Premier League
New report links Newcastle United with Arsenal striker
According to a report in The Telegraph this morning, Newcastle United could be interested in signing Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal in the summer transfer window. It has been reported that Newcastle are interested in signing a striker on loan this summer. The Magpies have asked to be kept informed of Liverpool’s plan for striker Rhian Brewster, according to the report. The report, published at 10:39am today, has claimed that Arsenal striker Nketiah could also be of interest to Newcastle if the Gunners want to send him out on loan again. The 21-year-old was sent out on to Leeds United in the summer of 2019, but the England Under-21 international was recalled after he struggled for regular playing time. Going out on loan again? Nketiah did well for the Arsenal first team in the second half of la...
Gareth Bale: Real Madrid blocked my return to Premier League
Gareth Bale has accused Real Madrid of making it “very difficult” to leave the Spanish club as the Wales forward looks to end his Bernabeu exile. Bale is out of favour with Real manager Zinedine Zidane and played just 48 minutes of Madrid’s 12 games when the Spanish season resumed after the coronavirus lockdown. Zidane, who has feuded with Bale throughout his two spells in charge, said the winger did not want to play in last season’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Manchester City. Bale has two years left on his Real contract, but there appears little chance he will force his way into the manager’s plans. The 31-year-old almost joined Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in 2019 before Real pulled the plug on the deal, a decision that still irks Bale. “I think the club needs...
Premier League terminate £490 million TV deal in China
The Premier League has terminated its TV rights deal with China, its biggest overseas contract, leaving a huge hole in clubs’ finances. The deal with Chinese broadcaster PPTV was worth around £490m and had lasted only one of its three years. The conflict is said to have been around a fee of £160m that the Premier League was owed in March but did not receive. “The Premier League confirms that it has today terminated its agreements for Premier League coverage in China with its licensee in that territory,” a spokesman said on Thursday. “The Premier League will not be commenting further on the matter at this stage.” It is not known if the conflict is based purely on money or involves the escalating political tensions between China and the UK government. Boris Johnson announced in July that Hua...
Neymar, Angel di Maria, Leandro contract coronavirus
Neymar has tested positive for Covid-19 alongside Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes. According to L’Equipe, they are the three unnamed players the club revealed had contracted the virus today. Neymar and Paredes have been holidaying on the party island Ibiza and the news plunges the club in crisis just eight days out from their first game of the season. The French champs have had an extended rest after they made it to the Champions League final in Lisbon. The Ligue 1 season started on August 21 but PSG is not due to play until they travel to Lens on Thursday, September 10. But that fixture could now be in jeopardy, with players to be tested regularly in the coming days. The Premier League has also been rocked by a surge of Covid-19 cases thought to be relate...
Man City top, Man Utd ninth; the Premier League Owners’ Rich List
Newcastle United’s failed takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund leaves Sheikh Mansour as the richest owner in the Premier League. Mansour has transformed City’s fortunes since acquiring the club, but how does his wealth compare to the rest of the top flight? We take a closer look. 1. Manchester City – Sheikh Mansour – £23.3bn Mansour is the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and also owns the Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation. He completed a takeover of City in 2008 and his huge investment has helped the club win four Premier League titles. 2. Chelsea – Roman Abramovich – £9.6bn It doesn’t seem that long ago that Abramovich was changing the face of English football with his massive investment into Chelsea. However, things have moved on massively since his...
Gary Neville: I hope Lionel Messi doesn’t do very well for Manchester City
Gary Neville cannot see his former employers at Manchester United joining the race for Lionel Messi and hopes the mercurial Argentine “doesn’t do very well” if he ends up leaving Barcelona for Manchester City. A switch to England continues to be mooted for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner. Messi has informed those at Camp Nou of his desire to move on, with further talks set to be held with the Liga club’s board as he mulls over his options during a period of personal frustration. Neville believes a compromise will be reached that keeps the South American in Catalunya, with an all-time great merely “flexing his muscles” and sending warning signals to the Blaugrana. If a stunning switch were to be made, though, then the ex-United defender concedes that the Ethiad Stadium – alongside one-time ...
Report: Player open to working with Jose Mourinho, Tottenham don’t want to pay £9m
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is open to joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to Mundo Deportivo. It has been reported by the Spanish news outlet that Rakitic is one of the Barcelona players new manager Ronald Koeman does not want at the club next season. The Croatia international star’s priority is to move back to Sevilla, but he is open to joining Tottenham and playing under head coach Jose Mourinho, according to the report. The report has added that Barcelona want €10 million (£8.91 million) for the 32-year-old, but Tottenham are not willing to pay that, and the North London outfit are also unwilling to match the midfielder’s current salary at the Spanish and European giants. Should Tottenham Hotspur make a move? Rakitic has not had the best of times re...
Mikel Arteta: Dani Ceballos wants Arsenal transfer but decision rests with Real Madrid
Dani Ceballos wants to join Arsenal on a permanent basis, claims Mikel Arteta, but any decision on the midfielder’s future now rests in the hands of Real Madrid. The 24-year-old playmaker spent the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Emirates Stadium. Life in England did not always run smooth for the Spain international, with a bright start under Unai Emery making way for a mid-season dip. Ceballos was, however, to play his way back into favour under Arteta and finished with two goals, two assists and an FA Cup winners’ medal to his name. Arsenal believe there is more to come from a man who has struggled to nail down a regular role in Madrid. They continue to explore the option of putting another agreement in place, but are waiting on Real to make decisions regarding the futures of those on the fr...
Aston Villa, West Ham linked with move for Gonzalo Higuain
Aston Villa and West Ham United have been linked with a move for the Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine is expected to leave the Italian club this summer and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. The highly experienced striker had a forgettable spell in the Premier League with Chelsea and it is highly unlikely that he will return to England once again. There is no doubt that Aston Villa and West Ham need to sign a quality striker this summer but the 32-year-old might not be the ideal fit for them. As per reports, Juventus are looking to get rid of the player. Higuain is past his peak and his style of play is unlikely to suit West Ham or Aston Villa. The two clubs should look to sign a complete forward instead of a poacher. Gonzalo Higuain is better off joining a club...
Relegated Premier League sides get fixtures as 2020-21 Championship schedule released
Bournemouth will start life back in the Championship at home to Blackburn Rovers, while Watford host Middlesbrough and Norwich City travel to Huddersfield Town. The Cherries were relegated after a five-year stay in the Premier League, while Watford and Norwich were also demoted in a top-flight campaign that was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. That halt means the new Championship season starts on September 12, with beaten play-off finalists Brentford travelling to Birmingham City on the opening day, while south Wales rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City – who also made the top six – host Sheffield Wednesday and visit Preston North End respectively. Wycombe Wanderers – playing in the second tier for the first time – welcome fellow new boys Rotherham United for their first game, while ...
Premier League rocked by 14 mystery coronavirus cases at 12 pre-season camps
Premier League has been hit by 14 new cases of coronavirus since teams returned to training, reports claim. According to The Telegraph, the new cases have been recorded at 12 clubs who began preparations for next season last weekend. The figures are unofficial, but the Premier League are only expected to regularly publish test results when the new season starts on September 12. Club officials are said to be concerned cases could continue to rise after players were pictured partying on holiday with pals from rival clubs over the past few weeks. Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli was snapped with James Maddison and Jack Grealish in Ibiza. And Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice holidayed with life-long friend Mason Mount on the Greek island of Mykonos, where Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Chri...
Mikel Obi wants to be father figure at Stoke City
Stoke City new signing John Mikel Obi hopes to help instil a long-lost winning mentality at the club and also help the Potters push for promotion to the Premier League next season. Mikel penned a one-year contract with Stoke City on Monday becoming the club’s fourth signing of the summer. The experienced midfielder spent 11 years at Chelsea helping the Blues land the Premier League title twice, as well as three FA Cups, the Champions League and Europa League. The former Super Eagles captain has also played in China and Turkey, with a brief stint at Championship club Stoke City. Mikel is determined to become a mentor to his new team-mates and help them at difficult times. “It is good when you come into a football club having won so much in the game,” he told the club’s official website. “Th...
