Chelsea handed Donnarumma transfer boost, Man City want Messi AND Haaland – Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool news

CHELSEA have been handed a boost in their apparent efforts to land AC Milan goalkeeper Gianliugi Donnarumma.

Meanwhile, Man City are STILL keeping tabs on Lionel Messi, despite their already expensive chase for Erling Haaland.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

Stay up to date with all the latest football news in our rolling blog…

  • William Pugh

    ED BHOY – EXCLUSIVE

    Eddie Howe has emerged as the leading contender for the vacant Celtic job.

    SunSport understands the former Bournemouth boss is seriously interested in replacing Neil Lennon in the Parkhead hotseat.

    We can exclusively reveal Howe has started his own due diligence on the behind-the-scenes structure of the club.

    That’s seen him sound out trusted contacts within the game who have connections to Celtic.

    Now, after taking advice, Howe is considering the possibility of a shock return to management.

    It would be seen as a major coup for the Parkhead board to lure the highly- respected Englishman north to Scotland. Howe left Bournemouth by mutual consent last summer after eight years in charge.

  • William Pugh

    KNEE BOTHER

    France boss Didier Deschamps has handed Manchester United a boost over Anthony Martial's injury.

    The forward missed the 1-0 win over Bosnia last night after picking up a knock on his knee in the previous outing. Martial, 25, started in the 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan but limped off in the 59th minute.

    Deschamps revealed how he was hoping to have Martial back in his squad to face Bosnia but he failed a late fitness test. He will now be a doubt for United's clash against Brighton on Sunday.

    But the French boss is adamant his injury isn't serious putting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's fears at ease. He said: "Anthony has a small issue on his knee. Nothing is decided yet.

    “He won’t be taking part in the training session a bit later. Anything serious has been dismissed. We’ve run some tests, but there’s still the pain, and having travelled as long as we have, that hasn’t helped.”

    Martial will return to Manchester today and will be assessed by club physios.

  • Richard Forrester

    GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS,

    Manchester City are still keeping tabs on Lionel Messi — as they prepare to move for Erling Haaland.

    Spanish reports claim that the Premier League leaders have pulled the plug on their pursuit of the Nou Camp legend.

    But SunSport understands that is not the case and Messi has not ruled out a move to the Etihad, either.

    He remains on City boss Pep Guardiola’s list of potential targets for the close season, along with Aston Villa’s £100million-rated captain Jack Grealish.

    City are aware Argentine superstar Messi, 33, has yet to open talks with Barca over a new deal.

    His current contract expires in the summer and he is waiting for new president Joan Laporta to get the finances in order.

    Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s contract talks with AC Milan have reportedly hit a hitch, in a boost to interested party Chelsea.

    The Serie A giants are desperate to keep their young No1, who has been a regular fixture between the sticks at San Siro since he was just 16.

    But his current deal expires in June, and reaching an agreement with his agent Mino Raiola is no easy feat.

    According to Sky Italia, talks between Milan and Raiola are currently ‘paused’, with both parties having hit an impasse.

    Having initially offered a five-year deal on around £100,000-a-week, plus bonuses, Milan have upped their offer to £115,000-a-week, as well as Champions League-related incentives.

    Elsewhere, Gareth Southgate threw his support behind John Stones after the Manchester City's error in England's 2-1 win over Poland.

    He told ITV: "John Stones has managed to compose himself for the rest of the game and had a part in the winning goal.

    "You can fold in those moments and he didn’t. He’s been having a really good season.

    "Everybody’s got a lot to play for, for the Euros. We did a lot of good things this week but there is still a step to go.

    "Fatigue was starting to tell but the players stuck at it and they deserved the win.”

  • Joe Brophy

    DREAM DOUBLE

    Manchester City are still keeping tabs on Lionel Messi — as they prepare to move for Erling Haaland.

    Spanish reports claim that the Premier League leaders have pulled the plug on their pursuit of the Nou Camp legend.

    But SunSport understands that is not the case and Messi has not ruled out a move to the Etihad, either.

    He remains on City boss Pep Guardiola’s list of potential targets for the close season, along with Aston Villa’s £100million-rated captain Jack Grealish.

    City are aware Argentine superstar Messi, 33, has yet to open talks with Barca over a new deal.

    His current contract expires in the summer and he is waiting for new president Joan Laporta to get the finances in order.

  • Joe Brophy

    SOUTHGATE SPEAKS

    England boss Gareth Southgate gave his assessment to ITV: "We were very good in the first half and in control of the game.

    "Obviously to concede a goal like we did can hit the team, but they stuck at it, recovered their composure, and it was an important set-play winner."

    On Stones, he said: "John Stones has managed to compose himself for the rest of the game and had a part in the winning goal.

    "You can fold in those moments and he didn’t. He’s been having a really good season.

    "Everybody’s got a lot to play for, for the Euros. We did a lot of good things this week but there is still a step to go.

    "Fatigue was starting to tell but the players stuck at it and they deserved the win.”

  • Joe Brophy

    MATCH WINNER MAGUIRE

    Match winner Harry Maguire spoke to ITV after the game: "Of course it’s a big win.

    "We’re playing to play at a World Cup. We started the game well but in the second half didn’t start well at all. The first 15-20 minutes they were the better team and put us under pressure.

    "It’s nice to get the victory, nine points after a tough camp, three games in a short space of time, and we’ve got a lot of players injured as well. John Stones has been brilliant this year.

    "We’re defenders and when we make mistakes we are scrutinised.

    "He made up for it with a great header at the far post. Defenders make mistakes.

    "We’re not perfect! John has made a little blip tonight but he’ll come back strong.”

  • Joe Brophy

    SCOTLAND 4 FAROE ISLANDS 0

    Steve Clarke's Scotland grabbed their first win of 2022 World Cup qualifying with a comfortable triumph over the Faroe Islands at Hampden.

    The 57-year-old made three changes to the side that laboured to a 1-1 draw in Israel on Sunday.

    And one of those changes, Che Adams, grabbed his first international goal as the Scots made it a rare comfortable night's work.

    Read SunSport's match report HERE.

  • Joe Brophy

    ENGLAND 2 POLAND 1

    Two assists for John Stones, then – one for Poland’s equaliser and one for England’s winner.

    Gareth Southgate had regarded Stones’ resurgence at Manchester City as a game-changer, allowing him to rip up his unpopular back five and pair him with Man United captain Harry Maguire in a flat back four.

    So what to make of this? Stones and Maguire looking shaky in defence as Poland gave Southgate’s side a serious second-half scare, yet the two Yorkshiremen combining for the late winner.

  • Joe Brophy

    DRAGON HIDE

    Dan James has backed Robert Page to lead Wales at Euro 2020 – if Ryan Giggs remains on special leave.

    And when asked if Page is the right man for the Euros if Giggs remains absent, matchwinner James said: “Yes, definitely. He’s been unbelievable as you have seen.

    “Whether he’s the manager or not, he’s been such a big part of before when the gaffer has been here.

    “But he’s taken on the role so well. Nothing has changed really. He has just been doing the job that he was doing before. He gets the points across to us so well.

    “Him, Albert (Stuivenburg) and all the staff behind him have been unbelievable.”

  • Joe Brophy

    DON THE MOVE

    Gianluigi Donnarumma's contract talks with AC Milan have reportedly hit a hitch, in a boost to interested party Chelsea.

    The Serie A giants are desperate to keep their young No1, who has been a regular fixture between the sticks at San Siro since he was just 16.

    But his current deal expires in June, and reaching an agreement with his agent Mino Raiola is no easy feat.

    According to Sky Italia, talks between Milan and Raiola are currently 'paused', with both parties having hit an impasse.

    Having initially offered a five-year deal on around £100,000-a-week, plus bonuses, Milan have upped their offer to £115,000-a-week, as well as Champions League-related incentives.

  • Joe Brophy

    GREAT SCOTT

    Southampton striker Che Adams has scored his first goal for Scotland.

  • Joe Brophy

    ON RED ALERT

    RedBird Capital Partners has agreed a "significant investment" into Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group.

    The move will see NBA superstar and Reds fan LeBron James become part of the Premier League club's ownership group.

    FSG's principal owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said in a statement: "Our strategic partnership with Gerry [Cardinale – founder and managing partner of RedBird], and the entire team will enhance our ability to pursue future growth opportunities in a more accelerated way but with the same selectiveness that has served us so well.

    "We are also pleased to welcome to our ownership group LeBron, Maverick and Paul, with whom we have enjoyed a successful collaboration for well over a decade. Their addition is an important milestone for FSG and expands and deepens a long-time friendship and relationship that began in 2010.

    "To our fans and supporters: Winning continues to be the driving force for all of us. The growth of FSG as an organisation allows us to further strengthen our resources and commitment to the communities we serve, and we look forward to having these talented new partners join us in the next chapter of FSG's evolution."

  • Joe Brophy

    SWAYNE ROONEY

    Exclusive by Joe Kasper: Sir Alex Ferguson claims former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney could not handle booze.

    And the retired manager, 79, told pal Alastair Campbell he was powerless to stop the player from having affairs.

    Sir Alex met former Labour spin-doctor Alastair in 2010 — days after it was revealed married Rooney slept with a £1,000-a-night prostitute.

    Alastair wrote in newly released diaries: “We chatted about Rooney. He sounded a bit down about him. The papers had been full of Rooney and prostitutes. I said, ‘What are you going to do about him?’

    He replied, ‘What can I do? He is also the last guy who should take a drink’.”

  • Joe Brophy

    'POINT OF INTEREST'

    Poland did not take the knee before their England clash after their FA president said the gesture was their 'last topic of interest'.

    And while Paulo Sousa's side opted out, the Three Lions did take the knee ahead of the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

    As reported by Sport in Poland, the Polish FA president Zbigniew Boniek said on Monday: "I do not know if we will kneel with the English.

    "So far, this topic has not appeared at the training camp.

    "There were so many more important, more dangerous, that this is the last topic that interests us."

  • Joe Brophy

    CHELSEA 3 WOLFSBURG 0 (agg: 5-1)

    Sam Kerr fired a warning shot to Europe’s top dogs after Chelsea knocked Wolfsburg out of the Champions League in style.

    Kerr’s sumptuous strike – and an ice-cool Pernille Harder pen – were among the goals that saw the Blues exact revenge on the German giants with a 3-0 quarter-final second-leg win.

    And the result saw Chelsea seal a 5-1 aggregate victory to set-up a tantalising semi-final clash with Bayern Munich or Rosenburg.

  • Joe Brophy

    JULES IN THEIR CROWN

    Real Madrid have joined Manchester United in the chase for Sevilla star Jules Kounde, according to reports.

    Zinedine Zidane's side are keen on signing a new defender this summer, given the possible exits of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.

    And, with David Alaba potentially moving elsewhere despite months of negotiations, Kounde, 22, would appear to fit the bill as an excellent alternative to the Austrian.

    SunSport told you earlier this month that the Red Devils had been boosted by Sevilla's decision to lower their asking price to around £50million.

    And according to AS, Madrid now also fancy a bit of that.

  • Joe Brophy

    PEN PALS

    Sergio Aguero's former club Independiente have reportedly launched a shock free transfer bid for the out-of-contract Manchester City star.

    And having just returned to Independiente, he is eager for club transfer chief Hector ‘Yoyo’ Maldonado to reunite him with Aguero this summer.

    Falcioni said: “We have talked to Yoyo and he is going to call Aguero to see if he feels like coming back.

    “It would be a pleasure to coach him again, but here he will not be able to sign something similar to what he earns there.

    “He would be with all his friendly people again, defending the colours he loves.

    “I know there is an intention to call him, to propose that he returns home, returns to his country so that he can be comfortable and help us make a bigger Independiente.

    “We know each other a lot. We had a year together and we both have fond memories of that time.”

  • Joe Brophy

    AGUE-ROO

    Wayne Rooney believes outgoing Sergio Aguero will be sorely missed by Manchester City – and the Premier League too if he quits England.

    He told Sky Sports: “An outstanding player. He’s been an absolute revelation in the Premier League, one of the best strikers in the world.

    “His goal ratio is incredible and I’m sure he will be missed at Manchester City and I’m sure the Premier League will miss a player of his quality.

    “So from my point of view I’d just like to congratulate him on his career over here.

    “Whether he stays in England or not obviously I don’t know, but he’s certainly had a fantastic career at Manchester City.”

  • Joe Brophy

    CROATIA U21s 1 ENGLAND U21s 2

    It really did look like Aidy Boothroyd’s England were going to pull off the impossible job – but then they were undone by an injury-time stunner.

    The Young Lions thought they had done it through goals from Ebere Eze and Curtis Jones, with Portugal keeping up their part of the bargain by beating Switzerland.

    But in the first minute of stoppage time, left-back Domagoj Bradaric unleashed a rocket from outside the area that flew into the back of the net to break hearts.

    It sent Boothroyd’s men out on goal difference to the Croats, having lost their first two games to Switzerland and Portugal.

  • Joe Brophy

    CASHBARC

    Barcelona's financial situation is 'worse than expected', according to reports.

    New club president Joan Laporta promised voters earlier this month that he would undergo a full audit of the club's finances, should he be elected.

    This audit is now believed to have been completed, with dire results.

    According to Esport3, the club face making a loss of around £300million this season.

    And they claim that the club are in for another dire financial loss next season, even as Laporta aims to improve on the last regime.

  • Joe Brophy

    KNEE BOTHER

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sensationally revealed that Erling Haaland ‘struggled with bad knees’ during their time together at Molde.

    He said in a fan Q&A via Sky Sports: “He came as a 16-year-old, of course, you never know with injuries.

    “He struggled really badly with bad knees when he came, but I could see someone with a personality.

    “I remember him brushing off and putting our centre-back and centre-midfielder, two big, massive lads, he put them on the floor and asked them to get up.

    “He’s a born winner, he’s got a great personality. He’s proving to everyone how good a player he is.

    “We played against Zenit in the Europa League play-off and the ref came to me after and said, ‘He’ll play in the Champions League soon’. We did know.

    “He’s a top personality. I played with [his dad[ Alf, he’s a bit old school in that respect. He’s a winner.”

  • Joe Brophy

    FIRST OR SECOND GEA

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is tipped to choose between his Manchester United keepers Dean Henderson and David De Gea – then stick with the decision until the summer.

    England back-up stopper Henderson played all six United games in March, keeping four clean sheets, after No 1 De Gea went on paternity leave.

    And The Telegraph suggest Solskjaer has no plans to rotate his first-choice keepers when they return from the international break.

  • Joe Brophy

    LIV WITH IT

    Liverpool are set to offload seven players this summer as Jurgen Klopp refreshes his squad.

    Amid links with the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Kalidou Koulibaly and Donyell Malen – the Reds will clear space in their squad for fresh talent.

    And The Mirror claim that as many as SEVEN fringe players could leave.

    Georginio Wijnaldum is likely to be their highest-profile exit, with the Dutchman's contract set to expire.

    Other big names on the Anfield chopping block include 2019 Champions League hero Divock Origi and Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri.

    The Reds are also unlikely to renew the contract of veteran goalkeeper Adria.

    And academy stars Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn and Sheyi Ojo will also finally be in line for permanent exits.

  • Joe Brophy

    HAWK EYE

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he cut short a scouting trip because the player sported a mohican haircut.

    While coaching in Norway, the Manchester United boss was deterred by one seemingly over-flamboyant transfer target.

    He told Sky Sports: "I once went to see a player and as he walked out of the dressing room or through the tunnel onto the pitch, he had a mohican, this was when I was back in Norway.

    "I just said to my scout, 'Let's go home, not interested'.

    "That was a very short scouting trip."

  • Joe Brophy

    SECRET SERVICE

    Agents walked away with a staggering £272million from the 20 Premier League clubs this season – despite the pandemic.

    While top-flight transfer fees were down by £201m in the summer and more than £150m in January, cash paid to agents and intermediaries over the season went UP by £9m.

    Chelsea spent £250m in January on signings including Germans Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, neither of whom have pulled up many trees.

    And the Blues were ‘top’ of the agent table too, splashing out £35,247,822 in fees.

    They were followed by Manchester City, who paid out £30,147,615 and Manchester United, whose outlay was £29,801,555.

    Another seven Premier League clubs paid out more than £10m in fees, led by Liverpool who paid £21,652,589.

Source: Read Full Article