Thursday 4 February 2016

Utd offered £145 for Neymar

daily mail
  • Manchester United have been confirmed as the club who offered £145m for Barcelona star Neymar last summer by the player's father.
  • Football stars can't resist the cash on offer in China, says Shanghai SIPG boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, after Alex Teixeira became the latest star to reject a move to Europe.
the sun
  • Jose Mourinho is on the brink of agreeing to take the Manchester United hotseat, according to reports in Italy.
  • Former Newport County defender Regan Poole, 17, is the latest addition to Manchester United's first-team plans, having been named in their Europa League squad.
  • Chelsea are close to offering Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri a four-year deal to be their new manager, according to reports in Italy.
daily mirror
  • Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is keen on a summer transfer after becoming fed up with criticism of his Anfield injury record. 
  • Jamie Vardy says a new Leicester contract "will be sorted" amid transfer interest from the Premier League big guns.
  • Manchester United will close an entire tier of Old Trafford due to the lack of interest from fans in their Europa League tie.
daily star
  • Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is in the running to be the next Chelsea boss - but has NOT agreed a four-year deal, as has been reported in Italy.
  • Tottenham's lack of 'winners' could mean they'll come up short in the Premier League title race this season, according to Sol Campbell.
  • Former Chelsea and Liverpool star Fernando Torres could become the highest-paid player in the world with a move to China.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
  • Marko Arnautovic can leave Stoke City for just £12.5m this summer, prompting a scramble for his signature.
the independent
  • Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal was to blame for Wayne Rooney's slump earlier in the season, says former United winger Andrei Kanchelskis.
daily express
  • Chelsea have been dealt a huge transfer blow with Atletico Madrid's club president ruling out a summer move for Antoine Griezmann.
  • Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen told Ryan Giggs that he was the only one who could manage the club, having been at Old Trafford for so long as player and assistant boss.

Utd offered £145 for Neymar

daily mail
  • Manchester United have been confirmed as the club who offered £145m for Barcelona star Neymar last summer by the player's father.
  • Football stars can't resist the cash on offer in China, says Shanghai SIPG boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, after Alex Teixeira became the latest star to reject a move to Europe.
the sun
  • Jose Mourinho is on the brink of agreeing to take the Manchester United hotseat, according to reports in Italy.
  • Former Newport County defender Regan Poole, 17, is the latest addition to Manchester United's first-team plans, having been named in their Europa League squad.
  • Chelsea are close to offering Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri a four-year deal to be their new manager, according to reports in Italy.
daily mirror
  • Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge is keen on a summer transfer after becoming fed up with criticism of his Anfield injury record. 
  • Jamie Vardy says a new Leicester contract "will be sorted" amid transfer interest from the Premier League big guns.
  • Manchester United will close an entire tier of Old Trafford due to the lack of interest from fans in their Europa League tie.
daily star
  • Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is in the running to be the next Chelsea boss - but has NOT agreed a four-year deal, as has been reported in Italy.
  • Tottenham's lack of 'winners' could mean they'll come up short in the Premier League title race this season, according to Sol Campbell.
  • Former Chelsea and Liverpool star Fernando Torres could become the highest-paid player in the world with a move to China.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
  • Marko Arnautovic can leave Stoke City for just £12.5m this summer, prompting a scramble for his signature.
the independent
  • Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal was to blame for Wayne Rooney's slump earlier in the season, says former United winger Andrei Kanchelskis.
daily express
  • Chelsea have been dealt a huge transfer blow with Atletico Madrid's club president ruling out a summer move for Antoine Griezmann.
  • Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen told Ryan Giggs that he was the only one who could manage the club, having been at Old Trafford for so long as player and assistant boss.

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Paper Talk: Toure set to leave City

daily telegraph
  • Yaya Toure will leave Manchester City when Pep Guardiola arrives at the club in the summer, says his agent. Toure will be offered a stunning £30m-a-year contract to move to China.
  • Pep Guardiola will find a place amongst his Man City coaching staff for current assistant Brian Kidd.
  • Arsenal are likely to return this summer with bids for Fulham's 16-year-old star Ryan Sessegnon and Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell.
  • Fulham tried to sign Arsenal's Serge Gnabry on loan on deadline day.
  • Jamie Vardy is ready to snub Chelsea and Manchester City by signing a new Leicester deal.
daily mail
  • Pep Guardiola is leading the race for John Stones as Manchester City enter the market for the Everton defender.
  • Arsene Wenger and Ronald Koeman had a tunnel bust up after Arsenal were held to goalless draw by Southampton.
the sun
  • Manuel Pellegrini wants to take over at Chelsea when he leaves Manchester City in the summer.
  • Joe Hart's future at Manchester City is under threat because incoming manager Pep Guardiola wants to sign Claudio Bravo.
  • Guillermo Varela is upset with Louis van Gaal after the manager blocked a Deadline Day loan to Genoa.
  • England will play friendlies in the north-east and north-west of the country as well as Wembley before Euro 2016.
  • Harry Redknapp has warned Roy Hodgson he must reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals or be branded a failure.
THE MIRROR
  • Manuel Pellegrini is a contender to take over at Paris Saint-Germain when he leaves Manchester City.
  • West Ham chairman David Sullivan says his club would have gambled on £4m Charlie Austin, who signed for Southampton.
  • Ryan Giggs missed Manchester United's win over Stoke because of a family illness.
daily express
  • Arsene Wenger has sent his scouts on a mission to unearth the next non-league superstar.
  • Leicester are reportedly weighing up a move to sign French midfielder Clement Chantome in the summer.
  • Chelsea youngsters Kasey Palmer and Kyle Scott have signed a new contracts with the club.
  • Real Madrid have moved to tie down academy star Borja Mayoral, according to reports in Spain.
the guardian
  • Atletico Madrid's Jackson Martinez set to join Guangzhou Evergrande for €42m.
  • UEFA has lifted Dynamo Kiev's stadium ban for their Champions League tie with Manchester City.

Forster denies Arsenal goal

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (left) tests Fraser Forster (right) but the Southampton goalkeeper makes the save
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (left) tests Fraser Forster (right) but the Southampton goalkeeper makes the save
An inspired performance from Fraser Forster earned Southampton a goalless draw against Arsenal on Tuesday night as the Gunners dropped to fourth in the Premier League.
Forster, who has not conceded since returning to the side against Watford, made two smart saves from Mesut Ozil in the first half, before making a series of stops from Ozil again, substitute Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal piled on the pressure after the break.
Laurent Koscielny headed over from close range, while Southampton's best opportunity fell to Sadio Mane, but the Saints forward could only scuff wide after latching onto Virgil van Dijk's flick. 
Laurent Koscielny heads over from close range in the second half
Laurent Koscielny heads over from close range in the second half
Arsenal drop to fourth following victories for title rivals Leicester City, Tottenham and Manchester City, while the draw extends Southampton's unbeaten run to four matches.  
Both sides were without their January signings as Arsene Wenger and Ronald Koeman each made two changes from their last league outings. Charlie Austin, ruled out with a slight knock, should return at the weekend for the Saints, while Mohamed Elneny was not included in the Arsenal squad after making his debut in the FA Cup.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman was full of praise for his goalkeeper, Fraser Forster
Saints boss Ronald Koeman was full of praise for his goalkeeper, Fraser Forster
In an even first half the Gunners carved out the better opportunities, with Forster twice denying Ozil from point-blank range.
The German international produced a sublime piece of skill to test the Southampton goalkeeper 11 minutes in, plucking a long ball out of the air with his first touch before turning it goalwards with his second, but Forster saved with an outstretched leg.
Fraser Forster denies Mesut Ozil in the first half with a point-blank save
Fraser Forster denies Mesut Ozil in the first half with a point-blank save
His stop 10 minutes later was the pick of the bunch, though, as he instinctively kept out Ozil's jabbed finish from three yards after Giroud's header put the Arsenal attacker in on goal.
Despite the opportunities for the home side it was not one-way traffic, and Southampton served warnings through Dusan Tadic and Mane.
The former twisted and turned on the edge of the box before firing tamely at Petr Cech, while Mane wasted the Saints' best chance of the half, latching onto a Van Dijk header only to miscue past the post.
Petr Cech says Arsenal should have won their clash against Southampton
Petr Cech says Arsenal should have won their clash against Southampton
The Gunners finished the half on top as Joel Campbell picked out Ozil six yards out on the stroke of half-time, but the Arsenal man was quickly crowded out by a Southampton defence looking to post its fourth consecutive shutout.
Wenger's side kept the pressure on, with Forster tipping over Olivier Giroud's curling effort four minutes after the restart, and looked set to take the lead through Walcott shortly after only for the Southampton 'keeper to again stand firm.
Fraser Forster denies Theo Walcott
Fraser Forster denies Theo Walcott
Southampton's goal continued to live a charmed life as Koscielny headed over the bar from four yards, and even when Forster was beaten, Wenger's side still failed to break the deadlock - James Ward-Prowse clearing off the line from Sanchez's low drive with 20 minutes to play.
Mane and Long had opportunities on the break, with the former drawing a routine save from Cech, but the Gunners were swiftly back on the front foot as they pushed for a winner.
Van Dijk denied Ozil with the Arsenal attacker poised to pull the trigger, while Forster's strong right hand denied Sanchez on the follow-up, but despite six minutes of added time, the Gunners could not find a breakthrough.
Southampon's Fraser Forster praises his side's performance at the Emirates
Southampon's Fraser Forster praises his side's performance at the Emirates
Arsenal's 10 shots on target without a goal is the joint most in a league game this season, and the Gunners are now winless in the Premier League since victory over Newcastle a month ago.
They face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium at the weekend, five points off top-of-the-table Leicester, while Southampton will look to keep their fifth straight clean sheet against West Ham on Saturday Night Football.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Cech (6), Bellerin (6), Gabriel (6), Koscielny (6), Monreal (6), Flamini (6), Ramsey (6), Campbell (5), Ozil (7), Sanchez (7), Giroud (6)
Subs used: Coquelin (5), Walcott (6)
Southampton: Forster (8), Soares (6), Fonte (7), Van Dijk (7), Bertrand (6), Ward-Prowse (6), Romeu (7), Wanyama (7), Tadic (6), Mane (6), Long (6)
Subs used: Pelle (5), Targett (6), Juanmi (6)
Man of the match: Fraser Forster

I nearly clapped Vardy - Klopp

Jurgen Klopp thinks Jamie Vardy's 'world class' goal was the difference
Jurgen Klopp admitted he nearly clapped Jamie Vardy after the Leicester striker scored twice against Liverpool to keep the Foxes top of the Premier League.
Vardy's double earned Claudio Ranieri's side a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, taking his goal tally in the league to 18.
The defeat leaves Liverpool 11 points behind fourth-place Arsenal, while Leicester remain three points clear at the top, and Klopp paid tribute to the Foxes and their in-form striker after the match. 
Vardy (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal against Liverpool
Vardy (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal against Liverpool
"Things like this happen when you are in such a good moment like Jamie Vardy and Leicester are," Klopp said. "Obviously you need a little bit of luck but it was really good. First of all you need to be brave enough to do it. 
"It's the perfect season for Leicester and the perfect season for Jamie Vardy. They deserve every point they get and Jamie has deserved every goal he's scored until now. I was close to clapping my hands to be honest but I just felt too bad at that moment." Vardy's first goal, a stunning goal-of-the-season contender, edged Leicester ahead on the hour mark and he added his second 11 minutes later to put the game beyond Liverpool.
Emre Can threatened for the Reds while Alberto Moreno's low cross nearly caught out Kasper Schmeichel, but Klopp conceded Vardy's volleyed opener ultimately proved the difference. 
Vardy (left) volleys home against Liverpool
Vardy (left) volleys home against Liverpool
"At the end, the game is decided by a world-class goal from Jamie Vardy," Klopp added. "One second before we were in their box and we didn't shoot. That maybe shows you the difference.
"I think we had a good plan and a good style of play. The way we forced ourselves to play football was important. Even when they pressed in the first half we played and then they had to run.
"We had a lot of opportunities to cross but our crosses were not exact. We then had some situations when we could have passed but we shot and others where we could have shot but we passed. It was not 10 clear-cut chances and so I don't feel too good at this moment."
James Milner (right) and Danny Drinkwater (left) battle for possession
James Milner (right) and Danny Drinkwater (left) battle for possession
Liverpool have won just once in the league since December 30, and face a busy fixture list in February with the resumption of the Europa League, an FA Cup fourth-round replay and the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City at the end of the month.
They have failed to score in three consecutive games since hitting five past Norwich, and Klopp admitted he was looking for more from his team.
"It wasn't too bad from our side but it wasn't good enough to win," he added. "I'm not too happy to be honest because we weren't here to show we can play something like football. We were only here for the result and I saw our good moments, but they were not often enough."
Vardy says Leicester are not thinking further than their next game
Vardy says Leicester are not thinking further than their next game

Man utd eases past Stoke


Jesse Lingard celebrates after opening the scoring for United
Jesse Lingard celebrates after opening the scoring for United
Manchester United maintained their push for the Champions League places with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Stoke City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Jesse Lingard's 14th-minute header set the hosts on their way before Anthony Martial underscored United's superiority with a superb second on 23 minutes.
Wayne Rooney's strike eight minutes after the interval all-but ended the game as a contest as United coasted to a timely, and morale-boosting, victory in front of an appreciative home crowd. Stoke, meanwhile, missed the chance to complete a first Premier League double over United as Mark Hughes' side, fresh consecutive cup exits, struggled to replicate the form which saw them run out convincing winners on Boxing Day. The result sees United remain fifth the Premier League, five points adrift of Arsenal in fourth and 10 behind leaders Leicester. Stoke remain ninth. Mark Hughes says a poor start to the game cost his Stoke side. The day before kick-off, Manchester United fans had to come to terms with the news that Pep Guardiola was set to take over as manager at Manchester City in the summer.