Premier League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      On-fire Arsenal loanee ‘to hold contract talks with Mikel Arteta and Co in summer as PSG target shock transfer’

      by

      ARSENAL and Folarin Balogun will reportedly hold “crunch talks” over his future this summer as Paris Saint-Germain plot a shock transfer swoop for the forward.The 21-year-old England Under-21 international, who is also eligible for both USA and Nigeria, has been in sensational form this season.
      Folarin Balogun has been in sensational form on loan at ReimsCredit: AFP
      He wants ‘crunch talks’ with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over his futureCredit: AFP
      After struggling to break into the first-team under Mikel Arteta and then only scoring three goals during a loan stint at Middlesbrough last term, he has transformed himself into one of Europe’s sharpshooters this campaign.
      Balogun joined French side Reims on a season-long loan last summer, and the ace has gone on to score 19 goals in all competitions for the French side.
      And that has led to a host of clubs starting to take an interest in the hotshot – with PSG now reported to be keen on snapping him up.
      The New York native is under contract with the Gunners until 2025.
      READ MORE ARSENAL
      And Arteta is determined to bolster his own attack in the summer window by bringing in reinforcements to help out Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.
      However, Football London says that Balogun “may well decide to pursue a permanent transfer elsewhere, though, because of how high his profile is after a superb season” across the Channel.
      They add that he “will instigate talks with his parent club about his future when the current campaign ends”.
      They also state that he is currently valued at £13.6million by the CIES Football Observatory but Arsenal would “likely demand a higher fee” for the striker.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      Discussing Balogun’s phenomenal form back in February, Arteta said: “I’m so happy for him.
      “He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career – he’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.
      “We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had and he was so convinced.
      “I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.
      “When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible.
      “It’s very rare to see that, but he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough.” More

    • 225 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Frank Lampard claims he’d have won more Chelsea titles if Abramovich didn’t keep sacking managers in astonishing attack

      by

      FRANK LAMPARD warned Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly not to make the same mistakes as Roman Abramovich — and to stick with his next boss.Caretaker Lampard believes the old system of hiring and firing stopped him winning more trophies during his playing career.
      Frank Lampard reckons he could have won more titles at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Todd Boehly has already sacked two bosses at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA
      And as the FOURTH Blues chief under Boehly, Lampard said: “I was always part of the Chelsea team that changed managers regularly.
      With hindsight, it is easy to say I had great success. I won three titles but I should have won five or six. That’s my feeling.”
      Lamps spent 13 years at Chelsea, most of them under Abramovich — who got through 13 permanent managers in his 19 years.
      And the ex-midfielder added: “We might have won more titles if we’d had more consistency and been able to work in one direction. And I feel like we should have.
      Read More Football Stories
      “If you are trying to work for something, you look at the successful models at the top end of the league at the minute.
      “You see managers that have been working there a long time, recruitment that is aligned with the type of squad and identity they want to bring and it works in a direction.
      “You see Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal. So clearly if you want to get there, it’s something that hopefully aligns
      “At the moment for us it hasn’t. We have to find a way that it does.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
      Lampard won plenty of trophies under Abramovich’s ownershipCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      “Arsenal had quite a few years of not getting what they wanted, so they decided we are going to stick with this and maybe get it to work.
      “Everyone has different pressures, so I don’t think you can say that the next manager should be here for five years because within that Chelsea need to have successes.
      “But in an ideal world, the next manager would bring more stability.”
      Mauricio Pochettino is hot favourite to take over in the summer.
      Jurgen Klopp’s eight years at Liverpool make him the Prem’s longest-serving boss — he has won the league, FA Cup and Champions League.
      City’s Pep Guardiola is on the brink of a fifth title in six years.
      While the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has built his team into Prem contenders after 3½ years.
      If 12th-placed Chelsea  lose at Arsenal tonight, it will be their sixth defeat in a row — and their seventh in eight games.
      Lampard added: “I am realistic about how much I can change in a short period of time.

      “To develop a player in five weeks, from one thing to the finished article, is not going to happen.
      “Are there things we can change until the end? Yes, to improve. Will they be shown in results? Not necessarily because this is the Premier League.”
      Lampard has lost all five games since returning to ChelseaCredit: Rex More

    • 238 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Sam Allardyce set for shock Premier League return as he’s ‘in the frame to replace Javi Gracia at Leeds’

      by

      SAM Allardyce is a shock candidate to take over at Leeds if the relegation strugglers sack Javi Gracia.The club, outside of the drop zone only on goal difference, held crisis talks yesterday over the future of Javi Gracia.
      Sam Allardyce is the shock name in the frame to take over at Leeds if they sack Javi GraciaCredit: AFP or licensors
      Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth was greeted by a furious fan backlash and means the Spaniard has won just three of his 11 matches since replacing Jesse Marsch.
      And it’s led the club to consider relegation specialist Allardyce, 68, who has been out of management for two years after last working at West Brom.
      The Athletic report that the former England manager is being ‘strongly considered’ for the job to try to keep Leeds in the top flight.
      The former England boss has worked for several Premier League clubs over an illustrious career, including Bolton and West Ham, and has a reputation for swooping in to save clubs from the drop.

      Although his last rescue attempt, when he arrived at West Brom midway through the 2020-21 season saw the club relegated to the Championship.
      With the Whites in the relegation mire, ex-midfielder Lee Bowyer also emerged as a shock candidate to become their third manager this season.
      Below, Sun Sport takes a look at where it’s gone wrong at Elland Road:
      BOARDROOM
      Owner Andrea Radrizzani has barely got a thing right since shooting Bambi — and that includes his pre- season prediction that another relegation scrap would be “impossible”.
      Most read in Football
      If you are going to sack God-like Marcelo Bielsa, you had better have a good plan in place. But it has been a disaster, with American Jesse Marsch hired and fired before Javi Gracia was brought in.
      Supporters are  raging at the torching of Bielsa’s legacy.
      FAN CONNECTION
      The players were made to pick up litter under Bielsa to show appreciation to supporters.
      Now the majority cannot even be  bothered to acknowledge kids trying to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
      Heads down, earphones on and hiding behind their phones, most went out of their way to ignore fans when leaving the team hotel before the 4-1 rout. The connection  has gone.
      RECRUITMENT
      Director of football Victor Orta has wasted the Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha money.
      They have spent £135million this season  and it is hard to make a case for a success story, other than the injured Tyler Adams.
      Crocked winger Luis Sinisterra is inconsistent, while Max Wober and Willy Gnonto have shown flashes. But a record £35m deal on unproven kid Georginio Rutter in January when desperate for goals . . . really?
      Marc Roca and Weston McKennie are a terrible midfield pairing and then you have got Red Bull flops Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen.
      Not one of them had any Prem experience — and it shows.
      JAVI GRACIA
      It is hardly a shock  it has not worked out for the manager nobody really wanted.
      Leeds butchered the search for a new boss after sacking Marsch in February, eventually landing on fifth-choice Gracia.
      The Spaniard started well but has been a rabbit in  headlights since the walls started caving in.
      Leeds have let in a league-high 28 goals in  11 games since he took over, while tactics and selections have baffled.

      ILLAN MESLIER
      The young keeper looks shot and has to be dropped if Leeds are to stand any chance of staying up.
      Meslier, 23, was woeful again on Sunday, adding another two howlers to his rapidly growing reel. He is in alarming decline and worse than when he started.
      Leeds held emergency talks over Gracia’s job yesterdayCredit: Rex More

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Fans all spot Michael Keane’s bizarre explanation as he tries to argue Leicester penalty and it’s left them in hysterics

      by

      FANS were left in hysterics by Michael Keane’s bizarre explanation as he argued against the penalty he gave away.The Everton defender, 30, stopped the ball with his arm to block the cross from Leicester’s Harvey Barnes.
      Michael Keane was penalised for stopping Harvey Barnes’ cross with his armCredit: Reuters
      He bizarrely protested to Michael Oliver by pointing to his arm below the t-shirt lineCredit: Reuters
      Michael Oliver blew his whistle and pointed to the spot to give the Foxes the perfect chance to make it 3-1 at the King Power.
      But Keane was desperate to protest the decision by pleading his innocence.
      And as he remonstrated with the referee, he tapped the inside of his arm – as if to show where the ball made contact.
      Crucially, though, that point was below the ‘t-shirt line’ – therefore signalling that it was indeed handball.
      READ MORE ON EVERTON
      Jamie Carragher joked Keane would not make the best defence barrister because he “proved his guilt”.
      And plenty on social media all said the same thing.
      One said: “Michael Keane showing the ref why it was a penalty.”
      Another wrote: “Love that Michael Keane is showing the referee it’s a handball. What are you doing?”
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
      A third added: “He’s protested his innocence against that handball by pointing to a part of his arm that would be classified as handball.”
      And a final user wrote: “Very helpful of Michael Keane to confirm to the ref where the ball hit him… that is handball Michael, you might want to read up on the rules!!”
      Keane’s blushes were spared by Jordan Pickford’s heroics in goal.
      He checked his water bottle, with the research suggesting James Maddison goes down the middle with 60 per cent of his penalties.
      And Maddison did the same again as Pickford stood his ground and made the save and likely keep Everton in the game.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s early penalty was cancelled out by Caglar Soyuncu before Jamie Vardy raced through to make it 2-1.
      The Everton striker missed a sitter with the goal gaping and at the other end, Vardy hit the bar seconds later.
      But after the break, Alex Iwobi’s sweet strike earned a 2-2 draw in the relegation showdown with both sides still at serious risk of the drop.
      Jordan Pickford produced the goods to save from James MaddisonCredit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Jordan Pickford’s penalty cheat sheet on water bottle spotted as eagle-eyed fans see how he stopped Maddison’s spot-kick

      by

      FOOTBALL fans spotted Jordan Pickford’s “penalty cheat sheet” on his water bottle before he saved James Maddison’s spot-kick.Leicester were given a golden chance to move into a 3-1 lead against Everton before half-time on Monday night when Michael Keane blocked Harvey Barnes’ cross with his arm.
      Jordan Pickford saved James Maddison’s penalty on Monday eveningCredit: Getty
      His data-filled water bottle was spotted by the Sky Sports camerasCredit: Sky Sports
      Maddison stepped up to face England team-mate Pickford from 12 yards.
      But his effort straight down the middle was parried away by the Three Lions No1.
      And it proved crucial in a thrilling relegation battle as Alex Iwobi equalised shortly after half-time to earn the away side a point in a 2-2 draw.
      Fans were quick to point out afterwards that Pickford had his trusty water bottle with the penalty information written on it.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      He had data for Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy on the bottle.
      The info on Maddison stated: “STAY CENTRE,” and showed 60% of the midfielder’s penalties go down the middle of the goal, with 20% left and 20% right.
      Commenting on it at full-time, Pickford told Sky Sports: “Madders, he needs to learn his lesson! He doesn’t play poker by the sounds of it.
      “Nah, to be fair, I do my homework. I called it this morning which way I was going to go.
      Most read in Football
      “He expects me to dive so I’ve double bluffed him and got one up on him.”
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
      The ex-Sunderland man, 29, had similar data on his bottle when Everton faced Liverpool back in February.
      And prior to that he used the trick during England’s 2018 World Cup shoot-out against Colombia and the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
      Joking about the Sky Sports cameras picking up the water bottle, Pickford added: “The cameraman was good tonight.
      “We are both fighting, we are both down there, there’s probably a bit of anxiety and pressure on both teams. 
      “But it was a good game to watch, we created a lot of chances, their keeper made a lot of saves. 
      “We know we’re still in the bottom three. 
      “It’s a point but we’re not coming away with zero points. We need to roll our sleeves up and keep working hard together.”
      Reacting on social media, one person said: “Love this. Pickford does his homework and is brave enough to stand up and not dive to one side or the other.
      “And to everyone saying it’s an awful pen, if Pickford dives either way and he drills it down the middle then yes we would be saying it’s a great pen. It’s a top save 🙌🏽.”
      Another added: “Decent information. Clear, simple, effective.”

      A third replied: “That’s why you do your homework 😂.”
      And a fourth responded: “That’s really clever s***housery. Will get inside takers’ heads.” More

    • 213 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal scouting England and Premier League ace for transfer as backup for William Saliba amid injury concerns

      by

      ARSENAL are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, reports claim.The Gunners are said to be keen on signing a central defender in the summer amid concerns over William Saliba’s long-term fitness.
      There are claimed to be fears over William Saliba’s long-term fitnessCredit: Getty
      The Gunners are reportedly keeping an eye on Crystal Palace defender Marc GuehiCredit: AFP
      Saliba, 21, has been out of action with a back injury since the Europa League defeat to Sporting CP in March.
      There is currently no confirmed date for his return.
      Rob Holding has filled in Saliba’s absence, but is out of contract next year.
      And the Daily Mail say Arsenal are keeping an eye on former Chelsea man Guehi.

      The 22-year-old has played 78 times for the Eagles and has been capped three times by England.
      The Mail say it is unclear how much Palace would demand should the Gunners come calling for Guehi.
      But it is thought that the Selhurst Park side would want more than the £18million paid to sign the defender in 2021.
      Gueho has started all 33 Premier League games that he has been available for this season.
      Most read in Football
      BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
      Saliba meanwhile was crucial for the Gunners before picking up a back problem.
      His absence has highlighted Mikel Arteta’s lack of squad depth.
      The Gunners are even reconsidering their entire transfer strategy this summer, having originally planned on making just two major signings. More

    • 263 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch Calvert-Lewin somehow fluff chance from a YARD out as fans slam ‘worst miss ever’ and say ‘my grandma would score’

      by

      DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN produced a miss-of-the-season contender with a shocker at Leicester – as fans joked even their grandma would score.The Everton striker looked for all the world as though he was going to equalise in the relegation six-pointer at the King Power.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin somehow missed and hit Daniel Iversen from a yard outCredit: Getty
      The Everton striker had the goal gaping at the King PowerCredit: Sky Sports
      With the ball played across the face of goal, he had the whole net at his mercy from point-blank range.
      But the 11-cap England man somehow connected with his heel and miscued it at Foxes goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, who appeared to be helplessly stranded at his near post.
      The Danish stopper kicked the ball away to safety before Leicester, leading 2-1 having fallen behind, raced away on the counter-attack.
      Jamie Vardy turned Michael Keane inside out before dinking the ball over Jordan Pickford but against the bar in a dramatic passage of play.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      But fans could barely believe what they had seen from Calvert-Lewin.
      One said: “Calvert-Lewin me grandma could’ve scored that.”
      Another wrote: “That’s not a big chance that’s the worst chance missed I’ve ever seen.”
      A third added: “Calvert-Lewin mate we need to talk.”
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      A fourth simply typed: “Worst miss in history.”
      And others compared the blunder to Patrick Bamford’s in the closing moments of Leicester’s draw at Leeds last week.
      Calvert-Lewin had fired the Toffees in front from the penalty spot but Caglar Soyuncu immediately hit back.
      Vardy rounded Pickford and tapped in for 2-1 before the chaotic few seconds.
      There was still time before half-time for Seamus Coleman to be stretchered off with a horrible-looking leg injury.
      And in first-half stoppage time, James Maddison saw a poor penalty saved by Pickford.
      Alex Iwobi did get an equaliser for the visitors early in the second half, though, to spare his team-mate’s blushes and earn a draw.
      The ball came across to the Toffees strikerCredit: PA
      He made poor contact with the heelCredit: PA
      The Toffees man could barely believe itCredit: PA
      Jamie Vardy hit the crossbar at the other end seconds laterCredit: Alamy More

    • 213 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Everton captain Seamus Coleman rushed to hospital after being stretchered off with horror knee injury at Leicester

      by

      EVERTON captain Seamus Coleman was stretchered off and rushed to hospital with a nasty looking knee injury during his side’s clash with Leicester.Sean Dyche’s men trailed 2-1 at the end of the first half at the King Power Stadium when right-back Coleman, 34, landed awkwardly on his right leg.
      Seamus Coleman was clearly in a lot of distress on the pitch at the King PowerCredit: Reuters
      Coleman was treated by the Everton medicsCredit: Getty
      He was taken off the pitch on a stretcherCredit: Reuters
      The Ireland international stretched as Boubakary Soumare contested him for the ball.
      And as their legs tangled, Coleman’s knee jarred back in a worrying way.
      He was left writhing around in pain on the floor as medics rushed to his aid.
      And he ended up leaving the field of play on a stretcher.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Coleman, who has just returned from a month out with a hamstring injury, was rushed to hospital with a protective leg-brace on, hobbling to a people-carrier on crutches.
      He was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary for scans, with his season almost certainly over.
      Nathan Patterson replaced the Everton skipper.
      Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown was very concerned for Coleman.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      He said: “It doesn’t look good [for Coleman].
      “Soumare just ran into the side of his shin and it could be an ACL injury.”
      And in his mid-30s, some football fans fear a serious injury may spell the end of Coleman’s career.
      One said: “Pretty heartbreaking for Seamus Coleman this. Could be the end of his career.”
      Another added: “Could be the end of Seamus Coleman’s career. We’ll never see a better duo than Baines and Coleman.”
      And a third replied: “Heartbreaking for Seamus Coleman who goes off with what looks like a bad injury. Has shown improved form with club and country this season. At 34, fingers crossed it’s not the end.”
      Coleman was signed by Everton boss David Moyes way back in 2009.
      He has gone on to play more than 400 times for the Merseyside outfit.
      The full-back has also racked up 68 caps for Ireland. More