Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara looks set to leave the club this summer after chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted the player is seeking a new challenge.

Thiago joined Bayern Munich from Barcelona in 2013

Spain international Thiago is out of contract at the Allianz Arena in 2021 and Bayern are unwilling to let him leave without receiving a fee for him.

The 29-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool and the Bundesliga champions seem to be resigned to losing him.

“He’s a decent guy, on and off the pitch,” Rummenigge told Bild.

“We negotiated seriously with him and fulfilled all his wishes. But it seems that he wants to do something new towards the end of his career.

“We definitely didn’t have any contact to Liverpool at all. If he wants to do that, we have to deal with it. We don’t want to lose any player next year for free. I can say it that clearly.”

Thiago has won the German league title for the last seven seasons in a row after joining from Barcelona in July 2013 and has made 230 appearances for the club.

Source – Sky Sports

The acquisition of the Dortmund man would drive up the standards at Old Trafford, according to their legendary striker, who sees exciting times ahead.

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Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to sign Jadon Sancho this summer to enable the club to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for next season’s Premier League title.

The Red Devils are long-term admirers of the Borussia Dortmund winger and Yorke believes that the 20-year-old would prove an excellent addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

“He’s a terrific talent and he’s linked with every top team around the world,” the treble-winner told Goal.

“So, if Ole sees him as a player that can really bring something to the team and really make sure that core of players keep competition for places, then they should go for it.

“It would force other players to get their skates on and start performing. That’s a healthy thing and that’s what you want to see at United. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a player the club add going forward.”

The links with Sancho have led to discussion as to how Mason Greenwood would fit in the starting XI should the England international arrive.

The 18-year-old scored a brilliant goal against Brighton in United’s last Premier League fixture and has already netted 13 goals in all competitions in his first full campaign in the first-team squad.

Yorke, however, doesn’t think another attacker would check Greenwood’s progress, arguing that the competition could help the teenager to develop.

“It’s important to keep the young players hungry when they’re not in the team and keep pushing them,” Yorke said. “If there’s a top player out there who can bring something different to your team, it’s important United bring them in.

“If they bring in another big-name attacker now, it will only enhance the players who are already in the team and make sure they keep working.

“For United to compete with the likes of Liverpool and City next year, they need to buy another attacker and a central defender.”

United have been consistent since the resumption of play after the coronavirus-enforced break and took their unbeaten run to 15 matches in all competitions after a dominant display against Brighton on Tuesday.

Next up for Solskjaer’s side is a clash against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

With Chelsea and Leicester dropping points in the week, Yorke is confident that fifth-placed United have what it takes to secure a lucrative Champions League spot for next season.

“The lads are playing some terrific football at the moment and it’s really exciting,” Yorke enthused. “If you look at Leicester, they are dropping off rapidly and Chelsea dropping points against West Ham that can only be encouraging for us.

“The team I worry about is Wolves in sixth because of the way they are going, so we have to keep one eye on them.

“But the fact the teams ahead of us are dropping points can only be encouraging and things are looking rosy. It’s a really exciting time.”

Source – Goal.com

Inter Milan have signed defender Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid on a five-year deal.

Achraf Hakimi came to prominence during his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund

The Morocco full-back, 21, made just 17 appearances for Real and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

Inter have paid 40m euros (£36m) with 5m euros of add-ons for the Madrid academy graduate.

In a statement Real thanked Hakimi for his service and wished him well in his “new chapter”.

Hakimi, who can play at right- or left-back, as well as in midfield, was pictured attending a medical in Italy on Tuesday.

He made more than 70 appearances for Dortmund, scoring 12 goals.

Source – BBC News

Sergio Ramos’ penalty sent Real Madrid four points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought win over Getafe.

Sergio Ramos has scored with his last 21 penalties for Real Madrid and Spain

Real looked as if they were going to be frustrated until Mathias Olivera fouled Dani Carvajal, with Ramos stepping up to score his 21st consecutive penalty.

Getafe – who are in contention for a Champions League place – started well and Thibaut Courtois had to make three saves in the opening 12 minutes.

The derby was a physical battle at times with 10 players booked in total.

Real did not have many big chances against their less illustrious neighbours, with Luka Modric having a shot deflected wide and Karim Benzema dragging an effort away from goal.

Real Madrid only need to win four of their final five games to finish above Barca for their second La Liga title since 2012.

Source – BBC News

The Reds first game as Premier League champions did not go according to plan as they suffered a heavy defeat at Etihad Stadium.

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Liverpool have failed to score in five consecutive away fixtures for the first time in 28 years after being humbled 4-0 by Manchester City.

The Reds secured the Premier League title after City’s 2-1 loss at Chelsea last week, becoming the first club to secure the trophy with seven matches to spare.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are also on course to break the record points haul of 100, which was set by City in 2018-19, but they took their eye off the ball at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

After being welcomed onto the pitch by a guard of honour from the home side, Liverpool started the brighter in a top of the table clash devoid of any atmosphere due to the continued absence of supporters amid the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it was Pep Guardiola’s Blues who ended up taking the lead, with Kevin De Bruyne coolly converted a penalty after Raheem Sterling was fouled in the box.

Sterling grabbed his 13th goal of the season to put City 2-0 up with 35 minutes on the clock, as he finished off a flowing counter-attack after showing great composure in the box.

Foden scored the home side’s third goal just before the half-time whistle, sending an unstoppable shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson following a quick one-two with De Bruyne.

An Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal compounded the Reds misery in the second period, as City reduced the gap at the top of the Premier League to 20 points with five games left to play.

Liverpool have now gone five consecutive away games without scoring in all competitions for the first time since April 1992, when they endured an eight-match run on the road without a goal.

Their second defeat was also the joint heaviest by a side already crowned champions in Premier League history, with Liverpool having also beaten Arsenal by a 4-0 scoreline the game after their coronation in 1997-98.

Klopp’s two worst losses in charge at Anfield have both come at the hands of City, who also thrashed the Reds 5-0 in September 2017, but Reds’ supporters are unlikely to be too disheartened given their position in the table.

Liverpool will now have to pick themselves up again ahead of a meeting with Aston Villa on Sunday, while City gear up for a tough trip to Southampton.

Source – Goal.com

The Danish Cup final was suspended for 14 minutes as a group of ultras refused to obey social distancing.’

A section of Aalborg fans ignored social distancing rules

Aalborg and SonderjyskE were both given 725 tickets each for fans at the final at the neutral Esbjerg Stadium, so long as they sat 1m apart.

But just before the 30-minute mark, a group of Aalborg – also known as AaB – fans grouped together and refused to move despite pleas from the club’s coaches and other fans.

They were kicked out of the ground.

Aalborg assistant boss Rasmus Wurtz asked fans to go back to their designated seats

Their team went on to lose 2-0 with Anders Jacobsen scoring twice against his old club.

It is the first major trophy in SonderjyskE’s history.

SonderjyskE had never won a trophy before

Source – BBC News

Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez and Christian Eriksen all scored and set up goals as Inter Milan thrashed Brescia to remain third in Serie A.

Ashley Young is the first English player to score a Serie A home goal for Inter since Paul Ince in 1997

Young volleyed Inter ahead from a Sanchez cross and the Chilean scored a penalty after Victor Moses was fouled.

Danilo D’Ambrosio headed home a cross from Young and Sanchez’s free-kick was nodded in by Roberto Gagliardini.

Eriksen scrambled home after Romelu Lukaku’s shot was saved and then set up Antonio Candreva for Inter’s sixth.

Sanchez’s loan deal from Manchester United was extended until the end of the season, the clubs announced earlier in the day.

Antonio Conte’s Inter remain third, eight points behind leaders Juventus, with Brescia dropping to bottom spot.

Source – BBC News

The Egyptian forward has admitted that he wasn’t sure how he would fit into the Reds’ starting XI upon his arrival at Anfield in 2017.

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Mohamed Salah has revealed that the first question he asked Jurgen Klopp after signing for Liverpool was regarding whether or not he would be replacing Sadio Mane on the right wing.

Salah completed a £37 million ($46m) move to Liverpool from Roma in the summer of 2017, embarking on his second stint in the Premier League.

The Egypt international had previously failed to make the grade at Chelsea, which is why more than a few eyebrows were raised when the Reds forked out a club-record fee for his services.

However, the 28-year-old quickly justified his price tag by becoming the highest-scoring player in a single Premier League season, and has since built on that platform to help Liverpool win a whole host of major honours.

Salah won a second successive Golden Boot in 2018-19 while also helping Jurgen Klopp’s side conquer the Champions League, striking up a fearsome alliance in the final third with Mane and Roberto Firmino in the process.

The former Chelsea flop has hit another 17 goals during Liverpool’s run to Premier League glory this term, two more than Mane, who was shifted out onto the left after Salah’s arrival at Anfield.

Salah has admitted that he initially sought out clarity from Klopp over a coveted role on the right of Liverpool’s front three amid fears he would have to compete with Mane.

The Reds star told beIN Sports : “He talked with me a lot and his future plan which made me very excited. My first question for him was ‘What about Sadio?’ as we are playing in the same position and he said that Mane will play on the left.”

Salah and Mane made headlines in September after appearing to clash during Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Burnley.

The former opted to shoot instead of passing to his open team-mate at one key point in the game, which left the Senegalese attacker visibly incensed as he was substituted late on.

Salah insists that the pair soon reconciled their differences for the good of Liverpool’s collective cause, as he added: “It didn’t take too much time. It was not a clash with its definite meaning it was just a situation in the match and we got over it quickly and assisted goals to each other.”

Liverpool were crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years last week after moving 23 points clear of Manchester City with seven games remaining.

Asked who has been the Reds’ player of the season, Salah expressed his belief that club captain Jordan Henderson deserves to be acknowledged for his outstanding contribution in the middle of the park.

He said: “You can’t say it, we have many good players, If you asked 10 people ‘Is Alisson the best player?’ Nine of them will say that.

“The same with [Trent Alexander] Arnold, Henderson, Virgil [van Dijk], Salah, Mane.

“We had a great season but if I have to choose one I will pick Henderson because he is our captain, he’s been here for eight to nine years and faced criticism many times and got over it.

“He is a great person and always tries to help everyone.”

Salah concluded by outlining his future ambitions at Liverpool: “We are a very good team now, if we perform in the same way we can win more and more trophies. This is our aim.

“I won’t stop seeking to win championships, I can create new challenges for myself to win again and again. My ambition has no limits and I will work to be better in the next years.”

Source – Goal.com

Only five players in Premier League history have reached a half century of goals quicker than the former Dortmund man.

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Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched his 50th Premier League goal for the Gunners against Norwich to become the club’s quickest player to that mark in the modern era, reaching the milestone on the occasion of his 79th appearance.

With his future still very much in doubt, the Gabon international opened the scoring against the relegation strugglers by robbing goalkeeper Tim Krul and then tapping into an unguarded net.

Soon afterwards, he laid on his side’s second against the basement club, delivering the pass from which Granit Xhaka fired under the Dutchman from a testing angle to make it 2-0.

It was, however, his contribution from the opener that fired him into the club’s history books as he notched the mark in a quicker time than legendary figures such as Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, who took 87 and 101 games respectively to reach the mark in the red of Arsenal.

Indeed, only five players have been quicker to the 50-goal mark in the history of the Premier League.

Andy Cole, who came through the Arsenal youth ranks before achieving fame at Newcastle and Manchester United, is the fastest to his half century, grabbing it in 65 games, one fewer than Alan Shearer and three quicker than another former Old Trafford star in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Anfield favourites Mohamed Salah and Fernando Torres both reached their 50 in 72 matches, putting the former Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan forward, who turned 31 last month, in illustrious company.

Aubameyang has been with Arsenal since January 2018, when he joined the club for a fee in the region of £56 million ($70m).

He made a hot start to life in the Premier League as he registered on his debut against Everton in a 5-1 home win, and after two blank outings went on a run of five goals in four games, finishing the season with 10 strikes in just 13 outings.

His first full season in England proved to be equally successful as he notched 22 goals in 36 outings, while he already has 18 in 30 this term, giving him a fighting chance of matching last season’s effort as Mikel Arteta’s side chase down European football.

Source – Goal.com