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      Chelsea eye summer transfer for Brentford star David Raya but only if they can’t land No1 keeper choice

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      CHELSEA are reportedly ready to swoop for Brentford’s David Raya if they fail to land their No.1 goalkeeper transfer target.Chelsea have veered between Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy for the last few seasons.
      Chelsea are keen on Brentford goalkeeper David RayaCredit: Getty
      However, both have failed to convince and now face uncertain futures while the club searches for a permanent new manager.
      The West London club also need to cut costs after their heavy outlay on new additions and appear to be keen on offloading their stoppers to help balance the books.
      Mendy, 31, snubbed a new six-year contract over the salary offered – which did not rival Kepa’s.
      The Senegal international’s future at Stamford Bridge remains up in the air and we reported how the stopper, who has 12 months left on his deal, has been told he can go.
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      Meanwhile, Spaniard Kepa has also failed to convince chiefs he is the man for the long-term and they now want a new goalie to lead their resurgence after a miserable campaign under incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino.
      Now journalist Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Raya “looks pretty certain to move” and that the Blues are keen.
      The Spanish stopper, 27, is also entering the final year of his contract at Brentford and the Bees could offload him now rather than risk losing him for nothing in 2024.
      Boss Thomas Frank recently admitted that Raya could depart and that his value has decreased to £40m due to his contract status.
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      Now Jones has said: “Raya looks pretty certain to move and now that Brentford are making new goalkeeper plans it’s just a case of finding his new home.
      “Chelsea’s move for a goalkeeper is something that Mauricio Pochettino wants but they will have to resolve the situation first in-house as they have two big names in Kepa and Mendy.
      “Mendy seems the one most likely to, he’s more attainable financially, and easier to gauge interest in sources have told me, but that still could take some time.
      “From conversations I’ve had with contacts it feels like their interest in Raya is legit, but I also think they prefer Andre Onana, just as Tottenham do.
      “It’s very early days but it’s not beyond imagination that Raya simply ends up signing for whichever team Onana doesn’t choose to join.” More

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      Harry Maguire told to leave Man Utd and go somewhere he can play ‘week in, week out’ by club legend

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      A MANCHESTER UNITED Treble-winning legend has urged Harry Maguire to leave the club.The Red Devils captain, 30, had already suffered a dip in form before the arrival of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford last summer.
      Jaap Stam has urged Man Utd’s captain to leave the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Harry Maguire has struggled for action under Erik ten HagCredit: Getty
      But the England international’s struggles continued at the start of this season and now he has found himself regularly warming the bench.
      Despite being linked with a transfer switch to both Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, exclusively revealed by Sun Sport, the defender has been adamant that he is happy at United.
      However, Jaap Stam is adamant that Maguire’s time is up at his former club.
      The Dutchman, who won the Premier League three times during his three-year stint under Sir Alex Ferguson, told Adam Catterall on the debut episode of Full Circle, presented by Bet365: “If I was Maguire, looking at him and how it’s working out for him, or how it’s going this season, I would have said [he should leave], and I think that’s best for him as well because he needs to play.
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      “You’re at a certain age that you want to play, you need to play football. It seems like Ten Hag doesn’t always believe in Maguire.
      “I think the best thing to do is to go somewhere where you can play week in, week out.”
      And Stam explained that he knows full well how hard it is to leave United.
      He called his arrival at the Theatre of Dreams in 1998 from PSV the “greatest moment” of his career but was shunted out of the exit door by Fergie following a fall-out with the iconic manager over the release of a controversial autobiography.
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      Stam added: “That was a very low point… The book deal of course was a big part of that.
      “I could have stayed, of course, I could have said to the club that I don’t want to leave.
      “Eventually, I might play again, but the manager at that time went with different players… I would be on the bench. And he knew with my mentality, and the type of player I was, that I always wanted to play.” More

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      Brighton 3 Southampton 1: Seagulls to play Europa League for first time as Evan Ferguson double caps off stunning season

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      TEENAGER Evan Ferguson kicked Brighton into Europe for the first time ever. The 18-year-old’s outrageous first-half brace before Pascal Gross’ 69th minute strike has guaranteed the Seagulls at least a spot in the Europe Conference League next season. 
      Evan Ferguson scored a brace to seal Brighton’s European spotCredit: Getty
      Brighton all but clinched a Europa League spot with the victory over SouthamptonCredit: Getty
      The win has also effectively secured sixth position in the table, with the prize of a place in the Europa League, due to Brighton’s big goal difference advantage over Aston Villa.
      Roberto De Zerbi was overcome with emotion after the final whistle given he had previously said that guiding the club to a season in the sun would be his biggest achievement ever as a manager. 
      It was by the skin of their teeth though as already relegated Southampton produced a stunning comeback with a goal from Mohamed Elyounoussi on 58 minutes. 
      There was then more drama as Theo Walcott looked as though he had equalised on 62 minutes only for VAR to rule it off for an offside from the forward in the build up. 
      The future is bright for Ferguson (18 years and 214 days) who has now hit six Premier League goals this term. 
      Only four players have scored as many in the top-flight at a younger age – Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Francis Jeffers and Alan Smith. 
      It has been a breathtaking campaign for Brighton in general, with them now toasting their 18th win in 36 Premier League games this season. 
      Kaoru Mitoma was wreaking havoc from the start, lashing a rasping shot just wide early on. 
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      Southampton hit back and Carlos Alcaraz had his head in his hands for missing an absolute sitter after a pretty passing sequence with Walcott. 
      Saints got carried away knocking the ball about and Mitoma pounced on a limp pass from Alex McCarthy to then lash a shot off the woodwork. 
      Alex Mac Allister tried his luck with an audacious chip – but McCarthy mopped up the damage. 
      Brighton were building, they just needed another sniff on goal. 
      That came from Ferguson after being played in by Mac Allister before drilling a low drive past the Saints goalkeeper on 29 minutes. 
      The Seagulls were flying and 11 minutes later Mitoma picked out another Saints victim to make a mug of.
      This time it was Romeo Lavia who he brushed aside before pinging a floating pass over the top to Ferguson to slot home a second on 40 minutes. 
      VAR took a look to see if Mitoma had fouled Lavia in the build up – but it was not given and the goal stood. 
      But write an already relegated side off at your own peril as Saints finally decided to find some form to try stir up the race for Europe. 
      Southampton fans’ jaws hit the deck when astonishingly they were back in it as a corner and a glancing header at the near post by Elyounoussi was enough to beat Jason Steele on 58 minutes. 
      A blistering counter-attack then saw Walcott burst clear of Brighton’s backline before an expert finish. 
      But VAR chalked it off as the forward was a fraction offside in the build-up. 
      Brighton were back in charge though as Joel Veltman forced McCarthy into a brilliant save. 
      The visitors should have read the warning signs as moments later they failed to clear a corner and Gross scooped it up to drill past McCarthy on 69 minutes.
      The hosts could have had another one as Mac Allister thundered a strike agonisingly close to the bar from distance. 
      Here is how the game unfolded…

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      Aston Villa and Wolves in NINE club transfer chase for Strasbourg’s £20m-rated starlet Habib Diarra

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      ASTON VILLA and Wolves head a massive Premier League chase for Strasbourg starlet Habib Diarra.Ambitious Villa and shrewd Wolves are keen on the France youth team ace, 19, who is set for a big move to England.
      Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra has a host of clubs fighting it out to sign himCredit: AFP
      Scouts from NINE clubs saw the attacking midfielder face Nice last week.
      And most will watch him again at Troyes in Ligue 1 today.  
      Villa want to make upgrades after a good start to boss Unai Emery’s reign.
      Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui may also reshape his squad in the summer after a mixed campaign.
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      Senegal-born Diarra is rated in the £20million class already.
      And he is on the watch list of Manchester City,  Manchester United and Tottenham, who were in that elite spying group.
      West Ham, Crystal Palace and struggling duo Leeds and Leicester also sent top spies to watch Diarra in action in a remarkable show of widespread interest.
      Diarra opted to play for France after coming to the country from Africa.
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      He became a regular for Strasbourg in his teens.
      And they are willing to trade but they will expect a big fee. More

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      Man City boss Guardiola lines up Gundogan’s replacement if German star decides to leave Premier League champions

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      PEP GUARDIOLA is considering Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Ilkay Gundogan – if the Manchester City skipper leaves this summer.Guardiola, who signed Kimmich, 28, during his time as Bayern Munich boss, has been alerted to the fact the German international was angered by Julian Nagelsmann’s sacking in March.
      Ilkay Gundogan has won five Prem titles in seven years with Man CityCredit: Getty
      Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich is on the radar of City as well as BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      He is said to be seeking a fresh challenge – and his ability to play across the back four and in midfield has put him on the City chief’s radar.
      Barcelona are interested, but their main focus remains signing Gundogan on a free transfer should he decide to leave the Etihad.
      Guardiola is already on the lookout for a replacement should the City skipper leave, and is a massive fan of his international team-mate.
      Bayern are trying to raise cash to strengthen their ranks, including selling former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane.
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      They have told City they cannot afford the £60 million asking price to turn Joao Cancelo’s loan into a permanent move.
      But the potential of using Kimmich, 28, as part of any transfer has increased the chances of sealing a deal.
      Kimmich still has two years left on his current deal but has given no indication that he is willing to sign an extension.
      Guardiola has also run the rule over Chelsea’s Matteo Kovacic, who is a year older and would command a similar £50m fee.
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      Meanwhile, Cancelo could get Premier League and Champions League winners medals as a parting gift if he doesn’t return to the Etihad.
      He made 17 league appearances before moving to Munich, and played in all City’s group stage games in Europe. More

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      Man City and Pep Guardiola deserve all the plaudits.. but let’s never forget Man Utd’s stunning legacy

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      THERE isn’t a team in Europe to touch them, they’ll finish the season with a Treble and could eventually go down as one of the greatest sides in history.But as brilliant and breathtaking as Manchester City have been at times, I’m sorry . . . I don’t go with those who say the Premier League has never seen football like it.
      Pep Guardiola brought in 51-goal Erling Haaland last summer as one of the ‘tweaks’ that has helped Man City again dominate the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      The 1999 Treble winners were just one of Alex Ferguson’s great Man Utd sidesCredit: Alamy
      Of course they have been  fantastic, that first half against Real Madrid was out of this world, and I do love Pep Guardiola.
      For 45 minutes Madrid didn’t have a kick and if it hadn’t been for Thibaut Courtois, City could have had half a dozen.
      It was as good as I’ve seen this season  but, for me, some of the stuff that Manchester United played under Sir Alex Ferguson was on a par and probably even better at times.
      I know that it won’t make me popular with City fans but the  way United blew sides away —  on a regular basis — was just  something else.
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      Not just one side, either, he built a few of them. But I look at the team with Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes, Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis,  Roy Keane and Paul Ince and think, ‘Wow’.
      There was the one with Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham to come off the bench.
      They had David Beckham and Ryan Giggs tearing down the wings and Gary Neville and Denis Irwin overlapping from full-back.
      You couldn’t get near Paul  Scholes, Jaap Stam was a giant at the back and Keane was running midfield. No wonder sides were beaten before they went out.
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      It’s true when they say that, as well. And a story always comes to mind from when I was managing Portsmouth and had a lovely kid called Linvoy Primus, who was very religious.
      Before one game I’d swapped team sheets with Sir Alex, went back to our dressing room and there were only about three players in there.
      When I asked where the  rest were, someone told me, “Linvoy has started a prayer group and a load of the lads are in the boot room with him”.
      I looked at the names on the sheet in my hand and said, “Fair enough . . . I think I’d better go and join them!”
      But that’s how good United were — they dominated English football for years and I’m not having it when people say, “Ah yes, but they never got 100 points”.
      There were a lot of good teams around back then, you really did have to work for your wins.
      And even though it wasn’t too long ago, you could still get away with a lot more as well.
      Playing someone like Wimbledon was scary for a manager, never mind the players, believe me!
      What made Sir Alex special was the way he would tweak things each year. That’s what Pep does now and he has been amazing. Harry Redknapp
      The Crazy Gang would be  hammering on your door, scream at players in the tunnel, and really get stuck in.
      How City and the modern lot would have coped with that, I’m not sure.
      It’s why it always makes me laugh when people say the best players from back in the day wouldn’t be able to handle the speed of the game now.
      That’s rubbish. If anything it should be the other way round, because back then you were doing it ankle deep in mud at times, with tackles that would make your eyes water.
      What made Sir Alex so special was the way he would tweak things each year, just bring in one or two and off they’d go again. And he also knew when to sell them as well.
      To be fair, that’s what Pep does now and he has been amazing. But recruitment was totally different in Fergie’s day.
      He knew every player simply because the bulk of them were from Britain back then. And, of course, having so many from the youth team was something we’ll never see again.
      I’m not one of those who would ever say, “Such and such a team from one era would beat such and such from another,” so I’m not getting into that debate.
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      And for the brilliant work he’s done at City, there may well come a time when we say Pep and his City team is the best ever.
      But really, we should just  make the most of watching them because there is one thing no one can argue with . . . they’re in a league of their own right now. More

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      Man Utd hopeful David De Gea will agree new deal with special sweetener on offer to Spanish keeper

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      DAVID DE GEA could be offered the carrot of a money-spinning testimonial if he agrees to take a pay cut.The Manchester United keeper has a new deal on the table, which would see his present £375,000-a-week basic salary drop by nearly 50 per cent.
      Man Utd have been linked with other keepers but they are trying to find a way of persuading current No1 David De Gea to take a pay cutCredit: Getty
      De Gea, 32, is out of contract next summer and wants to stay at Old Trafford but so far talks over fresh terms have stalled.
      United boss Erik ten Hag has given his public backing to the Spaniard, although it is understood concerns remain from the player’s camp that he may not be No.1 next season.
      De Gea was signed from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and the pandemic meant plans for a testimonial year were put on the backburner.
      He is now into his second decade at United and the club will look to recognise his long service – if he puts pen to paper in the coming weeks.
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      Ten Hag has been linked with other top keepers in recent months.
      It’s thought United have sent scouts to watch Porto stopper Diogo Costa.
      And the Red Devils are reportedly interested in Everton’s England No1 Jordan Pickford.
      Brentford’s David Raya has also been mentioned, although incoming Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is favourite to lure the Spaniard.
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      De Gea, however. kept a clean sheet, as Casemiro’s stunning overhead kick saw off Bournemouth on Saturday.
      That, plus Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, means United need just a point from their last two games to seal a Champions League spot More

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      Watch Man City stars’ reaction after sealing Premier League title for third year in a row after Arsenal lost to Forest

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      MANCHESTER CITY stars jumped for joy and hugged each other as they clinched a third straight Premier League title.Pep Guardiola’s men were expecting to wrap up another trophy by beating Chelsea on Sunday.
      Man City stars jumped for joy as they celebrated their Premier League titleCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      Stars were jubilant as Arsenal handed City the title by losing at Nottingham ForestCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      Pep Guardiola was all smiles at the final whistleCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      Players danced and celebrated at the training groundCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      But Arsenal made life a whole lot easier by losing at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
      The result left City four points clear of Arsenal, who only have one game left this term.
      And the champions were left to celebrate their successful defence of England’s top flight with three games to spare.
      Incredible video footage shows City players sat together at the club’s training ground watching TV.
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      In the background can be heard the dying moments of Forest’s win over Arsenal.
      And stars including Nathan Ake, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are barely able to watch.
      Meanwhile, Jack Grealish cut a cooler figure by texting on his phone.
      But Spain captain Rodri decided to grab the bull by the horns as he leaped into the air with his arms spread wide.
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      The likes of Jack Grealish were over the moon as the final whistle blewCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      City won’t be having too wild a night as they face Chelsea tomorrowCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      Julian Alvarez can add the title to his World CupCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      It’s forward march for the Treble at CityCredit: MANCHESTER CITY
      The final whistle can then be heard blowing.
      And it sparked jubilant celebrations as City stars embraced and dancing around the room.
      There was no sign of champagne anywhere though, with Guardiola still determined to secure victory against Chelsea tomorrow.
      Should City win their two games in hand, they will move 10 points clear of Arsenal ahead of the final day.
      It would make an incredible turnaround after the Gunners moved ahead by eight points earlier this year.
      But a run of dismal results, including two successive defeats, have wrecked Arsenal’s hopes of a first title win since 2004.
      They have since been mercilessly trolled by fans on social media.
      And in the meantime, City stars have been posting messages on Twitter, with Aymeric Laporte saying: “What a season, credit to everyone involved from top to bottom.
      “Every one of us fought for this. More to come soon hopefully but we can already be proud of this one.”
      Erling Haaland added: “Always give your best. Always believe. It pays off. C’MON CITY.”
      Captain Ilkay Gundogan declared: “To have helped the Club win a third straight Premier League title is something very special.
      “The Premier League is without doubt the most demanding and competitive league in the world so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is.
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      “This squad is so talented and so special and to have been captain this season has been an enormous privilege.
      “To have won this trophy three times in a row and five times in six years is incredible. It has been a season I will never forget.” More