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City have held talks over signing Ajax midfielder
De Jong is a player in high demand with Barcelona and Tottenham also want the playmaker, and it means Ajax are in a strong position.
The Dutch club reportedly value the 21-year-old at £70m, which would mean the Citizens would have to break their transfer record to recruit the Netherlands international.
Riyad Mahrez, at £60m, is currently the club’s most expensive spending, but it seems like that the Manchester club would have to dimming that to sign de Jong.
The midfielder is rated very highly by City, but it would still be a huge amount to spend on a player who has played just 53 senior matches in his career.
It is believed City have already started negotiations with Director of Football Marc Overmars, but if a deal does go ahead in January, they are said to want the player back on loan for the rest of the season.
Even with the sizeable transfer fee, it appears Manchester city would agree to this case as they are said to be very keen to land one of the most exciting young prospects in Europe.
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Juventus To Snap Up United Playmaker On Free Transfer Deal
United have already bring out their option to keep him for a further year in the summer, but they now only have a couple of months to agree a new contract before he is able to speak to foreign clubs like Juventus.
The Serie A champions have taken a number of high profile players on a free transfer over the past years. They signed Emre Can from Liverpool on such a deal last season, while the likes of Sami Khedira and Dani Alves have also made similar moves in the past.
Mata’s current deal expires at the end of the season, but so far the Spaniard hasn’t agreed to extend his contract at Old Trafford.
Mata has been a bit-part player under manager Jose Mourinho over the last two seasons. There have been times where he has not featured in the match day squad, but he still made 40 appearances in all competitions last season.
Mourinho is said to be keen to keep him, not only for his experience on the pitch but also because of the prestige he exercise in the dressing room.
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French Star warns Man United board over Juventus move.
The France international will be back in Turin when his club travel to Juventus in the Champions League next week, and the 25-year-old has accepts that he cannot wait to return “home”.
Paul Pogba’s long-term future at Old trafford is far from secure, however, with both Spanish and Italian champions strongly linked with moves during the past transfer window.
The France international left Serie A champions to re-join the Manchester united in the summer of 2016, and the midfield star has scored five times and registered four assists in 13 matches for the Red Devils this campaign.
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has said that ‘Turin is his home’ amid suggestions that the midfielder could rejoin to Juventus.
Paul Pogba won four Serie A titles with Juventus between 2012 and 2016, having moved to northern Italy after becoming discontented with a lack of options under Sir Alex Fergusson.
“I expected it, it was mad (being drawn with Juventus),” Pogba told RMC. “I’d spoken about it with my brother last summer. I said to him: ‘Imagine we’re in the same group as Juve’. For me, it’s a pleasure. Turin is my home – that’s where I scored my first professional goal.”
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Liverpool are interested in signing Athletic Bilbao winger Iker Muniain, according to Marca (via Metro.co.uk).
The Spanish publication reports that the Reds have already made an offer to the player, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
However, Liverpool are not the only club keen on signing Muniain. Serie A side Napoli are also said to have tabled a proposal of their own.
The 25-year-old could yet stay at Bilbao. The diminutive midfielder has spent his entire career with the La Liga club and is said to be still in negotiations over a new deal. Currently, though, no agreement has been reached between the two sides.
Muniaian has made 357 appearances for the Basque side since making his senior debut in 2009. During that time, he has scored 51 goals and contributed 35 assists.
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The agent of Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has denied claims that Besiktas are considering ending his two-year loan spell early.
Reports in the Turkish media had suggested that the Super Lig side were looking to swap the German shot-stopper for Reds striker Divock Origi in January.
However, Karius’s representative Florian Goll dismissed the story, and said that Besiktas are very happy with their new number one:
“Complete nonsense. Loris is on loan to Besiktas for two years – that’s the situation. The club has no intention of ending this loan contract prematurely.”
“It’s fact that Loris is the clear number one at Besiktas, he played every game and showed good performances.”
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Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan took to Twitter yesterday to announce that he has returned to training.
The German international has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, missing the last five matches in all competitions.
Supporters are absolutely delighted to see Gundogan back in action and are hoping he can recapture the form he was showing right before his injury.
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Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will leave the club on a free transfer in the summer, according to Sky Sports.
The Welsh international reportedly held talks with club officials over the weekend to determine why the Gunners withdrew a contract offer.
Ramsey said last week he was still awaiting an explanation for why a new deal was taken off the table, but it is believed that the reasons have now been communicated to the player.
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek produced another good performance in Chelsea's 3-2 win over Derby on Wednesday night. He looks to be in fine form so can he now become a regular starter for the club in the Premier League?
The debate about Ruben Loftus-Cheek's lack of game time is not new but it is one that has gathered in urgency. The midfielder turns 23 in the January transfer window and while he feasts on midweek action, younger men have been seizing their opportunities.
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Paris Saint-Germain would be prepared to take Alexis Sanchez off Manchester United’s hands next summer, according to the Sun.
The Chilean international reportedly earns £505,000 a week at Old Trafford but has failed to justify his sizeable salary since arriving back in January.
During his ten months with United, Sanchez has scored just four times in 26 appearances, with his only goal so far this campaign coming in the 3-2 win over Newcastle earlier this month.
Manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that the 29-year-old has been suffering with injury problems this season, which partly explains his poor form.
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Robson believes new signing Fred will add an extra dimension to the Reds' midfield next season
The club confirmed the Brazilian's move from Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.
Robson, who Played for the Reds between 1981 and 1994, and is the longest-serving captain in the club’s history, expects our new acquisition’s qualities to bring more balance to the side.
“I think everybody was saying that we just needed a bit more mobility and a little bit more creativity in that midfield area,”
suggested United’s former no.7.
“Fred definitely gives you that. He’s been very good for Shakhtar, so hopefully he can take to the Premier League and do really well for United.”
Fred made 37 appearances for Shakhtar last term, and played every minute of their eight Champions League matches. The left-footed midfielder, 25, particularly impressed during the group stage, when they became the first side to beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2017/18.
Robson himself is very familiar with Brazilian players, having signed two high-profile stars, Juninho and Emerson, while manager of Middlesbrough in the 1990s. The man affectionately known as 'Captain Marvel' explained that, in his experience, footballers from the South American nation typically possess great determination.
“I didn’t have any difficulties with them [Juninho and Emerson],”
recalled Robbo.
“Brazilians are tough characters, and mentally tough. The thing in Brazil is, if you don’t prove yourself in Europe, you’re not really a top-class player - that’s why they all like to come across to Europe and prove themselves.
“So I’m sure Fred, coming from Ukraine to the Premier League, will be tough enough and ambitious enough to want to do really well for United. I don’t think there will be any problems setting in as far as he’s concerned.”
Fred is currently with Brazil at the World Cup in Russia, and could be involved today (Friday) against Costa Rica, but will join Jose Mourinho’s squad later this summer ahead of the 2018/19 season.
He is set to become the seventh Brazilian to play for United’s first team, following in the footsteps of 2002 World Cup winner Kleberson, Anderson, Rodrigo Possebon, Rafael and Fabio da Silva, and Andreas Pereira.
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Real Madrid play the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Juventus Stadium.
Zinedine Zidane has called up the whole squad for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals which Real Madrid play against Juventus at the Juventus Stadium (Tuesday, 8:45pm CEST).
REAL MADRID SQUAD:
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas, Casilla and Luca.
Defenders: Carvajal, Vallejo, Ramos, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Theo and Achraf.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Llorente, Asensio, Isco, Kovacic and Ceballos.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez and Mayoral.
NEXT TRAINING: Monday, 2nd April at 7pm CEST at the Juventus Stadium (First 15 minutes open to the press).
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Arsene Wenger has signed a new 7 year contract at The Emirates.
The Frenchman looked set to leave the the club this summer after a disappointing season, however has now been rewarded with a new contract following the Gunner’s recent surge in form.
Club owner Stan Kroenke says the recent 3-0 victory over Watford convinced him to offer Wenger a new contract and that he hopes to continue to work with the veteran for many years to come.
“The performance against Watford was outstanding. I watched it and just thought, you know that, play like this every week and we’ll definitely finish top six next season.
“And that’s why I offered Arsene a new deal. Hopefully he can stay here forever. Plus, off the record, it saves me a fortune.”
Wenger’s new deal contains a ’till death do us part’ clause meaning he will be at the club for at least another 30 years in some capacity, and the Arsenal boss insists he is simply pleased to continue his stay in North London and isn’t worried about the heavily increased security presence around his house and the The Emirates.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he said, “The road outside mine attracts dangerous drivers, so it’s nice of Stan to be giving something back to the community by helping promote safe driving.”
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Cesar Azpilicueta believes the goal we conceded on the stroke of half-time was the turning point in yesterday’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Blues had taken a deserved 29th-minute lead, courtesy of Alvaro Morata’s header, but the visitors drew level through Christian Eriksen in added time at the end of the first half, before Dele Alli scored twice in five minutes after the break.
‘It’s really tough,’ said Azpilicueta. ‘We started the game well, we scored the first goal and were in control but the late equaliser was hard to take because after the first half, and our performance, we didn’t deserve for it to be 1-1 but that’s football.
‘We had more chances to score goals, we didn’t do that and we know the Premier League is tough. We were playing against a strong side and, from nothing, a good strike made it 1-1.
‘After that it was different. It was hard to take the goal before half-time when you’ve been controlling the game, but sometimes that can happen, in your favour and against you. Then in two actions in five minutes they came back and got the win that obviously we knew would have been very important for us.’
The result leaves us eight points behind the north Londoners, who are fourth, with seven matches left to play, but Azpilicueta insists the team will continue to push to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
‘It looks further away than it did before the game but there are still points to play for,’ said the Spaniard. ‘With every game you play you are closer to the end and we have to make sure we try to get there.
‘It’s a hard kick for us because our target was to get closer to them and after the game we are even further away, but it’s a massive target for us so we have to make sure we fight until the end to try to get that spot.’
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The wheel away, the knee slide and the double fist-pump goal celebration said it all. Alexis Sanchez had broken through a testing period at Manchester United - and it couldn’t be more timely.
During the international break, manager Jose Mourinho’s January transfer coup from Arsenal was on duty with Chile and admitted candidly that his Old Trafford baptism hadn’t lived up to his own expectations.
“As I am self-demanding, I expected something better,” the forward said. It was an honest appraisal of the opening two months of his Reds career. Alexis cited a first ever mid-season switch as part of the reason why he has found it difficult to settle down and make an instant impact. But Saturday's game against Swansea City could be a watershed moment for the South American.
He scored only his second goal for the club, following his first against Huddersfield Town in the Premier League in February. The drilled, guided right foot shot past Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski doubled the lead and made the points pretty much assured by the 20-minute mark.
Not only that but he also added an assist to his stats when he set up Romelu Lukaku for United’s first of the afternoon. They were the central moments of Alexis’s personal contribution that all added up to the 29-year-old winning Man of the Match.
When he was brought off in the 75th minute, he was afforded a standing ovation from all sides of a grateful stadium. Job done. It was just what Alexis needed ahead of the Manchester derby, at the Etihad Stadium against City this Saturday teatime.
The Chilean was a target for Blues boss Pep Guardiola last summer but the transfer didn’t materialise. It looked like being revived in the January window until Jose Mourinho stepped in and lured him to United from Arsenal under the noses of the neighbours.
Alexis’s situation draws parallels with Robin van Persie in 2012. Back then, the Reds were hurting from that painful last-day title win for City. Sir Alex Ferguson’s response was a masterstroke piece of business. With van Persie’s contract situation at the Emirates public knowledge and City’s then manager Roberto Mancini showing a keen interest and being heavily linked with a move for the Dutch striker, Sir Alex stepped in.
City were miffed, Mancini was said to be annoyed with the Blues hierarchy for not pushing through his wish to land RVP. United and our manager were delighted. It was an astute purchase that was vital to United winning back the Premier League crown, 12 months after the hurt at Sunderland.
One of the really key moments of that campaign came on 9 December in east Manchester. United and City were going at it hammer and tongs again at the top of the division and the derby was heading for a 2-2 draw. Cue RVP. Injury time and City concede a free kick. You just knew what was going to happen next as the striker rubbed City’s noses in their transfer disappointment, as his set-piece arrowed in beyond Joe Hart’s diving body.
It wasn’t exactly a title-winning moment and karma for the Reds, but it was certainly a defining moment. Five years on and United have once again usurped City for an Arsenal goalscorer. The last thing United fans want to endure this weekend at the Etihad is to be another victim of Guardiola’s side and be on the neighbours' home patch when they clinch the 2017/2018 league title.
Delaying the celebrations would be some comfort for the Reds and leaving City’s ground with the champagne bottles still corked and a win under the belt would provide extra belief for next season. An in-form Alexis is vital for the showdown. And just as the script was as good as written for van Persie to curl in that delicious winner in the winter of 2012, so the stage could be set for the Chilean to be centre stage of all the headlines this weekend. For me, it does have the feel of inevitability about it.
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Manchester United are in advanced talks to complete the signing of Valencia defender Jose Luis Gaya.
Reports from Spain suggest United are close to agreeing a deal that will bring the £20 million rated full-back to Old Trafford in the summer – however a fee is yet to be agreed.
Gaya has made 106 appearances for Valencia after breaking into the first-team back in 2012 and has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League since.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea are amongst some the clubs who have previously expressed their interest in the Spain U21 international, however it is now United who lead the race for the highly rated left-back.
The Red Devils are hoping to land Gaya as a replacement for Italian Matteo Darmian, who is expected to join Juventus at the end of the season after a difficult few seasons in England.
Darmian has made only two starts in the Premier League this season, with Jose Mourinho opting to play Ashley Young at full-back for the majority of the campaign.
United are also keeping tabs on Juventus full-back Alex Sandro as a replacement for the Turin bound Darmian, however are thought to prefer a move for Gaya due to Juve’s £70 million asking price for the Brazil international.
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Arsenal have a big chance of securing a significant trophy this season despite their fluctuating form shown in the domestic competitions.
While fans are used to seeing the Gunners fighting for the Champions League, the Europa League would be quite the achievement considering their last international trophy was won back in the ’93-’94 season. It would also secure the Londoners’ presence in next years’ Champions League which would be a massive relief – Arsenal are 8 points behind Chelsea and 12 behind Liverpool who are 5th and 4th respectively.
Even though it might not be obvious, Arsenal are surely seeing the Europa League as their main objective for the rest of the season. The good news is that they have all the chances of actually bringing the trophy home. Looking at last week’s result, it seems that Atletico Madrid are the only team who can actually deny the Gunners the trophy and a spot in the Champions League.
Milan do not seem strong enough to turn things around and recover the 2 away goal disadvantage so Wenger should be looking towards what needs to be done next and what teams Arsenal need to defeat in order to achieve their goal.
The only thing that might come between Arsenal and the next stage of the Europa League might be the injury list which seems to always contain important players during key moments like these:
Alexandre Lacazette – Knee Injury – Out since mid February. The Frenchman will not be available against Milan and might even miss the first leg of the quarter finals which is scheduled for the 5th of April.
Hector Bellerin – Knee Injury – out since the beginning of this month. He is expected to return on game day. His presence in the starting eleven is in doubt though.
Shkodran Mustafi – Groin Injury – out since the weekend. He has no return date set and is likely to miss the Milan clash.
Nacho Monreal – Back Injury – out since late February. He is in the same situation as Bellerin. He might have a decent chance of being on the pitch on game night.
Santi Cazorla – Tendon Injury – out since 2016. His situation is something else. He underwent 10 surgeries and is looking still hoping to return in 2019 which would mean his recovery time will extend to over 750 days.
Milan on the other hand have no new injuries or massive doubts about their squad so we can expect a similar team to that which featured against Genoa this past Sunday.
Score wise we predict a 2-1 win for Arsenal and a 4-1 aggregate win as the Gunners are coming off a solid 3-0 win over Watford and should have enough experience and a strong enough starting eleven to secure the win.
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Bayern have encountered Besiktas three times so far, winning all of the matches without conceding a single goal! Besides the 5-0 victory in the first leg this season, the Bavarians won both matches in the 1997/98 Champions League group stage 2-0. Bayern have gone unbeaten in their European encounters with Turkish teams, winning four of them, with one game ending in a draw. FCB have scored 16 and conceded only one goal. fcbayern.com has delved into the stats ahead of the second leg on Wednesday at 18:00 CET (20:00 local time).
Near-unassailable advantage
A look at the stats reveals FC Bayern are all but through to the quarter-finals. Bayern won the first leg 5-0, an advantage that has yet to be overturned in European Cup history. The German record champions would make it into the last eight of Europe's premier club competition for the 17th time in a row. No other side boasts more!
Duel of coaches
Bayern have won all of their five CL matches since Jupp Heynckes' return, the longest current streak in the competition. With other seasons factored in, Heynckes has won all of his last ten CL matches, equalling the record set by Louis van Gaal from May 2000 to September 2009 and Carlo Ancelotti from April 2014 to February 2015. Besiktas coach Senol Günes has yet to lose a home match in Europe's elite club competition. Günes is 65 years old, whereas Heynckes is 72, which means the two oldest coaches in the competition face off.
Patchy away record
Bayern have only won one of their last ten CL knockout matches on foreign soil, losing five and drawing four. They won 5-1 away to Arsenal on 7 March 2017. However, under Jupp Heynckes FCB have won four out of six away matches in the knockout rounds, losing two.
Suspension risk
Three men from Munich have to watch out on Wednesday evening. Robert Lewandowski, Joshua Kimmich and Sebastian Rudy would serve a one-match ban in the quarter-final first leg in April should they collect another booking. Corentin Tolisso too is one booking away from suspension, but the Frenchman stayed in Munich due to injury. All bookings will be cancelled after the quarter-finals.
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