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Jourdan Dunn ‘secretly dating’ Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge

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The 23-year-old supermodel, who has a three-year-old son, Riley, from a previous relationship, reportedly first grew close to the England ace at V Festival in August 2013, with the pair then letting their friendship blossom into romance.

But the catwalk queen is said to be keen to keep things as low-key as possible for the sake of her young son, her child with ex-boyfriend Jordan Cummings, who was jailed for cocaine possession with intent to sell when Riley was just a few weeks old.

A source told The Sun On Sunday newspaper: ‘They have grown steadily close. But they have been keeping their relationship very quiet.

‘Jourdan has a young son and she’s always cautious about letting new men into her life.’

Jourdan and Daniel, 24, made their first appearance as a couple at Mulberry’s London Fashion Week after-party last Sunday night, with the runway beauty joining the football hunk after having dinner at Claridge’s with her model BFF Cara Delevingne.

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

Didier Drogba is ‘excited and nervous’, says Lampard

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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has revealed that Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba is feeling ‘excited and nervous’ ahead of this Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 tie when he faces his former-club for the first-team.

The Ivorian became a club legend during his eight year spell at Stamford Bridge and ended his career there by scoring the deciding penalty during the Champions League final two years ago against Bayern Munich.

Now of Turkis side Galatasaray, Drogba is preparing for Wednesday’s reunion as his former-team mates come to town, and Lampard has stated that the striker is having mixed feelings about the game.

“I texted him after the draw because we still keep in touch.

“He was delighted and nervous actually because he said it would be difficult for him to come here to Stamford Bridge. He still sees it as his home and his love.

“I said to him that once he gets back and has the reaction from the fans, he will absolutely love it, both games. I’m sure he will. The draw did have an air of inevitability. It is amazing how often these things happen in football.”

Lampard added: “You will see a return of a hero and rightly so with what he did with his last kick for us. It was the best two days of my life in football terms by a million miles. It was just incredible from start to finish and every fan you talk to is a ‘where were you when you saw it’ moment.

“But it wasn’t just that. There were finals galore, big games. In the dressing room behind the scenes he was a real leader and people didn’t see that – one that we have certainly missed, he was so complete.

“He is the best I have played with solely for the fact of doing it in big, big games. There are a lot of good players out there, but he consistently scored in finals and popped up at the right time.

“I have played against great players and Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are probably the best, but he is right up there without a doubt.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsene Wenger predicts last-day drama

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes this year’s title race could be decided on the last day of the season, much like the one two years ago when Manchester City won it in the last minute thanks to a Sergio Aguero goal.

The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League, behind Chelsea by one points, and just ahead of third-placed City and fourth-placed Liverpool.

With just 11-games left, there is nothing to separate the four teams and Wenger believes it will come down to the wire.

“It looks like the last game could be decisive,” he told Arsenal Player. “Nobody knows. What is for sure, the most consistent team from now on will do it.

“Everybody has big games, everybody has difficult games, the Premier League is difficult for everybody so let’s just focus on our performances.

“We’ve just come off of a little bit of a difficult run because we lost at Liverpool, we played a draw against Man United and we are still only one point behind Chelsea so overall that is a great encouragement.

“Let’s go for the 11 games with a real desire to do well in every single game – then you have a good chance.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Manchester United after Alex Song.

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David Moyes is set to make a surprise bid for Barcelona midfielder Alex Song in the summer, with a view to a move to Old Trafford. 

The former Arsenal midfielder has been frozen out of the squad at the Nou Camp, having failed to beat the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta to a place in the starting 11. 

Song is eager for a move away from the Nou Camp, with both United, and former club Arsenal keen on the Cameroon midfielder. 

He has hardly featured for the La Liga Champions, but was handed a start in the game away at Real Sociedad on Saturday. 

The ex-Arsenal man scored an own goal to give the hosts the lead as Gerardo Martino’s men slipped to a 3-1 defeat in San Sebastian. 

By Ben Reardon 

@BenReardon1

 

Samuel Eto’o dismisses exit speculation

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Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from the club in the Summer, despite only a few months ago claiming he wants to play for Spanish side Mallorca in the near-future, the club he started his career.

The Cameroon international, who joined the Premier League side last Summer from Russian side Anzhi, has made 27 appearances so far this season, scoring seven goals in the process, including an impressive hat-trick against Manchester United.

When arriving at The Bridge, Eto’o signed a one-year contract worth around £7m-a-year, but he has confirmed that he is not thinking about leaving the club just yet because he feels fully committed to the team.

“False and degrading information has been published about me,” the 32-year-old posted on Instagram.

“I just want to remind to all that I have a tremendous love for Chelsea. I have a lot of respect for my leaders and teammates.

“I love Chelsea fans and I will keep on giving everything I have to defend the Blues.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Blow for Man United as PSG star states desire to remain in France

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David Moyes wants to sign two central midfielders in the summer, with Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gundogan his main targets.

Verratti has been a long-term option for United, dating back to when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, and Moyes has the 21-year-old on his list too.

However, the PSG man says he will not leave Paris in the summer.

“Next season I will still be in Paris,” Verratti has told L’Equipe this week.

“In France I am very happy. It does not depend only on me, but my intention is to stay.”

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

‘We will never play the Chelsea way”

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Brendan Rodgers declared that grinding out a Premier League title like Chelsea is a strategy the club will never employ under his leadership, after their attacking outlook led them to another high-scoring win which exposed severe defensive frailties.

Rodgers admitted after the 4-3 win over Swansea City that the defenders he has inherited were “uncoachable” in some of their weaknesses but insisted that he would never sacrifice the free-scoring culture which has now seen his players overtake Manchester City’s 69-goal tally and move within four points of Jose Mourinho’s side.

“I think it’s not our style,” said Rodgers, whose side have kept only four Premier League clean sheets since the 1-0 victory over Manchester United on 1 September, when it was put to him that he did not have the defensive personnel to grind out results like Chelsea. “I worry always to play good football. I’m not one who is totally satisfied to always just grind out results. It is about winning and that’s what professional sport is about at this level. But for us I will always concentrate on performance because I think that the consequence of performing well consistently is getting results and this season we’ve shown that. We’ve shown that when we play well we get the win.”

While they are the Premier League’s top scorers, of the top 11 clubs only Newcastle United have conceded more goals than Liverpool.

Rodgers admitted that had he replaced Daniel Agger with Kolo Touré, just past the hour, simply because the Dane had been unable to match the physical threat of Wilfried Bony, who had not scored a Premier League goal on English soil until his penalty took the score to 3-3. Asked if the error-prone Touré had made a difference, Rodgers replied: “We won 4-3… so…”

Skrtel was lucky to receive only a yellow card when the referee Mike Jones awarded the questionable penalty and Rodgers said of his players’ failure to defend “anywhere near well enough” that “you can’t coach” them out of such misdemeanours.

“The problem is that it’s not coaching,” he said. “Some of the things we conceded goals in you can’t coach that. There’s a feel when you’re in the game of how to defend and you have to use that experience to be able to defend properly.”

Rodgers admitted that the nervousness in his defenders permeated to other departments. High-scoring wins – 3-2 at Fulham and 5-3 at Stoke City to cite two others from the past six weeks – are “not planned,” he insisted. “We concede poor goals, which is not so [much] structural as mistakes or decision making, which costs us. We will continue to work on that side of it. The balance in our training is very much equal in relation to our pressing, defensive mentality and also our offensive side.”

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

Manchester United will pay Toni Kroos £250,000-a-week

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Manchester United are offering Toni Kroos £250,000-a-week to quit Bayern Munich and join David Moyes’ cash-laden revolution.

Wayne Rooney has just agreed a £300k-per-week extension to his contract and Moyes believes he can use his new financial firepower to tempt the Germany international midfielder to the Old Trafford giants.

The £1 million-a-month deal is three times what Kroos is currently on at Bayern, who would want a £30m transfer fee for a player whose pay demands they have rejected.

Bayern know that Moyes is on the 24-year-old’s trail, but boss Pep Guardiola is not afraid to make bold decisions and Bayern have many alternatives, despite Kroos’ stunning recent form – including a goal in last week’s Champions League win over Arsenal.

Moyes is buoyed by Rooney’s decision to stay and the backing of the owners ahead of what is expected to be a massive summer spree.

Another German midfielder, Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan, is high on Moyes’ wish-list.

Porto’s France international Eliaquim Mangala is lined-up for the centre of defence, where both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are likely to leave big boots to fill at the end of the season.

Moyes also wants Southampton left-back Luke Shaw and hopes his money will talk louder than Chelsea, his main rivals in that race and Shaw’s boyhood club.

Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive

I didn’t know Terry was still this good, claims Mourinho

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he is surprised about how good veteran John Terry still is.

The Englishman had a tough time at Stamford Bridge during Rafael Benitez’s short but fruitful reign, but as soon as Mourinho stepped back on home-turf after returning from Real Madrid, it was clear that there was only going to be one dead-cert in the back-four, and that was JT.

The captain popped up just in time on Saturday as he turned home a free-kick in the 96th minute to ensure all three points for The Blues against Everton, and after the game, Mourinho admitted that he’s been so impressed with the 33-year-old.

‘I didn’t know (what to expect),’ Mourinho admitted. ‘And I told him that. I told him I wanted to understand what had happened. Some players lose form, lose their performance level and lose condition. 

‘I wanted to feel if that was the case. I wanted to see if it (him not playing) was down to other managers’ options. That is something you always have to respect. So I didn’t know. I started pre-season with him, analysing the situation.

‘With me has always played well, except (one year) when he had back surgery and lost an important part of the season. But in my first two seasons here he had a fantastic level. Now? This season he is doing very well.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Jose Mourinho drops hint on striker signing

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dropped his biggest hint yet that he will attempt to lure Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from AS Monaco in the Summer after claiming that ‘he cannot play in front of 3,000 fans’.

The Bluess boss is desperate to land a new striker in the Summer after a less than impressive season for trio Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, and after ruling out Paris Saint-Germain duo Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it appears that his focus has turned to Falcao instead.

The Colombian has quickly become one of Europe’s hottest properties after dazzling performances in Spain with Atletico Madrid, and then continuing his fine form in France with mega-rich Monaco, but it now appears that a move to England could finally be on the cards.

He said: ‘I have a team, but no striker. Falcao does not have a team. A player like him can’t play in front of 3,000 people. Monaco is a club to end [your career with].’

If reports are to be believed, Falcao is reportedly unhappy at the lack of competition in France, and he may seek to end his career there after just one-year.

Chelsea however would have to stump up a fee of roughly £50million, which is how much Monaco signed him for one year ago.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsene Wenger confirms Rosicky extension

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that veteran midfielder Tomas Rosicky will remain at the club after the two parties have agreed a new deal for the Czech Republican.

The 33-year-old is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium and ever since putting in some top-class displays at pivotal times in the last three seasons, the fans have been calling for him to win a new contract at the club, and after scoring against Sunderland on Saturday, it has been confirmed by Wenger that a deal has been agreed.

Rosicky is one of the longest-serving players currently at Arsenal, having signed back in 2006 from German side Borussia Dortmund, and despite suffering with serious injuries throughout his eight-year stint at the club, it appears that he is finally over them and ready to make an impact for the side, and he did just that on Saturday.

The Czech was on-hand to turn home one of the team-goals of the season after neat and tidy passing between several players was then converted when Rosicky dinked the ball over former-Gunner Vito Mannnone.

After the game, Wenger admitted that a deal will be announced shortly regarding Rosicky’s future.

“Tomas Rosicky will stay,” Wenger said. “We have an agreement with him and it will come out soon. I am absolutely adamant he has to stay at the club.”

“When he arrived, he was less a tactical player and more the Mozart from Prague,” Wenger added. “He was purely a creative, offensive player. But today, he is a real organiser as well. He gives a real structure to the team.

“He is one of the players who plays the game of give-and-move and he is a great accelerator of the game. He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration of his passing and his runs. His goal was one of the top goals we have scored.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Jose Mourinho dismisses links with super-strikers

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he won’t be trying to sign either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Edinon Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain in the Summer.

The Blues boss has made it perfectly clear throughout the season where he wants to strengthen, but after failing to capture any attacking threat in January, it appears that the Portuguese is waiting until the Summer market to buy his star-striker.

However, speaking after his side beat Everton 1-0 on Saturday, Mourinho confirmed that he will not be bringing either Ibrahimovic or Cavani due to differing reasons.

He said: “Ibrahimovic? It’s impossible.

“He’s happy in Paris. I know because we are friends.”

The Chelsea boss then continued by saying that he doesn’t believe PSG would even open talks about a sale of the Swedish striker, and also believes Cavani has a ‘very nice’ contract in Paris and despite being unhappy at the club, Mourinho doesn’t think the Uruguayan would leave due to that contract.

Although they are top of the league, Mourinho has not been impressed by trio Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba, and throughout the season he has made his opinion clear on the trio and has claimed they just aren’t lethal enough in front of goal.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

GARTH CROOKS’ TEAM OF THE WEEK

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After another fine weekend of Premier League football, here is Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week.

GOALKEEPER – John Ruddy (Norwich City)

This was a terrific performance under the circumstances. Let’s make no mistake, it is not just Chris Hughton under pressure at Norwich but the entire football club, too. However what is clear from the team’s displays is that they are 100% behind their manager. Ruddy made important saves from Nacer Chadli and Emmanuel Adebayor on Sunday and, if the Canaries continue to perform as they did against Spurs and hold their nerve, then another season in the Premier League beckons.

DEFENDER – Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

Chelsea can always rely on two defenders to either stick their head on the end of someone’s boot in order to save a certain goal or to provide chaos at the other end of the field to win a match. John Terry is one of them and Serb Ivanovic is the other. How fitting, then, that both these defenders were at the heart of Chelsea’s last-minute winner against Everton. Most teams struggle to find one leader in the team but Chelsea have two.

DEFENDER – John Terry (Chelsea)

Love him or hate him, there can be no denying Terry is playing some tremendous football at the moment. So much of the Premier League is a battle, unlike European and international football, which tend to be much more sophisticated. If you need a warrior there’s no better man.

DEFENDER – Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)

The Belgium centre-back, 27, said after the game that Stoke presented a very tricky fixture for Man City and he was very wise to take the Potters seriously. After showing signs of frustration with his team-mates in previous matches he looks like he’s regaining the composure that makes him one of the best defenders in the league.

DEFENDER – Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

If you allow the France defender the room to attack down the left, he is certain to expose you and that is precisely what he did to Crystal Palace on at least two occasions. The 32-year-old’s performance was ultimately responsible for the downfall of the rejuvenated Eagles. Why Marouane Chamakh was so badly isolated and left to challenge Evra in his own penalty area was a complete mystery to me. David Moyes has to work out how he’s going to replace Evra now Leighton Baines is not going to Old Trafford.

MIDFIELDER – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

You can never fault his work-rate or his commitment but the one area in Henderson’s game that needs attention is his goalscoring record. But the 23-year-old now seems to be finding the net for Liverpool and that contribution might just be the difference in Brendan Rodgers’s team’s attempts to return to the Champions League.

MIDFIELDER – Yaya Toure (Manchester City)

Stoke were resolute in defence but not resolute enough to stop Yaya Toure. Even Alan Hansen spotted the way the African Player of the Year adjusted his feet to score the winner against Stoke and the Ivorian, 30, was the driving force behind an otherwise laboured City performance.

MIDFIELDER – Kevin Nolan (West Ham)

Two red cards in quick succession and a severe talking to by manager Sam Allardyce seem to have done the trick for the Hammers skipper. Nolan, 31, who scored in the 3-1 win over Southampton, looks like a player with a point to prove and West Ham suddenly look like a team who have exchanged 19th-century defending for 20th century football.

FORWARD – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

In a brief moment during Final Score, I found myself arguing with Martin Keown and Mark Chapman over the nominees for the player of the year award. We all agreed that Luis Suarez is likely to win but that Rooney was a worthy candidate. Both had reservations but if it was not for Rooney where would Manchester United be this season? His reward is a staggering £300,000 per week contract. I suppose he can always win the award next year.

FORWARD – OLIVIER GIROUD (Arsenal)

This week it was a toss up between Daniel Sturridge and Giroud. In an Arsenal team full of star performers, the French striker has really had to work incredibly hard to prove to Gunners fans that he is capable of leading their attack. He may not have convinced all of them but his performance against Sunderland would have gone a long way to helping his cause.

FORWARD – NIKICA JELAVIC (Hull City)

Arguably the most emphatic result of the weekend with impressive performances by Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Shane Long for Hull, who absolutely destroyed Cardiff. But the star of the show was Nikica Jelavic who, in Steve Bruce, seems to have found a manager who believes in him. He really should have crowned his performance with a hat-trick though.

What are your thoughts on this team then? Has Garth Crooks missed anyone out?

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Terry: Use Win as a Springboard To Go On a Run

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John Terry believes Chelsea relish the packed end-of-season schedule and has called for the Blues to use Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Everton as a catalyst for a strong run.

Terry’s last-gasp goal ensured a winning feeling for Chelsea as they travel to Instanbul on Wednesday to play Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie, before a London derby with Fulham in the Barclays Premier League next weekend.

Jose Mourinho has continually downplayed Chelsea’s title chances, but the Blues lead the standings ahead of their trip to Turkey and Terry is eager for further improvement.

“It’s important for us now to kick on, especially with a busy period,” the captain told Chelsea TV.

“When we play three games in a week I think it suits the lads.

“Everyone looks at it and thinks it might take its toll. But when you’re playing three games a week you play, light training, play again and there’s not much time to think.

“Hopefully that’s the cobwebs gone (after the draw at West Brom and FA Cup loss to Manchester City) and we can kick on again.”

Written by George Coomber

Pique Out For 2 Weeks

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique will be out for two weeks after picking up a calf injury in his side’s 3-1 defeat to Real Sociedad on Saturday, the club confirmed on Sunday.

Pique endured a rare torrid evening in San Serbastian as a third league defeat of the season left Barca three points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

The Spain International could be back in time for the second leg of Barca’s Champions League last 16 tie against Manchester City on March 12.

However, he is likely to miss Spain’s final friendly before Vicente del Bosque names his squad for the World Cup against Italy on March 5, as well as La Liga matches against Almeria and Valladolid.

Written by George Coomber