
      There is already a surplus of central defenders with Kurt Zouma getting the nod ahead of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori at the moment.
      Alaba joined Bayern’s youth set-up from Austria Vienna in 2008 and has made more than 400 first-team appearances for the Bavarians.

      In that time he has converted from a left-back to a central midfielder to a centre-back, winning nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues along the way.
      But his time looks on course to come to a bitter end with a spat between the player and the club.
      In November, Alaba slammed Bayern for going public about the contract negotiations as club chiefs exposed details of the offers made – and rejected – by the Austrian to extend his stay.
      Bayern’s loss, though, is set to be another major club’s gain.
      As well as favourites Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been linked with Alaba.
      He worked with Pep Guardiola at Bayern while Liverpool desperately need another centre-back with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez expected to miss the rest of the season.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

      David Alaba demonstrates his home workout for Bayern Munich fans More