The Sun Newspaper

FULHAM are confident of convincing all their loan stars to stay — if they beat the drop.
The Cottagers, who are in the relegation zone on goal difference, have SEVEN borrowed players playing regularly for boss Scott Parker.

Josh Maja is one of the loan stars that Fulham are looking to keepCredit: EPA

SunSport understands there is a growing belief all of them can re-sign next season IF they stay in the Premier League.
They have options to buy four loanees at the end of the season.
These include Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, Torino defender Ola Aina, Bordeaux striker Josh Maja and Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina.
All four have contributed significantly this term with Areola and Aina helping Fulham to a 1-0 win at Liverpool, where Lemina got the winner.

And striker Maja, who scored both goals in last month’s win at Everton, could stay regardless of whether Fulham retain their top-flight status.
The other three loan players who do not have options in their deals are Lyon defender Joachim Andersen, RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman and Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Lookman, 23, has four goals and three assists.
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Andersen, 24, made captain after just FOUR games, has been pivotal.
Asked if he would join permanently if Fulham survive, he said: “Yeah, of course. It’s early to say but I will not exclude anything. I’m open.”
The club are also keen to keep Loftus-Cheek, 25.

Liverpool v Fulham as it happened More

MIKEL ARTETA is ready for blast- off as he predicts Arsenal will exit lockdown with a bang.
A year ago today Arteta contracted the coronavirus which forced football to shutdown in the UK.

Mikel Arteta puts his Arsenal stars through their paces in training on WednesdayCredit: Getty

Strict regulations were imposed, games were played behind closed doors and he was forced to impose a deeply unpopular pay cut on his players.
But now the Spaniard, 38, is convinced the experience has had a galvanising effect on Arsenal and made him a better manager.
Ahead of tonight’s Europa League clash with Greek side Olympiakos, he said: “I could never imagine the consequences that this virus was going to have on all of us when I got tested and had the symptoms.
“OK, I knew I could be ill, but I only had three months working in normal conditions before I had to operate in a completely different context.

“That has been really challenging but at the same time it has made us much stronger as a club.
“We have created a really united group of players and a really close bond with our fans and staff.
“I think that is going to pay big rewards in the future when everything returns to normality.
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“That is when I think this project is going to go ‘bang’. I know that might be difficult to see at the moment but I’m sure that is where we are going.
“The only way we are going to convince our fans we are doing a great job is by winning.”
Arteta admitted getting Arsenal back on track was tough enough even before Covid. But he insisted he was by no means the only top boss to struggle.

Arsenal likely line-up against Olympiakos

Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Pepe, Odegaard, Saka; Aubameyang.

He said: “We have all lived through something no manager has ever been through before.
“It’s been challenging for all of us and this came on top of many more problems we had already inherited.”
Olympiakos knocked Arsenal out of last season’s Europa League, scoring a decisive away goal in the final minute of extra-time at the Emirates.
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And with Arsenal languishing in mid-table, Arteta knows the tie is crucial to their hopes of European qualification for next season.
He added: “This is an important opportunity to keep our club in Europe — the financial package attached to that is really, really important for us.
“We are planning for the future. We are trying to put a plan in place but there are so many factors involved.”

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s loss to Olympiacos last year ’emotionally drained us’ More

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER hopes a change in the weather could convince Edinson Cavani his future lies in Manchester.
On a not unfamiliar soaking wet day in the North West, Solskjaer was quizzed on quotes from the striker’s father saying he wanted to quit United.

Edinson Cavani is understood to be unhappy in England at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty

But ahead of tonight’s Europa League clash with AC Milan, the old Trafford chief said: “Edinson is fully focused on being available for us and working really hard to get fit.
“From my bad Spanish and his better English, he’s very proud to play for Manchester United.
“He’s always going to give his best, if it’s beyond this season as well.
“The decision hasn’t been made. As we’ve said, he’s made a great contribution so far.

“We’re just working on getting him back on the pitch and fit and we’ll convince him when the weather in Manchester improves.”
On Tuesday his father Luis claimed the Uruguayan star, 34, was not ‘comfortable’ in Manchester and still unhappy about a three-game FA ban he got for using the word ‘negrito’ in an online post.
Luis said: “My son does not feel comfortable in England and wants to be close to the family again.
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Solskjaer is still hoping to convince Cavani to stay at Man Utd this coming summerCredit: Getty
“He was very bothered by the sanction they gave him for saying ‘negrito’.”
He hinted that at a move to Boca Juniors in Argentina would suit his son.
But Cavani tried to steady the ship with an Instagram post of himself celebrating in his United kit, captioning it: ‘Proud to wear this shirt’.There are question marks as to whether the father’s words truly reflect Cavani’s feelings.And Solskjaer emphasised how valued he is at the club, with the option still open of him staying on next season.

The Norwegian added: “I can’t comment on what has been said. I can only say we’re very pleased with Edinson.
“He’s working really hard to be available and day in, day out, he’s proving his personality and professionalism.
“Even in his broken English he’s really helping the young kids — as we wanted him to.

“We knew he wasn’t able to play every game as he’d been out of football for so long.
“Now, let’s just make sure he plays as much as possible before the end of the season, scores as many goals as he can, helps the young players — even the rest of the group with his mentality — then he will make his decision.
“He knows we are very fond of what he’s given to the club, even though he’s probably played less than he wanted.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

The Uruguayan joined United as a free agent last October after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and has seven goals.
Yet he is doubt tonight for their last-16, first-leg tie with the Italians at Old Trafford.
He missed Sunday’s 2-0 derby win over City through injury and Marcus Rashford is also a doubt after limping out of that game.

Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms Marcus Rashford injured and Cavani ‘probably’ out for AC Milan match More

THE family of footballer Emiliano Sala have launched legal action against Cardiff City and his former club over his death in a plane crash. 
The 28-year-old striker was travelling to join the Welsh side after signing from FC Nantes when the aircraft hit the sea near Guernsey.

Emiliano Sala’s family have launched legal action against Cardiff CityCredit: AFP

A pre-inquest review into the Argentine player’s death took place in Bournemouth on Wednesday, but a full inquest won’t be held until next year.
Sala’s family today launched civil proceedings against 13 defendants.
Lawyers for the family said the high court action had been started to “protect their legal rights”.
It includes Cardiff City – the club he had signed for just three days before his death.

They are also taking legal action against his former French club, FC Nantes, which sold him for £15million.
Daniel Machover, of Hickman & Rose Solicitors, said: “In order to protect their legal rights and remedies arising from Emiliano’s untimely death, the family have commenced civil proceedings in the high court, but will seek agreement to stay those proceedings pending the outcome of the inquest.”

The wreckage of the plane which crashed into the Channel in January 2019Credit: PA:Press Association
Sala was killed on a flight to join his new club when the single-engine Piper Malibu plane crashed north of Guernsey on January 21, 2019.
His body was recovered the following month but the aircraft’s unqualified pilot, David Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been found.

David Henderson, who is alleged to have arranged the flight, is due to stand trial in October.
He is accused of endangering the safety of an aircraft, as well as attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch previously concluded that the aircraft carrying Sala and Mr Ibbotson suffered an in-flight break-up while being flown too fast for its design limits.
It also found that the pilot lost control while attempting to avoid bad weather.
It added that Mr Ibbotson was probably affected by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Investigators found that a contributory factor in the crash was Mr Ibbotson having no training in night flying, and a lack of recent practice in relying only on cockpit instruments to control a plane.
They also found that he held a private pilot’s licence that did not allow him to conduct flights for reward.

Yellow flowers displayed in front of a portrait of Emiliano Sala at the Beaujoire stadium in NantesCredit: AFP or licensors
In January this year, on the second anniversary of the fatal air crash, Sala’s family demanded to know “the full truth” about his death.
In a statement, the family’s lawyer called for a formal inquest to be held after the trial of charter pilot Mr Henderson.
Henderson denied endangering the safety of an aircraft and attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation when he appeared before Cardiff Crown Court in October last year.
His trial has been set for October this year and lawyer Mr Machover, on behalf of the family, urged swift action by the UK authorities.
Machover said: “It is a tragedy that two years have passed since Emiliano’s death and we still do not know exactly how and why he died. 
“An inquest is the only way to establish the full truth. 
“I very much hope that the Dorset Coroner will now set a date for the inquest to start immediately after David Henderson’s trial, so that Emiliano’s family do not have to endure another bleak anniversary with no answers.”

The statement came one month after former Man United star Fabio revealed he spoke to Sala on the afternoon of his tragic death.
Fabio said: “In the afternoon he was going to take the plane, he asked me so many things about Cardiff, because he knew I had played there.
“I told him that anything he needed or wanted from me, he could text me. And then, in the morning, when I heard the news, it was shocking.
“Before he signed he asked me and I told him how the fans were, how everyone is in the stadium, how the club works.
“He was such a professional and to be honest, I was happy for him, because I knew Cardiff fans would have loved him. He was a fantastic character.”

Emiliano Sala crash – wife of pilot David Ibbotson says family will ‘never get closure’ as investigation to be published More