The Borussia Dortmund teenager looks set to swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League next year, with United expected to be in the hunt.

Photo by Getty Images

Manchester United should do everything within their power to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford next season, according to former Red Devils winger Lee Sharpe.

The Borussia Dortmund forward has signalled his intent to exit the Bundesliga outfit at the close of the current campaign, with the England international heavily linked with a move back to his home country and the Premier League.

United are likely to be among the contenders seeking to seal the teenager’s services if Sancho chooses to return home, though any move is likely to see the club forced into a record fee to beat off rivals across Europe.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in need of further firepower in attack as his side look to establish themselves once again as top-four contenders.

Ex-midfielder Sharpe, who was a three-time title winner under Sir Alex Ferguson during his playing days, has called on his former club to put themselves firmly in the driving seat to bring Sancho to the Theatre of Dreams.

“I think he is one of the hottest properties in football at the moment,” Sharpe said. “It’s not like he’s just been doing it for a couple of months.

“He’s been doing it for a few seasons now, so he’s proved he’s got the consistency and proved he can do it week after week at a high level.

“This is the sort of player that United as a team and as a group of fans that you want your club to be linked with. I think he’s a fantastic player and would fit in great at United.

“It’s very difficult for young players to play at that consistent level. He’s done it for a few seasons now, he’s created chances, he’s making defenders look foolish, he’s scoring his fair share of goals and he’s showing he’s the complete player.

“His work ethic is fantastic and he’s the sort of player you want at your club and I’m sure United won’t be the only club chasing him. Fingers crossed they get him and he can light up Old Trafford next season.”

Sancho is widely expected to be a part of the England squad that will look to challenge for silverware at Euro 2020 this year, after playing a role in their Nations League campaign earlier this year.

Source – Goal.com

The Croatian midfielder has savoured his time playing with the Argentine star but is open to the chance of playing with his rival.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic admits he would like to play with Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo as doubts remain over his future at Camp Nou.

Rakitic was heavily linked to Serie A duo Juventus and Inter before the transfer window closed, while Premier League giants Manchester United were also reportedly interested.

It came as Rakitic was reportedly offered to Ligue 1‘s Paris Saint-Germain as part of a deal to prise Neymar back to Camp Nou at the start of the season.

Rakitic continues to be linked with Italian champions Juve and when asked if he would like to play alongside five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, the 31-year-old told Bleacher Report Football he’s very much open to the prospect.

“Of course I would. He is also one of the greatest players in history,” Rakitic replied. “You enjoy watching him play and he’s doing well at Juventus.”

Rakitic is currently team-mates with Barca captain and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who he declared is the greatest of all time.

“It’s amazing to play with him – he’s special. There have been great players in every era, but I’m sure he’s been the best in the last 15 years,” Rakitic said.

“In my opinion, I think he’s the best of all time. Being with him for six years has been incredible.”

Rakitic previously vented his frustration with how head coach Ernesto Valverde and his staff were treated upon their sacking in January, admitting he considered leaving Barcelona.

“It’s a part of football,” Rakitic said. “You have to understand that and be ready [to potentially leave] in January.

“You have to be happy, you have to think about your family, and if I play for Barcelona I am happy.”

The Croatia star was also asked to weigh in on the future of Neymar and admitted he’d welcome the Brazilian back to Camp Nou with open arms.

“First of all I would like to have Neymar in my team for sure, he needs to decide what’s best for him as he’s my big friend,” he said.

“I want to see him happy and for sure when he is happy he is one of the best players in the world.”

Source – Goal.com

Poste Italiane has responded to comments made by the coach suggesting that postal workers are not under as much scrutiny as football managers.

Photo by Getty Images

The Italian Post Office has delivered a swift response to Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri for suggesting their job is not scrutinised to the same extent as his own as a football manager.

Former Chelsea coach Sarri was discussing the pressure he is under after his side lost their place at the top of Serie A to Inter when they lost to Hellas Verona last weekend.

Sarri then attended a dinner with club president Andrea Agnelli and sporting director Fabio Paratici, which led to rumours that he would be sacked and former head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, would return.

He said the dinner was pre-arranged some time ago, but this did not prevent speculation around his future at the defending Italian champions.

At his latest press conference in response to the idea that his job is under scrutiny, Sarri replied: “If I didn’t want to be under pressure I would have worked at the Post Office.”

The Italian Post Office did not take kindly to the words of the 61-year-old, and responded with a statement on Twitter.

“Contrary to what Mr. Sarri claims, pressure does exist at the Post Office,” it read. “It is responsible to citizens, businesses and public administrations.

“Poste Italiane invites Mr. Sarri to spend a few minutes of his precious time discovering that the Poste is the largest company in the country, chosen by young graduates as one of the most attractive companies to work with, which has achieved one of the best stock market performances in 2019 and ranks third, worldwide, among Italian companies in terms of image and reputation.

“We are waiting for him in one of our 15,000 centres so that he can see our daily work in person.”

Juventus will face AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Thursday, with two Serie A games to come before they return to Champions League action in the last 16 against Lyon at the end of the month.

It is an important time for the club who will be expected to fight on all three fronts, and after eight Serie A titles on the bounce, surrendering their Scudetto is unthinkable and unacceptable.

Should Sarri be given his marching orders, the relevant tax documents will no doubt be sent out via the most prompt of first-class deliveries.

Source – Goal.com

Mohamed Salah’s potential involvement at Tokyo 2020 will be a decision for the player and his club Liverpool, says Egypt coach Shawky Gharib.

Mohamed Salah could miss the start of next season for Liverpool if he goes to the Olympics

The forward, 27, is on Egypt’s provisional 50-man list for the football tournament, which will hold its final on 8 August – the first day of the 2020-21 Premier League season.

“We cannot force Salah to participate with us,” Gharib told Reuters.

The tournament is for under-23 teams but three over-age players are allowed.

Fifa has previously acknowledged that clubs are not obliged to release over-age players for the Tokyo Olympics.

Gharib added: “Salah’s participation with the Pharaohs team is a decision to be taken only by Salah, his club Liverpool and his coach Jurgen Klopp.

“I have chosen him in an expanded list of 50 players. The final list of 18 players will be submitted next June.”

Source – BBC News

The Morocco international looks bound for Stamford Bridge, and his current coach insists that the club was thrilled to keep him as long as they did.

Photo by Getty

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has all but confirmed Hakim Ziyech’s potential move to Chelsea, admitting that he was surprised the club was able to keep hold of the attacker as long as they did.

Chelsea are nearing an agreement for a deal worth €45 million (£38m/$49m) to sign the winger once the summer transfer window opens.

Goal can also confirm that the Blues attempted to sign the Ziyech this January, but were informed by the Ajax that a transfer at the end of the season was the preferred option.

Should the two club finalise a deal, Ziyech would become Frank Lampard’s first signing since the former midfielder took over as manager of the Blues.

And Ten Hag all but confirmed that talks are progressing smoothly on Wednesday while also revealing that this is a move that has been expected for quite a while.

“Ziyech to Chelsea? A transfer was coming, we expected it to happen,” the manager told Fox Sports. “And I actually already expected this one or two years earlier. And each time it was: ‘Wow, he stayed again’. We are just happy that we will still have him until the end of the season.”

Ziyech has scored 48 goals while providing 82 assists in 159 matches for Ajax since making the move to Amsterdam from FC Twente in 2016.

Following Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, Ziyech was one of several stars expected to depart the club this past summer.

Should the two club finalise a deal, Ziyech would become Frank Lampard’s first signing since the former midfielder took over as manager of the Blues.

And Ten Hag all but confirmed that talks are progressing smoothly on Wednesday while also revealing that this is a move that has been expected for quite a while.

“Ziyech to Chelsea? A transfer was coming, we expected it to happen,” the manager told Fox Sports. “And I actually already expected this one or two years earlier. And each time it was: ‘Wow, he stayed again’. We are just happy that we will still have him until the end of the season.”

Ziyech has scored 48 goals while providing 82 assists in 159 matches for Ajax since making the move to Amsterdam from FC Twente in 2016.

Following Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, Ziyech was one of several stars expected to depart the club this past summer.

In the end, Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt were sold to Barcelona and Juventus respectively for massive sums on the heels of their breakout campaigns.

This season, Ziyech and Ajax sit atop the Eredivisie, with the Moroccan providing six goals and 12 assists in 18 league matches.

However, they were not able to recreate last year’s magical European run, as a third-place finish behind Valencia and Chelsea saw the Dutch powerhouse fall into the Europa League.

During the Champions League group stage, though, Ziyech was able to produce one stunning moment, scoring an incredible free-kick against what may just be his next club in the fixture at Stamford Bridge.

Ajax will take on Getafe in the Europa League last 32, with the leg in Spain on February 20.

Source – Goal.com

An Italian soccer referee has been banned for one year after he lost his cool and head-butted a goalkeeper he had sent off during a minor league game earlier this month, ANSA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The office of the Macerata police chief said the Martinello’s ban was fully warranted as he had failed to set an example for youngsters. Ian Walton/Getty Images

In a match between Borgo Mogliano and Montottone in Macerata on Feb. 1, the referee Antonio Martiniello had given Borgo Mogliano’s goalkeeper Matteo Ciccioli his marching orders as the hosts won 3-1.

The pair faced off outside the changing room after the game as the goalkeeper sought an explanation for the dismissal. The referee head-butted Ciccioli, who was taken to hospital to treat his injuries.

Martiniello’s ban will not only prevent him from officiating games for the next year but also from entering the facilities of teams in the top three tiers of Italian soccer, minor and amateur leagues, and matches involving the Italy national team.

The office of the Macerata police chief said the ban was fully warranted as Martiniello had failed to set an example for youngsters.

Source – ESPN

The Argentine coach hopes to be back in the English top-flight before long as he awaits his next challenge.

Photo by Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino says he “would love” to return to managing in the Premier League.

The Argentine coach has been out of work since he was sacked by Tottenham in November after a disappointing start to the season, despite reaching the Champions League final last term.

Pochettino has been heavily linked to the Manchester United job in the past, while Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus have also reportedly shown interest him.

And the 47-year-old says he would be happy to manage in the English top-flight again as he waits for his next challenge to come along.

“To be honest, I would love to work in the Premier League,” he told the In the Pink podcast. “It’s going to be difficult, I know, and for now it’s a moment to wait and we’ll see what happens.

“It’s a moment of recovery, to think about yourself a little bit, and to be ready because in football always something can happen and you need to be ready.

“I’m ready and waiting for a new challenge. I have the belief and confidence that the next challenge will be fantastic.”

Pochettino spent five years in charge of Tottenham and sealed Champions League qualification in each of his last four seasons in north London.

As well as finishing as runners-up in the Champions League in 2019, they finished second in the English top-flight and Carabao Cup in 2016-17 and 2014-15 respectively.

“Of course I feel very proud about everything I achieved at Tottenham and when I analyse my time there, plenty of positive things happened,” Pochettino added. “I took charge at a pivotal moment for the club.

“Everything I had to do was very scary in those moments. To destroy White Hart Lane and to build a new stadium, to play at Wembley and Milton Keynes, only football people know how difficult it was to deal with these situations.

“To apply a new philosophy and new ideas was very tough but I feel very proud with the success that we had and to take Tottenham to a different level.

“To play in the Champions League for three or four years and finish above Arsenal many times was a great legacy for us. To win a title would be a great reward but for us that is the legacy, to have the club and the stadium at Tottenham. That is more than winning titles.”

The former Southampton boss says he has noticed some big changes in English football since his arrival from Espanyol in 2013.

“The young English managers today have the influence of the European people. Before, English football was closed. It was difficult to share and mix here but the European coaches have been influential,” he said.

“People have been more open to discover a different type of football.

“When I first arrived at Southampton the players would say you have to play long balls in behind the full-backs and press, the approach was always like this.

“To change this mentality was tough but you can see a different style in football now and that makes the Premier League the best league in the world.”

Source – Goal.com

The 27-year-old is happy to see his former side excel in the Premier League but has no regrets over his decision to leave for Barcelona.

Photo by Getty 

Philippe Coutinho says he is not surprised to see Liverpool “flying” this season but insists he does not regret leaving the Anfield outfit.

The Reds were expected to struggle to replace the Brazil international when he left to join Barcelona in January 2018 after five years as a top performer in the Premier League.

But the 27-year-old struggled to secure a spot in the starting XI at Barca and was subsequently sent on loan to Bayern Munich with an option for a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s team went on to claim the Champions League crown in 2019 and now the runaway leaders are closing in on a first Premier Leaue title in 30 years.

Coutinho is happy to see his former team-mates in such thrilling form, but says he does not think about what might have happened had he stayed.

“Liverpool is flying, and it doesn’t surprise me,” he told Sports Illustrated . “We’ve seen it already last year when they won the Champions League, but I’m also not surprised because of their fantastic squad and manager.

“I am so happy for them, because I have so many friends there, former team-mates, so I’m just so happy for them, but that’s all.

“I don’t look back. I took another path, and now I am on another journey, much like everyone else. I’m focused entirely – just like them – on reaching my dreams. I’m happy with what I did in the past, and now I can only look forward.”

Bayern are now top of the Bundesliga and are preparing for a Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea later this month. The German giants are still in the DFB-Pokal, too, and Coutinho is confident they can win the treble this season.

“Of course, we believe we can win it all. We work so hard for it,” he added.

“Just like you work for success at what you do, we equally work so hard. These are the best teams in the world after all, and the Champions League is very hard, but if you work hard, then anything can happen.”

Source – Goal.com

The Spurs boss will return to the dugout this weekend sporting a rather extreme trim, though he claimed he didn’t plan it that way.

Photo – Sky Sports screengrab

Jose Mourinho has joked that his sharp new haircut was actually a mistake at the barbers and not a new image as the Tottenham boss plots a successful end to the season.

The Portuguese has been showing off an ultra-short trim in recent days, though he jested that it was never his intention to have so much hair chopped off.

“Sometimes I like to feel the cold weather and I like to change a little bit,’ Mourinho told Sky Sports. “But this time was not the case.

“I fell asleep [in the barber’s chair] and when I woke up it was so bad that I said to him ‘bring the [number] one’. Hopefully, it will grow back again.”

Mourinho has had little time to feel the cold as he has been keeping himself busy during the Premier League’s inaugural winter break.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea boss was in Germany over the weekend to check out Spurs’ Champions League opponents RB Leipzig, who travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week.

That game is sandwiched between this weekend’s trip to Aston Villa and a clash with Mourinho’s former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on February 22.

The club will return to action full of confidence thanks to a run of six games unbeaten in all competitions, which has seen them progress in the FA Cup and climb to sixth in the Premier League, four points outside the top four.

That represents significant progress on the 14th place they were languishing in when Mourinho succeeded Mauricio Pochettino in November.

The 57-year-old says a succession of unfortunate setbacks, including injuries to key players, were behind their slide down the table but has praised the players’ character for rediscovering their form.

“We, as a team, in the last few weeks are showing a certain mentality. This season has been hard for them. Even before I arrived,” he added.

“They lost the captain Hugo Lloris for a long period. Then progressively you lose another player. Then another one. Then another one.

“But the way the team has fought has made me even prouder of them. People like Son [Heung-min] and Lucas [Moura] going to their limits and giving absolutely everything. Injured players trying to give everything.

“The spirit is amazing.”

Source – Goal.com

The 79-year-old has rarely been in public recently having struggled with his rehabilitation from a hip operation.

Photo by Getty

Brazil legend Pele is depressed and is too embarrassed to leave his house due to poor health, according to his son Edinho.

The former striker will turn 80 in October, and requires a frame to help him walk after suffering from years of hip trouble.

Many of his recent public appearances have been in a wheelchair, with his son saying that his father is reluctant to leave the house due to his shame about being unwell.

“He’s pretty fragile,” Edinho told Globoesporte . “He had a hip replacement and didn’t have an adequate or ideal rehabilitation.

“So he has this problem with mobility and that has set off a kind of depression. Imagine, he’s the king, he was always such an imposing figure, and today he can no longer walk properly. Only with help. He is very shy, very embarrassed about it.

“It improved a little compared to that recent time when he was in a wheelchair, but he still has a lot of difficulty walking.

“He’s embarrassed, he doesn’t want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house. He is reclusive.”

The 79-year-old’s ill-health has previously been reported by Brazilian media.

It was claimed that he had his right kidney removed in 1977, before also stating more recently that he had underwent surgery to remove kidney stones.

Pele appeared in a wheelchair at the 2018 World Cup draw in Moscow, with it also reported that he had collapsed from exhaustion a month later.

The former Santos and New York Cosmos striker played an influential role in Brazil’s domination at international level from 1958-1970, where the country lifted the World Cup on three occasions.

This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of Pele’s third and final World Cup title, where he was a key part of what many believe to be the greatest team of all time when Brazil became world champions in Mexico in 1970.

Pele spent 18 years at Santos, making 1,281 appearances and scoring 1,091 goals – though not all of those came in official matches.

He remains Brazil’s leading goalscorer with 77 and is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Source – Goal.com