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Manchester City to extend Frank Lampard stay

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Manchester City are set to extend Frank Lampard’s loan-deal so that they have cover for Yaya Toure during the African Cup of Nations, which starts in January.

The current loan deal for Lampard is set to expire in the New Year, which is when he is scheduled to return to New York City for pre-season, but The Citizens are keen to keep the ex-Chelsea star for a bit longer so that they have cover for when Toure leaves.

Despite planning on going back to America in January, the MLS season doesn’t officially start until March, and due to playing in the Premier League, the veteran won’t need a full pre-season in America to regain full match fitness.

Toure will likely miss five weeks of league action due to the Cup of Nations, and Manuel Pellegrini is keen to keep Lampard at the club until the Ivorian returns.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Ancelotti refuses to sell youngster

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The two giants of the premier league have reportedly been interested in the young midfielder for quite some time but Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said he will not sell the Spaniard in January.

After the arrival of German Toni Kroos, Isco’s chances of first team football were cast in to doubt which has attracted interest from the Premier league. 

On the other hand the Real Madrid boss has reassured Isco that he will get more game time soon by stating:

“He had a great season last year and we have a lot of faith in him. He is the furure of this squad”. 

Isco who signed from Malaga in the summer of 2013 for £24 million scored 11 goals for Madrid last term but has not scored for the Spanish giants in his 12 appearances this season. 

Connor Breen

Chelsea players claim Lampard’s goal was ‘weird’

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Chelsea duo Andre Schurrle and Gary Cahill admitted it was a weird experience when Frank Lampard scored against them on Sunday. The midfielder is currently playing for Man City on loan and he scored an equaliser for the Citizens against his former club yesterday.

The midfielder actually plays for New York City, but he is on loan at the Etihad until the start of the MLS season. He had mixed emotions about scoring against his old club and it was also strange for his former team-mates.

One of them, Gary Cahill, said: “It was weird, of course, because you think of Frank in a Chelsea shirt. It’s been that way for many, many years. We’ve seen him score that kind of goal so many times over the years.”

Schurrle also had his say about Lampard scoring: “It’s strange to see him in another shirt. We wanted to win this match but he scored for Man City. Of course it’s nice for him to get his first goal but we wanted the win and we were very close to that.”

The German also added: “It was important not to lose here, that’s what our goal was. But when you’re so close to winning and you’re a man in front obviously it’s disappointing not to win, but we have to keep going now and win the next match.”

By Charlie Gregory

Follow me on Twitter – @CharlieGLFC

Legend calls time on his Real Madrid career

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Real Madrid goalkeeper and Spanish number one Iker Casillas looks set to leave Real Madrid next summer after 15 years at the Bernabeu. Although the shot stopper still has three years left on his current Real contract, reports in Spain suggest that Casillas sees leaving Los Blancos as the best option for all parties.

The arrival of Costa Rican keeper Kaylor Navas has put some pressure on Casillas to perform, however Ancelotti has shown he isn’t affraid to introduce new blood into his star studded side by starting Navas ahead of Casillas for Real’s La Liga game versus Elche on Tuesday night. 

Casillas has made a total of 478 appearances during his 15-year love affair with Real, however it looks as if the keeper may have stint in the Premier League before he hangs up his boots. The side he looks set to join is Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

Gunners will question why Wenger wants Casillas after the keepers poor performances in the World Cup, including the loss against Holland where he conceeded five times. With Szczesny and Ospina already at the club, do Arsenal really need Casillas?

Written by Ben Waterhouse – @BenWaterhouse_

Kompany expects three-way race for Premier League

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Man City captain Vincent Kompany has predicted that it will be a three-horse race for the Premier League title this season. He believes the scrap for the title is between themselves (City), Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea are the odds-on favourites with most bookmakers to win the league and so far they have lived up to expectation, topping the table with 13 points having not lost a game yet. Arsenal sit in fourth on nine points and City are in sixth with 8 points so far and the defender expects all three to be at the top end of the table this year. 

He said: “It is not fair to call it at the moment. First of all we are not even close to Chelsea yet (in the table). Secondly, I have seen good things from Chelsea but I have seen maybe better things from Arsenal so I guess it will all be about consistency and, with the Champions League, it will get messy around December.

“It is too early to call. Five points is nothing but Chelsea have five points more than us, it is as simple as that. But it will get messy in December and January as it always does – or at least the last six years I have been here it has.”

City managed to snatch a 1-1 draw against Chelsea this weekend and, speaking about his own performance, he added: “I loved it. I live for those moments. People who know me know I want nothing else than to play against the big strikers week in, week out and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

By Charlie Gregory

Follow me on Twitter – @CharlieGreg15

Strootman Going Nowhere

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According to Roma boss Mauro Baldissoni, Kevin Strootman is staying put. Despite being out of action since March, Strootman is very much in the thoughts of Baldissoni, as his return to fitness gets closer.

Some media reports have suggested that Manchester United could be poised to swoop for the 24-year-old Dutchman in January, with the possibility of Juan Mata making way in order to accomodate.

However, Roma have denied that any such business is likely. Baldissoni told Sky Italia: ‘We can’t wait until Kevin is back on the pitch.’

‘We miss him a lot, but he is getting closer to his return. We are proud that Kevin is part of our squad and he is not for sale.’

Fellow countryman and Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal is said to be ‘extremely interested’ in signing the midfielder, despite not being able to take him to Brazil when in charge of the Dutch national team.

Van Gaal is still looking to bolster his squad after a terrible start to life at Manchester United.

Written by Michael Horne

Follow me on Twitter for more articles @MichaelHorne777

PSG and Bayern Munich interested in Arsenal target

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Interest in Munir El Haddadi has increased recently after the versatile forward has put in a number of impressive performances which have earned him a place in Barcelona’s attack with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Although it looks like El Haddadi’s time in the first team may be over next month as former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will complete his suspension for biting Chiellini at the World Cup.

Reports claim that the young Spaniard could be on the move in January, as when Suarez returns his first team oppurtunities will be limited. Arsenal were said to be the front runners for El Hadaddi’s signature, however Bayern Munich and PSG are said to be interested, with all three sides willing to match the youngsters £9.5 million release clause.

PSG boss Laurent Blanc is looking for added creativity and versatility in his side after he passed up on the chance to sign Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid when he had the chance. Whereas Pep Guardiola is always keeping an eye on the bright young talent he used to coach at Barcelona after purchasing midfielder Thiago Alcantara from his former side just over a year ago.

Both Blanc and Guardiola believe they can persaude Munir to leave the Nou Camp and join their sides, however Wenger is looking to win the race for the youngster by offering him guarantees of first team football and also a lucrative contract.

Written by Ben Waterhouse – @BenWaterhouse_

United could pull plug on Ronaldo move

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Manchester United could pull the plug on a move for Cristiano Ronaldo as they don’t want to upset the current club stars.

United boss Louisvan Gaal is desperate to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, but the board aren’t keen on risking the attitdes of players like Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria. The Real Madrid sensation wants huge wages of £300,000 after tax to sign on, so United have little interest in matching Ronaldo’s lofty demands because they know they run the risk of upsetting their current high earners.

Captain Wayne Rooney, hitman Radamel Falcao and Ronaldo’s old team-mate Angel Di Maria are all on huge contracts at Old Trafford.

And there is a concern that the signing of Ronaldo – who would demand even more than them – could put their noses out of joint.

There is also frustration at Old Trafford that Ronaldo flirted with a return last year to get a pay-rise at Madrid, according to reports.

 

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10

https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

Real Madrid plotting move for ‘next Xabi Alonso’

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Real Madrid are plotting a move for Liverpool teen sensation Pedro Chirivella.

The 17-year-old has been labelled as the ‘new Xabi Alonso’ and has impressed since moving to Anfield from Valencia last summer.

Chirivella has yet to play a first-team game for the Reds but boss Brendan Rodgers often gets him training with the Anfield stars. Both Rodgers and captain Steven Gerrard are bigfans.

The teenager, who has captained the Spain Under-17 team, turns out for Liverpool’s U21 side.

Liverpool describe the hot prospect as “a fine passer, who is constantly picking up the pieces in midfield and keeping the young Reds ticking over”.

They add: “Much of the play goes through Chirivella – and he’s a player who the Academy coaches are looking forward to watching develop at the club.”

 

 

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10

https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

It’s Milners fault!

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Eden Hazard has explained why Chelsea dopped points at the weekend against Manchester City- by blaming James Milner.

Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw at the Etihad on Sunday, with a late equaliser from former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard cancelling out Andre Schurrle’s earlier goal. The Blues won 1-0 in the same fixture last season, but Hazard claimed he struggled to get forward this time thanks to Man Of The Match Milner.

“Last year we played the perfect match,” he said. “This year [James] Milner defended more on the right-hand side. That made it more difficult for me to attack.

“Having said that I thought we played well. It’s never easy to play at City. The first half was complicated; we didn’t have much time on the ball.

“We defended well though and then we scored another good team goal, which we have been doing a lot this season. We need to continue like that and keep working hard.

“We stay first in the league, too. Five matchesplayed: four wins and a draw – it’s not a bad start.”

 

 

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10

https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

Debuchy sidelined for three months

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Arsenal right-back Mathieu Debuchy will face a length on the side-lines after undergoing surgery on his ankle. 

The 29 year-old suffered an injury during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City and will be unavailible for selection for up to three months. 

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was unsure last week at how long the Frenchman would be out for, claiming it could be anything from six weeks to three months. 

He has had surgery and will be out for three months,” Wenger said. “A reasonable delay is three months.

“It all went well, but it can be a week or two earlier or a week or two later, but it will be around three months.

“It is a blow of course, how big it will be we will only know afterwards because it will be down to how well we replace him. We bought [Calum] Chambers for that.” 

By Ollie Brown

Falcao could face United axe

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Manchester United have issued a warning to summer signing Radamel Falcao that could end the player’s career at Old Trafford. 

The 28-year-old hitman tore his anterior cruciate ligament before the beginning of the World Cup and it is known that there could be a possiblity of the injury recurring in the future. 

Falcao was put through an intense medical at United’s training ground, Carrington, before signing for the club on deadline day. 

But now reports suggest that the Red Devils could cut short Falcao’s loan deal if he breaks down again. 

If he were to suffer his previous injury once again, United have threatened to end his contract and send him back to Monaco. 

By Ollie Brown   @olliebrowner_

Liverpool interested in Joe Hart

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Joe Hart, for so long the stalwart of England’s back line, is facing an uncertain future after it emerged today that the England international could well be on his way to Liverpool.

Hart has revealed that there have been no contract negotiations with his current employers at Manchester City, and with under two years left on his current deal the England number one may feel the need to listen to interest from outside of Manchester.

‘Anything about a new contract is news to me’ the 27 year-old Hart said.

With Liverpool recently pursuing back-up options for the unconvincing Simon Mignolet; and most notably enquiring about Victor Valdes’s availability, it would be no surprise at all if Liverpool were to ‘ramp up’ their interest if Hart became further unsettled.

Liverpool will be watching the situation with interest.

Written by Michael Horne

Follow me on Twitter for more articles @MichaelHorne777

 

 

Van Gaal does not rate Luke Shaw, according to Rene Meulensteen

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Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is not a fan of his teenage defender Luke Shaw, according to former coach, Rene Meulensteen, reports the Daily Mail. 

The Left-back, who signed from Southampton in the summer for a £30 million transfer fee, has had limited chances during his short time at Old Trafford, with injury and lack of form being the main problem. 

19 year old Shaw has failed to even make an appearance so far the the struggling Red Devils, with Van Gaal opting to pick Argentine Marcos Rojo ahead of him in that position, during United’s 5-3 defeat away at newly promoted Leicester City on Sunday afternoon. 

Van Gaal has since questioned Shaw’s fitness having arrived for such a huge fee in the summer, with the Southampton academy graduate seemingly now left to rot in the reserves. 

And Meulensteen, who also had a brief stint in the managerial position at Fulham last season, claimed that his friend Van Gaal, is not an admirer of the player, in an interview with Radio broadcaster, Talksport.

When asked if he thinks Van Gaal does not rate Shaw, Meulensteen replied: ‘Yes. It’s a big surprise for me.

‘He would have been informed by the club that they were putting this bid in for Shaw because he’s an up-and-coming player.

‘He’s got a good left foot and a lot of pace. He’s got a lot to learn to get to a Man United level though.

‘He’s a great prospect but he’s brought [Marcos] Rojo in, which is bad news for Shaw.’

 

by Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1

Three-way Prem battle looming for Roberts’ signature

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Fulham starlet Patrick Roberts is the centre of a three-way tug of war between Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Roberts, 17, has had an impressive start to the season despite the troubles at Craven Cottage, and seems set for a big move, even though the striker’s contract runs until 2016.

The troubled West London club recently sacked manager Felix Magath, and could now be about lose one of their brightest young talents.

Manchester United were linked with a £15M move in the summer, but the Old Trafford club were scared off by Fulham’s valuation.

Now though, with the struggles the club are currently facing, it is thought a £10M fee might be enough for the Cottagers to part ways with the young forward.

Roberts has represented England at Under-16 and Under-17 levels. He played an integral role in England’s victory at the 2014 European Under-17 Championship in Malta, scoring several impressive goals, grabbing a number of assists and being named in the team of the tournament.

 

Steve Osborne              @SteveOsborne23