Chelsea to make £21m bid for West Ham’s Enner Valencia

Chelsea are reportedly set to make a £21million bid for West Ham striker Enner Valencia – with the club ready to sign him before the transfer window shuts.

Reports from Metro indicate that Blues boss Mourinho had dismissed talk last week that he was looking to add to his squad, insisting that he’s happy with the options at his disposal.

But a £26.8million deal has been agreed to sign Fiorentina flyer Juan Cuadrado, and now the Sun says Chelsea want to bag him plus Hammers forward Valencia before the deadline.

Valencia only arrived in English football in the summer but has impressed, and Chelsea’s £21million bid would likely be too much for West Ham to turn down.

Liverpool target surprise move for Burnley’s Danny Ings

Liverpool could be ready to make a surprise move for Burnley striker Danny Ings, to avoid a transfer scramble in the summer.

The 22-year-old has been in impressive form for the Clarets since they were promoted to the Premier League, scoring seven goals in 21 appearances.

Ings’ Burnley contract will expire at the end of the season and with both Tottenham and Real Sociedad showing an interest in a deal, Liverpool may beat the rush by making a move before Monday’s transfer deadline, according to the Mail.

Should Brendan Rodgers’ secure his signature, Ings would be loaned back to Burnley until the end of the season.

Liverpool have been expected to bring in a new striker this month, with summer signing Mario Balotelli struggling to settle at Anfield, having scored just two goals all season.

But with Daniel Sturridge on the brink of a return from injury, it looks as though Rodgers is willing to bide his time to add to his squad and is prepared to look to the future with Ings.

Alexis Sanchez likely to miss Aston Villa clash....

Alexis Sanchez is set to miss Arsenal's clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Gunners top scorer Sanchez has got a hamstring injury and Arsene Wenger says it is "unlikely" he will be risked.

Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both also ruled out of the game and face a race to be fit for the North London derby the following weekend.

Wenger said: "We will test him (Sanchez) tomorrow. It is unlikely that I will risk him on Sunday. We'll see.

"Welbeck is very short. He could be available for Sunday maybe, but it would be a big gamble after such a long time out. He's definitely available for next week.

"I think next week's game at Tottenham will come a bit early for him (Oxlade-Chamberlain)."

Real Madrid line up Tottenham’s Harry Kane

Real Madrid are lining up a shock move for in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

Kane has exploded onto the scene this season for Spurs, scoring 18 goals in 26 matches and bagging a number of assists.

And his eye-catching performances have reportedly caught the eye of Madrid, who are now lining up a move to sign him.

According to Metro, reports signal that Madrid could sell Karim Benzema in order to fund a move for the 21-year-old forward.

Kane is currently in talks with Tottenham over a new £35,000-a-week contract, but Madrid would likely better that salary to bring him to Spain. 

Manchester United to finally sign £37.3m Mats Hummels...

Manchester United are set to offer Borussia Dortmund £37.3million to finally sign their captain Mats Hummels.

United have been tracking Hummels since the summer but have failed to agree terms with Dortmund over a deal.

He remains Louis van Gaal’s top transfer target though, and reports in the German media say United are planning a new assault for the player.

According to Sport Bild, United are planning to offer €50million for Hummels, which works out as only £37.3million – because of recent problems with the euro.

That should be enough to finally sign the German World Cup winner, who has been in poor form this term.

Metro UK>>>>

Robin van Persie unsure of Man Utd future....

Robin van Persie claims he does not know whether he will be offered a new contract by Manchester United, with the striker's current deal having less than 18 months left to run.

Van Persie was a huge hit in his first season at United when he joined from Arsenal in 2013, firing in 30 goals as the Red Devils claimed the Premier League title.

However, the goals have dried up since then, managing 26 over the last 18 months, while injuries have restricted his game time.

While the 31-year-old is a firm favourite with United boss Louis van Gaal it remains to be seen how much long the Netherlands international will remain at Old Trafford.

Van Persie's current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2015/16 season and he is in the dark as to whether he will be offered an extension.

"It is not up to me. For the moment I am staying here for 18 months," said the Dutchman.

"That is it really. I can't look into the future.

"I don't know what is going to happen after that. We shall have to wait and see."

Continue reading from CrunchSports.com>>>

Didier Drogba is Chelsea’s ‘best-value’ player ever..

Didier Drogba has revealed his desire to prolong his tenure at Chelsea after admitting he wants to stay at the club past this season.

The striker re-joined the Blues on a one-year contract last summer after leaving Stamford Bridge in 2012 to play for Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua and Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Speaking after he picked up the 2015 Football Writers’ Association Tribute award at a Gala event on Sunday, Drogba admitted he hoped Chelsea could find a way for him to stay at the club.

‘When you have achieved so much and won so many trophies like we have done in the past 10 years, that creates something special,’ he said.

‘I hope, and the club makes me believe, I am part of this big family, so we are going to find the best thing for both of us to promote the club in the best way.’

Drogba – who won 10 trophies during his first spell at Chelsea – has not yet seen a contract extension confirmed, but the 36-year-old insisted he still wants to help take the team forward next season.

‘When I left this club the first time I was saying I had done everything I wanted to do but I think now that I did not do everything. I think there is more to do,’ he said.

‘I love this club and would love to be part of this club for the future, with the new players.’

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hinted on Sunday that Drogba had a future at Stamford Bridge after hailing the Ivory Coast forward as being Chelsea’s ‘best-value’ player ever.

Brendan Rodgers: Balotelli is not the player we need right now...?

The Reds boss revealed the Italian now faces a major struggle to win back his place in the Liverpool squad after a disappointing £16m move from AC Milan

Mario Balotelli could be out in the cold at Anfield for the rest of the season.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers revealed on Sunday night the Italian now faces a major struggle to win back his place in the Liverpool squad.

Balotelli couldn’t even make the bench for the FA Cup tie with Bolton, despite five changes and players like Steven Gerrard being rested, with the manager confirming he axed the striker because he simply doesn’t do what the team requires.

“I think time will tell. He still has a contribution to make – which I think he will do.
“But I have to assess the players every single day when I watch them, running, working. You know? That is how I pick the squad. That is how it will be.

“The realisation has opened up in this last period of time, watching the team and seeing the change since that Manchester United game.”

After the game against Bolton, Rodgers revealed Balotelli wasn’t injured, but simply not selected. He explained that the striker hasn’t been good enough to justify a place in the squad...and realises that himself."           
“It’s tough for Mario because obviously the team is going very well and he has seen the real Liverpool over the last few weeks and he sees what is required to get in the team.

Mirror UK

Chelsea 2-4 Bradford: Jose Mourinho made to eat his words....

Jose Mourinho said on Friday losing to Bradford City in the FA Cup would be a ‘disgrace’.
And now the Blues boss has been made to eat his words.

Bradford pulled off a stunning comeback to bounce back from 2-0, to end up winning the game 4-2.
At Stamford Bridge.

The League One side pulled off a stunning performances, and their fans even taunted Jose with chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ when the third goal went in.

Arsenal: Villarreal centre back Gabriel Paulista fyling in for Medical

Arsenal have finally agreed a £13.4million fee with Villarreal to sign their centre back Gabriel Paulista.

The Gunners have been locked in negotiations to sign Gabriel all week, with Arsene Wenger desperate to add another defender to his squad.

An opening offer of £6million fell short on Wednesday, but respected Spanish journalist Kike Marin says a fee has now finally been agreed – with Gabriel now set to fly to London for a medical.

The £13.8million fee is slightly below Gabriel’s release clause, and now Arsenal are expecting to win a work permit to wrap up the transfer.

Source: Metro UK

Louis van Gaal: Manchester United cannot play 4-4-2....

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United cannot play 4-4-2 because it gives him "a twitchy ass".

United boss Van Gaal has come under fire for persisting with three at the back, a system many of their fans and ex-players feel inhibits the former champions.

But ahead of United's FA Cup trip to League Two Cambridge United, Van Gaal revealed why he is sticking with his much-maligned system.

Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson coined the phrase "squeaky bum time" and now Van Gaal has delivered his own memorable saying.

"I know the stats are giving the positive results that we have won more with 4-4-2 in a diamond," he said. "But when you analyse the game then we have twitched our ass on the bench.

"I said to my players I was 'squeezing my ass', but it was the wrong expression. I have twitched my ass on the bench because we were out of balance.

We lost the game against Leicester City 5-3 and that was undeserved. And all the matches when we play with 4-4-2, like against West Ham, it was always twitching your ass and I don't like it.

"Maybe then you see, after I switch the system, we have won nine or ten in a row.

"Then we lose one match and then the discussion about the system is coming, so it's ridiculous. In the last 15 games we only lost one [to Southampton] and that was undeserved - we were the better team."

Van Gaal is expected to stick with 3-5-2 for the visit to Cambridge, despite being without injured defenders Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, as well as wing-back Ashley Young.

United legend Gary Neville claimed his former club had become "predictable" playing 3-5-2 and that their tempo was "slow" under that system.

But Van Gaal said he had no time for critics of his approach and insisted he would not be swayed into changing his style by fans or pundits.

Continue reading Mirror>>>

Douglas Costa could be heading to Chelsea...

Douglas Costa has confirmed Chelsea have made a ‘dream’ offer to sign him from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk this month.

Costa, a former Arsenal and Manchester United target, was rumoured to have been subject of a £16million bid the Blues on Thursday.

And the Brazilian attacker has now confirmed the approach, and says he is hoping to move to Stamford Bridge.

‘It would be a dream to play for Chelsea,’ he said.

‘It’s a unique chance. I will try to negotiate.’

Shakhtar are rumoured to be unwilling to sell the player this month, although Costa did not confirm a bid has been rejected.

Source: Metro

Is Radamel Falcao worth £44m....?

When Radamel Falcao stepped off of his private jet, having touched down in England on the final day of the summer transfer window, his signing was widely-regarded as a coup for Manchester United.

Following a miserable seventh-place finish in 2013-14, the arrival of Louis van Gaal and a host of expensive new 'Gaalacticos' including £28million Ander Herrera, Southampton prodigy Luke Shaw and Real Madrid and Argentina star Angel Di Maria beckoned a new era.

But it was the loan signing of the prolific Colombian which really set pulses racing. 

Arguably the best No.9 in world football over the past two-three years - the man who had helped kick-start Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid revolution with his goalscoring exploits, having fired Andre Villas-Boas' Porto to an sensational treble - Falcao's arrival looked set to provide United with a razor-sharp attacking edge, particularly with Robin van Persie apparently on the wane after last term

West Ham 3-0 Hull: West Ham overcame a sleep start to secure an easy win...

West Ham overcame a sleep start to secure an easy win over Steve Bruce's woeful Hull City side and keep their European ambitions alive.

To say the first half at Upton Park was poor is an understatement. The home side looked half asleep as their sloppy play should have gone punished by the visitors - but Hull were so lacking in quality they failed to take advantage, with Ahmed Elmohamady spurning their only real opportunity when he put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy in the sixth minute.

After that dismal first-half it only took the Hammers four minutes to open the scoring after the break.

An extended period of possession for the home side culminated in a weak long range effort from Enner Valencia, that Tigers 'keeper Allan McGregor spilled into the path of Andy Carroll who slotted home the rebound with relative ease and Big Sam's men were 1-0 up.

Upton Park is rapidly turning into a bogey ground for McGregor, after his woeful error today followed his red card in last season's fixture.

United plot Bale transfer for De Gea PLUS £50million....

Manchester United are on the move with a complex £100million deal for the release of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale - with David de Gea heading to the Bernabeu, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.

Real have already made it clear to United that they will pursue De Gea in the summer with the Old Trafford giants' transfer negotiator Ed Woodward valuing the 24-year-old Spaniard at a staggering £50m - which would be a world-record fee for a goalkeeper.

European champions Real remain interested despite United's huge valuation for a player who cost £17.8m when he joined them from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

But for the deal to succeed United will demand Wales star Bale - and they're willing to put De Gea plus £50m on the table to make it happen.

United are in no great hurry to sell De Gea, who has emerged as arguably the world's top keeper in the last year.

But talks over a new deal with De Gea's agent Jorges Mendes are at an early stage and it's believed the keeper is waiting to see if United make it into next season's Champions League before committing.

Having just signed 32-year-old former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, boss Louis van Gaal believes he has a perfect ready made replacement for de Gea if he decides to go.

Continue reading from Mirror>>>

Arsenal's Coquelin is better than Chelsea ace Nemanja Matic

Francis Coquelin is still a rookie who is finding his way in the Arsenal first-team.

Yet these interesting statistics, via the good people at Squawka, show exactly why Arsene Wenger has put so much faith in him.

Coquelin is actually much better than Chelsea midfield mountain Nemanja Matic, according to this data.

As the table shows, the Frenchman has won more tackles and aerial duels than Matic, who has also made fewer interceptions, clearances and blocks.

Coquelin, who has played almost 1,500 minutes less then the Serbian this campaign, is also outperforming his rival when it comes to defending.

Chelsea ‘preparing bid for £30m-rated Inter Milan hot-shot Mauro Icardi’

Chelsea will reportedly have to part with about £30million if they are to land Inter Milan hot-shot Mauro Icardi.

The Stamford Bridge side were understood to be willing to wait until the summer to thrash out a deal for the 21-year-old, who is averaging almost a goal in every two games for the Serie A outfit.

However, the Daily Express have cited reports from Italy that suggest that Atletico Madrid have offered Mario Suarez plus cash to take the in-demand forward to La Liga.

The bid from Diego Simeone looks likely to force Chelsea into fast-tracking any offer for a player they have frequently been linked with.

Boasting goal-scoring pedigree at such a young age – netting 19 times in 40 appearances for Inter since making the move from Sampdoria 18 months ago – boss Roberto Mancini knows he has a talent who can generate some serious money for the club.

Icardi is an Argentina international, who has one cap for the South Americans in 2013.

Metro UK

Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool: Liverpool's revival continued to gather momentum...

Fabio Borini's close-range volley and Rickie Lambert's clinical finish from 18 yards hands Brendan Rodgers' men all three points against the struggling Villans

Liverpool's revival continued to gather momentum as they won 2-0 at Aston Villa thanks to goals in either half from Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert.

Brendan Rodgers' side started the brighter and deservedly led at the break from Borini's close-range finish from skipper Jordan Henderson's cross in the 24th minute.

Villa then had a big escape when Raheem Sterling shot tamely straight at Brad Guzan when one-on-one.

Images: Mirror

Wenger joins Mourinho to cry foul over City’s £25m Wilfried Bony signing....

It is part of our game and we have to deal with it.

‘It’s not down to me to control it. There are official people to do that. I don’t know enough about what they do. It’s not my job as well to judge that.’

On the Lampard issue, Wenger added: ‘I’m surprised the way it happened because it was told that he first signed for New York and after he didn’t. It’s strange.’

Although the Bony fee pushes City’s spending over the £49m mark, the club have offset it against the £25m they will bank from Valencia when Alvaro Negredo’s loan move becomes permanent in the summer.

Pellegrini refused to be drawn on Mourinho’s comments, but insisted that there is more to City then just lavish spending.

‘I didn’t hear what he said and it’s not important for me,’ said the City boss.

‘But I don’t think this club or this team is just money.

‘Every team needs good players if they want to win important things.

‘But after that, the way we play is very important.’

Daily Mail

Yaya Toure: I'm NOT sure if I'll be a City player next season....

Yaya Toure has again thrown his future into doubt by claiming he doesn't know if he will still be a Manchester City player next season.

But manager Manuel Pellegrini was quick to dismiss talk of a transfer at a press conference on Friday, insisting the 31-year-old was fully committed to the club.

 

The current African Player of the Year joined the Premier League champions from Barcelona back in 2010 and has enjoyed considerable success at the Etihad Stadium.

Seamus Coleman: A £20m target in Van Gaal's Old Trafford revolution....

He is the boy from a quaint fishing town in Ireland, but Seamus Coleman could soon find himself as one of the most expensive defenders in British history.

As Louis van Gaal holds talks over the purchase of signings at Manchester United on Friday afternoon, the name of the Everton defender will be raised.

He is one of the most enthralling Premier League players to watch, blending his modern day professionalism with spirit of eras gone by perfectly.

Coleman is someone who would improve almost every team in the top flight, and has his perseverance to thank for that. He is a different kind of footballer, grateful for what he has but still holds ambition to play at the very top.

His slick and stylish panache on and off the ball is all that Everton want in a player, but he is very much different off the pitch.

There are aspects of Coleman’s life that are markedly different to the majority of his peers. Firstly, he is exceptionally modest, humble and treats the business for what it is: a job, and one which requires serious devotion.

The Irishman turns up to Finch Farm each day, works hard and then goes home. There are no graces to him; just a man born in a fishing town in County Donegal. He has a long-term girlfriend, leads a settled life and is dedicated to his family.

Continue reading from Daily Mail>>>

Mourinho questions City's £25million signing of Wilfried Bony....

Jose Mourinho has taken a dig at Manchester City after their £25million signing of Wilfried Bony.

The Premier League champions wrapped up a four-and-half year deal worth £100,000-a-week for the Ivorian striker on Wednesday,y but Mourinho has questioned whether City have remained within Financial Fair Play rules.

He said: 'Good striker. If they have the money and no problems with FFP, well done. Rules are different for City.'

City's signing of Bony means they now boast four - Bony, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko - of the Barclays Premier League’s top five goalscorers of 2014.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are two points behind Chelsea in the title race, but Mourinho believes his side are not favorites. 

He said: 'We are not favorites for the title, we are candidates. I would say the same if we were two points behind.' per Daily Mail

Chelsea travel to Swansea on Saturday but Mourinho is still expecting a difficult test from Gary Monk's side despite the loss of Bony. 

He said: 'Swansea have a very good team and very good teams don't depend on one player. Losing Bony doesn't make them less difficult.'

Arsenal agrees to sign Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin...

Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, according to the Secret Footballer.

Schneiderlin, who held talks with the Gunners in the summer over a move, has been linked with Arsenal again in recent weeks.

And amid talk that a £25million bid could go in soon, the Secret Footballer has tweeted that a deal has already been agreed.

The unknown player, who has broken other exclusive stories on his Twitter account, was replying to an Arsenal fan when he mentioned the deal.

@CescHaree My understanding is that they have an agreement already in place with Schneiderlin
— Secret Footballer (@TSF) January 12, 2015

He went on to add that the transfer would not happen until the summer.

@CescHaree Summer
— Secret Footballer (@TSF) January 12, 2015

*S Metro