Premier League
Didier Drogba beats Zlatan Ibrahimovic as best Ligue 1 striker in last two decades
Former Marseille and Guingamp star Didier Drogba has been crowned Ligue 1’s greatest striker of the past 20 years, ahead of PSG legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Drogba was recognised by Ligue 1 on Saturday after collecting 51 per cent of the 40,094 votes cast by fans on social media. He spent two-and-a-half years in the French top-flight and played for Guingamp between 2001 and 2003 before moving to Marseille where he spent a season. The two-time African Player of the Year scored 39 goals in 81 Ligue 1 games – 20 goals at Guingamp and 19 efforts at Marseille while Ibrahimovic scored 113 goals in 122 Ligue 1 matches between 2012 and 2016 at PSG. On his run to the final stage, Drogba saw off competition from Fernando Morientes, Alexander Frei, Karim Benzema and Pauleta. The former Ivory Coast forw...
Real Madrid star set to shun a move to Chelsea
Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez is set to snub a move to Chelsea as he aimed to remain at Santiago Bernabeu despite lack of regular action under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane. The 28-year-old star has struggled for regular action this season having just started just six La Liga matches and contributing to just three goals in all competitions. Chelsea is keen on signing the former Real Madrid academy product and the winger is also keen on a move to Premier League and Real Madrid has made him available for transfer this summer. However, the report in Mundo Deportivo, the attacker could stay in Madrid this summer. The report claims that Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is an admirer of the club’s academy product, who has made over 200 appearances for his current side in all competitions. Vaz...
Another Premier League player tests positive for novel coronavirus
A third first-team player from Brighton & Hove Albion tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, the Premier League club’s chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed. Two Brighton players had contracted the novel coronavirus in March and April and the latest positive result could cast doubts on the Premier League’s plans to resume the season that has been suspended due to the pandemic. Clubs are due to meet on Monday to further discuss “Project Restart” which envisages a return to play in June once given the green light from government, with the remaining 92 matches held behind closed doors at neutral venues. “It is a concern. Unfortunately we’ve had a third player test positive yesterday,” Barber told Sky Sports on Sunday. “So despite all of the measures that we’ve been taking over the ...
Kylian Mbappe wants to share Ligue 1 golden boot with Wissam Yedder
Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe has said the award should be shared between him and Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder as both finished on 18 goals this season. The Paris Saint Germain striker was deemed the sole top scorer on Thursday after the league was ended prematurely as he had more goals from open play. Three of Ben Yedder’s goals came from penalties. Taking to Twitter, Mbappe thanked fans for their messages of support but said that his international teammate should also have received an award. “Thank you for all your messages. I think that Wissam also deserves a trophy, like the Premier League did last season, to reward his year,” he tweeted. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were all awarded the 2018-19 Golden Boot in the Premier League for finishing the sea...
Arsenal’s Bernd Leno names Alisson Becker as Premier League’s best goalkeeper
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno says his Liverpool counterpart Alisson Becker is the best in the Premier League. The Brazilian has made a huge impression at Anfield since his record-breaking £65 million ($85m) move from Roma two years ago. Taking over from Loris Karius following his disastrous performance in the 2018 Champions League final, Alisson has helped transform Liverpool’s back line. Jurgen Klopp’s side have only conceded 21 goals in 29 league games this season, with Leicester and Sheffield United the only other sides to manage fewer than 30. Asked by Soccer AM who was the best keeper in the Premier League, Leno had no doubt. “For me it’s clear, it’s Alisson,” the German said. “He’s good at everything and his stats are also very good. “He’s played a number of big games for Liverpool ...
Jesper Gronkjaer: Hakim Ziyech will succeed in Premier League with Chelsea
Jesper Gronkjaer is backing Hakim Ziyech to succeed after his £37 million ($43m) move from Ajax to Chelsea. The Blues completed a deal in late February and the 27-year-old is set to link up with his new team-mates on July 1, with the Eredivisie season cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak. Ziyech will join a group including Filipe Luis, Bertrand Traore, Mario Melchiot, Winston Bogarde and Gronkjaer himself in making the switch to Stamford Bridge having played at the Amsterdam ArenA. Moving to the Premier League will prove a step up for Ziyech and Gronkjaer believes he is the star player from the Dutch side’s run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2018. “Ziyech was the one who has caught my eye over the past two seasons even though he wasn’t produced by Ajax’s academy,” Gronkjaer told...
Report: ‘Everyone will know’ that Arsenal DOF wants to sign double-winner
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Flamengo midfielder Gerson. According to the player’s father, Marcos Santos, the Gunners are desperate to sign the midfielder this summer. Santos told Canal do Nicola that Arsenal’s Director of Football, Raul Sanllehi, is the driving force behind the club’s bid to sign the 22-year-old. “Nobody knew about (the interest of) Arsenal, but now that I’m telling you, everyone will know,” said Santos. He went on to confirm Sanllehi’s involvement, adding that he tried to sign Gerson during his time at Barcelona. Gerson played a key role as Flamengo won the league title in Brazil and the Copa Libertadores during 2019. He has previously been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, but Arsenal appear to have stolen a march on their North London rivals. Arsenal desperate...
Ex-QPR Star Taraabt Backs Eze To Lead Club To Premier League
Former Queens Park Rangers star Adel Taraabt says he hopes England-born Nigerian midfielder Eberechi Eze will lead the London club back to the Premier League. Eze has been impressive for Queens Park Rangers this season which has seen him been linked with a host of Premier League sides. The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals made eight assists in 39 games in all competitions so far this season for Mark Warburton side. And the 30-year-old Moroccan international, who now plays for Benfica in the Portuguese top flight urged Eze not to lose focus. “I watch him and think he has big potential,” Taarabt told the club website. “I enjoy watching him – he’s physically strong, has a good touch, can score goals. I see him and hope he will one day take QPR to the Premier League – I think he has that abilit...
Report: Big Arsenal transfer hits the rocks – pundit ‘unsure’ that selling club want makeweight
Arsenal’s hopes of using Alexandre Lacazette as a makeweight in a deal to sign Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid appear to have hit a stumbling block. The La Liga club are believed to be willing to sell the midfielder, but their current financial situation leaves them favouring a straight cash deal. Atletico had been linked with Lacazette, sparking talk that he could be used as a makeweight in the Gunners’ bid to secure Partey’s services. However, Spanish football expert Graham Hunter believes that Arsenal will need to meet Partey’s £43.5 million release clause in order to sign the player. “Atleti are currently outside of the top four only by a point, but to not get into the Champions League next season would be very debilitating for the club financially,” he told Sky Sports. “There’s a n...
Report: Chelsea told to splash the cash – big target will not come cheaply
Chelsea have been told that they will not sign Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana on the cheap this summer. Onana has been a standout performer for Ajax, keeping 74 clean sheets in 178 appearances in all competitions. The 24-year-old has an agreement in place to leave the Dutch giants, sparking talk of moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The Blues have been heavily linked with Onana, with current goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga failing to impress since his big money move to Stamford Bridge. However, Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has insisted that Onana’s potential suitors can forget about securing a cut-price deal for the goalie. “Last year, we made verbal agreements with Onana, (Nicolas) Tagliafico, (Donny) Van de Beek to stay another season. “We then we look to help each other and find t...
Arsenal to keep Saka away from ‘hugely impressed’ Liverpool
Liverpool have a concrete interest in Bukayo Saka, claims a report, but Arsenal are unlikely to sanction a transfer even though he is nearly out of contract. Saka has been one of the most promising aspects of Arsenal’s mixed season, with the teenager impressing as either a left winger or a left-back. The 18-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season, meaning Arsenal may have to sell him to avoid losing him on a free to a Premier League rival – with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United circling. However, it appears that the Gunners will not be selling him before his contract expires, as Football Insider claims that they are not giving up hope of convincing him to sign an extension and are prepared to take the risk of negotiating into next season. Arsenal are ready to offe...
West Ham United clear on their stance for Declan Rice amid Chelsea interest: report
According to ClaretandHugh, West Ham United have no plans of selling midfielder Declan Rice for a knockdown price amid the interest from London rivals Chelsea. The 21-year-old has made over 100 appearances for the Hammers since his debut in 2017 and he is currently regarded as one of the undisputed starters in the club’s midfield. Earlier last month, it was revealed that the Blues are interested in signing their former graduate but they won’t get him on the cheap with the Hammers reluctant to accept anything less than £70m for his sale. A ‘highly-placed’ source from the east London outfit has now told ClaretandHugh that there have been no approaches for the player while the club have no plans of lowering the asking price due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve ...
