Month: June 2019

Manchester United are in the best position to sign Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, according to reports.

Lo Celso has emerged as one of Tottenham’s primary targets this summer, with the club already having one offer rejected by Real Betis.

Click Here: bape jacket cheap

The north London club will continue to pursue the midfielder, whose reported €75million release clause is proving inhibitive to any deal.

Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo claimed on Friday that United ‘are very interested’ in signing the 23-year-old, particularly if Paul Pogba leaves this summer.

And now El Desmarque Sevilla (via Sport Witness) says that United are ‘best placed’ to sign Lo Celso despite interest from Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone recently told Argentina media that he likes Lo Celso, further stoking rumours of his possible arrival at the Wanda Metropolitano.

In Portugal, several newspapers are reporting that United, Spurs and Atletico are also the three clubs battling it out for Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes, highlighting the need for those sides to reinforce their midfield.

 

TalkSPORT host Andy Goldstein claims that Manchester United have made a “first offer” of £70m for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

United have been linked with a slew of players this summer, and have a ‘complete list’ of 18 targets.

They are ‘prioritising’ the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka before any other, however, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eager to bring in young, hungry recruits.

Yet Goldstein claimed on Tuesday evening that United ‘are interested in Aubameyang,’ and have already made an opening offer.

“I’ve got someone on the inside – not United, by the way, someone on the inside – who, every so often, will tell me transfer gossip. I would say he has a hit ratio of about, quite high, 75-25. Right? He’s told me quite a few that does happen, not just at United but other clubs as well.

“He told me about Anthony Martial, which I tweeted two days before United even approached. It was one of those, ‘how do you know?’. It was one of those.

“He has told me that United are interested in Aubameyang. What do you make of that? He’s got two years left on his deal, just under. He is 29 years old. He’s the finished article. United did something similar with Van Persie. Romelu Lukaku isn’t doing it for Solskjaer, I’m led to believe.

“Do you want to know the number I’m being told? I think it’s crazy money for a 29-year-old. What would you say? Two years left on his deal, scores goals.

“That’s what I’m being told,” he adds, holding up a sheet which apparently has ‘£70m’ written on it.

“There’s the first offer. For a 29-year-old. He’s only got two years left. If you’re at Arsenal and you’re in roughly the same sort of place as United at the moment, and United come in for you, where do you go?

“I think it fits quite well. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen but the person who’s told me, as I said, is a 75-25.”

 

Click Here: bape jacket cheap

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has been detained for questioning by French police over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

France’s financial prosecutor’s office confirmed to Press Association Sport that 63-year-old Platini had been detained.

Platini, who has never denied voting for Qatar but has always rejected any claims of wrongdoing, was detained in a suburb of Paris on Tuesday morning.

The Parquet National Financier has been investigating the December 2010 decision to stage football’s biggest tournament in the small but wealthy Gulf state since 2016.

Qatar beat bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States in a vote by the executive committee of world football’s governing body FIFA, but more than half of that 22-man panel have now been accused of receiving bribes.

Platini was head of European football’s governing body until 2015 when he was handed an eight-year ban over ethics breaches that was later reduced to four years on appeal.

The ban expires this October and he has previously suggested he intends to return to football politics.

Platini and former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter were banned for eight years by FIFA’s ethics committee in December 2015, although a FIFA appeal body reduced that to six years, for a “disloyal payment” of £1.5million paid by Blatter to Platini.

The pair then made separate appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which upheld Blatter’s sanction but cut a further two years off Platini’s. Blatter has always denied any wrongdoing.

The French authorities have also arrested Sophie Dion, a former adviser of ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and questioned Claude Gueant, Sarkozy’s ex-chief of staff.

Sarkozy’s support for Qatar World Cup bid has been the subject of considerable speculation for several years and it is understood the French authorities want to know what promises were made at a lunch at the French premier’s Elysee Palace on November 23, 2010 – 10 days before the FIFA vote.

At that lunch were Platini, Sarkozy, the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani and Qatar’s former prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Ben Jassim.

It is no secret that Sarkozy was eager to foster close economic links with Qatar, but the investigation is also looking into the June 2011 deal that saw Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund the French leader’s favourite football team, Paris St Germain, and the subsequent launch of BeIN Sports, the Doha-based media company run by PSG’s chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Al-Khelaifi has denied any wrongdoing.

Platini had a glittering playing career, winning the 1984 European Championship with France and also league titles in France and Italy with St Etienne and Juventus. He won the Ballon d’Or in three successive seasons from 1983 to 1985.

UEFA declined to comment on Platini’s detention when contacted by Press Association Sport.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA reiterates its full commitment to co-operating with the authorities in any given country of the world where investigations are taking place in connection with football activities.”

Click Here: fjallraven kanken backpack

Tottenham have identified Joachim Andersen as one of their ‘possible replacements’ for Toby Alderweireld.

It remains to be seen whether Alderweireld will choose to leave Tottenham this summer, with one year remaining on a contract that has a £25m release clause.

But the London Evening Standard say Andersen is one centre-half Tottenham ‘are tracking’ in case the Belgian leaves.

Juventus and Manchester United are known admirers of the 23-year-old, who has impressed at Sampdoria after joining in 2017.

Tottenham ‘are unlikely to make a move’ for the Dane ‘until Alderweireld’s future is resolved’, with midfield reinforcements also a priority.

Click Here: fjallraven kanken backpack

 

Chelsea have rejected two £35million bids from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for winger Willian.

With Chelsea starting a FIFA-imposed two-window transfer ban this summer, the club are understandably reluctant to sell any player unless they absolutely have to.

Willian has just 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge and, at 30, his value is likely to deteriorate in the coming years.

But Chelsea’s probable inability to sufficiently replace him with a new signing has seen them turn down two offers of £35m from La Liga.

Sky Sports say both Barca and Atleti have lodged offers for a player potential incoming Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said “could easily play in any team in the world” in March 2018.

Willian joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala just one year before Lampard left the club, but it is thought the 40-year-old would not want to lose him if, as expected, he is appointed Blues manager.

Barca have a long-standing interest in Willian, offering £50m for him in January and making three bids alone last summer.

 

Click Here: bape jacket cheap

Manchester United could offer Andreas Pereira as a ‘sweetener’ in a deal to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester.

Maguire is one of 18 players United are targeting this summer, with the club eager to strengthen their centre-half ranks.

But the £90m valuation placed on Maguire’s block head is proving understandably prohibitive.

United have not withdrawn their interest in the England international but are reluctant to spend a world-record fee for a defender.

They could therefore use Brendan Rodgers’s previous interest in Pereira to try and bring the cost down.

Rodgers ‘is a big fan’ of the midfielder, having tried to sign him during his time at Celtic.

Yet this would not be a straight swap: the 23-year-old’s Old Trafford contract was extended by another year recently, and discussions over a long-term deal have been held.

Click Here: bape jacket cheap

United would therefore offer Pereira only on loan in an attempt to assuage the Maguire move.

What is their obsession with trying to swap their current players for shiny new ones?

 

Derby owner Mel Morris has stressed the club want to keep Frank Lampard as manager “for the long term” amid reported interest from Chelsea.

Following Maurizio Sarri’s move to Juventus, former Blues midfielder Lampard has emerged as the favourite for the Stamford Bridge vacancy.

Lampard, who turns 41 on June 20, enjoyed a hugely successful spell as a player for the Blues, becoming the club’s record goalscorer and winning three Premier League titles as well as the Champions League.

Morris, though, maintained the Championship club, who missed out on promotion when they were beaten by Aston Villa in the play-off final at Wembley last month, are determined to hold onto Lampard’s services.

“There’s no change in the situation at present, except for the fact that Chelsea no longer have a manager,” Morris told Sky Sports.

“We have made it clear to everyone, but most importantly to Frank, that we want him and to retain his services for the long term.

“If Chelsea want to hire Frank, then it is in their gift to make an offer in pursuit of that.

“In the meantime, we will continue to put our best foot forward to continue with our plans for the coming season, to work with Frank for him to know how much he is wanted by everyone associated with the club.”

Lampard is reported to have already told Derby he would be interested in talking to Chelsea if an approach was made. Both clubs have been contacted for comment by Press Association Sport.

The former England midfielder remains the overwhelming favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge.

Moving for such a rookie coach would be a bold appointment by Chelsea and a big step for Lampard, but it would be a hugely popular move with supporters.

Former Chelsea bosses Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho have also been touted as potential replacements for Sarri, who guided the London club to Europa League success last season.

Harry Redknapp, though, suggested it appeared only a matter of time before his nephew returned to Stamford Bridge.

“I think it would be a major surprise if he doesn’t get the job. It looks to me as though it will happen,” Redknapp said on talkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast.

“It would be brilliant for him. A shame for Derby as Mel Morris gave him the opportunity there and he’s done a great job. But it’s a great move; he’s absolutely idolised at Chelsea – a genuine legend there.

“He knows the game, he knows what it’s about, he’s got a touch of class… it will be great.”

Sarri’s successor will be the 14th different manager employed at Chelsea since owner Roman Abramovich took over in 2003.

The 60-year-old Italian was in the position for just one year after succeeding compatriot Antonio Conte last summer. He guided the team to Europa League success, third place in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final.

But the former investment banker failed to win over all Chelsea fans, with frustration at his regimented tactics and an apparent reluctance to play homegrown talents Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Form was also inconsistent at times and, with Sarri hankering after a return to Italy, the club decided not to stand in his way when Juventus expressed an interest. A compensation package understood to be in excess of £5million was agreed with the Serie A champions.

Click Here: fjallraven kanken backpack

Manchester United’s ‘complete list’ of summer transfer targets contains 18 players, according to reports.

United have already made one signing in the form of Swansea winger Daniel James, who arrives from Swansea for £15m.

But after lobbying for a change in transfer policy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to deliver similar young and hungry recruits to rejuvenate his squad.

James Robson reported that story for the London Evening Standard, who have duly revealed ‘the complete list of players’ United will pursue.

It is headed by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who United are ‘determined’ to sign. Thomas Meunier is referred to as a back-up option – although it is important to note he is not one of their 18 targets.

Five centre-halves follow, with Harry Maguire and Kalidou Koulibaly the most expensive. Milan Skriniar of Inter and Matthijs De Ligt are more distant possibilities, while Toby Alderweireld remains a cheaper alternative at £25m.

Solskjaer wants Declan Rice of West Ham to strengthen his midfield, with Sean Longstaff ‘a considerably cheaper target’ at £25m. Idrissa Gueye ‘is seen as an ideal replacement for Ander Herrera,’ with Youri Tielemans or Christian Eriksen lined up if Paul Pogba leaves.

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack

United are said to be ‘perplexed’ by Pogba but insistent he will stay, while the Tielemans link was dismissed.

Bruno Fernandes of Sporting Lisbon and £60m-rated James Maddison complete the complement of midfielders, supplemented by forward links in Ryan Fraser, Liverpool target Nicolas Pepe, Moussa Dembele and Joao Felix.

Robson adds that Solskjaer identified Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho as ‘his marquee signing’, but the manager has conceded he will have to wait until next summer to even stand a chance.

 

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has admitted that he is ‘flattered’ by links with a move to a top Premier League club.

Ndidi arrived in the Premier League from Belgian club Genk in a £14m deal back in 2017 and was an ever-present last season, quickly becoming a favourite of new boss Brendan Rodgers.

A number of top sides in England have subsequently been credited with interest in the 22-year-old, namely Manchester United, Arsenal and Champions League winners Liverpool – and the Red Devils should definitely take a punt.

The Nigeria international is currently away preparing for the 2019 African Cup of Nations, but admitted he is aware of interest from top teams.

“I am flattered when hearing such a thing,” Ndidi told Goal.

“It is very good to hear about that interest from big clubs, but there is nothing on the ground so I won’t care about it.

“I am focusing on AFCON with Nigeria now, and then pre-season with Leicester City. We have a great manager with ambition to compete with big clubs in the Premier League.”

 

Click Here: cheap kanken backpack