Transfer News: Dortmund open doors for Sancho, Man City to sign Messi, Arsenal Club not on sale
- Borussia Dortmund are opening the door to Manchester United signing Jadon Sancho – but Erling Haaland is staying.
- Arsenal have been told Martin Odegaard will “want assurances” before making his loan move permanent.
- Burnley have alleged that Ezgjan Alioski made a racist gesture to Dwight McNeil during the 4-0 defeat by Leeds United on Saturday.
- The government is considering an independent regulator for English football, according to Nigel Huddleston, the sports minister.
- The Hundred could be hit by the withdrawal of several Australian players because of border controls in Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Liverpool are reconsidering a move for Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho, according to reports.
- Manchester City have been told they can have Lionel Messi if they pay him £500,000-a-week after tax.
- Lille star Sven Botman has admitted he would be “lying” if he claimed Manchester United’s interest doesn’t flatter him.
- Crystal Palace hope to snap up Romanian centre-half Radu Dragusin from Juventus at the second attempt.
- Southampton, Leeds and Burnley are keeping a close eye on Jacob Murphy’s Newcastle future.
- Sports minister Nigel Huddleston admits the Indian Covid variant is a threat to getting fans back into stadiums.
- Harvey Elliott has returned to Liverpool training after a successful loan spell with Blackburn Rovers.
- Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has again insisted they will not listen to any offers for the club.
- Lille star Sven Botman has admitted he is flattered by reports linking him with a move to Liverpool.
- Harvey Elliott has returned to Liverpool training after a successful loan spell with Blackburn Rovers.
- Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has again insisted they will not listen to any offers for the club.
- Lille star Sven Botman has admitted he is flattered by reports linking him with a move to Liverpool.
- Aberdeen have rejected a £2m bid from Watford for Lewis Ferguson.
- The Tartan Army will have to fork out a whopping £124 for the new official Euros-branded Scotland kit.
MONTEMURRO SET TO BE NAMED NEW JUVENTUS BOSS
Juventus are confident of naming Joe Montemurro as the new head coach of their women’s team.
Montemurro, who is leaving Arsenal, has admitted talks have been held but insists he’s not in a hurry to make a decision.
Juve, however, have made him their No 1 choice to replace Rita Guarino and plan to announce his signing after he formally leaves Arsenal at the end of the month.
Juventus have won all 21 of their games in Serie A this season, but were knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon in the Round of 32.
ROBERTSON & MACDONALD TO LEAVE ROTHERHAM
Clark Robertson and Shane MacDonald are among five senior players who will leave relegated Rotherham when their contracts expire at the end of next month.
Scottish defender Robertson and former Wales international MacDonald will leave alongside Kyle Vassell, Billy Jones and Jamie Proctor who are out on loan at Fleetwood, Crewe and Wigan respectively.
The Millers have begun talks with right-back Matt Olosunde and goalkeeper Josh Vickers about extending their contracts as they move into the final weeks of their existing deals.
The 27-year-old Robertson, who was limited to 16 appearances in an injury-hit campaign, has been linked with a move to hometown club Aberdeen.
Loan players Lewis Wing, George Hirst, Jamal Blackman, Ryan Giles and Florian Jozefzoon will all return to their parent clubs to leave Paul Warne with a number of gaps to fill before the club returns to League One next season.
KOEMAN ‘HOPES’ FOR MESSI STAY
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman hopes Lionel Messi will stay at the club, despite his contract running out in June.
ZIDANE DISMISSES REAL EXIT REPORTS
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane played down reports linking him with an exit from the club following his side’s 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The win means Real go into the final day of the season still in the title race, two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid, who have 83.
Some local media reports earlier in the week suggested he has already told the players he is leaving the club at the end of the season – something he denied.
“How could I tell the players I’m leaving now? We’re giving our everything for the title and I just say ‘by the way, I’m off’?,” Zidane said.
“People outside the club can say whatever they like, but I would never, ever say that to my players.
“At the end of the season then we’ll see what happens, but right now we’re focused on our final game,” Zidane said.
“We can’t just keep talking about my future. The last game of the season is far more important than that.”
DORTMUND GREEN LIGHT FOR SANCHO TO JOIN MAN UTD OR LIVERPOOL?
Borussia Dortmund are opening the door to Man Utd signing Jadon Sancho – but Erling Haaland is staying, according to the Daily Star. Meanwhile, The Sun reports Liverpool are also reconsidering a move for Sancho.
The England winger has eight goals and 11 assists from 24 starts in the Bundesliga this season. Impressive numbers, but a notable dip from the 17 goals and 16 assists from 25 starts last season…
WHAT’S NEXT FOR GERRARD?
Rangers brought an end to a decade of despair in March as Steven Gerrard’s side secured their 55th top-flight Scottish title – but where do Rangers and their boss go next?
Since their demotion to the third division in 2012, it has been a long and, at most times, arduous return to the top of Scottish football for Rangers and their supporters.
However, following two false starts since his appointment in 2018, Gerrard has delivered what Rangers fans have been waiting for, stopping Celtic winning 10-in-a-row in the process.
KOEMAN KEEN TO STAY AT BARCA
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman says he wants to stay at the Nou Camp next season, but will need assurances from president Joan Laporta when they meet later this month.
Koeman, who has another year left on his Barca contract, has guided Barcelona to the Copa del Rey already this season, but last week’s 3-3 draw at Levante has left his side with little chance of winning La Liga.
They have to beat Celta Vigo in their final home game on Sunday but even if they do, their hopes will be ended if league leaders Atletico Madrid beat Osasuna.
ARSENAL DENY EK TAKEOVER BID
Arsenal have denied they have received a bid for the club from Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek.
Two weeks ago Ek said he would make “a very compelling offer” to try and persuade owner Stan Kroenke to sell the club.
Speaking to Sky’s sister station CNBC, Ek said: “I have secured the funds for it and I want to bring what I think is a very compelling offer to the owners and I hope they hear me out.
“I just see a tremendous opportunity to set a real vision for the club to bring it back to its glory.”
RONALDO’S AGENT RULES OUT SPORTING RETURN
Cristiano Ronaldo will not return to his boyhood club Sporting in the summer, according to the Juventus striker’s agent Jorge Mendes.
Ronaldo’s mother Dolores Aveiro said she would try to bring him back to the Portuguese club, who this week won their first league title in 19 years.
“Cristiano is very proud of Sporting winning the championship, as he has demonstrated publicly,” Mendes told Portuguese newspaper Record.
“But at the moment, his career plans do not go through Portugal.”
Ronaldo leads the way in the Serie A goalscoring charts this term with 28 goals, but Juventus have had a difficult season and could miss out on the Champions League next season.