DELEITURAS

Philippe Coutinho reportedly has a choice of three clubs to sign for this summer, but Liverpool have ruled themselves out of the chase.

The 26-year-old endured a difficult season in Catalonia and he admitted as much earlier this month with several interested parties in the attacking midfielder.

Shock reports in France on Friday claimed a surprise return to Anfield was on the cards with “Barcelona leaders not opposed to his transfer” and willing to let Coutinho leave Barcelona just 18 months after signing for £142million from the Reds.

However, Mundo Deportivo claim sources close to the Brazilian have told them that any reports saying he’s returning to Liverpool are untrue.

They also claim the Brazilian has three offers on the table this summer in the form of Chelsea, Manchester United, and PSG.

And of the three, a switch to PSG looks most likely with Chelsea needing to beat a transfer ban to make any signings possible and United apparently not in the player’s thinking out of loyalty to Liverpool.

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Arsenal will have to part with a double record fee for Celtic defender Kieran Tierney.

The Gunners have identified Tierney as an upgrade on Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, who shared left-back duties for most of last season.

An opening offer of £15m was rejected by Celtic this week, but there is ‘optimism’ that the two parties can come to an agreement over the fee.

The Daily Mail say it is likely that ‘a compromise’ will be found, and that Celtic ‘have already identified possible replacements’.

But Arsenal will have to increase their offer to ‘at least’ £25m for a player who ‘is keen to join’ and ‘is understood to have asked for the opportunity to talk to interested clubs’.

It would be the most ever paid for a Scottish player, far surpassing the £15m mark set by Oliver Burke’s move to West Brom in August 2017.

Moussa Dembele remains the most expensive player in Scottish Premiership history, leaving Celtic for Lyon in a £19.7m move last summer.

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Arsenal will have to break both records to land Tierney, who is also wanted by Napoli.

 

Arsenal remain positive over negotiations for Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney despite having a £15million bid rejected.

Tierney has long been a Premier League target, with Manchester United and Everton both having been linked in recent years.

The 22-year-old has four years remaining on his contract at Celtic, who have no desire to sell one of their most valuable players.

But Arsenal have already tested their resolve with a £15m offer, as Unai Emery is eager to bolster his options at left-back.

BBC Sport’s David Ornstein says the Gunners remain confident of striking a deal which would represent a fair portion of their reported £40m budget – although it would be a fine signing.

It makes more sense than spending £35m on Presnel Kimpembe, put it that way.

 

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Manchester United could face an embarrassing Alexis Sanchez transfer scenario that would see him start the new season at Old Trafford, according to reports.

Sanchez scored just one goal and assisted three in 20 Premier League appearances this campaign as his struggles since joining United in January 2018 have only continued.

The Chilean was part of a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan head to the Emirates Stadium.

On Friday came the news that Brazilian side Palmeiras reportedly tried to sign him on loan, only for them to offer a small percentage of his £500,000 a week wages.

Sanchez’s reported salary is understood to be about six times more than the salary of Palmeiras’ best paid stars.

And now the Daily Mirror claims that Sanchez ‘could be forced to start next season’ at United with the club receiving ‘just two enquiries’ for the Chile international.

European clubs seem to be steering clear of Sanchez with the only two ‘tentative proposals’ coming from China and South America.

The newspaper adds that United are yet to have been offered ‘a substantial fee’ for Sanchez and that even if they had, the deal would likely fall apart over wage demands.

And Sanchez ‘could now be forced to link up during the summer tours of Australia and the Far East if United are unable to find him a new club’.

The former Arsenal man apologised for his poor form for United after the Premier League season had finished.

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After a measly two goals in 27 appearances in all competitions, Sanchez took to Instagram.

“It was a very tough season…the fan (sic) are the ones who deserve an apology as they always support you no matter what happens,” he wrote.

“Personally, I didn’t perform as much as I was expecting because of unpredictable injuries.

“Press and people were speculating of things that were not even true. I was always a professional in all aspects. I apologise to the fans for not being able to achieve our goals, Nevertheless we are Manchester United!”

Sanchez scored his first goal in five months in Chile’s Copa America victory over Japan this week.

 

Matthijs de Ligt has decided to join Juventus over other potential suitors ahead of a move this summer, according to reports.

The 19-year-old defender has emerged as one of European football’s hottest properties this summer amid reports Ajax are prepared to let him leave for the right price.

De Ligt’s future destination is still not official, with links to all of Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Recent reports had claimed that his agent Mino Raiola would prefer his client to join either PSG or another club over favourites Barcelona and now it seems he could have got his wish.

Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio and Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf say that Juventus have beaten off the competition to sign De Ligt.

Juventus are willing to offer De Ligt a huge contract of €15-20m to make him the second highest-paid player in Serie A behind potential new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Old Lady, meanwhile, will reportedly agree a five-year deal with the player and a €70m fee with Ajax for the centre-back.

The reports seem convincing but it was only a few weeks ago that Barcelona had reportedly won the battle. One to follow.

 

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Yannick Carrasco wants his situation at Dalian Yifang “solved” as soon as possible amid speculation of a move to Arsenal.

The Belgium international has been suspended by the Chinese Super League club after failing to turn up for a match and being absent from training.

On the incident, the club wrote in a statement: “Yannick Carrasco of the Dalian Football Club was absent from the away game against Hebei China Fortune and missed training.

“The club now imposes the following penalties on him: Order Carrasco to apologise to the team within three days and stop training.

“The club has always attached importance to the team’s discipline construction, and no individual is above the collective. The club treats everyone equally.”

Recent reports have suggested that the Gunners are closing in on a deal for Carrasco this summer, with Dalian Yifang happy to sell for the right price.

Arsenal have been tracking the former Atletico Madrid man for some time and came close to landing him in January, when the two clubs were unable to agree on a fee.

Carrasco recently revealed his desire to return to Europe but, in response to his suspension, Carrasco insisted he wants to help Dalian Yifang.

“The attitude of some club’s leaders and team-mates towards me is incomprehensible to me given my commitment and performance with the team so far,” Carrasco wrote on Twitter.

“The team needs me and I want to help the team. This problem need to be solved.”

 

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Send your thoughts to [email protected]…

 

United could do with six signings this summer
Roode makes a valid point that Manchester United not being able to attract the world’s best may be a blessing. I agree that we should look to emulate the Ajax or early Ferguson model of buying youth and nurturing them.

However, that can only be done if they have the proper infrastructure in place.
1) Their scouting network sucks
2) The training infrastructure isn’t really there as you may see in clubs like Ajax, Juventus or Borussia Dortmund that nurtures talent and helps them blossom. How many of these success stories does United have compared to the other clubs listed? Just take Ajax. They were a far inferior team when they faced United in the Europ final but have since transformed into world beaters.

Add this to the fact that they need to build a brand new team altogether. Just look at what we have vs what we need:
– Right back needed. Dalot not good enough. Looks like Bassika may join which is perhaps one position secured.
– Center Backs: At least one top defender needed. Van Dijk has shown that we need someone with one player with experience and leadership in this position.
– Left Back: Shaw is hardly world class. This season will decide whether he can be relied upon or will need replacement too next year.
– CM needed. Matick is too old and McTominay is not that level yet.
– If Pogba leaves, 2 more midfielders needed since Herrera has also left.
– Lukaku looks like he may be leaving so another striker needed.
– With the acquisition of Daniel James, perhaps a winger may not be needed anymore
– David De Gea may end up leaving on free transfer next year.
So that’s 6 signings that we may need this summer. Since Ferguson let, the only decent signings that still remain (or will remain by the end of the summer) is Martial. Now tell em do the buffoons in charge of transfer dealings at Unicted really have the capability to get even a third of these signings right?
Adeel

 

A duopoly?
Daniel Storey is jumping the gun a bit on the duopoly of City and Liverpool lording it over the PL. Since city have won their 1st league title in 2011/12 the winners after that have been United, Cuty, Chelsea, Leicester, Chelsea, and then City twice more. In that same period, Liverpool have finished 2nd twice. That’s not even a monopoly, never mind a duopoly.

The closest it came to a duopoly was in the heyday of United vs Arsenal.

By all means feed the hype and laud the incredible domestic and European success this season, but pump those breaks for at least a few more years.
Culk The Younger

 

You know…
So obviously gossip is gossip and not worth the electrons it’s made from, but for a Football Manager addict like myself the front 6 below is actually pretty tasty:

(box to box) Ndombele,  (deep lying playmaker) Rabiot

(advanced playmaker) Pogba

(inside forward attack) Martial, (advanced forward attack) Rashford,  (winger support) James

I wouldn’t bother with Wan Bissaka as Dalot is a real prospect, and would throw all the money and then more of all the money at De Ligt.

The you’d have:

(wing back attack) Shaw, (ball playing defender) Lindelof, (ball playing defender) De Ligt, (wing back support) Dalot

That’s a really good, young and balanced side.

In fact I’m going to set it up in FM and run it for a season and see what happens.
Tim Sutton

 

Notes from the Women’s World Cup
Dear MC,

The group stage is over, and it is probably a good time to take stock of what’s happened so far.

1. Let’s talk about the goalkeepers. Are we now seeing the impact of a bit more professionalism? In the past, the lazy criticisms are more directed at teams with a more amateur set-up, but this tournament has already seen superhuman displays from Vanina Correa (Argentina), Sydney Schneider (Jamaica) and Cristiane Endler (Chile). Ok, the latter might be among the best in the world, but still.

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2. Similarly, the defences are more resilient (Thailand against USA apart), with a lot more teams being able to dig in and frustrate. Argentina have already surprised despite overcoming massive hurdles even to be here, and after Scotland’s collapse will hopefully have something to build on if the AFA take time off from worshipping the men’s team.

3. VAR. Is. Awful. Or at least, the implementation of it with the rules being changed. While getting the correct decision is a good idea, the delays are excessive.

Now to the teams:

In their new kit, Germany seem to be doing a 90’s tribute act. Like the men’s team of that era they are all hustle, bustle and muscle. A far cry from the slick passing unit of previous tournaments.

France have looked assured and buoyed by the home support have played some delightful stuff. Amandine Henry seems to be everywhere at once and is one of. The interplay between Le Sommer, Cascarino/Gauvin and Diani has been particularly nice to watch. They have had a hefty slice of luck as hosts tend to, but it seems only their own complacency could present an obstacle.

Italy look dangerous and after years in the wilderness, the advent of a pro league is benefiting the national team. They are delightful on the ball and have a good understanding with each other.

Brazil are performing in spite of managerial incompetence and Marta’s physical ailments. Another old timer, Cristiane, has stepped up in her absence and the team looks defiant. Unfortunately, as the collapse versus Australia showed, their age is showing and they seem to tire very quickly.

England are coming together very well indeed. The passing, movement and creativity is flowing through the team. However, the team needs to be more ruthless as both Scotland and Argentina games were a masterclass in wayward finishing.

Vivianne Miedema is one of the most complete forwards I have seen, with a physicality that belies her slight frame. Her movement to pick up space is very intelligent and it is to surprise she scores at such an astonishing rate.

The biggest disappointment has been Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw. After entering the tournament with a host of clubs competing for her first pro contract, she has not lived up to the hype, the delicious assist for Havana Solaun’s goal notwithstanding.

Finally, 13 goals means nothing. The USA are yet to be challenged in defence after Sweden sleepwalked through their final game. Will that affect their performance in the knockout phase though?
MN Aditya

 

A couple of thoughts to throw out there…
Two quick thoughts following today’s (excellent as always, despite the lack of Recommended Reading!) Mediawatch:

The tabloids’ obsession with exaggerating transfer fees, by including wages or simply rounding figures up with zero justification, has always been funny and weird, but I believe its actually counter-productive in today’s transfer market. Surely these days, due to (1) gradually becoming numb to giant transfer fees, and (2) FFP concerns making these rumors implausible, it would drive more clicks/traffic if you lowball a potential transfer fee?

As a Liverpool fan, the transfer rumor I found most compelling/desirable was the one you published about potentially signing Fekir for a bargain fee of 15 million euros (13.5m GBP). I cannot believe Liverpool will spend much this summer, or that they would go back for Fekir in most circumstances… but if he’s really going for the price of Shaqiri, it’s almost the case that we cannot afford NOT to take a chance on him (and his knee). I would imagine fans of rival clubs would react similarly to transfer stories with price tags their clubs could actually afford.

Second thought: has the English media given up on the word “ace”, or has Mediawatch given up on the “Acewatch” feature? Disappointing either way!
Oliver Dziggel, Geneva Switzerland

 

Pogba’s confusing statistics
I just read the article about Pogba’s confusing stats and am as perplexed as anyone. Mainly because some of them read quite well.

However, if a player; especially one like Pogba, openly comes out and says he’s looking for a new challenge elsewhere there’s no option apart from to try to sell.

Pogba is a toxic influence in the dressing room with an attitude like that and Woodward doesn’t make it any better. But if Madrid or Juve came to us with 100mill I would take it and run. Especially with reports saying OGS has been given *only* 100 million this window.

None of this would have stood in SAF’s time and we shouldn’t stand for it now. No one is bigger than the club.

I’ll take 3 – 5 years of no trophies but a group of players who are ready to lay down for the club and to help build the club back as opposed to short term marketing gems who dont care where their next paycheck comes from as long as it arrives.

OGS is no tactical genius and I don’t expect him to be winning trophies against Klopp or Guardiola but we should at least give him a shot with the kinds of players he wants. We did it with everyone else (bar Mourinho’s last wish list), no reason he shouldn’t get the same opportunity.

TL;DR sell Pogba, Lukaku and (this hurts) DDG and reinvest in younger, hungrier players. Also get a bleeding DoF!!
Rahil (take Lingard while you’re at it), MUFC, Melbourne

 

In defence of Jesse Lingard
If you compare his rap sheet vs Gazza in Italy when he was only saying “F*** off Norway” or burping into a microphone is he really that bad?
Omar (LFC)

 

Contract duration
Really interesting insight from Mark Robbo in the morning mailbox. Really enlightening on the woeful contractual position of United’s squad there, in much the same way that Game of Thrones taught us all about medieval history… you know, on account of how it isn’t true in the slightest.

Case in point, his golden 2022 rule ignores the fact that Pogba is under a two year contract which can be extended for a further year by the club taking him to…June 2022. So is Sergio Romero and… I can’t be bothered to keep checking – can we all agree that that’s enough to call Mark’s analysis, to be charitable, flawed?

Not to mention the wide reports that Rashford is about to sign up again. So is Dean Henderson apparently, and if you’re allowed to pad with Brewster, Woodburn and Wilson, I can have Henderson – who’ll probably be getting more PL minutes than that lot combined next season.

Liverpool have had a great year. They’ve won the Champions League, they came second in the league by a razor thin margin of only one point – which I understand makes them the bestest ever losers ever to lose a competition. So just enjoy it, making up stupid rationales for why Liverpool are destined for greatness and United will be forgotten from history won’t make it so.

It may happen, or the two teams fortunes could quickly shift again. I can’t help but think that all this posturing is triggered by that nagging suspicion that it could all slip away as quickly as it came together… it’s only been three years since Liverpool finished eighth and looked a shambles – only two years before that that they were one slip away from glory…

My take? One I think Mark and a lot of other Liverpool fans who come out with similar nonsense agree with? United are in a bad moment, but they’re a sleeping giant and it won’t last. Mark and co. Should just enjoy while they can, because it won’t last, and I’d wager it’ll be an awful lot less than than 29 years (and counting).
Andy (MUFC)

 

Inane nonsense
It’s the barren months of the summer and we all need a distraction. And it’s Friday. I think some random game might be in order.

Given the current state of your team, pick one wonderkid from Championship Manager/Football Manager that if you could sign today, would make the biggest difference to the squad? No Messi or Ronaldo here please – we’re thinking Eldar Hadzimehmedovic (CM 01/02), To Madeira (Same version) or Ibrahima Bakayoko (CM 97/98 version, not Everton version). Also you have to state which game he’s from.

I’m a Liverpool fan and think we lack is a threat from midfield with the ability to create chances and unlock a stubborn defence. We play on the break with incredible pace, so there’s only one name that comes to mind: Tonton Zola Mokouko (CM 99/00). We’d snap him up from Derby for the equivalent of 3 weeks pocket money and half a packet of chewitts (tropical fruit flavour, obviously).

He could play in midfield, or do a job upfront – filling in for any of the current 3 if they broke a nail or got a particularly embarrassing haircut.  He was fast, creative, a deadly finisher and had a mysterious name. Perfect. Welcome to Anfield Tonton my son.

How about you and your team?
WhySoSad? (Yes that one, off of the forum a decade ago with the Pringles)

 

Maurizio Sarri will work out which of his systems can prove the best fit for Juventus after witnessing Chelsea’s reliance on Eden Hazard cause defensive issues elsewhere in the team.

The Blues agreed on a compensation package with the Serie A champions – understood to be worth in excess of £5million – for Sarri, who signed a three-year deal with Chelsea when appointed last summer to replace Antonio Conte.

Despite some negative reaction from sections of the Chelsea fan base who were not convinced by his style of play, Sarri guided Chelsea to the Carabao Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Manchester City, and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

The Italian ended the campaign on a high as Chelsea defeated Arsenal in the Europa League final before taking up the opportunity to return to his homeland.

Chelsea’s victory in Baku proved to be Hazard’s farewell appearance before the Belgium playmaker completed his 150 million euro (£130million) move to Real Madrid.

Former Napoli boss Sarri addressed the Italian media for the first time as Juve manager on Thursday morning, with the 60-year-old asked about what sort of approach fans should expect.

“You can’t just start with a system and send players away or take new ones,” Sarria said at a press conference broadcast by Juventus club media.

“We need to have very clear ideas on the players that can make the difference, and then put them in a condition to make the difference.

“The very first step is to study the characteristics of every single player in order to discuss and share, then adapt the module to the players who can really make the difference.

“In the last year (at Chelsea), we had 4-3-3, before then for three years (at Napoli) I had 4-3-2-1, other systems as well.”

Sarri continued: “The 4-3-3 at Chelsea was a 4-3-3 that was different from the one I implemented at Napoli.

“In that case, I had to follow the characteristics of Eden Hazard, which could obviously solve lots of situations but might also have some contradictions in the defensive phase that we tried to solve.

“So (at Juventus) let’s start from the players’ characteristics, try to understand what players can really make a difference and accompany them on this path, try to use them where they are at their best.”

Sarri, though, rejected suggestions his sides only play one way. “In the last few years I always started the season with one formation and then ended it with another,” he said.

“I don’t know what ‘Sarrismo’ (Sarri-ball) is. I read about it but I have always been so, changing thanks to experiences but remaining faithful to the concepts.

“I am a direct person, perhaps too much, and this leads to clashes but they are solvable.”

Former manager Massimiliano Allegri left at the end of the season with Juve winning an eighth successive Serie A title.

“I’m happy to be at the most important team in Italy and this is a further step forward after the experience at Chelsea,” said Sarri, who believes his season under the media spotlight in England has made him a stronger person.

“It’s the crowning achievement of a long career, that for 80 percent of it was extremely tough.”

Sarri sported a club suit at his press conference but joked negotiations would continue over whether he would be back in a tracksuit when he takes to the dugout.

“I would prefer not to wear the suit and tie on the pitch,” Sarri said.

“The important thing at my age is that they don’t send me out there naked.”

 

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s head is “bound to” have been turned by Manchester United’s interest, according to England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd.

The Crystal Palace defender appears to be closing in on a move to Old Trafford but suffered a nightmare against France on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old’s injury-time own goal condemned the Young Lions to an opening Euro 2019 defeat in Italy as he failed to impress in the 2-1 loss.

Talks between United and Palace over a deal, likely to be over £50million, are reportedly ongoing and Boothroyd admitted the speculation may have affected Wan-Bissaka.

“For a young player who all he knows is Crystal Palace academy and Crystal Palace it would be daft not to say that in some way he must think about it,” said Boothroyd, ahead of Friday’s must-win game against Romania.

“I would not be truthful if I told you anything other than that. What I will say is because he doesn’t say too much you don’t get to find out too much. Aaron keeps things to himself.

“He is a very private guy. When that speculation is flying around it is bound to turn your head. But having said all of that had he not scored the own goal we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Boothroyd also hinted he was happier with the way Everton conducted themselves when Jordan Pickford joined the Toffees from Sunderland for £30million just two days before England’s Euro 2017 opener.

“In Poland last time we had a similar situation with Jordan, a lot of speculation,” he said.

“Everton agreed the deal, they worked very closely with us and were very respectful in terms of not getting involved in our build-up.

“In the end it was done in a hotel down the road away from everything else, all the medicals got done.

“If that was to happen we certainly wouldn’t be blocking anybody, we’d be talking to people and seeing if we could help out – provided both clubs were happy with it.

“If that happens we’ll oblige and if it doesn’t suit us we’ll find a time when it does.”

The boss offered few hints over whether Wan-Bissaka would start on Friday, with England third in Group C after Romania thumped Croatia 4-1 in their opener.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin will start up front in Cesena with England needing three points to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

But Boothroyd refused to discuss what the Young Lions may need to do to qualify.

He said: “There could be all sorts of connotations by the end of it. There are tight margins. If we had stopped our game on 86 minutes we’d be saying what a good performance it was.

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“Incidents happen and you have to deal with them. You recognise the time to go in and get things moving and other times where you say nothing and let the group do it themselves. The focus this week has been very good.”

 

Manchester United should place Jesse Lingard on the transfer list after he shared a Snapchat video of him and his mates on holiday.

In the video, Lingard gives a tour of the rooms he and his friends – including United striker Marcus Rashford – are staying in while abroad.

The England international is heard swearing and shouting with one friend making a thrusting movement towards a pillow.

Reports on Friday claim Solskjaer is ‘furious’ over the incident and Holloway thinks the United boss continues to be “undermined” at United.

“It is unacceptable for me,” Holloway told talkSPORT.

“Would I discipline him? More than that, I would put him on the transfer list.

“For me, there is no way back. This is a huge problem.

“When you’re a professional footballer, you’re representing your club every second of every day and whatever you choose to do you have to remember that. You should always put the club first because it’s bigger than you.

“Manchester United is massive and the respect it should get from anybody who is lucky enough to play for them, they should understand that.

“And Lingard has been brought up though Sir Alex Ferguson’s regime, so he should know how to behave at all times, but he has videoed this himself and put it online himself.

“Man United are in turmoil with that dressing room, with Pogba the way he is… this manager and his staff have got to sort this out.

“As a Football manager you have a duty of care to make your players not just better players, but better people as well. That’s where we’re having terrible issues with this.

“He’s not just a young man, he has forgotten who he is, what his job and what his contract means. In his contract it will be written that you do not bring the club’s name into disrepute. He could be sacked over this, I believe.

“The work that has gone into making Manchester United who they are, what they’ve been, their wonderful history, that has been disrespected here and is on a regular basis, whenever I pick up the papers and I see Pogba talking about wants to go here or there.

“They’ve got a big problem. It’s a lack of respect around the place and you can’t have that. Your standards are the absolutely upmost priority as a manger, so he’s got to re-establish that and he has to make a statement to say this is not allowed.

“This wouldn’t happen at Liverpool now, because of Jurgen Klopp. Klopp is not undermined.

“It wouldn’t happen at Manchester City either, because Pep Guardiola is not undermined.

“Solksjaer doesn’t deserve to be undermined, but he is. When he gets the job that dressing room decides not to bother playing again.

“It’s the dressing room that’s wrong. This wouldn’t have happened before with the people and the respectful way you should be have to wear a Manchester United football shirt.”