ARSENAL gave up on signing West Brom defender Jonny Evans because of their determination to get deals for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan over the line. Arsenal were heavily tipped to prise Evans away from West Brom during the January transfer window. The Northern Ireland international, once of Manchester United, has been a huge hit at the Hawthorns ever since leaving Old Trafford back in the summer of 2015. As well as the Gunners, Manchester City were also keen to secure his signature,
CHELSEA reportedly still rate Carlo Ancelotti highly amid speculation over Antonio Conte’s future. Ancelotti ruled the roost at Chelsea for two years earlier in his career between 2009 and 2011. During that time the Italian established himself as one of the best managers in the Premier League, scooping the title and FA Cup in his first season at the job. He was axed, however, after failing to retain the title and struggling to get the best out of Fernando Torres in 2011, with
CESC FABREGAS insists Chelsea are not in crisis despite being out of the Premier League title race. The Blues have struggled of late, suffering shock defeats against Watford and Bournemouth. Antonio Conte is now fighting to save his job after a turbulent second season in England. Fabregas has admitted Chelsea have blown their chance of retaining their Premier League crown. But the Spaniard dismissed claims that the club have endured a bad season, claiming they can still win two competitions. 'There's no middle
Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a move away from Barcelona at the end of the summer - less than 12 months after the Catalans splurged £120million milliion for the young Frenchman. One man, however, remain unconvinced of the recent developments - Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann. It is largely believed that Barcelona will look to recruit Griezmann this summer despite spending huge amounts for Dembele and Coutinho in recent months. A summer of change may yet be in the offering at Nou Camp
PEP GUARDIOLA will finally get to know what Wigan is like tonight, 12 year after he turned them down as a player because he didn’t think he was good enough. Former Latics boss Paul Jewell approached Guardiola as his playing career at Barcelona wound down, hoping to get the last drop out of such a gifted midfielder. “They tried to sign me, but I was not good enough. That is the truth,” he said. “They were interested in me, and so were Manchester
Paulinho’s move to Barcelona earlier this season was treated with as much ridicule as it was with surprise. The Barca faithful were in fact left scratching their heads whilst their rivals laughed at the former Spurs man’s arrival at the Nou Camp. A few months later everything has changed. The man once branded as the ‘worst player to ever play for Tottenham’ courtes of a vite by Spurs fans has taken to life in La Liga like a duck to water. His time
JIM MCNULTY thought his football career was over for one awful hour at the age of 24. A thoughtless and insensitive doctor delivered the devastating but premature diagnosis after McNulty was rushed to hospital with a ruptured kidney after being kicked in the stomach in only his sixth game for Brighton, against Crewe in February 2009. He eventually lost his right kidney and faced a lengthy battle to return but nine years and over 250 games later, he would like the doctor to
PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed that his No 2 goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will play in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. And the Chile international will use Manchester City’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Wigan tonight (Mon) as a warm-up for the Wembley showdown – the first part of City’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. Guardiola confirmed that while £35m summer buy Ederson Moraes remains his first choice, Bravo is his keeper for the domestic cup competitions and is keen to reward
CRISTIANO RONALDO continued to dazzle on the biggest stage as he scored a brace against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.The Portuguese star’s double for Real Madrid secured a 3-1 first-leg win in their Champions League last-16 clash.However, Ronaldo’s league form has been below par this season as he only has seven goals to his name.The former Manchester United forward turned 33 earlier this month and is now coming towards the latter end of his career.And Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson thinks Ronaldo will call time on
LIVERPOOL defender Dejan Lovren has made an incredible claim about the Champions League while hitting out at Real Madrid and Barcelona. Liverpool were in scintillating form as they thrashed Porto 5-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of their last-16 tie. The Croatia international partnered Virgil van Dijk as the Reds kept their fourth European clean sheet of the season Liverpool should now cruise through to the quarter-finals when they host Porto at Anfield in three weeks’ time. But Lovren is now thinking
SERGIO RAMOS has made a shock claim about manager Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman has come under mounting pressure this season because Real Madrid sit fourth in La Liga and have crashed out of the Copa del Rey. It is thought that president Florentino Perez is thinking about axing Zidane if Los Blancos fail to win the Champions League. Real took a giant step towards securing a quarter-final spot as they beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the first leg of their last-16 clash on Wednesday. But
Michael Carrick believes that young midfielder Scott McTominay has the abiliity to replace him in the Manchester United midfield in the the long run.The 36-year-old is currently in the last year of his contract at Old Trafford and is set to take up a coaching role from next season at the club.The veteran star who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 was brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace former skipper Roy Keane. In the decade that followed, the former England international became a
SADIO MANE never doubted his form would return, and what a place for that to happen. “I don’t know how to describe it but it can happen to every single player,” said Sadio Mane. “And in my mind I was relaxed that it will change.” The Senegalese winger spoke in the aftermath of his superb hat-trick as Liverpool produced a stunning 5-0 away win against Porto in their Champions League last-16 tie. Only a miracle will stop them progressing into the quarter-final stages
PAUL POGBA’S agent Mino Raiola has put pressure on Manchester United as questions over the midfielder’s relationship with Jose Mourinho continue. Pogba and Mourinho are understood to have clashed in recent weeks over where best to deploy the France star. While reports in France have suggested the 24-year-old regrets rejoining Manchester United over Real Madrid. In United’s last two away games, Pogba has been hauled off by Mourinho and was dropped to the bench for the clash with Huddersfield. But according to the Telegraph,
REAL MADRID are hoping to land Eden Hazard in the summer. But the Chelsea star will not be easy to prise away from Stamford Bridge as the Blues could demand a world-record fee for his signature. However, Real Madrid think that they have an ace up their sleeve that would be able to ensure the transfer goes ahead, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. Los Blancos are set for a huge summer shake-up because of a disastrous season in La Liga. As well as a
Spanish and European champions Real Madrid are readying a move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this coming summer. According to reports from The Sun, the Blancos will once again look to lure the midfielder to the Bernabeu after missing out on his signature in 2016. That summer saw Pogba return to Manchester United in a world-record £89million move from Juventus. United are believed to have no interest in parting with the French star. However, with Madrid mulling an offer in excess £120million
REAL MADRID are lining up a summer move for Paul Pogba, according to reports. The France international has struggled to make the required impact at Manchester United since his £89 million move in 2016. The midfielder was brought in to be the heartbeat of Jose Mourinho’s side but he has not had the same effect which he had at former club Juventus. And according to the Sun, Real Madrid are plotting to take Pogba to the Bernabeu as part of their summer shake-up. Los Blancos
LIVERPOOL have reportedly opened negotiations with Roma to sign goalkeeper Alisson. The Reds have have been crying out for a new shot stopper as Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius struggle to impress between the sticks. According to Sky Italia, Liverpool have already approached the Italian outfit to try and take the Brazilian to Anfield. The report states that Jurgen Klopp's side made an initial inquiry in January but failed to follow up their interest. But the Merseyside outfit are now keen to get the
FORMER Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has been tipped to replace Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge. Conte has come under mounting pressure because Chelsea sit precariously in fourth place in the Premier League table. However, a 3-0 win against West Brom on Monday appeared to bide the Italian some time. But there is still a major threat that owner Roman Abramovich will wield the axe and begin his hunt for the next manager. And former Chelsea and Barcelona defender Albert Ferrer thinks Enrique would be the
Former Chelsea skipper and legend John Terry has set his sights for a return to Stamford Brige next summer with an eye to become the manager of the club, accodring to a report from The Mirror. The former England skipper has made no secret of the fact that he would look to step into management after the completion of his playing career and now it looks as though that he might well start it with the Blues in London.The 37-year-old left the club