..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid 3 Lleida 0 (7-0 agg): Carrasco, Gameiro & Vitolo complete heavy aggregate win

Atletico Madrid completed a 7-0 aggregate triumph over Lledia to reach the last eight of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday.The LaLiga heavyweights had all but completed their task with a 4-0 win in the fist leg in Catalonia.

But they still named a strong side to face the third-tier outfit, who gave a decent account of themselves against a team featuring Diego Costa and Fernando Torres.


It was Costa, sent off at the weekend for his over-exuberant celebration following his goal in the 2-0 defeat of Getafe, who set up the opening goal.Lleida fell victim to a counter-attack and Costa laid on the assist for Yannick Carrasco to break the deadlock in the 57th minute.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro made it 2-0 with a simple finish 16 minutes from time and Vitolo rounded off an ultimately comfortable win with a well-taken near-post volley to open his account for the club.Atletico's attention now turns back to league action and a trip to Eibar, with Diego Simeone's men facing the daunting task of trying to overturn a nine-point deficit to leaders Barcelona.


The hosts predictably dominated the early stages and only the frame of the goal prevented them from taking a 16th-minute lead as Lucas Hernandez headed Gabi's corner against the left-hand post and saw his effort on the rebound turned over by Diego Rivas.

Costa headed wide from the consequent corner and, after Fernando Torres diverted a cross over, Costa was denied by Rivas having been put through one-on-one.

Jorge Felix shot into the side-netting from a tight angle with the best chance of the first half for Lleida before Costa spurned another opportunity, again unable to keep a header down.

An excellent first half from Rivas continued as he kept out a low drive from Vitolo at the near post.Lleida had done well to get men behind the ball but 12 minutes into the second half they were caught on the counter and Carrasco lashed home from Costa's lay-off to finally put the home side ahead.Augusto Fernandez then powered a long-range effort wide, while Costa and Carrasco were withdrawn shortly after.

Costa's replacement Gameiro had a goal-bound attempt kept out by Rivas, but he was not to be denied a second time, turning in from point-blank range following a run down the byline from Angel Correa.There was still time for a final flourish from Vitolo, who confidently converted after latching on to an excellent ball over the top from Torres.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan not planning on leaving San Siro amid reports to the contrary


AC Milan insisted they have no desire to leave San Siro after the city's mayor raised the possibility of building a new stadium.

San Siro – with a capacity of just over 80,000 – is home to Serie A rivals Milan and Inter, with the Rossoneri based at the iconic Italian stadium since 1926.
Co-tenants Inter have played their matches at San Siro since 1947.

Talk of a move away from the stadium erupted on Tuesday when Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala claimed Gennaro Gattuso's side were considering their own stadium.

However, Milan swiftly denied those reports in a statement, which read: "In relation to the statements released by the mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, who stated that AC Milan has expressed the will to think about having their own stadium and that the City Council would have given the club time to consider alternative areas of the cities, estimating in two to three months the time-frame to find a summary of options, AC Milan states that the Club has never expressed the desire to leave San Siro.

"Although AC Milan considers important for its future to play in an owned stadium, therefore not sharing it with other teams, the decision on which can be the future sports facilities of the Milanese teams can be taken in adequate time and with full agreement of all the parties involved.

"It is for this reason that AC Milan, together with the City Council, have started a series of meetings and evaluating the areas available on the territory, taking into consideration the value of San Siro and the possible redevelopment of the stadium.
"Only at the conclusion of this path, all the parties involved will be able to express a full evaluation and eventually take decisions."

Sala, who spoke to Sky Sport Italia , responded via Twitter, saying: "I note Milan's statement on San Siro. Let's just make this simple: I think that for Milan, for the fans and the tourists, the stadium needs to be modernised."When will Milan be able to tell me if they are available or not to invest along with us in our stadium? Let it be clear, the invite also goes out to Inter, because this is the stadium of Milanese people."

Inter – third in Serie A and 14 points above 11th-placed Milan this season – also weighed in by replying to Sala's tweet."Dear Sala, as you might recall, we invested time and resources in the stadium of Milanese people. Our plans have been clear to everyone and have not changed for 18 months," Inter said on Twitter."We await a round table discussion with all the actors involved to speak about this with clarity."

 

[charitha chandi]

Manchester City 2 Bristol City 1: Late Aguero header earns EFL Cup semi-final advantage

fuck off ..!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool urged to spend Coutinho money on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang


Following the departure of Philippe Coutinho, Phil Thompson believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should be one of Liverpool's target.The Brazil international moved to Barcelona earlier this week after completing a record deal that runs through till 2023.

And Thompson has advised the Reds to use some of the £145 million gained from the sale to buy Borussia Dortmund talisman Aubameyang, who has been recently linked to the Anfield outfit.

“We need to go for high quality. I’d rather see the club take their time rather than hastily spend it on players who might not be up to it,” Thompson told SkySports.“The players we brought in after selling [Luis] Suarez were a mix of hits and misses. We have got to spend it wisely this time and I would rather see it spent on a big player.”

“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one who would be on my list and somebody you could get.“It would certainly be that quality you’d be looking for, although he would need to have the right work ethic.”Aubameyang has notched 13 goals in 15 Bundesliga games for Dortmund this season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coutinho arrival won't change Barcelona's tactics - Valverde


Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele will have to adapt to Barcelona's existing tactics as head coach Ernesto Valverde is not planning radical changes to accommodate the duo.

While Dembele is available having recovered from three months out with a hamstring injury, Coutinho, who joined from Liverpool last week, faces a short wait for his Barca debut due to a minor thigh problem.

Barcelona's strong form - they are yet to lose in any competition since their Supercopa de Espana loss to Real Madrid in August - has posed questions about how Coutinho and Dembele will be integrated.

Valverde has at times employed a 4-4-2 with a flat four in midfield behind Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez this season, with Dembele and Coutinho both seemingly more suited to a 4-3-3.

And the Barca coach gave few clues as to how he sees Coutinho and Dembele fitting in when he spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the second leg of his side's last-16 Copa del Rey tie with Celta Vigo."Coutinho can't play yet, Dembele can play on both sides, but regardless of small changes things are going to be very similar," Valverde told reporters.

"Coutinho is a player we think can help us. Each player is different and brings something new. He scores, he can shoot. He can play inside or outside and we hope he can contribute and help us to be better.

"It's a coach's job to speak about his team. We're competitive, in three competitions, at the greatest club in the world. We're always trying to win and make our fans happy. We think our players are the best, that's the way it is."

Barca were held 1-1 at Balaidos in the first leg of the tie a week ago, while Celta drew 2-2 at Camp Nou in LaLiga earlier in the season And Valverde is expecting another tricky encounter from Juan Carlos Unzue's side as the ex-Barca goalkeeper and Luis Enrique's former assistant returns to Camp Nou with Celta on Thursday.

"I haven't won it [the Copa del Rey] and from an individual standpoint I want to win the Copa del Rey, although the players have," said Valverde, who would not confirm reports Barca are preparing for the imminent departures of Javier Mascherano and Arda Turan.

"I played a final against Barcelona and lost. Tomorrow we want to go out and win the game. It's a title we are playing for and we are playing in the Copa del Rey against Celta and it's extremely important."On the threat of Celta forward Iago Aspas, Valverde added: "He is an extraordinary player, he doesn't just score against us, he scores against everybody.

"He has the facility to play in space, can play inside or on the wing. He's a strong character and I like him a lot as a player. He's in good form right now."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Riyad Mahrez to Liverpool would be a hit, says Steve Nicol


Steve Nicol believes that Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez would be 'absolutely fantastic' at Liverpool.

The 26-year-old who has scored seven goals in 22 league games this campaign has been heavily linked to fill the void left by Philippe Coutinho in Jurgen Klopp's setup.The Kops are understood to be searching for a replacement for the departed Brazil star who completed a club-record move to Barcelona earlier this week.

And Nicol who spent 14 years at the Merseyside club stated that the Algerian playmaker is a player he would sign instantly, and has urged the Reds to secure his service.

"I'd have him in a heartbeat, but I heard a story that Klopp wasn't that keen on him, which is disappointing, but I think he'd be absolutely fantastic at Liverpool,” Nicol told ESPN."I'm going to say this is a hit because I wish and I want it to happen so I'm going to say it's a hit."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Milan sporting director insists Arsenal and Everton target Silva will stay


Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli has insisted that striker Andre Silva will not be departing the club, despite a lacklustre start to his San Siro career.

Silva has yet to score in 12 Serie A appearances since making a €38 million move from Porto last summer.The 22-year-old has managed better results in the Europa League, however, scoring eight times in 10 appearances.

Silva's slow start to life in Milan has led to speculation that he could be looking for an early departure, with Arsenal and Everton among the clubs linked.

But speaking to O Jogo, Mirabelli has attempted to calm any speculation linking the Portugal international with a move away. "I know that Andre Silva is going through a difficult time, but he is a very important player for us," Mirabelli said.

"We have a special affection for him, he has a lot of talent and we want him to stay with us."Of course he's going to be [with us] in January and I'm sure he'll be with us for many, many years."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kane aims to match Messi, Ronaldo trophy haul


Tottenham star Harry Kane has revealed the level of sacrifice he has made in his personal life in order to surpass the goalscoring exploits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and aims to continue that success by adding silverware to his trophy case.

The striker scored 56 goals for club and country in 2017, placing him top of the charts for players at clubs in Europe's top five leagues, one ahead of Barcelona ace Messi.Kane's form, if it continues in 2018, has seen him tipped as an outsider to become the first player to stop Messi or Ronaldo winning the Ballon d'Or since Kaka claimed the prize in 2007.

The 24-year-old admits he has given up a significant amount of his social life in order to sustain his level of performances and leave the rest of the continent in his wake.

"They've been such good players over the last ten years or so, and dominated football and rightly so," Kane told ESPN of Messi and Ronaldo. "They'll go down as two of the best ever players.

"To even be up there and beat them is something I'm proud of. For me, it's about doing it every year. Not just beating them but winning as many trophies as they've won."I've sacrificed most of my time, especially with the schedule of games. You come in, you train, you play, you recover, you rest. That's a footballer's life. I don't complain. It's something I love doing.

"But you lose maybe the social part of your life. It's a matter of opinion. Not every player does what I do. Some players may go out, go for meals – that kind of thing. From my point of view, to get the best out of myself, it's about going home, resting, recovering, spending time with my family and do everything I can in that short period of time to achieve what I can."

Spurs' season has been somewhat mixed to date, with impressive Champions League wins over Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid let down by inconsistent Premier League form, which sees them lie in fifth place. However, Kane believes there is plenty to be optimistic about ahead of their move to their new stadium next season.

"From our point of view, it's been a good season," he said. "We'd have liked to have done better of course but [Manchester] City have run away with it so far. We have to focus on ourselves but we've changed stadium which has had a big impact on everything."We can't get too down about how our season's been so far. We're still in the Champions League and the FA Cup.

"We've just got to focus on that and look forward to next year in the new stadium. It's going to be amazing. The way it's been designed, the atmosphere will be great. The crowd will be right on top of the pitch. Being brand new and creating that atmosphere will make it tough for teams to come and play there."Kane also dismissed suggestions City's spectacular form this term is down solely to the money spent by Pep Guardiola during the previous transfer window.

"I don't think so," he added. "This year, City have deserved it. They've been the best team. But they spent similarly last year and it was us up there fighting with Chelsea [for the league title]. I don't think it's down to the money but it helps from a squad point of view."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal step up Malcom chase as Wenger plans for life without Alexis


Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Bordeaux forward Malcom as they plan for life after Alexis Sanchez, Goal understands.The Gunners are one of three Premier League clubs interested in Malcom, with Manchester United and Tottenham also plotting a January move.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is willing to let Alexis join Manchester City this month, but is holding out for £35 million and also wants to secure a suitable replacement .

Goal understands Monaco's Thomas Lemar is still a key target for the London club, although the French club's asking price, thought to be around £60m, is regarded as unrealistic. Arsenal are willing to pay up to £40m for the winger - much less than their offer for him on transfer deadline day last summer which totaled £92m inclusive of add-ons.

They are keeping their options open, however, and the 20-year-old Malcom is regarded as a viable alternative as he has been watched closely by the club's France scout, former player Gilles Grimandi, throughout this season, during which he has netted seven goals and created four more in 18 Ligue 1 appearances.

Additionally, Arsenal’s new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat attempted to sign the Brazilian last summer and is a known admirer of the player. Mislintat has already been busy in the January transfer window for Arsenal, signing Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina, while it’s understood that the German has also contacted the agent of Boca Juniors starlet Cristian Pavon via an intermediary on behalf of the Gunners.

Arsenal have made contact with Malcom's representatives in recent days and it is expected that a more formal meeting, to be held in London, will take place by the end of the week.

Multiple sources close to the player have insisted that no concrete offers have been made to Bordeaux, but that is expected to change this month given the three interested clubs have all been asked to be kept informed of the situation.

Bordeaux have previously stated that there is no chance of the young Brazilian being allowed to leave in January, and Goal reported at Christmas that United would be willing to loan him back to the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season if they are able to strike a deal in the coming weeks .
Sources have told Goal that while it will be "difficult" to bring the forward to England in January, it is not impossible.

Goal have also reported that Arsenal were yet to make their interest known to the player's entourage before Christmas, but that has changed in the opening days of the winter transfer window.The former Corinthians man is already learning English ahead of a poten, as he revealed on his Instagram over the weekend.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Vidal shrugs off reported Chelsea interest: I'm focused on winning trophies with Bayern


Arturo Vidal insists he is focused on winning silverware with Bayern Munich this season and is ignoring reported interest from Chelsea.

The Premier League champions have been linked with a €37million bid for the midfielder, who worked with Blues boss Antonio Conte at Juventus.However, although he is aware of the rumours, Vidal says he is concentrating solely on Bayern's treble charge this season.

"Yes, I've heard about it, but I'm fully focused on the season with Bayern and I'm only looking day-to-day," the Chilean said after Bayern's 5-3 friendly win over Sonnenhof Grossaspach on Tuesday, as quoted by Sport.
"We're a great team and we have big goals. We want to win every trophy. That's what my focus is."Head coach Jupp Heynckes insisted earlier this month Vidal would not be sold during the transfer window.
The 30-year-old has made 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring five goals.Bayern resume their title defence against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 5 Celta Vigo 0 (6-1 agg): Messi inspires rout as holders book quarter-final spot

Barcelona cruised into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 5-0 second-leg rout of Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Thursday.

A 1-1 draw from the first match in Galicia had left the tie looking open, but a devastating first-half performance from the holders secured their 6-1 aggregate victory.

Lionel Messi scored twice before Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic completed the victory, ensuring Barca's treble hopes remain alive.


Messi netted twice in two minutes inside the opening quarter of an hour, steering home from two Alba crosses, before he returned the favour with a sumptuous pass that allowed the full-back to score his second goal of the season.Suarez pounced on a mistake to make it 4-0 before the interval and leave club-record signing Philippe Coutinho applauding from his seat in the stands.

Celta improved a little after half-time but the damage had been done long before Rakitic's header completed the rout, meaning Barca will join Deportivo Alaves, Leganes, Real Madrid, Espanyol, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Valencia in the last eight.

Messi threatened twice in the opening exchanges, forcing Sergio Alvarez into one good low save, but the Celta keeper could not keep him off the scoresheet for long.

Alba's cross from the left was missed by Suarez, allowing Messi to send a fine half-volley into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area, despite Sergio's best efforts.

Barely two minutes later, Messi had his second from yet another Alba assist, the Argentine placing a low shot into the same corner of Sergio's net after Barca's full-back picked him out near the penalty spot.

Not content with their 2-0 lead, Barca continued to push forward, with Suarez seeing a goal harshly ruled out for offside before Andres Iniesta was denied by Sergio's fingertips after a fine Messi backheel.With 28 minutes gone, they had their third. Messi, allowed time to walk with the ball at his feet, played a stunning long pass into the path of Alba, who beat Sergio on the stretch to finish high into the net.

Celta looked in disarray and they gifted Barca their fourth three minutes later, with Pione Sisto passing straight to Suarez 12 yards out, allowing the striker to fire home.



With the tie effectively at an end, Ernesto Valverde took the chance to give Messi some rest, replacing his number 10 with Ousmane Dembele just before the hour mark to deafening applause from Camp Nou.Nelson Semedo, a livewire down the right, twice created chances for Suarez to make it 5-0, with the Uruguay striker just missing his first cross before rifling his second over the bar.

Suarez almost capped the win with a spectacular chip from 40 yards, with the ball just sailing wide of the left-hand post, but Rakitic added gloss to the scoreline three minutes from time with a firm header from Dembele's corner.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Coquelin: I should have left Arsenal sooner


Francis Coquelin says that he "almost regrets" not taking the chance to leave Arsenal sooner after completing a move to La Liga side Valencia on Thursday.

The French midfielder joined Arsenal in 2008 and came through the system to become a regular for the Gunners, making over 20 appearances in the league in three consecutive seasons.

His displays during the 2016/17 season drew interest over the summer, but the 26-year-old wanted to stay and fight for his place under Arsene Wenger.

Ultimately, the decision didn't work out, as the midfielder made just one start in the Premier League and racked up just 155 minutes of action in the top flight.

Coquelin completed a move away from the Gunners on Thursday and admitted during a press conference that it might have been the wrong decision to stay with Arsenal at the start of the season. "It's true that there was interest in the summer but in my head I wanted to continue at Arsenal and do well there," Coquelin said. "It wasn't to be and now this opportunity has come up.

"I almost regret not having come before. I think it's an excellent opportunity for me and I'm very grateful. It's a big challenge, and a new start in my life for me, which I'm very excited about."

The Frenchman, who signed a new deal with the Premier League club just last year, has now inked a contract with the Spanish side that runs through 2022.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Maradona: Sevilla are crazy to appoint Montella


Diego Maradona has slammed Sevilla's decision to appoint Vincenzo Montella as Eduardo Berizzo's successor.Montella's first La Liga match as manager of his new side ended in a 5-3 loss to city rivals Real Betis at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

Berizzo, who recently underwent surgery after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, was sacked by Sevilla following an under-par start to the new season.

Montella, previously in charge of Sampdoria and Fiorentina in Serie A, was dismissed by AC Milan in November after the Rossoneri lost six of their opening 13 league games of the campaign.

And a furious Maradona, who played for Sevilla towards the end of his career, hit out at the club's director of football Oscar Arias for appointing the Italian.

"It is crazy that Montella should take Berizzo’s place," Maradona wrote on Instagram on Thursday alongside a photo of Arias and Montella. "Especially when Montella was kicked out for doing so badly at Milan. There are thousands of coaches who could do the job.

"THE BUSINESSMEN CANNOT CONTROL FOOTBALL (Berizzo must be supported). Or at least put in an alternative. This has to change."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan chief confirms no January transfer dealings planned after summer spending spree


AC Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli says the club will not make any January signings despite being in the bottom half of the Serie A table.The Rossoneri have won one of their last four Serie A matches, a narrow home success against Crotone last time out, despite heavy investment in the squad.

Mirabelli brought in a host of players, including Portugal striker Andre Silva and Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, in the off-season.

But even though Milan are well off the pace in Serie A and unlikely to reach their goal of Champions League qualification - sitting 12 points outside the top four - coach Gennaro Gattuso will have to work with the team he has for now.

"I am always working, it is important to remain updated on everything," Mirabelli told Gazzetta dello Sport . "This weekend I will be in Germany to watch a few games but we won't sign anybody in January."We won't do anything, I'll tell you that as official information. There could be some outgoings, but these will be small things.

"I ask you, after buying 11 players, do you think taking a 12th would be the right thing to do? We had a good transfer campaign in the summer but I don't have nostalgia for that, there’s time for everything."

Few of Milan's arrivals have made a significant impact, with Andre Silva yet to score in Serie A and having been linked with a switch to Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mirabelli claims he did not pay over the odds for any of the 11 signings made by Milan, although he accepts there is more to come from many of the new faces."The figures don't seem excessive to me. Everyone considers the total outlay, but I invite you to separate and analyse it," Mirabelli added.

"We didn't overpay for anyone and I'll tell you something more: if, in theory, we put some of our new buys on the market we would make money on them."I consider them all to be valid players who form a solid group and give us peace of mind for the future. They're the solid centre of Milan and although many of them aren't living up to expectations there are no flops.

"And don't forget we brought in a good amount from sales - and then look at who renewed their contracts: [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, [Patrick] Cutrone, [Davide] Calabria, [Alessandro] Plizzari."

Results have not improved despite Vincenzo Montella's sacking, with replacement Gattuso leading Milan to two league wins from his six games in charge, although the Rossoneri beat rivals Inter to reach the Coppa Italia semi-finals. "We needed to give a strong signal to the youngsters in terms of Milan DNA," Mirabelli said. "Rino was chosen, full stop.

"He's not a makeshift solution, I take responsibility and I'm happy with the way he's working. It took hard work to improve, there were already aggravating circumstances in December. I've found someone who works even more than me."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Under-fire Zidane should keep Real Madrid job regardless of trophies, says Laudrup`


Zinedine Zidane deserves to keep his job at Real Madrid even if they do not win any further trophies this season, according to Michael Laudrup.The Spanish and European champions are 16 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, although they have a game in hand, and face a daunting two-legged tie with Paris Saint-Germain in their bid to win a third consecutive Champions League.

A much-changed Madrid side reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday with a 5-2 aggregate win over Numancia, but the 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu means they have now only won once in their last four games.

The fact the domestic cup represents their most obvious chance of silverware for the remainder of the season has led to questions over the future of head coach Zidane, despite his side having won five trophies in total in 2017.
But Laudrup, who won the league title in 1995 after joining Madrid from Barcelona, says Zidane's record of eight pieces of silverware in just two years in charge should buy him a huge amount of credit. "I think he has done a fantastic job," Laudrup told Omnisport.

"He came in a difficult moment, he has achieved something for the first time in the history of the Champions League since it started in '93- the first team to win two consecutive Champions Leagues and in one of them he also won the Spanish league ahead of Barcelona, so I think he has done a fantastic job this season.

"Everybody was talking since the very beginning in the Supercopa, when they beat Barcelona, and that year they won everything. This year is not like that but I think what he has achieved in the last two years should be more than enough to give him a lot of more credit even if they don't win anything."He should have much credit and should continue with his job."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Nothing new’ on Mahrez transfer, insists Claude Puel


Despite series of speculations surrounding the future of Riyad Mahrez at Leicester City, Claude Puel has insisted that the winger is staying.

Puel said he is happy with the attitude of the Arsenal and Liverpool target and that there has been ‘nothing new’ in terms of a solid offer to take him off the Foxes’ books, stating that all 'is just speculation'.“I can only say the same thing - there is nothing new about him,” Puel told reporters.

“He is a valuable player for us and I want to keep him.“I have no problem with him. He works hard in training and is enjoying his football and he is playing very well. After that, it is just speculation.

"Last week, for example, he was said to be signing for another club - and all this speculation.“I am happy he is staying here and he has a super attitude. If you saw the training session this morning he was smiling and enjoying it. It is amazing.”

Mahrez, who has been in sensational form this season, has been directly involved in 14 goals [seven goals and seven assists] in 22 English Premier League appearances for the King Power Stadium outfit in the ongoing campaign.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Leverkusen offer hope to Man Utd and Chelsea in Bailey chase


Rudi Voller accepts Bayer Leverkusen will struggle to keep hold of Leon Bailey if he continues progressing and believes only Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga have the power to retain star players as long as they want.

Bailey joined Leverkusen in January 2017 from Genk for a reported €13.5 million and initially struggled to make a consistent impact, making just eight substitute appearances in the Bundesliga.

But it has been a different story this season, with the 20-year-old Jamaican scoring six goals and setting up another four in 14 games, establishing himself as a key player in their dynamic frontline.

That form has not gone unnoticed, with Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly keeping tabs on the rapid winger and sporting director Voller is well aware that if a big club does come in for him, Leverkusen may not be able to resist a significant offer."At Bayer, we have had players who have aroused great interest and are on the wish list of other clubs for years," he told Die Welt.

"That's why it does not catch us off guard. It would be bad if it did. We are relaxed. The only club that can say no - and would do so - if a player attracted interest is Bayern Munich.

"We and other clubs have to give in. There are limits you can reach, but that's a theme of our policy, independent of Leon Bailey."If there is a need for discussion, we all sit down and decide what is best, while also keeping other alternatives open."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Jardim gives Liverpool & Arsenal Lemar hope


Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim has said that his club do not expect to sell attacker Thomas Lemar this January, but he confessed that if an astronomical offer came their way, they would be in no position to decline it.

Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked to the France international in recent weeks, and while he wants to keep the 22-year-old as long as possible, he is aware of the financial realities of the modern game.

Monaco found themselves in a similar position with star forward Kylian Mbappe in the summer, with the young striker leaving on loan to PSG with the promise of €145 million coming their way at the end of the season.

Jardim also pointed to the example of Liverpool, who were strongarmed into selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona by an offer of €120m from the Catalan side.

“You know how crazy the market can be, he said. “Things can happen that even a club like Monaco can’t say no to.“It happened at Liverpool. The figures today are very high. Everything can change very quickly. What I tell you today can be different tomorrow.

“I want to keep Lemar. If I stayed here for 10 years, I’d want Lemar to stay with me for 10 years.“He’s young. He could play for another decade. He’s got a lot of qualities and I like him a lot.”Jardim will take charge of his 200th game for Monaco at the weekend, when they travel to Montpellier, though he will have to do so with the injured Radamel Falcao.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea appoint new chief executive with past MLS experience


Chelsea have announced the appointment of Guy Laurence as the club's new chief executive.Laurence, the former CEO of Rogers Communications and Vodafone UK, will take over the role from the start of February.

He was also a director of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which includes NBA team the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL franchise and MLS side Toronto FC in its portfolio.Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: "We look forward to Guy joining the club during an exciting period for Chelsea on and off the field.

"He will be working with the owner [Roman Abramovich] and the board to increase our commercial revenues and maximise digital opportunities, identifying new ways to best serve our supporters here in the UK and further grow our international fan base."

Last month, Chelsea announced a record turnover for the year ending in June 2017, as well as a profit of £15.3 million. Turnover rose to £361.3m - up 9.8 per cent from £329.1m in the previous year - although Chelsea's ultimate parent company, Fordstam Limited, reported a consolidated loss of £14.2m for 2016-17.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

No January move for Emre Can as he airs Liverpool trophy target


Juventus target Emre Can has ruled out a January move away from Liverpool by airing a desire to win a trophy with the club.

The Germany international continues to be heavily linked with a switch to reigning Serie A champions Juventus at some stage, with his contract at Anfield running down.

He is due to hit free agency in the summer, with Goal revealing that Juve have pieced together a package they are confident will secure the 23-year-old’s services.

Can has now suggested that he will wait until the end of the season before making a decision on his future, with his intention to help Liverpool end their wait for major silverware and leave on a high.

He told the Reds’ official matchday programme: “First of all there are still many games with Liverpool to concentrate on, but I hope to be able to stay healthy and go to the World Cup in the summer.

“We have been in a good way and we want to try to continue winning as many games as possible and hopefully that can mean having a good run in the FA Cup as well as the Premier League and the Champions League.

“We want to win a trophy. We are full of belief that winning a title is something this squad is capable of achieving and we will give our best.”

If Can is to leave Merseyside, then he will depart as a man who has passed the 150-game mark for Liverpool – with that milestone reached against West Brom in December.He added on his time with the Reds: “It’s a big honour for me to play so many games for the club in just three-and-a-half years.

“Reaching that milestone is something that I am very proud of. Not too many people play that many games for a club like Liverpool by the age of 23 and you can’t do that if you are not a good player.“I’m very thankful to all the trainers, the manager and all the staff here for the part they have played in helping me to achieve that because without them it wouldn’t have been possible.

“I am always my own biggest critic and although I am pleased with my development in these three-and-a-half seasons I know there are a lot of areas that I can still improve.”