Mbappe 'tells PSG he wants Real Madrid transfer this summer', Arsenal 'keen on Zaha', Aguero to Tottenham or Chelsea
TRANSFER news and gossip is intensifying ahead of a massive summer window.
Erling Haaland is the man on most clubs' lips but Arsenal are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Wilfried Zaha and Sergio Aguero is attracting admiring glances from Tottenham and Chelsea.
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe has reportedly told PSG he will turn down a new contract and wants to join Real Madrid.
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Stay up to date with all the latest football news in our rolling blog…
- Dylan Terry
SERG TO ELLAND ROAD?
Leeds have joined the race to sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero at the end of the season, according to 90min.
The Sky Blues forward will be a free agent in the summer after it was confirmed his contract will not be renewed.
Could he be enticed by the genius of Marcelo Bielsa?
Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd - Dylan Terry
WATERED DOWN
Danny Drinkwater is still hoping for one last chance at Chelsea while he rebuilds his career out on loan.
On loan at Turkish club Kasimpasa, the 31-year-old says he is still searching for the love of the game that he felt so strongly when winning the Premier League title with Leicester.
Speaking about his move to Chelsea, he told Sada Elbalad's Elmatch Program: "It was a big price tag at the time but I felt it was exciting.
"It was a new change, I felt I could play and show my worth. I just think it was a lack of chances. My time at Chelsea has been nothing but frustrating.
"It is a weird position that I am in. It is definitely different but I don’t think I am the first, nor will I be the last. This is part of football."
Asked if he can get back in the Blues team, he noted: "I would like to think so.
- Dylan Terry
PASS-SPORT
The Premier League has written to Boris Johnson to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
The letter says all the sports “can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers” in order to fill out stands.
But they warn: “The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria.”
The letter was sent to the PM, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster leaders of all the other parties.
- Dylan Terry
YOUR TEAM'S CHANCES
Man Utd fans, Arsenal fans, how do you react to your sides performance last night then? Still confident you can reach the Europa League semi-finals?
Credit: Getty - Dylan Terry
EUROPA LEAGUE RECAP
In case you don't know what happened in the Europa League last night, here is what you missed.
Manchester United picked up a comfortable win over Granada in the away leg of their quarter-final as they put one foot into the last four.
But Arsenal conceded a last-minute equaliser as they drew 1-1 at home to Slavia Prague.
- Dylan Terry
FORGET ABOUT HAALAND
What do we make of Jamie O'Hara's comments that Man Utd are 'not good enough' for Erling Haaland?
"They can't get Haaland – because they're not good enough," he told talkSPORT. "Why is he going go to Man United? Why?
"It's alright needing him, but you've got Real Madrid, Barca, Man City. They need him.
"[United] paid £100m for Paul Pogba and he's gone there thinking they're gonna go to the next level. And it hasn't worked and he's been trophyless. Haaland's not going to go to Manchester united and be thinking 'We might win something, we might not, he's going somewhere where he might win everything."
Credit: Getty - Dylan Terry
BRIGHTON WANT WELBECK DEAL
Brighton boss Graham Potter has revealed he would like to extend Danny Welbeck's one-year deal beyond the summer.
The 30-year-old has scored four goals in 17 games for the Seagulls since joining at the start of the campaign.
And when asked if he wants Welbeck to stay, Potter told Sky Sports: “Yeah. I think Danny has been really, really good for us.
“Frustrated to lose him in the middle part of the season but regardless of that he’s been fantastic around the group. He has the respect of everybody in the club and if you look at his goals when he’s been on the pitch, his return has been really positive.
“I think he’s a player we are of course going to sit down with at the end of the season and find the right solution for everybody. That’s how it is, I think that’s how we’ve always thought about this. But I have been really happy with Danny.”
Credit: AP - Etienne Fermie
MORNING FOOTBALL FANS
It was a disastrous night for Arsenal after they drew 1-1 at home against Slavia Prague in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
The Gunners looked like taking a slender advantage to Czech Republic next week after Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock in the 86th minute.
But they couldn't hold on to their lead as they conceded in the 93rd minute after failing to defend a corner.
However Manchester United have all-but secured their passage into the semi-finals after beating Granada 2-0, with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes getting on the score sheet.
In other news, Scotland could have 4,000 fans at their Euro 2020 showdown with England at Wembley.
The FA have confirmed to Uefa they anticipate opening 25 per cent of Wembley’s tournament capacity for the initial group stage round of games.
That will see 22,500 underneath the Arch, with FA chiefs looking at a minimum of 45,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of the Euros.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has dealt PSG a blow by reportedly stating his intentions to leave.
According to Spanish broadcasters Cuatro and Cadena SER, the French striker has told the French side he wishes to depart.
Mbappe is out of contract in 2022 and is claimed to have no desire to pen a new deal at Parc des Princes.
The 22-year-old is known to be willing to join Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane a huge fan of the player.
And finally, Michail Antonio could miss most of West Ham’s Champions League charge in another injury blow to the club.
The Irons’ only main striker has undergone a scan on his latest hamstring strain and there are fears it could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
- Jake Lambourne
ANTONI-WOE
Michail Antonio could miss most of West Ham’s Champions League charge in another injury blow to the club.
The Irons’ only main striker has undergone a scan on his latest hamstring strain and there are fears it could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Antonio was forced off after half an hour of Monday’s thrilling 3-2 win at Wolves which lifted West Ham into the top four with eight games to go.
Boss David Moyes is already contemplating the next month without key midfielder Declan Rice because of a knee problem.
Now it looks like both will be out for a time – with a crunch clash at home to fifth placed Chelsea on April 24 looming on the horizon.
Antonio has already missed a chunk of the season due to hamstring problems and West Ham do not have a back up centre forward.
- Jake Lambourne
PASS-SPORT
The Premier League has written to Boris Johnson to back vaccine passports to pack out stadiums this summer.
The footy body and other major sports groups including the England and Wales Cricket Board, Wimbledon and the RFU told the PM and other party leaders ‘Covid certificates’ are needed to ditch social distancing in stadiums.
The letter says all the sports “can see the benefit that a Covid certification process offers” in order to fill out stands.
But they warn: “The final approach must not be discriminatory, should protect privacy, and have clear exit criteria.”
The letter was sent to the PM, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and the Westminster leaders of all the other parties.
It said that if certificates fail and attendance are capped for the foreseeable it will “be insufficient to end sport’s Covid financial crisis.”
- Jake Lambourne
ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta has commented on Arsenal's disappointing 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague.
He told BT Sport: "The game was under control. We got the goal we wanted but we missed some big chances as well.
"We played two or three balls we shouldn't do and we put ourselves on the back foot and conceded the corner. They put bodies in there and it can happen. It changes the feeling after the game.
"We know that we had the possibility to change things with five substitutes. We thought it was the right time for the set-up we had.
"It was the right moment and they had a big impact. We know the subs have a lot to say in this competition. Unfortunately we didn't capitalise on it."
- Jake Lambourne
'RESET'
Trent Alexander-Arnold must 'reset and go back to basics' after a tricky 2020-21, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: "Trent Alexander-Arnold, he's going to be seeing things now.
"He had a great run, he's under a bit of pressure now… it's about learning.
"I've been in the position when you make mistakes and you look back.
"These are elementary, fundamentals, that you should have locked down in your game.
"You're playing at that level but sometimes you have to reset."
- Jake Lambourne
FULL-TIME
It's a disastrous night for Arsenal as Slavia Prague equalised in the 93rd minute after Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock in the 86th minute.
Mikel Arteta's men should once again be ashamed of their performance, and the Spaniard will be sweating over his job at the Emirates.
As for Man Utd, they are all but through after easing to a 2-0 win away at Granada.
Bruno Fernandes doubled the visitors' lead with a penalty at the death to make it a comfortable night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Elsewhere, Roma came back from behind to beat Ajax 2-1, while Villarreal beat Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
- Jake Lambourne
RUD AWAKENING
Antonio Rudiger has called Kepa Arrizabalaga his 'brother' after finally breaking his silence following their training ground bust-up.
The two Chelsea stars had to be pulled apart during a tempestuous Easter Sunday session.
Boss Thomas Tuchel described the fight as being 'serious'.
But Rudiger has moved to play down the row by calling Kepa 'mi hermano' – which translates to 'my brother' in the goalkeeper's native Spanish.
In a post to his Instagram Story, the German defender shared a picture of the pair hugging during a game, with the caption sprawled across it.
Antonio Rudiger played down his scrap with Chelsea team-mate Kepa – calling the Spaniard his 'brother' in a post on Instagram - Jake Lambourne
HAA LA LAND
Juventus can beat Chelsea, Manchester City and United to Erling Haaland.
Tony Cascarino told talkSPORT: “A very likely possible move will be Juventus because they bought Ronaldo at 33 for £99m.
“You’re starting to see the spending, like they did in the 80s where they are prepared to pay big wages and big sign-on fees.
“If you’re prepared to go and sign Ronaldo at 33 at £99m, you could easily go and sign Haaland.
“They’re going to be a team challenging [for the Champions League] in the next five years.
“Juve would definitely go for Haaland because Ronaldo is 36, but you’d still want to get him to the football club.”
- Jake Lambourne
BIT OF ALRIGHT
Southampton have the option to be paid bonuses in Bitcoin after landing their biggest-ever sponsorship deal.
The South Coast club announced a three-year extension of their partnership with the Coingaming Group on Thursday.
Fresh terms are believed to be worth more than £7.5million a year.
And it will see the cryptocurrency company’s gambling arm Sportsbet.io continue as that club’s shirt sponsors.
That fee will be paid in sterling cash but Southampton can choose payment for certain performance-based bonuses – such as if they qualify for Europe – to be in Bitcoin at the end of each season.
A club statement read: "Southamptonis pleased to announce it has agreed to extend its partnership with the Coingaming Group as Main Club Partner for a further three years in a deal that will see their brand, Sportsbet.io continue as the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
"The deal is the biggest sponsorship agreement in the club’s history and also includes the option for the club to be paid certain performance-based bonuses in Bitcoin at the end of each season…
"[That allows' the club the opportunity to take advantage of the new, high-growth currency if it feels it will bring significant future benefits.
"This partnership will allow Sportsbet.io to continue to build on the strong relationship it has built with the club and its supporters in the last year."
- Jake Lambourne
HALF-TIME
Man Utd go into the break with a 1-0 aggregate after Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Elsewhere Arsenal are drawing 0-0, with Mikel Arteta's side spurning a host of opportunities.
Meanwhile Villarreal are beating Dinamo Zagreb 1-0, with Ajax 1-0 up against Roma.
- Jake Lambourne
NO JE-MOANING CHARGE
Chelsea and Arsenal target Jerome Boateng is a step nearer a Premier League move after Bayern Munich confirmed their ex-Germany centre-back will leave this summer.
The Blues are also keen on Boateng's outgoing club-mate David Alaba, who would be the Prem's top earner if his reported pay demands of £400,000 a week were met.
And Bayern say Boateng, 32, who has missed the last two games, will not have his contract renewed, so will depart for free.
The Bundesliga champs' sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told Sky: "That was a joint decision of the club's management and the coach was also involved in it.
"I explained it to Jerome and he was very understanding."
Berliner Boateng has played 354 games for Bayern, with 10 goals and 25 assists, since joining from Manchester City ten years ago.
- Jake Lambourne
WEMBLEY AYE
Scotland could have 4,000 fans at their Euro 2020 showdown with England at Wembley.
The FA have confirmed to Uefa they anticipate opening 25 per cent of Wembley’s tournament capacity for the initial group stage round of games.
That will see 22,500 underneath the Arch, with FA chiefs looking at a minimum of 45,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of the Euros.
But with Scotland being part of the UK, Uefa has agreed the visiting team on June 18 should be handed the planned 16 per cent allocation.
That will mean 3,600 seats being made available for the Tartan Army when ticket sales open next month.
And with some English-based Scottish fans believed to have already bought tickets for the game, the Three Lions may be confronted by 4,000 bellowing Scots in the most authentic atmosphere of the tournament.
- Jake Lambourne
KICK-OFF
Manchester United and Arsenal's Europa League clashes are underway.
And you can keep up to date with both matches with the SunSport LIVE blogs.
Click HERE to follow the Red Devils' encouner.
And click HERE to follow the Gunners' match.
- Jake Lambourne
BLACK AND BLUE
Failing to make the grade at Old Trafford might have bruised his ego – but Ravel Morrison is now getting battered for real after starting MMA.
The ex-Red Devils wonderkid is without a football club and showed off a huge bruise on his arm after beginning sessions in the octagon with UFC star Lerone Murphy.
Morrison cancelled his contract with Dutch side ADO Den Haag in January.
And the 28-year-old has not been holding back in training, as he keeps fit with close pal and featherweight fighter Murphy.
The midfielder is on the look-out for his 12th club since leaving Manchester United in 2012, having been tipped for greatness after making his debut aged 17.
Ravel Morrison showed off his war wounds from MMA training
- Jake Lambourne
HOUSE PROUD
Zinedine Zidane hit back at Jurgen Klopp's training ground jibe by insisting Real Madrid are 'proud' of their home.
The LaLiga giants have been playing games at their training ground in Valdebebas since the coronavirus outbreak as they refurbish the Bernabeu.
Klopp told reporters during his post-match press conference: "This was strange tonight because it was really difficult with the stadium but Anfield is at least a proper stadium and it will be good for us.
"It must be a really tricky task for Real Madrid at Anfield."
Commenting's on Klopp's remarks, Zidane said: "I don’t have an opinion about what Jurgen says, we are proud to play in this stadium.
"Liverpool is the opponent and we know they are going to leave all they have on the pitch, I have no question about that.
"We just need to be ready and it is going to be a very good second leg match. We will need to do the same thing in the second leg."
- Jake Lambourne
TEAM NEWS
Here is how Manchester United and Arsenal line-up for their Europa League quarter-final first legs.
The Red Devils face Granada in Spain, while the Gunners face Slavia Prague.
- Jake Lambourne
SWAP-PORTUNITY KNOCKS
Man Utd are reportedly exploring a swap deal involving Declan Rice and Jesse Lingard after 'talks on England duty'.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long been a fan of the Hammers star, 22, who has continued his meteoric rise to become the Three Lions' top defensive midfielder.
Chelsea are among a host of European giants keen to sign former Blues academy product Rice.
And David Moyes has warned it would take bids in excess of £100MILLION to sign him.
Even then, Moyes wants to keep Rice at the London Stadium – particularly if West Ham manage to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.
But according to The Athletic, Man Utd are keen to discuss a swap deal involving Lingard in order to tempt the Hammers into selling their star man.
- Jake Lambourne
KYL-ER BLOW
Kylian Mbappe has dealt PSG a blow by reportedly stating his intentions to leave.
According to Spanish broadcasters Cuatro and Cadena SER, the French striker has told the French side he wishes to depart.
Mbappe is out of contract in 2022 and is claimed to have no desire to pen a new deal at Parc des Princes.
The 22-year-old is known to be willing to join Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane a huge fan of the player.
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