Premier League
Man Utd Targets £43m-Rated Bayern Star
Manchester United have joined Inter Milan having been put on red alert over potential target, Renato Sanches, of Bayern Munich.
Reports from 90min suggested that Sanches, a Portugal international has uncertain future at Bayern and could be on his way out.
The Portugal international is unhappy over his lack of regular game time at the Allianz Arena, and the British newspaper, Independent has claimed that Sanches would be allowed to leave the club if an offer of around £43 million was made.
According to the reports, the situation has ignited interest from Manchester United who are enquiring on the player’s availability.
But they should be ready to face serious competitions for the 19-year-old’s signature with AC Milan who are also believed to be interested.
Sanches was hailed as the next wonder kid to emerge from Portuguese football following his impressive displays at Euro 2016, but has seen his stock take somewhat of a dive in the past 12 months following his big-money move to Germany.
The centre midfielder only made 25 appearances in all competitions for Bayern last season and will want to ensure he spends as much time on the pitch as possible in 2017/18 to book his place in Portugal’s squad for next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Jose Mourinho confirmed that if he had been in charge at Old Trafford, ahead of Sanches’ switch to Bayern, the ex-Benfica starlet would have moved to England instead.
Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti appeared to suggest that a move to United could be on the cards in the future as he described a transfer away for Sanches as a “possibility” but refused to divulge more on that particular rumour.
Sanches, for his part, spoke about his own frustrations in the wake of Bayern’s 3-2 pre-season friendly win over Chelsea on Tuesday and revealed that he would sit down with the Bundesliga giants to talk about his future upon their return home from Asia.
He said: “I’m not satisfied. Of course, I would like to play more that’s why I want to change and go to a club where I would play more.
“I’m young, I want and I have to play a lot. I think the chance to do so is greater in Milan than in Munich.
“AC Milan is an interesting option. If the opportunity emerges and the clubs can agree, I would like to know.
“I’m now with Bayern but when we go back to Munich from Asia, we will sit together and hopefully find a solution.
Premier League
Chelsea’s Pochettino cries foul over VAR decision in 2-2 draw with Villa
A VAR decision chalking off what looked to be a late winner for Chelsea at Aston Villa on Saturday has damaged the Premier League, the London club’s manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
His side thought they have completed a remarkable comeback when substitute Axel Disasi netted in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review penalised a push by Benoit Badiashile in the build-up.
“Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game, they didn’t see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee. For me that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that’s it,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT following the 2-2 draw.
“For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English (football). If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision … (it) damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, the fans,” he added.
Chelsea were 2-0 down at the break but goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher put them level before the late goal was overturned.
“The performance was very good and we played really well. It is true in the first half we conceded easy … to play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team and the players were good,” Pochettino said.
Villa boss Unai Emery said his side, who are currently in fourth spot and seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, still had their sights set on qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Spurs, however, have three games in hand.
“We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have and I believe in the players … in Premier League we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position,” he said.
-Reuters
Premier League
Salah in touchline row with Klopp as Liverpool drop points
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to have a heated exchange with manager Juergen Klopp shortly before the Egypt international was brought on as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham United on Saturday.
Salah, who has not been at his best since returning from injury last month, was brought on in the 79th minute, just after the Hammers’ second goal levelled the game.
He appeared angry with Klopp on the touchline before he was introduced and continued to remonstrate with his manager as fellow substitute Darwin Nunez pushed him away from the German.
Klopp tried to play down the incident, telling reporters: “We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all.”
But Salah seemed to have a different perspective and refused interviews with reporters in the mixed zone, saying: “There’s going to be fire today if I speak.”
Saturday’s draw further dented Liverpool’s already slim chances of winning the Premier League in Klopp’s final season with the club and leaves them reliant on rivals Arsenal and Manchester City dropping points in the run-in.
-Reuters
Premier League
Iheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion
Leicester City earned promotion back to the Premier League on Friday after nearest rivals Leeds United were beaten 4-0 by Queens Park Rangers, ensuring the Championship leaders will finish in the top two in the standings.
This means that the Super Eagles duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, both players of Leicester City again taste action in the English Premier League next season.
The result of Leed City and QPR left second-placed Leeds’s chances of automatic promotion from the second-tier Championship hanging by a thread. They trail Leicester by four points with one game left to play and are only a point ahead of Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand.
It was a dream first half for QPR as the London side scored two goals without reply.
First Ilias Chair scored with a deflected effort from outside the area, while a curled finish from Lucas Andersen midway through the first half made it 2-0.
Leeds tried to up the pressure in the second half but with little effect, with French forward Georginio Rutter pulling a shot wide from the middle of the penalty area.
Scottish forward Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field both scored headers from set pieces in the second half to complete the 4-0 win.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke turned to his bench to try and influence the game and it was one of those substitutes, striker Mateo Joseph, who came closest, seeing his close-range attempt turned wide by Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic
-Reuters
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