Premier League
Mourinho: ‘The door is always open’ – Tottenham boss offers hope to underachievers
Jose Mourinho has urged some of his underperforming stars to follow the example of Tanguy Ndombele at Tottenham Hotspur. The midfielder was criticised by the Spurs boss in March 2020, with the Portuguese questioning the player’s desire after a game at Burnley. However, he has bounced back since then and produced another excellent display at Sheffield United on Sunday. Ndombele bagged a superb goal to make it 3-1 to Spurs at Bramhall Lane to leave Mourinho delighted at how he has turned things around. “I have coached for so many years and had so many players, I have enough experience to say and to feel that when a player is not playing well it’s his responsibility,” he told Sky Sports. “When a player turns things around and brings performance level to a very high level it is also his respon...
Mikel Arteta delighted with new football chief appointment
Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, is delighted with the imminent arrival of new football chief Richard Garlick. Arteta has revealed his excitement at the appointment of Richard Garlick as the club’s director of football operations. Garlick, who currently holds the role of the Premier League’s director of football, will replace Huss Fahmy, who left the Gunners board in November. “We lost Huss at the start of the season,” said the Spaniard. “He had a really important role because it is a very important link between myself, Edu the technical director, the board, Vinai [Venkatesham]. “We needed a person with a lot of experience, who knows the job really well, has all the connections in English and international football. “As well, someone that can bring some ideas and some qualities that we believe ...
Report: Manchester United to rival Chelsea in the race to sign £70m Premier League star
Manchester United are likely to compete Chelsea in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice at the end of the season, a report from ESPN claims. The England international was regularly linked with Frank Lampard’s side last summer, but nothing materialised beyond the speculation. He continues to remain on the radar of the west London giants and it has been recently suggested that he may prefer to remain in the English capital. However, United appear to be keeping a close eye on the player’s situation and it is reported that they could rival the Blues for the midfielder’s services next summer. Rice has more than three years remaining on his contract and the Hammers have the option of extending his deal for another 12 months. Hence, they are in a strong position to keep hold of...
AC Milan close to loaning Chelsea star with buy option – Fabrizio Romano
AC Milan are aiming to secure the loan signing of Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea with a buy option in the next few days, reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano reports. The England international has hardly played for the west London giants this term and he has made only four appearances in all competitions. Blues boss Frank Lampard recently said that Tomori could be loaned out and the Rossoneri are currently the leading candidates to sign him. However, the Serie A leaders want to keep hold of Tomori for the long-term and they are hopeful of negotiating a buy option for the centre-back worth €30 million. The Blues are yet to give the go-ahead for the proposed deal, but Romano reports that the 23-year-old is prioritising a move to Stefano Pioli’s side. SL view: Tomori had a bright breakthrough ...
Report: 23-year-old Arsenal star avoids long-term injury, could be fit to face Newcastle United
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has avoided a potential long-term injury and could be fit for the Premier League clash against Newcastle United next week, The Athletic reports. The Scotland international was left out of the matchday squad to face Crystal Palace on Thursday night as a precaution for a calf problem. Earlier today, the defender went through an MRI scan and the results have been positive with him avoiding a muscle tear in his calf. It is revealed that the 23-year-old could be fit enough to feature in Monday night’s league clash against the Magpies at the Emirates Stadium. Tierney has been one of the Gunners’ top performers this term and he earned plaudits from fans even when the club were on a seven-match winless league streak. In his previous four games across all competitio...
Opinion: Ligue 1 media rights row should worry the Premier League
The news that French broadcaster Canal+ has handed back its media rights to Ligue 1 and called for a fresh bidding process could have major ramifications across Europe. The company was due to screen two games per week under the terms of a sub-license agreement with beIN Media, but this has now been cancelled. Canal+ President Maxime Saada told Le Figaro that Ligue 1 ‘has been subsidised for many years’ and that ‘no broadcaster has succeeded in making it profitable’. Saada also argued that with fixtures involving major clubs like Paris Saint-Germain being more lucrative than other matches, the media rights deal should reflect this. “There is only one way to objectively and transparently materialise the market value of Ligue 1, and that is the call for tenders,” he said. “We are going to off...
Opinion: Alan Shearer is spot on – Newcastle United needs hope
Newcastle United’s dismal defeat at Sheffield United earlier this week took their winless run to eight games in all competitions. The result left them 15th in the Premier League and looking nervously over their shoulders. With the club also out of both cup competitions, their fans have plenty of reasons to feel unhappy. Magpies legend Alan Shearer perfectly summed up the mood of the fanbase with an impassioned article on The Athletic website today. “Newcastle supporters want hope,” Shearer wrote. “They want a bit of their club back, rather than this hollow, shallow, lifeless, soulless shell. “That hope has gone, and it has been ground out of them by an ownership that has different thoughts and ideas and different ambitions, if you can call it that. “You need something to believe in, to buy...
Liverpool vs Manchester United: Will VAR play a role on Sunday?
Video Assistant Referee. The mere mention of VAR will probably leave many of you gnashing your teeth and that is a perfectly understandable reaction. Follow any live Premier League game on social media and you’ll undoubtedly see plenty of negativity about VAR. For instance, exhibit number one: It could have been a red card for either side – a big decision for the referee! After a lengthy review, the hosts are awarded a free-kick and Luke Shaw is yellow carded… 📺 Watch on Sky Sports!📱 Follow #BURMUN here: https://t.co/JPE6syy79J📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/SRHlzVbobA — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 12, 2021 The VAR-related anger in the replies to that tweet were topped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during Manchester United’s game at Bur...
Manchester City’s Eric Garcia agrees five-and-a-half year deal at Barcelona
Manchester City defender Eric Garcia has agreed a five-and-a-half year deal with Barcelona with the clubs closing in on a cut-price agreement, report El Mundo Deportivo. It is claimed that there is a deal which will see the Blaugrana pay €5m – in a transaction that will go through next season – alongside a further €5m in variables for the player, who is out of contract this summer. Back in August, City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed the player would not renew his deal at the English club and the defender is now taking centre stage of Barcelona transfer news this calendar year. The central defender has been a Cule all his life but joined City in 2017 from the Catalan giants, with previous multiple reports claiming they have been eyeing a return for the past year. Reports have drawn parallels ...
‘We’re good enough to do it’: Sheffield United star eyeing great escape after beating Newcastle
Billy Sharp believes that Sheffield United can get themselves out of trouble after recording their first Premier League victory of the season on Tuesday. Sharp bagged the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as the Blades defeated Newcastle United at Bramhall Lane to move onto five points for the season. The result left Chris Wilder’s side nine points adrift of safety, but Sharp has insisted that the team can avoid relegation this term. “It’s a huge relief, I’m so happy for the boys,” he told Sky Sports. “It was important we got a win soon. It was scrappy at times, but in the first-half I thought we were brilliant. “We got the luck we deserved and saw it through. “I thought we played with a lot of confidence, and this win can give us more belief. Everyone has written us off – the pr...
Aston Villa winger Trezeguet tests positive for coronavirus
Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ has tested positive for coronavirus, the Aston Villa star has confirmed. Since his head injury during an English top-flight game where the Claret and Blue Army stuttered to a 2-1 defeat by West Ham United in November 2020, the Egyptian is yet to feature for the Villa Park giants. The 26-year-old went down under the challenge of Declan Rice while trying to connect to Douglas Luiz’s flick in the 71st minute. Upon his return to first-team training at their Bodymoor Health training ground on Thursday, Trezeguet contracted the virus alongside several first-team players and staff. “After being hit in the head with six stitches, I was exposed to a tear and a hindquarter and I was not able to play for a month, then after rehabilitation and the beginning of the return to ...
‘I said already that he’s going nowhere’: Mourinho delivers an update on Tottenham star linked with move
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Harry Winks will not be leaving the club. Speaking to the media ahead of Spurs’ rearranged fixture against Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday, the Portuguese was adamant about Winks’ future. The midfielder has been linked with a loan move to Valencia, but Mourinho says that he remains part of his plans. “What do I have to say to stop with this talk?” said Mourinho. “I said already that he’s going nowhere. When I say he’s going nowhere, what more do you want me to say? “He played the last matches. He didn’t play the last one because it was a chance to let players like Gedson (Fernandes) get minutes. “Tomorrow he’s selected again. If someone’s talking to other clubs I’d say don’t waste your time.” SL View – Harry Winks While W...
