4-3-3: How Man United can line up vs Southampton with two key players returning

Manchester United claimed an impressive 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night despite a heavy host of injuries.

The likes of Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera were unavailable, with Marcus Rashford only capable of taking a place on the bench.

Ahead of Southampton, the latter looks likely for a return to the No.9 role while Martial is the only player Solskjaer has confirmed will return in time for Saturday.

With that in mind, here is how Man United can line up against the Saints at Old Trafford.

United have not won at Old Trafford in three games, losing to Paris Saint Germain and drawing games with Burnley and Liverpool, and will feel determined to demonstrate their away-game verve – which has seen them win eight consecutive games on the road – in front of their own supporters.

That is why Solskjaer must be bold with his selection: a front three full of skill, pace and confidence, backed up by attacking full-backs who will overlap on the outside, along with Paul Pogba and Fred looking to send the ball forwards as soon as they can.

Any other mentality going into this game would be a betrayal of what Solskjaer has managed so far at Old Trafford.

Di Marzio: Man United hold talks with Benfica for 19yo midfield star

Manchester United representatives have held talks with Benfica over the possibility of signing attacking midfielder Joao Felix, according to the reliable Gianluca di Marzio.

The 19-year-old has dazzled supporters during his first senior campaign with Benfica, scoring eight goals in 15 league matches from the No.10 position.

Man United have a close connection with the Portuguese champions, signing Victor Lindelof from them in 2017 and often sending scouts to watch their games.

And according to Di Marzio, while Juventus look like front-runners to sign the youngster, United have remained in contact with Benfica over Felix’s availability.

Here is some footage of Felix – he’s the one who squares the pass after producing a gorgeous flick – which contains far too much sauce to ignore.

Transfer guru and Italian journalist Di Marzio reports Manchester United has shown interest in Joao Felix and met Benfica yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ZqNxTtVwR8

— Genius (@GeniusMUFC) February 27, 2019

United’s priority heading into the summer, just like last year, will be to strengthen the central defence and full-back position, with Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia all likely to depart.

But the acquisition of another young, darting, crisp attacking midfielder, adept in tight spaces and smart in front of goal, would serve as an important step towards improving build-up play against teams employing a low-block.

It could be claimed that United’s interest in Felix implies a willingness to let Juan Mata leave over the summer.

Former goalkeeper believes Kepa Arrizabalaga has disrespected his Chelsea teammate

Former England goalkeeper David Seaman has criticised Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, claiming he was ‘disrespectful’ to teammate Willy Caballero during the EFL Cup Final.

The 24-year old refused to come off the field despite being substituted by manager Maurizio Sarri during Chelsea’s cup final tie against Manchester City, with the Italian coach wanting to switch goalkeepers shortly before the end of extra time and the upcoming penalty shootout.

Sarri was understandably furious with his player having undermined him, and Kepa was subsequently dropped for the Blues’ game against Tottenham on Wednesday, while he was fined a week’s wages by the club.

Seaman, speaking at the London Football Awards, claimed that Kepa could have calmed the situation by walking over to the technical area to talk to Sarri. Speaking to Sky Sports, Seaman said:

I don’t think anybody in football has seen anything like that.

I thought he was disrespectful not only to his manager but his fellow goalkeeper in Caballero.

He shouldn’t have been out there on the pitch wagging his finger; he should’ve gone over to the bench to explain himself because there was a miscommunication from the physios back to the bench.

Caballero wasn’t just warming up, he has his gloves on and was ready to go so a signal’s gone back saying he can’t carry on.

Kepa’s obviously not understood that and thinks he’s okay, but then he realises he’s being taken off so he should’ve just gone over and then that would’ve stopped everything, but that didn’t happen.

He’s been fined, he’s apologised and he’s been dropped so that’s good enough punishment for me and now he’ll have to wait and see if he gets his place back.

The post Seaman claims Kepa disrespected teammate Caballero appeared first on Read Chelsea.

The best photos from Crystal Palace 1-3 Man United

Manchester United won 3-1 at Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night to claim an all-time club record of eight consecutive away wins.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, heavily changed due to injuries, started the game tentatively but took the lead through Romelu Lukaku, who scored a second soon after half-time to put the visitors in charge.

Joel Ward nodded a goal back for Palace amid a sloppy spell from Man United, but they responded perfectly, with Ashley Young finishing off a lovely passing move across the box to secure the three points, and another historic milestone for Solskjaer.

Here are the best photos from another memorable away day in London for United.

Embed from Getty Images

The reason why De Gea wants to sign new contract at Man United: report

David de Gea has indicated he wants to commit his long term future to Manchester United thanks to the revival engendered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.

The Spaniard has been in contract talks with Man United for over a year, with Jose Mourinho stating back in November that all parties were leaning towards an extension at Old Trafford.

Various reports have suggested that, although the club has agreed on shelling out around £350,000-a-week for De Gea’s new wage package, there remain complications over agent fees and final terms.

However, according to the Mail‘s Adam Crafton, De Gea remains steadfastly in favour of committing his long term future to United. The change in mood and results since Solskjaer’s arrival in December has helped to make up the 28-year-old’s mind.

De Gea enjoys life in Manchester and has a strong connection with the club’s supporters, who idolise him more than almost any other player.

On top of that, the spectre of Real Madrid no longer exists following the club’s acquisition of Thibaut Courtois in the summer. The prospect of moving back to Spain, where he is heavily maligned by the press, does not tempt De Gea like it did in 2015.

Why Maurizio Sarri deserves praise for Chelsea's upturn in form

If you have read any of my other articles and there have been a few – I am not the biggest fan of Maurizio Sarri.

His insistence on using Jorginho and having no ‘Plan B’ has been my main criticisms. Well begrudgingly, I feel it is only right to offer some positive reaction to the performances against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final and against Tottenham on Wednesday night.

In both those games, he showed greater tactical flexibility and a change in his substitution patterns, which clearly needed to happen. His decision to bring in Willy Caballero was brave and one that needed to happen. I agreed with that decision, but still, Caballero scares the living daylights out of me, but as the team and defence played really well, my fears were allayed as he did not have much to do.

His decision to start Kovacic ahead of Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Ross Barkley paid off as well, with the Croatian putting in his best shift as a Chelsea player all season.

The return of Marcos Alonso caused a Twitter meltdown before the game, but the decision paid off as well. The Spaniard defended well and worked hard down the left-hand side. Taking off an underperforming Eden Hazard was right and brave, a move that showed guts from Sarri.

Even Jorginho made some vital tackles and interceptions, which ensured I will get off his case a little, but would I still prefer N’Golo Kante in that position? Absolutely.

What I did see though was a Chelsea team, under incredible pressure, perform with heart, grit and determination. A Chelsea team that clearly has pride and one that obviously is starting to believe in Sarri. There is now hope for the season if they can continue in this form and vein.

A top-four place is doable and who knows – possibly a Europa League triumph too. If we can achieve those two things, I think we can say it has been a pretty successful season and that means next year, Sarri will still be in charge and that stability can only be a good thing.

Transfer ban or not, with the return of our top loan players, there’s hope for Chelsea.

The post Sarri deserves credit after turning around Chelsea’s fortunes appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea preparing summer move for star Croatian midfielder

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Maritimo midfielder Josip Vukovic. 

The 26-year-old has something of a journeyman career, and has played for four clubs since the start of 2017. 

However, it seems as though his performances in Portugal’s Primeira Liga have caught the eyes of recruitment teams from across the continent, with TalkSPORT claiming that three Premier League clubs are interested in acquiring the central midfielder. 

Wolves and Leicester City are also tipped with priming moves for the Split-native, who is a ball-winning CDM. 

Chelsea can already boast a number of strong options to sit in front of the defence, including Jorginho, N’Golo Kante (depending on who you ask…), and Danny Drinkwater. 

However, Maurizio Sarri is still in the process of trying to create a squad in his image, and the addition of Vukovic could go some way to achieving that goal. 

The post Chelsea lining up summer move for Croatian midfielder Vukovic appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Pedro reveals Chelsea dressing room situation after Kepa incident

Chelsea players approached Sarri with request for tactical change against Spurs

Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against Spurs was a welcome boost for a club in the midst of some unsavoury news headlines. 

A transfer ban from FIFA was followed with the League Cup final debacle, in which Kepa Arrizabalaga refused a substitution late in extra time. 

Maurizio Sarri’s position at the club had started to look increasingly precarious, and the victory against an opponent of Spurs’ standard was a nice distraction from things happening elsewhere. 

A tense first half saw the teams go into the break at 0-0, and Sarri revealed where the impetus came from to modify his tactics for the second period. 

The Italian is quoted by West London Sport as saying: 

At the beginning of the match we pressed very high. Then it was really very difficult because we played 130 minutes three days ago.

So the players asked me to press a little bit lower and of course I agreed.

They defended really very well and they also defended very well in the final against Man City and in the Europa League against Malmo – in the last three matches we defended very well.

Pedro’s determined run and finish down the right flank opened the scoring on 57 minutes, and Kieran Trippier finished the job six minutes from time with a clinical own goal. 

The news of a cooperative dressing room should come as welcome news to Chelsea fans, who have been longing to see harmony in the dressing room. 

The post Chelsea players requested tactical change against Spurs appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea outcast could be giving new chance with transfer ban

Chelsea outcast Tiemoue Bakayoko could be handed a fresh opportunity at Stamford Bridge after the Blues were handed a transfer ban for the next two transfer windows.

The midfielder, who is currently out on loan at AC Milan, failed to impress in his first season at Chelsea, despite costing over £40 million to sign.

However, the Frenchman has impressed many at Milan, meaning that he could be handed another chance to resurrect his career at the Blues next season, according to Calcio Mercato.

Milan are reportedly interested in signing Bakayoko on a permanent deal, but a lot depends on whether or not AC Milan qualify for the Champions League.

If they do, Bakayoko could return to the San Siro next season with Milan, therefore, having the funds to sign the former Monaco man.

With Mateo Kovacic returning to Real Madrid, and Chelsea unable to sign players, it could be the case that Bakayoko simply returns to Stamford Bridge.

The post Bakayoko could be given Chelsea lifeline thanks to transfer ban appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Revealed: What's next for Kepa

Kepa Arrizabalaga has ‘served his time’, and could don the gloves once again for Sunday’s visit to Fulham. 

The Spaniard was dropped in favour of Willy Caballero for the 2-0 win against Spurs after the League Cup final debacle, which saw him refuse a substitution attempt from manager Maurizio Sarri late in extra time. 

The Italian sought to send a message with his team selection on Wednesday night, and it seems as though both parties have made efforts to clear the air. 

Quoted by Four Four Two, Sarri said of his call to bench the shot-stopper: 

I think it was the right decision,

Kepa made a big mistake, he paid with the club and then he had to pay with the team. Now I think we have to stop. Kepa from tomorrow will be with us.

 I don’t know if in the next match he will be on the pitch or not. In one of the next two, for sure,

Despite still being the clear number one, Sarri will continue to share minutes out between the former Athletic Bilbao man and Caballero, as the Blues enter a congested period of fixtures. 

The post Kepa in line to return for Fulham clash appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea make progress in hunt for world-class striker

Chelsea are still attempting to acquire the services of Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.

The Argentine looks almost certain to leave Inter this summer, having recently been stripped of the captaincy.

One of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, Icardi has been linked with Chelsea for a while now.

The Blues have been handed a two-window transfer ban, but they will appeal the decision.

A new striker is required at Stamford Bridge, with Gonzalo Higuain likely to be a short-term option and neither Alvaro Morata or Olivier Giroud fitting the bill.

The report does state that there is fair chance that Icardo could stay in Serie A, however.

Juventus and Napoli are being hotly-tipped to sign the 26-year-old, which is a potential blow to Chelsea.

All is likely to become clearer once the season comes to an end, but Icardi would be an outstanding signing if the Blues could get a deal over the line.

The post Chelsea making progress in attempt to sign Icardi appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Sarri gives latest take on the Kepa situation

Maurizio Sarri says he has no regrets over dropping goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Tottenham.

The Blues got the better of their London rivals at Stamford Bridge, with Willy Caballero coming into the side and keeping a clean-sheet.

So much of the pre-match talk surrounded Kepa, who has been in the headlines after refusing to be substituted in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

Speaking after the game, Sarri said leaving the Spaniard out made total sense, even though he will remain first-choice ‘keeper moving forward, returning to the team to face Fulham on Sunday:

I think it was the right decision, Kepa made a big mistake, he paid with the club, and then he had to pay with the team.

But now I have to think we have to stop, Kepa from tomorrow will be with us.

He is back in the team for the weekend, I don’t know in the next match if he will be on the pitch or not, but one of the next two he will [start].

When you are young I think you can make mistakes, and the most important thing is that you need to understand very well after every mistake.

For me, now the best thing is to close it

Sarri has enjoyed a welcome turnaround in fortunes of late, even though Chelsea lost at Wembley at the weekend.

He earned sympathy for Kepa’s behaviour towards him, while any victory over Spurs is going to give a Chelsea manager some leeway.

The Italian is still under huge pressure, but there are signs that he has turned a corner.

The post Dropping Kepa the right decision, says Sarri appeared first on Read Chelsea.

The most important thing Solskjaer has done as Man United manager so far

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rightfully gained praise for much of what he has done so far but a recent statistic has emerged proving there’s something even more important that has gone under the radar.

The Norwegian has completely revitalised the squad handed to him by predecessor Jose Mourinho, as they continue to close in on a previously unthought of top four spot.

The Portuguese manager was sacked in December after losing to Liverpool and before that he had claimed a position in the Champions League qualifications spots were impossible.

Solskjaer’s work has been so great that United now dare to dream once more with there even being the possible of stealing third place as well.

Besides the obvious things he’s changed or affected at the club, the former Molde man has made sure his squad don’t lack character.

Every setback under Solskjaer so far has been followed by a win.

Drew 2-2 with Burnley, beat Leicester 1-0.

Lost 2-0 to PSG, beat Chelsea 2-0.

Drew 0-0 with Liverpool, beat Palace 3-1.#MUFC

— Kris Voakes (@krisvoakes) February 27, 2019

The need to bounce back and bounce back fast cannot be overstated enough particularly with the Red Devils having little room to fail.

The aforementioned results are the only results Ole hasn’t won since being installed as caretaker manager back in December.

It’s an incredible feat and testament to the job he’s done along with the players and staff.

Solskjaer tells academy starlet he'll get more chances at Man United this season

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promised fans that they will see more of James Garner.

The academy graduate came off the bench to make his official debut during the club’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Garner was only on the field for a few minutes but supporters are excited to see their academy players make the step up.

The youngster has been likened to former United favourite Michael Carrick who’s now amongst the coaching staff.

James will have plenty of competition for a first-team spot in midfield but over time there’s little doubt he can make the step up.

Solskjaer: "Jimmy Garner is in the mould of a top, top central midfielder so he will come good. We will see him soon." #MUFC

— Shamoon Hafez (@ShamoonHafez) February 27, 2019

Paul Pogba, Fred, Scott McTominay, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Andreas Pereira are the current senior options for the engine room meaning Garner has his work cut out for him.

However, time is on his side for him to work his way up the ranks given his young age and how highly his manager already rates him.

Perhaps James could make the defensive midfield his position since an alternative to Matic is needed.

McTominay has featured there recently but given the Serbian’s closer towards the end of his career than the beginning, the Englishman has a chance to eventually succeed him.

Solskjaer singles out this Man United star for praise after beating Palace

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to make note of Romelu Lukaku’s fantastic work rate following Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

The Belgian, deployed out wide against Liverpool but restored to No.9 at Selhurst Park, opened the scoring with a well-placed curling effort following some top work from Luke Shaw.

Moments after the second half begun, he had his second: a looping, cleverly engineered goal from a difficult angle at a corner.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer singled out the 25-year-old for praise following a strong performance down the middle.

Solskjaer: "Lukaku has been putting a shift in for the team, doing loads more running than he normally does but he was a number nine again today and he got two goals. Fantastic." #MUFC

— Shamoon Hafez (@ShamoonHafez) February 27, 2019

Lukaku receives derision from Man United supporters because he is not, in a technical sense, a world class player outside the box. Not yet, at least.

Where very few rival him, however, is in the box. His eye for goal – understanding the angles, the positioning, the execution – deserves to be placed among the highest bracket of finishers in the world. That he now ranks twentieth, level with Deon Dublin, in the list of all-time top Premier League scorers serves as a testament to his pedigree.

For a player whose position relies heavily on confidence, this game will do wonders for Lukaku amid a stop-start campaign at Old Trafford.

Pedro steals the show as Chelsea beat Spurs: Our player ratings

Maurizio Sarri showed his teeth by deciding to drop first-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for arguably Chelsea’s biggest game of the season against staunch London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Incredulously, however, Sarri’s team still nursing the bruises and fatigue of Sunday’s ultimately unsuccessful exploits battled their way to a well deserved 2-0 victory.

The game was for so much of the first-half bogged down in an unrelenting exchange of turgid midfield passing, but out of the mire came a couple of superb efforts from either side, as Gonzalo Higuain’s scuffed effort hit the post before Harry Winks left the bar shaking with a thunderous long-range strike with just minutes till half-time.

Chelsea took charge of proceedings on the ball after the restart, although this is not to say they created too much in the way of clear cut opportunities. The clinical edge that had deserted them on Sunday struck back with a vengeance, and when Pedro spun off Toby Alderweireld with a deft flick his finish was drilled under Hugo Lloris with unerring power. Having gone a goal down Tottenham pushed on in search of an equaliser, but as they had done so immaculately against Manchester City the Blues’ defence stood firm.

They were justly rewarded with five minutes to play when Kieran Trippier, under no sort of real pressure, passed the ball into his own net after a miscommunication with a haphazard Lloris.

The win keeps Chelsea in the hunt for Champions League places, with just three points to make up and a game in hand following their involvement in the Carabao Cup final.

Here is how we rated Chelsea’s players…

The post Chelsea player ratings: Tottenham (H) appeared first on Read Chelsea.

1 assist, 100% tackles won: Man United star full of confidence vs Palace

Manchester United star Luke Shaw has the statistics to prove just how well he played vs Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Englishman was praised for his performance vs Liverpool as he managed to keep Mohamed Salah eerily quiet.

At Selhurst Park however, Shaw showed off the other part of his game, grabbing an assist in a 3-1 win.

The youngster has begun to hit the highs he previously set and there’s hope he can step up even further.

Luke himself admitted he believes he’s got yet another level left in him and fans will be excited to see that.

Luke Shaw’s game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace

100% successful take-ons
100% aerial duels won
100% tackles won
2 interceptions
2 fouls
1 assist

Hitting pre-injury form. pic.twitter.com/nOqvJrVRFF

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 27, 2019

Winning all his tackles and aerials duels is a superb statistic in and of itself but his perfect take-ons is what highlighted his game.

It was through one of these take-ons that he fantastically set up Romelu Lukaku for the match opener.

Had Crystal Palace scored first then United may have been looking at a different result but thanks to Shaw that didn’t happen.

The left-back will be keen to continue improving to dismiss any rumours of the club signing a full-back in the summer.

Whoever is the manager next season may be tempted to reshuffle his back-line but after Luke’s performance, he may just be safe.

Player ratings: Solskjaer wins 8 away games in a row

David de Gea 6 – Helpless for Crystal Palace’s goal. Had nothing else of note to do. Could have been a bit better with his kicking.

Ashley Young 6 – A mixed performance. Extremely sloppy for Joel Ward’s goal but played with authority and scored a good goal towards the end.

Chris Smalling 6 – Jittery at times, seemingly fearful of the ball when it came to him in tight areas. Put up a good physical fight up against Michy Batshuayi.

Victor Lindelof 7 – Another classy, contained performance from the Swede, whose confidence is rising. He was even barking out instructions to midfielders at times.

Luke Shaw 7 – Best player on the pitch. Beat three players in the build-up to Romelu Lukaku’s first goal and brought superb energy and execution to the left-back role.

Scott McTominay 6 – Unremarkable but reliable at the base of midfield, maintaining a good position and keeping things simple. Jose Mourinho, watching from his armchair, would have been smiling (probably not, actually).

Fred 5 – The Brazilian, making his first Premier League start since December, looked short on confidence and mobility for the most part, often getting knocked off the ball. There were some positive glimpses, though. Needs more time on the pitch.

Paul Pogba 7 – Even when the Frenchman drifted in and out of the game, his influence was massive. Supplied a lovely assist for Man United’s third.

Diogo Dalot 6 – Seemed to fade away as the game went on but did a solid job for his team in an unfamiliar position. Showed good close technical control further up the pitch.

Alexis Sanchez 4 – So poor, again. Not strong enough, not fast enough, not smart enough when he had the ball. Looked all wrong.

Romelu Lukaku 7 – Started the game slowly but his goal in the first half, a curling effort with his right foot, was a reminder that the Belgian is a world-class goal-scorer. Netted his second soon after half-time.

Substitutes

Man United fans react to Lukaku's performance vs Crystal Palace

Manchester United fans have every right to be happy with Romelu Lukaku’s performance vs Crystal Palace as it was a goalscoring one.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men continued their march on for the top four race as they managed to get all three points at Selhurst Park.

Lukaku has often been criticised this season despite scoring over 20 goals in his debut campaign.

Nonetheless, under Solskjaer it seems the Belgian is starting to find his feet once more.

Romelu managed to score a brace which helped United feel comfortable as they cruised through a relatively easy fixture.

Lukaku's done very well tonight. Looks more confident. Tidy finish. Big, big goal for Manchester United.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) February 27, 2019

LUKAKUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!!! We needed a big game from Lukaku and big Rom is delivering! 0-2.

— Red Devil Bible (@RedDevilBible) February 27, 2019

Lukaku gets his brace! What a finish #MUFC #CRYMUN pic.twitter.com/apkRwTly7r

— UnitedReds.com (@UnitedRedscom) February 27, 2019

MY STRIKER, I don’t know why people want him gone, this record shows why he’s here to stay pic.twitter.com/SewT4xuHrm

— Lord Lukaku (@RL9_MUFC) February 27, 2019

Dreadful miss earlier but a great finish there. Placed it perfectly. Good lad. Brilliant run from Shaw to create it. Such an important goal for us. It’s going to be tough tonight.

— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) February 27, 2019

Luke Shaw's driving run gets us into the box, he tees up Romelu Lukaku who's curling effort nestles into the bottom right corner with his weaker right foot. What a finish, United lead 1-0!

— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) February 27, 2019

With Marcus Rashford being the man of the moment, Lukaku was banished to the back of every Red Devils thought.

The Englishman showed plenty of mobility and determination whilst adding a clinical nature to his game.

It seemed impossible for Romelu to work his way into the side once more but he’s made a big case for himself tonight.

With some supporters concerned due to the amount of injuries the first team are currently experiencing, it was important Manchester United not only grabbed the win but also scored the first goal.

If Lukaku continues to keep up his performances, there’s no doubt he’ll unseat Rashford or he’ll find himself playing alongside the youngster.

On-loan Chelsea forward not in parent club's plans for next season

Juventus will not allow forward Gonzalo Higuain to return in the summer, as they look to make sure he leaves the club in the next transfer window.

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Calcio Mercato, Juventus do not want Higuain to stay at the club and will sell him in the next window, whether that be to Chelsea or another side.

Chelsea may not be able to sign Higuain permanently, after they were handed a two transfer window ban by FIFA for breaking rules regarding youth transfers.

The Blues have appealed the ban as they look to be able to sign players in the next transfer window, to bolster their squad.

Higuain joined Chelsea on loan from Juventus in January, but has only scored twice in six appearances so far – with both goals coming in a 5-0 win over Huddersfield in the Premier League.

The Argentine was sent out on loan from Juventus to AC Milan, originally, last summer after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The post Juventus have no plans for Higuain to return in the summer appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Confirmed starting XI Crystal Palace vs Man United: Fred starts

Fred has been handed a rare Premier League start for Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Man United are without a number of key players including Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial due to injury.

Diogo Dalot also gets a start, and appears to be set for an appearance on the right hand side of attack.

Here is the full starting XI and squad for the clash at Selhurst Park.

Here's your #MUFC side for tonight's @PremierLeague game… #CRYMUN

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 27, 2019

How well do you know Kepa Arrizabalaga?

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been the centre of attention this week after his antics in the League Cup final on Sunday.

The Spanish shot-stopper refused to come off after Maurizio Sarri decided that he wanted to bring Willy Caballero on to replace him – due to Kepa going down twice with a knock.

With all the attention coming Kepa’s way, just how well do the fans know him? Take our quiz down below and find out…

The post How well do you know Kepa Arrizabalaga? appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea legend would "jump at the chance" to return to Stamford Bridge

John Terry would “jump at the chance” of becoming the new Chelsea manager if the opportunity ever arose, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Terry is now the assistant manager of Aston Villa but it is not his dream job. The job he would love to take is the manager of Chelsea Football Club.

There is a chance that the job could open up for Terry soon, following uncertainty over the future of Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge. It is obvious that is why Terry is voicing his desire to take the job, so that Chelsea are aware of the interest.

The ex-defender has always had a great connection with Chelsea and it would not come as a surprise to hear that he would love the job of becoming their manager.

Terry actually still travels to Chelsea’s training ground and meets up with his former team-mates whenever he gets the opportunity.

If he was to become the man in charge of Chelsea, he would be following his former England teammates Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard into management. So far, that duo have been successful in their first job as managers and they will continue to improve with the experience.

For now, though, Terry is still Aston Villa’s assistant and it’s all just speculation so far. Villa have a very tough challenge ahead, as they are struggling to find their form in the Championship. They are currently sitting 13th in the league – when they were tipped to at least make the playoffs at the beginning of the season.

The post John Terry wants the Chelsea manager’s job appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Jorginho in? Who gets in at left-back? Our combined Chelsea and Tottenham XI

Chelsea host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Wednesday as they look to make up ground on the top four.

The Blues currently sit three points off the top four, but have played one game less than Manchester United in 5th and Arsenal in 4th.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are comfortably third in the table as it stands – seven points ahead of fourth place and six points off Liverpool in first.

Both Chelsea and Tottenham have talent in abundance throughout their squad, but who would make it into a combined XI? Here is our take…

The post Chelsea v Tottenham: Combined XI appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Key Tottenham duo to miss tonight's Chelsea clash

Tottenham duo Dele Alli and Eric Dier will both be missing for tonight’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge, according to a report by talkSPORT.

After failing to pick up three points at Turf Moor, Mauricio Pochettino’s team now fall six points behind league leaders Liverpool and Manchester City with just 11 games of the season left to play.

Despite the defeat, Spurs fans can rejoice as Harry Kane looks to have picked up where he left off, scoring on his return from injury on Saturday.

There is no such luck for Alli as he has still yet to feature in the squad after picking up a hamstring injury against Fulham in January.

With Arsenal and a Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on the agenda over the next week, Pochettino and his staff will be hoping the midfielder will be back as soon as possible.

The England international is said to be “continuing with on-field rehab” and “progressing well” but there have been no hints of an imminent return as of yet.

The 22-year-old was Spurs’ key to victory the last time the two teams met at Stamford Bridge in April as he bagged two in their 3-1 victory – their first win at the Chelsea ground in 28 years.

Dier also played a crucial role in the game as he assisted Alli for Tottenham’s second with a pinpoint long-range pass.

The 25-year-old will also miss out due to tonsillitis and hasn’t featured for the side in their narrow 1-0 win over Newcastle.

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Bayern preparing new offer for Chelsea forward

German giants Bayern Munich are plotting another swoop for Callum Hudson-Odoi as they look to land the forward this summer. 

According to Sport Bild, via Bundesliga Spotlight, Bayern are preparing a €30m offer for the talented winger.

Twitter: SportBILD: Bayern are set to bid for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi again, with €30m quoted. Hudson-Odoi wants to joi… https://t.co/5ZlYu7kRdj (@BundesligaSpot)

The report also claims that Hudson-Odoi wants to quit Chelsea and move to Bayern at the end of the season.

Bayern failed to sign Hudson-Odoi in January, despite the forward reportedly handing in a formal transfer request following a number of rejected bids.

The 18-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game, but has impressed in the cup competitions this season. 

He has two goals and one assist in the Europa League this season, along with one goal and two assists in the FA Cup.

Chelsea are currently under a two transfer window ban, which could make it difficult for Hudson-Odoi to leave the club.

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Chelsea and Arsenal showing interest in Brentford star after hat-trick last weekend

Chelsea are showing an interest in signing Brentford midfielder Said Benrahma in the summer. 

According to Le Buteur, via Sport Witness, both Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring his progress as they weigh up a swoop for him in the next transfer window.

Benrahma has been in terrific form for Brentford of late, with eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the club this season. 

He scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Hull at the weekend, which is sure to have impressed any onlooking scouts in the stands.

The Algerian international joined Brentford from Nice in the summer of 2018 for a fee in the region of £1.5m, after scoring nine goals on loan to Chateauroux in Ligue 2 last season.

Chelsea are currently appealing their two transfer window ban, issued to them by FIFA, and will be hoping that they are allowed to sign players in the summer transfer window.

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Sarri sends message to supporters ahead of Tottenham game

Maurizio Sarri has urged the Chelsea supporters not to turn on his players on Wednesday night.

The Blues host Tottenham in a crucial Premier League clash, in what has become one of the country’s more intense rivalries.

Sarri is well aware that a defeat at Stamford Bridge is likely to spell the end of his time as Chelsea manager.

Fans have been vocal in their criticism of him lately, despite some siding with him after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final controversy with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, Sarri pleaded with the supporters to stay positive with his players, if not with him:

I was disappointed for my players. Only for my players.

But I think I can understand the fans, of course. I can understand, because they are used to winning. 

Now we have a difficult moment, but I’d like to see more support for my players, not for me.

It is a vital game both sides, with Chelsea desperately trying to hunt down Arsenal and Manchester United, and Spurs still retaining faint hopes of winning the title.

Victory is essential for Sarri, whose job appears to be on the line in every match he takes charge of.

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Man United defender to leave this summer, top Serie A side want him: report

Inter Milan have expressed a keen desire to sign Matteo Darmian over the summer transfer window, according to reports from Italy.

The defender appeared destined to join Juventus last year, stating in the summer a desire to return to Italy – a move which has for some time felt inevitable.

He has only made five appearances in all competitions this season and his last start – the only one received under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – came against Reading at the start of January.

And according to Italian media outlet Calcio Mercato, Inter have been underwhelmed by full-back Cedric Soares, who moved to the San Siro on loan in January, and view Darmian as an ideal replacement in the summer transfer window.

The full-back, who joined Man United in 2015, has existed on the periphery of proceedings for most of his Old Trafford career. And it is telling that, while new contracts have been handed to the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and Scott McTominay, United have so far decided against renewing Darmian’s deal.

Should the club decide against extending Darmian’s contract, he would be able to join Inter for free, and provide United with further reason to invest in the full-back position.

4-1-2-1-2: How Man United will line up vs Palace without 10 players

Manchester United look set to be without ten players for their meeting with Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

They are as follows: Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Mason Greenwood, and Marcus Rashford. The latter may recover in time, although it feels unlikely.

And so, it seems rather inevitable that the team put out by Solskjaer will be decidedly makeshift and, as a result, nowhere near as potent going forward. The boss faces the big task – one faced by every manager – of fundamentally changing his lineup out of necessity.

This is how we think Solskjaer should line up at Selhurst Park.

The use of a midfield diamond feels necessary with so many wide attacking players out, and would seemingly play to the strengths of the above XI.

Against Chelsea, with United pressing hard, the diamond gave them influence in key areas across the final third, allowing them to overload particular areas and exploit the gaps left by defenders.

Against Liverpool, with players dropping like flies, it provided United with a firm defensive structure.

You can only hope that a mixture of the two – useful possession in key areas mixed with a measure of stability – will be enough to claim three points against Roy Hodgson’s side.

Man United have found their new Michael Carrick, says Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke highly of young midfielder James Garner ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old travelled with the Man United squad on their pre-season tour and has been included in several match-day squads by Solskjaer.

Garner may well make his senior debut after it was revealed by the boss in Tuesday’s press conference that ten United players were injured for the Palace clash.

But Solskjaer lifted spirits by reminding supporters that the club has another Michael Carrick in Garner.

Ole: “They’ve been part of our training for a long time. Angel has been with England U17s, if he gets the chance he’ll do well. Jimmy Garner is a Michael Carrick but 20 years younger. Chongy will definitely be taking people on. They’re ready. They’re kids.” #mufc

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 26, 2019

Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong, two skillful and mobile attackers, are likely to fill the gaps on the bench, potentially coming on for either Romelu Lukaku or Alexis Sanchez if things aren’t going to plan. Supporters are excited to see more of them.

The pair have tasted first team football before and shown supporters what they can do. Garner hasn’t. Playing on Wednesday, against an aggressive Palace midfield, would resemble uncharted territory. He is still just 17.

But those at United, and Solskjaer especially, clearly believe he is ready and the youngster’s calming, guided presence on the ball at the base of midfield may be the perfect antidote to losing Nemanja Matic.

Massive injury blow for Man United, 10 players to miss Crystal Palace clash

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Manchester United are likely to be without ten players for their trip to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford all picked up injuries during Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

To go with that, Nemanja Matic, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Mason Greenwood are all injured as well.

Solskjaer noted in Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the game that Man United were indeed short in numbers, with none of the injured players on Sunday likely to return.

United could be without 10 players against Crystal Palace. Club waiting on extent of Marcus Rashford's injury. Garner, Gomes and Chong will all travel. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) February 26, 2019

Ole: “Matteo trained the other day, I don’t think he’ll be ready yet. Rojo will be involved. Rashy we’re still waiting to see how his ankle is responding to the treatment. The muscles injuries are too early to think about.” #mufc

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 26, 2019

Ole: “Phil was ill, he’s been out for a little while.” #mufc

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 26, 2019

Ole: “Valencia is a bit off, he did his calf again, he’s still a few weeks off. Martial he is not going to be ready for this one either. We can’t risk it, maybe Southampton. In hindsight, Jesse was eager, but maybe it was a couple days too early.” #mufc

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 26, 2019

It has to happen at some point, doesn’t it? Not just a smattering of injuries here and there but a fully fledged, all-at-once cataclysm of injuries striking at the core of your squad. This happened a lot under Louis van Gaal. Something similar happened under Jose Mourinho ahead of United’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford. It happens.

And it will be consequently quite hard for Solskjaer to recreate the dynamic, fluid attacking football seen during his reign without five members of his established front six. Paul Pogba is the only fully-fit member. Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Herrera and Matic all gone. Perhaps they have been slightly overworked in recent weeks.

Solskjaer bounced back well from that defeat to Paris Saint Germain; how he responds to an injury crisis like this serves as another big test of his managerial credentials.

Chelsea facing a fight to hire former coach as Sarri replacement

Chelsea could face an uphill battle to try and convince the Football Association to let them bring in Steve Holland on a temporary basis if they sack Maurizio Sarri.

The London Evening Standard reports that Holland would be the club’s number one candidate to replace Sarri if the Italian is dismissed before the end of the season.

Holland left Chelsea at the end of the club’s title-winning season under Antonio Conte.

Having previously worked as a number two at Chelsea, he is a well-respected figure among both the players and those behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, the timing is far from perfect, with England due to kick off their European Championship qualifying campaign towards the end of March.

The Blues will be hoping for a favour in return after previously allowing Holland to share his time between the England national squad and Chelsea before he left permanently.

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Sarri-Kepa saga headed for showdown on Wednesday

Maurizio Sarri is reportedly considering dropping goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. 

The shot-stopper refused to be substituted at the end of the League Cup final, despite appearing to carry an injury. 

Sarri appeared to become increasingly irate as the Spaniard waved away attempts to take him off, backing himself to do the business in the penalty shootout. 

Rather predictably, he did not. 

Twitter: BREAKING: Maurizio Sarri considering dropping @kepa_46 for @ChelseaFC’s game against @SpursOfficial tomorrow. #SSN… https://t.co/IjTiG0jowj (@SkySportsNews)

The insolence of his number one may have led to the Italian already annoucing his benching for the immediate future, but the encounter with Spurs will be one of the Blues’ most important games of the season. Regardless, the former Napoli boss could call upon Willy Caballero for the match (for reals, this time). 

Despite currently being ten points behind Mauricio Pochettino’s men, Sarri could send a statement to a beleaguered Chelsea squad with a positive result at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. 

The toxicity of the environment in West London suggests the Italian may not have long left at the helm, despite being in his rookie campaign.  

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Keep Kepa in or bench him for Willy? How we predict Chelsea will line up against Tottenham

The contentious fall out from the League Cup final – heralded in the media as ‘Kepagate’, has continued to dominate the build-up to Chelsea’s crucial match against London rivals Tottenham, and it could be easy to get sidetracked and neglect the importance of this game both to Chelsea’s season and Maurizio Sarri’s long-term future.

Wednesday night’s match, however, has taken on seismic ramifications and a performance similar to the one shown in the final is necessary to arrest the Blues’ malaise since the turn of the year.

Whilst Raheem Sterling’s spot-kick resigned Sarri to losing out on another chance to back up his footballing methods with a first professional trophy, the Italian has to quickly turn his attention to the game.

A near full strength side is available to Sarri after Pedro returned to the fold against City, whilst Harry Kane made a goalscoring comeback from injury at Burnley for Tottenham.

Here’s the XI that I think Sarri will select for the game:

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Chelsea star's agent calls for the club to strip Azpilicueta of the captaincy

Antonio Rudiger’s agent has called for Cesar Azpilicueta to be stripped of the Chelsea captaincy.

Tweeting after the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City, as reported by the Mirror, Saif Rubie called for the German to be given the armband.

I’m a fan of Azpi but as captain he should never have allowed what happened with the [goalkeeper] refusing to come off to happen. For me he needs to have the captaincy taken off him, [goalkeeper] dropped for the foreseeable future and Rudiger to be made Chelsea captain as he’s a real leader.

Azpilicueta’s position as captain has been questioned in the wake of the game after his reaction, or lack of, to the incident that saw Kepa refuse to leave the pitch when Maurizio Sarri tried to substitute him.

While the true manner of the incident remains unclear, with Chelsea resolving the matter internally, Azpilicueta played no part in trying to cool the situation, while David Luiz was seen taking on much more of a leadership role.

Rubie’s tweets have since been deleted, while Arrizabalaga has been fined a week’s wages for the incident following talks with both the club and Sarri.

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Chelsea star shows support for Sarri

David Luiz says Chelsea’s performance against Manchester City showed the players are behind Maurizio Sarri.

Sarri’s job is currently on the line at Stamford Bridge, following an unpredictable first year in the job.

The Blues battled bravely against a star-studded City side on Sunday, eventually losing on penalties in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.

The match will be remembered for the incident involving Sarri and Kepa Arrizabalaga, in which player power appeared to come to the fore, with the goalkeeper refusing to be substituted.

The incident has since blown over, however, and there are signs that Sarri has more players fighting for him than first thought.

Luiz spoke about the response of the team after being humiliated 6-0 by City earlier this month and heaped praise on his manager:

The first thing after the 6-0 we had to recognise what we did badly and try to improve.

I think we did that [on Sunday] we showed that on the pitch against the same team.

That’s why we played an amazing game. We also wanted to show that with our performance because he’s a great manager, he’s a great person and he deserves our respect and deserves the respect of everybody.

He can lift everyone for the rest of the season and that’s our goal.

Chelsea host Tottenham on Wednesday night, in another vital game in the top-four battle.

Defeat would likely cost Sarri his job, despite more positivity heading in his direction since the final.

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Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea future still in serious doubt

Maurizio Sarri’s job is still “on the line”, according to the Telegraph.

The Chelsea manager has experienced an up-and-down first season in England, starting well but seeing results nosedive.

The latest chapter in Sarri’s unpredictable spell at Stamford Bridge took place on Sunday, when the Italian was involved in a much-publicised spat with Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The goalkeeper refused to be substituted late on in the EFL Cup final defeat to Manchester City, claiming he was fit enough to continue, prior to the penalty shootout loss.

Although Kepa has publicly apologised for his role in the drama, Sarri is still hanging by a thread at Chelsea.

Defeat at home to Tottenham on Wednesday night, or “any more acts of mutiny, either from his players or the fans”, will likely see him relieved of his duties.

England assistant-manager Steve Holland is the preferred choice to take over in a caretaker role until the end of the season, should Sarri be sacked.

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Shaw reveals Solskjaer's crazy team talk helped United improve vs Liverpool

Luke Shaw has opened up about how Manchester United’s dressing room was in a ‘crazy’ mood at half-time against Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been forced to make three enforced substitutions before half-time following injuries to Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.

And while the hosts offered little going forward in the second half, the way Man United – especially Shaw – contained Liverpool’s front three was commendable.

Speaking after the game, Shaw revealed how players were disappointed at half-time by their performance but that a good talk in the dressing room helped United settle.

“We were all very disappointed with how the first half went,” he said. “We didn’t play well at all. We gave too many balls away too cheaply and luckily that didn’t cost us.”

“But we had a change of formation, we had a good chat at half-time. Everyone was going crazy. But, you know, we said ‘relax and we just need to play our game’ and I think second half was better.”

The game felt there for Liverpool’s taking in the second half. United had lost their steam and confidence amid a host of injuries, and watching from the stands, you just felt the visitors would cut through and get their goal.

But something unexpected happened: Old Trafford got loud, really loud, as if aware that their team needed extra help, and the endless noise barreling around the ground appeared to rub off on the players, who produced a wonderfully accomplished defensive performance to deny Liverpool a huge win.

4-3-3: How Man United can line up vs Palace without five key players

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks likely to be without five key players for Manchester United’s trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Nemanja Matic picked up an injury on Friday which looks set to keep him out for a ‘few weeks’, while Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard went off hamstring knocks during Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Marcus Rashford had to play most of the game with an injury.

The injury crisis provides Solskjaer with a serious selection headache ahead of the trip down to South London. He will need to call on some less than experienced options.

Here’s what a starting XI could look like against Roy Hodgson’s side.

The absence of Rashford and Lingard’s running power is a problem for United, whose potency seriously reduces once they lose pace among the front three.

This is why Tahith Chong should be licking his lips. Solskjaer will need a direct, buzzing influence from the right hand side who will cover ground and display a sense of fearlessness. You suspect this role may fall onto the lap of Alexis Sanchez but Chong, to supporters at least, would be the preferred option.

Further back, Scott McTominay and Fred have brilliant chances to show what they’re about.

Chelsea punish Kepa Arrizabalaga after cup final fiasco

Chelsea have fined goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga a week’s wages after he refused to leave the field during the Carabao Cup Final when Maurizio Sarri wanted to substitute him.

The Spaniard seemed to be suffering with cramp in the final few minutes of extra-time and Sarri decided to make a change and bring on veteran Willy Caballero for the final moments of the game, plus a potential penalty shootout.

However, Kepa refused to leave the field as he thought he was fit enough to continue and as such, Sarri went into a fit of rage on the sidelines.

Both Kepa and Sarri issued statements on the club’s official website. They read as such:

Kepa: 

I was very happy to play in my first Cup Final for Chelsea yesterday and very proud of the team performance. I have thought a lot more about yesterday’s events. Although there was a misunderstanding, on reflection, I made a big mistake with how I handled the situation. I wanted to take the time today to apologise fully and in person to the coach, to Willy, my team-mates and to the club. I have done this and now I want to offer the same apology to the fans. I will learn from this episode and will accept any punishment or discipline the club decides is appropriate.

Sarri:

Kepa and I have spoken about the incident. It was a good conversation. There was a misunderstanding yesterday but he realises he made a big mistake in the way he reacted. He has apologised to me, his team-mates and the club. It is up to the club if they want to discipline him according to the club rules, but for me this matter is now closed. The team performance as a whole was extremely positive and it is a shame to see how this incident has overshadowed our efforts in what was a very competitive Cup Final. Everyone’s focus is now on the next game and we must all now put this behind us.

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Chelsea face competition from Manchester United for Serie A star

Chelsea are monitoring AC Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli despite their transfer ban, according to claims from Italian news outlet Calciomercato.

The Blues are unable to sign players for the next two transfer windows but do not appear to be letting up in their plans for the future, with reports indicating that the central defender is on their radar.

Romagnoli is enjoying a good season at Milan and has helped them work their way back into contention among the top clubs in Serie A.

The 24-year-old has established his place in the starting line-up and is a crucial player for manager Gennaro Gattuso.

However, his performances for Milan are not going unnoticed, with Calciomercato claiming that Chelsea are among the clubs who are keenly watching his progress.

Serie A leaders Juventus are noted as potential suitors for Romagnoli, with the defender continuing to stand out this season.

Chelsea are not the only Premier League outfit in the race for his signature, either. The report states that Manchester United are ‘observing’ the Milan star this season ahead of a potential summer swoop.

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The best photos from Man United 0-0 Liverpool

Manchester United played out an underwhelming and often strange 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all came off with injuries in the first half, while Marcus Rashford was forced to stay on despite suffering a knock as well.

But Man United, buoyed by some deafening Old Trafford noise, produced a solid performance against the league leaders, nullifying their goal-threat and coming very close to claiming the opening goal on a couple of occasions.

Here are the best photos of the stalemate between United and Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Embed from Getty Images

Man United face injury crisis for Palace, five key players could miss out

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer noted he would be ‘surprised’ if Marcus Rashford recovered in time for Manchester United’s clash with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Man United encountered a truly unthinkable spell of bad luck in the first half against Liverpool, with Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard (himself a substitute) all going off with hamstring injuries before half time.

At around the same time players were dropping like flies, Rashford himself picked up an injury. He was given some painkillers and told to do what he could. There was no other option. Playing off one leg, the Englishman was hardly a presence in the second half.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer expressed serious doubts over Rashford’s ability to play at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

Ole: “I’ve not seen him (Rashford) after the game or after he had treatment. If he plays (on Wednesday), i’ll be maybe surprised.” #mufc

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 24, 2019

United came out of their clash with Liverpool unscathed in footballing terms – the visitors hardly created a chance – but the emotional and physical toil has exacted an unwelcome effect on the core of this team.

Five key players look likely to miss the clash with Roy Hodgson’s side: Rashford, Herrera, Mata, Lingard and Nemanja Matic (out for ‘a few weeks’) are all certainly out. Anthony Martial may well not recover in time either.

United will, as they say, have to dig very deep over the next few weeks.

Chelsea monitoring Ligue 1 winger despite transfer ban

Chelsea are monitoring Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr, according to a report from Calciomercato.

The Blues face a transfer ban that will render them unable to complete signings for the next two windows, but this does not appear to have deterred them from identifying potential targets.

Chelsea are reportedly tracking Sarr following his exploits in Ligue 1 with Rennes, and Serie A giants AC Milan are also stated to be keen on the player. 

The 21-year-old is a valuable asset for his side and has, in recent seasons, emerged as one of the most promising young wingers in world football. 

From 25 appearances in the top flight of French football this term, the Senegalese international has scored five goals and contributed with a further four assists. 

Sarr has also shone in the Europa League, netting three times and assisting twice, with Rennes preparing to take on Arsenal in the competition’s round of 16 stage. 

Chelsea have plenty of wingers at their disposal, but Pedro and Willian are ageing, and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eden Hazard are players whose respective contracts are continuing to approach their expiration. 

The Blues signed Christian Pulisic and loaned him back to Borussia Dortmund in January, but it seems they have their sights set on yet more wide talent, with Sarr linked.

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Sarri's nous is overshadowed: Four findings from Chelsea's Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City

Chelsea fell agonisingly short against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues were able to hold Pep Guardiola’s side to a goalless draw and were, at times, the better of the two teams.

However, when the dreaded penalty shootout was forced upon them, it was City who held their nerves as they retained the Carabao Cup.

It was a tightly-contested affair, and Chelsea will be able to take heart from their efforts in the final.

Here are four findings from the eventual defeat at Wembley Stadium.

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Two players who can save Manchester United’s season

It had to happen didn’t it? Everything was going so well. Then, in arguably their biggest match of the season against Paris St Germain, Manchester United lost two key players to injury in the first half. But, we said, at least it couldn’t get any worse than that, could it? Yes, it could. It could get twice as bad.

Against Liverpool, again, arguably United’s biggest match of the season, they lost not two, but three players to injury in the first half, with Marcus Rashford playing the role of the walking wounded for 90 minutes, in clear distress, completing the unlucky quartet. In my fifty years of watching Manchester United, I have never seen the like of it.

Add to this the loss of Nemanja Matic during training a day earlier, Paul Pogba also missing the return Champions League leg in Paris through suspension and Anthony Martial yet to return from his injury, the next two weeks could be Solskjaer’s toughest challenge yet, with games coming thick and fast. And you have to ask yourself, what kind of side can he possibly field to maintain United’s momentum in their push for the top four?

The good news is that there are two potential aces up Olé’s sleeve. The first of these is Fred. This hugely talented box-to-box midfielder must by now be chomping at the bit to impress for United, having started only 7 games since his £50 million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in the Summer, and only one under Solskjaer – the FA Cup Third Round tie against Reading.

Having promised all his squad a chance to impress when he first assumed command, and having kept that promise to every other player, it is hard to understand why Solskjaer hasn’t used Fred more so far. Whilst it is true that the Brazilian hardly set the world alight in those first seven games, it must be remembered that 6 of them took place during a confusing “lost dressing room” standoff between the outgoing José Mourinho and the United squad. Hardly the ideal conditions to start your Premiership career. He was then only given 60 minutes to impress in the Reading game before being replaced by Marouane Fellaini.

At the start of February, Metro reported that Solskjaer had had a private meeting with Fred and promised the player he would get more chances. When fans learned of Matic’s injury, many believed that it was time for Solskjaer to make good on his promise and start Fred against Liverpool, but the Norwegian opted for “the next Darren Fletcher”, Scott McTominay instead. To add insult to injury, when Ander Herrera pulled up in the 21^st minute, Solksjaer kept Fred on the bench yet again and gave the nod to another Brazilian, Andreas Pereira, whose previous performances had also been less than spectacular, to say the least.

Solskjaer’s public explanation for the non-selection of Fred is that he needs time to adapt to Premier League football. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Solskjaer said “We know there’s a very, very good player there with Fred, so hopefully he’ll adjust to the English game …There’s loads of players that have come in and found the first few months difficult…One of the best players I’ve played with that struggled the most was Diego Forlan. Veron is another, you know… it took a bit of time…But when they settled they performed. So I don’t think he needs to worry too much. He’ll get chances.” But Fred can only adapt if he plays, and surely, now, Solskjaer must give him a run of games and afford him the same opportunities to find his feet as he has with Pereira. If Fred can find anything like the form he showed at Shakhtar last season, he could make a huge impact on the rest of United’s campaign.

The other exciting prospect that could be unleashed on the first team at this stage is the precociously talented Mason Greenwood. In fact, due to the injuries to Martial and Lingard, rumour has it that Solskjaer was going to call up Greenwood for the FA Cup tie with Chelsea, but sadly the player picked up a knock himself and was ruled out of the game. If, as is believed, Greenwood’s period on the sidelines is to be less than two weeks, Wednesday’s trip to Selhurst might come too soon, but it may put him fit for Saturday’s home tie against Southampton.

The idea of the 17-year-old heading the line for Solskjaer’s United is mouth-watering. The prolific goal machine has impressed at every junior level and has been the undoubted star of the Under 23s this season, with a staggering 22 goals in 23 games in all competitions. Predominantly left-footed but more than useful with the right, Greenwood can play anywhere across United’s front line, potentially interchanging with Lukaku, Alexis and/or Martial, if fit, in the kind of fluid front three that Solskjaer favours. Moreover, unlike United’s other current young prodigies Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes, the muscular, 6ft tall Greenwood already looks the part physically and there is every reason to believe that he can hit the ground running at senior level.

Just a few weeks ago you might have been forgiven for thinking that losing Matic, Herrera, Mata, Lingard and Rashford all at the same time would be impossible to overcome. And maybe it will prove to be so. But if Solskjaer can unleash these secret weapons to good effect, and especially if he can also get Alexis firing, we may still find that the best is yet to come.