The Sun Newspaper

MANCHESTER UNITED are keeping a close eye on Jonny Evans’ contract situation at Leicester.
And if he has still not signed a new deal by the turn of the year, they are considering a shock move to bring their former defender back to Old Trafford.

Man Utd are keeping a close eye on former star Jonny EvansCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would like to add a left-sided centre back to his squad, but has a kitty of just £20 million in January – unless he can bring in more from sales.
Evans, 32, is in the final year of his deal with the Foxes, and although he has admitted he’d be happy to extend his stay, so far nothing has been agreed.
And his name has been flagged up by United’s player acquisition team as a possible cut-price transfer option if he has not been nailed by Leicester when the next window opens.
Evans came through the Old Trafford ranks as a schoolboy and spent a decade at the club before joining West Brom in 2015.

He moved to Leicester two years ago, but a United source revealed: “Johnny’s name has come up in conversation.

Jonny Evans won three league titles and two League Cups at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“There are still a lot of people here who have plenty of time for him – and that includes Ole and Mike Phelan.”
Evans, who has played in six league games for Leicester this term, made 131 Prem appearances for United. 
And the Belfast-born defender and his Leicester team-mates will take on Fulham in their tenth top-flight game this term.

⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

Wayne Rooney reveals he was keen to swap Manchester United for Barcelona in 2010 More

IT ALWAYS amazed me when anyone said of Diego Maradona: “Yes, he was a great player but what would he be like in the modern game?”
I’ll tell you what he’d have been like… if he was unplayable back then, he’d have been absolutely untouchable now.

Diego Maradona wowed football fans with his feats at the 1986 World CupCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Maradona (pictured with Pele) would have been formidable if he was playing todayCredit: AP:Associated Press

Anyone who questions if Diego — or Pele, George Best, any of the greats from back then — could cut it these days really has no idea.
This wasn’t a time when the slightest touch meant a foul and probably a yellow card as well. It was a time of anything goes.
To any younger ones who didn’t see him play, I’d tell them to get their hands on as many videos of Maradona as they can and then ask themselves the same question.
Look at the amazing things he could do with a ball, of course. But as much as anything, look at the tackles he had to put up with, too.

I say tackles, but some of them would have made you wince if they’d been in a wrestling ring.
Waist high, scything, studs-up challenges, defenders putting the boot in every time Diego came close. It was X-rated, scary stuff.
And it was every game he played.
But Diego would just get on with it, he’d ride the tackles and could give as good as he got.

He wasn’t just brilliant, he was tough as well.

The Napoli icon was on the receiving end of some brutal tackles during his playing careerCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

For me, there’s never been the slightest doubt whether Diego or Pele would cut it now — more whether the likes of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo could have done it back then.
As far as who’s the greatest, I’ll always be split between Maradona or Pele.
And just so thankful we got to see them both play.

Watch legendary Diego Maradona’s incredible pre-match warm-up More

JOSE MOURINHO isn’t just one of the best managers in the business, he’s also a classic wind-up merchant.
He loves all that and has been at it for years, as Frank Lampard found out when they had a bit of a spat as Chelsea played Tottenham a couple of months ago.

Tottenham chief Jose Mourinho’s’ attempts at winding up Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will mean little in the end, says Harry RedknappCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Harry Redknapp says no rival benches took liberties with him as he had big Joe Jordan as his assistant at Portsmouth, Spurs and QPRCredit: PA:Press Association

Funnily enough, though, I never had any run-ins with him. Mind you, I didn’t have much trouble with anyone really and I’ve an idea why — I had Joe Jordan on the touchline!
Let’s face it, you’re not going to start on me when he’s there, even with his teeth in! If anyone was at it, he’d just look across and say, “Hey you, sit down”.
It was like he was telling his dog to get off the chair, but they’d always sit back down on their side of the dugout.
I couldn’t tell you how many opposition people he told over the years and sometimes I’d have to apologise for him after the game.

Joe is very quiet, an absolutely lovely man, but like a lot of the quiet ones, you wouldn’t take liberties with him. If he said something you listened, believe me.
He kept himself in such great shape as well. He’d be in the gym at 7am every single day, an hour before anyone else got in. I took Joe with me to Portsmouth, then Tottenham and QPR too and you could bet your life on him.
It amazes me no young boss has taken him because he’d be a great asset.
Going back to Frank and Jose, some people have built up that row at the Carabao Cup game into something it’s not ahead of Chelsea playing Spurs again today.

I speak to Frank a lot and know he got a bit of the hump after Jose said he didn’t get off the bench when he was losing 3-0 at West Brom, but it was something and nothing.

Frank Lampard was irked when Jose Mourinho accused him of failing to get off the bench when Chelsea trailed 3-0 in a 3-3 draw at WBA in SeptemberCredit: Reuters

When Mourinho first went to Chelsea, he called Frank into the office and said he was going to make him the best goalscoring midfielder in the world.
He gave him so much belief and confidence and has always admitted he owes Jose so much. There’s a lot of respect there.
You’ll often get a bit aggy on the touchline. Frank had a bit of a row with Jurgen Klopp as well, but there’s no problem there either.
After the game it’s all forgotten, you’ll have a cup of tea or a drink and you just get on with it — although it’s so different these days.
Back then you’d go in the manager’s office for a glass of wine, then your trainer or whoever would come in and say, “The lads are on the coach and we’re waiting for go”.

Stamford Bridge chief Frank Lampard also had something of a row with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp but there was no problem afterwardsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Jose Mourinho has a better chance of getting a result at old club Chelsea on Sunday with no fans there, Harry Redknapp believesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The fish and chips would have been ordered and he’d be standing there shouting out the orders, with the salt and vinegar and the sauce.
There were also times the trainer would be sent back to tell the team they’d have to wait because they were f***ing useless — even though you’d be starving yourself!
That’s not something Frank or Jose will be doing because there’s so much a manager has to do after a game these days.
The one certainty is it should be a cracking game because both Chelsea and Spurs have got a serious chance of being right up there this season.
I’ve said all along that Mourinho has a fantastic squad with cover in every position — and most of them are established internationals as well.

But Frank is building a great squad too, he’s getting backing from the owner and I’ve no doubt he will be a massive success.
If the fans were allowed in I’d have fancied that to give Chelsea a little edge, but as it is I really can’t split the two teams.
It should be a really good battle with all those stars, but if I had to put my house on it I’d go for the draw.
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

Chelsea vs Tottenham – Watch LIVE, channel info and kick-off time More