Mancini hits out at Mourinho over Portuguese job

Reports in France suggest Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is considering launching a bid for versatile Marseille defensive midfielder Gianelli Imbula.

Imbula made a name for himself last season, and is seen by Marseille boss Marcelo Bielsa as a big part of his plans for this season. Imbula has four years left on his current deal.

It is likely the holding midfield player could cost Chelsea as much as £25m to lure him to the Premier League and the Blues are likely to face stiff competition for his signature from London rivals Tottenham.

Imbula played in the Toulon Under-21 tournament last year, and was born in Belgium to Congolese parents, and he grew up in France. This means he can represent any one of these three countries.

He only joined Marseille last year from Guingamp, and coulld soon be set for a move to Stamford Bridge.

Steve Osborne @SteveOsborne23

Chelsea keen on Talisca

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Sep 19, 2014

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Chelsea are keen on Brazilian forward Talisca, reports the Daily Express.

Talisca, aged 20 has impressed whilst at Portuguese side Benfica, having signed for the Lisbon giants in just July.

The recent transfer from the Brazilian League however hasn’f fazed Mourinho, who has claimed that he has been tracking the highly rated youngster for two years, since the summer of 2012.

Mourinho has also hit out at the comments by Benfica staff that he has no idea who Talisca was, before Benfica signed him, starting a war of words.

“I’m glad to see he’s reading Alexandre Dumas. I admire him for that. I’m not that cultural. I limit myself to grammar.

“I don’t like when a professional colleague doubt my words. Talisca is one of two players we’ve been scouting since 2012.”

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Jose Mourinho surprised by Lampard return

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Sep 19, 2014

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that he’s shocked to see Frank Lampard playing for Manchester City.

The former-Blues star agreed a deal to join American side, New York City, after his contract expired at Stamford Bridge, but due to the American side not playing until the New Year, the veteran secured a loan-move to City for six months.

City, who own the newly-formed American side, offered Lampard the chance to join them in order to keep fit until the new season starts in 2015, and Mourinho has admitted that he’s shocked to see the Englishman back in the Premier League.

Mourinho said: “When he left for New York I thought he was going – to New York.

“But it’s football. I would imagine that if you asked me that 5 years ago I would say so, even a few months ago when he signed for the New York.

“But, it’s his life and his decision and I respect that.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Monaco plotting bid for Galatasaray winger Bruma

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Sep 19, 2014

French side Monaco are plotting a £14 million bid for Galatasaray winger Bruma, reports the Daily Express.

Bruma, aged 19 has impressed whilst in Turkey, and is tipped to be a rising star according to reports in the country.

The Portuguese youth international signed for Galatasaray in a 10 million euro fee from Sporting Lison in the summer of 2013, and following his growing reputation, is now a proposed target for the Ligue 1 side.

Any interest from Monaco has come as a bitter blow for both Manchester United and Chelsea, who had both also expressed an interest in the player.

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Arsene Wenger: We could make more defensive signings soon

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Sep 19, 2014

Arsene Wenger has hinted that the North London club could be close to making more defensive signings, reports the Daily Express.

The Gunners have been linked to defensive targets for sometime now, but following their 2-0 defeat away at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening in the Chamions League, there seems cause for concern in that position.

And injury ptoblems to key personnel have left Arsenal with just three fit senior defenders.

Wenger’s side have previously been linked with moves for former Everton defender Joseph Yobo, and former West Bromwich Albion centre beck Diego Lugano, who are both currently free agents.

The French manager then refused to rule out any defensive incoming.

He said: “You cannot rule anything out because it depends on how long the injuries are and how many you have.

“At the moment, we are not in that need.”

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Arsenal and Liverpool taking a look at Isco

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Steve Osborne

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Sep 19, 2014

Arsenal and Liverpool are preparing January moves for Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

His place at the Bernabeu is under threat after the arrival of Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich this summer. The player has previoulsly claimed that he does not wish to leave the Spanish giants, and he is under contract until 2018.

But reports claim that Real are willing to let him go to increase his playing time. He arrived from Malaga only last year for £24M and scored 11 goals in his first season at the club.

It is believed that both Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger would prefer to recruit Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez during the winter transfer window, but with the Spain international looking likely to secure a switch to Juventus, Liverpool and Arsenal will instead try and sign Isco.

Steve Osborne @SteveOsborne23

Evra explains why he left Manchester United

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Sep 19, 2014

Patrice Evra has stated the reasons why he left Manchester United in the summer, reports the Daily Star.

Evra, aged 33 penned a two year deal at Juventus this summer, bringing an end to six years at United, following the arrival of teenage fullback Luke Shaw from Southampton in a £30 million fee.

And Evra has finally revealed the truth surrounding his exit, having only signed a contract extension a month before his departure.

“I left Manchester because of personal problems and the only team I wanted was to Juventus. It is a club with great history and goals,” Evra told JTV.

“It is a club that has history and goals. [Former boss] Antonio Conte called me many times to convince me to join. Now I’m very happy at Juventus.

“Everyone, from doctors to the press officers, give you their best. After a month of hard work I’m happy to be here.

“The preparation has been very hard, maybe the hardest I’ve done.

“Everyone should remember that the Evra of United represents the past. I do my best in training and I always try to listen to the coach.”

by Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Wilmots: Mignolet and Courtois issues still not resolved

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Steve Osborne

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Sep 19, 2014

Belgium national coach Marc Wilmots has said in an interview that goalkeeping pair Thibault Courtois and Simon Mignolet have not settled their differences, and that it is not important if they do, so long as the duo remain professional to the Belgian cause.

Wilmots, speaking to Belgian TV and radio mahazine Humo, quoted:

“Okay, they’re not friends but should they be?

“They have like pros, working well in training.

“That’s the only think I desire.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, as soon as that respect goes it ruins the atmosphere.”

Mignloet and Courtois fell out after Mignolet expressed his desireto be the Belgian No.1, a comment that did not sit well with Courtois, on loan at Atletico Madrid at the time, who found them disrespectful given his incumbancy.

Courtois has started the new season back at Chelsea, displacing Petr Cech as the Blues lead stopper. Mignolet is currently at Liverpool.

Belgium are in Euro 2016 qualifying Group B with Wales, Israel, Andorra, Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Steve Osborne @SteveOsborne23

Arsene Wenger confirms Debuchy injury

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Sep 19, 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Mathieu Debuchy will be out for at least six weeks with a serious ankle injury.

The French right-back landed awkwardly on his foot during the club’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, and is now likely to miss at least six weeks out, which could extend to 12 if he needs surgery, which the club will find out later today.

Speaking in his weekly press conference, Wenger confirmed that it’s at least six weeks and could be three months if surgery is required.

Wenger said: “He has an exploration of his ankle on Friday night and they go in and look how the ligament is damaged, and after that we know if he does need surgery. If he doesn’t, it’ll be six weeks, if he does need surgery it’ll be three months. At the moment we don’t know.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsenal ready to make move for Edinson Cavani

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Sep 19, 2014

Arsenal are considering a January bid for Paris Saint-Germain striker, Edinson Cavani, after reports grow about him being frustrated in France.

The Uruguayan international is still unhappy with life in Paris and wants to leave the club sooner rather than later, despite Laurent Blanc claiming he will start using him in his natural position.

Since arriving at PSG, Cavani has been playing on the left wing in order to cater for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been used as the lone-striker, but being used out of position for over a year has started to frustrate the Uruguayan and he is now ready to leave the club.

Arsenal and Chelsea were interested in signing him throughout the Summer, but nothing formal materialised, but Arsene Wenger is now ready to go back in for the 27-year-old, despite signing Danny Welbeck on deadline day from Manchester United.

However, according to some reports in France, in fear that Cavani could leave, Blanc now may change his formation to a 4-4-2, so that he can keep both Ibrahimovic and Cavani happy at the club.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Rodgers: We will improve with time

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Sep 19, 2014

Liverpool have made a less than impressive start to the season, with two losses already to their name.

They were stunned by a 1-0 loss at home to Aston Villa last Saturday and looked far from convincing as they scraped past Bulgarian side Ludogorets just three days later.

But with a number of new signings still settling into the side, Rodgers claims that they just need time to click as a team.

He said: “There is no magic formula, it is just time and patience with players.

“We weren’t playing as well as we were in February, March, April last September.

“The second half of the season we will be much better.

“We have brought in a lot of new players, we have players adapting to new countries not just a team.”

He went on to speak about Balotelli, who bagged his first goal for Liverpool against Ludogorets.

He added: “I’m pleased for Mario. He worked on every aspect of the game.

“He took his goal fantastically well. He’s adapting now and that goal will do his confident the world of good.”

By Phil Wellbrook

Flanagan sidelined for two more months following surgery

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Sep 19, 2014

Since his side’s pre-season tour of the United States, Jon Flanagan has been struggling with fluid on his knee, and last featured for the Reds back in July against Preston.

Flanagan is currently close to signing a new deal with the club after enjoying a successful season last campaign and he was scheduled to return to training this month however he has not responded well to the treatment so surgery was deemed the best option.

The full back made his first full international appearance back in June against Ecuador.

Meanwhile fellow Reds defender Martin Skrtel is recovering well from his injury but Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen, Emre Can and Glen Johnson are all out of action for Saturday’s trip to West Ham.

By Phil Wellbrook

Coates only thinking about loan deal for now

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CharlGLFC

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Sep 18, 2014

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates has insisted he is only thinking about his season-long loan deal at Sunderland for now, amid reports that the defender could move to the Stadium of Light on a permanent basis. The centre-back secured a loan deal to take him to Sunderland, due to the high amount of competition at Anfield for a starting place in defence.

Reports are already sufacing that Coates’ temporary deal could be turned into a permanent one come the end of the season, but when quizzed about it, the Uruguayan insisted he is only focusing on his loan deal for the time being. He said:

“I don’t know. I’m focused on playing some games this year and to improve in the Premier League. I want to show why I am here. I decided to come here to get the chance to play so, for me, it will be great to play some games.”

It looks likely then that we’ll have to wait until next summer to see if he secures a permanent Sunderland deal or not.

By Charlie Gregory

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@CharlieGreg15

Huntelaar open to Prem move

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olliebrowner

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Sep 18, 2014