Sport Live Blogs

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Coutinho to join Everton EXCLUSIVE, Messi ‘considering 50 per cent Barcelona pay cut’ – Chelsea & Man City transfer news

      by

      PHILIPPE COUTINHO will join Everton in a £35m deal this summer, SunSport can reveal.The Toffees are so confident of landing the ex-Liverpool star that they’ve already begun already househunting for his move back to Merseyside.
      Meanwhile Lionel Messi has reportedly decided to stay at Barcelona and is even considering taking a 50 per cent pay cut.

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

      Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
      CAV SOME OF THAT
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed he will do everything to keep Edinson Cavani at Man Utd next season.
      The Uruguayan, who scored a brace, has been heavily linked with a move to Boca Juniors this summer.
      But Solskjaer said: “He knows my feelings. He knows I would love to have him here.
      “I promised him Old Trafford is a different place with fans. I am doing my best. Hopefully we will see him here for another year.”

      EXCLUSIVE
      Philippe Coutinho will join Everton in a £35m deal this summer, writes SunSport’s Ken Lawrence.
      The Toffees are so confident of the playmaker returning to Merseyside, they are already house-hunting for him.
      Carlo Ancelotti wants Barcelona’s former Liverpool star to form a South American dream team with Colombian James Rodriguez.
      Everton want to be sure Coutinho has recovered from a knee injury before committing but the deal is thought to have already been agreed on paper.
      The prognosis for the former Liverpool star is said to be excellent and plans are well underway to welcome Coutinho, his wife Aine and their three children.

      FOX HUNT OFF
      Exclusive by Charlie Wyett: Spurs have been frightened off by the potential £70million  cost of landing Brendan Rodgers.
      Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was confident of finally getting his man, despite the Leicester chief publicly dismissing the prospect of succeeding the sacked Jose Mourinho.
      But the Londoners have been unable to come up with a package that would get Rodgers, 48, out of the King Power.
      The Northern Irishman earns up to £10m a season with the Foxes.
      And Tottenham would need to offer a four-year contract of £12.5m a year, plus Leicester’s expected compensation demands of £20m — a similar amount to what Bayern Munich are paying former Spurs target RB Leipzig for Julian Nagelsmann.
      The Carabao Cup runners-up would also have to shell out for the ex-Liverpool manager’s backroom staff.
      Rodgers — who was offered the Tottenham job by Levy in 2012 but instead went to Anfield — will now remain at the King Power.

      TRIED TO DO WRIGHT
      Ian Wright has revealed he gave cash to the dad who walked out on him when he was just 18 months old.
      In a chat with The Sun columnist Troy Deeney, Ian recalled Herbert and his wife turning up at his house, having not seem him for years.
      He said: “He needed money because she’s some good cook and he wants to open a restaurant.
      “I remember my missus at the time asked the woman what she wanted to drink.
      “So we’re talking like quarter past ten in the morning. She said, ‘Gimme a brandy’.
      “So you know the kind of people we’re dealing with.
      “I don’t know what it was but I gave him enough money.
      “I feel really bad in myself because, if my mum knew, she would probably be vexed but I was scared to say no.”
      FALL OF ROMA
      Manchester United have more than one foot in the Europa League final after a scintillating Edinson Cavani-inspired 6-2 first leg win against Roma.
      The Red Devils were 2-1 down at half-time, but whatever boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in the dressing room worked a treat.
      Edinson Cavani scored twice and Bruno Fernandes added to his first-half strike to make it 4-2.
      Paul Pogba got the goal his industrious performance deserved and then sub Mason Greenwood rounded off the scoring as United completed a stunning turnaround at Old Trafford.

      VAN HIBE
      Ex-Manchester United star Matteo Darmian claims old boss Louis van Gaal was ‘obsessive about rules’.
      He revealed: “Van Gaal was an obsessive about rules. He was the one who wanted me at United.
      “One of the first days in Manchester he took me aside and said: ‘You are here thanks to me.
      “’You have my confidence, you will compete with [Antonio] Valencia, know that the name doesn’t matter to me’. It was like that.”
      MARIO PARTY
      Mario Gotze has revealed he snubbed a move to Liverpool after writing off their Champions League chances.
      He told 11 Freunde: “You have to imagine it like this: Where did I come from?
      “From Munich, where I had reached the semis in the Champions League three times with Bayern. I wanted to do that again.
      “Liverpool finished eighth in the league. In the situation at the time, the likelihood of winning the Champions League with Borussia seemed much greater.”

      GRAB NAB
      Arsenal target Nabil Fekir has boosted his Premier League admirers by confirming his Real Betis future is uncertain.
      He told AS: “For now I am happy at Betis.
      “We are going to do everything possible to go to Europe. It’s what I think about now.
      “In football we can never know the future. We must look at season after season.
      “It is always important to play in Europe. I was playing the Champions League and Europa League and I want to play there again.”
      PUSH AND GAAL
      Gerard Pique claims ex-Barcelona and Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal “destroyed” him as a kid – shoving him to the ground and telling him: “You’re not strong enough”.
      Marca report the Spaniard as saying: “My grandfather was a manager and he brings Van Gaal to eat. I was 11 or 12 years old.
      “I dressed in my shirt, lest I continue six years later and I continue at Barca.
      “Before saying hello, he gives me a push and he throws me to the ground… ‘you are not strong to be a defender’.
      “I thought that I should have been stronger.”
      WHEN IN ROME
      Bruno Fernandes had given United the dream start but a quick-fire double from the visitors has turned the tie on its head.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal have had a horror start to their semi-final with Villarreal two goals to the good in the first-half.

      WHITE HOT BEN
      Exclusive by Charlie Wyett: Borussia Dortmund have joined the race for Brighton defender Ben White.
      Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Arsenal remain interested in one of the Premier League’s most talented young central defenders.
      Brighton will demand about £35million for White, having turned down three bids from Leeds last summer – with the final offer totalling £25m.
      White spent a successful season on loan in the Championship with Leeds last term and has gone from strength to strength on the south coast this year.
      HE BLUE IT
      Fikayo Tomori has nearly blown his chance of making his loan to AC Milan permanent, according to reports.
      SunSport revealed the centre-back was set to sign for the San Siro outfit for £25million at the end of the season, but after a string of costly errors Milan are said to be having second thoughts.
      Club officials believe he has ‘crumbled’ and made ‘too many errors of late’, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
      In the last fortnight, Tomori handed Genoa’s Mattia Destro the equaliser in Milan’s 2-1 win.
      He was also at fault during Sassuolo’s 2-1 victory at the San Siro last week, as well as in the recent 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Lazio.
      Blame is being spread among the Milan squad but Tomori is reportedly considered ‘much more responsible than others’.

      COMEBACK KINGS
      Chelsea are desperate to sign a new striker this summer – and are now looking to the past to solve their problems.
      The Blues are believed to be lining up a £90m swoop to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge.
      Lukaku failed to score in 15 games with the Blues in his first spell as a youngster, but did enjoy impressive loan spells at Everton and West Brom.
      With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at TEN players who’ve quit clubs with legendary status, only to return later in their careers.
      But how did they all get on in their second stints? Click HERE to find out…
      PAT SHAMER
      Patrice Evra poked fun at old Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo with a topless photo on Instagram.
      The Frenchman showed off his impressive abs in the snap and told Ronnie: “Don’t be jealous.”

      TRUST HAS GONE
      Richard Scudamore reckons English football has changed forever after the disastrous plans for a European Super League.
      He said: “I don’t believe life will ever be the same after last Sunday.
      “I think the actions of the six have altered the dynamic forever. There has to be some consequences. Things have to change.
      “There is no switch you can turn that suddenly builds back trust with these people and the fanbase.
      “It is a long and difficult road back. After a period of some healing, we have to rebuild this thing.
      “I cannot explain why any of them thought it was a good idea. I am the person who had been telling them for years it was a crazy idea and could not happen.”

      MAKING A MESS
      Lionel Messi has reportedly dealt Manchester City a blow by telling Barcelona he will STAY this summer.
      But the superstar forward, 33, has demanded that new president Joan Laporta embark on a spending spree – with Erling Haaland a target.
      TVE claims Messi will not look to leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season despite his contract running out.
      SOLSK SCULPTURE
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be honoured with a statue in his hometown.
      And the bust is being funded by locals who have already raised £53,000.
      As reported by Tidens Krav, the Solskjaer statue is set to be erected in Kristiansund on Norway’s west coast.
      It will be created by artist Tore Bjorn Skjolsvik with Ole Tonder agreeing to pay a whopping £76,000.
      The city’s population – which totals around 24,000 – have agreed to cover the costs and gift the sculpture to the buyer.

      RED ALERT
      Xabi Alonso opened up on Liverpool’s ‘painful’ and ’embarrassing’ first-half in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul.
      He told team-mate on the night Jamie Carragher’s Greatest Game podcast: “I was angry at myself, thinking ‘we can’t throw it away so easily, this is a beautiful chance’.
      “I was kind of embarrassed with what we were doing.
      “More than thinking about the others it was painful, that was first (how I felt). Later, Rafa (Benitez) changed. I thought ‘let’s see how this works’.
      “To hear the boos from the fans was important because they didn’t want to kill us but we thought ‘let’s try and give them something to believe’, try to have some hope.”
      SILVA-PLATED
      Real Madrid could be about to move ahead of Manchester United in the race for Andre Silva.
      Reports in Germany indicate the LaLiga giants are willing to allow Luka Jovic to sign for Eintracht Frankfurt permanently in a player-plus-cash deal.
      Silva, 25, has smashed 26 goals for the Bundesliga club this season after signing from AC Milan.
      United are said to be among them along with Borussia Dortmund, who could become particularly keen if Erling Haaland leaves.
      But Madrid have entered the race with a unique offer, according to Bild, and are the preferred destination for Silva.
      TIEM TO DECIDE
      Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko is stuck in limbo as he doesn’t know if his loan at Napoli will be made permanent.
      His brother and agent Abdoulaye told CalcioNapoli24: “It’s a good moment, Tiemoue scored in his last game with Napoli and the team are back in the top four.
      “He is happy to play at Napoli, one of the best Serie A clubs.
      “I respect [Napoli boss] Gennaro Gattuso, it was important to join him again after their experience at Milan.
      “It’s been a nice season, Tiemoue feels at ease in the city and the team.
      “However, I don’t know if he will remain at Napoli. If they qualify for the Champions League things could change.
      “He wants to play in the Champions League, but it also depends on Napoli and Chelsea.
      “Napoli don’t have an option to sign him permanently, Tiémoué is happy, but he is aware his destiny depends on what Chelsea and Napoli want to do.”

      WHAT THE EK
      Daniel Ek’s Arsenal takeover is in doubt following reports that the Spotify co-founder will need to stump up way more than he’s currently offering.
      Matt Slater told the Athletic: “The number getting to Daniel Ek has been suggested that he thinks Arsenal is worth £1.8b.
      “I’m sorry – that’s not going to get Kroenke out of bed. If he came at him with £2.5b, there’s a starting point for a conversation.
      “Ek, I’ve learnt, has been thinking about football for a while. Could Ek, or other guys afford Arsenal, afford the type of offer Kroenke would take seriously? Yes. Is it going to happen soon? No.”
      LO SIENTO
      Marcelo Bielsa has apologised to the Leeds players and fans for not learning English.
      The Argentine still speaks almost exclusively through a translator after nearly three years as Whites boss.
      Bielsa, 65, has been heard shouting instructions to his side in English on matchdays.
      But he said: “One of my big deficits during my time in English football is not being able to communicate in the language everyone speaks.
      “In one way, it debilitates me. I understand this completely.”
      SERIE-OUS MONEY
      Romelu Lukaku is Inter Milan’s top-earning star with Alexis Sanchez earning more than DOUBLE Ashley Young’s pay.

      CROWN JULES
      Real Madrid are reportedly looking to fend off competition from Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Sevilla star Jules Kounde.
      The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move in the summer after two impressive years in Spain since joining from Bordeaux in 2019.
      SunSport exclusively revealed last month that United were weighing up a move for Kounde to pair him alongside Harry Maguire.
      But according to AS, Madrid are looking to keep Kounde in Spain as Zinedine Zidane eyes up a summer swoop.
      THE RON FOR ME
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s super-agent Jorge Mendes reportedly offered the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Manchester United.
      Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claim that CR7 is considering his options this summer if Juventus fail to qualify for the Champions League.
      And the report adds that Mendes offered Ronaldo to the three clubs capable of affording both the forward’s transfer fee and salary.
      Real Madrid were said to have declined while Paris Saint-Germain were not interested but United were the only club to respond.

      The Red Devils reportedly demanded that Ronaldo would have to take a 50% pay cut if there would be any chance of a deal.
      Load more entries… More

    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal takeover LIVE: £2.5bn bid ‘may tempt Kroenke’, Daniel Ek ‘secures the funds’, transfer news latest

      by

      SPOTIFY CEO Daniel Ek claims he has secured the funds to take over Arsenal from unpopular owners the Kroenke family.But the Swede is said to only value the club at £1.8bn while a bid of £2.5bn would be the minimum needed to get Stan Kroenke talking.
      Meanwhile the Gunners – who face Villarreal in the Europa League tonight – have reportedly put Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin up for sale as they look to raise £120m for new signings.
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH
      Stay up to date with every twist and turn from North London in our live blog…
      ARTETA REACTS
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is satisfied with the result, based on how things transpired, praised Bernd Leno for his performance between the sticks and is confident the Gunners will go through.
      He told BT Sport: “Yeah, of course we didn’t want to come here and lose but after the way the game developed you have to take the result. We started to be us, in the first half there were so many moments where we weren’t us.
      “Yeah he [Leno] was very good when we needed him at 2-0. He saved us and at the end we had a big chance with Auba [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang] but we weren’t able to equalise.
      “I am confident if we are us we are going to have a chance to win.”
      PEPE GLOW
      Ten-men Arsenal fought back dramatically in defeat to leave this Europa League semi-final well poised for the Emirates return.
      Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol put Villarreal 2-0 up inside the opening half-hour from the Spaniards’ first two proper chances.
      And despite Dani Ceballos seeing red on 57 minutes for his second booking, Nicolas Pepe notched what could be a vital away goal from the penalty spot.

      VILLARREAL 2 ARSENAL 1
      A huge moment in the tie as the ten-men visitors grab the priceless away goal with a penalty after Bukayo Saka was brought down in the box.

      GRAB NAB
      Arsenal target Nabil Fekir has boosted his Premier League admirers by confirming his Real Betis future is uncertain.
      He told AS: “For now I am happy at Betis.
      “We are going to do everything possible to go to Europe. It’s what I think about now.
      “In football we can never know the future. We must look at season after season.
      “It is always important to play in Europe. I was playing the Champions League and Europa League and I want to play there again.”
      PAIN IN SPAIN
      Arsenal have had a horror start to their semi-final with Villarreal two goals to the good in the first-half.

      WHITE HOT BEN
      Exclusive by Charlie Wyett: Borussia Dortmund have joined the race for Brighton defender Ben White.
      Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Arsenal remain interested in one of the Premier League’s most talented young central defenders.
      Brighton will demand about £35million for White, having turned down three bids from Leeds last summer – with the final offer totalling £25m.
      White spent a successful season on loan in the Championship with Leeds last term and has gone from strength to strength on the south coast this year.

      VILLARREAL VS ARSENAL
      Ten minutes until kick-off for the first-leg of the Europa League semi-final.
      For minute by minute action, click HERE for SunSport’s Live Blog!!!
      POLE POSITION
      Arsenal are preparing early for the Europa League final – with hopes of a coronavirus-secure bubble to fly 1,900 fans to Gdansk.
      The Gunners must first overcome Villarreal in the two-legged semis, while Manchester United take on Roma.
      UEFA and Polish authorities hope to host around 10,000 supporters at the final on May 26.
      And it is thought Arsenal are proposing a single travel option for their potential date in Poland – a flight package run by the club.
      That tightly-controlled measure, to combat the risk of Covid-19, would reportedly be followed by a coach from the airport to the ground.
      And there would be no travelling around the large Baltic coast city of Gdansk itself.
      The stadium, home to Lechia Gdansk, has a capacity of 41,000.
      ODE TO JOY
      Martin Odegaard starts for Arsenal tonight while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is only fit enough for the bench.
      📋 Tonight’s team is in…🇳🇴 Odegaard starts🇨🇮 Pepe leads the line🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Holding partners Mari#️⃣ #UEL— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2021

      BUILD A FUTURE
      Alex Song has laid the foundations for a new career… by setting up a construction company.
      The ex-Arsenal star recently captained his new club AS Arta Solar to the Djibouti national title.
      But less than a month after lifting the Premier League, midfielder Song is already building for his retirement after founding his property empire in Cameroon.
      The 33-year-old posted pictures on Instagram of building work and artists’ impressions of his planned apartment block in home town Douala.
      He captioned them: “Nokay 17 Residences, number two,” and added three hourglass emojis.

      MORE FROM ORNSTEIN
      The Athletic’s Arsenal correspondent shed some more light on the Gunners failed Super League plans and the proposed takeover.
      He said: “My hunch & from speaking to a number of people is that events of recent weeks – the protest, the Super League that never was for now – is likely to embolden & strengthen Kroenke’s resolve to keep hold of Arsenal.
      “What we’re hearing from Daniel Ek is that he’s here to stay, he’s not going anywhere just because of the [Kroenke] statement, Arteta’s public compliments towards the ownership of Arsenal. Ek is here, he’s going to play the long game.”
      WHAT THE EK
      Daniel Ek’s Arsenal takeover is in doubt following reports that the Spotify co-founder will need to stump up way more than he’s currently offering.
      Matt Slater told the Athletic: “The number getting to Daniel Ek has been suggested that he thinks Arsenal is worth £1.8b.
      “I’m sorry – that’s not going to get Kroenke out of bed. If he came at him with £2.5b, there’s a starting point for a conversation.
      “Ek, I’ve learnt, has been thinking about football for a while. Could Ek, or other guys afford Arsenal, afford the type of offer Kroenke would take seriously? Yes. Is it going to happen soon? No.”
      WALC THIS WAY
      A stunning finish from former Arsenal star Theo Walcott on the last time the Gunners faced tonight’s opposition.

      FORCE OF NATURE
      Simon Jordan has expressed his doubt that Daniel Ek will convince the ‘Darth Vader of English football’ into selling Arsenal.
      He told talkSPORT: “Daniel Ek can’t lose this conversation because the awareness of him as an individual has accelerated ten fold over the last week.
      “He’s chosen to start that fire. There is a lack of dignity because it’s a shameless grab of awareness.
      “He can write a cheque to Stan Kroenke. Stan Kroenke is not going to buckle to public pressure.
      “If you think Stan Kroenke is going to take a billion less because x amount of fans in London are screaming at him then you’re dafter than you look.
      “He is only going to take one deal, which is the deal he’s prepared to take.
      “If Daniel Ek is a media guy, the one thing he’s going to use is the media. It’s interesting to say it’s a long game.
      “He can’t lose because he’s always got this dark force, the Darth Vader of English football Stan Kroenke that’s going to sit there, say nothing and send his son out to do his dirty deeds for him.
      “So with the greatest will in the world, it’s an interesting play, I just can’t see it [happening].
      “I don’t think it’s a play that happens and not at £1.8bn, which is what he’s currently offering.
      “I’ll tell you what compelling is, when Stan Kroenke tells you it’s compelling, not when someone who wants to buy the football club tells you it’s compelling.”

      REINFORCEMENTS AT THE BACK
      Arsenal could sign both a centre-back and right back this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
      He reports Hector Bellerin could leave the club in the summer and a replacement for the Spanish right-back would be needed.
      And the Gunners are also said to be poised to add a central defender to the squad.
      Brazilian veteran David Luiz could also leave, freeing up the former Chelsea man’s spot in Mikel Arteta’s playing strength.
      JOURNEY SO FAR
      Remind yourself how Arsenal got to the Europa League semi-final where they face Villarreal tonight.
      Getting ready for tonight’s semi-final? 🤩Recap our quarter-final progress with 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 ⏩⚽️ Goals😂 Memes📲 Tweets🔜 #UEL pic.twitter.com/P7QnmfobpF— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2021

      REAL DEAL
      Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is dreaming of winning the Europa League and revealed he isn’t scared of Arsenal ahead of tonight’s semi-final first leg.
      LaLiga ambassador Chukwueze, speaking at an event for LiveScore, said: “When the time comes, it will be up to the coach and the tactics he chooses – all I need to do is just enter the field using the skills I have practiced and give everything I have.
      “We are going to play our football as normal. We are not scared or anything, we are just going to play our football as a team.
      “I’d like you to tell me that I am going to win the Europa League, just tell me that! I want to win the Europa League, thanks!”

      CHANGE OF LUC
      Lucas Torreira will not play for Arsenal this year, according to his father.
      The midfielder is on loan at Atletico Madrid but has made multiple impassioned pleas to be allowed to join boyhood sign Boca Juniors.
      The Uruguayan wants to return to South America to be closer to his family after the death of his mother from Covid-19.
      Dad Ricardo told TNT Sports: “I do not think Lucas will play for Arsenal this year. If it’s not Boca, his destiny will be Italy or France.
      “We are left with the desire, instead of generating joy we generate an inconvenience to Boca’s leadership.”
      Credit: AFP
      IN WITH THE OLD
      Arsenal face Villarreal and Mikel Arteta goes head to head with his predecessor Unai Emery in the Europa League tonight.
      How Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta compared after 50 Premier League games
      HARSH WINTER
      Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn claimed it is the young players propping up Mikel Arteta’s flops and the boss would be lost without them.
      Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “Points wise they’re not a million miles off but the performances suggest, to me, that we’re still way short of the mark.
      “We still don’t know who our best centre-half pairing is, the right-back position looks as though it will need to be filled, we don’t know about the futures of [Martin] Odegaard and [Dani] Ceballos.
      “And then there’s [Alexandre] Lacazette closing in on the end of his contract, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has had a poor season.
      “Really, when you look at it, the young players have kept everything going this season as far as I’m concerned.
      “The young players coming through and performing to a high level have enabled the fans to be slightly more patient than they would be under normal circumstances.”
      SPAIN AGAIN
      Arsenal have tasted success in Spain before…
      Tonight the Gunners face Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final first leg.

      ROUD AWAKENING
      Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to depart Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer as he is reluctant to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
      The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and while the Blues would be open to extending his stay, the striker is claimed to be close to departing.
      According to Goal, the French World Cup winner is unlikely to sign a new deal in West London after falling down the pecking order.
      Giroud – who has started just eight Premier League matches this term – has played just once in the top-flight since the 0-0 draw against Manchester United in February.
      And it has been said that the ex-Gunners ace is considering his options regarding his next club as he looks for regular game time.
      Credit: Reuters
      FEEL THE BURN
      Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn says the Gunners are unrecognisable amid a turgid season on the pitch.
      Mikel Arteta’s men have the chance to take something from their campaign and face old manager Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final tonight.
      Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “They’re going to have to make a few more changes to the squad. How much they’ll do, I don’t know.
      “If I’m honest with you, I think there’s still a huge amount of questions to be asked about the team and Mikel Arteta would probably say so himself if he was asked at the end of the season.
      “There are times when you see glimpses of how good Arsenal can be, and then there are times when you feel as though it’s just not the club we all recognise.
      “The levels can vary from week to week and that inconsistency is a big problem for me. Until they find a solution, Arsenal are going to struggle to get back into the top four.”
      Credit: Getty – Contributor
      LES MISERABLES
      Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slammed ‘stupid’ PSG’s ‘mental collapse’ after Man City turned things around to win the Champions League semi-final first leg 2-1.

      CROWN JUL
      Arsenal are ready to pursue a bargain £17.5million deal to land Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Brandt, according to reports.
      The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer with Martin Odegaard heading back to Real Madrid.
      Boss Mikel Arteta has been told by Zinedine Zidane that they will not entertain any offers of extending Odegaard’s stay in North London.
      The Norwegian is seen as fundamental to Zidane’s plans and wants him to compete in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
      Arteta is being forced to look elsewhere and a deal for Brandt fits the bill.
      Bild write how Dortmund are willing to accept just £17.5m for the 24-year-old following a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
      Brandt has been on the edges of the first team with two goals in 16 league starts.

      Load more entries… More

    • 238 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd 6-2 Roma LIVE RESULT: Cavani and Bruno Fernandes doubles plus Pogba and Greenwood put United in charge

      by

      MAN UTD are in control of their Europa League semi-final against Roma after FIVE second half goals.Bruno Fernandes put the Red Devils ahead early on but Lorenzo Pellegrini’s penalty squared the match.
      And former Man City star Edin Dzeko then put the visitors in front.
      But United Cavani then netted twice before Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty and Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood added goals.
      Roma did have a huge stroke of misfortune in the first half as they were hit by three injuries, meaning they had to use up all their substitutions.
      THAT’S A WRAP
      Thanks for joining us this evening.
      Don’t forget to check out our match report, courtesy of Neil Custis.
      OLE REFLECTS
      Speaking on BT Sport, Ole says: “I don’t feel the job is done yet, but that was a good job done.
      “They were good and had quality, as you saw from the goals in the two moments we gave them.
      “In Rome, they’ll get chances against us, so we have to be prepared with a response.
      ” We know we have creative players who can create big moments and big chances.
      “Paul’s positioning today was very good, he was allowed freedom and knew there was a good foundation behind him.
      “That’s the difference today, we took most of our chances, so I’m very pleased.”
      GOAL FEST
      Greenwood wrapped up the night with United’s sixth goal just minutes after coming on from the bench.
      The other goals came from Fernandes, Pogba and Cavani.

      POGBA SPEAKS
      Paul Pogba spoke about having the semi-finals wrapped up, he said: “The result is positive, but it’s not finished- we have one more leg to get through, so we’ll have to stay focused and play the next game with the same mentality.
      “I would say first half, we made two mistakes and conceded two goals. We were all over the place when we conceded the second goal.
      “At half-time, the manager told us to just do the simple things right and stay motivated and we did that. ”
      When asked about giving away a penalty, Pogba was able to see the funny side, he added: “I don’t know how to tackle, I try to tackle and be the English guy, but I will just have to practice more.
      “I need to practise tackling without my arms now!
      “It’s unlucky for me, I’ve been unlucky this season for penalties, so I do need to work on that.”
      THE FALL OF ROMA
      Five goals at the Stretford End helped United on their way to a Europa League final.
      They look shattered after that performance, unsurprisingly.
      Speaking on BT Sport, Owen Hargreaves said: “United were absolutely world-class in the second half, that’s one of the best performances I’ve seen of this team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.”

      FT: MAN UTD 6-2 ROMA
      MAN UTD 6-2 ROMA
      90. Two additional minutes at Old Trafford.
      United look to have broken their semi-final curse under Ole.
      MAN UTD 6-2 ROMA
      90. United look like an entirely different team, they looked like they might have been in a spot of trouble at the break.
      Just a shame they had to go behind to pull out this performance.

      MAN UTD 6-2 ROMA
      87. Greenwood is off the bench and has the ball into the back of the net!
      United break quickly as Roma look tired and struggle to keep up.
      Cavani sprays the ball from left to right as Greenwood is given a ton of space just outside the box.
      Greenwood pushes the ball forward, takes a couple of steps and ruthlessly fires the ball across the goal into the bottom left-hand corner.
      GOOOOAL
      THAT’S SIX FOR UNITED!

      MAN UTD 5-2 ROMA
      82. Fred’s night is over, as Matic is given a run out.

      MAN UTD 5-2 ROMA
      Not quite the return to Old Trafford that Smalling would have hoped for.
      The defender has been booked and given away a penalty as his team trail 5-2.

      MAN UTD 5-2 ROMA
      Pogba gets himself in on the goal scoring action.
      Back in the goals at Old Trafford!Paul Pogba with a wonderful header from Bruno Fernandes’ expert cross 💥That’s FIVE for Manchester United! 🔴⚫️#UEL pic.twitter.com/1MwhetlwRe— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 29, 2021

      MAN UTD 5-2 ROMA
      78. No mercy from Manchester United, as Cavani attempts a bicycle kick from the left of the box.
      Mirante clears the shot, as Cavani didn’t make enough contact with the ball to test him.
      MAN UTD 5-2 ROMA
      75. Roma struggle to clear the ball after a United corner. The ball falls to Fernandes who wastes no time in chipping the ball back into the box.
      Pogba is head and shoulders above anyone else in the box and fires a powerful shot home with his head.
      His first Old Trafford goal in two years came on an important night.
      United have one foot firmly in the final now.
      GOOOOAL
      POGBA’S ON THE SCORESHEET TOO
      MAN UTD 4-2 ROMA
      United look like a completely different team, they’re playing with real confidence and are firmly in control.
      I have a feeling they aren’t done with four.

      MAN UTD 4-2 ROMA
      72. Looks as though Greenwood is preparing to come on.
      Likely to be Rashford that’s replaced, as the England international has been nursing an ankle injury.
      MAN UTD 4-2 ROMA
      Here’s goal number three for United, a tap-in courtesy of Cavani.
      Edinson Cavani strikes again for Manchester United! 💪That’s the Uruguayan’s 11th goal in 13 appearances against Roma 👏Lethal!#UEL pic.twitter.com/9Jk3KXCmSb— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 29, 2021

      MAN UTD 4-2 ROMA
      70. Pace and power, no hop.
      Fernandes smashes the ball into the top left-hand corner as Mirante goes the wrong way.
      United have turned this game around.
      GOOOAL
      NO MISTAKE FROM THERE!
      MAN UTD 3-2 ROMA
      69. Rashford sends a ball back towards the six-yard box from the byline.
      But as Cavani, at the near post, tries to back-heel it, he’s taken out by Smalling’s lunging tackle.
      VAR check confirms Smalling took out Cavani.
      Fernandes is on penalty duties.
      PENALTY!
      It’s United’s turn now!

      Load more entries… More

    • 188 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona vs Granada: Live stream, TV channel, teams and kick-off time for La Liga match

      by

      BARCELONA welcome Granada to the Nou Camp for a huge fixture in the La Liga title race.The Catalan giants are fighting it out with Real Madrid, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid to land the Spanish championship.

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

      Messi and Co currently sit third but can go top if they win this game in hand over Atletico.
      What time does Barcelona vs Granada kick off?

      Kick-off is at 6pm BST tonight.
      When the sides met earlier in the campaign, Messi and Antoine Griezmann got the goals in a 4-0 Barca win.

      What TV channel is Barcelona vs Granada on and can I live stream it?

      You can catch this game live on LaLiga TV here in the UK.
      The channel is included in Premier Sports subscriptions and can be found on Sky 435 and Virgin Media 554.
      To stream, head to the Premier Player where you can watch the remainder of the La Liga campaign for £6.99.

      What is the team news?

      Match odds

      Barca to win – 1/9
      Draw – 15/2
      Granada victory – 16/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
      GRANADA SUBSTITUTES
      4 Gonalons, 12 Quina, 14 Vico, 18 Marin, 23 Molina, 26 Soro, 31 Fabrega, 35 Costa, 42 Barcia
      BARCELONA SUBSTITUTES
      2 Dest, 4 Araujo, 8 Pjanic, 11 Dembele, 12 Marti, 13 Neto, 15 Lenglet, 16 Pedri, 17 Trincao, 24 Firpo, 29 De la Fuente, 36 Tenas
      GRANADA XI
      Granada also go with a three-man defence as they look to secure a shock result.
      13 Escandell; 3 Perez, 6 Sanchez, 16 Diaz; 2 Foulquier, 21 Herrera, 8 Eteki, 17 Quini; 7 Charris, 11 Machis; 9 Soldado

      BARCELONA XI
      Ronald Koeman makes three changes to the side that defeated Villarreal with Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti and Ilaix Moriba all coming into his starting XI.
      The Dutchman is sticking with the 3-5-2 formation that has reaped rewards of late.
      1 Ter Stegen; 28 Mingueza, 3 Pique, 15 Umtiti; 20 Roberto, 21 De Jong, 5 Busquets, 16 Pedri, 18 Alba; 10 Messi, 7 Griezmann

      THE TEAMSHEETS ARE IN!
      FIRM FAVOURITES
      Barca have an outstanding record against Granada, with 17 wins from the 19 matches played.
      However, in their most recent meeting – the Copa del Rey in February – Barca needed extra time to triumph 5-3.
      Koeman’s side won 4-0 in the league fixture at Granada earlier this season, with Antoine Griezmann and some guy called Lionel Messi both scoring twice.

      GOOD AFTERNOON FROM SPAIN
      Welcome to our live coverage of the clash between Barcelona and Granada in La Liga.
      A win for Barca would see them go top of the table for the first time in a more than a year with five games remaining, edging them closer to a 27th title and reclaiming the crown from bitter rivals Real Madrid.
      Ronald Koeman’s side are in a three-way battle for the title with Real and Atletico Madrid. And, with Real and Atletico both dropping points at the weekend, this game offers Barca the chance to take the initiative. A potentially title-deciding game between Barca and Atletico is just a week and a half away.
      It would be one of their more unlikely title successes. Koeman’s men picked up just 14 points from their first 10 games to languish 12 points off the pace.
      “Perhaps we are now the favourites, but we’re not thinking like that,” said Koeman this week. “The team has learned to take it game by game, it’s the best way.”
      As for Granada, they currently sit in an impressive eighth spot and still harbour outside hopes of qualification for next year’s Europa League. 
      Barca should be able to call on the services of Ousmane Dembele, who began his comeback from injury with a substitute appearance in the hard-fought win at Villarreal at the weekend but will definitely be without Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho. Martin Braithwaite is also still absent through injury.
      For Granada, Neyder Lozano, Domingos Duarte, and Luis Milla are out, and there is a doubt over the fitness of Alberto Soro. Midfielders Angel Montoro and Antonio Puertas are both suspended.
      We’ll have confirmation of tonight’s teams shortly plus lots more build-up ahead of the 6pm kick-off.

      Load more entries… More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Messi ‘considering 50 per cent Barcelona pay cut’, Ronaldo to PSG transfer latest – Chelsea and Man City news

      by

      LIONEL MESSI is so keen to stay at Barcelona that he is considering a 50 per cent pay cut, according to reports from Spain.The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has reportedly been offered a bumper contract by PSG which he appears likely to reject.
      Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo fans have been going wild after his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez was pictured in Paris, sparking links with Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

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

      Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
      SERIE-OUS MONEY
      Romelu Lukaku is Inter Milan’s top-earning star with Alexis Sanchez earning more than DOUBLE Ashley Young’s pay.

      CROWN JULES
      Real Madrid are reportedly looking to fend off competition from Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Sevilla star Jules Kounde.
      The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move in the summer after two impressive years in Spain since joining from Bordeaux in 2019.
      SunSport exclusively revealed last month that United were weighing up a move for Kounde to pair him alongside Harry Maguire.
      But according to AS, Madrid are looking to keep Kounde in Spain as Zinedine Zidane eyes up a summer swoop.
      THE RON FOR ME
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s super-agent Jorge Mendes reportedly offered the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Manchester United.
      Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claim that CR7 is considering his options this summer if Juventus fail to qualify for the Champions League.
      And the report adds that Mendes offered Ronaldo to the three clubs capable of affording both the forward’s transfer fee and salary.
      Real Madrid were said to have declined while Paris Saint-Germain were not interested but United were the only club to respond.

      The Red Devils reportedly demanded that Ronaldo would have to take a 50% pay cut if there would be any chance of a deal.
      MAD FOR IT
      David Alaba will reportedly sign a £200,000-a-week contract with Real Madrid after snubbing Chelsea.
      Fabrizio Romano claims the Bayern Munich star, 28, has struck a verbal agreement to join Real on a free transfer this summer.

      NO SMALL FAVOURS
      Luke Shaw warned old pals Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan that they won’t get any special treatment when Roma face Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final tonight.
      Shaw said: “Mkhi and Chris, I was here with both of them, and I really missed them when they left, they were really good guys and brilliant players.
      “It’ll be really nice to see them, they’ve both been doing really well. They’ve both been a bit unfortunate with injuries but they’re back fit now and they will obviously make their team much stronger than before.
      “I’m looking forward to seeing them tonight but the game is the most important, so we won’t be friends during it but maybe after we’ll have a chat.”
      But asked if he will be taking it easy against his old mates, Shaw was emphatic.
      He added: “No, there’s none of that. We’re all professionals and it’s our job, we’re doing it for ourselves but also the fans so it’s very important to keep being professional.
      “It’ll be very nice to see them but we’ll leaving the talking until after. We need to win the game and doing everything to win it.”
      MESSI SAGA
      Lionel Messi is reportedly set to STAY at Barcelona.
      And the Argentine could even take a 50 per cent pay cut to help out the cash-strapped Catalan giants.
      Spanish national television saying Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to stay. Yesterday Catalan network TV3 said the same, adding he is considering signing a contract on half the pay he is on now but it will be extra long, meaning he will end up earning the same.— Richard Martin (@Rich9908) April 29, 2021

      LUKE-ING GOOD
      Luke Shaw said his outstanding Manchester United form is down to the return of his confidence ahead of tonight’s Europa League semi-final against Roma.
      Shaw said: “My form has been much improved, I’m enjoying my football. I’ve got my confidence back and I’m just loving playing football again.
      “Personally it’s nice for me to have a good season but that doesn’t really matter if we don’t have a successful season and that is to win a trophy.
      “If we don’t win a trophy and I’ve still had a good season I’ll be disappointed because the most important thing – and it’s why we play for a big club like Manchester United – is to win trophies.
      “Yeah I’ve been good but I want to help the team push for this trophy and cap off a great season and one I’ll be happy with if we do win the trophy.”
      Credit: Getty
      UP FOR G-RABS
      Juventus are considering flogging midfielder Adrien Rabiot after an underwhelming campaign, according to reports.
      Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with the midfield enforcer.
      And they could be handed a major transfer boost judging by reports coming out of Italy.
      TuttoSport write how the Old Lady have finally lost patience with Rabiot and are looking to upgrade him in the summer.
      Rabiot, 26, has featured heavily under Andrea Pirlo with 21 Serie A starts.
      But the reports adds how, except for a handful of matches, Rabiot’s performances, on the whole, have been average.
      Pirlo is eager to delve into the market this summer following a disappointing campaign with their nine-year Serie A reign coming to an end.

      REAL DEAL
      Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is dreaming of winning the Europa League and revealed he isn’t scared of Arsenal ahead of tonight’s semi-final first leg.
      LaLiga ambassador Chukwueze, speaking at an event for LiveScore, said: “When the time comes, it will be up to the coach and the tactics he chooses – all I need to do is just enter the field using the skills I have practiced and give everything I have.
      “We are going to play our football as normal. We are not scared or anything, we are just going to play our football as a team.
      “I’d like you to tell me that I am going to win the Europa League, just tell me that! I want to win the Europa League, thanks!”
      Credit: Getty
      MAN DOWN
      Kylian Mbappe became the latest victim of L’Equipe’s notoriously tough player ratings for his ‘ghostly’ performance on Wednesday night.
      In Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City, the Frenchman was unable to hit the back of the net.
      In fact, he failed to fire off a single shot while tallying the fewest passes (19) and touches (26) of any outfield player who started the game.
      Mbappe also earned just the one foul, compared to Neymar’s five, and won two of his five duels, which fared poorly up against Riyad Mahrez winning eight of his 13 and Bernardo Silva five of his seven.
      The performance led to French daily L’Equipe dishing out a devastating 3/10 player rating to the 22-year-old.
      Their evaluation described his outing as ‘ghostly’ and stated: “He did not take advantage of the space and did not punish City’s slowness. He made a bad choice in the 85th minute in a clear counter-attack.”
      Credit: AFP
      LOO-REKA
      Julian Nagelsmann will be looking to flush the competition when he takes over at Bayern Munich this season after admitting he gets his best ideas on the TOILET.
      The German chief, 33, will take over from Hansi Flick at the Bundesliga giants this summer.
      Speaking to BILD, Nagelsmann hilariously admitted his best tactical plans seem to come to him while receiving a call from nature.
      Nagelsmann – who favours a 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation – claimed he jots his toilet ideas down and even asks Pep Guardiola for advice.
      Speaking of his loo-reka moments, the German boss said: “[Afterwards, I scribble them on a scrap of paper with a pencil and ruler.
      “[Guardiola] is the only one I can ask about the content of what he sees.”
      Nagelsmann also confirmed he sees a speech therapist to help with thickening of the vocal cords… and to help him shout louder.
      Credit: AFP
      MOR PLEASE
      Atletico Madrid have offered Alvaro Morata to Juventus in a swap deal for Paulo Dybala, according to reports in Italy.
      The Serie A giants are facing huge uncertainty ahead of the summer as Andrea Pirlo’s side struggles to qualify for the Champions League.
      And the futures of both loanee Morata and Dybala, out of contract in 2022, must be sorted against this backdrop.
      Juve have the option to permanently sign the Spanish striker for £39million or extend his loan deal for another year, at a cost of £8.7m.
      Tuttosport detail an Atletico bid to replace that fee with a straight swap for Dybala.
      The report suggests an exchange could be negotiated to allow Juventus an additional fee as part of the deal.
      NEY WAY
      Liam Gallagher has never been shy in speaking his mind as a Spanish TV channel found out the hard way.
      The Oasis musician was watching his beloved Man City play PSG when he took to Twitter to launch an expletive-laden rant at Neymar.
      In typical-Neymar fashion, the Brazilian showed his scintillating best in moments but it didn’t come without his theatrics.
      One moment in particular, the forward was pleading with the referee to send off De Bruyne following a late tackle.
      It obviously wound up Gallagher who bluntly wrote on Twitter: “Neymar is an embarrassing little c***.”
      The tweet obviously got lost in translation after Guardian journalist Sid Lowe revealed the moment a Spanish TV channel broadcasted his message to their viewers.

      COUNT TO TEN
      Erik Ten Hag is reportedly open to swapping Ajax for Tottenham ahead of a meeting with the Premier League club.
      Spurs are seeking a new manager after sacking Jose Mourinho and placing former midfielder Ryan Mason in charge until the summer.
      A number of coaches have been linked with the role, including Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.
      According to The Guardian, Tottenham have formulated a list of candidates and are planning talks with Ten Hag in the coming weeks.
      On the verge of sealing his second Eredivisie title, the 51-year-old also won the league and cup double in both of his full seasons in Amsterdam.
      Despite reportedly holding a good working relationship with Ajax director of football Marc Overmars, he is described as ready to hear out other offers.
      Dutchman Ten Hag’s contract expires in 2022 although he vowed earlier this month to continue ‘building a side ready to compete with the big teams in Europe’.
      Credit: AP
      ROUD AWAKENING
      Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to depart Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer as he is reluctant to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
      The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and while the Blues would be open to extending his stay, the striker is claimed to be close to departing.
      According to Goal, the French World Cup winner is unlikely to sign a new deal in West London after falling down the pecking order.
      Giroud – who has started just eight Premier League matches this term – has played just once in the top-flight since the 0-0 draw against Manchester United in February.
      And it has been said that the ex-Gunners ace is considering his options regarding his next club as he looks for regular game time.
      Credit: Reuters
      MOST WANTED
      Manchester United will make Erling Haaland their No1 transfer target, according to reports.
      But the Red Devils may be forced to wait one more year before landing him for a bargain £65million fee.
      The Norwegian striker is Europe’s hottest property with a host of European giants prepared to make their moves.
      Manchester United are no different with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eager to land a prolific goalscorer to lead the line.
      According to Eurosport, club chiefs including director John Murtough have determined they will go all out to land Haaland.
      Dortmund are likely to put their star asset up for sale this summer for £130million if they miss out on Champions League football.

      COURT OUT
      Thibaut Courtois and Olivier Giroud appeared to share a joke at Timo Werner’s expense during their Champions League encounter.
      The German striker squandered a chance to give Chelsea an early lead against Paris Saint-Germain after missing another sitter.
      Thibaut Courtois caught joking with Chelsea star Olivier Giroud over Timo Werner miss by secret Real Madrid tunnel cam
      KNOWLEDGE PAUL
      Paul Pogba is drawing inspiration from some unlikely sources ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final against Roma.
      The French midfielder wants to take lessons from the mental strength shown by American sporting legends including Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and boxers Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
      Pogba told Uefa: “Tom Brady was just an example to really show people that, despite his age, he was still up to the challenge. He changed franchises but still won, which means that it’s possible to do so; wanted to show people that you could still succeed after changing clubs. He never gives up.
      “I have another example of a personal inspiration for me: Michael Jordan. I think that most of us already know his story, and his leadership and work ethic really have been an inspiration to me.
      “You want to take the last shots, like [Michael Jordan] did, and you always want to win. That requires extraordinary mental strength, and it’s a great source of inspiration for me.
      “Muhammad Ali is also an inspiration for me. In his day, he was one of the youngest heavyweights – just like Mike Tyson after him – to be crowned world champion. All of those people are inspirations because of their daily work ethic.
      “They push themselves. They might fall or lose, but they keep going, they come back stronger and they never give up. That’s important to me.“
      HAUS HUNTING
      Liverpool have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Florian Neuhaus, according to reports.
      The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder ‘has hit heart set’ on a switch to the Reds this summer after learning of Liverpool’s interest.
      Boss Jurgen Klopp is delving into the transfer market to land a replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum.
      The Dutchman appears to be heading to Barcelona on a free transfer with his contract expiring.
      According to Bild journalist Christian Falk, Neuhaus is eyed as the ideal man to fill his boots and the feeling the mutual.
      He has a £34million release clause in his contract and the 24-year-old is a huge admirer of Klopp.
      Neuhaus joined Borussia Monchengladbach in 2017 and has emerged as a key player in the midfield over the last three seasons.

      CROWN JUL
      Arsenal are ready to pursue a bargain £17.5million deal to land Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Brandt, according to reports.
      The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer with Martin Odegaard heading back to Real Madrid.
      Boss Mikel Arteta has been told by Zinedine Zidane that they will not entertain any offers of extending Odegaard’s stay in North London.
      The Norwegian is seen as fundamental to Zidane’s plans and wants him to compete in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
      Arteta is being forced to look elsewhere and a deal for Brandt fits the bill.
      Bild write how Dortmund are willing to accept just £17.5m for the 24-year-old following a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
      Brandt has been on the edges of the first team with two goals in 16 league starts.
      BY GEORG
      Georgina Rodriguez took a private jet to Paris yesterday, prompting fans to conclude that other half Cristiano Ronaldo will make a stunning PSG transfer.
      Reports claim Ronnie, 36, is ready to leave Juventus if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
      The Serie A giants look set to lose their title to Inter Milan. But they are also in a five-horse race for the remaining three Champions League spots as the season draws to an end.
      Should Juve miss out on the big time, they would struggle to meet Ronaldo’s reported £1million-a-week wages.
      And the Portuguese superstar is now said to be considering a move to Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris Saint-Germain as he eyes a final hurrah at the top,
      Partner Georgina has now poured fuel on the flames after posting a picture to Instagram showing her boarding a private jet to the French capital.
      She simply captioned the snap: “Bonjour Paris.”

      THE SAN IS SHINING
      Manchester United have begun talks with Jadon Sancho’s representatives ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, according to reports.
      The Red Devils made the England wideman their No1 target last summer but failed to stump up the £108million required to lure him from Borussia Dortmund.
      But 90min reports United are still keen on signing the 21-year-old.
      The club reportedly have maintained lines of communication and are optimistic about their chances of snaring the player for half of last year’s asking price.
      Credit: EPA
      MORNING, FOOTBALL FANS
      Manchester City took a giant leap towards the Champions League final last night, by beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in their own backyard in their semi-final first-leg.
      Marquinhos had given the home side the perfect start in the 15th minute, powering home a header from Angel Di Maria’s fizzed corner.
      But Pep Guardiola’s side came roaring back in the second 45, equalising through Kevin De Bruyne in the 64th minute, before Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick snuck through the wall and in just seven minutes later.
      Elsewhere yesterday, Spotify founder Daniel Ek reaffirmed his desire to buy boyhood club Arsenal.
      The Swede, 38, told CNBC: “I’m very serious, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
      “I certainly didn’t expect this will happen overnight and I prepared for this to be a long journey.”
      Meanwhile, Spurs’ hunt for a new manager could take a fresh twist, if Jorge Mendes has anything to do with it.
      SunSport exclusively revealed last night that the Portuguese super-agent has contacted Tottenham over making the switch from Wolves in the summer.
      Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, however, remains favourite to land the gig in North London.
      NOT DONN
      Chelsea and Manchester United transfer target Gianluigi Donnarumma has put AC Milan contract talks on hold, according to reports.
      The goalkeeper’s current deal at the San Siro expires this summer.
      And with the Italian desperate to play in the Champions League, Football Italia state he slammed the brakes on negotiations.
      Milan put a two-year extension on the table worth £130,000 per week.
      But Donnarumma’s agent Mino Raiola is holding out for £200,000 per week for his 22-year-old client who is closing in on 250 first-team appearances for the Rossoneri, six years after his breakthrough.
      None of those, however, have been in Europe’s elite club competition with the club last featuring in it way back in 2013-14.
      The shot-stopper was also holding discussions with Juventus over a potential Serie A switch as the Old Lady offered around £167,000 a week.
      But neither AC nor Juve have guaranteed Champions League football next season.
      Gianluigi Donnarumma has put contract talks on hold because he is desperate to play Champions League football
      NUN THE WISER?
      SunSport Exclusive by Jordan Davies
      Jorge Mendes wants to get Nuno Espirito Santo to Tottenham.
      SunSport understands that Mendes – Wolves boss Nuno’s agent – has made contact with Spurs over a potential switch in the summer after Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
      And super-agent Mendes is also believed to be working on bringing another of his Portuguese clients Bruno Lage to the UK to replace Nuno at Wolves.
      Nuno signed a contract extension at Molineux until 2023 back in September – and has been happy at the club since arriving in 2017.
      But there is a sense that this may be the right time to move on to a bigger side with the chance of consistent European football after Wolves’ dip in form this season.
      Nuno has been offered to SpursCredit: Reuters
      Load more entries… More

    • 200 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Daniel Ek Arsenal takeover LATEST, Bellerin and Lacazette ‘up for sale’, Edouard replacement, Villarreal build up

      by

      SPOTIFY CEO Daniel Ek says he has secured the funds to take over Arsenal from unpopular owners the Kroenke family.And he says he is prepared for his takeover bid to be a long journey if the Americans are not keen to sell immediately.
      Meanwhile the Gunners – who face Villarreal in the Europa League tonight – have reportedly put Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin up for sale as they look to raise £120m for new signings.
      CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: CLAIM UP TO £800 IN CASINO BONUS CASH
      Stay up to date with every twist and turn from North London in our live blog…
      WALC THIS WAY
      A stunning finish from former Arsenal star Theo Walcott on the last time the Gunners faced tonight’s opposition.

      FORCE OF NATURE
      Simon Jordan has expressed his doubt that Daniel Ek will convince the ‘Darth Vader of English football’ into selling Arsenal.
      He told talkSPORT: “Daniel Ek can’t lose this conversation because the awareness of him as an individual has accelerated ten fold over the last week.
      “He’s chosen to start that fire. There is a lack of dignity because it’s a shameless grab of awareness.
      “He can write a cheque to Stan Kroenke. Stan Kroenke is not going to buckle to public pressure.
      “If you think Stan Kroenke is going to take a billion less because x amount of fans in London are screaming at him then you’re dafter than you look.
      “He is only going to take one deal, which is the deal he’s prepared to take.
      “If Daniel Ek is a media guy, the one thing he’s going to use is the media. It’s interesting to say it’s a long game.
      “He can’t lose because he’s always got this dark force, the Darth Vader of English football Stan Kroenke that’s going to sit there, say nothing and send his son out to do his dirty deeds for him.
      “So with the greatest will in the world, it’s an interesting play, I just can’t see it [happening].
      “I don’t think it’s a play that happens and not at £1.8bn, which is what he’s currently offering.
      “I’ll tell you what compelling is, when Stan Kroenke tells you it’s compelling, not when someone who wants to buy the football club tells you it’s compelling.”

      REINFORCEMENTS AT THE BACK
      Arsenal could sign both a centre-back and right back this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
      He reports Hector Bellerin could leave the club in the summer and a replacement for the Spanish right-back would be needed.
      And the Gunners are also said to be poised to add a central defender to the squad.
      Brazilian veteran David Luiz could also leave, freeing up the former Chelsea man’s spot in Mikel Arteta’s playing strength.
      JOURNEY SO FAR
      Remind yourself how Arsenal got to the Europa League semi-final where they face Villarreal tonight.
      Getting ready for tonight’s semi-final? 🤩Recap our quarter-final progress with 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 ⏩⚽️ Goals😂 Memes📲 Tweets🔜 #UEL pic.twitter.com/P7QnmfobpF— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2021

      REAL DEAL
      Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is dreaming of winning the Europa League and revealed he isn’t scared of Arsenal ahead of tonight’s semi-final first leg.
      LaLiga ambassador Chukwueze, speaking at an event for LiveScore, said: “When the time comes, it will be up to the coach and the tactics he chooses – all I need to do is just enter the field using the skills I have practiced and give everything I have.
      “We are going to play our football as normal. We are not scared or anything, we are just going to play our football as a team.
      “I’d like you to tell me that I am going to win the Europa League, just tell me that! I want to win the Europa League, thanks!”

      CHANGE OF LUC
      Lucas Torreira will not play for Arsenal this year, according to his father.
      The midfielder is on loan at Atletico Madrid but has made multiple impassioned pleas to be allowed to join boyhood sign Boca Juniors.
      The Uruguayan wants to return to South America to be closer to his family after the death of his mother from Covid-19.
      Dad Ricardo told TNT Sports: “I do not think Lucas will play for Arsenal this year. If it’s not Boca, his destiny will be Italy or France.
      “We are left with the desire, instead of generating joy we generate an inconvenience to Boca’s leadership.”
      Credit: AFP
      IN WITH THE OLD
      Arsenal face Villarreal and Mikel Arteta goes head to head with his predecessor Unai Emery in the Europa League tonight.
      How Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta compared after 50 Premier League games
      HARSH WINTER
      Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn claimed it is the young players propping up Mikel Arteta’s flops and the boss would be lost without them.
      Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “Points wise they’re not a million miles off but the performances suggest, to me, that we’re still way short of the mark.
      “We still don’t know who our best centre-half pairing is, the right-back position looks as though it will need to be filled, we don’t know about the futures of [Martin] Odegaard and [Dani] Ceballos.
      “And then there’s [Alexandre] Lacazette closing in on the end of his contract, [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang has had a poor season.
      “Really, when you look at it, the young players have kept everything going this season as far as I’m concerned.
      “The young players coming through and performing to a high level have enabled the fans to be slightly more patient than they would be under normal circumstances.”
      SPAIN AGAIN
      Arsenal have tasted success in Spain before…
      Tonight the Gunners face Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final first leg.

      ROUD AWAKENING
      Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly set to depart Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer as he is reluctant to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
      The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and while the Blues would be open to extending his stay, the striker is claimed to be close to departing.
      According to Goal, the French World Cup winner is unlikely to sign a new deal in West London after falling down the pecking order.
      Giroud – who has started just eight Premier League matches this term – has played just once in the top-flight since the 0-0 draw against Manchester United in February.
      And it has been said that the ex-Gunners ace is considering his options regarding his next club as he looks for regular game time.
      Credit: Reuters
      FEEL THE BURN
      Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn says the Gunners are unrecognisable amid a turgid season on the pitch.
      Mikel Arteta’s men have the chance to take something from their campaign and face old manager Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final tonight.
      Winterburn told Bookmakers.co.uk: “They’re going to have to make a few more changes to the squad. How much they’ll do, I don’t know.
      “If I’m honest with you, I think there’s still a huge amount of questions to be asked about the team and Mikel Arteta would probably say so himself if he was asked at the end of the season.
      “There are times when you see glimpses of how good Arsenal can be, and then there are times when you feel as though it’s just not the club we all recognise.
      “The levels can vary from week to week and that inconsistency is a big problem for me. Until they find a solution, Arsenal are going to struggle to get back into the top four.”
      Credit: Getty – Contributor
      LES MISERABLES
      Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slammed ‘stupid’ PSG’s ‘mental collapse’ after Man City turned things around to win the Champions League semi-final first leg 2-1.

      CROWN JUL
      Arsenal are ready to pursue a bargain £17.5million deal to land Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Brandt, according to reports.
      The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer with Martin Odegaard heading back to Real Madrid.
      Boss Mikel Arteta has been told by Zinedine Zidane that they will not entertain any offers of extending Odegaard’s stay in North London.
      The Norwegian is seen as fundamental to Zidane’s plans and wants him to compete in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
      Arteta is being forced to look elsewhere and a deal for Brandt fits the bill.
      Bild write how Dortmund are willing to accept just £17.5m for the 24-year-old following a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
      Brandt has been on the edges of the first team with two goals in 16 league starts.

      U N AI GO WELL TOGETHER
      Robert Pires believes Unai Emery gives Villarreal the edge over Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals.
      That’s despite the Gunners sacking him in 2019 in favour of current boss Mikel Arteta. Pires feels Emery’s three Europa League crowns with Sevilla from 2013-2016 gives him vital pedigree.
      And French 1998 World Cup winner Pires told AS: “I have been lucky enough to play for two great teams, such as Arsenal and Villarreal.
      “Seeing them now face each other in a semi-final is something special. I see the situation at Arsenal with sadness.
      I speak with Arteta and I see that it has not been an easy year. What can save them is to win this Europa League and thus play the Champions League next year.
      “It is difficult to give a favourite for the semi-final. I would say it is 50-50. It is difficult to get it right. I think Villarreal has an advantage because they have Emery, a coach who has done very well in that competition. 
      “What I like the most is that it is a team that has a clear idea, that they like to play good football. 
      “Everyone knows that if you go to see Villarreal, you are going to see a good team, a team with very good players and that it will surely complicate things for Arsenal.”
      MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
      Gunners fans have been getting excited about Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s potential takeover in North London.
      And the Swede, 38, has reaffirmed his desire to buy his boyhood club.
      He told CNBC yesterday: “I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I was eight-years-old.
      “Arsenal is my team. I love the history, I love the players and of course, I love the fans.
      “So, as I look at that, I see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club, to bring it back to its glory.
      “I want to establish trust with the fans, and I want to engage the fans again.”
      Ek then added: “I’m very serious, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
      “I certainly didn’t expect this will happen overnight and I prepared for this to be a long journey.”
      On the pitch, however, the Gunners have an important game to focus on this evening, as they lock horns with old boss Unai Emery and Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final first-leg.
      Should Arsenal win, they could play in front of a 10,000 crowd in Gdansk, Poland on May 26 – potentially against Manchester United.
      ICYMI – BLOOMIN’ EK!
      Prospective Arsenal buyer Daniel Ek has been speaking to CNBC about his potential Gunners takeover.
      The Swede, 38, said: “I’m very serious, I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
      “I certainly didn’t expect this will happen overnight and I prepared for this to be a long journey.”
      Daniel Ek is ‘very serious’ about buying Arsenal
      ICYMI – EUR KIDDING ME
      Arsenal and Manchester United have been told they will play in front of a 10,000 crowd if they reach next month’s Europa League Final.
      But fans of the two Prem sides are unlikely to be allowed to travel to Poland – with local supporters set to be the only people allowed through the gates.
      Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced a series of new measures as the country emerges from the Covid crisis.
      That includes outdoor sports stadiums being able to open their turnstiles to up 25 per cent of capacities from May 15.
      The Europa League Final is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on May 26.
      It is the home ground of Lechia Gdansk and has an all-seater capacity of 41,620. That will allow potentially 10,405 fans inside for the Final.
      MORE FROM MARI
      Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has had his say on Villarreal, ahead of his side’s Europa League semi-final first leg clash with the Spaniards tomorrow night.
      He told the Gunners’ official website: “I have to say that Villarreal is a big club, the owners are doing the right things over the past couple of years.
      “They took a really good decisions for the club, they have a really strong academy and use it a lot for the young players, they are doing really well with this kind of thing and you can see it that they are growing the club.
      “I am really glad because they are doing the right things and you can see that they are playing for a semi-final in the Europa League and that tells you they are doing good things.”
      Pablo Mari is excited for tomorrow night’s clash

      VILL YOUR BOOTS
      Tomorrow’s Europa League semi-final first leg will be a special occasion for boyhood Villarreal fan Pablo Mari.
      He told Arsenal’s official website: “Of course, I grow up in Valencia and supported Villarreal and Valencia.
      “Of course they are the two teams in my city, every time when I was looking they beat Villarreal, I remember a lot of games I watched them and you think, ‘I want one time to play for them.’
      “You grow up with that dream. Now I am in the moment where I am going to play against them in a semi-final of the Europa League.
      “I am really glad to be here to fight for Arsenal in that semi-final and I am really happy and it’s going to be really special for me against Villarreal.”
      Pablo Mari is getting ready for a special occasionCredit: Getty
      I WANT CHU
      Genk striker Paul Onuachu revealed signing for Arsenal would be a ‘dream’.
      And the 6ft 7in forward’s club admitted they may have to sell their star asset this summer.
      Onuachu, 26, has attracted plenty of interest with his red-hot form since arriving in Belgium from Danish side Midtjylland, where he famously scored the winner against Manchester United.
      He admitted he is desperate to catch the eye of his beloved Gunners.
      The 11-cap Nigeria international recently labelled the Emirates as his ‘dream destination’ and longs to follow in the footsteps of his idols representing the club.
      And in another interview, Onuachu told Sporza: “I really like Arsenal. Emmanuel Adebayor, one of the players I admired most, played there.
      “I really was a fan of him, including Nwankwo Kanu. I really love watching Arsenal too.”
      Genk striker Paul Onuachu is hoping his impressive season will catch the eye of Arsenal
      RISKY BUSINESS
      Mikel Arteta has revealed whether he will be willing to ‘risk’ returning stars Kieran Tierney and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tomorrow night against Villarreal.
      He said: “We do need them, because we know that we have some players that are in contention and they are the ones who can make the difference in a big tie like this.
      “But the word risk, I don’t like to put players on the pitch if they can’t perform and they can’t feel secure that they can perform.
      “If it’s a risk or we’re going to take a gamble, then I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kieran Tierney are both nearing first-team returnsCredit: AFP
      TOP TIER
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given an update on full-back Kieran Tierney, following the news that the Scot is nearing full fitness.
      The Spaniard, 38, said: “He didn’t need the surgery that we were afraid of at the beginning and then he’s been working like a beast every single day.
      “I don’t know if he’s going to make it tomorrow [against Villarreal] but he certainly wants to be as close as possible to that football pitch to give himself the best possible chance.”
      Kieran Tierney is approaching full fitnessCredit: Getty
      TEAM NEWS
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given fans a positive update ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Villarreal.
      He said: “They are all in contention. All of them.
      “Including Aubameyang, Laca and Kieran. They are all in contention for the game. Yes [it is good news].”
      Mikel Arteta has given fans a positive fitness updateCredit: Getty
      NAI REGRETS
      Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has insisted that he has no regrets over his time in North London.
      He said: “We all have our pride and internal ego but because of my experiences with PSG, Arsenal, Sevilla and Valencia I have learned how to manage all the emotional moments that come with the position of coach.
      “My time at Arsenal is behind me but I always keep a piece of my heart for all the teams I have played for or managed.
      “I will always be grateful to Arsenal and just remember the good stuff which allowed me to grow and gave me a lot of experience to use at Villarreal.
      “Everyone knows Arsenal is a great club and Mikel Arteta is a great manager, so it’s a perfect marriage.
      “I think he should build on the improvements that I tried to work on but wasn’t allowed to continue.
      “Arsenal should be fighting for Champions League spots so they need to trust Arteta and have patience to execute a game plan because with patience and confidence they will make it.”
      Unai Emery was axed in November 2019

      CALL A CEB
      Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos has dropped a major hint that he could be set to return to parent club Real Madrid in the summer.
      The 24-year-old Spaniard joined the Gunners on a season-long loan deal at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign and impressed in England with his creativity and range of passing.
      His loan was then extended last summer and he has enjoyed another good campaign in North London.
      But while it would seem Arsenal fans are intent on keeping him on a more permanent basis, comments from Ceballos now appear to suggest he will not stay.
      Speaking to Onda Cero, he said: “I’m learning a lot in the Premier [League] but I think LaLiga is better for my game.”
      Ceballos looks set to return to Real Madrid at the end of the season
      Load more entries… More

    • 225 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd ‘the only club interested in Cristiano Ronaldo transfer’, Jadon Sancho ‘talks’, Haaland and Declan Rice latest

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED are the only club interested in Cristiano Ronaldo, according to reports from Italy.Agent Jorge Mendes has sounded out PSG, Real Madrid and the Red Devils – the only three clubs who can afford the Portugal captain.
      And United are said to have been the only club to have responded.
      We also have all the latest on United’s moves for transfer targets Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice.
      Get all the latest Man Utd news, updates and transfer gossip here…
      CROWN JULES
      Real Madrid are reportedly looking to fend off competition from Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Sevilla star Jules Kounde.
      The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move in the summer after two impressive years in Spain since joining from Bordeaux in 2019.
      SunSport exclusively revealed last month that United were weighing up a move for Kounde to pair him alongside Harry Maguire.
      But according to AS, Madrid are looking to keep Kounde in Spain as Zinedine Zidane eyes up a summer swoop.
      THE RON FOR ME
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s super-agent Jorge Mendes reportedly offered the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Manchester United.
      Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claim that CR7 is considering his options this summer if Juventus fail to qualify for the Champions League.
      And the report adds that Mendes offered Ronaldo to the three clubs capable of affording both the forward’s transfer fee and salary.
      Real Madrid were said to have declined while Paris Saint-Germain were not interested but United were the only club to respond.
      The Red Devils reportedly demanded that Ronaldo would have to take a 50% pay cut if there would be any chance of a deal.

      NO SMALL FAVOURS
      Luke Shaw warned old pals Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan that they won’t get any special treatment when Roma face Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final tonight.
      Shaw said: “Mkhi and Chris, I was here with both of them, and I really missed them when they left, they were really good guys and brilliant players.
      “It’ll be really nice to see them, they’ve both been doing really well. They’ve both been a bit unfortunate with injuries but they’re back fit now and they will obviously make their team much stronger than before.
      “I’m looking forward to seeing them tonight but the game is the most important, so we won’t be friends during it but maybe after we’ll have a chat.”
      But asked if he will be taking it easy against his old mates, Shaw was emphatic.
      He added: “No, there’s none of that. We’re all professionals and it’s our job, we’re doing it for ourselves but also the fans so it’s very important to keep being professional.
      “It’ll be very nice to see them but we’ll leaving the talking until after. We need to win the game and doing everything to win it.”
      LUKE-ING GOOD
      Luke Shaw said his outstanding Manchester United form is down to the return of his confidence ahead of tonight’s Europa League semi-final against Roma.
      Shaw said: “My form has been much improved, I’m enjoying my football. I’ve got my confidence back and I’m just loving playing football again.
      “Personally it’s nice for me to have a good season but that doesn’t really matter if we don’t have a successful season and that is to win a trophy.
      “If we don’t win a trophy and I’ve still had a good season I’ll be disappointed because the most important thing – and it’s why we play for a big club like Manchester United – is to win trophies.
      “Yeah I’ve been good but I want to help the team push for this trophy and cap off a great season and one I’ll be happy with if we do win the trophy.”
      Credit: Getty
      UP FOR G-RABS
      Juventus are considering flogging midfielder Adrien Rabiot after an underwhelming campaign, according to reports.
      Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with the midfield enforcer.
      And they could be handed a major transfer boost judging by reports coming out of Italy.
      TuttoSport write how the Old Lady have finally lost patience with Rabiot and are looking to upgrade him in the summer.
      Rabiot, 26, has featured heavily under Andrea Pirlo with 21 Serie A starts.
      But the reports adds how, except for a handful of matches, Rabiot’s performances, on the whole, have been average.
      Pirlo is eager to delve into the market this summer following a disappointing campaign with their nine-year Serie A reign coming to an end.

      KANE DO ATTITUDE
      Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Harry Kane’s situation very closely.
      The Tottenham striker failed to pick up his first major trophy with Spurs tasting defeat in the Carabao Cup final and could look to leave the club this summer with Champions League football seemingly off the cards.
      Norwegian outlet Dagbladet reports Kane is thinking about the idea of moving and the Red Devils are keeping tabs as things unfold.
      Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will ask for a minimum of £125million for the England captain.
      LINCREDIBLE GESTURE
      Jesse Lingard showed off his caring side by sending out mental health packages to his pals – before revealing his new ‘Be Yourself’ tattoo.
      The West Ham star – currently on-loan from Manchester United – has been open and honest with his own battles with mental health in recent months.
      Earlier this month, Lingard, 28, opened up about his struggle to cope with his mum’s depression and how it affected him both on and off the pitch.
      But the in-form midfielder is keen to make sure his family and friends are looked after by sending care packages to them.
      Derby’s former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe shared a picture of Lingard’s thoughtful gift on Instagram.
      Earlier this year, Ibe revealed he was in a ‘dark place’ and was suffering from depression.

      SEVENTH HEAVEN
      Manchester United know how to thump Roma after giving the Italians a 7-1 spanking in 2007 at Old Trafford.
      The two sides go head to head tonight in the Europa League semi-final.

      KANE HE COME?
      Harry Kane could be heading to Manchester this summer, according to former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
      He told talkSPORT: “After that statement he’s obviously going to leave. I can see him going to one of the Manchester clubs.
      “I can see him at City and United. As a Spurs fan, selfishly, I’d love him to stay, I’d love him to be at the football club because he’s just so professional. It’s so great what he’s done.
      “But you cannot begrudge him leaving because watching that final, we were miles off it. We’re miles away from winning a trophy.
      “I just can’t see us competing at the level he wants to be. You have to let him go.
      “This is his big move. It’s the one move where he can go for a lot of money. I’d love to see him go and play for Real Madrid.
      “He’d do great. But I just think he will be at a Manchester club.”
      Credit: Getty
      WHERE’S HE EDIN
      Edinson Cavani posted a cryptic message online as speculation around his future continues to swirl.
      The Uruguayan wrote in Spanish: “The only thing I know is that I will give my best.”

      MOST WANTED
      Manchester United will make Erling Haaland their No1 transfer target, according to reports.
      But the Red Devils may be forced to wait one more year before landing him for a bargain £65million fee.
      The Norwegian striker is Europe’s hottest property with a host of European giants prepared to make their moves.
      Manchester United are no different with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eager to land a prolific goalscorer to lead the line.
      According to Eurosport, club chiefs including director John Murtough have determined they will go all out to land Haaland.
      Dortmund are likely to put their star asset up for sale this summer for £130million if they miss out on Champions League football.
      Credit: EPA
      KNOWLEDGE PAUL
      Paul Pogba is drawing inspiration from some unlikely sources ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final against Roma.
      The French midfielder wants to take lessons from the mental strength shown by American sporting legends including Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and boxers Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
      Pogba told Uefa: “Tom Brady was just an example to really show people that, despite his age, he was still up to the challenge. He changed franchises but still won, which means that it’s possible to do so; wanted to show people that you could still succeed after changing clubs. He never gives up.
      “I have another example of a personal inspiration for me: Michael Jordan. I think that most of us already know his story, and his leadership and work ethic really have been an inspiration to me.
      “You want to take the last shots, like [Michael Jordan] did, and you always want to win. That requires extraordinary mental strength, and it’s a great source of inspiration for me.
      “Muhammad Ali is also an inspiration for me. In his day, he was one of the youngest heavyweights – just like Mike Tyson after him – to be crowned world champion. All of those people are inspirations because of their daily work ethic.
      “They push themselves. They might fall or lose, but they keep going, they come back stronger and they never give up. That’s important to me.”
      STATE OF TAT
      Manchester United defender Brandon Williams may not be making noise on the pitch, but he certainly is off it after getting a roaring lion sleeve tattoo.
      The 20-year-old – who has been limited to just seven minutes of Premier League football this term – has taken inspiration from Mason Greenwood’s latest artwork.

      The Red Devils striker has just got a lion tattoo sporting a crown on his forearm, with his team-mate also opting to get the king of the jungle inked onto him.
      Adding to his chest piece, Williams decided to get a full sleeve on his left arm, with a clock incorporated into the design.
      Tattoo artist Dale McGovern posted the incredible design on social media, with client Jesse Lingard liking the snap on Instagram.
      KIT LEAK
      All THREE Manchester United kits for next season appear to have been leaked online.

      THE SAN IS SHINING
      Manchester United have begun talks with Jadon Sancho’s representatives ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, according to reports.
      The Red Devils made the England wideman their No1 target last summer but failed to stump up the £108million required to lure him from Borussia Dortmund.
      But 90min reports United are still keen on signing the 21-year-old.
      The club reportedly have maintained lines of communication and are optimistic about their chances of snaring the player for half of last year’s asking price.
      Credit: EPA
      MORNING, MAN UNITED FANS
      The Red Devils are back in action this evening, as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to put an end to his semi-finals hoodoo as Manchester United manager.
      Solskjaer, 48, has reached four previous semis as boss, without winning a single one of them.
      And Luke Shaw is as determined as anyone to turn that situation around – starting in tonight’s first-leg against AS Roma at Old Trafford.
      The England left-back said: “Personally, for me it’s a massive motivation.
      “As you said then, I’ve been quite unfortunate to not be involved in semis and finals, so of course I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night to step out in one.
      “But, of course, from a team point of view, it’s very important. In the past, we’ve missed out on a few finals and I think this season, the way we’ve been playing, the way the confidence is high, we’ve got real belief that we can reach it.
      “Like I said, it’s a massive motivation for not just me, but for the whole team to reach the final. It’s a game we’re looking forward to tomorrow and one we’re very ready for.”
      Should United win, they could play in front of a 10,000 crowd in the Gdansk final on May 26 – potentially against Arsenal.
      NOT DONN
      Manchester United transfer target Gianluigi Donnarumma has put AC Milan contract talks on hold, according to reports.
      The goalkeeper’s current deal at the San Siro expires this summer.
      And with the Italian desperate to play in the Champions League, Football Italia state he slammed the brakes on negotiations.
      Milan put a two-year extension on the table worth £130,000 per week.
      But Donnarumma’s agent Mino Raiola is holding out for £200,000 per week for his 22-year-old client who is closing in on 250 first-team appearances for the Rossoneri, six years after his breakthrough.
      None of those, however, have been in Europe’s elite club competition with the club last featuring in it way back in 2013-14.
      The shot-stopper was also holding discussions with Juventus over a potential Serie A switch as the Old Lady offered around £167,000 a week.
      But neither AC nor Juve have guaranteed Champions League football next season.
      Gianluigi Donnarumma has put contract talks on hold because he is desperate to play Champions League football
      ICYMI – EUR KIDDING ME
      Arsenal and Manchester United have been told they will play in front of a 10,000 crowd if they reach next month’s Europa League Final.
      But fans of the two Prem sides are unlikely to be allowed to travel to Poland – with local supporters set to be the only people allowed through the gates.
      Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced a series of new measures as the country emerges from the Covid crisis.
      That includes outdoor sports stadiums being able to open their turnstiles to up 25 per cent of capacities from May 15.
      The Europa League Final is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on May 26.
      It is the home ground of Lechia Gdansk and has an all-seater capacity of 41,620. That will allow potentially 10,405 fans inside for the Final.

      LOUIS LOSES OUT
      Louis van Gaal has revealed the TEN Manchester United transfer targets he missed out on – including Neymar and Robert Lewandowski.
      The Dutchman, 69, told FourFourTwo: “I wanted Robert Lewandowski but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead.
      “Before I had arrived, I also spoke with the board about Neymar. If you are at United, you have to think big.
      “He was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts, and I wanted to have quick wingers. For that reason, I also tried to get Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
      “Thomas Muller was on my wish list, too, and in central midfield I wanted N’Golo Kante.
      “I even tried to sign James Milner, who was already quite old but very multifunctional and possessed leadership skills.
      “For the defence, I wanted Sergio Ramos and Mats Hummels, because ours wasn’t the strongest in building from the back.
      “Those were my top targets, but we couldn’t get any of them. I don’t know why, because as the manager I wasn’t involved in any negotiations.
      “After I left, players like Mahrez and Kante ended up at Manchester City and Chelsea, while United couldn’t get them. I found that very odd.”
      Louis van Gaal, 69, has revealed the ones that got awayCredit: Rex
      ONES FER ME
      Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has picked his dream five-a-side team – but only with Portuguese players.
      The Red Devils ace obviously picked Cristiano Ronaldo but also included some surprising names…
      Fernandes was asked to pick his dream team in an online Q&A with United’s website.
      The first name on the team-sheet was Wolves keeper Rui Patricio, with whom Fernandes won the Euros.
      Former Chelsea centre-half Ricardo Carvalho was his rock at the back.
      He wasted no time in picking his forwards with Portuguese legends Luis Figo and Ronaldo slotting in up front.
      But in his own midfield position the playmaker found it much tougher.
      He was grappling between Deco and the mercurial Rui Costa and eventually opted for the latter – leaving himself out the side.
      Fernandes picked an all-Portuguese five
      HEAR THE MAN OUT…
      England stars from other clubs are reportedly asking their Man United Three Lions team-mates about life at Old Trafford.
      United have recently been linked with the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice.
      And according to the Manchester Evening News, football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have confirmed that England stars are asking about life at the club.
      The minutes for a recent fans’ forum quote ‘JM&DF’ as saying: “Darren noted that they had heard that from players going away with England [and] other national teams that people have started to ask questions about Manchester United again.”
      Declan Rice has been linked with Man United
      WORTH A LUKE
      Former Manchester United ace Luke Chadwick has called on his old club to try and use Jesse Lingard in a swap deal for Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish.
      He told CaughtOffside: “I think Jesse Lingard, since his loan to West Ham, has probably been the best player in the Premier League for the past six, eight weeks.
      “It’s been fantastic for him and has perhaps shown that it is time for him to move on to pastures new.
      “If that was possible, and Lingard gets to play week in, week out at a club like Aston Villa, and Man United can attract one of the best players in the league in Jack Grealish, who’s got a huge future in front of him, that could be a fantastic piece of business on both sides.”
      Jesse Lingard and Jack Grealish could move in opposite directions, if Chadwick gets his wishCredit: Paul Marriott – The Sun
      GRAN-D OLD TIME
      Manchester United continue their Europa League campaign back against Villarreal at Old Trafford tomorrow night.
      So let’s remind ourselves of how they booked their place in the semi-finals.
      Enjoy, Red Devils!
      [embedded content]
      ON THE PAUL
      Fans will be hoping for a brilliant Paul Pogba performance tomorrow night against Roma.
      And the French ace appears to have been feeling good in training today!

      GUNNAR HAVE RESPECT
      Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted he meant no disrespect to Roma, when he admitted he hadn’t seen them play after beating Granada earlier this month.
      He said: “That was straight after the game and, with all the games we’ve had, I was just relieved that we had gone through.
      “Of course, I’ve watched them but I hadn’t analysed them and I hadn’t seen them in depth to give them enough respect probably.
      “It’s a fantastic club with a great history. I’ve actually got two prized possessions back home – a [Francesco] Totti shirt and a [Daniele] De Rossi shirt – I swapped shirts with them, they’re actually signed!
      “We are ready for them,” he added. “My comment was not meant as any disrespect and I think everyone knows that. I have got loads of respect for them.”
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has enormous respect for ‘fantastic’ RomaCredit: EPA
      Load more entries… More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Declan Rice ‘DID ask about Man Utd’ – fans forum hears, Cristiano Ronaldo return and Haaland transfer latest

      by

      DECLAN RICE did ask England team-mates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw about Man Utd on international duty, the club’s fans forum heard.The minutes of that forum read: “Darren noted that they had heard that from players going away with England [and] other national teams that people have started to ask questions about Manchester United again.”
      Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo is looking very carefully at a potential move to Man Utd, according to reports in Italy.
      Get all the latest Man Utd news, updates and transfer gossip here…
      NOT DONN
      Manchester United transfer target Gianluigi Donnarumma has put AC Milan contract talks on hold, according to reports.
      The goalkeeper’s current deal at the San Siro expires this summer.
      And with the Italian desperate to play in the Champions League, Football Italia state he slammed the brakes on negotiations.
      Milan put a two-year extension on the table worth £130,000 per week.
      But Donnarumma’s agent Mino Raiola is holding out for £200,000 per week for his 22-year-old client who is closing in on 250 first-team appearances for the Rossoneri, six years after his breakthrough.
      None of those, however, have been in Europe’s elite club competition with the club last featuring in it way back in 2013-14.
      The shot-stopper was also holding discussions with Juventus over a potential Serie A switch as the Old Lady offered around £167,000 a week.
      But neither AC nor Juve have guaranteed Champions League football next season.
      Gianluigi Donnarumma has put contract talks on hold because he is desperate to play Champions League football
      ICYMI – EUR KIDDING ME
      Arsenal and Manchester United have been told they will play in front of a 10,000 crowd if they reach next month’s Europa League Final.
      But fans of the two Prem sides are unlikely to be allowed to travel to Poland – with local supporters set to be the only people allowed through the gates.
      Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced a series of new measures as the country emerges from the Covid crisis.
      That includes outdoor sports stadiums being able to open their turnstiles to up 25 per cent of capacities from May 15.
      The Europa League Final is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on May 26.
      It is the home ground of Lechia Gdansk and has an all-seater capacity of 41,620. That will allow potentially 10,405 fans inside for the Final.

      LOUIS LOSES OUT
      Louis van Gaal has revealed the TEN Manchester United transfer targets he missed out on – including Neymar and Robert Lewandowski.
      The Dutchman, 69, told FourFourTwo: “I wanted Robert Lewandowski but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain instead.
      “Before I had arrived, I also spoke with the board about Neymar. If you are at United, you have to think big.
      “He was also interesting for the club in terms of selling shirts, and I wanted to have quick wingers. For that reason, I also tried to get Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
      “Thomas Muller was on my wish list, too, and in central midfield I wanted N’Golo Kante.
      “I even tried to sign James Milner, who was already quite old but very multifunctional and possessed leadership skills.
      “For the defence, I wanted Sergio Ramos and Mats Hummels, because ours wasn’t the strongest in building from the back.
      “Those were my top targets, but we couldn’t get any of them. I don’t know why, because as the manager I wasn’t involved in any negotiations.
      “After I left, players like Mahrez and Kante ended up at Manchester City and Chelsea, while United couldn’t get them. I found that very odd.”
      Louis van Gaal, 69, has revealed the ones that got awayCredit: Rex
      ONES FER ME
      Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has picked his dream five-a-side team – but only with Portuguese players.
      The Red Devils ace obviously picked Cristiano Ronaldo but also included some surprising names…
      Fernandes was asked to pick his dream team in an online Q&A with United’s website.
      The first name on the team-sheet was Wolves keeper Rui Patricio, with whom Fernandes won the Euros.
      Former Chelsea centre-half Ricardo Carvalho was his rock at the back.
      He wasted no time in picking his forwards with Portuguese legends Luis Figo and Ronaldo slotting in up front.
      But in his own midfield position the playmaker found it much tougher.
      He was grappling between Deco and the mercurial Rui Costa and eventually opted for the latter – leaving himself out the side.
      Fernandes picked an all-Portuguese five
      HEAR THE MAN OUT…
      England stars from other clubs are reportedly asking their Man United Three Lions team-mates about life at Old Trafford.
      United have recently been linked with the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice.
      And according to the Manchester Evening News, football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have confirmed that England stars are asking about life at the club.
      The minutes for a recent fans’ forum quote ‘JM&DF’ as saying: “Darren noted that they had heard that from players going away with England [and] other national teams that people have started to ask questions about Manchester United again.”
      Declan Rice has been linked with Man United
      WORTH A LUKE
      Former Manchester United ace Luke Chadwick has called on his old club to try and use Jesse Lingard in a swap deal for Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish.
      He told CaughtOffside: “I think Jesse Lingard, since his loan to West Ham, has probably been the best player in the Premier League for the past six, eight weeks.
      “It’s been fantastic for him and has perhaps shown that it is time for him to move on to pastures new.
      “If that was possible, and Lingard gets to play week in, week out at a club like Aston Villa, and Man United can attract one of the best players in the league in Jack Grealish, who’s got a huge future in front of him, that could be a fantastic piece of business on both sides.”
      Jesse Lingard and Jack Grealish could move in opposite directions, if Chadwick gets his wishCredit: Paul Marriott – The Sun
      GRAN-D OLD TIME
      Manchester United continue their Europa League campaign back against Villarreal at Old Trafford tomorrow night.
      So let’s remind ourselves of how they booked their place in the semi-finals.
      Enjoy, Red Devils!
      [embedded content]
      ON THE PAUL
      Fans will be hoping for a brilliant Paul Pogba performance tomorrow night against Roma.
      And the French ace appears to have been feeling good in training today!

      GUNNAR HAVE RESPECT
      Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted he meant no disrespect to Roma, when he admitted he hadn’t seen them play after beating Granada earlier this month.
      He said: “That was straight after the game and, with all the games we’ve had, I was just relieved that we had gone through.
      “Of course, I’ve watched them but I hadn’t analysed them and I hadn’t seen them in depth to give them enough respect probably.
      “It’s a fantastic club with a great history. I’ve actually got two prized possessions back home – a [Francesco] Totti shirt and a [Daniele] De Rossi shirt – I swapped shirts with them, they’re actually signed!
      “We are ready for them,” he added. “My comment was not meant as any disrespect and I think everyone knows that. I have got loads of respect for them.”
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has enormous respect for ‘fantastic’ RomaCredit: EPA
      TEAM NEWS
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given an update on all the team news ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Roma.
      The Norwegian said: “There are so many games!
      “They’re all fit and available, we didn’t lose anyone from the last game, which was good. It was a hard-fought game of course against Leeds, high intensity. We’re ready and we’ve had good preparation for the rest of the season.”
      Quizzed about Marcus Rashford and Eric Bailly, he added: “Both of them are available. That’s good.
      “We have managed Marcus and we have had to do it for quite a while. I feel he’s gone through the worst now. He’s available for selection tomorrow, he’s happy with the progress.”
      Anthony Martial and Phil Jones both remain out injured.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has updated fans ahead of tomorrow night’s gameCredit: PA
      MORE FROM SHAW
      Luke Shaw has offered his thoughts on why Man United have fallen at the semi-final stage of competitions FIVE times under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      He said: “I think, first and foremost, no semi-final is easy, they’re always tough games.
      “We’ve just missed out on a few, like you said. We’ve had a lot of disappointment from that, so I think we can use that as motivation for this one, the way we felt after them.
      “Like I say, we were very disappointed, we can just reflect on that and put things right tomorrow and start with that.
      “It’s obviously two legs so you know it will only be half-time after tomorrow, but the first leg will always be a very important one and we’ve had a few days to prepare for this and we’re ready for this because we want to win this trophy.”
      Luke Shaw wants to put Man United’s recent semi-final record rightCredit: PA
      SHAW THING
      Manchester United star Luke Shaw has spoken of his ‘motivation’ to reach the Europa League final, after missing his side’s 2017 triumph through injury.
      The England star said: “Personally, for me it’s a massive motivation.
      “As you said then, I’ve been quite unfortunate to not be involved in semis and finals, so of course I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night to step out in one.
      “But, of course, from a team point of view, it’s very important. In the past, we’ve missed out on a few finals and I think this season, the way we’ve been playing, the way the confidence is high, we’ve got real belief that we can reach it.
      “Like I said, it’s a massive motivation for not just me, but for the whole team to reach the final. It’s a game we’re looking forward to tomorrow and one we’re very ready for.”
      Luke Shaw has been in sensational formCredit: PA
      WHEN IN ROMA
      Manchester United host Roma in their Europa League semi-final first leg tomorrow night.
      And here is how SunSport’s Dave Fraser thinks that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will line his men up at Old Trafford.
      How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could line his side up tomorrow night
      OLE TRAFFORD
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident his side will beat Roma on Thursday.
      💬 Ole: “The players have more experience, so I feel very confident we will put in a good performance.”The team is in good form, we’re confident, so I hope we can produce on the night.#MUFC #UEL pic.twitter.com/hNfCwFBHMF— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 28, 2021

      ONE FER THE FUTURE
      Bruno Fernandes has revealed he dreams of managing Manchester United once he has retired as a player.
      Speaking to the club’s website about what he plans to do after retiring from football, he said: “I think I want to be a coach.
      “Honestly, I would like to be a coach. I don’t know which team I would like to manage. Of course, the biggest team if I can manage Manchester United, I will be happy.
      “I can leave now just some words so if people see this, if I’m a manager in the future, the fans can make some pressure to bring me as a coach!
      “But I think I would like to be a coach in the future. I’m not sure but for what I feel for football, for the feeling I have, I think I have to continue to be inside of football because my whole life is about this.
      “So I think, in the future, it needs to be with football too.”
      EUR KIDDING ME
      Arsenal and Manchester United have been told they will play in front of a 10,000 crowd if they reach next month’s Europa League Final.
      But fans of the two Prem sides are unlikely to be allowed to travel to Poland – with local supporters set to be the only people allowed through the gates.
      Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has announced a series of new measures as the country emerges from the Covid crisis.
      That includes outdoor sports stadiums being able to open their turnstiles to up 25 per cent of capacities from May 15.
      The Europa League Final is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on May 26.
      It is the home ground of Lechia Gdansk and has an all-seater capacity of 41,620. That will allow potentially 10,405 fans inside for the Final.
      CROWN JULES
      Sevilla are interested in taking Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech as part of the Blues’ bid for Jules Kounde, according to reports in Spain.
      French defender Kounde is rumoured to be one of the hottest properties of the summer transfer market.
      A strong second season with Sevilla has helped put the LaLiga club in position for an unlikely late title challenge.
      And Manchester United are said to be monitoring the player, along with Chelsea.
      Spanish outlet El Gol Digital have claimed that Ziyech could be key to unlocking the deal.
      Selling the midfielder as part of Kounde’s move to West London could reportedly chop 50 per cent off the transfer fee.
      Jules Kounde has made himself a key player for title challengers Sevilla
      WAGE RAGE
      Liverpool have risen above Manchester United in the Premier League wage bill standings – but still sit miles adrift of Manchester City.
      The official salary totals for the 2019-20 season have now been confirmed.
      Across last season, the Reds paid out a whopping £325million in player wages.
      Meanwhile, Manchester City still top the pile, shelling out an extraordinary £351m on wages last season.
      Man Utd sit third on the list – miles adrift of their local rivals – on £284m, despite David De Gea signing a massive £375,000-a-week contract at the start of the season.
      Last season, Chelsea spent just £1m less than United on wages at £283m.
      Arsenal and Tottenham ran the tightest ship wage-wise, spending just £225m and £181m respectively last term.
      Man City spent the most on players wages in 2019-20, with Liverpool overtaking Man Utd
      BIRTHDAY BOY
      Man Utd playmaker Juan Mata has turned 33 today.
      Take a look at his strike against former employers Chelsea two years ago on this day.

      RED AHEAD
      Sir Alex Ferguson could be celebrating £296,000 winnings from the past month if his horse triumphs in the Punchestown Gold Cup today.
      Fergie’s Clan Des Obeaux has been tipped by Templegate to land the big one in Ireland.
      Victory there would give the Manchester United icon and the horse’s two other owners a tasty £127,000 windfall.
      That would come on the back of a magical day at Aintree earlier this month when Fergie cheered home the first three winners.
      The former Old Trafford gaffer co-owns Protektorat, Monmiral and Clan Des Obeaux.
      GIGGS IN COURT
      Ryan Giggs has arrived at court this morning charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend.
      The Manchester United legend, 47, is accused of causing actual bodily harm to PR executive Kate Greville, 36, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
      The former United star and Wales national team manager faces an additional charge of engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour against her over a three-year period.
      It’s claimed that throughout their three-year relationship – between December 2017 and November 2020 – Giggs used “harassment, humiliation, degradation and abuse” against Kate.
      Giggs has also been charged with common assault against her younger sister Emma.
      Police were called to Giggs’ £1.7million mansion at 10.05pm on November 1 last year after reports of a disturbance. He was arrested and later bailed pending further inquiries.
      Giggs arriving at Manchester Magistrates Court this morning
      CREAM OF THE CROP
      Bruno Fernandes has been the cream of the crop for Manchester United this season… and the secret to his udderly brilliant performances could be down to his relentless milk intake.
      The Portuguese superstar has been spotted by eagle-eyed viewers sipping on the white stuff from the substitute bench during moments throughout the season.
      During a Q&A with Red Devil supporters, one asked why he has stopped his ritual, with Fernandes was eager to reassure he is still downing milk.
      As reported on United’s official site, he said: “I don’t stop drinking milk. It’s just that the coach is substituting me less than before.
      “Before, he changed me a lot of times and I think in the last games I was not coming off a lot of times so you never see me with the milk.
      “But, honestly, I don’t know if it is milk – sometimes it’s milk and sometimes it’s water with some stuff to help us [with the] recovery.
      “But it’s okay, the milkman for me, I like milk so it’s okay, don’t worry about that. I still do it but sometimes in the dressing room, sometimes I take that drink to my home to drink.”
      Bruno Fernandes has been seen drinking milk during matches
      TELL ALL
      Man Utd defender Alex Telles has warned his side they will have to wary of Roma striker Edin Dzeko for Thursday’s Europa League clash.
      Speaking to the club’s matchday magazine United Review, the Brazilian said: “We’re always keeping an eye on the teams we may come up against further down the line, so we’ll watch their game.
      “I know Roma are a quality team with very good attacking players such as Edin Dzeko. Players who create a lot up front.“
      Before adding: ““He’s a quality finisher, he knows how to score goals. You’re dealing with a centre-forward with a real physical presence because of his stature.
      “He’s a constant danger so we need to concentrate. I believe we have a very strong and focused backline to deal with this.
      “We know facing a team like Roma in a semi-final that we’re going to be up against quality players. We have to be ready.“

      WHEN IN ROME
      Manchester United’s Luke Shaw believes the Europa League semi-final against Roma could define their season and it’s time they scooped up the trophy.
      Resurgent left-back Shaw said: “These are three massive games coming up and especially the two against Roma, which could sort of define our season.
      “I think we have been in the semi-finals a lot in the last two seasons, and we haven’t been successful in them.
      “So this is a chance for us to take a step in the right direction, get through that and then win the competition.”
      SCRATCH THE IC
      Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic recognises Roma will be a tough task in the Europa League semi-final but the club need to progress and bring trophies home.
      He said: “I think it’s time to get to the final and win this trophy, but it’s going to be hard.
      “We respect Roma, we know that they are a good squad with a good coach and a big club.
      “It’s going to be interesting, but we have to believe in our qualities.
      “We want to play in that big final and bring trophies to Old Trafford because this club deserves the best.”
      Load more entries… More