..::Football IV::..

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Ibrahimovic the 'natural born animal' looking ready for Man Utd return

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has offered Manchester United a glimpse of what they will be getting when he returns to action in January.

The Swedish striker saw a previous stint with the Red Devils cut short in April by knee ligament damage.An untimely injury brought an end to the 35-year-old’s season and he was not offered fresh terms after undergoing surgery.

He has, however, worked his way back towards full fitness and committed to a new deal with United, with Jose Mourinho expecting to be in a position to call on Ibrahimovic in January.The experienced frontman certainly looks ready for a return to competitive football.

United will be hoping to see him hit the ground running when he is available for selection once more, having seen him net 28 times last season.Mourinho has bolstered his ranks with the £75 million signing of Romelu Lukaku this summer, but squad depth will be vital as the fixtures stack up over the second half of the campaign.

Ibrahimovic should be chomping at the bit by then, with the “natural born animal” ready to be unleashed once more on Premier League and Champions League defences.

 

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Liverpool make club-record bid for Arsenal target Lemar

Liverpool are attempting to push through a club-record deal for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar understood to be worth over £70 million inclusive of extras, with the France international enthusiastic over a switch to Anfield.

The 21-year-old, adept with both feet, that can operate across the frontline or as an attacking midfielder, would provide more vibrancy to Jurgen Klopp’s options with Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho unavailable.

The move is not linked to Barcelona’s pursuit of the latter, with the Merseysiders insistent their “definitive stance” will not shift before the window shuts.Lemar, targeted by Arsenal all summer, would fortify an already explosive offensive roster for Liverpool.

Monaco have not wanted to sanction his sale following an already extensive talent drain, but Divock Origi could potentially be used as a sweetener to conclude a deal.

The Belgium striker, left out of the last two matchday squads, is desperate to secure more game time this term and has already been under consideration by the Ligue 1 champions , with Lyon and Marseille also interested.When asked about the 22-year-old’s future, Klopp admitted that Liverpool would have to trim numbers if they did succeed with the incoming business they want to conclude.

“If players come in, I think it makes sense to think about what we do on the other side,” he said following his side’s 4-0 embarrassment of the Gunners on Sunday afternoon.

And if the Reds sign Lemar, it will be a further punch to the gut of Arsene Wenger, who stated Arsenal’s attempt to recruit him was “dead because Monaco have closed the door.”Liverpool’s offer has dwarfed the proposals their rivals have submitted for the accomplished dribbler, who also poses a threat from set-pieces.

“We are not afraid of big numbers at the club, we are not afraid to spend,” Klopp previously told Goal about the club’s objectives in the market.“But we have to do the right things, look at the right players and negotiate with the right clubs.”

Liverpool's biggest issue this summer hasn’t been convincing elite talent to opt for Anfield, or the inflated valuations, but the unwillingness of clubs to negotiate with RB Leipzig and Southampton standing firm with Naby Keita and Virgil van Dijk respectively.

Liverpool have mirrored this hardline approach with Barca over Coutinho, but will hope Monaco are more receptive to a lucrative amount.They are still optimistic of landing Keita for next season , while it remains to be seen whether they will table an offer for Van Dijk after having to publicly end interest in the centre-back following a tapping-up saga in June.Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches is not understood to be on the agenda for the Reds.

Carlo Ancelotti has “no problem” if the 20-year-old wants to depart the Allianz Arena in order to secure more game-time, but the Portugal international has not been one of the candidates considered to enhance Klopp's options.

 

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Vazquez replaces injured Vitolo in Spain squad


Real Madrid forward Lucas Vazquez has been called up to the Spain squad to replace Vitolo, who has a knee injury.Vitolo, who is on loan at Las Palmas ahead of finalising a move to Atletico Madrid in January, suffered minor medial ligament damage during training on Sunday.

"Yesterday morning in training, the player suffered a strain in the medial collateral ligament of his knee," the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said in a statement on Monday."After consultation with the medical services of his club and those of the RFEF, the player will leave the squad this evening."

Vitolo has established himself as a key figure in Julen Lopetegui's squad, scoring four goals in five appearances in World Cup qualifying.The 2010 world champions face Italy in their latest Group G match on Saturday before a trip to Liechtenstein next Tuesday.

 

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'Arsenal are an absolute shambles' - Club legend Wright tears into Wenger's side


Ian Wright has branded Arsenal “an absolute shambles”, with problems on and off the field placing the club on a slippery slope.The Gunners crashed into the international break with a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday to leave them facing some uncomfortable questions.

Arsene Wenger’s ongoing presence at the helm remains an issue for some, including Wright, while the uncertainty surrounding the future of several prominent figures continues to provide an unwelcome distraction.

The problems at Emirates Stadium appear to run deep, on the back of a fifth-place finish last season, and a legendary figure from their past is fearing the worst.

Wright told BBC Radio 5 Live: "When you go through the list of everything that is going wrong, and you've got to throw in recruitment - whoever's doing the recruitment, someone's got to have a massive, massive word - it's an absolute shambles and I'm really gutted for everybody involved."Arsenal have agreed a £35 million fee with Chelsea for the sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have yet to agree extensions to expiring contracts as exit talk rumbles on.

Wright added: "Chelsea want him [Oxlade-Chamberlain] - Chelsea, the champions will take him. That says we obviously have players that are good enough.

"If Sanchez and Ozil are free, they will be snapped up."Why can't we get these players to play for us? Why don't they want to play for us?"Wright then turned his attention to Wenger, who committed to a new two-year contract earlier in the summer.

He said on a man he believes “won’t quit”: "He is literally a hermit to the game. He goes home and he's probably on his phone. It's all football and more importantly it's all Arsenal. You do feel it's almost like his blanket, his comfort blanket."If he's not got Arsenal, I don't know what would happen to him."I don't know what to say about his future and what's going to happen with him now."

Arsenal will not get an opportunity to start righting their wrongs until they face Bournemouth on September 9, by which time the summer transfer window will have closed and they will be forced to make do until January.

 

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Hithapu nathi widiyata matches 2kak Arsenal la paradunata hoda team 1kak Arsenal lage innawaSpceially attacking lineup 1kanam pattaSanchez / Giroud / Lacazette / Ozil / Walcott / Ramsey.So meh wage situation 1kaka Season 1ka patan gattha gamang hitiyata hoda fight 1kak dei Title 1kata​

 

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Howedes set for Juventus medical ahead of €15 million move


Schalke defender Benedikt Howedes will undergo a medical on Wednesday ahead of his move to Serie A giants Juventus, Goal understands.

The 29-year-old had been linked to Liverpool and Inter Milan during the summer transfer window, but the Italian champions are now finalising a €15 million move.
Howedes will head to Juventus on a €3.5m loan with the option to buy at €11.5m.

After Thursday's Champions League draw, Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta expressed the club's interest in Howedes while speaking to Premium Sport TV."We are looking for a defender who may play both to the centre and as wing-back. Howedes? He's an option - actually he's a little more than an option," Marotta said.

"But we still have to discuss terms with the player and Schalke 04."Volker Struth, Howedes' agent, also confirmed a deal was near. "Juve wants it, Benedikt Howedes wants it – we have an agreement in principle. Now Schalke must want it, too," Struth told Bild.

The negotiations have played out for several days, but the two sides met on Sunday and the transfer is expected to be finalised after Wednesday's medical.

Howedes has made 44 appearances for Germany, scoring two goals. The versatile centre-back has spent his entire club career with Schalke since debuting for the first team in 2007.

 

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Wimmer completes £18m move to Stoke from Tottenham


Stoke City have signed Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham for £18 million.Wimmer, 24, sealed his move and signed a five-year contract with Mark Hughes' side on Tuesday, having completed his medical on Monday.

He becomes Stoke's seventh signing of the transfer window and the fourth defender to come in after the arrivals of Bruno Martins Indi, Kurt Zouma and Josh Tymon.

Stoke boss Hughes told his club's official website: "Kevin is an undoubted talent and he will significantly add to the quality of the group of players that I already have at my disposal."We put a real emphasis on trying to enhance the defensive areas of the squad this summer and we feel that we have been able to do that.

"We brought Kurt Zouma in earlier in the window and managed to bring Bruno Martins Indi back to the club following his loan spell last season, so bringing Kevin here too, a player I admire greatly, gives me real strength in depth in those central positions."

Hughes added: "Obviously this deal was with a view to the future because we know that Kurt is a Chelsea player, but Kevin is our player now and we knew that this deal wouldn't have been available to us this time next year.

"There is a lot of money being spent this summer, so for us to get a player of Kevin’s calibre through the door for the price we have paid, in my opinion, is something we will really appreciate for years to come."Wimmer joined Spurs from Cologne for £4.3m in 2015, but only started 13 Premier League games over his two at the club and did not feature in any of their three league matches to date in 2017-18.

Tottenham's club-record signing of defender Davinson Sanchez from Ajax last week pushed him further down the pecking order.The Austria international will compete for a starting spot with Martins Indi, on-loan Zouma, captain Ryan Shawcross and the versatile Geoff Cameron at bet365 Stadium.

 

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Stress behind Coutinho's Liverpool absence, doctor claims


Philippe Coutinho's early season absence at Liverpool was down to stress amid speculation over a big-money move to Barcelona, according to the player's doctor in Brazil.

Coutinho has not featured for Liverpool competitively this term and handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a switch to Camp Nou, although Liverpool are understood to have rejected three bids for the playmaker – the latest coming in at £119 million.

The official reason for the 25-year-old's absence was a back injury initially, before illness kept him away from last week's resounding victories over Hoffenheim and Arsenal.

Coutinho still joined up with Brazil's national team for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia on August 31 and September 5 respectively and trained separately from his team-mates on Monday.

Amid reports in Brazil that he will be ready to play, Michael Simoni – Fluminense's medical director – spoke to the midfielder and concluded his long-time friend was suffering with an "emotional issue manifesting itself as back pain".

"Coutinho's back problem? He is okay now. The back problem was a matter of stress, it was something emotional," Simoni told Esporte after meeting with Coutinho in Rio.

"The uncertainty about his future led him to feeling stressed. Everything is solved now."Coutinho and I have been friends for years. I always treat his medical cases. All he needed was someone to give him a pep talk."

Speaking at the presentation of club-record signing Ousmane Dembele on Monday, Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez said the club hoped to make another signing this week, further stoking speculation over Coutinho.

"He's a bit anxious about the possibility of changing club," Simoni said in a separate interview with ESPN Brasil. "Of course, we talked about this possible transfer, about the things that are in his heart right now."His back pains, in my opinion, are explained by this anxiety. Muscular tension normally does that.

 

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Liverpool confirm club-record transfer of Naby Keita for next season


Liverpool have confirmed the advanced signing of Naby Keita on a five-year contract from RB Leipzig in a club-record deal, effective from July 1, 2018.As Goal revealed on Monday, the Guinea international passed his medical and inked terms to line up under Jurgen Klopp next season.

The Merseysiders paid a premium on top of the 22-year-old's release clause of £48 million, which could only be triggered next summer, to conclude a transfer now.
It is a surgical piece of business, which will circumvent the competition for the dynamic midfielder, who was Klopp's priority target to enhance his options in the centre of the park as broken by Goal in March.

Leipzig batted away two lucrative offers for their lynchpin - the second of which equalled the Bundesliga record for a transfer - as they were determined to field him in their debut Champions League campaign.

But Keita's desire to move to Anfield coupled with Liverpool's persistence in pushing for a unique acquisition saw the clubs reach a conclusion beneficial to all parties.“I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly,” the dynamo said.

“My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. I have given my all every time I have worn the shirt – that will be the case until the final whistle, in my final appearance.

“Having my future resolved means I can now focus on helping RBL achieve great things this season. Until I join my new club, next summer, I will remain an interested supporter from a distance.”

The player, capable of operating as an offensive and defensive weapon with equal adeptness, represents Liverpool’s highest outlay on a player, eclipsing the initial £36.9m spent on Mohamed Salah.

However, if the Reds succeed in prising Thomas Lemar from Monaco ahead of Thursday's deadline, that business will shatter both figures, with the current proposal worth over £70m inclusive of add-ons.

The Ligue 1 champions have resisted approaches for the 21-year-old all summer following an already extensive talent drain, but the multi-faceted playmaker is keen on a switch to Merseyside. Divock Origi could potentially be used as a makeweight as Monaco have tracked the Belgian striker.

 

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Lovren: Liverpool have best attack in Premier League


Liverpool boast the Premier League's most dangerous attack, according to defender Dejan Lovren.Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge were all on target as Liverpool routed Arsenal 4-0 on Sunday.

The trio of Mane, Firmino and Salah share seven Premier League goals between them after three matches, while they have nine in total in all competitions this season.And Croatia international Lovren believes Liverpool's front line is number one in the league."For me, they are the best, they caused Arsenal a lot of problems," he said.

"It's a long season and we will see towards the end of the season who is in the first place, but you can see the difference those three players [Mane, Firmino and Salah] make."I'm lucky that I don't have to face them very often in training. It tends to be the guys who aren't in the first-eleven.

"All three of them are top players, they have pace and great quality. They are amazing. It would be quite difficult for any defender when you are up against Salah, Mane and Firmino."

 

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Chelsea line up £15m Llorente with Swansea future uncertain


Chelsea are keen on signing Fernando Llorente, with Swansea City potentially willing to discuss a £15 million deal, Goal understands.

Swansea will not, however, sell Llorente to Chelsea unless they can sign a replacement but they are keen on bringing in Wilfried Bony to join Tammy Abraham, who is on loan from the Blues.

Llorente was a Chelsea target in last January's winter transfer market but Swansea manager Paul Clement blocked the sale as he made the former Spain international integral to the club's bid to survive relegation.

Chelsea haven't yet made the significant breakthrough required for the former World Cup winner, who has played alongside Alvaro Morata at Juventus, as well as being managed by Antonio Conte in his two-year spell at the Turin club.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains Chelsea's closest deal to completion after a £35m fee was agreed yesterday , while they are also pushing to finalise a similarly-priced deal for Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater.

Diego Costa, meanwhile, is pushing for a move to Atletico Madrid and all parties are keen to make it happen. Chelsea's asking price for the Spain international remains £40m as they look to get the market value for the striker who remains in Brazil with his family and friends.

 

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Ramos backs himself to win Ballon d'Or


Sergio Ramos believes the idea of him winning the Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi or Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo would not be "crazy".

Messi and Ronaldo have monopolised the award for the last nine years since Kaka, then of AC Milan, was named the world's best player.

But Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro picked up the prize in 2006, leading Ramos - a fellow defender and former Madrid colleague of the Italian - to conclude that he could also be in with a chance."The Ballon d'Or has been a personal affair lately between Messi and Ronaldo," he said."But Cannavaro, for example, who was a friend of mine, won it.

"I do not see [the idea of winning] it as crazy. If they gave it to me, it would be a historical moment."
Cannavaro became the fourth defensive player to win the Ballon d'Or, after Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthaus and Matthias Sammer.

 

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Monaco complete Jovetic signing

Monaco have announced that they have completed the signing of Stevan Jovetic from Inter for a reported fee of €11 million.The 27-year-old failed to make an impression in Italy last season and was shipped out on loan to Sevilla, where he played 26 times and scored five goals.

He has signed a four-year deal with Ligue 1 champions and is expected to replace Kylian Mbappe, who appears destined to sign for Paris Saint-Germain.The move comes as little surprise as leaked pictures this week showed Jovetic wearing Monaco's No.10 shirt, which is currently worn by Mbappe at Stade Louis II.

Keita Balde of Lazio is also reportedly on the club's shopping list, with a transfer fee of €30m supposedly agreed by the two sides.

 

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Only Atletico transfer ban stopped Griezmann exit, says ex-agent


Antoine Griezmann's former agent has claimed that the star forward would certainly have joined Manchester United had Atletico Madrid not received a transfer ban.

The France international was a target for the Premier League club in the early weeks of the transfer window and was reportedly the subject of a bid of close to €100 million.

Griezmann, who was also linked with Real Madrid, confirmed he would stay at Atletico and extended his contract by a year following their FIFA-imposed ban on signing new players until January, the forward saying it would be "a dirty move" to leave the club unable to replace him. Eric Olhats, who was the 26-year-old's agent until September 2016, says the ban is the only reason he remains an Atletico player.

"Griezmann hasn't felt able to leave Atletico," Olhats told France Football . "It showed the integrity of his links with the club, [who were] unable to sign players. Without that ban, he would have gone, without a doubt."

Olhats believes Griezmann has focused too much on trying to boost his media image since their split last year, although he says he still speaks with his former client.

"His omnipresence in the media has not helped him to relaunch himself on a sporting level," he said. "The balance between the search for performance and the desire to sell your image is very fragile. Unconsciously, you can choose the wrong side."There are a lot of aspects of show business in football these days. Antoine is immersed in that inescapable logic at the moment. Now, he's a footballer, not a singer.

"The press and marketing side of Antoine's career are handled by his sister Maud, who know all about that. It was decided that Griezmann's image would take a different path with new methods.

"But there's no anger or a rupture [in relations]. We speak from time to time, it’s a pause in our professional relationship, not our personal one."

 

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Chelsea sign Eden Hazard's brother


Chelsea have signed Kylian Hazard, the younger brother of star winger Eden.
Aged 22, Kylian is four years younger than his decorated sibling, who has won two Premier League titles, the League Cup and the Europa League at Stamford Bridge, as well as Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France for Lille.

Kylian Hazard joins Antonio Conte's side from Hungarian side Ujpest FC, and will link up with the club's development squad.

The younger Hazard has played for White Star Brussels and Zulte Waregem FC, prior to joining Ujpest in 2015. He has scored four goals in 42 appearances for the side from the left wing position.

He becomes the third Hazard to play for the Premier League champions, with Thorgan Hazard having been on the books at Stamford Bridge before joining Borussia Monchengladbach.

While the signing pads out the youth ranks for Conte, he remains in the market for senior reinforcements, and Goal understands that the club are interested in securing the signature of Swansea striker Fernando Llorente.The Spanish striker would cost around £15 million, but the Swans are unlikely to allow him to leave unless they can secure a replacement.

The Blues have also agreed a fee for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain while they remain hopeful of signing Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater.

Chelsea are currently sixth in the Premier League table after three games, and defeated Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge this past weekend.

 

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Schick joins Roma in club-record deal


Roma have completed the signing of forward Patrik Schick from Sampdoria on loan with an obligation to buy for a club-record fee.The 21-year-old Czech Republic international scored 11 Serie A goals last term, and had agreed a move to Juventus before issues in his medical saw the deal fall through.

The Giallorossi have disclosed details of a structured deal which sees them pay an initial €5million loan fee, before a further €9m to make it permanent on a contract running until 2022 should unspecified sporting objectives be fulfilled.
Roma have agreed to shell out a further €20m in 2020 and could also have to make additional performance-based payments of up to €8m to Samp.
"I am very satisfied to be here and very happy," Schick told the club's official website. "For me Roma is the ideal team.

"I am looking forward to training with the group and getting ready for the upcoming games." Roma sporting director Monchi added: "Patrik is one of the brightest prospects in international football.

 

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Crystal Palace must meet Liverpool’s £30m Sakho asking price


Liverpool have rejected a fresh proposal of an initial £22 million with a further £3m in add-ons from Crystal Palace for Mamadou Sakho.Goal understands it was the third attempt from the Eagles to recruit the centre-back below valuation this summer and was duly dismissed by the Merseysiders, who want £30m.

That message was again relayed to Palace chairman Steve Parish, who submitted the offer and is expected to return with a payment structure that meets Liverpool’s asking price.

As revealed by Goal on July 4, Sakho has already agreed personal terms with the Selhurst Park outfit, having enjoyed an influential loan spell with them last season.
Leicester City, West Brom and West Ham have been linked with the Frenchman, but he is intent on returning to Palace.

Liverpool are happy to sanction his departure if achievable extras in a package totalling £30m is presented to them before the close of the window.

 

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Summer Transfer Window 2017

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