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Spurs reportedly make decision after learning managerial appointment could cost £70m
Tottenham Hotspur have ended their interest in Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers after learning appointing him could cost them £70 million, according to The Sun. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was keen to have the former Liverpool boss succeed Jose Mourinho after Bayern Munich pipped him to RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann. While Rodgers publicly dismissed the prospect of becoming Tottenham’s next boss, Levy was confident of finally getting his man after trying to appoint him as Harry Redknapp’s successor in 2012. However, Leicester’s expected compensation demands of £20m have put him off. While Rodgers currently earns up to £10m a season at the King Power Stadium, Spurs would need to offer a four-year deal of £12.5m-per-year to have a chance of landing him. The north London gian...
Five star second-half performance puts Man Utd in control of Europa League semi-final tie with Roma
Manchester United will take a commanding 6-2 lead into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Roma. The Red Devils were 2-1 down at the break, but five unanswered second-half goals put them firmly in the driving seat ahead of next week’s trip to Rome. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made three changes to his side from their 0-0 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday. Goalkeeper David De Gea returned in goal, while Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani also came into the starting XI: United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Pogba, Cavani. Roma arrived at Old Trafford on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Cagliari in Serie A, which sums up a poor season for the Italian side. Currently seventh in the league and...
‘This is my second home’: Chelsea defender open to signing a new long-term contract
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen has talked up the prospect of signing a new contract following his resurgence under head coach Thomas Tuchel. The Dane struggled for playing time during the first half of the campaign, but his situation changed after Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as the manager in January. Christensen initially started on the bench under the German, but he got the chance to impress in the back three after an injury to Thiago Silva. Since Silva’s return, there have been occasions where he has played alongside the Brazilian, with Cesar Azpilicueta featuring in the right wing-back position. The Dane’s current contract with the Blues expires at the end of next season, but he has said that he is committed to the club for the long term. He told Chelseafc.com: “I’ve never doub...
West Ham could move for potential free agent this summer
West Ham could make a move for Everton forward Joshua King this summer, with his short-term due to expire at the end of the campaign. King signed for Everton on a short-term deal during the January transfer window but has hardly featured for the Toffees. The Norwegian attacker has made nine Premier League appearances but they only amount to 123 minutes of football, with King still waiting on his first Everton start. As a result, King’s future is in doubt, with Everton needing to make a decision over his future ahead of the summer. King will also be wary that he may not get much playing time if he remains at Everton, and could look elsewhere for minutes on the pitch. Now, West Ham could reportedly make a move for King this summer, according to TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook. “West Ham have g...
Newcastle ‘pressing ahead’ to sign 23 y/o int’l by offering £17m less than club’s valuation – Report
Newcastle United are keen to sign Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic in the summer transfer window. According to reports from the Daily Mail, the Magpies are “pressing ahead” in their bid to sign the highly-rated Celtic defender. Ajer, who was signed by Brendan Rodgers during his time at Celtic, has established himself into a quality defender and has been linked with a move to the Premier League before. The Norway international has just one year left on his current deal, and he is determined to leave the club in the summer. The report claims that Celtic value Ajer at around £25 million, but Newcastle are looking to offer only £8m, that is £17m short of the player’s valuation. It is unlikely that any potential club would be willing to meet Celtic’s asking price as Ajer could leave for free next su...
West Ham United still interested in signing 24-year-old striker with 14 goals this season
West Ham United are continuing to monitor the progress of Reims striker Boulaye Dia ahead of the summer, Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t SportWitness) claims. The French striker was regularly linked with the Hammers during the winter transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise between the clubs. The 24-year-old’s form has dipped over the past few months, but the striker still appeals the Hammers following their January interest. However, they could face competition this summer with Serie A duo Napoli and Fiorentina also keen on signing the Senegal international. Sportslens view: The Hammers sanctioned the sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January, but they failed to land a suitable replacement before the deadline. Hence, Michail Antonio is the only senior striker in the squad, and he is ...
Newcastle keen on £30m-rated defender, six other Premier League clubs keen
Norwich City defender Max Aarons has been linked with a move away from the Championship club at the end of the season. The 21-year-old defender has been outstanding for the Canaries, helping them secure promotion back to the Premier League. According to 90min, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Everton have all asked Norwich to keep them informed of the defender’s situation ahead of the summer transfer window. The report further states that Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the youngster as a potential replacement for Hector Bellerin, who has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Aarons is valued at around £30 million and could prove to be a superb long term signing for any of the aforementioned clubs. SL View: Would be the ideal...
Villa reportedly plotting summer move for English winger Guardiola admires
Aston Villa want to sign Burnley winger Dwight McNeil this summer and are preparing a huge bid ahead of the transfer window, according to Football Insider. The England youth international has been a key player for the Clarets over the last four campaigns, making 102 appearances and weighing in with seven goals and 16 assists. Burnley recently rewarded McNeil with a new deal that runs until 2024 with the option of another year, but that will not dissuade Villa from going after his signature. The Midlands outfit want to bolster their attacking ranks this summer in a bid to mount a stronger top-six challenge next season. Villa have largely depended on the creativity of Jack Grealish in the final third, and his injury-enforced absence has dealt a huge blow to their recent form. Dean Smith’s si...
Analysis: How a dominant Man City took apart Neymar, Mbappe and co
After a hard-fought 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Chelsea, the Champions League served up another semi-final feast as Paris Saint-Germain hosted Manchester City at the Parc de Princes. The home side were certainly in the mood in this season’s Champions League, having knocked out Barcelona in the round of 16 and exacting their revenge over holders Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Naturally, last season’s final disappointment was not forgotten in Paris, and an instant redemption would be the best way to heal that wound. City are arguably the best team in Europe this season – unquestionably after the turn of the year – so anything short of a Champions League success would be considered a small failure at the very least. Pep Guardiola had received a fair amount of criticism for his inab...
‘More than serious’ – Bielsa confirms provides latest Leeds injury update, three players missing vs Brighton
Leeds United will face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. Ahead of the match, Marcelo Bielsa has covered various topics, including the team news. The Argentine has confirmed that Raphinha will miss the game with a thigh injury. Another summer signing, Rodrigo, is healthy but not fit enough to start. Leeds skipper Liam Cooper is also missing as he serves the final game of his three-match ban. TEAM NEWS: LEEDS UNITED Brighton away (Sat, KO:3pm) ✅ Rodrigo (muscle) recovered but not definitely in squad ❌ Raphinha (thigh) still feeling pain from haematoma. Close to final stages of recovery ❌ Liam Cooper serves final game of 3-match ban #lufc pic.twitter.com/47jDxj7W7X — Adam Pope (@apopey) April 29, 2021 More on Raphinha The Braz...
David de Gea starts in three key changes, Predicted Manchester United line-up vs Roma
Manchester United will welcome Roma to Old Trafford for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday night. The Red Devils played out a frustrating 0-0 Premier League draw against Leeds United on the road last weekend. Despite this, they are in a comfortable position in the Champions League race. A single win from the final five games should secure their top-four spot. They are scheduled to host Roma in the Europa League tomorrow and are favourites for the game with the Serie A outfit on a three-match winless run. This will be the seventh meeting between the sides and the first since 2008. Roma have lost four of those encounters, including their last three trips to Old Trafford. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Since March, Dean Henderson has emerged as the regular ...
Lacazette and Aubameyang return, Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Villarreal
Arsenal travel to El Madrigal for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Villarreal on Thursday night. The Gunners have not had an ideal preparation for the game after a disappointing 1-0 league defeat to Everton. A Bernd Leno howler gifted the points to the Toffees. However, Villarreal are not in the best of form either. The Spanish outfit take on the Gunners on the back of successive defeats in La Liga. The game will see the reunion of the Gunners with former boss Unai Emery, who is now the head coach of the Yellow Submarines. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted Line-up: Leno cost the club dearly with an own goal last week, and he will be aiming to make amends. Mikel Arteta is unlikely to drop him for Mat Ryan despite the latter impressing in his two appearances for the clu...
