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“I don’t like the system very much” – Klopp disagrees with 3-4-3, but wishes team success
Jurgen Klopp has weighed in on Germany’s back three system that Joachim Low has deployed at Euro 2020 so far. Germany have lined up in a 3-4-3 formation in their two group stage games against France and Portugal. Manuel Neuer is in goal, with Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels, and Antonio Rudiger at centre-back. Robin Gosens and Joshua Kimmich line up as wing-backs, Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan are in midfield, while the front three are Thomas Muller, Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry. So far, it has achieved mixed success. They were defeated 1-0 by world champions France in the first game thanks to an own goal by Hummels but demolished Portugal 4-2 in their second outing. The wing-backs were crucial in the victory. Gosens directly contributed to three goals, while Kimmich assisted two. However, L...
Bundesliga giants interested in Arsenal man, who has played just 12 games under Arteta
Borussia Dortmund have joined Marseille in the race to sign Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi this summer, Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna claims. Guendouzi spent the previous season on loan with Hertha Berlin after falling out of favour under Gunners manager Mikel Arteta. He had a good campaign with two goals and three assists from 24 outings, but his season ended in disappointment with a foot injury. Guendouzi’s contract with the Gunners expires in June next year, but the club have the option to extend his stay for another 12 months. However, they are keen to part company with the Frenchman and are willing to sanction his exit during the summer transfer window. Marseille have already agreed personal terms with Guendouzi, but they are yet to negotiate a transfer fee with the north L...
Arsenal in advanced negotiations for Belgian star, player has agreed personal terms – report
Arsenal have agreed personal terms with midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, and they are now in advanced negotiations with Anderlecht over the transfer fee, Football Insider claims. The Gunners are planning a major squad rebuild this summer, and there are looking at the possibility of signing more than one central midfielder. They have been linked with Ruben Neves and Yves Bissouma in recent weeks, but Lokonga has emerged as the prime midfield transfer target. The club recently failed with an opening bid worth £13 million for the Belgium international. It was reportedly short of Anderlecht’s £17m asking price. It is now reported that the player has agreed terms over a contract, and the Gunners are aiming to use add-ons to convince Anderlecht over a deal. Sportslens view: The Gunners...
Borussia Dortmund star deserves better than being patronised by Southgate
Group A took centre stage at the European Championships on Sunday, with the final matches of the opening phase played simultaneously. Italy beat Wales 1-0 to confirm their place at the top of the group, while Switzerland triumphed 3-1 against Turkey. Despite being completely outplayed by Italy, the result was enough to send Wales through to the round of 16. Let’s have a look at some of the talking points from the Italy game and elsewhere. Don’t mess with Locatelli After being one of the stars of Euro 2020 during Italy’s first two games, Manuel Locatelli but was handed a well-earned rest against Wales. However, he was a little wound up on the bench during the game as teammate Nicolo Barella jokingly flung a water bottle at his head. what’s the Italian for banter pic.twitter.com/OKb4U1Qj0F —...
Why Gareth Southgate’s treatment of Jadon Sancho makes no sense
If England fail to advance to the latter stages of Euro 2020, Gareth Southgate’s ability to take the team forward will be the subject of scrutiny. Southgate has a talented group of players at his disposal which should be reaching nothing less than the semi-finals of major tournaments if not win them. One of the questionable stances taken by Southgate in the Euros so far is his decision not to hand starts to Jadon Sancho against Croatia and Scotland. Southgate has indicated that he needs to be realistic about the demands that he places on young players such as Sancho. “We’ve got some explosive options, and a lot of them are young players and experiencing a big tournament for the first time,” said Southgate as quoted by Sky Sports. “So, as a coaching staff, we are realistic about our expecta...
League One club set to beat Celtic in race for SPL goalkeeper
Ipswich Town are set to beat Celtic in the race to sign Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist, according to Football Insider. The 29-year-old was impressive in the Scottish Premiership last season as he won the club’s player of the year award. He played a key role in helping the club to finish eighth in the Scottish top-flight last season and thus avoid relegation in their first season back up. Siegrist also boasts the distinction of having kept an impressive 12 clean sheets last season. This is especially impressive when he was not surrounded by the most gifted players that one can expect to find in the Scottish Premiership. The report added that Ipswich have submitted a bid for the player and that a fee of around £350 000 is close to being agreed. With Dundee not expected to ch...
Copa America: Venezuela and Ecuador entertain, Peru defeat Colombia
Group B in Copa America continued last night, with two more exciting games. Venezuela and Ecuador faced each other, with both sides looking for their first win of the tournament. Meanwhile, Peru came up against Colombia, hoping to recover after their 4-0 defeat against Brazil in their opener. Here is how it all went. Venezuela 2-2 Ecuador Ronald Hernandez celebrates his late equaliser Both sides remained winless after the game following an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos. Ecuador went into half time ahead, having taken the lead through Ayrton Preciado’s scrappy opener. But they were pegged back early in the second half when Edson Castillo headed in an equaliser. Ecuador retook the lead with 20 minutes remaining after Gonzalo Plata tapped in following a fine solo...
Man City star to make first Euro 2020 start while Inter Milan striker looks to boost Golden Boot hopes
Krestovsky Stadium is the venue as Finland hope to stage a miracle and beat Belgium on Monday to make it out of the group stage on their Euro debut. A victory over Belgium seems like sci-fi, but Finland head into the match knowing a triumph over odds-on favourites will guarantee them a place in the knock-out stages. On the other hand, the Belgians have already qualified for the round of 16, but they are keen to conclude their Euro group stage campaign with all three wins for the first time. Note: You can watch all Euro 2020 games via live streaming. Finland Preview Finland lost 1-0 to Russia in their second group stage match following a narrow 1-0 victory over Denmark in their Group B curtain-raiser but can still reach the knock-outs. If their encounter with Belgium produces a 1-0 sco...
Manchester United told to pay €90m for attacker with 36 goal contributions last season
Borussia Dortmund have set a non-negotiable asking price for Jadon Sancho amid ongoing negotiations with Manchester United, talkSPORT reports. The Red Devils were heavily linked with the forward’s services last summer, but they were put off by Dortmund’s €120 million valuation. Sancho is likely to be available for a lesser fee this time around with just two years remaining on his contract with the German club. United recently failed with a £67m (€78m) bid for the England international, and they have since made an improved offer of more than £75m (€87m). Dortmund are unsatisfied with the latest proposal from the Red Devils, and they have now set a take-it-or-leave-it asking price of €90m plus add-ons. Sportslens view: United tried to negotiate the transfer fee for Sancho last summ...
Manchester United to hand bumper contract to star, Solskjaer determined to keep him – report
Manchester United are ready to make Paul Pogba the highest-paid player in the Premier League in order to convince him to stay, The Sun reports. Pogba has only 12 months remaining on his contract, and he recently acknowledged that the club have yet to hold concrete negotiations over a renewal. There has been speculation that Pogba could be sold for £50 million this summer if United are unsuccessful in renewing his deal after Euro 2020. It is now reported that the club are willing to make the midfielder the highest-paid player in the division with staggering wages of £400,000-a-week. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to keep Pogba, and the hierarchy appear set to back the manager with a bumper deal for the 28-year-old. Sportslens view: Pogba has been with the Red Devils since 2016...
Chelsea want to hand new contract to £144,000-a-week star, but in ‘no rush’
Chelsea are prepared to reward midfielder N’Golo Kante with a new contract, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports. The Frenchman produced several standout performances during the final months of last season as the Blues finished in the top four and won the Champions League. The 30-year-old has another two years remaining on his contract, but the west London club are keen to finalise a new long-term deal with him. However, there is ‘no rush’ to reach an agreement as they have a great relationship with Kante, who rejected offers from two clubs last summer. Sportslens view: Kante had a disappointing 2019/2020 season with the Blues where he missed part of the campaign with four different injuries. There were suggestions that midfielder could be shown the exit door amid regular injury...
Everton contact 25-yr-old’s agent regarding transfer following his impressive Euro displays
Everton have been linked with a move for Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries in recent weeks. The 25-year-old PSV Eindhoven star has been outstanding for his country in the European Championships, scoring against Ukraine and Austria in the group stage. According to Spanish publication Sport, Everton want to sign the player and have already contacted his agent Mino Raiola regarding a summer transfer. Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have also contacted Raiola. Dumfries was outstanding for PSV in the Eredivisie last season and has proven his quality at the international level this summer. It is hardly a surprise that top clubs are looking to sign him, and Everton will have to move quickly to fend off the competition and secure his services. SL View: Ideal replacement for Coleman The Toffe...
