Author: Steve Green

Liverpool hopeful of naming Jurgen Klopp by Friday as talks begin

Steve Green

Liverpool are believed to be confident of naming Jurgen Klopp as their next manager and could even have him in place over the next 48 hours, according to The Guardian. The Fenway Sports Group, who own the club, were quick to make contact with the former Borussia Dortmund man’s representatives after sacking Brendan Rodgers following the 1-1 draw with Everton at the weekend (via Guardian). Initial talks led by FSG’s president Mike Gordon have been encouraging so far, The Guardian report, and he will work on persuading the German tactician…

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Philippe Coutinho wants to quit Liverpool to join Barcelona

Steve Green

Liverpool fans may be getting excited about the prospect of Jurgen Klopp coming in to take over the managerial hot seat at Anfield, but there appears to be bad news brewing elsewhere. Spanish publication Sport claims that influential Reds midfielder Philippe Coutinho is set to demand an exit from the club in order to allow him to link up with Barcelona. Sport claim that the La Liga champions are in the hunt for a “versatile” attacking midfielder, with Coutinho fitting the bill perfectly. However, the report claims that the Catalan…

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Ronald Koeman admits Man United target could leave Southampton

Steve Green

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has admitted that he may struggle to keep Manchester United target Sadio Mane at the club following his star turn against Chelsea last weekend, according to the Metro. The Metro report that the Senegalese international was linked with a move to Old Trafford over the summer, but The Saints refused to entertain any notion of letting him go after losing a steady stream of key players over the past two years. Mane has been in fine form again this season, and helped Koeman’s side pile more…

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Have Liverpool inadvertently confirmed Jurgen Klopp as Brendan Rodgers’ replacement?

Steve Green
klopp dortmund

Liverpool may have given a less than subtle clue as to the identity of their new manager after publishing a rumour on their website that links them with former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp not 24 hours after giving Brendan Rodgers the boot, the Metro reports. The German tactician is the favourite to take over the Anfield hot seat after Rodgers was relieved of his duties this weekend following the 1-1 draw with cross city rivals Everton on Sunday. The Metro reports that Rodgers spent over £300m on new players…

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Arsenal vs Man United predicted line ups: Wenger to ring the changes while LVG sticks with winning formula

Steve Green

A look into how Manchester United will line up for the trip to Arsenal on Sunday. With Luke Shaw injured, usual makeshift left-back Daley Blind will have to move over into the centre to make way for Ashley Young. The 30-year-old has performed well for Louis van Gaal, if further back than he would have liked. However, Blind, now in the middle, will have to have his wits about him if he is to keep Alexis Sanchez quiet. The Chilean can turn even the most hardened centre-backs inside out, and…

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Everton vs Liverpool predicted line up: Rodgers to play five at the back while Ings keeps starting spot

Steve Green
rodgers liverpool

It’s the first Merseyside derby of the season, and it could not be a bigger ‘must win’ game for Reds boss Brendan Rodgers. Victory over Aston Villa last weekend gave him a brief respite, but a defeat to cross city neighbours Everton could invite more pressure on his already fragile job security. With that in mind, he may opt for greater defensive stability with five at the back. However, that would also allow him to switch to attack easily with the support of his wing-backs. Below is how we think…

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Arsenal vs Man United combined XI: No place for TWO World Cup winners

Steve Green

This weekend’s meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United is already being billed as a potential title decider even though we’re only eight weeks into the new campaign. Only United strengthened significantly during the transfer window, but how many of those new faces would fit into a combined XI with this weekend’s opponents? See below to find out… GK: David de Gea – Man United Despite Petr Cech recently joining The Gunners, De Gea is the only real choice to take the number one spot. LB: Daley Blind – Man United…

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Everton vs Liverpool combined XI: Is Merseyside Red or Blue?

Steve Green

This weekend sees the arrival of the first Merseyside derby of the campaign, with both sides still looking to get themselves out of second gear. Below, we put together a combined XI of both team’s current stars, giving an insight into which side has the better overall squad. GK: Tim Howard – Everton The American may not be as influential as he once was, but he’s still a safer option than the erratic Simon Mignolet. RB: Seamus Coleman – Everton A hamstring injury may keep him out of this particular…

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Chelsea line up move for Porto teenager Ruben Neves

Steve Green

Chelsea are said to be weighing up a move for highly-rated Porto midfielder Ruben Neves after he starred in the team that beat The Blues in the Champions League this week, according to the London Evening Standard. The Standard claims that Chelsea have been scouting the 18-year-old defensive midfielder for some time, though he has also attracted the interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, one of the main stumbling blocks stopping Chelsea from making an outright pursuit is the player’s apparent £29m release clause installed in…

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Brazilian international midfielder set to sign new Chelsea deal

Steve Green

Brazilian midfielder Ramires is said to be closing in on signing a new deal with Premier League champions Chelsea, according to the Metro. The 28-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2016/17 season, but the Metro claims that he is prepared to put pen-to-paper on a deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge for longer. A report in Portuguese publication O Jogo states that The Blues are set to offer him a deal worth around £3.7m a year. Since joining the club from Benfica in…

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Arsenal gossip: Man United star lays into Ozil but in form Spanish forward closes in on move

Steve Green

Saturday’s biggest Arsenal news and transfer gossip. Arsenal won’t win anything with Mesut Ozil and his performance against Olympiacos was both ‘dishonest’ and a ‘disgrace’, says ex-Manchester United man Johnny Giles, the Metro reports. The former Real Madrid midfielder has come in for criticism following the Gunners’ 3-2 defeat and former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said the German international was ‘pathetic’ during the loss. Arsene Wenger reacted furiously yesterday when his record at Arsenal was questioned, the Daily Star reports. The Frenchman bristled as he was constantly reminded of keeper…

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Chelsea gossip: Midfielder in line for new deal as Portuguese starlet is targeted

Steve Green

Saturday’s biggest Chelsea news and transfer gossip. Defender John Terry, 34, is set to be recalled by manager Jose Mourinho for Saturday’s Premier League game against Southampton, according to the Daily Telegraph. Chelsea are planning to make a bid for Porto starlet Ruben Neves next year after he helped beat them in the Champions League this week, the London Evening Standard reports. The 18-year-old defensive midfielder impressed as the Portuguese side secured a 2-1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s side. Ramires is set to sign a new contract with Chelsea, according…

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Man United gossip: Spaniard set for La Liga return as Dutch defensive colossus targeted

Steve Green

Saturday’s biggest Man United news and transfer gossip. Monaco received a bid higher than the £36m that Manchester United paid for Anthony Martial from an unnamed club in the summer, but the teenager wanted to move to Old Trafford, the Manchester Evening News reports. Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, 25, has credited his recent form to manager Louis van Gaal’s intensive training methods, according to the Daily Express. Sevilla are lining up the free transfer of Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes, according to reports in the Metro. The Champions League…

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Chelsea midfielder vows to score more goals

Steve Green

Chelsea midfielder Ramires has said that he is pleased to be back in the fold with the first team and hopes to score more goals in the coming weeks, the Daily Star reports. Ramires recently announced the arrival of his new born son, Bruno (via Star), and followed that up by bagging two goals in four days against Walsall and Newcastle. Injury has interrupted the Brazilian from making a serious impact so far this season, but he is keen to get up to speed and help his struggling teammates get…

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Jose Mourinho expects Thibaut Courtois to return for Chelsea’s clash with Man United

Steve Green

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has given Blues fans a lift by claiming that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is in line for a return from injury in December, the Daily Express reports. The Belgian custodian went under the knife in Spain in September after tearing his meniscus in training (via Express). However, Mourinho has moved to bring in a back up while Courtois is on the sidelines in the shape of former Italian international Marco Amelia (via Express). But despite that, Mourinho is confident that Courtois should be back in line for…

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Jose Mourinho insists he won’t drop out of form Chelsea star Branislav Ivanovic

Steve Green

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has vowed not to drop out of form full-back Branislav Ivanovic, but will criticise him when necessary, according to the Daily Express. The 31-year-old has not displayed his usual consistent good form this term and has been on the receiving end of some heavy criticism, with the Express claiming that a number of Blues fans calling for Mourinho to replace him with Cesar Azpilicueta and bringing Abdul Baba Rahman in on the left. However, Mourinho has insisted that he still has faith in the veteran Serb,…

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Frank de Boer puts pressure on Brendan Rodgers with message to Liverpool bosses

Steve Green

Ajax manager Frank de Boer has hinted that he wants to be the next manager of Liverpool after describing them as a “fantastic club” before admitting that he is ready to move to the Premier League for a “new adventure”, the Daily Express reports. The Dutchman did also pay tribute to Newcastle United, but it is his comments about The Reds that will resonate the most as current boss Brendan Rodgers comes under even greater pressure following a difficult start to the season. Out of work managers Carlo Ancelotti and…

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Sevilla hope to prevent Arsenal raid by offering star midfielder new contract

Steve Green

La Liga giants Sevilla are hoping to prevent Arsenal from swooping for midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak by offering him a new deal, according to the Metro. The Metro claim that the Polish international has been a long time target for The Gunners, but Sevilla are keen to keep hold of him as one of their best players. The midfielder reportedly has a release clause of £22.3million installed in his contract (via Metro), which is a fee that Arsenal can afford to pay. However, sources in Spain claim that if the current…

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Arsenal boss confirms Laurent Koscielny is ruled out for three weeks

Steve Green

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that key centre-back Laurent Koscielny will be missing for the next three weeks through injury, the Daily Express reports. The French international appeared to tweak his hamstring during this week’s Champions League defeat to Greek giants Olympiacos. He was hauled off in place of defensive colleague Per Mertesacker, but Wenger has now confirmed, via The Express, that the injury is worse than just a minor pull. This means he will be forced to miss next week’s friendlies with the French national side against Armenia…

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Eva Carneiro breaks silence following Chelsea bust up

Steve Green

Former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro has reacted with disappointment to the news that Jose Mourinho will not face any punishment for their public bust up back in August by claiming that at no point was she consulted by the FA over her version of events, The Guardian reports. Mourinho is alleged to have made derogatory and discriminatory remarks towards Carneiro during the opening day 2-2 draw with Swansea at Stamford Bridge after she stepped onto the pitch to treat midfielder Eden Hazard (via Guardian). She was then removed from her…

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Chelsea gossip: Costa dropped from Spain squad but Porto star targeted

Steve Green

Friday’s biggest Chelsea news and transfer rumours. Jose Mourinho has confirmed Chelsea are in the process of signing veteran Italian goalkeeper Marco Amelia as cover for current no.2 stopper Asmir Begovic, according to the Daily Star. Begovic, who moved to Stamford Bridge this summer from Stoke, is currently deputising for Thibaut Courtois, who is on the sidelines with a knee injury. Diego Costa has been dropped from Spain’s squad for their final two Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures – with Vicente Del Bosque critical of the striker’s antics against Arsenal, the…

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Arsenal gossip: Lukaku spells out desire to join Gunners boss and Debuchy eyes exit

Steve Green

Friday’s biggest Arsenal news and transfer gossip. Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy, 30, could review his situation at the club in January after falling behind Hector Bellerin, 20, in the Gunners’ pecking order and also losing his place in the France squad, the Daily Telegraph reports. Everton and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 22, says he would love to play for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the Daily Mirror reports. But before that, he would like to be given the chance to prove himself to Jose Mourinho – the man who deemed him…

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Man United gossip: Summer Muller deal was ON and Winger still has vital role to play

Steve Green

Friday’s biggest Manchester United news and transfer gossip. Manchester United tried to sign 26-year-old Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller “at all costs”, according to so-called ‘super agent’ Giovanni Branchini, via the Daily Mail. England manager Roy Hodgson says that 29-year-old striker Wayne Rooney’s place in his squad is not guaranteed, despite the Manchester United forward having become the country’s all-time leading scorer, the Daily Star reports. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, 64, says he is different to Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger and former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson…

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Romelu Lukaku reveals he wants to play for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Steve Green

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed that he would love to play under Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, according to the Daily Mirror. However, The Mirror claims that Lukaku also wants to prove himself to Jose Mourinho after he was jettisoned by Chelsea for being deemed surplus to requirements. The Belgian striker was answering questions about which of the world’s top coaches he would love to play for in magazine Le Vif. “Mourinho is one. (Pep) Guardiola and Wenger. In this order,” he said. Lukaku failed to receive a fair crack…

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Arsenal defender considers January exit after losing international spot

Steve Green

Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy is said to be prepared to review his situation at the club in January after recently losing his place in the French national team, the Daily Telegraph reports. The 30-year-old joined Arsenal last summer in a £12m deal from Newcastle (via Telegraph) but quickly lost his place in the first team to youngster Hector Bellerin as shoulder and ankle injuries kept him on the sidelines for large parts of the campaign. Debuchy has so far only managed to start three of the club’s games this term…

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