Premier League
CHELSEA HAVE HANDED MANCHESTER UNITED THE PERFECT PLAN TO SIGN ALEX TELLES
Manchester United fans have become accustomed to being linked with every player under the sun during a transfer window.
According to Manchester Evening News (MEN), the club’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward noted the ridiculous amount of players the Reds were linked to in the January transfer window.
He said back in February: “Despite being linked in the media to 111 players in January, our acquisition of just one of them — Bruno Fernandes – is an important step in that direction, demonstrating our commitment to adding experienced, world-class recruits to the exciting crop of academy graduates that are at the heart of this developing team.
“We will take the same planned, disciplined, approach this coming summer.
“In addition to the first team signings, somewhat under the radar, we have also made a number of exciting youth acquisitions in the past year, reflecting our commitment to bringing the best talent into our academy.”
It’s a transfer tactic regularly used by clubs looking to speed up transfer negotiations with an actual interested party.
A prime example was the transfer saga regarding Thiago Alcantara this summer.
The Spaniard was heavily linked with a switch to the Premier League after his intentions to leave Bayern Munich were made public.
It seemed United and Liverpool would go head-to-head to sign the midfielder but there was only ever one club in the running.
MEN Sport understood United had no intention of moving for the former Barcelona star and were convinced his representatives and Bayern are using their name to put pressure on Liverpool to make a bid.
The former Bayern president Uli Hoeness said Thiago ‘probably has an agreement with Liverpool or Manchester United, or with both’, yet United had just signed Donny van de Beek and were prioritising their pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
Therefore, there were no surprises when Thiago ended up at Anfield.
With less than a week remaining in the transfer window, United could use the transfer tactic that is regularly used against them to their own advantage.
The club accepted the need to sign a new left-back following the defeat to Crystal Palace and have accelerated their plans to sign Alex Telles from Porto after Sergio Reguilon signed for Tottenham.
So far, United have failed to meet Porto’s valuation of the defender given he has less than one year on his contract and can sign a pre-contract agreement in January.
To force Porto to accept a lower price for the 27-year-old, perhaps United should state their interest in signing Marcos Alonso from Chelsea.
Alonso faces an uncertain future at the club after his relationship with manager Frank Lampard reached a new low following the weekend’s draw against West Brom. The Spaniard was hooked at half-time and reportedly left the dressing room to watch the remainder of the game on the team bus. Various reports claim his Chelsea teammates had never seen Lampard so angry.
The Chelsea boss is now reportedly open to allowing the 29-year-old to leave the club on loan before the October 5th transfer deadline.
While Telles is obviously the better option for United, adding Alonso to their defensive shortlist may still be a wise move.
Premier League winner with Chelsea, the Spaniard has been a key player for the London side for a number of years prior to this summer’s arrival of Ben Chilwell from Leicester. An attacking full-back is exactly what United have been missing and Alonso fits the bill.
Of course, Alonso should only be considered a back up option in the unlikely event a deal for Telles isn’t completed. But United exploring other options could force Porto’s hand in negotiations.
The Portuguese side face the real prospect of losing Telles for nothing and time is running out for them to sign a replacement in the current window if he does depart.
United hold all the aces in negotiations and Alonso’s situation at Chelsea could add another card to their deck.
-MEN
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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