Liege wonderkid keen on Gunners move.

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Mar 18, 2014

Manchester United are reportedly interested in making a double swoop for Atletico Madrid duo Diego Costa and Diego Simeone.

The officials at Old Trafford have been left less than impressed with new manager David Moyes, and after their 3-0 defeat at home to fierce-rivals Liverpool, Moyes’ future is even more in doubt now as they look set to miss out on Champions League football for the first time in over a decade.

Despite Moyes being hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson, the former-Everton boss has not been successful so far during his reign and it’s believed officials at the club are putting together a potential replacement list, and Simeone is high on it after his success with Atletico.

The Argentine has guided the La Liga side to the Champions League and is also currently battling it out with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid for the league title.

United are also keen in signing their star-man on the pitch, Diego Costa, and although a fee hasn’t been mentioned, they are willing to spend big in order to sign the Spaniard.

Costa has scored 21 goals so far this season and has also attracted interest from United’s rivals, Chelsea.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Ryan Giggs skips coaches’ meeting saying it was “pointless, as Moyes doesn’t listen”.

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Mar 18, 2014

An insight into the current levels of disharmony at Manchester United has been noticeable lately with reports that tensions are high not only in the locker room but amongst the staff.

Club legend Ryan Giggs recently skipped a coaches’ meeting, later telling Phil Neville it was “pointless, as Moyes doesn’t listen”.

Giggs is also said to have stormed off the training ground after a recent two-hour defensive session.

And to add to it all that Rio Ferdinand has fallen out with Moyes after growing tired of being asked to emulate the efforts of Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka.

“Moyes did not like being asked ‘how does what Jagielka would do have anything to do with how United do things?’”

Perhaps most interestingly of all, there are claims that Sir Alex Ferguson is “considering” a comeback if his replacement Moyes is ousted.

Written by Steve Milne

Senior Manchester United Player in Stunning Dressing Room Bust Up

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Mar 18, 2014

The currently Unnamed player, who is said to be a senior player, let rip following the humiliating loss at Old Trafford on the weekend, with United’s hopes of a top four finish now all but over.

A Steven Gerrard brace and a goal from Luis Suarez condemned United to yet another defeat at home this season, and while there is no talk of unrest at boardroom level concerning Moyes’ tenure, these latest reports of severe unrest among the playing staff will be hard to take for the struggling United faithful.

They have seen their side drop off the pace at an alarming rate this season, which has prompted many to claim that Premier League title could be beyond them for many years to come, as former City defender Danny Mills told the BBC last night,

“It could be 10 years at least before they win the title again,” Mills told BBC’s Match of the Day 3,

“The whole rebuilding process is going to take three or four years at least.”

“Then you have got to think Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool will strengthen – and Tottenham and Arsenal could possibly strengthen as well.”

Written by Steve Milne

Chelsea set to sell Lukaku, but Everton to miss out

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Mar 18, 2014

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would appear to have already decided to sell Romelu Lukaku during the summer transfer window but, reports in Belgium claim, he will not do so to another club in the Premier League, meaning Everton will be unable to clinch a permanent deal for the on-loan striker.

Lukaku joined Everton on loan for the duration of the season and, so far, has scored 10 Premier League goals having found the net on 17 occasions during the previous campaign while with West Brom on a similar deal. But, according to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, Lukaku will not be afforded the chance to stay in English football.

HLN report that sources inside Chelsea have revealed Mourinho does not believe Lukaku has the mentality to prove successful in one of his teams and, while he is ready to let the 20-year-old leave Stamford Bridge, the Portuguese has no intention of another Premier League club being able to prove him wrong.

Chelsea would be willing to accept €20 million for Lukaku, not a great deal more than was paid to sign him as a teenager, with Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund all having been linked with the Belgium international.

Written by Steve Milne

Villas Boas appointed Zenit Manager.

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Ben Reardon

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Mar 18, 2014

Andre Villas Boas has been appointed as the new manager of Russian Premier League side Zenit St Petersburg, after agreeing terms with the club.

It will be Villas Boas’ first job back in football since he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in December, following a humbling defeat at home to Liverpool.

The Portuguese manager oversaw the sale of Gareth Bale, and despite bringing in over £100 million of new signings, he struggled in his second season at the Lane, before being relieved of his duties by Levy.

Villas Boas also had a short stint at Chelsea, from the summer of 2011, before he too was sacked in the March of 2012, following a defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

He will officially start work on Thursday, following the Champions League game away in Dortmund, which the Russians trail 4-2.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Rodgers’ Reward

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Ben Kelly

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Mar 18, 2014

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged the club’s owners to offer manager Brendan Rodgers a new contact ‘as soon as possible’ as a reward for turning the team into title challengers.

Rodgers signed a 3 year deal with the option of another 12 months when signing for the club in July 2012, and now there is no doubt that FSG will feel he is the right man to take the club forward. They have begun the opening stages of negotiating a new contract, but Rodgers’ focus is on pushing for the Premier League title now, and he is happy to wait until the end of the season to begin real talks.

Gerrard believes Rodgers is the ‘driving force’ behind Liverpool’s success this season and thinks it would be in FSG’s best interests to tie him down to a new contract as soon as possible,

“I think he deserves a very long contract here, I have been blown away by his sessions, his tactics and his maturity in the job and I am learning from him every single day. When you get a bit older as a player like me you look to see how the manager does certain things and he has been fantastic for me.”

“I’m sure all of the other players would echo what I’m saying. I am absolutely delighted he’s here and I hope there is a lot of movement in Boston now because they have to get him signed up as soon as possible.”

Gerrard took time away from a family holiday to meet Rodgers in person when he arrived at the club in 2012. The two have developed a strong relationship and Gerrard has adapted well to the new holding midfield role Rodgers has created for him.

“He has been a revelation,” said Gerrard, speaking off the back of Liverpool’s 3-0 over Manchester United at Old Trafford, “he keeps tweeking and tinkering with the formation and making little subtle changes. He is a young coach who has been there and has earned the right to be Liverpool manager.”

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10 https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

Jordan Henderson: Liverpool win over Manchester United was ‘just another game’

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lewisliverpool1997

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Mar 17, 2014

The reds ran out a comfortable 3-0 victory over bitter rivals at Old Trafford, sending out the rest of the Premier League a message that they are genuine title contenders with a fifth successive win in the League.

However, midfielder Jordan Henderson says Liverpool are already focusing on the next game with Cardiff visiting Anfield on Saturday.

“It was a big win but it was just another game for us really,” said the midfielder. “We went there trying to do the same thing, put on a good performance, get three points and thankfully we did that so we can move on to the next performance and hopefully win that.

“We knew it was a massive game but we have been brilliant of late and we felt as though we were capable of doing what we have been doing all season and have a really good chance of winning the game.

“We dominated from start to finish and I am very pleased in that respect, but we just move on to this week against Cardiff, that will be a difficult task as we are away from home so we need to prepare well for that.”

Also, young defender Jon Flanagan believes their rivals at the top of the Premier Leauge will be worried as the Premier League enters its final months.

“We put a marker down at Old Trafford. I thibk we will push on and keep going.

“We all believe but our priority was to finishin the top four at the start of the season. We are on track for that and anything else is a bonus.

“It’s always good when you see other teams around you losing. We saw the Chelsea result but we just concentrate on ourselves.

“We are just taking it a game at a time and keeping our feet on the ground.

“Momentum is building though. The lads are really happy but we are taking it step by step and hopefully we can keep that going.”

Written by: Lewis Hollingshead

Didier Drogba will return to Chelsea, says Mourinho

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Mar 17, 2014

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes it is Didier Drogba’s destiny to return to Stamford Bridge as a Blues man, whether it be on or off the pitch.

Drogba will make his return to the Bridge for the first time since leaving when his Galatasaray side takes on his former-club in the Champions League last-16, and despite feeling nervous about the return, the Ivorian has admitted that he is desperate to knock The Blues out.

Speaking to ITV ahead of the big match, Mourinho revealed that he expects the striker to make his return to England eventually.

‘I think destiny will (see him return). Not even destiny, I think a collective desire from the club and from Didier means that one day, sooner or later, as a player, a coach, as an ambassador, as a board member, and because of the respect between him and owner.

‘The situation is normal that Didier comes back. I think so – he likes the club, the club likes him.’

‘Next year in four years in 10 years I don’t know. When a player represents so much to one club and one club so much to one player – and in Didier’s case that’s the case – I think he has to be back one day.

‘I don’t think it’s the moment to answer that. This is a big game and I don’t think it’s the right moment to speak about it.

‘He’s a Gala player. We know he is a free agent. We know he finishes his contract at the end of the season but this is not the right moment to speak about it.’

‘Is he the same player at 36 that he was at 26? Nobody is, but he is one of the best strikers in the world, that’s for sure.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Liverpool ready to bid £25million for Benfica star

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Mar 17, 2014

Liverpool are ready to make a whopping £25million bid for Benfica striker Rodrigo.

The 23-year-old has been attracting interest from all leagues across Europe and The Reds are keen to add him to their already threatening strike-force of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

So far this season, the Spaniard has scored 10-goals for Benfica and also bagged a goal midweek against Tottenham Hotspur during their 3-1 victory over them in the Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers is willing to spend up to £25million for one of his main targets, but will face serious competition from Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

I wanted to play under Arsene Wenger, admits Cabaye

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Mar 17, 2014

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye has revealed that he was keen on working under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, and has regrets that a move to The Gunners didn’t materialise last Summer.

The former-Newcastle United man was subject to a £10million bid from Arsenal before this season, but The Magpies laughed off the offer as they wanted close to £20million for the Frenchman, and in January, that is roughly what they got for the midfield-man.

However, it wasn’t Arsenal that secured his signing, it was French side PSG, but in a recent interview, Cabaye has admitted that he desperately wanted to move to the Emirates Stadium so that he could work with Wenger.

“I would have liked to play for Wenger last summer but, unfortunately, it didn’t happen,”, the Frenchman said, before complimenting his current club, PSG.

“PSG is prepared to win everything,” he added. “The players share a mentality making them wanting to go as far as possible.

“If we have the possibility to snatch the Champions League, we will do it. [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic is doing extraordinary things and Thiago [Silva] is a monster at the back. It’s a new challenge. I want to last here and to win. It is my destiny.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Liverpool could miss out on Konoplyanka signing again

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Phil Wellbrook

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Mar 17, 2014

Liverpool’s hopes of signing Dnipro winger Yevhen Konoplyanka on the seocnd attempt have suffered a blow as the Ukrainian club’s President was quoted saying he would rather sell the winger to Tottenham.

Reports from the Ukrainian press say Igor Kolomoisky is currently in negotions with Tottenham over the potential signing of the highly rated winger, whom they tried to sign last January. Kolomoisky has also urged the 24 year old to consider a move to London over Liverpool as a preferable place to live.

‘I certainly understand that the big clubs like Liverpool try to do everything on the last day [of the transfer window],’ he is reported to have said. ‘But this time it did not work. That is we ran into technical problems, and Liverpool failed with their bid.

‘I talked with Konoplyanka. Of course, he had regrets, but [the move to Liverpool] failed purely due to technical reasons.

‘Not criticising Liverpool but if I’m interested in a player, like they were in final days, I’d do it on or two weeks before [the window closes].

‘I’m talking with Tottenham president [Daniel Levy]. He wants Konoplyanka. We’re negotiating and we may even be close to signing a contract if Yevhen agrees.

‘If I was in Konoplyanka’s place I’d choose Tottenham. London, not Liverpool. Football is 90 minutes on the field, maybe two matches per week, but the rest of a footballer’s time should be living somewhere nice. London city life is preferable to Liverpool.

‘Negotiations with the Tottenham are on an entirely different level [to Liverpool’s] approach. Overall it’s all grown-up with an understanding of the interests of the player and the club

‘Two different worlds, two different lifestyles, although one country and one Premier League.’

By Phil Wellbrook

I never want to leave!

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Ben Kelly

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Mar 17, 2014

Manchester United tagret koke has warned them that he is not interested in a move to Old Trafford this summer, and never wants to leave Atletico Madrid. The midfielder has starred for Atletico this season in their hallenge for the La Liga title, and United have been keeping a close eye on him, and are planning to make their move in the summer.

However, the 22 year old has other ideas. With his contract valid until 2018, Koke has said he is perfectly happy where is and wants to stay at the club,

“I have a long term contract and have no intentions of leaving,” he told Minuto 116, “Atletico is my home, I am happy that Simeone has confidence in me and I want to keep working for him for many years.”

By Ben Kelly

Follow me on Twitter for more articles! @benkelly_10 https://twitter.com/benkelly_10

Parlour believes Liverpool have a better chance of winning the Premier League than Arsenal

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Phil Wellbrook

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Mar 17, 2014

Following Chelsea’s defeat to Aston Villa and Liverpool and Arsenal’s victories, the gap from first to the teams below has been reduced to 4 points. Liverpool are neck and neck as they both have games in hand, but former Gunner ray Parlour believes Brenden Rodgers’ side have a better chance of clinching the title.

He told Sky Sports Football Club: “The firepower that Liverpool have got with (Luis) Suarez and (Daniel) Sturridge – these youngsters are playing a lot better as well – they’re playing really well.

“Steven Gerrard has been excellent and is such an important character to have in your team as well in that midfield area. Raheem Sterling has improved and Jordan Henderson is having a great season.

“if you look at the firepower you’ll always have Suarez and Sturridge in your team probably more than (Arsenal’s Olivier) Giroud.”

Parlour also added that he expects there to be more drama and unexpected results as Manchester City, who have moved to within 6 points of Chelsea, also look to clinch the Premier League crown.

“At this stage of the season the pressure does kick in. There’ll be teams you’re playing against that you expect to beat but they’ll be fighting relegation so there’s no easy games.

“It’s going be so competitive. It’s fascinating how it will end with Chelsea dropping points at Aston Villa and Manchester City getting a great result after losing their captain.

“There are big games next week now. Arsenal play Chelsea; Liverpool play Man City at home and Chelsea at home so there’s a few more twists left yet. It could go down to the wire.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Chelsea and Manchester United battle for cut price La Liga player

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Mar 17, 2014