More stories

  • in

    Mauricio Pochettino makes Dele Alli his ‘main transfer target’ as new PSG boss steps up loan chase

    TOTTENHAM and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to discuss a loan move for Dele Alli in the coming days.
    Mauricio Pochettino has made the midfielder his top target since arriving as Les Parisiens’ new boss.

    Mauricio Pochettino is chasing a reunion with Tottenham’s Dele AlliCredit: –

    Jose Mourinho left Dele, 24, on the bench for Spurs’ recent 1-1 draw with Fulham.
    After which, the player looked glum on Instagram having made just four league appearances all season.
    According to The Guardian, he is keen for a change of scenery in the final months of the season.
    And a link-up with old Spurs supremo Pochettino could reignite Dele’s chances of making England’s European Championship squad.

    But Tottenham are said to be against the idea of a loan exit, given their impending fixture mayhem as they compete on several fronts.
    Talks are reportedly set to continue in the coming days.
    BETTING OFFER: CLAIM RISK FREE £20 BET WITH PADDY POWER

    SunSport stated last month that Dele is seen as a potentially vital asset in PSG’s assault on Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

    Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle believes the midfielder must make a decision this month, as to whether he is happy to remain patient in the hope of an eventual opening in the starting line-up.
    The 63-year-old told SunSport: “I can’t see him getting in at the moment, because they’re winning.
    “He’s only being used in Europa football and the League Cup.

    He’s going to have to wait for an injury, then he’s got to make a big impact on Jose.
    Glenn Hoddle

    “He’s not going to get in unless there’s an injury or a lack of form. The lack of form goes out the window because there’s a settled team there.
    “He’s going to have to wait for an injury, then he’s got to make a big impact on Jose to play. I’m talking about playing week in, week out, and he needs that.
    “If he feels he can’t do that, he needs to communicate that to the manager, and if he sees it that way as well, a loan deal could be possible.”

    Jose Mourinho insists it is not up to him whether Dele Alli is sold in January amid PSG transfer links More

  • in

    Man Utd revenue down almost 20 per cent as Europe’s elite clubs lose more than £1BN due to coronavirus crisis

    MANCHESTER UNITED’S revenue dropped almost 20 per cent as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
    And 20 of Europe’s elite football clubs lost more than £1billion combined as the financial impact on the beautiful game became clearer.

    KPMG Football Benchmark’s The European Champions Report revealed the shocking figures for the 2019-20 season.
    Published this month, it highlights how clubs fared while dealing with the global pandemic.
    And United were among the worst hit of the 20 sampled clubs – as Ed Woodward anticipated last year.
    The Old Trafford side saw their operating revenues fall to £516million, a drop of 18.5 per cent.

    Fellow English sides Liverpool turned over £496m (7.9 per cent drop) and Tottenham took in £408m (12.3 per cent) as they took a slightly softer blow.
    However, Scottish champions Celtic’s revenue dropped by 15.5 per cent.
    From the 20 clubs, Porto came out worst with a staggering 50.5 per cent drop with Roma second on 39.3 per cent.
    Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla were the only two sides to see their revenue increase.

    FANCY A PUNT? CLAIM £40 IN FREE BETS BY BETTING £10

    The Germans’ went up 0.6 per cent while the LaLiga outfit’s rose by 6.3 per cent.
    PSG (15 per cent), Barcelona (15.7 per cent) and Juventus (13.4 per cent) all saw similar drops in their operating revenues – but the Nou Camp giants still took in more revenue than any other club with £630m.
    Six teams registered net profits last season – Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Benfica as well as the two European champions Bayern Munich and Sevilla.
    Out of those, Benfica’s was the biggest with a £37m gain.
    At the other end of the spectrum, Roma and AC Milan had the biggest net losses with £181m and £173m respectively.
    ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

    Barcelona saw their revenue drop by 15.7 per cent last seasonCredit: Reuters

    Sevilla registered an increase in revenue from the year before and managed a net profitCredit: AFP or licensors

    Manchester clubs have the worst net spend in the past decade by some distance

    Man Utd legend Gary Neville admits he’s getting ‘carried away’ as he shares hilarious video after Burnley win More

  • in

    Mauricio Pochettino wins first trophy of his career just TWELVE DAYS into PSG reign after years of Tottenham heartbreak

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO has won the first trophy of his managerial career just THREE GAMES into his reign as Paris Saint-Germain boss.
    After losing in the League Cup and Champions League final at Tottenham, the 48-year-old has started off in the best possible way in France.

    PSG celebrate after beating Marseille in the in the Trophee des ChampionsCredit: AFP or licensors

    PSG striker Mauro Icardi reacts after scoring against MarseilleCredit: EPA

    Les Parisiens side beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 in the French Super Cup at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
    Argentine striker Mauro Icardi put PSG ahead going into the break, before Neymar doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.
    Former West Ham ace Dimitri Payet pulled a goal back for Marseille four minutes later, but they were unable to stage a dramatic fightback.
    The win will come as a much-needed relief for Pochettino who has finally won a first trophy 12 years into his managerial career.

    In fact, the silverware come just TWELVE DAYS into his spell at PSG… after 2003 trophyless days with Spurs.
    Since taking charge of Espanyol in January 2009, silverware has eluded Poch from his spell in Spain, to his stints at Southampton and Spurs.
    He suffered heartbreak in the League Cup final in 2015 when Chelsea beat the North Londoners 2-0 at Wembley.
    And Pochettino was then reduced to tears in 2019 when Liverpool emerged victorious in the Champions League final after winning 2-0.

    Spurs also narrowly missed out on the Premier League crown to the Blues in 2017 when they finished in second spot.
    The year before they infamously finished third… in what appeared to be a two-horse race in Leicester’s stunning title success.
    FANCY A PUNT? TODAY’S BEST ODDS BOOSTS FROM THE UK’S LEADING BOOKIES

    ⚠️ | QUICK STATEspanyol – 1406 days, 160 matches, 0 trophiesSouthampton – 493 days, 60 matches, 0 trophiesTottenham – 2002 days, 293 matches, 0 trophiesPSG – 12 days, 3 matches, 1 trophy 🏆Mauricio Pochettino wins the first trophy of his managerial career!#TDC2020 #PSGOM pic.twitter.com/nF42iZgTe5
    — SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) January 13, 2021

    Mauricio Pochettino has won the first trophy of his managerial careerCredit: AP:Associated Press

    Neymar scored what turned out to be the winning goal at Stade Bollaert-DelelisCredit: AFP or licensors

    Pochettino suffered heartbreak at Tottenham in both the League Cup and Champions League finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    And they also came close to winning the FA Cup in both 2017 and 2018 when they reached the last four of the competition.
    PSG’s win will also be a weight off Poch’s shoulders following their draw against Saint-Etienne in his first game in charge, before they beat Brest on Saturday.
    The former PSG defender will also be relieved that Neymar found the back of the net on his return to the side.
    On as a second half substitute, the Brazilian winger was making his first appearance since December 13 after injuring his ankle.
    He put on a convincing display, which was rewarded with a goal from the spot after Icardi was brought down in the area by Yohann Pele.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge of PSG ends in a draw at St Etienne More

  • in

    Mauricio Pochettino wins first trophy of his career just TWELVE DAYS into PSG reign after years of Spurs heartbreak

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO has won the first trophy of his managerial career just THREE GAMES into his reign as Paris Saint-Germain boss.
    After losing in the League Cup and Champions League final at Tottenham, the 48-year-old has started off in the best possible way in France.

    PSG celebrate after beating Marseille in the in the Trophee des ChampionsCredit: AFP or licensors

    PSG striker Mauro Icardi reacts after scoring against MarseilleCredit: EPA

    Les Parisiens side beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 in the French Super Cup at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
    Argentine striker Mauro Icardi put PSG ahead going into the break, before Neymar doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.
    Former West Ham ace Dimitri Payet pulled a goal back for Marseille four minutes later, but they were unable to stage a dramatic fightback.
    The win will come as a much-needed relief for Pochettino who has finally won a first trophy 12 years into his managerial career.

    In fact, the silverware come just TWELVE DAYS into his spell at PSG… after 2003 trophyless days with Spurs.
    Since taking charge of Espanyol in January 2009, silverware has eluded Poch from his spell in Spain, to his stints at Southampton and Spurs.
    He suffered heartbreak in the League Cup final in 2015 when Chelsea beat the North Londoners 2-0 at Wembley.
    And Pochettino was then reduced to tears in 2019 when Liverpool emerged victorious in the Champions League final after winning 2-0.

    Spurs also narrowly missed out on the Premier League crown to the Blues in 2017 when they finished in second spot.
    The year before they infamously finished third… in what appeared to be a two-horse race in Leicester’s stunning title success.
    FANCY A PUNT? TODAY’S BEST ODDS BOOSTS FROM THE UK’S LEADING BOOKIES

    ⚠️ | QUICK STATEspanyol – 1406 days, 160 matches, 0 trophiesSouthampton – 493 days, 60 matches, 0 trophiesTottenham – 2002 days, 293 matches, 0 trophiesPSG – 12 days, 3 matches, 1 trophy 🏆Mauricio Pochettino wins the first trophy of his managerial career!#TDC2020 #PSGOM pic.twitter.com/nF42iZgTe5
    — SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) January 13, 2021

    Mauricio Pochettino has won the first trophy of his managerial careerCredit: AP:Associated Press

    Neymar scored what turned out to be the winning goal at Stade Bollaert-DelelisCredit: AFP or licensors

    Pochettino suffered heartbreak at Tottenham in both the League Cup and Champions League finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    And they also came close to winning the FA Cup in both 2017 and 2018 when they reached the last four of the competition.
    PSG’s win will also be a weight off Poch’s shoulders following their draw against Saint-Etienne in his first game in charge, before they beat Brest on Saturday.
    The former PSG defender will also be relieved that Neymar found the back of the net on his return to the side.
    On as a second half substitute, the Brazilian winger was making his first appearance since December 13 after injuring his ankle.
    He put on a convincing display, which was rewarded with a goal from the spot after Icardi was brought down in the area by Yohann Pele.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge of PSG ends in a draw at St Etienne More

  • in

    Neymar returns to PSG training after month out injured for first session with Pochettino in boost to new manager

    NEYMAR returned to Paris Saint-Germain training to hand new manager Mauricio Pochettino a huge boost.
    The Brazilian star, 28, has spent a month on the sidelines since being carried off on a stretcher in tears in December.

    Neymar was stretchered off after an ankle blow in DecemberCredit: Reuters

    The former Barcelona man damaged his ankle in a challenge that earned Thiago Mendes a red card and is only now returning to the fray.
    Thomas Tuchel was brutally sacked on Christmas Eve with PSG appointing former Spurs boss Pochettino to take over.
    Argentine Poch captained the club in his playing days and previously spoke of his ‘love’ for the French capital.
    And he will be delighted to welcome his marquee player back from injury with his side one point and place behind league leaders Lyon, although it is feared Wednesday’s game against Marseille will come too soon.

    The club are likely to take their time easing Neymar back into competitive action and won’t take any risks with his fitness.
    With only two training sessions before Marseille, Neymar has a better chance of featuring in Saturday’s league game with Angers.
    In further good news for Poch, Presnel Kimpembe and Leandro Paredes are also both back out on the training paddock after knocks.
    The ex-Southampton manager has vowed to deliver a new footballing philosophy as he aims to land an eighth league title in nine years at the Parc des Princes.

    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

    On Friday, he said: “PSG’s goal is to win games. There are no other objectives.
    “We also have an idea, a footballing philosophy and a structure that will lead us to victory.
    “We know we have to adapt to the circumstances, we have a lot of injuries at the moment. I hope to recover the injured players quickly, to continue the work started.
    “We have to adapt, and above all analyse and listen to the players and the medical staff who were there when we arrived.
    “You have to work for the club, and that means thinking about people. We will try to improve every aspect that can be improved, but we must pay attention to the players and their needs.”

    Doctor gives detailed break down of Neymar’s injury against Lyon More

  • in

    Man City boost in Messi transfer chase as PSG ‘cannot afford £135m-a-year wages of Barcelona star, Neymar and Mbappe’

    MANCHESTER CITY have reportedly been handed a boost in their quest to prise Lionel Messi away from Barcelona on a free transfer.
    The 33-year-old is free to negotiate with other clubs having entered the last six months of his contract at the Nou Camp.

    Barcelona legend Lionel Messi could leave the club on a free transfer this summerCredit: The Mega Agency

    And while potential suitors will not have to pay a transfer fee for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, his hefty wages could prove to be too much for some.
    Paris Saint-Germain are known to be huge admirers of the forward, with Mauricio Pochettino desperate to secure his Argentine compatriot’s services.
    Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos – who is also out of contract at the end of the season – has allegedly been told that Les Parisiens want to sign both him and Messi.
    However French football expert Julien Laurens believes that while PSG will look to nab him, his salary could be a problem due to having Neymar and Kylian Mbappe on their books.

    Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Transfer Talk podcast, he said: “With Financial Fair Play, the pandemic and how much PSG have been affected like all other big clubs, I don’t know how, just at the payroll level, you could have Neymar, let’s say on €30million-a-year (£27m), Messi on €60m-a-year (£54m) and Mbappe potentially with a new contract on the same amount as Neymar.
    “Only those three would be around €150m (£135m), just their salaries, every year.
    “Financially, it’s not possible. But they seem to say that they are going to try. But I don’t think it’s realistic.”
    Barcelona presidential candidate Agusti Benedito revealed last week that Messi will ‘most likely’ depart the Blaugrana this year.

    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

    PSG may not be able to afford Lionel Messi’s wages due to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe’s hefty salariesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Messi – who has chipped in with 14 goals in 21 games in all competitions this term – recently addressed the club’s difficult situation following their poor start to the campaign.
    He told Spanish TV station La Sexta: “Today I am fine. It is true that I had a very bad time during the summer and before, because of how the season ended.
    “Then came the burofax [transfer request]. But now I feel good and wanting to fight for everything we have ahead.
    “I’m excited even though the club is going through difficult times. These are difficult times, as for everyone.
    “The club is really bad, very bad, it will be difficult to get back to where we were.”

    Watch as Lineker tells spine-tingling story of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic rivalry in BT Sport advert More

  • in

    Christopher Maboulou dead at 30: Ex-Ligue 1 star dies after suffering heart attack during kick-about with pals

    CHRISTOPHER MABOULOU died of a heart attack on Sunday while having a kick-about with his pals.
    The former French top-flight star, 30, made 29 Ligue 1 appearances for Bastia.

    Christopher Maboulou was rushed to hospital but could not be saved

    He also played for Chateauroux, Nancy, Evian and Greeks PAS Giannina.
    Maboulou is well known in France for his superb goal scored against a Marseille side managed by Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa in 2014.
    The Paris-born ace was called into the Congo national squad in 2018, but remained an unused sub.
    He was a free agent after being released by Evian last summer.

    But tragedy struck on Sunday as Maboulou was enjoying a friendly game of football at Montfermeil, the Paris suburb where he was born.
    He collapsed on the pitch and was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
    Maboulou previously took an enforced two-year break from football when doctors diagnosed cardiac problems in 2011.
    He recovered sufficiently well to land a top-flight move to Bastia three years later.

    The Corsican club said: “We have sadly just learned of the tragic death of our former player Christopher Maboulou.
    “We extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. May he rest in peace.”
    Chateauroux tweeted: “Christopher was a child of our club. Football was his life.
    “It was while playing the sport that he loved so much that he left his favourite playground.”
    Former Chateauroux president Michel Denisot added: “My thoughts go out to the family and friends of the club’s former player Christopher Maboulou. RIP.”

    ⚫️ Le Sporting Club de Bastia vient d’apprendre avec tristesse le décès tragique de son ancien joueur Christopher Maboulou…À sa famille, ses amis et ses proches, l’ensemble du club présente ses plus sincères condoléances.Ch’ellu riposi in pace 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BetCHg2IYg
    — SC Bastia (@SCBastia) January 10, 2021 More

  • in

    Arsenal outcast William Saliba shows Gunners what they’re missing after winning Man of the Match in second game for Nice

    ARSENAL loanee William Saliba has shown the Gunners what they’re missing with a Man of the Match display in his second game for Nice.
    Saliba, 19, joined Nice on loan on Monday for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, and has been thrown straight into Ligue 1 action by his new side.

    Saliba was voted Nice’s Man of the Match in their 1-1 draw at Metz

    Despite 10 months without competitive football, the 19-year-old was voted their best player on the pitch in the 1-1 draw at Metz on Saturday.
    The France youth international beat new team-mates Amine Gouri and Youcef Atal to the award.
    Nice took an early lead through Gouiri’s penalty but were made to settle for a point when Metz captain John Boye equalised in the 79th minute.
    Starting in the middle of a back three, Saliba impressed throughout, but he may have underlined Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s concerns after losing his man in the build-up to Metz’s equaliser.

    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates
    He did make up for that mistake with a last-ditch intervention on former Manchester City youth player Thierry Ambrose in injury time to ensure the spoils were shared at the State Saint-Symphorien.
    The performance was in stark contrast to his debut on Wednesday, in which the former Saint-Etienne man received a 12th-minute yellow card as Nice fell to a 2-0 defeat to Brest.
    Saliba will be tasked with shoring up Nice’s backline during his stay on the Cote d’Azur, as Adrian Ursea’s side bid to better their current position of 13th in Ligue 1.

    Arsenal signed Saliba for £27m in 2019 but he remained with Saint-Etienne on loan last season before linking up with the Gunners in the summer.
    However, he was soon frozen out of the first-team by manager Arteta, amid concerns over his defensive positioning.
    FANCY A PUNT? TODAY’S BEST ODDS BOOSTS FROM THE UK’S LEADING BOOKIES

    Arteta felt Saliba needed another ‘transitional year’ to develop after seeing his 2019-20 campaign disrupted by injury and then Ligue 1’s cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Nice have already expressed an interest in keeping Saliba beyond the end of this season.
    Club president Jean-Pierre Rivere said: “Let’s let him rediscover enjoying being on the pitch, playing.
    “At the end of the 6 months, we’ll see – today he’s owned by a club called Arsenal. Everyone in June will come together and decide. 
    “A door is always open in life. When you have a situation where parties can talk, the doors are open. We are not there yet.”

    Arteta says Saliba has made massive improvements but will play when there is space More