Man United seem to have finally got the centre back they need

Victor Lindelof has been voted as Manchester United’s ‘Player of the Month’ for November – his first since joining the club in 2017.

The Swede has become a fixture under Jose Mourinho this season amid injuries and form concerns for Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly.

He produced an especially indomitable performance in the 2-1 win over Juventus, and even played through an injury during the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

It was announced by the club that Lindelof had beaten Anthony Martial and David de Gea to the punch for the ‘Player of the Month’ award.

A stellar month for the Iceman!

Congratulations, @VLindelof, you are #MUFC's November Player of the Month! pic.twitter.com/tTqqhFOWIA

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 30, 2018

On paper, you would not think that Lindelof was improving and exciting supporters with his performances. Man United are, it must be said, leaking goals in a way they weren’t last season, but the reasons for that go deeper than just one player.

What matters is that Lindelof now suits the United shirt. Last year, he looked almost scared, unsure of himself and his surroundings, flitting in and out of the team.

Now, however, there is an air of command about him, combining a mixture of steely defensive menace with ice-cold composure to produce not just effective but often classy performances. Perhaps no United defender has used the ball better than Lindelof since the days of Rio Ferdinand (or Daley Blind at times). He can be lovely to watch. How often do you say that about a United defender post Ferguson?

Supporters will desperately hope to see him back from injury as soon as possible.

4-3-3: How Jose Mourinho will line up against Southampton without Alexis

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Diogo Dalot will make his Premier League debut against Southampton on Saturday.

The 55-year-old likewise added that Alexis Sanchez had sustained an “aggressive muscular injury” in training which would keep him out for six weeks.

Injury to the Chilean, coupled with Marcus Rashford‘s misfiring performance at No.9 on Tuesday, means Romelu Lukaku will get a chance to end his goal drought against the Saints.

Here is how we think Mourinho will line up for the meeting with Mark Hughes’ side.

There are good and bad aspects to this team. Dalot and Luke Shaw playing together as wing-backs is deeply exciting – not only because it serves as a massive upgrade but also since it nods keenly towards a brighter future.

On the flip-side, Mourinho will very likely pick Nemanja Matic once again, despite the Serbian looking in desperate need of a rest. Accompanying him will be Paul Pogba, restored to the starting XI after sitting on the bench during the week, and Marouane Fellaini, who scored a vital goal against Young Boys.

Further forward, Lukaku will be aching to score his first goal in over 1,000 minutes, while Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial look to cause damage from the flanks.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has hailed his coaching inspiration Claudio Ranieri

Maurizio Sarri has praised Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri ahead of this weekend, lauding him as one of his managerial inspirations.

The Italian coach is widely regarded as a trailblazer for coaches in his home country, and compatriot Sarri remembers following Ranieri’s teachings when he began his coaching career.

As reported by Mirror Online, Sarri said of his inspiration:

Of course, he was an inspiration. I went to speak to him when he was the coach of Fiorentina, over 20 years ago maybe, and often to see training.

I lived very near to Florence, very near to the stadium. I was a coach, maybe in Serie D. It was easy for me, because I was the coach of a little team near to Florence — Antella in the south part of Florence, very close to the training ground of Fiorentina.

Now both in the top flight, Sarri has explained how Ranieri came to visit Chelsea’s training, which goes to show how successful Sarri has been in his coaching career. He continued:

I spoke with him for three days around a month or so ago. He came to Cobham to see two, three training sessions. He wanted to speak with me, with Gianfranco Zola (who played for Ranieri at Napoli).

But I saw his training 20 years ago.

Talking about what he expects from Ranieri’s Fulham, Sarri said:

Usually a team of Claudio’s is really very solid. They usually defend very well, sometimes low, but very well.

Usually he has a team dangerous at counter-­attacks, like in Leicester, but not only in Leicester.

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La Liga giants Barcelona are keeping an eye on this Chelsea defender ahead of January's transfer window

Spanish giants Barcelona are keeping tabs on Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, according to reports.

The Denmark international centre-back has already emerged as a transfer target for AC Milan, but now the Catalans are also considering making a move to bolster their defensive options.

This is according to Spanish publication Sport, as reported in Football.London’s liveblog, where the report claims that Barça are considering Christensen if Samuel Umtiti is forced to have an operation.

The French World Cup winning defender is out with a knee issue, and the Barcelona staff are concerned over its severity.

While Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt would be Barcelona’s first option, the Dutch club will refuse to sell their starlet until at least the summer, so the Catalans may be forced to turn to Christensen if Umtiti is out for a long period of time.

The post Barcelona keeping tabs on Christensen ahead of winter window appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho confirms Diogo Dalot will make Premier League debut against Southampton

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that new signing Diogo Dalot is ready to make his first Premier League appearance against Southampton this weekend.

The Portuguese youngster was the club’s first signing of the transfer window, arriving from Porto for around £19m in June.

Dalot impressed supporters in his first two games against Young Boys and Derby County, only to sustain an injury over the October international break.

But Mourinho, speaking at a press conference ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Southampton, confirmed that Dalot would be involved for the first time since September.

Mourinho: “This weekend will be the first call for Dalot. He is ready now. He had an important injury, surgery, then a second injury in the national team when he was coming up. But now he has been training for two weeks and we think he is ready now.” #mufc [MEN]

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) November 30, 2018

This is a delightful slice of good news for supporters desperate to see Dalot play and even more desperate to witness an end to the era of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia trundling down the wing in their own good time.

Dalot’s first two performances were seriously impressive. Against Young Boys he delivered a display full of maturity and strength on a big stage, before providing an assist from a cross against Derby which immediately set him apart from Young and Valencia.

The Portuguese now faces his hardest challenge yet: playing in the Premier League for the first time.

Supporters will hope he receives a run of games as he looks to acclimatize to life on the pitch at United.

Jose Mourinho confirms Alexis Sanchez will be out for six weeks

Jose Mourinho confirmed during Friday’s press conference that Alexis Sanchez had suffered an “aggressive muscular injury” in training and would be out for six weeks.

The Chilean, who only has one goal this season, was not included in the match-day squad for Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Young Boys, with Mourinho insisting after the game that he was not injured.

But reports begun to emerge on Thursday that Sanchez had suffered a hamstring injury in training, although the severity remained unclear.

Mourinho confirmed today that, although no official tests had been done, both he and Sanchez knew that the type of injury picked up would leave the latter on the sidelines until 2019.

Mourinho: “He (Sanchez) has an important injury, I don’t want to risk by saying for how long he will be out but from the top of my experience I would say he is not playing this year.” #mufc [MEN]

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) November 30, 2018

Mourinho: “The painful scream and the way the injury happened I know it’s going to be for a long time. Is not the little muscular injury that in one week or 10 days the player is ready. I think Alexis has what I used to call an aggressive muscular injury.” #mufc [MEN]

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) November 30, 2018

When it rains, it pours, I suppose. Sanchez, for one reason or another, has fallen foul to levels of misfortune at Old Trafford which make you wonder whether the footballing gods simply do not want him to succeed in a United shirt. Ever.

He had demonstrated a couple of promising signs playing down the middle instead of the out-of-form Romelu Lukaku, while hardly blowing anyone away either. Still, it felt like incremental improvement.

Sadly, though, Sanchez will have to start all over again when he returns in January.

Serie A club prioritise the signing of out of favour Chelsea defender

AC Milan have identified Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen as their top defensive target ahead of the January transfer window.

The Denmark international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in recent times, with a switch to Gennaro Gattuso’s side touted as a possibility.

Milan are on the lookout for reinforcements at the back ahead of the upcoming transfer window and it seems Christensen has been prioritised.

According to claims from Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited in a report from Calciomercato, the Serie A giants have already initiated contact with Chelsea as they aim to negotiate a deal for the defender.

Christensen has fallen out of favour with the Blues following the appointment of Maurizio Sarri.

The Italian has generally opted to utilise a defensive partnership consisting of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger this season. Gary Cahill has also been given the nod ahead of the former Borussia Monchengladbach loanee on some occasions.

This could see Christensen depart Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window and if reports are to be believed, Milan are closing in.

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Chelsea receive huge boost in their bid to sign Serie A defender

Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Napoli star Elseid Hysaj, according to reports in Italy.

It is claimed that the right-back’s agent Mario Giufreddi has been in negotiations with the Serie A club’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis, with the chief keen to tie the defender down to a new and improved contract.

Hysaj is an important player for Napoli and they have long been attempting to secure his future at the Stadio San Paolo.

However, the Blues have been perennially linked with a move for the Albanian international and according to the Italian media, a January move could yet be on the cards.

It was reported earlier on Friday that Giufreddi believes Hysaj is all but set to remain in Naples for the foreseeable future.

However, according to Tele Sport, as cited by Calciomercato, the agent’s talks with De Laurentiis have reached an impasse, with a departure for the defender now a genuine possibility.

It is believed that the Napoli president is angered by the demands of Hysaj’s entourage, with the agent reportedly demanding €3 million per season for his client, which is €1 million more than what he currently earns.

Chelsea are well-stocked with options at right-back but Sarri could jump at the chance to sign one of his former players following his successful tenure in Italy.

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Revealed: Why Chelsea star's switch to Italy could fall through

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas’ wage demands could see his potential move to AC Milan fall through.

According to claims from Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, as cited by Calciomercato, the Serie A giants remain keen to land the Spaniard in the January transfer window.

A host of clubs have been linked with swoops for Fabregas, who has found first-team football hard to come by following the appointment of Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea in the summer.

This has led speculation to surround the experienced Blues star’s future at Stamford Bridge, with Milan among those who have been touted as potential suitors.

It has recently been reported, though, that Fabregas is open to staying at Chelsea until the end of the season at least as he bids to win back his place in the starting line-up.

Nevertheless, should the Premier League giants see fit to offload the former Arsenal man in January, it seems he may need to lower his financial demands if Milan are to launch a move.

It’s claimed in the Italian media that Fabregas is demanding a four-year contract at San Siro. The 31-year-old is also stated by Corriere della Sera to be requesting €3.5 million per season in any potential transfer.

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Chelsea midfielder's injury not as bad as first feared

The injury Tiemoue Bakayoko suffered in the Europa League on Thursday night is not as bad as first feared.

Reports in Italy have revealed that the French midfielder carried out some medical tests on Friday and the early signs are believed to be positive.

Bakayoko remains a doubt for Sunday’s Serie A game against Parma, but further tests will determine his availability.

There were some concerns for the Chelsea loanee when he was taken off during Milan’s Europa League clash with Dudelange.

The timing of the injury comes as a blow to the midfielder, who is beginning to find his feet at the San Siro after a tricky start.

Bakayoko was linked with a January return to London after failing to impress in Italy, but he is slowly making a case for Milan to take up their option to buy him permanently.

With Maurizio Sarri not so keen to use the midfielder this season, there does not appear to be an immediate future for the player at Stamford Bridge.

The post Bakayoko’s injury not as bad as first feared appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Ex-Chelsea keeper Courtois could be set for Premier League return in sensational swap deal

Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could soon be back in the Premier League with reports claiming a sensational swap deal with Manchester United may be on the cards.

According to reports from Sky Sports, as cited on Calciomercato, Manchester United and Real Madrid could exchange goalkeepers in a move that would see David De Gea join the Spanish side.

Courtois’ dream move to Real Madrid has not gone to plan this season and there are still concerns over De Gea’s long-term future in Manchester.

The club are set to activate his one-year extension that they hold as part of his current deal, but the Spaniard will be out of contract at the end of next season.

Courtois longed for a move to the Bernabeu during his time at Stamford Bridge but is yet to show his best form for Los Blancos.

The Belgian would often go public in his desire to return to Spain, in a move that did not sit well with Chelsea fans.

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Does Morata keep his place? Who starts in midfield? Predicted Chelsea XI to face Fulham

Chelsea host bottom of the league Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as they look to bounce back from their Wembley misery.

The Blues were beaten 3-1 by Tottenham last weekend, their first defeat in all competitions this season.

They now return to Stamford Bridge where they face a Fulham side who have conceded 33 goals in 13 Premier League matches so far.

Will Sarri make any changes? Here is our predicted Chelsea starting XI…

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Aubameyang: We Have To Beat Spurs On Sunday

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has claimed that Arsenal have to beat Spurs in Sunday’s North London Derby (via Arsenal.com).

It’s one of the biggest matches of the season for both sets of supporters but this North London Derby is taking on extra significance for Spurs and Arsenal.

The two sides are just three points apart in the Premier League table and the Gunners will leapfrog their opponents with a win.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is playing his first North London Derby at the Emirates and has an impressive derby day record for his previous sides, something he wants to continue on Sunday.

“All players want to play in these types of games,” he told Arsenal.com “We’re playing at home and we have to give a win to our supporters.

“Just when you come on to the pitch and you feel the atmosphere [you know how big it is]. It’s great stuff. It’s like when I played for Dortmund or Saint Etienne before, we had great derbies also and I feel the same now. It’s a lot of excitement and I think these are good games.

“When you play a derby and you score, it’s really special. As I said before, in the past I’ve played some derbies and I’ve had the chance to score and it was a great feeling. The last derby at Wembley was a bad day for us but we have to change it and win this one.”

It’s going to be a tense match on Sunday. Both sides will enter the pitch on a run of good form with head coach Unai Emery managing the first North London Derby of his career. Hopefully, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues his derby day record on Sunday.

Emery: Smith Rowe Is An Example To Other Young Players

Unai Emery has praised Emile Smith Rowe after the youngster grabbed yet another Arsenal goal on Thursday evening (via Arsenal.com).

It was far from the ideal playing conditions for a football match but Arsenal’s young team didn’t appear to be affected too badly.

The Gunners secured a 3-0 victory over Voskla Poltava in snowy conditions in Kiev to top Group F and secure passage into the next round of the Europa League.

Joe Willock and Aaron Ramsey grabbed a goal each but head coach Unai Emery reserved special praise for Emile Smith Rowe who opened the scoring on the night.

“He is taking confidence, he is taking responsibility and also I think today his performance in 90 minutes is very good,” Emery said after the match.

“He is a good example for the other young players. We think they can help us but they need the confidence of playing matches, not only working with us in the training sessions.

“We want and have the responsibility with the young players like Emile but also the others for them to stay, work and show us that they can improve and stay with us.”

Arsenal have a promising group of young players right now and they certainly showed that on Thursday night. Emile Smith Rowe was the pick of the bunch in the 3-0 victory and deserves all the credit.

Chelsea star has no intention of leaving the club in January, despite major interest in him

Cesc Fabregas has outlined his plans to stay at Chelsea beyond the January transfer window.

As reported by the London Evening Standard, the Spanish midfielder has revealed that he is ready to turn down interest from Milan, providing more game time is in the offing at Stamford Bridge. When asked if he’d had discussions about a transfer in January, Fabregas said:

No, I haven’t spoken to anyone. Obviously in January, I can sign with whoever I want (a pre-contract agreement for the summer) and probably this will attract many clubs.  But so far, from what I can say right now, yes I will stay here until the end of the season. I play at Stamford Bridge, I’m happy, but of course every player wants to play more.

Fabregas has been heavily linked with a move to the San Siro in January, with reports claiming that transfer talks have already taken place.

Milan have been long-term admirers of the midfield maestro and have been hoping to land him on the cheap.

Fabregas’ interest in the move does not appear to be reciprocated, with the player keen to remain in London.

The midfielder rolled back the years on Thursday night with a brilliant performance against PAOK in the Europa League. He showed Maurizio Sarri what he can offer as he dictated play in a comfortable victory for the Blues.

The post Cesc Fabregas wants to stay at Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Why Chelsea may have a potential loophole in the new loan restrictions

Chelsea may not need to worry about the new rule changes surrounding loan players.

Reports from The Times emerged on Friday morning suggesting that Chelsea would be among those affected by the new rules.

FIFA have been to implement new rules that would see clubs limited to the number of players that can be sent out on loan.

However, the Daily Telegraph’s Matt Law reports that the restrictions may not apply to domestic loans, which would present something of a loophole for Chelsea, who currently have nearly 40 players on loan away from the club.

Twitter: 1. The new loan limit (of 6, 7 or 8) players is unlikely to count for domestic loans.

2. Clubs are hopeful club or… https://t.co/AtX2Xattq2 (@Matt_Law_DT)

Teams like Manchester City and Chelsea have been widely criticised for ‘hoarding talent’ in their respective ‘loan armies’, something FIFA have been trying to prevent.

Chelsea have been known to loan out a mixture of senior and youth team players rather than selling permanently.

The ability to put players in the shop window has allowed the Blues to raise their market value and potentially attract more interest at a later date.

The post Potential loophole emerges for Chelsea in new loan rules appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Manchester City make contact over deal to sign Chelsea and Liverpool target

Manchester City have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Chelsea and Liverpool target Houssem Aouar.

According to reports in France from L’Equipe, the Premier League champions are ready to step up their interest after he left a lasting impression against Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League.

The French outfit earned plenty of admirers for their performance against City earlier this week and Aouar was one of many to impress.

Aouar has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been scrambling to secure his services as he impresses in Ligue 1.

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri is said to be a huge fan and has reportedly asked Chelsea to pursue a summer deal to sign the Frenchman.

The Blues are expected to be in the market for a central midfielder at the end of the season, with Mateo Kovacic unlikely to join permanently from Real Madrid.

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Maurizio Sarri tells Chelsea star to find a new club in January

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has told Gary Cahill that he can leave the club in January, according to reports.

The former England international has been linked with numerous teams, such as Aston Villa and AC Milan, and it seems like he’ll be able to make a switch when the January transfer window opens.

With David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger clearly being Sarri’s prefered central defensive duo, game time has been limited for Cahill and aged 32, he wants to be playing regularly rather than be sitting on the bench.

There will be no shortage of clubs interested in Cahill, who has won six major honours since joining Chelsea in January 2012, should he be available as is expected.

Cahill is Chelsea’s backup option to Luiz and Rudiger but with Andreas Christensen as cover, Sarri seems happy enough to let his experienced centre-back seek a new challenge

The post Maurizio Sarri tells Gary Cahill he can leave in January appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Agent of Napoli star drops hint over future amid Chelsea interest

The agent of Elseid Hysaj, Mario Giufreddi, has revealed that he is confident of Hysaj staying at Napoli and returning to top form under Carlo Ancelotti.

Manchester United and Chelsea have both been touted with interest in Hysaj, who has impressed for Napoli in recent years.

Chelsea are keen to strengthen their defensive options and have targeted Hysaj as a potential new right-back.

However, he looks set to snub interest from the Premier League and commit his future to Napoli in the Serie A.

Speaking to Calcio Mercato, Giufreddi said this:

Hysaj? I talked a few moments ago with his father, I really liked his approach: we know its value, there may be moments of fogging but I am convinced that it will return to the levels expressed even in recent years. He suffered a bit from the adaptation with Ancelotti, after a very good time with Sarri.

Hysaj has made over 100 Serie A appearances for Napoli since his move from Empoli in 2015 and is regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the division.

He has also been capped 37 times by his country Albania, and impressed in the 2016 European Championships.

The post Chelsea target Hysaj looks set to stay at Napoli appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Real Madrid star has offer to join Chelsea in January

Real Madrid star Isco reportedly has offers on the table to join either Chelsea or Manchester City in January.

According to Spanish football journalist Eduardo Inda, as cited on the Express, the player could be on his way out of Real Madrid when the transfer window opens.

They [Real Madrid] consider that Isco is not involved in the group, that he is doing his thing, that he is having problems with his weight… so he is thinking of going to the Premier League.

He has an offer from Chelsea and another from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The player is said to have clashed with new boss Santiago Solari regarding the lack of game time he has had since he replaced Julen Lopetegui.

Reports in Spain have suggested the pair’s relationship is at an all-time low, despite Solari only recently taking the job.

A January move is believed to be on the cards with the club looking to move the player on for the sake of the rest of the dressing room.

Isco has been linked with moves away from Real Madrid for some time, with City and Juventus said to be interested in the player.

Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has also been credited with an interest in signing the player for Napoli.

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Are two Chelsea legends about to team up again?

Frank Lampard has not dismissed the idea of bringing fellow Chelsea legend Ashley Cole to Derby.

Lampard has impressed in his new job as Rams manager this season, guiding them to seventh in the Championship.

Derby are one of several clubs linked with signing 37-year-old Cole, who was released by MLS side LA Galaxy earlier this month.

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Lampard hasn’t ruled out linking up with his former Blues teammates again and says he is still good enough to play at a high level:

I don’t know. I know Ashley well. I haven’t spoken to him on it, so it’s a conversation I could easily have.

I’m sure he could do (still cut it). He’s 37, the best left-back of his generation, in my opinion, or actually many generations if you’re talking about those in an England shirt.

So it’s certainly something that is high on my mind and I know Ashley so well that it would be an easy conversation for me to have.

Championship rivals Aston Villa are one of those tipped to make a move for Cole, but his relationship with Lampard could play a major part in his final decision.

The pair enjoyed wonderful success at Chelsea between 2006 and 2014, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup and, perhaps most memorably, one Champions League crown.

The post Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole linked with Derby reunion appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Maurizio Sarri's words on Chelsea youngster could alert other clubs

Maurizio Sarri says youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is not yet ready for a top Premier League club, which may alert others to sign him on loan.

The highly-rated 18-year-old scored first-ever Blues goal on Thursday night, in their 4-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League.

Sarri told reporters that he still has doubts over whether Hudson-Odoi can cut it in the top flight at this moment, despite his vast potential:

I don’t know if he is able for the Premier League at 18, especially in a big team.

If he’s already ready now to make a difference in the team like Chelsea, he would be the best player in Europe in two years.

I think he played very well but the type of match was for his characteristics as they had 10 men after seven minutes.

We only needed to play in the offensive phase, he’s very able to do this but I want to see him in a match when he has to play in a defensive phase.

The gifted teenager has been linked with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge and Sarri’s comments will only increase the talk surrounding his future.

Bayern Munich and Juventus are among those thought to have shown an interest in Hudson-Odoi, highlighting his ability.

The post Maurizio Sarri hints at loan move for Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Mourinho wants this classy £50m Bundesliga winger, could solve United's attack problems: report

Manchester United have entered the race to sign Borussia Dortmund and United States winger Christian Pulisic next summer, according to German media outlet Bild.

Jose Mourinho hotly pursued Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic during the summer of 2017 but to no avail.

The poor form of Alexis Sanchez, who reportedly wants to leave Old Trafford, and the potential departure of Juan Mata in the summer has made signing another wide player something of a priority.

And according to Bild, Man United are among several clubs positioning themselves to make a bid for Pulisic, who is valued at around £50m.

The American youngster made 42 appearances over the 2017/18 campaign but only has four starts to his name in all competitions this season, with former Manchester City youngster Jadon Sancho propelling to stardom through a series of dazzling performances out wide.

Pulisic will not be thinking about moving away just yet. He remains merely 20 and finds himself at a club which gives an excellent platform for young talent to perform.

That said, he will know joining a new club – and thereby starting the next chapter in his career – is an inevitability. United will certainly face stiff competition from other European suitors.

 

3-4-1-2: Man United can thrash Southampton with this fresh lineup

Jose Mourinho would have despaired at seeing Victor Lindelof suffer an injury which threatens to keep him out for a month against Crystal Palace last weekend.

The Swede was beginning to form a consistent centre-back partnership with Chris Smalling – something rarely seen since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson.

He will need to now come up with a new defensive formula at a time when Manchester United are leaking goals against any kind of opposition.

With that in mind, here is how Mourinho could line up for Saturday’s trip to Southampton in the Premier League.

Eric Bailly is still considered by many supporters to be the club’s best defender, yet the Ivorian only has one Premier League start since August.

Mourinho, it seems, does not trust him, but he will need to over the next few weeks.

Perhaps the best formula, then, is to avoid the tension of a traditional defensive pair attempting to work together and instead allow Bailly and Phil Jones – who impressed against Young Boys – to form part of a more positional, systematic defensive structure. Namely, three at the back.

This would, at the same time, give Luke Shaw and new signing Diogo Dalot the chance to offer a different kind of wing play compared with what Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia bring to the table.

The 55-year-old must be aware of how frail his back four has been this season. Some kind of fundamental change needs to occur.

Forwards shine as Chelsea dominate Europa League fixture - Here's how we rated Chelsea's players against PAOK

Chelsea took their Europa League campaign to five wins from five in the group stage, with the Blues dominating Greek outfit PAOK.

Olivier Giroud netted twice in the first half to give the home side the advantage, with PAOK defender Yevhen Khacheridi being sent off early on for denying the Frenchman a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Blues starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi compounded PAOK’s misery after the restart, before Alvaro Morata scored with his first touch off the bench to leave the Greeks four down with ten minutes remaining.

Chelsea will now face MOL Vidi in a dead rubber fixture next month, having known prior to facing PAOK that they had progressed to the final 32 comfortably.

Here is how we have rated the Chelsea team following this fixture.

The post Chelsea Player Ratings: PAOK (H) appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea midfielder suffers ankle injury in Europa League clash

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko suffered an ankle injury during AC Milan’s win over Dudelange on Thursday night.

The Frenchman lined up once again for his loan club as they aimed to secure three points in their penultimate group stage fixture of the Europa League campaign.

Bakayoko has been in good form for Milan lately and was called upon by Gennaro Gattuso to add solidity and energy to the midfield.

Milan came away with a comprehensive 5-2 victory at San Siro despite going 2-1 behind, but have been left to sweat over the condition of their ever-improving loan star.

The former AS Monaco man was helped off the pitch in visible pain as the match drew to a close following an awkward turn of his ankle.

Bakayoko turned in a strong display for his side and completed an impressive total of 11 tackles from as many attempts.

Milan and Chelsea will be keen to learn the extent of the 24-year-old’s injury in the coming days.

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Man United star wants to leave, relationship with Mourinho is at all time low: report

Jose Mourinho’s decision to leave Alexis Sanchez out of the squad against Young Boys has infuriated the Chilean and strengthened his resolve to leave Manchester United, according to reports.

The forward has failed to enter any sort of groove at Old Trafford, managing just one goal this season and a total of four in 30 appearances since joining in January.

Sanchez’s dire situation at Man United was reflected by Mourinho revealing after the 1-0 win over Young Boys that his omission from the match-day squad was not because of an injury.

And according to the Mirror‘s John Cross, the 29-year-old was left raging after his manager snubbed him on Tuesday and has told close friends he wants to leave Manchester following a tumultuous eleven months.

The report states that Sanchez has his heart set on joining Paris Saint Germain, although the French champions have not indicated whether they are looking to sign a player of Sanchez’s profile. His high wages and age will likely serve as key deterrents for a club whose recent policy has been to introduce younger talent.

So what now for Sanchez? Perhaps he should take a leaf out of the book of Anthony Martial, who was  also once barely making the squad and seemingly destined to leave, only to now find himself at the top of his game. The Chilean has to believe he can do the same under Mourinho.

Chelsea are ready to rival Manchester United and Manchester City for Portuguese starlet

Chelsea are interested in Manchester United and Manchester City target Francisco Trincão, according to reports.

The 18-year old forward plays for Braga B, the reserve team of Portuguese outfit Sporting Braga, and has attracted the attention of a number of elite clubs across the continent.

As well as United and City, Juventus are also interested in the Portugal youth international, with a Tribal Football report citing Corriere Di Torino claiming that Atlético Madrid are also interested.

Calciomercato credit Chelsea’s interest, with the 18-year likely to cause a bidding war if interested parties decide to firm up their interest.

Trincão’s contract with Braga expires in 2023, however Tribal Football’s report claims that the Portuguese club have a €30million release clause in the starlet’s contract.

The post Chelsea eye highly coveted starlet Trincao appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Brilliant news: Man United have extended David de Gea's contract

Manchester United have triggered a one-year extension clause on David de Gea‘s contract which keeps him at the club until 2020.

The club was always going to activate the clause in De Gea’s contract before 2019 to preclude him from having a chance to speak with other clubs from January onwards.

Jose Mourinho recently stated after Man United’s 1-0 win over Young Boys, during which De Gea made a match-defining save, that he knew the Spaniard wanted to stay.

And the first step of Mission Keep De Gea At All Costs has been completed, with the BBC‘s Simon Stone confirming that a one-year extension clause on the keeper’s contract had been activated by United.

De Gea option triggered. Contract to 2020. Just housekeeping. Key point is talks over new deal, which continue. Obvious that Sanchez salary is benchmark. And how does DDG see future? Coming up to eight years. Won 1 title. If he wanted to go finding a club wouldn’t be hard.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) November 29, 2018

Reports last month stated that De Gea, with just one Premier League title in eight years, was reluctant to commit his long term future to Old Trafford amid doubts over the side’s capacity to compete for major silverware.

The media tone has significantly changed over the last couple of weeks. According to a series of outlets, De Gea does want to stay at United for two main reasons: his love for the supporters, who recognise and celebrate the 28-year-old’s brilliance, and the decision of his partner, Edurne, to relocate to Manchester.

However, any new deal will need to – at the very least – match the wage package granted to Alexis Sanchez in January, which is thought to be upwards of £300,000-a-week.

[Match Highlights] Vorskla Poltava 0-3 Arsenal - All The Goals And Best Bits

Three first-half goals were enough for Arsenal to take all three points from Vorskla Poltava in Ukraine.

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Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: FC Vorskla v Arsenal
Stadium: Olimpiyskiy Stadium
Kick-Off (UK Time): 17:55 29/11/2018
—–

The match didn’t take place in the stadium it was supposed but as far as Arsenal fans were concerned, it went as expected.

The Gunners didn’t take long to open the scoring when Emile Smith Rowe seized upon a loose ball within 11 minutes.

It was 2-0 soon after when Aaron Ramsey went down in the box and the referee pointed straight to the spot. The Welshman stepped up to take and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

It was 3-0 before the break when youngster Joe Willock got on the end of a flowing move to grab his first goal for the first team.

Smith Rowe grabbed his second goal after the break but it didn’t stand as the referee blew up for offside.

Here are the match highlights (will open in a separate tab).

[Player Ratings] Vorskla Poltava 0-3 Arsenal - Gunners Seal Top Spot In Group F

Arsenal secured top spot in Group F of the Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Vorskla Poltava.

—–
Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: FC Vorskla v Arsenal
Stadium: Olimpiyskiy Stadium
Kick-Off (UK Time): 17:55 29/11/2018
—–

Arsenal needed to better Sporting CP’s result tonight in order to secure top spot in the group and things got off to a good start for the Gunners.

Some nice build-up play down the right flank saw Aaron Ramsey and Eddie Nketiah combine for a chance. The young striker mistimed his touch and the ball fell straight into the path of Emile Smith Rowe who found the back of the net.

The Gunners started to control possession in the moments which followed and one particularly lengthy passing move resulted in Ramsey picking up the ball in the box. The Welshman turned and stood up to the defender who brought him down and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot. Ramsey himself stepped up and made it 2-0.

Arsenal were comfortable despite their much-changed team and made the points safe before the half was out. Joe Willock found some space on the edge of the box but seemed to take too long on the ball. That didn’t seem to matter to the youngster as he cut in on his right foot before curling the ball into the far corner of the net to get his first Arsenal goal.

With the job seemingly done, Arsenal closed the game off after the break. The Gunners didn’t seem overly keen on adding to their three goals but managed to get the ball in the back of the net nevertheless.

Stephan Lichtsteiner put a simple cross into the box which wasn’t dealt with particularly well by the home side. The ball bobbled through and Smith Rowe was on hand to find the back of the net. The youngster celebrated his second of the night but it wasn’t to be as the referee awarded a Vorskla freekick for offside and the goal didn’t stand.

Arsenal created another few decent opportunities in the closing thirty minutes but seemed content with the scoreline. They maintained the 3-0 scoreline to take the three points back to London.

Here’s how we rate the Arsenal players:

Petr Cech – 6

Petr Cech was barely tested. The Czech stopper had a comfortable evening in goals with his biggest challenges coming from some early crosses and half-chances.

 

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6.5

He was in decent form after coming back into the team. Stephan Lichtsteiner was playing his first game back after a muscular injury but looked comfortable.

 

Carl Jenkinson – 7

Carl Jenkinson impressed. The Englishman has played for Arsenal in the last couple of years, let alone in the centre of defence but still impressed. He kept his position and was solid on the ball.

Rob Holding – 7

Rob Holding put in a solid performance. It won’t be the toughest match of his career and it was cut short, presumably because he will be playing in Sunday’s North London Derby.

Sub: Zech Medley (60′) – 7.5

An impressive cameo appearance from Zech Medley. The youngster was hugely composed in possession but didn’t have to do a great deal of defending.

 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7

Ainsley Maitland-Niles played well. The youngster is still recovering from that fracture but looks back to his best. He linked up well with Smith Rowe down the left and attacked well.

 

Matteo Guendouzi – 7

Another typically composed performance from Matteo Guendouzi. The young Frenchman did lose possession a few more times than we’re used to but he can still be pleased with his efforts.

Sub: Charlie Gilmour (77′) – 6

He was okay.

 

Mohamed Elneny – 6

Mohamed Elneny played well. His best moments came in defensive areas but he can be pleased with his night.

 

Joe Willock – 7.5

Joe Willock did well for the Gunners. The youngster drifted into various attacking areas but always looked a threat.

Aaron Ramsey – 8

He played well. Aaron Ramsey was one of the standout players for Arsenal on the night, showing some good linkup play with the rest of the attacking players. Most of what Arsenal did well in attack came through the Welshman.

Sub: Bakayo Saka (68′) – 6

He looked fairly sharp and created a decent opportunity for himself.

 

Emile Smith Rowe – 8.5

Emile Smith Rowe was the best player on the pitch tonight. The youngster continues to impress in European competition and added another goal to his tally this evening. His link-up play was good but he also tracked back well to help out his midfield.

Eddie Nketiah – 6

Eddie Nketiah can be fairly pleased with his night. The youngster will be disappointed he didn’t find the back of the net but his overall efforts were good enough. The usually instinctive forward did seem to take a few too many touches whenever he found space in attacking areas.

Barcelona make contact over January deal to sign Chelsea star

Barcelona have reportedly made contact with Chelsea over a potential deal to sign Andreas Christensen in January.

According to a report from Sport, the La Liga giants have initiated contact with Chelsea’s Marina Granovskaia as they seek a short-term replacement for Samuel Umtiti.

There are fears in the Nou Camp that the Frenchman may require knee surgery as he continues to struggle with injuries.

It is claimed that Granovskaia did not react positively to the contact and is keen to keep hold of the player.

However, there are hopes that should Barcelona step up their interest, the Blues could be convinced into a deal.

A host of players, including ex-Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, have been linked with a move to the Nou Camp as the club search far and wide for a potential stopgap.

Chelsea have reiterated their desire to keep the Danish defender in January, despite his limited involvement under Maurizio Sarri this season.

The post Barcelona make contact over January move for Christensen appeared first on Read Chelsea.

[Confirmed Lineups] FC Vorskla v Arsenal - Maitland-Niles Return To Starting Lineup

Unai Emery has confirmed his starting lineup for tonight’s Europa League clash with FC Vorskla.

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Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: FC Vorskla v Arsenal
Stadium: Olimpiyskiy Stadium
Kick-Off (UK Time): 17:55 29/11/2018
—–

It was far from the ideal buildup to this Europa League clash for Unai Emery and his Arsenal team.

The Gunners must have been caught by surprise by the decision to move the game across Ukraine to Kiev following domestic problems in the country.

The North London side have already secured qualification from the group so it may not be a crucial match in the grand scheme of things.

With that in mind, Emery has elected to name a much-changed squad featuring some players from the under-23s.

Still, a strong Arsenal team will start the match. Here’s how the two sides line up:

Arsenal

Petr Cech

Carl Jenkinson

Stephan Lichtsteiner

Rob Holding

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Matteo Guendouzi

Mohamed Elneny

Joe Willock

Aaron Ramsey

Emile Smith Rowe

Eddie Nketiah

Subs: Martinez, Osei-Tutu, Medley, Gilmour, Saka, Mkhitaryan, John-Jules

Chelsea player told club not to hire Conte after he left Chelsea

David Luiz reportedly warned Paris Saint-Germain about the idea of hiring Antonio Conte when they were on the lookout for a new manager.

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, the Brazilian defender was approached by his former club regarding the ex-Chelsea head coach potentially being appointed in France.

It transpires that Luiz was far from positive in his reference and reportedly advised the club against the appointment following the turbulent relationship that the two endured during Conte’s time in London.

Despite the Italian’s success in England, he did not see eye-to-eye with Luiz and the Brazilian was banished from the first-team picture for large spells of Conte’s last season in charge.

Luiz has since worked his way back into the Chelsea side under Maurizio Sarri this season.

With Unai Emery set to leave the club, Paris Saint-Germain were on the hunt for a new boss earlier this year.

A number of managers were linked with the post but they would eventually hire former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel and Conte remains out of work.

The post Luiz advised PSG against hiring Conte appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea told they can complete big-money signing in January with Sarri unwilling to wait until the summer

Roma would consider selling Cengiz Under during the January transfer window if the right offer came in.

According to Calciomercato, the Chelsea target could be on the move in the new year.

While Under has been heavily linked with a move away from the Italian outfit, reports have always suggested that any deal would have to wait until the summer.

However, the claims emerging from Italy now suggest Monchi could consider a January exit if the price is right.

The report claims that Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea could launch a January bid, with the Italian unwilling to wait until the summer to land one of his key targets.

The Blues could look to take advantage of this opening, with a number of clubs said to be in the running to sign the player.

Bayern, Arsenal and Tottenham have all been linked with moves for Under, who has been catching the eye with his performances in Italy since arriving from Basaksehir.

The post Chelsea told Under could leave Roma in January appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea tell player he's free to leave - providing he does one thing first

Callum Hudson-Odoi will be given permission to leave Chelsea in the January window, on one condition.

According to the Evening Standard, the promising younger winger is free to leave on loan but only if he agrees to a new deal at the club first.

It has become common practice for Chelsea to get their young players tied down to long-term contracts before allowing them to leave on loan.

Hudson-Odoi has failed to break into Maurizio Sarri’s plans this season and is being tipped to leave the club on loan in the new year.

The Chelsea head coach talked up the player’s chances during pre-season, revealing the club would not send him out on loan, but instead, he would get chances in the first-team squad.

Said chances never arrived and many are questioning the decision to not let him leave the club in the summer, something that could come back to haunt Chelsea, with the player still in two minds over whether or not to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

The post Hudson-Odoi needs to sign new deal before leaving on loan appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea star told he can leave the club in January

Chelsea have told Cesc Fabregas that he can leave the club for free in January, according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport’s Niccolo Schira.

Fabregas is out of contract with the Blues in the summer and there have been no signs that he will sign an extension.

Whether Chelsea will be willing to let the Spaniard leave on a free transfer in January remains to be seen, but they could decide to do just that in order to get him off the wage bill and thus create room for any incoming players.

Schira claims that Atlético Madrid, AC Milan and Galatasaray have already contacted Fabregas about joining them in the summer, as have clubs from America and China but as of yet, the World Cup winner has yet to decide where his future lies.

Maurizio Sarri recently said that Fabregas is his preferred backup option to Jorginho at the base of the Chelsea midfield so he might be so keen to let the former Barcelona man leave until te summer.

The post Chelsea could let Cesc Fabregas leave for free in January appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea enter race for star Serie A forward

Chelsea are harbouring ‘strong interest’ in Cengiz Ünder.

The forward has been linked with a move to numerous Premier League clubs, but it is Chelsea who have emerged as a likely candidate to land the 21-year-old.

With the Blues on the hunt for a new forward, Ünder has captured the imagination of Maurizio Sarri with his performances for AS Roma. In sixteen appearances for the Italian giants so far this season, the right winger has three goals and four assists.

A Gazzetta dello Sport article (translated by the fine chaps at Sport Witness) has claimed that Chelsea have that ‘strong interest’ in the Turkish international.

However, Arsenal are also named in the report as another club who have a ‘strong interest’.

In this exploration of seemingly empty, meaningless transfer talk, your guess is as good as mine for what ‘strong interest’ really means. A team packing Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud up front can dream though, right?

The post Chelsea have ‘strong interest’ race for Ünder appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Report reveals why Arsenal could beat Chelsea to one of Sarri's key targets

Chelsea may miss out on Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar if Arsenal have their way.

According to a report from the Mirror, the Gunners are hopeful about their chances of completing a deal because of the player’s relationship with their current striker Alexandre Lacazette.

Speaking about the French forward, Aouar said:

I was lucky, I got a lot of help. Alexandre Lacazette took me under his wing. Alex talked to me a lot, pointed out the stuff I needed to work on, notably my finishing. We worked a lot on that.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been linked with moves to sign the Frenchman as he continues to impress in Ligue 1.

Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri is eager to bring him into his midfield, while Arsenal scouts have also been keeping a close eye on him for some time.

Despite his tender age, the 20-year-old is highly rated in France and is being tipped to make a big-money move in the near future.

Spanish giants Barcelona are also reportedly admirers of the player and could enter the race to sign him in the summer.

Lyon are hopeful about keeping hold of the midfielder in January, but the situation could change in the summer.

The post Arsenal hoping to beat Chelsea and Liverpool to Houssem Aouar appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Former Chelsea striker thinks 'wasted' star midfielder could be on verge of leaving club

Tony Cascarino thinks the Chelsea career of N’Golo Kante could be living on borrowed time.

Kante has had to be reassigned in the Blues team following the arrival of Jorginho, who takes the holding midfield spot.

Signed from Napoli, the acquisition of the Brazilian was made to ease the transition of Chelsea’s football from Antonio Conte’s style to Maurizio Sarri’s.

Consequently, Kante has been shifted slightly higher up the pitch.

Cascarino is not enthralled with the decision to move one of the club’s best players from his preferred spot.

Quoted by Goal, the former Republic of Ireland international said:

I think the bigger issue with Kante is they have given him a new contract because they know so many clubs are sniffing around him, but he’s being played out of position.

You feel he’s wasted.

I think certainly PSG would be in for him as well as other clubs, and why wouldn’t they? He’s the best at his position in the world, without a doubt, for me.

That’s why he signed a new deal, but I don’t believe it will be enough to keep him there if Kante plays in that position all season.

Kante has impressed in his new spot, because he is N’Golo Kante. Given the Frenchman’s humility and soft demeanour, it’s hard to imagine him kicking up too much of a fuss over his new position, but Cascarino can always dream…

The post Tony Cascarino thinks ‘wasted’ Kante could leave Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Manchester City star a 'serious doubt' to face Chelsea

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is being considered as a major doubt to face Chelsea in December.

Kristof Terreur reports that the former Blues midfielder is unlikely to make his return as he continues to suffer from a knee injury.

Ligament problems have kept him sidelined since the beginning of November, but he had previously hoped to return in time for the meeting with his old club.

However, that no longer looks possible with Manchester City unwilling to risk the player’s fitness with an early return.

Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan are expected to fill in for the player should he not return for the game.

The clash at Stamford Bridge will be another tough test for Maurizio Sarri’s men after a humbling defeat to Tottenham at Wembley last weekend.

Chelsea face Fulham on Sunday before a game against Wolves in a midweek fixture, with games coming thick and fast as we approach the festive period.

The post Kevin De Bruyne a ‘serious doubt’ to face Chelsea appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea and United linked with stunning moves to sign German international

Manchester United and Chelsea have both been credited with an interest in signing RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner.

Reports from SportBild in Germany, as cited on Sport Witness, have looked at the player’s potential next move, with his long-term future at Leipzig up in the air.

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest in the German international, who has impressed so many since joining the controversial Bundesliga outfit.

After establishing himself as one of the most potent strikers in Germany, Werner has been heavily linked with moves away from the Bundesliga.

The report claims that the player could still sign a new deal at Leipzig, with his current contract running until 2020.

However, the prospect of signing a new deal is not believed to be so straightforward and it is yet to be seen if a new offer will arrive for the striker.

With Werner now regarded as one of the best forwards in Europe, any move to sign the player is not going to come cheaply.

The post Chelsea and United linked with moves to sign Timo Werner appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Reported Chelsea target hits "rock bottom" with new manager

Isco’s relationship with Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari has hit “rock bottom”, report OK Diario.

The rumoured Chelsea target is out of sorts at the European champions and is thought to be on the verge of an exit.

The silky Spaniard has fallen out of favour under Solari and wasn’t even named in the squad to face Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Madrid winning 2-0 at Stadio Olimpico.

Isco’s unhappiness at Santiago Bernabeu could work in Chelsea’s favour, with the Blues linked with a January move for the 26-year-old.

Manchester City are also believed to be in the hunt for him, as they look to add to their embarrassment of riches in attack.

Speaking about Isco potentially moving to the Premier League, Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda said:

They [Real Madrid] consider that Isco is not involved in the group, that he is doing his thing, that he is having problems with his weight… so he is thinking of going to the Premier League.

He has an offer from Chelsea and another from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

I think that in a style of play like City’s he could do very well.

Isco would be a magnificent signing for Chelsea if a deal did manage to get over the line, with the Spain international world-class on his day.

He would provide an extra attacking spark that the Blues sometimes lack, especially when Eden Hazard isn’t firing on all cylinders.

City would clearly provide stern competition, however, and other clubs could also swoop in if Isco does choose to leave.

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Martial breaks his silence on how Mourinho has helped him improve

Anthony Martial has spoken of how Jose Mourinho has helped to improve his game on a tactical level for Manchester United this season.

The Frenchman looked destined to leave Old Trafford in the summer following a miserable second half of the 2017/18 campaign during which he failed to register a goal or an assist.

But his resurgence this season has been magnificent: six goals in as many Premier League games, eight in all competitions, voted the club’s best player in October, and recalled to the France side.

Speaking ahead of Man United’s 1-0 win over Young Boys, Martial opened up about how he has given Mourinho what he wants on a tactical level since September.

“The key to it is playing games,” he said. “For me, when you play in a game, that’s when you get back your enjoyment and you start to pick up your form once again.”

“If you don’t feature regularly and you only take part in training sessions, you might still be in decent form but it’s not the same as when you are playing in matches.”

“So yeah, I hope that I can continue to put together a good run of games and perform well in them. I think that [my improvement] is more on a tactical level. I try and take up good positions so I can best help out my team.

“I have been trying to work harder defensively too, and to really try and help out the side when we aren’t in possession of the ball. We work a lot on tactics and I try and do my best. I listen carefully to the advice of all the coaching staff we have here and I find that this helps me a lot.”

The problem with Martial, at least to Mourinho, was never his talent but rather the kind of application he offered on the pitch.

For Mourinho, a good performance is constituted by the level of balance and maturity in your performance. Are you in tune with the game or not? Is your running not just hard but smart enough?

And as Mourinho noted after the youngster scored against Everton, Martial has started to reach a threshold of application the 55-year-old considers necessary.

“He’s understanding now things he didn’t before,” he said. “His performance today without the goal would be a good performance and what I want from him is exactly that.”

“You cannot score every time you play but in these matches, where you don’t score and you don’t assist, where your creation is not at a high level, but you have a certain balance in your performance.”

4-3-3: Man United can dominate Southampton with this midfield trio

Manchester United supporters saw new signing Fred make a positive start against Young Boys in the Champions League.

The Brazilian moved the ball nicely in the first half before, like the rest of his team, becoming ineffective as Man United lost their nerve.

He was replaced by Paul Pogba, who brought new intensity to United’s play and helped to lay the platform for an injury time winner from Marouane Fellaini, who now has the same amount of European goals as Diego Maradona.

With all of that in mind, here is how Mourinho should set up his midfield for this weekend’s visit to Southampton.

Surely Nemanja Matic, who looks miserably out of sorts, will be sacrificed sooner rather than later, paving the way for more fluid midfield incorporating both Pogba’s explosiveness and Fred’s technical control at close quarters, with Fellaini, in turn, providing the muscle and grit.

Matic is supposedly there to keep a lid on games at the base of midfield but the opposite is happening this season: his circulation of the ball is painfully slow and attacking midfielders are getting past him with ease.

There simply must come a time when Mourinho must try something different with his midfield options.

The best photos from Manchester United 1-0 Young Boys

Manchester United booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after Marouane Fellaini‘s injury time goal against Young Boys provided a happy ending to what was a miserable performance.

Jose Mourinho’s men started well, moving the ball with urgency, but soon lost their way and descended into a familiar kind of collective dysfunction in the second half, and had to rely on a magnificent save from David de Gea to keep the scores level.

And with Old Trafford only half-full with 91 minutes gone, Fellaini, not a stranger to scoring decisive goals for United, turned and slammed home a winner after a classic long ball and flick-on into the box.

Here are the best photos from what was a night of varied emotions under the lights at Old Trafford.

Embed from Getty Images

The reason why David de Gea wants to stay at Man United: report

Manchester United and David de Gea‘s camp are increasingly confident of striking a new long-term contract at Old Trafford, according to M.E.N‘s Ciaran Kelly.

Reports over the last month have claimed the Spaniard was reluctant to commit his future to Man United amid uncertainty surrounding the club’s capacity to compete for major honours over the next few years.

But Jose Mourinho, speaking soon after De Gea had saved his team from humiliation against Young Boys, revealed that he knew the goalkeeper wanted to stay at United.

And Kelly has reinforced that notion by claiming how the love of supporters and the decision of his partner, Edurne, to move from Madrid to Manchester has convinced him to strike a new deal with his current club.

United and David de Gea's camp have been 'optimistic' he will sign new deal. 'Keeper's been moved by fans' support and his partner has relocated to Manchester. Key for United now is to prove they can match his ambition. Class act. #mufc

— Ciaran Kelly (@MENCKelly) November 28, 2018

United will, above all, need to guarantee to De Gea – who could play at any club in the world – that there exists an adequate ambition among the higher levels at United to properly invest in this squad over the next few transfer windows.

And it somewhat goes without saying that De Gea, voted the club’s best player four times in five years, should be made the highest paid player at United by some considerable distance.

Sarri explains why young star has not been featuring for Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri has told young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi exactly what he must do to break into the team at Stamford Bridge.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the meeting with PAOK, as cited on football.london, Sarri has encouraged the player to improve defensively if he wants to earn more game time.

He has to improve. He has to improve a lot. First of all, the defensive phase. He has to work. He has to improve on the offensive phase – he’s very good one against one, but he has to learn to move without the ball.

He is potentially a very good player, and now he has to study and improve and work. But I think that’s really very normal. He’s 18, so that’s normal. I want to find space for him.

During Chelsea’s pre-season campaign, Sarri talked up Hudson-Odoi’s chances going forward and named the player in his starting XI for the Community Shield against Manchester City.

However, the winger has since struggled for game time, despite many believing he could get some minutes under his belt in the Europa League.

Hudson-Odoi, who has only made two appearances as a substitute this season, is being tipped to feature in Chelsea’s clash with PAOK on Thursday night, but it remains unlikely that the young winger will start for the Blues.

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