JACK GAUGHAN AT THE ETIHAD: Man City were in December and six points behind the leaders. Pep Guardiola remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson as they went in at half-time a goal down.
JOIN NOW LOGINArsenal - who have finished second in each of the past two seasons - have opened at 9/4 odds with Sky Bet to get over the hump and win the Premier League next season.
JOIN NOW LOGINHarry Kane (left) snubbed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney when naming his favourite-ever striker as the England captain instead chose a Real Madrid and Brazil legend. The Bayern Munich and England star has endured a mixed season in Germany since moving to the Bavarian team from Tottenham last summer. An outrageous personal best season returned 44 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions, but Bayern's failure to win any silverware continued Kane's wait for a first career trophy.
JOIN NOW LOGINAfter their title was secured, celebrations took place on the Etihad pitch and in the dressing room, before City's stars moved onto the bars and venues of Manchester.
JOIN NOW LOGINSky Bet are offering 10/11 odds for Mohamed Salah to join the Saudi Pro League in the summer. Salah was heavily linked with Saudi in the winter, but ultimately decided to remain at Liverpool.
JOIN NOW LOGINShocking footage has shown an Everton supporter appearing to be knocked out in violent clashes with Arsenal fans on Sunday. Videos shared on social media showed supporters fighting following Arsenal's 2-1 win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Despite the victory, Arsenal were forced to settle for second place in the Premier League as Man City's 3-1 win over West Ham saw the reigning champions clinch a fourth consecutive title.
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JOIN NOWFormer Ajax player Finidi George has revealed that his only regret during his playing days was not signing with La Liga giants Real Madrid, Soccernet.ng reports. The new head coach of the Super Eagles moved to Spain to join Real Betis for 1,024 million pesetas after a successful stint with Ajax FC. Before his move to Betis, the former Nigerian international was on the verge of signing with Real Madrid, but the transfer ultimately did not materialize. Reflecting on the situation, Finidi expressed regret over not joining the Spanish giants, citing financial struggles that prevented an agreement between Real Madrid and Ajax despite him agreeing to personal terms. The former Super Eagles attacker, who achieved significant success during his playing career, including winning the UEFA Champions League, has now been appointed as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
Next week, it will be decided whether or not Xavi Hernandez is sacked as Barcelona manager, a month after he committed his future to the club for another season. A meeting will be held by Joan Laporta and Deco to discuss the matter, at which point some clarity will be shared. If Xavi is sacked, Barcelona would hope that he foregoes the final year of his contract. As per La Vanguardia, a total pay-out of €15m would be made if the 44-year-old is sacked, but half of that would not need to be paid if Xavi agreed to not take the remainder of his salary, as he agreed to in January when he announced his decision to step down at the end of the season. Laporta is banking on Xavi’s “love for the club” meaning that he wouldn’t take the money, although given how this situation has played out, he would have every right to take everything he is owed by Barcelona.
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have reacted to news that Arsenal defender Ben White hasn’t made the provisional England squad for Euro 2024. Plenty of Arsenal players are gearing up for a huge summer in Germany, with Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale named in the England squad. Both players are expected to make the final cut as Gareth Southgate will name his 26-man squad on Friday, June 7. But there is still no place for Ben White, who hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since leaving the World Cup in Qatar back in November 2022. The 26-year-old has starred for Arsenal this season and based on form alone, White should be in the squad. Southgate revealed back in March that White doesn’t want to be considered for England at this time, while also playing down rumours of a fallout between the defender and his assistant Steve Holland. Now, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have urged the pair to ‘sort out’ whatever has happened to lead to White not wanting to represent his country.
Chadi Riad, who has spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Real Betis from Barcelona, is reportedly on the verge of joining Crystal Palace. According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chadi Riad has been the subject of interest from Crystal Palace in recent weeks. The Moroccan international has already agreed to join the South London club in the summer transfer window. The Eagles will cough up a base fee of €12 million to secure the services of the Barcelona loanee. Who is Chadi Riad? Chadi Riad has found a stable footing in his career since joining Real Betis on loan from Barcelona last summer. A native of Palma de Mallorca, he spent his formative years with four clubs, graduating from Barcelona’s fabled La Masia division. The 20-year-old joined Barcelona from RCD Mallorca in July 2019, making considerable progress in the last half a decade. However, Riad has had to wait until the 2023/24 season to rise in prominence on the first-team level. The youngster has turned out 30 times for Real Betis this term, amassing nearly 2,500 minutes of game time. It is unclear if the Moroccan international will complete a permanent move to Real Betis in the summer transfer window. However, he will not play another game for the Andalusian outfit, with Crystal Palace reportedly closing in on securing his services in a deal worth €12 million. London calling Crystal Palace’s interest in Chadi Riad is understandable. The Eagles are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding the long-term future of Marc Guehi. The English international is a target for several Premier League bigwigs, with a summer move possible. Meanwhile, apart from Joachim Anderson, the Eagles do not have another reliable centre-back. So, it behoves Crystal Palace to sign a central defender in the summer transfer window, with several candidates, including Maxence Lacroix, emerging as targets. However, Riad is also an option worth considering. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the 20-year-old Moroccan international has already agreed to join Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window. The South London club will pay a base fee of €12 million, with another €2 million being add-ons. So, a summer move is on the cards for the young centre-back.
The Lega Serie A have revealed their three-man shortlist for the division’s Young Player of the Year prize as part of the division’s annual MVP awards, including Frosinone’s Juventus loanee Matias Soule, Torino wing-back Raoul Bellanova and Bologna leading goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee. There are several prizes up for grabs upon the end of the 2023-24 season, including the equivalent awards for goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers, as well as the league’s overall MVP, which will be announced directly, without a shortlist, on May 24. The best Young Player of the year category is open to Serie A representatives aged 23 or under. This is the sixth season in the current Serie A awards format. Serie A confirm that the awards are based on a number of different metrics, including stats recorded from tracking data and the ‘scientifically validated’ player rating system, which measures players’ in-game impact, movement and decision making. Previous Serie A Young Player of the Year winners Last season’s awards were dominated by Napoli representatives, as the Partenopei were crowned Scudetto winners for the first time in well over 33 years. The 2022-23 Young Player of the year, however, was given to Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who has recently return to action after a lengthy ban that has kept him out of action for the majority of the 2023-24 campaign. Previous winners include future last year’s Attacker of the year, Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic while he was still with Fiorentina, Dejan Kulusevski, dating back to his Parma days, and Nicolo Zaniolo in the inaugural edition.
Date | Match | Odds | Tip | Result |
27th Dec | Hapoel Bnei Zalfa - Hapoel Migdal | 3.92 | 2 & Over3.5 | 2-6 (0-2) |
27th Dec | Semen Padang - Arema | 3.45 | 2 & BTTS | 1-2 (1-2) |
27th Dec | Palermo - Bari | 3.34 | 1 & Under2.5 | 1-0 (1-0) |
27th Dec | PSS Sleman - Madura United | 3.08 | HT/FT 1/1 | 4-0 (2-0) |
27th Dec | Perth Glory - Macarthur | 2.88 | HT/FT 2/2 | 0-3 (0-2) |
27th Dec | Al Wehdat - Al Jazeera | 2.57 | 1 & Over2.5 | 3-0 (0-0) |
27th Dec | Malavan - Aluminium Arak | 2.32 | X | 1-1 (1-1) |
27th Dec | Anderlecht - FC Dender | 2.22 | Over3.5 | 2-3 (2-1) |
27th Dec | Naft Masjed - Niroye Zamini | 1.78 | HT X | 0-0 (0-0) |
27th Dec | Al Wehdat - AL Jazeera | 1.53 | 1 | 3-0 (0-0) |
27th Dec | FC Jerusalem - Hapoel Marmorek | 1.49 | DrawNoBet 1 | CAN (CAN) |
27th Dec | Persepolis - Kheybar Khorramabad | 1.42 | 1 | 2-1 (0-1) |
27th Dec | Naft Masjed Soleyman - Niroye Zamini Tehran | 1.36 | Under2.5 | 0-0 (0-0) |
27th Dec | Sepahan - Havadar | 1.34 | 1 & Under4.5 | 5-0 (2-0) |
27th Dec | Azam - Jkt Tanzania | 1.33 | 1 | 3-1 (1-1) |
26th Dec | Bromley - Newport | 3.95 | 1 & Over3.5 | 5-2 (2-0) |
26th Dec | Stevenage - Wycombe | 3.18 | HT/FT 2/2 | 0-3 (0-2) |
26th Dec | Gateshead - Hartlepool | 2.95 | 1 & BTTS | 4-3 (2-1) |
26th Dec | Swansea - QPR | 2.68 | HT/FT 1/1 | 3-0 (3-0) |
26th Dec | Club Brugge - Westerlo | 2.55 | Over3.5 | 4-3 (2-1) |
26th Dec | St Johnstone - Dundee United | 2.15 | Over2.5 & GG | 1-2 (1-0) |
26th Dec | NC Magra - MC Magra | 1.72 | HT X | 1-2 (0-0) |
26th Dec | Winchester - AFC Totton | 1.54 | 2 | 1-4 (0-2) |
26th Dec | Leyton Orient - Crawley Town | 1.5 | 1 | 3-0 (1-0) |
26th Dec | Skaf Khemis Miliana - Ben Aknoun | 1.46 | Under2.5 | 0-1 (0-0) |
26th Dec | Southend United - Ebbsfleet | 1.38 | 1 | 4-0 (2-0) |
26th Dec | Caernarfon Town - The New Saints | 1.34 | Over2.5 | 2-5 (2-3) |
25th Dec | Al Shabab - Al Rustaq | 3.34 | 1 & Under2.5 | 1-0 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Maccabi Haifa - Maccabi Tel Aviv | 3.05 | Over3.5 | 1-3 (0-1) |
25th Dec | Moghreb Tetouan - FAR Rabat | 2.95 | 2 & Over2.5 | 1-2 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Yemen - Saudi Arabia | 2.55 | 2 & BTTS | 2-3 (2-1) |
25th Dec | Sur - Bahla | 2.35 | Under1.5 | 0-1 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Gabesien - Railways | 1.95 | HT X | 1-0 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Al Ittihad - Modern Sport | 1.84 | HT X | 0-0 (0-0) |
25th Dec | EGS Gafsa - Esperance Tunis | 1.49 | 2 & Under4.5 | 0-3 (0-1) |
25th Dec | Moghreb Athletic de Tetouan - AS Far Rabat | 1.47 | 2 | 1-2 (0-0) |
25th Dec | AS Agareb - Sakiet Edayer | 1.46 | Under2.5 | 0-0 (0-0) |
25th Dec | SCC Mohammedia - Rs Berkane | 1.45 | 2 & Under4.5 | 0-2 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Fountain Gate - Namungo | 1.45 | Over1.5 | 1-2 (1-1) |
25th Dec | Al Ittihad Al Sakandary - Modern Sport | 1.44 | Under2.5 | 0-0 (0-0) |
25th Dec | Pyramids - Pharco | 1.38 | 1 | 3-0 (1-0) |
24th Dec | Maccabi Ramla - Hapoel Ashdod | 3.95 | 2 & Over3.5 | 1-5 (0-1) |
24th Dec | AS Oued Ellil - AS Ariana | 3.15 | Over3.5 | 2-4 (2-3) |
24th Dec | Moghayer - Al Faisaly | 2.87 | 2 & BTTS | 1-3 (1-2) |
24th Dec | AmaZulu - Sundowns | 2.82 | 2 & Under2.5 | 0-1 (0-0) |
We begin Wednesday’s Premier League transfer rumour round-up with news from Spain on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Giorgi Mamardashvili. According to AS, the stopper will ‘have no choice’ but to join the Magpies if the La Liga side accept an offer in the coming weeks. The two clubs are said to have ‘already started talks’ for the Georgian, with Newcastle making no secret of their desire to sign him. Valencia could demand as much as £34.2 million, while the Magpies would rather pay somewhere in the region of £29.9 million. Mamardashvili has not ruled out staying put this summer, but is also said to be aware that Newcastle have the capability to submit a contract offer that he would struggle to turn down. Our Verdict: Mamardashvili is a special talent, and one who would represent a real coup for Newcastle. Of course, the biggest loser in all of this would be Nick Pope, who would presumably have his number one jersey taken away from him, but from the Magpies’ perspective alone, this would be a savvy deal. Elsewhere, Aston Villa are understood to be weighing up a swoop for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, according to Tutto Juve. The Villans are said to be ‘thinking about’ the Frenchman ahead of their Champions League campaign next season as uncertainty continues to reign over his stay in Italy. Rabiot is out of contract in June, and as yet, it is unclear as to whether he will sign a new deal or not. If he does become available, Villa can reportedly expect competition from the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Unai Emery previously worked with the player at Paris Saint-Germain. Our Verdict: It is testament to where Villa now find themselves that they are being mentioned alongside the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich in the race to sign a player of Rabiot’s calibre. A lot is going to rest on whether or not he pens a fresh deal in Turin, but if he doesn’t, this could be a bargain swoop for Emery’s side. And finally, as per reports in Italy, Crystal Palace have ‘already made contact’ with Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada over a potential summer transfer. It has previously been claimed that the Eagles are ‘seriously trying‘ to sign him, with his contract in Serie A side rapidly coming towards its conclusion. Palace are understood to have offered him the same salary that he’s been requesting for a renewal with Lazio, but the Italian outfit are still hopeful that he could stay put during the upcoming window. Our Verdict: Kamada is a player who Palace manager Oliver Glasner knows very well, having won a Europa League alongside him at Eintracht Frankfurt. With 31 senior Japan caps to his name, he boasts a wealth of experience at the very highest level, and the prospect of signing him - especially on a free transfer - should be one that massively excites Palace fans.
Glasgow Rangers have one game left to play before the official end to their 2023/24 campaign as they face their local rivals in the SFA Cup final on Saturday. The Light Blues have the opportunity to secure a second domestic trophy of the season, having won the League Cup earlier this term, by winning the showpiece at Hampden Park this weekend. Philippe Clement's side had beaten Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden in the League Cup final, thanks to a goal from captain James Tavernier, and will be hoping for a similar result against Celtic in the SFA Cup. The bulk of the Belgian head coach's focus will, therefore, be on this huge Old Firm clash to come on Saturday, and the trophy on offer alongside it, but the upcoming summer transfer window will also be in the back of his mind. He has yet to have a summer window in charge of the club and it will, therefore, be his and head of recruitment Nils Koppen's first chance to make big changes to the playing squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. A new striker has now emerged as a possible target for the Light Blues to bolster their attack, and he could be a dream alternative to Lawrence Shankland. According to the Daily Record, Rangers are keeping a close eye on Rapid Bucharest's exciting young centre-forward Albion Rrahmani ahead of the summer. The report claims that the Scottish giants have been scouting the attacker closely but has not revealed whether or not they are prepared to move in with a firm offer for his services. That came after Kosovan Football on X claimed last week that the Gers are 'keen' to bring the 23-year-old finisher to Ibrox ahead of next season, whilst they added that there had not been any official movement in the pursuit at that point. The same account relayed a claim from commentator and football director Arlind Sadiku in April that Rapid Bucharest would want a fee of up to €8m (£6.8m) to part ways with the striker, amid interest from Slavia Prague. Koppen and Clement could now land a dream alternative to Shankland, who Football Insider reported in February is a summer target for the Gers, by landing a deal to sign the impressive youngster from the Romanian outfit. The Hearts forward could be a fantastic addition to the squad but if they fail to land the Scotland international then Rrahmani would be a fantastic option instead.
West Ham are ready to go head-to-head with European giants Atletico Madrid for Celtic playmaker Matt O’Riley, sources have told Football Insider. The Hoops star, 23, is attracting interest in England and across the continent after his stellar performances in the Scottish Premiership this term. Celtic rejected a bid from Atleti for the Denmark international in January and they are expected to be among the interested parties in the summer window. It is believed Premier League trio West Ham, Brighton and Everton are all keen on O’Riley – who left MK Dons in 2022 for just £1.5million. Brendan Rodgers’ side are reluctant to lose the Denmark international, who could boost his value with a strong showing at this summer’s European Championships. Nevertheless, Celtic are open to selling the 23-year-old – who is widely regarded as the best player in Scotland – as long as their huge valuation is met. O’Riley has notched 19 goals and 18 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions this term – all of which have come as part of the starting lineup. His Parkhead contract is set to run until May 2027. The former Fulham ace has now made 120 Celtic appearances, winning three Scottish Premiership titles. West Ham and Brighton are plotting key reinforcements in the summer window after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. Everton are not currently well-placed to beat their English rivals to a deal but could be set for a cash injection if they are taken over in the off-season.
As we head into the transfer window, there is a little bit of doubt surrounding a handful of Liverpool players. The Reds are of course preparing for life under Arne Slot and they’ll want to make sure the new head coach has all the tools possible to succeed. Nevertheless, there does remain worry over some of the very best players in the Liverpool squad. Several days on from the end of the season and we’re still no clearer on the contract situations of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, for example. Mohamed Salah looks set to stay at least, but that’s not a guarantee either. If that wasn’t enough though, rumours have begun to circulate that Alexis Mac Allister is attracting interest from Real Madrid. Before he’s even set foot at the AXA Training Centre, that’s the last thing Slot needs. With plenty of the Liverpool squad set to be involved in summer international tournaments, they’re now heading off to join up with their countries. Often this can be when we see some be a little more open and candid in their answers to questions. In that spirit, ESPN Argentina report that Mac Allister was asked directly about supposed interest from Real Madrid when joining up with his national team this week. Having seen players move to the Bernabeu from Anfield in the past, Liverpool fans may be getting nervous about this. But, happily, Mac Allister brushed it off. After just one season on Merseyside, it seems Alexis is going nowhere. “I don’t talk about assumptions,” the 25-year-old answered. “I’m very happy at Liverpool.” Part of the worry over interest from Real Madrid was that there were claims of a release clause being present in Mac Allister’s contract. If that is the case, then they’d be powerless to stop the Spanish giants if they decided to trigger it. However, we’d be truly stunned if this is the reality. Liverpool have stood firm on release clause’s in the past, such as when Emre Can was allowed to run his contract down rather than sign a new deal including an exit clause.
Dan Ashworth reportedly ‘inadvertently’ emailed Newcastle United revealing incoming Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada was tapping him up. Sporting director Ashworth was placed on gardening leave in February after telling the Magpies he wanted to leave after 20 months to join Manchester United. Sir Jim Ratcliffe quickly made Ashworth a priority addition and has insisted he will not meet Newcastle’s financial demands, believed to be in the region of £20million. The new United co-owner described the prospect of Ashworth facing up to 18 months in limbo under the terms of his contract with the Magpies as “completely stupid”. Ratcliffe has brought in lots of new faces as he looks to turn things around at Old Trafford, most notably landing Berrada from rivals Manchester City. Following the additions of Berrada – who does not officially join the Old Trafford club until mid-July – and Jason Wilcox, among others, Ratcliffe is still working on a deal to bring in Ashworth as his new sporting director. Unfortunately for Ratcliffe, there is more drama in the Ashworth saga. According to a report from the Daily Mail, the 53-year-old ‘sent an email to a Newcastle address inadvertently revealing he was being tapped up by Berrada’. This ’embarrassing blunder and error of judgement’ from both ‘could be looked at by the Premier League’, with Berrada on gardening leave from Man City and not officially working for Man Utd. Following a conversation in early February between Ashworth and Berrada, the former sent an email to the latter – ‘at an INEOS account’ – stating that he wanted to join the Red Devils. In a huge error, Ashworth ‘sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle address’, which ‘disclosed the covert negotiations with Berrada’, at a point in which Man Utd had not informed Newcastle of their interest. Berrada has ‘potentially breached the terms of his contract’ as he had only been on gardening leave from City for less than a month, the report adds. And in a potential ‘breach of confidentiality to Newcastle and Brighton’, Ashworth ‘also disclosed details to Berrada of the agreement between Newcastle and Brighton that took him to St James’ Park in the summer of 2022’. Oh, mate… These people, who Ratcliffe described as ‘capable’ during a rant about his failure to land Ashworth, ‘were potentially breaching Premier League guidelines’, which has ‘increased chatter in football circles of Ratlciffe not understanding how the industry works’.
Adrien Rabiot’s contract with Juventus is set to expire and as per reports in Italy, he appreciates the prospect of signing for Man Utd. As per yesterday’s version of Corriere dello Sport, the Old Lady want to resolve multiple issues and the first concern on their list is the future of the French midfielder Juve are willing to offer the former Paris Saint-Germain star a two year deal that will make him earn 7.5 million euros per season. However, with the departure of manager, Max Allegri, the future of the 29-year-old star is up in the air. Rabiot was ‘extremely loyal’ to the Italian boss and on Instagram, he stated that Allegri deserved a different farewell. In such a scenario, CorSport claim Rabiot ‘appreciates the prospect’ of joining Man Utd in the Premier League. It is stated that if Allegri’s successor is Thiago Motta, then the Les Bleus midfielder may even end up staying in Turin. Manchester City Loading official content Motta, who has done brilliantly for Bologna this season, played with Rabiot for five years at the Parc des Princes. As far as the final decision is concerned, it will not take long as the 43-capped international has ‘promised’ to decide before the start of the European Championships in Germany next month. Rabiot is a highly experienced midfielder, who has won every major domestic title in Italy and France, and would be a top addition for Man Utd. However, he will turn 30 next year and like Casemiro, the Frenchman should not be considered a long term fix.
Manchester United are considering a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. According to the Daily Mail, if Everton do not sell centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite for £55million, the Red Devils will target a move for Guehi. Man United desperately need defenders this summer as Raphael Varane is leaving the club and Jonny Evans’ contract is expiring next month. The Red Devils are expected to sign two defenders in the summer transfer window and they will consider signing young defenders to balance the average age of the squad. To strengthen the defensive position is the priority for Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe this summer, who will need to raise funds for transfer business by selling players. The report in the Daily Mail states that Man United’s transfer budget is only £35million and they will have to generate funds by selling some players. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is Man United’s top target for the centre-back position. However, if Everton refuse to sell him for the right price, they have identified Guehi as an alternative. Since joining Crystal Palace from Chelsea in an £18 million (fee via Guardian) move back in 2021, the central defender has impressed. is performances have not gone unnoticed with the defender winning a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad. Naturally, then, he has caught the eyes of other Premier League suitors. The Telegraph reports that Palace have already started looking for his replacement as they feel he would be leaving the club in the near future. As per the report in Telegraph, the Eagles would look to sell Guehi for above the club record fee of £50 million set by Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to Man United. It remains to be seen who the Red Devils sign this summer; Guehi or Branthwaite. The need for a new centre-back is obvious at the club and they will target a young centre-back who can provide energy and stability to their defensive line. Man United are expected to go through a major overhaul of their squad this summer as the new leadership prepares to restore the glory days of the club.
Erik ten Hag says there has been a sea change in how Manchester United are viewed in the last 12 months with “many quality players” now asking to be part of his project. United were a hard sell last summer when Ten Hag first took over with no Champions League football and huge uncertainty over whether the new manager would last the course. But a season of consolidation on and off the pitch including silverware and with a top four spot theirs to lose has seen a transformation with targets now beating a path to Ten Hag’s door. “I see a big difference in comparison with last year,” said the United manager whose side face Wolves at Old Trafford on Saturday. “There were a lot of reservations last year when I spoke with players. “Now many players see the project, what's going on, the dynamic and the ambition in this project and the quality especially. “They are really keen to come, I've noticed that. Where there were a lot of reservations last year, a lot of doubts when we approached players, this year, many quality players really want to come.” Ten Hag’s side are looking to secure three of the nine points needed to guarantee Champions League football against Julen Lopetegui’s side. And while he will welcome back Raphael Varane after the defender missed seven matches with an ankle injury, leading scorer Marcus Rashford is a major doubt after sustaining a leg injury. Ten Hag remains confident that United can keep Liverpool at arm’s length in the race for a top four berth – they are a point clear with a game in hand – with or without Rashford’s goals.
Cagliari are already beginning to plan for life after Claudio Ranieri and could make an approach for current Torino coach Ivan Juric, according to reports in Italy late on Tuesday night. Ranieri stepped down from his position on Tuesday evening after securing Serie A safety over the weekend. It was a mutually agreed termination of contract, as the 72-year-old had two years remaining on his deal, which was due to expire next summer, in 2025. However, according to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Cagliari’s first point of contact will be Juric, who himself is set to leave his position at the end of the 2023-24 season. Back in February, the Granata boss suggested that he would leave the club if they were unable to land European Football for next season. According to Tuesday night’s report, Cagliari had already made an unsuccessful attempt to appoint Juric, dating back to his time before Torino. It will, of course, be down to Juric himself whether he decides to entertain Cagliari’s suggested proposals. Di Marzio suggests that Cagliari had also thought about making a move for Paolo Vanoli of Venezia, who is currently mid-way through the Serie B play-off semi-finals. However, he looks set to join Torino as the eventual successor to Juric.
After just one season at the helm, Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea. Although there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Argentine's position at Stamford Bridge, the news has come as somewhat of a shock. After just one season at the helm, Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea. Although there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Argentine's position at Stamford Bridge, the news has come as somewhat of a shock. Indeed, the Blues ended the season in sixth place with 63 points, finishing with five straight victories, a sign that the manager had finally found his best starting side. Nonetheless, Todd Boehly clearly hadn't been won over by the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, and a change in the dugout will be made over the summer. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a manager target who has the potential to transform the squad, and Mykhailo Mudryk in particular. According to a report from the Guardian, Chelsea are among the clubs that could move for Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna this summer. Brighton & Hove Albion are in pole position to sign the Northern Irish boss, while Manchester United could also reunite with their former coach. The Blues have been in talks with McKenna’s representatives in recent days and are said to admire a coach who has just claimed the Championship's "Manager of the Year" award. However, a move to Chelsea may be the least likely outcome, given his previous ties to the Red Devils, Roberto De Zerbi leaving, and the nature of the Blues job. As every Premier League fan will be aware, Mudryk hasn’t exactly lived up to his £89m price tag since arriving at Chelsea. The Ukrainian winger has been utilised quite frequently this season by Pochettino, but he’s been unable to get the best out of him, with the number 10 scoring five goals and providing two assists in 31 appearances.
As the current season comes to an end, the head coach position at FC Barcelona is once again subject to a potential change, as it looks quite unlikely that Xavi will continue to be the team’s trainer for the next season. However, Barcelona is not the only big club that is looking to change its head coach this summer, with the Premier League side, Chelsea, also being another giant that is set to undergo a managerial change as they have already parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino. In fact, some of the names that have been linked with the Catalan club as Xavi’s replacement have also been linked with the Premier League side, with Hansi Flick being strongly linked with the London club, after having been associated with Barcelona for several months now. According to SPORT, Flick is looking for a new club after having been out of service for some time now and is interested in taking the reins at Chelsea. The Blues have seriously considered making him their head coach in the past as well. Despite his willingness to join the Premier League side, things are not quite simple for Flick. This is especially the case as some other names have also been linked with the Blues, including the Girona coach Michel, Roberto de Zerbi, and Thomas Tuchel. While these three are the most well-known names being linked with Chelsea, they are not the only ones that are in contention to take this job, as some other lesser-known names are also in this race. The candidates in this latter category include Ruben Amorim, Vincent Kompany, Kieran McKenna, and Enzo Maresca. Some of these names, especially Michel, Roberto de Zerbi, and Thomas Tuchel have also been linked with Barcelona in recent months, and now with Flick also entering this list, it looks likely that the decisions made at Barcelona can have implications for Chelsea’s choice of their next manager, while Chelsea’s choice will also have an impact on Barcelona’s next appointment if Xavi is sacked.
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