Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel will be presented as a Fenerbahce player on Friday, the Turkish side have confirmed. The centre-back had a medical on Wednesday ahead of his transfer, which is believed to be in the region of £5 million before the Turkish Super Lig runners-up welcomed his arrival in a short statement on Thursday. Skrtel departs Anfield after 320 appearances and eight-and-a-half seasons of service, having joined from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2008. The 31-year-old struggled to convince Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that he was worthy of a regular starting place following a difficult 2015-16 campaign for the Slovakia international. Fenerbahçe'ye Hoşgeldin Martin Skrtel! pic.twitter.com/mQVxRETrwt - Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) … [Read more...]
Chelsea set to Hijack Joao Mario move
Euro 2016 winner Joao Mario looked set to join the Biscione but now the Premier League side lead the race due to being able to offer the Portuguese club more money . After helping Portugal to Euro 2016 triumph, Joao Mario could be set for a move to Chelsea after the Premier League club moved ahead of Inter in the race to sign the Sporting midfielder. Antonio Conte’s side are now in pole position to sign the Portugal international – as they look to strengthen ahead of a title challenge –with the Premier League club able to offer more money than the Nerazzurri. Stamford Bridge officials are ready to offer the Portuguese club close to €60 million, according to the Sun, after impressive performances which saw his nation win their first major trophy. The … [Read more...]
Christian Benteke ready to fight for Liverpool shirt
Christian Benteke is ready to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool with his future at Anfield still in doubt. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are keen to sign Benteke but Liverpool are at risk of pricing the Belgium striker out of a move by trying to recoup all of the £32.5 million they paid Aston Villa for the player last summer. Neither Palace nor West Ham have been prepared to meet the Merseyside club’s asking price, and with negotiations at an impasse, Benteke is now hoping to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s plans , despite falling down the pecking order after the German’s arrival at Anfield last October. Klopp has Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi to choose from as well as Danny Ings, who is on the comeback trail … [Read more...]
Man Utd squad to be cut to 24 under Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has informed his Manchester United players that he wishes to work with a first-team group of just 24. Mourinho, who used just 22 players when leading Chelsea to the 2014/15 Premier League title, will seek to use a similarly ‘small, tight-knit group’ at Old Trafford. Joe Bernstein claims that the Portuguese will select just 24 players for his first team, and ‘will allow anyone outside that to leave the club or train with the under 21s’. He prefers to work with a smaller group as opposed to a ‘bloated squad with players frustrated at a lack of game-time’. Mourinho’s predecessor, Louis van Gaal, used a total of 33 players in the Premier League this past season, as the Dutchman struggled with a spate on injuries and relied on youth-team players … [Read more...]
Chelsea to replace Fabregas with Kante as Mourinho shows interest
With new Blues coach Antonio Conte expected to let several players go this summer, Cesc Fabregas could well need to find a new club . With his future at Chelsea uncertain, Cesc Fabregas could be offered a lifeline by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge during the last two campaigns, winning both the Premier League and the Capital One Cup before the Portuguese tactician was sacked for a poor start to last season. New Chelsea boss and former Italy coach Antonio Conte could have a clear out at Chelsea this summer and Fabregas may be forced to leave, though he could stay in the Premier League. According to reports, Mourinho has targeted the Spaniard in order to bolster his midfield at Old Trafford, and … [Read more...]
Joe Allen set for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp
As speculation mounts over whether Joe Allen will be offered a new deal or offloaded by Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp says talks are imminent. Joe Allen is set for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp to decide his Liverpool future. The midfielder is a reported transfer target for the likes of Celtic, where ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers took charge in May, and former club Swansea City, as he enters the final year of his current Liverpool deal having put himself firmly in the shop window with his Euro 2016 exploits for Wales. Allen made eight Premier League starts for the Merseyside club last season and boss Klopp told BBC Radio 5 live: "We will find a solution but it's not done. "Obviously Joe Allen is a good player. We never doubted this. "He played a good … [Read more...]
Galatasaray offer Wilfried Bony an escape route
Galatasaray have offered Wilfried Bony an escape route from Manchester City after the striker was deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium. The Ivory Coast international has failed to make an impact at the Etihad, scoring just 10 goals in 18 months at the club. The 27-year-old was in superb form at Swansea before his move to Manchester in January 2015 for £28m, netting 35 goals in 70 appearances for the Swans in all competitions. Bony scored just eight goals in 34 appearances for City last season, starting 18 times. Swansea also have an interest in bringing the striker back to South Wales but he may favour a £3million loan spell with the Turkish giants. If the Galatasaray transfer does go ahead, the Turkish club will be in pole position … [Read more...]