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‘He’s doing really, really well’: Mikel Arteta raves about Manchester City star
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against the Cityzens. Gundogan has been in exceptional form over the past few months, registering 11 goals in his last 12 games in the top-flight. His form recently saw him named as the Premier League Player of the Month for January. He should also be the favourite for the award this month after scoring braces against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Arteta worked with the German closely when he was the assistant manager at the Cityzens and he has raved about him ahead of Sunday’s game. He told Football.London: “Well I think now he’s playing a higher role in the team.” “He’s always had the ability to arrive in the box and has great timing and great qualities ...
Predicted West Ham XI v Spurs: Moyes to make one change, 30-yr-old set to start
West Ham United take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League tomorrow and the Hammers will be hoping to continue their impressive run of form with a win over their London rivals. The home side have won four of their last six league games and will be hoping to fix their abysmal head-to-head record against Spurs. Jose Mourinho’s side are in poor form right now and devoid of confidence. This is a great opportunity for the hosts to get one over their London rivals. The Hammers have lost four of their last six meetings against Tottenham and David Moyes will demand an improved performance from his players. The last time these two sides met, the Hammers secured a thrilling 3-3 draw against Spurs and will fancy their chances of picking up all three points this time. The home side will be withou...
Liverpool weighing up a summer bid for €65m-rated versatile La Liga star
Liverpool have been linked with a move for the Sevilla attacker Lucas Ocampos. According to La Razon, the reigning Premier League champions are prepared to submit a bid for the Argentine international. The player has a release clause of €65 million. SL View: Much needed attacking depth? It is no surprise that Jurgen Klopp wants to add more attacking options to his squad. The likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have not been at their best this season and the Reds need to improve in this department. The signing of Diogo Jota has been a major success story and another attacker would be ideal next season. The 26-year-old Sevilla star has seven goals and four assists to his name and he would be an upgrade on the likes of Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi. The Argentine can play as a wide for...
West Ham United forward makes bold claim about Europe
Jarrod Bowen believes that West Ham United can defy expectations and secure a European qualification spot this season. The Hammers have won 12 and drawn six of their 24 matches to force their way into the upper reaches of the Premier League. Ahead of their home game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Bowen told talkSPORT that the players are confident that they keep themselves in the mix. “We know what the manager wants – we have all bought into his philosophy of wanting European football,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of football still to be played from now until the end of the season, but if we can keep winning games and going under the radar a bit then it is probably kind of good for us. “People probably don’t expect us to be up and around it, so to keep winning each w...
German club preparing for 26-year-old’s exit, Tottenham Hotspur interested in signing him
RB Leipzig are preparing for the possible departure of Marcel Sabitzer, who is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, a report from SportBild claims. Sabitzer has been with Leipzig since their time in Bundesliga 2 and he has gone on to become one of their undisputed starters as the club captain. He had his standout season last term where he registered 16 goals and 11 assists from 44 appearances as the majority of his playing time came from the right wing. In the current campaign, he has operated mostly in a central midfield role but has still impressed with five goals and five assists to date. His present contract with Leipzig expires in June 2021 and it is reported that the club are preparing for his summer exit in case they are unable to renew his deal. Spurs have been credited with an ...
Former Everton defender blasts cheating Liverpool star, time for authorities to act
Mohamed Salah has been blasted for trying to con the match officials during Liverpool’s dismal 2-0 home defeat against Everton on Saturday. The 28-year-old has repeatedly been criticised over his theatrics and he was at it again during the derby game at Anfield. Salah threw himself to the ground in the 57th minute of the game and replays showed that Toffees’ defender Lucas Digne made virtually no contact with the Egyptian. Former Everton star Kevin Ratcliffe hit out at Salah while commentating on the game for talkSPORT. “I can’t understand that,” said Ratcliffe. “If he’s claiming a foul and the referee doesn’t think it’s a foul why isn’t he saying ‘well, you’re diving’. “There was a little bit of contact but there wasn’t as much contact as the dive suggested.” SL View There is no other way...
Liverpool, Manchester United interested in signing €45m French centre-back
RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate is on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of this summer’s transfer window, a report from SportBild claims. The 21-year-old has had a difficult 18 months due to a series of injuries, making just 24 appearances for Leipzig since the start of last term. He recently returned from an ankle injury which kept him out of action for six weeks but he still appears on the radar of some of the Premier League’s elite teams. Konate has a release clause worth €45 million in his contract expiring in June 2023 and Leipzig believe that Liverpool, United and Chelsea are all interested in signing him this summer. Sportslens view: Despite his injuries, Konate has turned out 87 times for Leipzig and he has impressed with his tackling and abili...
‘Already spoken with Bielsa’ – Phil Hay shares Leeds DoF’s exciting plans for summer
Leeds United have taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water, and they are all but guaranteed another season in the top-flight following an impressive start to 2020-21. The Elland Road outfit suffered their 12th defeat of the campaign at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last night, but they are five places and 13 points above the relegation zone. With 14 games still left to be played and just eight points away from the popular 40-point safety mark, Leeds will fancy their chances of finishing in the top half of the table. They have scored more goals (40) than any team currently below the top-six in the table, but only 19th-placed West Bromwich Albion have conceded more goals (55) than they have (43) in the whole of the division. Leeds will be keen to strengthen their squad...
Chelsea boss fires warning – big money buy must ‘keep improving’
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has urged Christian Pulisic to prove that he can be successful in the Premier League. There was plenty of fanfare surrounding Pulisic when he joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in 2019, but he has struggled to live up to expectations so far. The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, but Tuchel wants the forward to knuckle down and fight for a place at Chelsea. Speaking at his press conference for his team’s trip to Southampton on Saturday, Tuchel said: “Chelsea bought Christian for a reason, for his quality, his potential and it’s our job to bring out the best in him. “He proved in many weeks that he has the level to be a regular Chelsea player, to have a big impact in this club. “It’s a challenge now to hold this level, to impr...
Ex-Liverpool forward makes bizarre claim about Haaland and Mbappe
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has made a bizarre claim about Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. The Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain forwards shone in the Champions League in midweek, sparking talk that they will be the dominant force in football over the next few years. The pair have been tipped to have the same impact as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but Heskey has poured cold water on that prediction. Speaking to talkSPORT, Heskey said that Haaland and Mbappe are not in the same league as a young Michael Owen. “Whenever everyone talks about stats and young players coming through at a certain age, I always go to Michael,” Heskey said. “I start comparing them with him, and a lot of them don’t compare to him. For the stuff he did and the age he did it at, and hi...
Liverpool’s interest in 26-yr-old ace shows Klopp is finally ready to sort out a major weakness
Liverpool have been linked with the Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul once again. According to a report from Tutto Udinese earlier in the week, the reigning Premier League champions are looking to revolutionise their midfield in the summer and they are prepared to make a move for the 26-year-old Udinese midfielder. Apparently, the Italian club value the player at €40 million and the asking price is within the reach of the English club. SL View: A different type of replacement for Wijnaldum? Liverpool are expected to lose Gini Wijnaldum on a free transfer at the end of the season and Jurgen Klopp will have to bring in a quality alternative. The Dutchman has been an important player for the Reds during his time at Anfield and it remains to be seen how Klopp replaces his qualities in the s...
Joan Laporta says Barcelona can afford to sign 25-goal striker this summer
Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has talked up the prospect of Erling Braut Haaland joining the Blaugrana during this summer’s transfer window. The presidential elections were initially scheduled for January before it was pushed back to March 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Laporta is one of the three candidates in line for the post alongside Victor Font and Toni Freixa and he is seen as the favourite to win the election The primary focus for the next president will be to reinforce the squad after what has been a disappointing 2020/21 campaign for the club judging by their high standards. Haaland has been mentioned as one of the potential targets for the Blaugrana and Laporta has suggested that the club can afford to sign the Borussia Dortmund ace. “If we have to improve th...
