Pep Guardiola says he will allow Joe Hart to leave Manchester City if he wants to. Hart's future has been thrown into doubt after being left on the bench by Guardiola for City's first two games of the season. There has been speculation linking the 29-year-old with a move away from the club while City have reportedly been targeting other keepers. Asked if Hart could move if he wishes, Guardiola said: "Of course. I want happiness for the players. I don't want the players to stay here if they don't want to stay. "All the players here have a contract. If they decide they want to stay they are going to stay, but they know the situation when I spoke with them. "If they want to leave because they prefer to play every game - not only speaking about Joe, … [Read more...]
Conte vows to shake Mazzarri’s hand
Antonio Conte insists his bust-ups with Walter Mazzarri are in the past and will shake his hand at Chelsea’s game at Watford tomorrow. The duo had a series of fall-outs in Serie A when Conte was in charge of Juventus and Mazzarri was at Napoli. But Conte has revealed their differences have been resolved and were on good terms when they met at a meeting of Premier league managers before the campaign began. Both are new to English football and the Chelsea boss said: “I saw him in the meeting with the coaches. I spoke with him about this new experience. It's a great challenge also for him. “I saw him very focused about this experience. When we were in the Italian championship and fought for the title, Juventus against Napoli, yes (things happen)...but … [Read more...]
Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck due back by Christmas
Arsenal have been handed a boost with the news that Danny Welbeck could return from injury ahead of schedule. Danny Welbeck underwent surgery in May after injuring his right knee against Manchester City last season. The festive period is set to see the return of Danny Welbeck, with Arsene Wenger revealing the injury-plagued Arsenal forward is on track for a Christmas comeback. Welbeck has been sidelined since undergoing surgery in May after injuring his right knee against Manchester City in the Premier League last season. The 25-year-old suffered "significant cartilage damage", which ended his Euro 2016 hopes, but Arsenal manager Wenger said the Englishman is nearing a December return. "If the healing was not good, he would have been out until … [Read more...]
Pochettino blasts impossible League schedule after Lloris injury
Following Hugo Lloris' hamstring injury on opening day, Mauricio Pochettino has an increasing lack of recovery time. Mauricio Pochettino has condemned the football calendar as being completely incompatible with elite performance, saying that it was drawn up by people “who have never touched a football”. Pochettino explained in great detail in his press conference on Thursday afternoon that there were too many pressures on club managers, who receive tired players back from international competitions in July, and then have to play in pre-season before resuming the Premier League in mid-August. Spurs’ captain Hugo Lloris played in the Euro 2016 final on 10 July and then returned for Spurs’ opener at Goodison Park on 13 August, after just three weeks of rest … [Read more...]
Crystal Palace agree £27m fee with Liverpool for Christian Benteke
Christian Benteke's short-lived Liverpool career is set to come to an end after the club accepted Crystal Palace 's bid of £27million plus add-ons for the Belgium striker. According to Sources the Eagles will pay a potential further £5million dependent on certain criteria being met during the 25-year-old's stay at Selhurst Park. Benteke is scheduled to travel to London for a medical on Friday. The deal should mean Liverpool recoup most of the £32.5million they spent on the striker last summer in bringing him to Anfield from Aston Villa. Unlike Palace's failed offer earlier in the week of £23million plus £7million of add-ons, which Reds officials felt were unrealistic, the targets in the latest agreement appear much more attainable and satisfactory to … [Read more...]
Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Eduardo set to join Chelsea
Portugal international goalkeeper Eduardo will join Chelsea next week, according to Dinamo Zagreb manager Zlatko Kranjcar. Antonio Conte is in the market for a new backup goalkeeper after deciding not to re-sign Italian veteran Marco Amelia last summer, while youngster Jamal Blackman joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on loan to gain first-team experience earlier this week. Eduardo would be behind both Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic in the goalkeeping pecking order at Stamford Bridge. In a news conference on Thursday, Kranjcar revealed that Eduardo is scheduled to complete his move to Chelsea after the second leg of Dinamo's Champions League playoff tie against Red Bull Salzburg next Wednesday. Asked if he expected the goalkeeper to leave … [Read more...]
Mourinho: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stay at Manchester United for two seasons
Jose Mourinho has "no doubt" that striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be at Manchester United for two years. Ibrahimovic, 34, joined the club as a free agent this summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, signing a one-year deal at United with the option of a second year. The striker said last week that he could be at the club for "more than three years" if he keeps performing at the right level. And speaking at his news conference on Thursday, Mourinho said: "I see him happy. I ask him every day because I know how important it is for a family guy like he is. "I ask every day about his wife, kids, house, integration, and he is happy. Everybody is happy. His motivation is happy, so I have no doubt that he will be here for two … [Read more...]