Lazio director reveals how Man United have to pay for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Lazio sporting director Igil Tare has insisted that midfielder and Manchester United target Serjeg Milinkovic-Savic is worth more than €90m.



The Reds have been known to be looking at Milinkovoc-Savic for some time now, with his goalkeeper brother having played for the club a few years ago briefly.

Serie A side Lazio denied that any offers or serious discussions had been held this season, but conceded there was significant interest in their star midfielder.

“Right now there is interest, but nothing concrete,” Tare admitted.

“I’ve certainly never spoken to Real Madrid about him, they never approached us.”

Milinkovic-Savic, at a young age, had been touted by his agent as one of European football’s future best players, and is vital for Lazio.

Tare said he wouldn’t name a price for the player, because the club have no intention of selling him. However, considering hypotheticals, any transfer would have to include a mammoth fee.

Some reports suggest Lazio would demand upwards of £130m (€150m) for Milinkovic-Savic, meaning he’d become one of the most expensive players of all-time, and certainly Man United’s most expensive player.

“I don’t know how much he could be worth and I don’t even want to think about it,” Tare told Sportitalia.

“It’s certainly a figure well over €80-90m, in any case. Sergej is very important to us and has not yet reached his peak.

“There are always more players who can be found and developed.

“I want it to be clear, Lazio have never set a price-tag or asked anything for Milinkovic.

“We received offers more or less on that level last summer, but they were not taken into consideration.”

Milinkovic-Savic may be part of United boss Jose Mourinho’s plan to get the best out of his midfield. Paul Pogba was signed for £89m two summers ago but appears to need someone to relieve him of the excessive duties he is being given by an often shaky defence and sometimes unreliable midfielders around him.

If he proved to be the final piece in the puzzle, then the Lazio man would be worth near €90m, but if not, if he, too, needed another big signing to help him settle, then where does it end for United? If Mourinho goes for Milinkovic-Savic, he has to be sure it will work.

Chelsea handed major injury boost ahead of Spurs game

Harry Kane has been ruled out of Spurs’ game against Chelsea this weekend, handing the Blues a major injury boost.

Kane picked up the ankle injury in Spurs win over Bournemouth just before the international break. The injury forced the striker out of the England friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy.

Spurs announced that Kane will return in April, and this Sunday’s game against Chelsea has come too soon for the Striker.

Progress is going well for Kane, who should be fit and ready for this Summer’s World Cup in Russia.

In terms of Chelsea, Antonio Conte has said that he will check on the fitness of Thibaut Courtois and Andreas Christensen before the game on Sunday.

Both players were involved in international duty this week, and will be checked on before the crucial matchup. Both Chelsea and Spurs have Champions League ambitions, and this game will go a long way in deciding who plays in Europe next season.

The post Kane set to miss Chelsea game with injury appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Man United to use this player as bait in huge deal for Serie A star - report

Manchester United are leading the race to sign Juventus full-back Alex Sandro this summer as they seek to replace Luke Shaw.

The Reds will use Italian utility defender Matteo Darmian, who has never tied down a long-term starting spot in Man United’s side since signing for less than £15m from Torino in 2015, as bait to ensure they secure Sandro’s signature.


Premier League champions Chelsea sought out Sandro last summer but Juventus held firm, and will still likely demand a fee in excess of €50m, and possibly even €70m.

However, their refusal to sell him last summer has developed into a mild reluctance, according to Calciomercato.

They suggest that if Sandro is allowed to leave Juventus, there is a “good chance” that he’ll sign for United.

Manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly admired the Brazilian ever since the player’s days at FC Porto.

The United boss has clearly lost trust in Luke Shaw, signed for a record-breaking £27m from Southampton in 2014, and some doubt whether there was ever a trust there in the first place.

Left-back problems have affected United since Patrice Evra left during David Moyes’ tumultuous nine-month reign. Sorting it one way or the other is an urgency.

Mourinho has also been linked to Celtic’s Kieran Tierney, who would present a less expensive option.

The 20-year-old has captained both club and country this season despite his young age and has been hugely impressive. Playing across the defence, his versatility interests Mourinho, too, with Duncan Castles in the Daily Record suggesting he’s a key target behind Sandro.

Chelsea looking to sign AC Milan defender this summer, but club say he's not for sale

Alessio Romagnoli has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time now and the Blues are said to be keen to renew their interest in the AC Milan centre-back once the summer transfer window opens.

However, Milan have gone out of their way to say that they have absolutely no plans to offload the Italy international this summer as he remains an integral part of their long-term plans.

Milan signed the Roma youth product for £22.5m in August 2015 and he has made 104 appearances for the club to date, scoring six goals and is beginning to form a solid centre-back partnership with Italian national team captain Leonardo Bonucci.

Milan’s sporting director, Massimiliano Mirabelli, has told TMW, as cited by talkSPORT, that the club are not interested in selling Romagnoli in the summer despite reported interest from Chelsea, hinting that they are looking to extend his contract beyond its 2020 expiry.

We want Alessio Romagnoli to remain for a long time and we are already talking to his agent. We trust all our players can accompany us for a long while yet.

Chelsea are expected to be in the market for a new centre-back with David Luiz widely expected to leave in the summer, but Romagnoli is seemingly unlikely to be that man.

The post Milan tell Chelsea that Romagnoli is not for sale appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Bould: Wenger Has Done A Great Job For An Awfully Long Time

Steve Bould thinks that Arsene Wenger has done ‘a great job for an awfully long time’ despite the current pressure on the Arsenal boss (via Arsenal.com).

It was strange to see Steve Bould in place of Arsene Wenger during Thursday morning’s pre-match press conference.

Arsenal’s assistant manager was filling in for the boss after Wenger lost his voice but Bould’s presence did provide an interesting new perspective.

Aside from all the regular pre-match questions, Bould was also quizzed on the Arsenal boss and what he thinks of Wenger.

“I admire him immensely,” Bould told the press.

“He takes unbelievable stick off an awful lot of people and he’s just one of the great managers. It’s a pleasure for me to sit next to him.

“He’s remarkable. Behind closed doors, I’ve never known someone who’s as hungry and determined to win football games. It’s as big as I’ve ever seen, for sure.”

Wenger’s desire to win has never been in doubt but then Bould was asked about how he thinks the Frenchman is performing right now.

“I understand that he’s doing a great job,” Bould went on.

“As far as I’m concerned and has done a great job for an awfully long time.”

It was highly unlikely that Steve Bould would ever come out and undermine the Arsenal manager but it was still interesting to hear his thoughts. Arsene Wenger’s will to win was never in question but it was more about his capability to make that happen.

Chelsea star targeted for summer transfer as Bayern Munich consider shock bid

Alvaro Morata has been identified as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, if he were to leave Bayern Munich in the summer, according to AS.

It is believed that Robert Lewandowski is wanted by Spanish giants Real Madrid, due to their main number nine, Karim Benzema only scoring four league goals all season.

Lewandowski has hired a new agent which has only intensified the speculation linking him to the Spanish capital. This, however, means that Bayern will be looking for a replacement.

The Bundesliga giants have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani and league rivals Red Bull Leipzig star Timo Werner.

But Morata has also been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena. His goalscoring form in his debut season in England has brought interest from Bayern.

Morata has scored 10 league goals so far this season as the Blues stay in the race for the top four, as well as in an FA Cup semi-final. His goals also helped Antonio Conte’s men progress to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and the knockout phase of the Champions League.

However, if Morata were to leave, that means that the two strikers at Stamford Bridge would be Oliver Giroud and Michy Batshuayi who has scored six goals in seven Bundesliga appearances during his current loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

The post Morata named as potential Lewandowski replacement at Bayern appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Ex-Chelsea boss convinces key summer target to sign for rivals

Legendary Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly convinced Gareth Bale to sign for Manchester United, according to Sport.

Bale, who is reportedly a key target for Chelsea in the Summer, is set to depart the Bernabeu after an unhappy spell in the Spanish capital.

Bale has been frequently injured and has failed to settle since his multi-million pound move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.

Sport report that Mourinho believed he had convinced Bale to move before the UEFA Super Cup. However, Bale decided against a move to Manchester, instead having one final crack at making it at Madrid.

Now, it seems, Bale has given up any hope of staying in Zinedine Zidane’s side. Reports say that Bale will not stay at the club whilst the Frenchman is manager, with Zidane leaving the Welshman out of important games.

Bale recently broke the Welsh goalscoring record against China, in a huge 6-0 win in Ryan Giggs’ first game in charge.

The post Mourinho convinces Bale to sign with Manchester United appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Bould Reveals Arsenal's Plan For The Returning Alexandre Lacazette

Steve Bould has revealed what Arsenal plan to do with Alexandre Lacazette now that the Frenchman has returned to fitness (via Arsenal.com).

Arsene Wenger may not have been fit enough to complete his pre-match commitments but another Frenchman at Arsenal who was is Alexandre Lacazette.

The forward returned to first-team training this week after a couple of months out with injury.

Wenger’s stand-in, Steve Bould was asked how the Gunners plan to get Lacazette back to match fitness now that he is back in training.

“Of course, as much training and match time as we can get him,” Bould replied before being asked about the competition provided by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Welbeck.

“It’s great to have good players all training and wanting to play. It’s great to have competition.”

It’s pleasing to have Alexandre Lacazette back in the Arsenal squad. The Frenchman hasn’t exactly set the Premier League alight in his first season thus far but it has been pretty hard to stand out in this underperforming team. Let’s hope Lacazette has a good few months before the summer and returns to his best form next season.

[Team News] Arsenal v Stoke City - Update On Wilshere After England Injury

Filling in for Arsene Wenger, Steve Bould has given Arsenal’s team news ahead of the Premier League clash with Stoke City.

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Matchday: Team News – Player Ratings – Match Highlights
Match: Arsenal v Stoke City
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Kick-Off (GMT): Sun 1 April 13:30
Arsenal v Stoke City Live Stream
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Arsene Wenger’s end-of-week press conferences have been regular fixtures for over two decades but there was a rather noticeable change this morning.

Wenger’s assistant, Steve Bould filled in for the conference after the Frenchman had lost his voice.

Bould gave all the regular updates on team news and the latest stories but was first asked about Jack Wilshere’s availability.

“Everyone has come back as far as we’re aware. We’ll find out a bit more this morning but Jack was okay.”

Jack Wilshere picked up a knee injury while away with the England national team and Bould was asked whether he’ll be available for selection on the weekend.

“Jack trained yesterday so he’s okay. Whether he’ll be involved on the weekend, I’m not entirely sure.

“Jack had a bit of a knee problem, he’s come back and he’s fine. There’s no issue.”

It’s good that Jack Wilshere has come back relatively unscathed. The midfielder is still an important player to this team and will need to get back to full fitness, particularly in the Europa League.

 

Pundit claims France's Pogba is not the same at Man Utd

ESPN FC pundit Alejandro Moreno has claimed that France’s Paul Pogba is a completely different one to the one fans see at Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.

The former Juventus star was in excellent form for his country, particularly in the match vs Russia where he managed to score a delightful free-kick and assist his teammate.

Much has been made of Pogba this season but it’s lately that the pressure has truly stepped up and it appears as though the change in environment has done him well.

The Frenchman’s form got so bad for his club that at one point he failed to create a single chance in five Premier League matches according to Squawka.

Such comparisons have been drawn up once more by Moreno who seems to suggest Mourinho may just be the problem at United.

According to the Daily Star, Alejandro said: “It’s the story line that we come to when it comes to Paul Pogba, is that is it Paul Pogba? Or is it because he is playing for Mourinho Paul Pogba?

“Because when you see this, you think to yourself, ‘well here is a player that seems relaxed, that seems to be enjoying the environment, his company and the way he plays’.

“He is impacting the game because he is naturally a very gifted athlete. You don’t see that at Manchester United.”

There is the coincidence to consider that Paul may just have suddenly rediscovered his form but there is the worrying thought that he’s just happy to be away from his club.

His performances for his country have led to many questioning whether Jose is doing everything possible to bring the best out of him.

However, the Portuguese manager has done just about everything other than changing his core footballing beliefs in order to accommodate Paul Pogba.

Jose Mourinho’s attempted to drop him, to bring him off the bench, to switch formations, to free him from his defensive duties and to captain him yet nothing has worked of late.

When Pogba returns from his international duty fans will certainly keep an eye on him to see whether he can recreate the same form but if he doesn’t, questions will be raised.

Jose Mourinho suffers fresh injury headache following England's draw with Italy

Manchester United medical staff will evaluate Ashley Young‘s fitness ahead of Saturday’s clash with Swansea City after the 32-year-old picked up a knee injury against Italy, according to reports.

The Englishman completed 90 minutes on the pitch for his country for the first time since 2013 and impressed with his maturity and ambition on the ball.

But despite seeing out the whole game, Young suffered a knock to his knee during the second half as England’s lead was cancelled out by Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty.

And according to ESPN‘s Rob Dawson, Young will be closely monitored by medical staff at Carrington ahead of the clash with Carlos Carvalhal’s side on Saturday.

The international break has predictably delivered Jose Mourinho a handful of injury blows ahead of the season’s final couple of months. Young will likely join Scott McTominay and Sergio Romero on the injury table, while Marouane Fellaini trained separately from the Belgium squad as he continues to battle with knee problems.

Romero’s knee injury, as confirmed by the Argentina FA, is not too serious, but the extent of the setbacks handed to Young and McTominay remain unknown, paving the way for Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba to potentially receive a place in the starting XI.

Paul Pogba sends an emphatic message to his critics

Paul Pogba delivered a superb performance during France’s 3-1 win over Russia in Moscow to quieten his critics and send a powerful message to Jose Mourinho.

The Frenchman has only started four of Man United’s last 11 games and was left on the bench for France’s 3-2 defeat to Colombia last week.

Pundits and supporters alike have started to hit out at Pogba following a patch of poor form, but he was given a chance to produce a response in Moscow.

Placed on the left hand side of a midfield three, the 25-year-old was doing what he does best: going forward. His assist for Kylian Mbappe was perfectly weighted, and an example of what he can do when attackers run in behind.

Not the world’s greatest assist but it comes from Pogba roaming in the space he wants to.

At United, Mourinho fills Sánchez in that space by playing him on the left. pic.twitter.com/jjIRmaxyHp

— Jordan Clarke (@FourFourJordan) March 27, 2018

And what followed on the other side of half time was spectacular. Having won the free-kick himself, Pogba stepped up and carefully guided a swerving shot into the bottom corner before paying tribute to his late father.

Pogba with a gorgeous free kick against Russia #PogBack pic.twitter.com/bolXT5kj9d

— The Sports Quotient (@SportsQuotient) March 27, 2018

Here is an extended reel of Pogba’s highlights against this year’s World Cup hosts.

Paul Pogba vs. Russia

It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it’s clear that Pogba looks more like the Pogba we all know and love when he plays for France. Full of the confidence we rarely see in Manchester, Pogba had a lovely assist and scored a glorious free kick. pic.twitter.com/dm4XqnXbGo

— EiF Video (@EiF_Highlights) March 27, 2018

Forward impetus, strength, confidence, precise passing, cold execution, sheer presence on the pitch. This is the Pogba we all want to see; this is, more importantly, the performance you get from him when you have some faith and allow him the space to roam that left channel.

And while supporters have no control over how Mourinho uses him – if at all – they can get behind him fully. What happened to the days when United fans gave unyielding support to players who were struggling? Diego Forlan, for example, always received a great reception from supporters even when he wasn’t scoring.

Make no mistake: this is a man with world class talent. Supporters need to recognise and get behind him.

Man United midfield target admits he's a big fan of the Premier League

Manchester United target and Napoli midfielder Jorginho admitted he was a big fan of the Premier League following Italy’s 1-1 draw with England at Wembley on Tuesday night.

The Italian midfielder has enjoyed a superb campaign under Maurizio Sarri, establishing himself as a mainstay at the base of midfield.

Jose Mourinho has voiced a need to replace Michael Carrick, who will join the coaching staff next term, and Jorginho has inevitably emerged on the club’s radar.

And the 26-year-old, when asked if he liked England’s top flight in the aftermath, said: “Yes, very much!”

Amid the typically anodyne pulses of a friendly, Jorginho gave supporters of both nations something to watch and enjoy.

The Napoli man was a loquacious, propulsive presence on the ball, authoritatively drifting across the midfield to receive the ball and create avenues through which to move the ball forward. He sat deep and, while occasionally bested by the combination of Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling, hardly ever found himself in an awkward position, always there to pick up a loose ball.

And his impressive range of passing came clear towards the end – most notably with a pin-point chipped diagonal ball into the path of teammate Lorenzo Insigne. The way he handles the ball seems natural, geared towards productively moving play up the pitch. His intelligence is there to see, and supporters will just hope Mourinho – set to receive competition from Liverpool for Jorginho’s signature – was taking note.

Man United face battle with Man City to sign midfield superstar: report

Both Manchester United and Manchester City have registered their interest in Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The Ivorian enjoyed an excellent campaign with the Ligue 1 outfit last season and came very close to joining Barcelona.

He will be granted a move away this summer, and Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are both keen to add his technical prowess to their squad for the 2018/19 season.

And according to M.E.N‘s Samuel Luckhurst, the two clubs have made their interest known to the French side ahead of the transfer window.

Seri’s contract expiring at the end of next season coupled with Nice’s failure to grant him a move to Barcelona – who look set to sign Arthur Melo instead – gives them very little clout in negotiations and could lead to the midfielder moving for around £35m.

Guardiola is aware of his over-reliance on Fernandinho, now 32, and needs a replacement for Yaya Toure, while Mourinho has continually failed to organise a midfield set-up combining structure and attacking zeal.

Interest in Seri, therefore, makes a lot of sense: diminutive yet tenacious, resolute yet fluid in possession, attack-minded yet disciplined, superb with his passing.

Placing Seri alongside Pogba would open up the pitch and bring attacking players into the game with greater speed in a way we haven’t seen enough this season. Just as importantly, though, putting him alongside the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva would be painfully fruitful. Ed Woodward will need to work his magic once again.

Argentina provide Sergio Romero injury update

Argentina’s Football Association has confirmed that Sergio Romero did not suffer damage to bone or ligaments after coming off with a knee injury during his side’s 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Spain.

The 31-year-old collided heavily with Diego Costa in the build-up to Spain’s opening goal, with the pair both racing to reach the ball first.

He was seen clutching his knee in pain and came off for Willy Caballero after 22 minutes ahead of a wholesale capitulation from La Albiceleste in the absence of Lionel Messi.

But Argentina’s FA has confirmed in the aftermath that Romero’s injury is not as serious as first feared.

“Sergio Romero suffered a trauma in his right knee,” the statement read. “The studies performed ruled out serious bone and ligament injuries.”

Romero considered leaving Old Trafford in January in order to receive more game time ahead of the World Cup but you can see why he ultimately decided against it. With Caballero his closest rival, he could probably prepare for the finals by playing Guitar Hero and eating crisps and be in better shape.

On a serious note, the injury sustained against Spain does not look like one which will keep him out for a while. The collision with Costa was not much more than that. No awkward tweaks, no horrible replays of the knee bending in ways it shouldn’t – just bone smashing against bone.

Supporters will hope to see Romero, yet to concede in the FA Cup this season, maintain his place between the sticks at Wembley next month.

Jesse Lingard is showing this Tottenham Hotspur star how it’s done, claims Ian Wright

Jesse Lingard has to start for England ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, according to former-striker Ian Wright.

Though Alli’s reputation is larger than Lingard’s, the form of the latter in the last few months for both Manchester United and his country means he’s got to be ahead of Alli, according to Wright.

Lingard scored a sensational solo goal to seal a 4-2 win for Man United away from home against Watford in late November 2017, and has only increased in importance since.

Doubles against Arsenal at the Emirates and against Burnley to rescue a draw as well as winners or vital goals against West Brom, Everton, Derby County and Chelsea have left Lingard in a fantastic position ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“Yeah he is [ahead of Dele Alli],” Wright asserted, speaking about Lingard on ITV Sport.

“I think that Lingard’s been having a very good season.

“With all that’s been happening at Manchester United, he’s come in and when he’s started he’s done well.

“He’s trying to get forward, he’s trying to score goals, he done it the other day.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence and rightly so.”

Jose Mourinho trusts Lingard hugely, and now so does Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, too.

He has performed in the big game and does so consistently, despite receiving a lot of hate for his social media activity.

“He should be in there in front of Dele, unfortunately for Dele at the moment it’s not quite going well for him,” Wright continued.

“He came on the other day and seemed to lose the ball a bit too often for me.

“I think he needs to get his confidence going but I think this is the kind of push that he needs.”

Report claims Paul Pogba’s head isn’t in football despite faith from Mourinho at Man United

Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba has the potential to be one of the best footballers in the world, and will attempt to harness that ability next season.

According to Duncan Castles in the Daily Record, Mourinho is working to get the best football out of Pogba possible next season in hope of seeing the French midfield have the best season of his career in 2018/19.

It’s been a mixed time in Pogba’s second spell at Old Trafford, having quit Man United for Juventus as a teenager on a free transfer before being bought back in a then-world record transfer of £89m.

Some performances and moments have been utterly breathtaking and there are few that doubt the quality that Pogba possesses in quite ridiculous quantities. But finding consistent quality from his main man has been tricky for Mourinho.

One United source reportedly said that “Jose likes the player, but the player does not have his head in football.

“Pogba is not focused on football, he has his head in music, in hairstyles, in shoes.”

Quite what that position that United source is in at the club is not noted, but it’s a view held by many fans and pundits alike.

Pogba put in a good performance for France against World Cup hosts Russia in a friendly during the international break, assisting Kylian Mbappé and scoring a free-kick himself.

That Mourinho has faith in the 25-year-old is positive. If United can cement a midfield built around Pogba and make it a success, the Reds have the potential to demolish teams.

Without that, it’s unlikely Mourinho will be able to catch up Pep Guardiola and Manchester City any time soon.

Jesse Lingard could be England’s ace at the 2018 World Cup this summer

Jesse Lingard has long enjoyed proving people wrong and rising to the occasion. It seemed, for a fair amount of time, that he was just not good enough for Manchester United. He loved the club, of that there was no doubt, and he clearly worked harder than many other players and wanted it more than teammates. You only have to look at Ravel Morrison, who is more naturally gifted than Lingard but didn’t work anywhere near as hard to see that Lingard is a player who bleeds for United and has always been desperate to play at Old Trafford.

He was sent out on loan after loan after loan, happy to get game time and very hopeful that someone at Old Trafford was watching and realising that, maybe he did have the talent to make it at the top level and in the pressure cooker environment that is Manchester United. He exploded onto the consciousness of the wider world when he scored four goals for Birmingham City against Sheffield Wednesday during his first appearance for the midlands side. It was clear he was a talent but a raw one who needed work.

It can be very hard to back players and to work out who will make it to the top and who will not. Lingard is a great example as is Harry Kane, both went on loan to League One and Championship clubs, both played well but neither of them looked like future top Premier League players, however both made it big. Footy predictions are so tough whether it is which players will make it, which teams are going to win their next match or where the best value lies in the betting markets. Lingard proved many people wrong and has moved onto the next level.

Jose Mourinho often gets it in the neck for not improving young players, you hear time after time how he doesn’t make players better and Luke Shaw is often used as a stick to beat him with. However you don’t hear anywhere near as much or see as many column inches about Lingard, a player who has thrived under Jose and grabbed his chance with both hands.

That has seen him rewarded with a place in the England team as well as the chance to impress Gareth Southgate and secure his place on the plane to Russia. He was excellent as a starter and proved to Southgate why he can be a real star for England. He can play on the wing, he can play through the middle he could even play as an inside forward.

Lingard wasn’t expected to make it for Manchester United, now he is a goalscoring part of Mourinho’s plan. His England chances were supposed to be over and now he has an international goal, he is a player who thrives under pressure, who isn’t willing to give up and will work hard for his team. He is everything England needs and hopefully he can shine in Russia as part of an England team which goes as far as it can.

Arsenal steal a march by holding talks with Chelsea target

Arsenal have held talks regarding the possible signing of Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu, a player who both Chelsea reportedly are interested in.

According to reports, the Gunners have held discussions about the possibility of signing the Turkish international centre-back as they hope to steal a step on any other potential rivals for his signature.

As well as Chelsea, Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United  have also been keeping tabs on the 21-year-old, as have Roma.

Soyuncu’s performances in the Bundesliga helped propel him into the international reckoning with Turkey, and he’s very much part of their setup. In fact, Arsenal had scouts watching the defender as he played for his national side against Ireland last week.

Freiburg are keen to keep hold of their young star but, according to the report, they would be willing to do a deal for around £30m.

Whether Arsenal would be willing to spend such a large fee on a youngster remains to be seen, but they’ve at least had conversations about the possibility of Soyuncu leaving Germany to join the Gunners.

With high quality centre backs at a premium, there is no question that a lot of sides will be sniffing around Soyuncu this summer so if Chelsea want him, they may need to act fast.

The post Arsenal steal a march by holding talks with Chelsea target Caglar Soyuncu appeared first on Read Chelsea.

Chelsea star praises boss amid speculation over move

Marcos Alonso has come out and said that current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has done a great job at Stamford Bridge, as per The Evening Standard.

Alonso has said that, despite the Blues’ struggle this season, he still has faith in the Italian coach.

After a magnificent debut season in England, winning the Premier League and winning 13 games in a row, the second season has not been as successful.

Chelsea are still in the race for top four and in a FA Cup semi-final, where they face Southampton, and have a huge chance to get into their second consecutive FA Cup Final.

Despite this, the club exited the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage to London rivals Arsenal, and left the Champions League at the hands of FC Barcelona.

The Chelsea left-back has said in a recent interview (via The Evening Standard):

In England, after winning the Premier League, it is normal to have a difficult year, especially with the level that Manchester City are maintaining throughout the season.

Now we have an important end of the year, to qualify for the Champions League and fight for the FA Cup. We’re looking forward to it.

He (Conte) has done a great job and we only think about finishing well.

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