Carrick Offered United Extension

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has reportedly been offered a one-year extension by the club. The 34-year-old’s current contract expires this summer and there has been major doubt surrounding his future at Old Trafford.

But new manager Jose Mourinho is apparently keen to retain Carrick’s services as he looks to rebuild the United squad this summer. The midfielder, who joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, is currently considering whether to accept United’s offer.

Carrick recently spoke in glowing terms about United’s new manager, although he confessed he was disappointed to see former boss Louis van Gaal and his backroom staff lose their jobs.

“Mourinho’s track record speaks for itself. He’s a good fit for the club and hopefully he’ll do very well,” the United veteran said, according to The Guardian. “I have to say it’s sad to see anyone lose their job, the manager and staff, but good times are ahead.”

The report comes shortly after Mourinho was given a guided tour around United’s training base at Carrington by Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman. During the visit, Mourinho was introduced to long-serving staff members and United director Sir Bobby Charlton.

The Portuguese manager will start his work at United on 4 July, when the team return to pre-season training. However, those United players involved in Euro 2016 or the Copa America are set to return at a later date.

Carrick Offered United Extension

Revealed: Leicester City"s League Position For 2016/17 Season

Leicester City will record a respectable seventh-placed finish in next season’s Premier League, according to Football Manager.

A simulation conducted on the popular video game has predicted the Foxes to finish the season on 59 points, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dethroning them as champions.

Jamie Vardy will have another goal-laden season, bagging 18 times and finishing the campaign in the top flight team of the year alongside England teammate Harry Kane.

Despite failing to retain their title, they will enjoy home wins over Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Leicester will also hit newly promoted Brighton for six at the King Power.

Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri will start the season with five signings – Ajax’s Joel Veltman, Diego Rolan of Bordeaux, Kwadwo Asamoah of Juventus, River Plate defender Emmanuel Mammana and Walsall teenager Rico Henry.

Ahead of Leicester, Arsenal will finish second, with Chelsea third and Tottenham fourth.

Brighton, Burnley and Swansea will be relegated.

Revealed: Leicester City"s League Position For 2016/17 Season

Revealed: How United Can Sack Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal would be in line for a £5million pay-out if the club chose to sack him this summer.

The Dutch coach’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain and details of the cost of getting rid of him this summer have now leaked.

Louis Van Gaal waves at the Old Trafford crowd as he walks to take his seat for a premier league game

United would continue to pay two-thirds of Van Gaal’s salary of around £8m for the final year of his contract if they decide to end his two-year spell in the hot seat.

That year-long pay-out would be halted if 64-year-old was to take another job, the Timeshave reported, but Van Gaal has already stated that United will be his last management role.

Jose Mourinho is eyeing the Manchester United job since he was sacked by Chelsea

Jose Mourinho is in line to replace the under-fire boss but his wage demands would be significantly higher than his predecessor.

Promoting assistant boss Ryan Giggs would offer a cheaper alternative but United are not considering the cost of Van Gaal’s exit in their decisions over whether he is the right man to lead them next season.

Van Gaal currently earns around £8m per year, including a Champions League qualification bonus which he earned with last season’s fourth-place finish in the Barclays Premier League.

In addition, the United boss can pick up £1.5m for winning the Premier League or Champions League while the Europa League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup provide smaller bonuses.

Revealed: How United Can Sack Van Gaal

Bayern Munich Target Arsenal Star

Bayern Munich are sniffing around Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

The German giants have made discreet enquiries about whether Arsenal would be prepared to sell Sanchez this summer.

Sanchez, 27, was a sensational £33m signing for Arsenal two years ago and enjoyed a brilliant first season at the Emirates.

But Sanchez has been dogged by form and injuries this season and Bayern could be ready to pounce given any encouragement.

Arsenal Star man, Alexis Sanchez

They have yet to make a formal approach but their interest could be a worry for Arsenal as they look to tie down Sanchez to a new contract.

Confident: Wenger was bullish over his chances of retaining Sanchez

Sanchez has two years left on his current £130,000-a-week deal and Arsene Wenger insisted last week they are “confident” both he and Mesut Ozil will sign new deals.

Bayern Munich Target Arsenal Star

Photos: Manchester United Train Ahead of FA Cup Wembley Showdown

Manchester United players were put through their paces during a sun-kissed training session ahead of their FA Cup semi-final showdown against Everton on Saturday.

Louis van Gaal’s side have been heavily criticised for their inconsistency this season, although they remain in the hunt for a Champions League place and could yet win some silverware to help secure the Dutchman’s future next term.

Captain Wayne Rooney and players including Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Marouane Fellaini appeared in high spirits during a final session at the club’s Aon Training Complex before they head to Wembley on the back of three consecutive victories

Photos: Manchester United Train Ahead of FA Cup Wembley Showdown

City Begin Negotiations For Dortmund Midfielder

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan, although the clubs remain £8.1m (€10m) apart in their valuation of the midfielder.

Gundogan in action for Dortmund in Bundesliga match

Sky sources understand City have indicated a willingness to pay £28.3m (€35m) for Gundogan, although Dortmund value the player at £36.4m (€45m). Pep Guardiola sees Gundogan, 25, as a key part of his plans when he takes over from Manuel Pellegrini on July 1 and is determined City sign him.

Ikay Gundogan on international duty for Germany

Dortmund’s willingness to sell is driven by the fact the player has shown no indication he will commit to a new contract – his current deal expires in the summer of 2017. Despite that, Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke and Sporting Director Michael Zorc value the player at £36.4m (€45m).

City Begin Negotiations For Dortmund Midfielder

Pep Guardiola Won"t Find It Easy In England

Guardiola is set to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Man City this summer and United legend Ferguson believes it will be the hardest job, he has done.

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Pep Guardiola to be a success in England, but insists he won’t find it easy.

Guardiola is set to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City this summer and United legend Ferguson believes it will be the hardest job he has done.

The Spaniard enjoyed unprecedented success with Barcelona before moving to Bayern Munich, where he is on the verge of winning his third straight Bundesliga title.

Ferguson praised Guardiola’s coaching ability and work ethic, but said the 45-year-old could be in for a shock.

“Well Pep has got a fantastic work ethic about him,” he told Sky Sports. “And he demands that from all his training sessions. So anyone who says they’re not going to work hard won’t last long I’m sure of that.

“He has got great coaching ability there’s no doubt about that. It’s interesting because it’ll be difficult to match what he did at Barcelona.

“Obviously Man City have had a real coup in getting him because he’s an outstanding coach, but Pep won’t find it easy. English football is not easy. Every foreign coach who has come to England will tell you that.

“Arsene Wenger, after a few months [of arriving], he was talking about that. Even Jose we he came, after his first season he realised what he achieved was hard work.

“So, he will be a success I don’t think he’ll ever replicate what he ever did at Barcelona but that was a high standard. They were the best.”

Pep Guardiola Won"t Find It Easy In England

Jordan Ayew Sent Off For Elbowing West Ham"s Aaron Cresswell In The Face

Ghanaian international Jordan Ayew was sent off on Tuesday night for elbowing Aaron Cresswell in the face during their Barclays Premier League match against West Ham.

Jordan who started the game was enjoying himself as he kept terrorising the defence of the host with his speed and dribbling prowess.

However that lasted very short as a brief moment of madness saw him elbowing Aaron Cresswell full in the face unprovoked.

Jordan Ayew looks dejected after being sent off for elbowing West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell in the face.

The centre referee had no option that to show him a straight red card for that act.

Aston Villa who are rooted at the bottom of the league table, eventually lost the game 2-0 thanks to goals from Michail Antonio (58th) and Cheikhou Kouyate (85th).

This is the first time the Ghanaian international has been sent off during since he joined Aston Villa from Olympic Marseille at the start of the new season.

Jordan Ayew Sent Off For Elbowing West Ham"s Aaron Cresswell In The Face

Jordan Ayew To Battle Mikel Obi For EPL African Player Of The Month Award

Ghanaian international Jordan Ayew of Aston Villa, Chelsea’s Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi and Senegalese star Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham are the final three in the shortlist for the African Player in the English Premier League of January.

The statement signed by awards director Tunde Adelakun explained that the month showed signs of a long and hard season for the Premier League players so far with players like Odion Ighalo and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez still proving doubters wrong as they continued sparkling form.

But, according to Adelakun, this month is ‘a tribute to the Africans who are making their own contribution in their own way, in their clubs’ trying times’.

Apart from Kouyate, whose West Ham are certainly riding high, getting impressive results against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, and an impressive away win at Bournemouth, the other two nominees are having a season to forget in their respective clubs.

Chelsea, champions of England only last season, are not having the best of times. But, as Adelakun pointed out, ‘things have taken a turn for the up for the champions, unbeaten in eight games since the departure of former manager Mourinho, but more importantly, a restore to starting eleven duties for Nigerian Jon Obi Mikel”.

Continuing, he said “Mikel has put an air of settlement in the Chelsea midfield and we thought we should recognise his input by shortlisting him for January’s award”.

The same can be said of Ghanaian Jordan Ayew, who is having a torrid season with Aston Villa, seemingly unable to pick points to take them off the bottom of the table.

However, Ayew has been playing really well, showing signs of why he was highly rated and picked up by Villa in the summer.

In the statement, Adelakun was quoted as saying “the quality of Ayew’s skill, ability and work rate belies the position his team is on the table, but that is football”, he concluded.

Jordan Ayew To Battle Mikel Obi For EPL African Player Of The Month Award

Atsu Warms The Bench "Again" As New Team Win

Ghanaian Midfielder, Christian Atsu began life in the Spanish la liga with his new club on the bench as Malaga travelled to Eibar and brought home all three points.

 

The former FC Porto player was shipped out on loan by 2014/15 English premier league champions, Chelsea.

The nimble footed winger was tipped to mark his debut in the game but was only a bench warmer as goals from Juanpi and veteran Paraguayan forward seemed victory away from home.

 

Atsu on Monday completed a loan move to la liga side, Malaga after returning to Chelsea from an unsuccessful loan spell with premier league club,  AFC Bournemouth.

Atsu Warms The Bench "Again" As New Team Win

Chelsea FC Confirm Ramires Departure

Ramires has today joined Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in a permanent transfer.

The 28-year-old departs Stamford Bridge after five-and-a-half years as a Chelsea player, in which time he helped us lift every major domestic and European trophy.

Arriving in the summer of 2010, the Brazilian international gradually imposed himself with his strong running and tough tackling, scoring the club’s Goal of the Season in March that season with a fine solo effort against Manchester City.

More goals were added in his second campaign in England, including strikes at Wembley in both the semi and the final of the FA Cup as he lifted his first Chelsea silverware, though his most memorable contribution came away in the Camp Nou. With us trailing Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg, the Brazilian latched onto a Frank Lampard through ball before sublimely chipping Victor Valdes to put us back in front in the tie.

A yellow card on the night meant he was suspended when we lifted the trophy in Munich, but Ramires had done as much as anybody to help us reach the final, and the goal earned him a second successive Goal of the Season accolade.

A year later he was on the field as we added the Europa League to a burgeoning trophy cabinet, and it was Ramires’s energetic late run that won the corner from which Branislav Ivanovic headed the winning goal. That 2012/13 season ended with the midfielder having played 62 of 69 games.

The former Benfica man remained an important figure under Jose Mourinho, largely as a holding midfielder but also as a right-sided winger charged with tracking back. It was on the flank he helped secure significant results away at Manchester City and Liverpool, bravely playing through the pain barrier in one win at Anfield and earning glowing praise from his manager for doing so.

Last season he started the Capital One Cup final against Spurs at Wembley before adding a Premier League winner’s medal to his collection.

In total, Ramires made 251 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 34 goals. We thank him for his service and wish him well in China, where he will be coached by another former Blue, Dan Petrescu.

Source: chelseafc.com

Chelsea FC Confirm Ramires Departure

Ivanovic Sign New Chelsea Dal

Chelsea Football Club has announced that Branislav Ivanovic has signed a new one-year contract.

The defender, 31, was made vice-captain at the beginning of this season, and his new deal will now extend his stay to the summer of 2017.

Ivanovic after extending his stay with the defending premier league champions said: ‘I am very happy to stay with Chelsea for another season. After eight years here this is my home and there is no other place I would rather play football.

‘I have enjoyed so much success since moving to the club and I am determined to help the team achieve more in the last months of this season and next year as well.’

Ivanovic arrived Stamford Bridge in January 2008, and has won every major club honour, including the Champions League and two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup, as well as heading the winner in the 2013 Europa League final.

Ivanovic made his debut in September 2008, famously scoring his first goals away at Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final the same season.

In total he has made 341 appearances, finding the net 32 times.

Ivanovic Sign New Chelsea Dal

Emanuel Adebayor Eyes Drogba"s EPL Record

Veteran Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor is reportedly set to join another London-based English Premier League (EPL) side Crystal Palace.

Palace manager Alan Pardew has already admitted that the 31-year-old free-agent is a target for them in this January Transfer Window period.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal star is also eyeing a move to Palace this month so he can become EPL’s leading African goalscorer.

Adebayor is just nine goals short of the Ivorian legend’s record of 104 EPL goals. Drogba played 254 matches for Chelsea across two spells with the club.

However, Adebayor is currently on 96 league goals from 230 games which he scored while playing for Arsenal Manchester City and Tottenham.

Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who is placed third behind Adebayor, is on 95 goals. Another Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu is next in line with 54 goals.

Adebayor has also been linked with another EPL sides Watford and Sunderland. But he reportedly prefers staying in London.

Talks between Tottenham and Palace are said to be ongoing for Adebayor because the former are still paying the final year of his £100,000-a-week contract.

A deal is expected to be agreed after Palace and Tottenham’s EPL clash at the Selhurst Park this Saturday.

Emanuel Adebayor Eyes Drogba"s EPL Record

Swansea City Beat Watford 1-0 To Move Out Of Relegation Zone

Captain Ashley Williams gave struggling Swansea City an important 1-0 victory over Watford in the Premier League on Monday as new head coach Francesco Guidolin watched on at the Liberty Stadium.

Former Udinese boss Guidolin was appointed as the man to turn Swansea around, alongside interim manager Alan Curtis, earlier in the day and he had a watching brief as Williams proved the unlikely match-winner with a header inside the opening half an hour.

Swansea had won just once from seven games in all competitions under Curtis following Garry Monk’s departure in December but the hosts did not appear low on confidence as their adventurous start was rewarded by Williams’ first Premier League goal in his last 66 outings.

In contrast, Watford – who signed Malaga forward Nordin Amrabat on Monday – lacked ideas as their losing run in the league was extended to four matches.

But Guidolin will begin work with a Swansea side back outside the bottom three ahead of his first game at Everton on Sunday.

Off the back of a 4-2 defeat at home to struggling Sunderland last time out, Swansea brought in Jack Cork for Modou Barrow and, keen to impress their new coach, the hosts began brightly, albeit while struggling to create chances.

Watford named Craig Cathcart, Nathan Ake and Valon Behrami in their XI following a 2-0 defeat at Southampton, with Quique Sanchez Flores’ men taking time to grow into the game.

Odion Ighalo glanced Troy Deeney’s cross wide 21 minutes in before Swansea responded with an Andre Ayew effort comfortably saved by Heurelho Gomes.

And the hosts deservedly went ahead in the 27th minute when skipper Williams made the most of slack Watford defending to power home Ki Sung-yueng’s cross from the right wing.

Williams’ first goal for club or country since March 2014 gave Swansea further impetus as Ki fired over, while Jose Manuel Jurado had Watford’s first effort on target on the stroke of half-time.

Watford were on the front foot following the restart after a lethargic first-half display as Miguel Britos headed Ben Watson’s free-kick onto the roof of Lukasz Fabianski’s net.

But the visitors struggled to fashion further clear-cut opportunities, while Cork sent an effort high and wide for Swansea as they sought to extend their lead.

Jurado continued to disappoint – linking neatly with Ighalo only to send a shot off target shortly after the hour as the pair, along with captain Deeney, were kept relatively quiet by Swansea’s back line.

Ighalo saw penalty appeals waved away when he appeared to be held by Williams while Jurado sent another shot narrowly wide in the final stages before substitute Bafetimbi Gomis rattled Watford’s right-hand post with a fierce drive.

But Williams’ goal was enough to move Guidolin’s men above Newcastle United and into 17th with a first win since beating West Brom on Boxing Day.

Swansea City Beat Watford 1-0 To Move Out Of Relegation Zone

Adamant: Sunderland To BID AGAIN For Swansea"s Andre Ayew

Sunderland are set to make a second bid for Swansea’s Andre Ayew after seeing their first offer rejected.

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is looking to bolster his side’s attacking options during this month’s transfer window and has targeted a move for Ghana international Ayew.

Ayew only joined Swansea last summer after the Welsh club beat a host of sides to land the forward on a free transfer from Marseille.

The 26-year-old started the season in fine form for Swansea, scoring three goals in his first four games and was rewarded with the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

Ayew has gone on to score a further four goals for the Swans and scored in last week’s defeat to suitors Sunderland.

Swansea are reluctant to lose Ayew this month, especially to one of their relegation rivals in Sunderland, and sources have told ESPN FC they have already rejected one offer in the region of £11 million for the forward this month.

However, Sunderland are refusing to give up on their pursuit of Ayew with Allardyce seeing the player as someone who prove the difference for his side in their battle to stay up and the Black Cats are ready to make an improved bid as they look to further test Swansea’s resolve.

Adamant: Sunderland To BID AGAIN For Swansea"s Andre Ayew

Copenhagen Confirm A Deal Accepted For Daniel Amartey

Danish side FC Copenhagen has confirmed a deal has been agreed with English Premier League side Leicester City for transfer Daniel Amartey.

The Ghanaian international will move to London for a reported fee of £ 6m.

Amartey who has already agreed personal terms with Leicester City was expected in London on Saturdayfor medicals.

The 22-year old was a member of the  Black Stars squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Copenhagen Confirm A Deal Accepted For Daniel Amartey

Stoke Frustrate Arsenal To Goalless Draw But Gunners Go Top

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League but their Britannia Stadium hoodoo was extended with a goalless draw against Stoke City on Sunday.

A point was enough to take Arsene Wenger’s side clear of Leicester City on goal difference but it was another afternoon of frustration in the Potteries for the veteran French manager.

His side have now failed to win at Stoke’s home ground in six attempts — a sequence that dates back to a 3-1 success in February 2010.

That victory became infamous for the sickening broken leg suffered by Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who was again singled out for some unsavoury abuse by Stoke fans during his 250th Arsenal appearance.

The bad blood from the injury and Ramsey’s refusal to accept Ryan Shawcross’s apology for the challenge that caused it remains for Stoke fans, who taunted Ramsey throughout on Sunday with boos and a chant about the damage caused to his leg.

Arsenal could not silence the home crowd as Stoke held their own, with both Potters goalkeeper Jack Butland and Arsenal counterpart Petr Cech in good form.

After a scrappy opening littered with fouls and poor passes, it was Stoke who carved out the first chance through Marko Arnautovic.

The Austrian wandered in off the left flank to collect possession in a central area 30 yards from goal, but his ambitious effort flew high into the Arsenal fans behind Cech’s goal.

The game finally came to a semblance of life in the 20th minute when Glen Johnson and Jonathan Walters found space on the Stoke right to pick out Joselu on the edge of the area.

His deft flick teed up Ibrahim Afellay, whose long-range effort flew a yard wide of the target.

Arsenal immediately broke and created an opening of their own thanks to a fine pass by Joel Campbell and an equally clever run by Olivier Giroud.

The Frenchman found himself one on one with Butland but the England international spread himself well to make an important stop.

SUPERB SAVE

The game remained disjointed but, when Stoke failed to clear their lines in the 28th minute, Ramsey had a goal-bound shot deflected wide for a corner which was dealt with easily by the Potters.

Ten minutes before half-time Arsenal failed to deal with Erik Pieters’s dangerous cross but Joselu headed straight at Cech.

The Gunners then handed cheap possession to Stoke, for whom Bojan fired just wide.

Just over a minute into the second half, Butland denied Arsenal what looked like a certain goal.

The goalkeeper reacted superbly to dive low to his left and turn away a free header from Giroud, who had been left unmarked to meet Ramsey’s corner.

Then Stoke were denied as the tempo of the game was raised a notch.

Arnautovic advanced and fed Joselu, whose shot was clawed away superbly by Cech.

The former Chelsea star then reacted well to scramble Bojan’s follow-up around the post.

Arsenal needed Cech again in the 66th minute as he turned a shot from Joselu around the post.

The game became scrappy once more but it was Arsenal who made most of the running in the closing stages and Campbell tried his luck from a tight angle with five minutes remaining.

But his effort flew well wide to sum up an error-strewn contest.

And in the dying moments Stoke had further chances when Ramsey cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble before Cech blocked a follow-up from Joselu.

© AFP

Stoke Frustrate Arsenal To Goalless Draw But Gunners Go Top

Transfer: West Ham Target The Signing Of Ghanaian International

English Premier League Side Targets Black Stars Midfielder

English premier league side, West Ham uniited have made fellow premier league side Swansea City’s forward, Dede Ayew a primary target as they set their sets on finishing in the top half of the table and qualify for Europe.

 

 

Andre Ayew has been in fine form since joining the Welsh based premier league team and is the top scorer for the club. The Ghanaian forward could be tempted with a move away from the Liberty Stadium with the Swans involved in a relegation battle and just one point above the relegation zone and with just a handful of matches remaining the light looks bleak for the Swans.

Swansea City forward, Andre Ayew

The Hammers already have a familiar face in Dimitri Payet who like Ayew signed from French club, Olympique Marseille. The pair were team mates and will be welcome news for Ayew to settle in quickly should the move materialise.

 

Transfer: West Ham Target The Signing Of Ghanaian International

Transfer: Liverpool Challenge Arsenal For Young Ghanaian La Liga Prospect

Liverpool Compete Arsenal For La Liga Star

Liverpool are weighing up a move for Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish sensation Inaki Williams this month.

 

Jurgen Klopp is closely monitoring the 21-year-old forward as he considers bringing in more firepower in the January window. Klopp has been left short of options due to Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi’s injury problems while Christian Benteke has yet to convince since his £32m summer move to Anfield.

Hot prospect, Inaki Williams

Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal scouting team have like always kept a keen eye on Williams for years since he was tipped to break into the first team of the Bilbao based club.

Inaki Williams qualifies to play for Ghana and Spain has a £15.3m buyout clause in his current contract which expires in 2017.

Transfer: Liverpool Challenge Arsenal For Young Ghanaian La Liga Prospect

Transfer: English Premier Side Ready To Sign Ayew

Sunderland want Ayew

English premier league club and fellow relegation strugglers, Sunderland have spotted Aston Villa forward, Andre Ayew as the man to help them survive the league.

 

 

Jordan who has been in impressive form after beginning life as a premier league player with difficulty and many doubting whether he is made for the English game.

Aston Villa forward, Jordan Ayew

Sunderland have struggled for goals but with Jermaine Defoe finding his scoring boots under Sam Allardyce a partnership between Ayew and Defoe will be one great duel to help the Tyneside retain its premier league status.

 

 

Aston Villa manager, Remi Garde wont be happy to part ways with the man whose goals is what is giving the Midlands team a little bit of hope.

 

Transfer: English Premier Side Ready To Sign Ayew