Month: February 2023

Fulham’s shock push for Europe this season is even more surprising given that Brazilian veteran Willian is leading their charge.

Many had thought the 34-year-old’s Premier League career was over when he left Arsenal for Corinthians in 2021 but he has been in superb form since returning to England with the Cottagers.

Ahead of the FA Cup clash with Leeds at Craven Cottage tonight, we turn the spotlight on the former Chelsea winger’s impressive campaign so far.

Point to prove

Though well remembered for his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge, Willian’s poor 2020-21 season with Arsenal meant his time in England had threatened to end on a sour note.

The tricky winger signed a bumper three-year contract at the Emirates ahead of Mikel Arteta’s first full campaign in charge but left 12 months later after scoring just once in 25 league appearances.

It was a similar story during his time back in Brazil with Corinthians, with the forward ripping up his contract in August after revealing he and his family had received threats online due to his poor form.

Having sealed his return to the English capital with promoted Fulham on deadline day, aims were firmly set on restoring his reputation.

New lease of life

That is exactly what he has done, with the Sao Paulo native rolling back the years with his superb performances in West London this term.

The 70-cap international has scored three times in 18 top-flight games, which is astonishingly more than he managed in 60 outings across his previous two seasons with Arsenal and Corinthians. 

Scoring his first goal away at Leeds in October, Willian brilliantly netted the opener against former side Chelsea in January before a sumptuous finish versus Nottingham Forest last month showcased his penchant for the spectacular.

The turn of pace and skill that saw him become one of the top-flight’s best attackers with the Blues does not seem to have left him, either.

The 34-year-old has completed 22 take-ons this term — more than any other player for the sixth-placed outfit.

Only Andreas Pereira has created more than his 28 chances, which is impressive considering he did not play his first game until Matchday 6 of the top-flight season. 

Silva surfer

Willian has started 16 of the 18 Premier League games he has been available to Marco Silva since his September switch, outlining his strong relationship with the Portuguese coach.

The Cottagers boss said of his No20’s excellent form: “He [Willian] is a top-class player and great guy.

“He works hard and plays with a smile on his face. He enjoys playing for us and he wants more. He also has the confidence to show the quality that he has all the time.

“If I even had doubts I would not have signed him. He is a class player and has made great connections with his team-mates. 

“You can see his quality week in, week out. It worked out really well for Willian.”

More to come

Despite only signing a one-year deal with the Cottagers last summer, Willian now looks more than capable of impressing in the top flight for a few more years to come.

The Selecao star has said that while discussions over a new contract at Craven Cottage have not yet taken place, he feels his Premier League journey will not end at the end of the current campaign.

Willian told the Evening Standard: “I’ve not yet had a conversation about staying one more year or whether to sign a new contract but I really enjoy my moment here. I enjoy being here, I feel happy and let’s see at the end of the season.

“I will do the maximum I can in the best possible way to stay at the top level until maybe 37 or 38. I feel good now and I feel I can carry on for many years. 

“I think people like me, Thiago [Silva] and Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] show the next generation that it is possible to have a longer career.”

Pushing for success

After suffering immediate relegations in their previous two Premier League campaigns, Fulham extraordinarily find themselves only six points off a top-four place after 25 games played.

They can also reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in 13 years by overcoming Leeds at home in the fifth round tonight.

And though Fulham’s season will already be branded a success regardless of what happens between now and the end of the campaign, Willian has sights set on achieving something special.

He added: “I believe we can do something great this season. We have to believe in it as a team.”

If the Cottagers are to keep fighting for Europe and a first-ever major trophy this term, it will likely be because the Brazilian continues his sensational resurgence.

Former Manchester United striker Andrew Cole has labelled the impact of Casemiro as “absolutely frightening”.

The Brazilian joined United from Real Madrid in August and has been a key figure as Erik ten Hag’s side compete on four fronts.

Casemiro scored the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-0 EFL Cup final win against Newcastle United and was named man of the match at Wembley.

Cole said: “[His impact has been] Massive, absolutely massive.

“We always believed that we needed a player in that position, but I don’t think anyone could expect him to have come in and done what he’s done.

“I think he’s been absolutely frightening.

“We know about his experience. What he’s achieved at Real Madrid, and playing for the Brazilian national team is so big, so he’s a pivotal player for Manchester United.

“You see [in the EFL Cup final] what you’ve seen throughout his time in the Premier League so far. What he brings to that team, he brings a hell of a lot of quality to the team.”

Cole was part of the United side in 1998-99 that won a historic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and with Casemiro arriving at Old Trafford a year after Raphael Varane had also joined from Madrid, he is in no doubt that the pair’s success at Los Blancos has helped the existing squad.

“They can help in that way if you’re buying into it as a team of serial winners… things do come a little bit easier,” he said. “So it’s nice that those players are in the side… World Cup winners, Champions League, winning La Liga many times between them, you need that in a dressing room.

“I think if you look at Manchester United as a team it is very infectious, everyone’s celebrating and everyone will believe in everyone buying into the cause.

“I can look at my time also at Manchester United playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, that’s where you wanted all of us to believe in it, all of us to buy into it and once you cross that white line, we’re a team and we play together as a team, we stick together as a team.

“And looking at this Manchester United team, Ten Hag has definitely got that right.”

Cole also hailed the form of goalkeeper David de Gea, who kept a clean sheet in the EFL Cup final.

“If you look at De Gea, his performances over the past few years and again this season, he’s producing saves when Manchester United need those saves, he’s keeping Manchester United in games and keeping clean sheets,” Cole added.

“We can talk about all the other things, he’s not the best with his feet or this kind of nonsense but as a goalkeeper you’ve got to keep the ball out of the net and that’s what he does. 

“He made two massive saves [against Newcastle], made a big save at nil-nil from [Allan] Saint-Maximin, then he makes another save to close it out at 2-0 and those kinds of things people are not talking about.

“Saint-Maximin scores and Newcastle goes 1-0 [it’s a] different game, so I keep saying, as I have said I think over the past few seasons, he’s been massive for Manchester United.”

– Sheffield United have failed to win four of their last seven matches in all competitions
– Tottenham have kept five clean sheets in their last seven games
– Recommended bet: Tottenham to win and under 2.5 goals

With last season’s finalists, Liverpool and Chelsea, already out of the FA Cup and Premier League heavy-hitters Arsenal and Newcastle also eliminated, Tottenham supporters are starting to dream of ending their 32-year trophy drought in the competition.

However, a fifth-round trip to Bramall Lane looks a real banana skin of a fixture, with hosts Sheffield United impressing in the Championship as they plot a course back to the top flight of English football.

FA Cup glory may be a secondary target for both clubs, with the Blades desperate for a Premier League return and Spurs both competing in and trying to qualify for the Champions League.

But success on Wednesday night will put the victor just one step away from a Wembley FA Cup semi-final and with the draw opening up nicely, both sets of players will be dreaming of long-awaited cup glory.

Team news

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom could have wing-back George Baldock available after nearly two months out of action but full-back Enda Stevens is likely to still be a week or two away from returning.

Blades striker Rhian Brewster and defender Rhys Norrington-Davies remain out with hamstring injuries and long-term absentee Jack O’Connell continues his rehabilitation following a serious knee problem.

Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur is out for the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and will be joined on the sidelines until April by fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma, who is recovering from a stress fracture to his ankle.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is out until April with a knee injury and left-back Ryan Sessegnon is expected to be absent for a similar length of time with a thigh problem.

Meanwhile, it is also unclear if Tottenham will have head coach Antonio Conte back in the dugout following surgery or whether his assistant Cristian Stellini will continue to deputise.

The stats

Promotion-chasing Sheffield United are second in the Championship and seven points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand.

However, Heckingbottom’s men have hit a slightly sticky patch of form recently, winning only two of their last five Championship matches and failing to win any of their last three away – losing at Millwall and drawing with struggling pair QPR and Rotherham.

In their last four home games, Heckingbottom’s men have needed a late own goal to beat an out-of-form and poor-travelling Watford side as well as losing 3-1 to Middlesbrough and needing two added-time goals to see off Conference side Wrexham in the FA Cup.

Tottenham have started to find a bit of consistency and much of it has to do with the excellent form of defender Cristian Romero.

Spurs have won five of the last six matches the Argentine has started and have conceded just once in that run. However, the match Romero missed in the middle of that sequence saw Tottenham crash to a 4-1 defeat at Leicester.

Prediction

When the draw for this fixture was made, Sheffield United were flying in the Championship and Tottenham were faltering badly, giving the tie a distinct sense that it could offer an FA Cup upset.

However, dropped points in three of their last five Championship matches have given Blades boss Heckingbottom a headache as he may now feel United must maintain full focus on league matters to ensure they do not let a golden opportunity for promotion pass them by.

The Blades players will still want to impress at home against a team they hope to be facing in the league next season and after their fiery clash with Wrexham in the last round, adding over two Sheffield United cards to Bet Builders looks a decent option.

And while likely rotation and a lack of creative flair for the visitors might stop this being a classic FA Cup encounter, a careful, controlled performance should see Spurs edge their way into the quarter-finals.

Back Tottenham to win and under 2.5 goals, available at 10/3 with LiveScore Bet.

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Alexis Mac Allister returned to Brighton in December as a World Cup winner having impressed for Argentina in Qatar.

The 24-year-old has scored five times in the Premier League for the Seagulls this season and will be hoping to make the difference in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against Stoke tonight.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men can book their place in the quarter-finals with a win over the Potters and they will need to be at their best despite facing lower-league opposition.

We turn the spotlight on the Seagulls star man ahead of the contest.

Making it happen

Mac Allister has already proven that he is a man for the big occasion by playing a key part in the build-up to Argentina’s second goal in the final win over France.

His experience in Qatar will have benefits for his club career as there are not too many more daunting occasions than walking out to compete for football’s biggest honour.

So a trip to Stoke should be a walk in the park for the 14-cap international but Mac Allister must be careful not to let complacency creep into his game. 

Tonight’s opponents pose a completely different threat to that of the French national side and it is likely that the midfielder will have to rely on patience if Brighton are to breach the Championship outfit’s defences.

The former Boca Juniors star has featured in both FA Cup matches for his club in 2022-23 and picked up two goals against Middlesbrough before digging in deep to see off Liverpool in the previous round.

Magic touch

Having spent just over four years on the South Coast, it is no surprise that Mac Allister is playing his best football at a club he is clearly settled at.

Despite featuring as a versatile weapon in the Seagulls’ system, the No10 is putting up some impressive numbers in what is turning out to be his best season in England’s first division.

Although he has only scored from five of his 42 efforts on goal in 2022-23, just 26 players have had more shots than the Argentina international.

As well as this, Mac Allister has completed 15 of his 21 attempted take-ons and averages 1.15 per 90, demonstrating his fearless nature on the pitch.

He also ranks in the top 30 Premier League stars for passing accuracy this term with 88.64% of his balls finding a team-mate.

There are certainly areas that can be improved on but if Mac Allister can continue performing at this level, then there is no reason why Brighton cannot cement themselves in the European places in the remaining months of the season.

Getting noticed

Mac Allister’s ability makes him one of the most sought-after players by Brighton’s Premier League rivals.

The versatile maestro has been linked with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, who can all offer European football, in recent weeks.

It is unclear what it would take to release him from his contract, which is set to run until 2025, however.

Brighton have conquered Chelsea, United and Liverpool this season despite having a significantly weaker squad than England’s top guns.

There is a unity among De Zerbi’s men that is not evident in Graham Potter or Jurgen Klopp’s sides at the moment and Mac Allister is one of the driving forces behind Brighton’s excellent campaign so far.

Whether it be breaking the lines with a pinpoint pass or beating his man with a delicate touch, the 5ft 7in playmaker would not look out of place in a top-six club.

A better human being

In the aftermath of the World Cup, Mac Allister has spoken about how success has changed him.

He believes that the glory and experience of Qatar have made him a better person and his life has not changed too much.

He said: “Being part of the Argentina squad in Qatar and fighting to get into the team, helped me to be a better player and a better human being. It taught me to help my team-mates.

“My life is the same boring life as always, I train, I go home, I sit on the sofa, I drink Mate [tea], I watch football. It’s the same life.

“On the pitch, winning the World Cup has made me a more confident player. Even the opposition see you differently. It’s been amazing.

“I have got a lot of confidence from winning the World Cup but if I don’t play well for five games in a row in Brighton, my confidence will be lower again.

“I want to win titles but that’s not the most important thing. The most important thing for me is to be on the pitch every weekend and I really enjoy it. I don’t need to get motivated by other things.”

Winning titles may be a stretch at his current club but Mac Allister has proven that he has what it takes to be worthy of a winner’s medal.

Kylian Mbappe congratulated Lionel Messi after his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate beat him to the FIFA Best Men’s Player award.

Superstar Messi earned the prestigious individual accolade for the second time in his career, with the announcement made at Monday’s ceremony in Paris.

The award spanned from the start of the 2021-22 season through to the end of the World Cup in Qatar, where Messi captained Argentina to victory over Mbappe’s France in a memorable final in December.

Messi scored seven goals and provided three assists at the tournament to scoop the Golden Ball prize, while Mbappe also had 10 goal involvements and finished as top scorer.

Additionally, Messi scored 11 goals and claimed three assists from 18 games for PSG at the start of this campaign.

Mbappe was second in the voting ahead of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.

Posting on Instagram after the ceremony, Mbappe wrote: “Another trophy at home. Big congratulations to @leomessi you are #TheBest.”

Messi and Mbappe combined for all three goals as PSG defeated Marseille 3-0 in Ligue 1 last time out. The duo now have 10 goal combinations this season, the most in Europe’s top-five leagues.

PSG, who are eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1, host Nantes next before travelling to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie where they are aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

David Alaba has offered an explanation for his vote at the FIFA Best awards after he listed Lionel Messi ahead of his Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema.

Alaba was subjected to online abuse, including racist remarks, after his choice was made public with Madrid fans starting a hashtag of #AlabaOut after he voted for Messi first, Benzema second and Kylian Mbappe third.

The Austria captain took to Twitter to explain that the vote was not his alone, but that of his entire national team.

“Regarding FIFA The Best Award: The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone,” he wrote. “Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that’s how it’s decided.

“Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances and I have often said that for me he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Without doubt.”

Messi claimed the men’s prize at an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday after leading Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Mikel Arteta claims the death of the traditional post-match glass of wine between rival managers is denying Premier League bosses a chance to bond.

Arteta’s Arsenal mentor Arsene Wenger was not a fan of the indulgence and the Frenchman faced criticism at one stage from long-time foe Alex Ferguson for not joining him for a drink after games.

Eventually Wenger relented, and he insisted on joining wine connoisseur Ferguson for a tipple at Old Trafford following his final game against Manchester United in April 2018.

According to Arteta, the routine ended when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and it means rival bosses no longer go over a game in private, or share conversations on other matters, after the final whistle.

“I haven’t had the opportunity because after I joined in two or three months we had COVID,” said Arteta, who was appointed in December 2019.

“Probably COVID was the catalyst of losing that tradition, which is a shame because I think it was something special and generated a certain bond between managers.”

Arteta might instigate its return, if enough fellow bosses want to join him. His table-topping Arsenal team face Sean Dyche’s Everton on Wednesday, and Arteta says colleagues might see it as something worth reviving.

He added: “Maybe we can talk about it between us and get it back.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta declared William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have a “happy marriage” as he backed his defenders after their public spat at Leicester City.

A heated coming together between the pair at the end of Arsenal’s 1-0 win on Saturday came to light after the game, but Arteta insists it should be viewed as a positive.

With Arsenal hunting down a first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season, Arteta said there is no room for “robots” in his team.

He wants to see personality, even if it means his players jostling each other on the pitch at times.

“They are a happy marriage,” Arteta said. “They love playing with each other, but they are very demanding with each other. This is good and everything’s fine.

“I don’t want robots, I want players with feeling, with passion, that demand from each other. At the end they have that chemistry. Those two certainly have that chemistry on and off the field.”

Arsenal had the likes of Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell in their last title-winning defence, and Arteta is glad his team have similarly imposing personalties.

The Gunners face Everton on Wednesday, and victory would take them to 60 points from 25 games. They would be matching a club record, having also totted up 60 from 25 in 2003-04 and 2007-08.

Arsenal have won 99 of their 203 league games against Everton (D43 L61), and can become the first team in English league history to achieve 100 victories against an opponent.

They lost 1-0 at Everton at the start of February, however, in what was Sean Dyche’s first game as Toffees boss.

This time, Arteta says it can be a different story as his side attempt to pull five points clear of Manchester City.

“It’s a case of doing things better than we did when we played them a few weeks ago and earning the right to win the game,” he said. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll play better than we did.

“With Sean it’s quite clear what he’s done and where the success they’ve had is coming from.

“With every manager it’s the same. We have to look at certain matches and try to get the right tactics to beat them but also the same mentality and high expectation that we demand in the game.”

While Arsenal flourish, the same cannot be said for London rivals Chelsea, who are withering in mid-table despite a huge spend on new players.

Arteta feels empathy towards beleaguered Chelsea head coach Graham Potter, who revealed last week he has received malicious emails wishing death on him and loved ones as the Blues struggle to find form.

Although he declined to say whether he experienced similar during his own difficult times at Arsenal, Arteta made it clear he understood the pain Potter is experiencing.

“Absolutely, we are colleagues,” Arteta said, “and we all know the pressure and the demands and the uncertainty this industry has.

“At the end the ball has to go into the net. There are many factors that sometimes prevent it that you cannot control. Of course, you empathise because you suffered it, and you know how it is when you’re going through these moments.”

Arteta has managed to switch off when away from work, even when he was facing pressure to deliver results. Consecutive finishes of eighth, eighth and fifth have preceded this season’s concerted title tilt.

“You can have difficulties in your job and challenges which we do, when you lose but when you’re winning as well, because this job is so demanding,” Arteta said.

“But you cannot destroy your life because of that. Your family, your friends, your loved ones don’t deserve it to affect their lives in such a negative way because you don’t win a football match.

“That balance in my case was critical, but you need some help. Sometimes when you are in that position, it’s not easy to see it.”

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No Silva lining for Blues

Influential defender Thiago Silva has joined Chelsea’s long list of injury absentees after damaging ligaments in his knee during last Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham.

The Brazilian, 38, went down clutching his knee and was forced off in the first half of the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with his team-mates going on to lose 2-0.

Some reports indicate the Blues fear they could be without the centre-back for up to six weeks and he joins the likes of Christian Pulisic, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic on the treatment table.

A club statement read: “Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training centre on Monday.

“Scan results from those assessments have confirmed damage to Thiago’s knee ligaments and he will now work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation to return to action as soon as possible.”

Dyche wants to put things right

Sean Dyche wants to improve Everton’s mentality in away games as he looks to improve the Toffees’ dismal record on the road this term.

The Merseysiders head to leaders Arsenal tomorrow as overwhelming underdogs having not won on the road in the league since beating Southampton on October 1.

Though the Emirates looks an unlikely place to end that run, Dyche knows how important it is to change his side’s fortunes ahead of a winnable trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The 51-year-old said: “It’s about going into these games with the belief in what we do, mainly the consistency of performance home and away.

“It’s well known that apart from the pandemic season, most clubs have stronger home form and there are all sorts of scientific reasons for that. Players have higher testosterone levels playing in front of home crowds and all kinds of different things.

“But you can still have a good away record by structuring the team, suggesting the team maybe works in different ways, but mostly mentality is important.

“You want players to go away from home with a strong jaw and a strong mentality to what it’s going to offer you and that’s something we need to build here.

“We’re in the early process of doing that. It’s about having that ability to go away and still deliver on a consistent level and with that edge because it’s important — particularly away from home — to have that edge in your play.

“At home the crowd can give you that edge. When you’re away, you have to bring it through the collective on the pitch.”

Fab out for Hammers

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket in the Hammers’ win over Nottingham Forest.

The Polish international was replaced by back-up stopper Alphonse Areola in the 69th minute after a nasty collision during last Saturday’s 4-0 victory at the London Stadium.

He is one of three first-team players David Moyes will be without for tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Vladimir Coufal was withdrawn at the interval and is another absentee, while striker Danny Ings is cup-tied having represented former side Aston Villa in the third round.

The Glaswegian boss said: “We’ve got a few injuries, Lukasz Fabianski has got a fractured cheekbone and eye socket. We don’t know whether it will be operated on yet.

“Vladimir Coufal has got a heel injury, I think that’s really the two injuries we have from the weekend. Danny Ings is cup tied.”

Karius still dreaming of happy ending

Loris Karius believes his career can still have a happy ending despite suffering further final heartbreak in last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

German stopper Karius, 29, was handed a surprise opportunity to atone for his calamitous Champions League final performance for Liverpool five years ago when he started for Newcastle against Manchester United at Wembley.

He ended up on the losing side once again as Casemiro and Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for the Red Devils but acquitted himself well on his first competitive appearance for almost two years.

The Magpies keeper said: “If we had won the cup, it would have been a great story, but unfortunately it’s not the dream ending.

“But who knows? Maybe we’ll be here again next year with Newcastle, maybe I’ll play another one. You never know. 

“The last week showed me again that in football, anything is possible, up and down, so who knows?

“I’m not writing anything off, so hopefully the story will have a very good ending one day.”

Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and his one-time Blues replacement Romelu Lukaku could be lining up together at Stamford Bridge next season.

Abraham, 25, graduated through the West Londoners’ academy but made a permanent move to Serie A outfit Roma in August 2021, citing a need for more game time.

His decision to depart was no doubt impacted by the Blues’ capture of Lukaku, who had returned to his former employers for an eye-watering £97.5million just five days prior to Abraham’s exit.

However, things did not exactly go to plan for the Belgian and he was shipped back on loan to Inter Milan for this campaign, with many presuming the move would become permanent this summer.

Yet Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has now cast doubt on that assumption, suggesting Lukaku will be back with his parent club in June unless something changes.

Marotta told Sky Sports Italy: “Lukaku is a Chelsea player today. At the end of the season, he will return there and then a new scenario will open up and we’ll see what to do.

“He wants to stay [at Inter], it is an intention that he has expressed several times and certainly knowing him we will see if it will be the case to be able to negotiate his return with us.”

Despite those encouraging comments, a mix of injury and poor form has seen Lukaku net just four goals for the Nerazzurri this term and the Italians may be unwilling to meet Chelsea’s high valuation.

Meanwhile, Abraham’s return to Stamford Bridge is seen as a cut-price alternative to a bank-breaking move for Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen.

Recent reports have suggested 24-year-old Osimhen will cost any suitors upwards of £90m this summer and Chelsea have already undergone a period of excessive spending.

Instead, Football Insider claim that a reunion with England ace Abraham is more realistic and that the towering No9 would be open-minded on returning to his boyhood side.

New centre forwards appear to be a priority for the hapless Blues, who slumped to another disappointing defeat at Tottenham on Sunday to heap more pressure on their under-fire boss Graham Potter.

In other news

Mundo Deportivo say Barcelona are one of several clubs exploring whether Julian Alvarez would consider leaving Manchester City on loan next season.

Arsenal would be interested in bringing Raheem Sterling to the Emirates if Chelsea make him available for transfer this summer, claim 90min.