Manchester United have insisted reports that Wayne Rooney has signed a record-breaking new contract with the club are premature, reports Sky Sports.
The Sun on Sunday newspaper reported that the England forward had signed a new four-and-a-half year deal worth a staggering £300,000 a week.
However, the club have stressed Rooney is yet to sign a new deal, reportedly worth £70million until the summer of 2018.
“There is no deal, which is why we haven’t announced it,” a United spokesman said.
Negotiations over a deal to keep Rooney at Old Trafford have been taking place for some time, and are believed to be ongoing.
The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from United since the end of last season, when former manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he had handed in a transfer request.
He was heavily linked with a switch to Chelsea during the summer, and United’s struggles in the Premier League this season have seen his future questioned once again.
Journalist Charlie Wyatt – who wrote the Sun’s Rooney story – explained it further during an appearance on Sky Sports Sunday Supplement.
“We are saying that he has not just agreed, but he has actually signed,” Wyett told the programme. “Obviously that has yet to be announced for Manchester United.
“I think he realises it is the best place for him still. I know others thought he might go to Chelsea or elsewhere, but I think (David) Moyes has had a series of meetings with him and convinced him to stay.
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“I think Rooney will be the next captain of Manchester United and I think that it is a boost for Moyes. He is obviously going through a difficult spell.”
West Brom continued their excellent start to the season after inflicting a fifth defeat in seven games on rock bottom QPR at the Hawthorns.
After receiving backing of owner Tony Fernandes in the wake of Monday’s home loss to West Ham United there was a feeling the luck of Mark Hughes and his players would change for the better in the Midlands.
Any hope of that happening was quickly snuffed out by a ruthless Albion side that capitalised on a customary defensive lapse to snatch a fifth minute lead. A swift counter attack caught the visitors off guard and James Morrison profited to head Shane Long’s cross past Julio Cesar.
Having taken just three points from a possible 48 since returning to the Premier League it was no surprise that the R’s fell further behind in the 22nd minute. Zoltan Gera was the man on hand to double the Baggies’ lead, taking advantage of Anton Ferdinand’s inability to clear a right-wing cross and steering the ball home from 12-yards.
That appeared to wake QPR up from their slumber enough to fashion a stunning riposte 10 minutes before half time. It was another one for the scrapbook for Adel Taraabt as he rifled a stunning volley past Ben Foster after controlling Esteban Granero’s lofted pass on his chest.
Taarabt, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Granero all went close to an equaliser after the break but their hopes of salvaging a point were ended with Youssouf Mulumbu latching on to Gonzalo Jara’s pass and beat Cesar to wrap up another impressive win for Albion.
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The away side continued to press and still had time to peg the hosts back further courtesy of a sublime strike from Granero but remain rooted to the bottom as Steve Clarke’s men moved up to the heady heights of fourth.
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Gareth Southgate’s choices to be England captain essentially came down to a two-horse race between Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.
At the time he made his decision to appoint Kane, Southgate knew that he could well have shunned a man who would come into the World Cup as the captain of the Champions League holders in favour of a player who does not even captain his club side.
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Gareth Bale’s excellence, Loris Karius’ blunders and Sergio Ramos’ ruthlessness ensured that Henderson had to be content with a runners up medal in Europe’s elite competition and perhaps eased some potential pressure on Kane.
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We asked whether Kane was the best choice as England captain and the response was overwhelming, as 89 per cent felt that Southgate got this one right as you can see from the full results of the poll below…
According to The Guardian sport’s deputy news editor Ed Aarons via his official Twitter account, Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing young Lille forward Martin Terrier before the January transfer window slams shut, with a fee for the 20-year-old likely to be around £13m.
Aarons says that the Toffees, along with Premier League rivals Bournemouth and Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, are all keen on the France U21 international, who is currently catching the eye of many teams with his performances on loan at Strasbourg and for his country.
The Merseyside outfit have already completed a £27m deal to sign Cenk Tosun from Besiktas and are closing in on the £20m addition of Theo Walcott from Arsenal, but it appears as though Sam Allardyce isn’t finished there as he is linked with yet another attacking player.
Meanwhile, West Ham United’s revival under David Moyes continued as they beat Huddersfield Town 4-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday, but the impressive result won’t see the Scot get complacent with his side just five points above the relegation zone.
The former Manchester United and Toffees boss will still be looking to strengthen his squad before January 31, and bringing Terrier to the London Stadium could prove to be a shrewd move.
Here are three reasons West Ham must hijack Everton’s bid to sign the forward…
They may need a new one
As things stand West Ham are well stocked in attacking areas, but since the January transfer window opened Diafra Sakho, Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll have all been linked with moves away from the London Stadium, with the Irons reported to be willing to listen to offers for former duo, while they are understood to want £35m for the latter.
If one or even two of those do go before the end of the month, David Moyes may well consider bringing in a new forward to the club, and Terrier could be the answer for the east London outfit.
Potential
After scoring two goals in 15 appearances for Lille the versatile attacker – who has played on both wings and as a centre-forward this season – joined Strasbourg on loan during the summer, and he has shown the potential he has by scoring three goals and providing a further two assists in 14 Ligue 1 outings.
According to WhoScored.com, his main strengths are his defensive contributions, ability to win aerial duels, holding on to the ball and his long shots.
The stats certainly back that up as he has won 27 tackles, made seven interceptions and won 25 of the 55 aerial duels he has faced.
His prolific goalscoring record for the France U21 side will also have caught the eye, as he has seven goals in five caps for his country.
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Price tag
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While Moyes should have a decent budget to spend this month if he needs to, it still won’t be huge and West Ham will likely not be going out and spending huge amounts on one player.
In that respect, bringing in an individual like Terrier who is impressing now and has plenty of potential to improve in the future – as well as possibly becoming a full France international – for around £13m should appeal to the Irons, and they need to be competing with a rival like Everton for promising youngsters like the Frenchman.
There is a temptation, perhaps even pressure from outside to invest and reinforce when the financial riches are as boundless as they are at Manchester City.
Joe Hart, a tale of a goalkeeper who has lost his way, isn’t something so unfamiliar to the football world. Even putting aside his youth, which in goalkeeping years means he is well short of his prime, forces a look at those around England and Europe who have come across similar problems.
Costel Pantilimon has come into the starting XI at Hart’s expense. The Romanian, despite being on the books at City for the past two seasons, is relatively unknown to those outside of the club. We can pass judgement, create a series of events that could play out over the coming weeks or even months, but they’re unlikely to be too accurate or confident, such is the lack of exposure Pantilimon has had.
Pantilimon is the in-house option that every club, no matter their resources, has to utilise. Importantly, it’s also the best option when handling such a delicate situation. We all know what Hart is capable of from a talent perspective, so why should City discard him now, even after such high-profile blunders?
Neighbours Manchester United have been down this road too. David De Gea didn’t so much lose his way as fail to initially find it in English football. Once again, he was a young goalkeeper who needed to overcome mental obstacles rather than environmental. When you’re dealing with talents such as that, you have to look to the option that best offers the outcome of long-term success.
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In de Gea’s case, United stayed true with their two goalkeeping options, rotating in Anders Lindegaard and easing the burden on the far more talented Spaniard. At this time, there is no doubt as to who the first choice is at the club.
Joe Hart needs time away from the spotlight, time to work on his mental game in private and inside the walls of Manchester City. Overcoming such a problem as an out of form goalkeeper is something that rarely goes to plan when done in competitive matches. It breeds nervousness, with the spotlight shining ever brighter and increasing the likelihood of failure.
Fraser Forster has been tipped as a quick-fix solution. So too has Asmir Begovic, with both the Celtic and Stoke keepers more than likely to be available in the coming transfer window.
But the long-term problems outweigh the short-term benefits. Hart will eventually come good. Even this short spell on the bench could be enough to kick start the England international’s career and see him firmly over the line.
Real Madrid are a good example to look at. Iker Casillas is out of the team and will not see any action in the league unless something seismic happens beyond an injury to Diego Lopez. The Spanish No.1 – Casillas has clearly not lost his place in Vicente Del Bosque’s side – will therefore move on, forcing the loss of not only one of the world’s best keepers, but also an icon for Real Madrid.
Comparisons to Casillas’ status would be premature and a little irresponsible, but Hart has the talent to leave a real dent in Manchester City if he departs off the back of the mistakes of the past year. There’s simply too much to give up by pursuing another goalkeeper.
Much of the same could have been said for Arsenal, who perhaps needed another goalkeeper, namely a veteran choice, to help in Wojciech Szczesny’s education and to shore up the backline.
What happens then when the club have two goalkeepers who are good enough to be first choice? It’s far too risky for any club to switch endlessly back and forth each week. And which high-end goalkeeper would be happy to sit on the bench for a prolonged spell, even if you tell him that the club may be going places with two strong choices? It simply doesn’t happen. As seen in the case with Real Madrid, Casillas will probably be off come the New Year.
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Money and financial capability shouldn’t dictate how a club deals with internal problems. City are not in a bad way by any means. The inconsistencies they’ve faced this season are to be expected with any new manager. But working on the personnel they have will bring the most rewards.
Pantilimon is an able deputy for Hart, and certainly one who understands the demands of the club well enough to share some of the responsibility. But after the sea is crossed, it’s unlikely we’ll see such problems in Hart’s performances again. It’s simply part of the experience and learning curve, and one that doesn’t need rash transfer decisions.
Does the solution to the Joe Hart problem lie internally at Manchester City?
A sad and harsh truth that has developed in football more and more over recent years, is that so many talented players you support each week are in fact pretty unlikeable people.
There is no getting away from the fact, that many footballers are spoilt, selfish, millionaires with little to no loyalty. Not all of them, but certainly more than enough.
It is hard to like a man like Ashley Cole, who once declared he “almost crashed his car” when he heard the news Arsenal would only be offering him a measly £50,000 a week.
Is it the vast amounts of money in the game that make footballers unlikeable?
Is it the cheating culture that has developed, with the likes of Luis Suarez, Ashley Young and Gareth Bale seen throwing themselves about the pitch week in and week out?
Or perhaps the lack of loyalty displayed in the game today? The likes of Robin Van Persie swapping Arsenal – the club who gave him everything – for rivals Manchester United in the search of personal success has left him known as ‘Judas’ in North London. There are plenty with the same nickname across the league.
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What do you think is the main trait that makes a footballer unlikeable?
As reported by The Evening Times, Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko is on the brink of a permanent move back to his homeland after a successful loan spell at FC Midtjylland.
The paper say he is closing in on a four year deal at the Danish champions after falling out of favour at Celtic Park.
Sviatchenko moved to Glasgow in 2016 and went on to make 63 appearances for the Hoops, initially establishing himself as a first-choice centre-back.
That continued under Brendan Rodgers for a while, partnering Jozo Simunovic, until he was eventually replaced by the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer.
He made just two appearances in the 2017/18 season before heading to Denmark in January, missing just one match on FC Midtjylland’s march to the Superliga title.
Fans aren’t exactly delighted to hear he is leaving with many feeling he deserved a second chance at Celtic Park.
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West Ham United’s revival under new manager David Moyes suffered a blow on Saturday after they were defeated by Newcastle United at home in the English Premier League.
The match started superbly at the London Stadium for the Hammers, with Marko Arnautovic netting in the sixth minute. However, the Magpies equalised just minutes later through Henri Saivet, before rushing to a 3-1 lead early in the second half thanks to Mohamed Diame and Christian Atsu.
The home side tried their best to get back into the match and pulled one back when Andre Ayew smashed home, but they couldn’t find the vital third, ending their impressive run under Moyes. The Irons were undefeated in their previous three top-flight matches.
Fans were frustrated with the performance, especially from their midfield, with Cheikhou Kouyate receiving sharp criticism for an ineffective display.
Some are even calling for him to be sold in January.
Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts…
The day Billy Davies walked in to Nottingham Forest to start his second spell at the club, he commented on the “underachieving players” playing at “80-85% of their potential”.
Nine months down the line with Champions League and Premier League players bought by Fawaz’s cash, what has changed?
Three wins in ten and Billy Davies has now resulted to spending 11 minutes digressing his press-conferences into how the referee should be applying the laws of the game.
A first genuine doubt about whether Billy is the right man to take Forest forward, is entering the mind of a lot of supporters. After millions being spent in the summer, it was hoped The Reds would ‘do a Cardiff’, but once again, they seem to be settling down among the chasing pack.
Following a questionable performance against strugglers Middlesbrough, the previously impressive youngster Nathaniel Chalobah was added to the ranks, as fellow clubs looked on with envious eyes. Now though, he’s suddenly not the answer.
A reported £30,000 a week, Chalobah looks anything but interested. To add to the unsettled nature of the Forest squad, with endless rotation, David Vaughan was loaned in as a subsequence of the humiliating display at Yeovil, attempting to solve the problem of the ‘Guedioura role’.
Two very good players, but on the outside it looks as if they’re nothing but ‘panic loans’. Billy Davies in his first press conference also touched on his need to instill added confidence and belief into the players he has. Panic loans are hardly the action of a man who has faith in the current batch.
Leeds United, with loanee Dexter Blackstock, were giving Yeovil the seeing to that Forest couldn’t manage. At the same time, Billy Davies was using defender Greg Halford as his 2nd striker option, rather than Derbyshire, Cox, Tudgay and Miller. Not a huge boost for the strikers he opted to keep on, is it?
As Forest were reduced to 10 men against Blackpool, Billy spoke of his frustration that his tactics were thrown out of the window. Even with 10 men, the atmosphere around the ground was one of disappointment towards the latter stages.
With fifteen minutes to go, it was time to put the foot on the gas and create some problems for Blackpool, asking some questions. Slow on the ball, and walking at a snails pace at set-pieces, even when on the attack, and the tempo to a Forest attack was zapped.
In Billy’s first spell, it was understandable to see his side settle for a point. A midfield usually consisting of Paul Anderson, Paul McKenna and Guy Moussi and expectations could hardly be sky-high.
However, with Jamie Mackie, Gonzalo Jara, David Vaughan and Henri Lansbury now occupying the midfield, more is expected from Nottingham Forest supporters; and who can blame them?
Premier League and International experience, and you get the sense Billy Davies is holding them back a little. It’s down to Billy to adapt his tactics to mould this side into what it is on paper – one that should be ahead in the leading pack.
The January transfer window is approaching and the next two months are crucial to the future of Billy Davies and Forest. Approach the games in a similar manner, leaving yourself susceptible because of players being held back, and it may just be those players knocking on the door of their agents, wanting to be elsewhere.
Ten months ago Fawaz Al-Hasawi pulled the trigger on Sean O’Driscoll for being in a similar positon to the one Billy Davies is now. Millions spent since, hardly much progress made and seeds of doubt may be in the mind of the owner.
A new four-year contract for Billy Davies recently leaves the majority believing their relationship is perfect.
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To Fawaz, that may just be a Public Display of Affection not too different to witnessing Katie Price on the front of The Sun hand in hand with yet another husband, insisting that this one is ‘the one’.
Whether the four years means much to Fawaz will probably show in the testing couple of months ahead.
Nottingham Forest fans don’t want Billy Davies sacked. They don’t want vast change. They just want to see a lot better than what they’re currently seeing, and there’s no harm in that.
Former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall believes it was “pointless” to rest Tim Howard for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup clash with Leeds.
Southall, who holds the record number of consecutive league appearances, revealed he used to have arguments with his management if they ever attempted to leave him out of the side.
The Welshman’s record of 212 consecutive league appearances is being chased down by Everton’s current shot stopper Howard, who finds himself on 189, a run that stretches back to September 2007.
Southall told the Liverpool Echo: “I hated missing games. I used to have a row with Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall if they ever wanted to leave me out, because you’d lose a bit of momentum. I liked to stay in the zone.
“When I looked at the game against Leeds on TV I was looking to see if it was Tim playing, then thinking: ‘Why have they left him out?’ It’s pointless. Outfield players I can understand, but once a goalkeeper gets in that groove you want to leave him in there.
“If you’re No. 1, you’re No. 1 and it’s up to you to play yourself out of that position. I hated missing any game, even a Simod Cup tie against Millwall with 3,000 inside Goodison because I was looking forward to playing in a young team. I think Howard Kendall left me out because he didn’t want to be in the competition anyway!”
Southall was also full of praise for the man who could end up surpassing his record, claiming Howard has become a better goalkeeper since arriving at Goodison Park from Old Trafford.
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“Tim’s a good goalkeeper,” he continued. “His distribution could be better. Sometimes he kicks it too high and too far, which is okay when you’ve got Fellaini on the end of it but not always, but other than that he’s a very good keeper.
“I think he’s done well and he’s improved since he’s been at the club.”