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Tag: Epl

  • Barca circulate 8-man sale list to EPL clubs [See Players]

    La Liga giant Barcelona are prepared to sell several big names this summer.

    The Daily Star says Barcelona are ready to sell up to eight first-team flops after handing Premier League clubs a list of players available to buy this summer.

    The most stunning name on the list is £89million flop Antoine Griezmann who only joined from Atletico Madrid last summer but has struggled to convince in Catalonia.

    Barca have also put French winger Ousmane Dembele and 33-year-old Luis Suarez up for sale in a severe clear-out.

    The other names circulated include midfielders Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic, plus defenders Samuel Umtiti, 26, Nelson Semedo, 26 and Sergi Roberto, 28.

    One player whose future remains uncertain is Philippe Coutinho, on loan at Bayern Munich but reportedly favoured by new boss Quique Setien who wishes to reintegrate him into the first-team squad.

  • COVID-19: Players are scared to resume – Aguero

    Players are “scared” about the prospect of returning to action amid the coronavirus pandemic, says Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

    The Premier League is hoping to resume the season on 8 June, which would require players to be be back in full training by 18 May.

    Top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss options for the restart.

    “The majority of players are scared because they have children and families,” said 31-year-old Aguero.

    Speaking to Argentine TV station El Chiringuito, the Argentina international Aguero added: “I’m scared, but I’m with my girlfriend here and I’m not going to be in contact with other people. I’m locked in my house and the only person I could infect is my girlfriend.

    “They’re saying that there are people that have it and don’t have any symptoms but still infect you. That’s why I am here at home. Maybe I have the illness and I don’t even know.”

  • EPL: Arteta missing as Arsenal players resume training

    Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta, was missing as the first team resumed training at London Colney on Monday, the UK Metro reports.

    A ‘majority’ of the squad trained at the club’s Hertfordshire base, after the club decided that it was safe to open up their large training base.

    However, the Gunners enforced strict rules for all players, with each individual having their own ball and parking spot, to reduce contact.

    The players were also given designated times to arrive and arrived in groups of five, to stem the flow of players through the door.

    The gym, canteen and indoor training centre remained closed.

    Arteta and his first-team staff were not present at training, choosing instead to remain at home.

    The Spaniard tested positive to Coronavirus in March, but has since recovered.

  • EPL: Arsenal to reopen training ground to players

    Arsenal will reopen London Colney training ground to their players next week for individual training, but the Premier League club will continue to observe social distancing rules amid the Coronavirus outbreak, they said on Saturday.

    Soccer in England was suspended indefinitely last month due to the virus and no clubs have been in training.

    “Players will be permitted access to the Colney grounds next week,” Arsenal said in a statement.

    “Access will be limited, carefully managed and social distancing will be maintained at all times. All Colney buildings remain closed.

    “Players will travel alone, do their individual workout and return home,” the club added.

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was diagnosed with the novel COVID-19 on March 12, which led to the Premier League postponing the next round of matches and none have been played since.

    Arsenal spoke to all their players after Alexandre Lacazette, David Luiz, Nicolas Pepe and Granit Xhaka were pictured allegedly breaking social distancing guidelines.

    Premier League clubs have been working on the basis that the earliest they may be allowed to resume training would be in early May.

    The British government is expected to review current lockdown restrictions on May 7.

    Should teams be allowed to train, it is expected they would need two to three weeks to get prepared to play competitive matches, making the earliest possible return in June.

    But with the ban on mass public gatherings likely to be one of the last restrictions to be lifted, rescheduled games will almost certainly be held behind closed doors.

    The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has been liaising with a number of sports bodies, led by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on how things might work should the green light be given by the medical experts for sport to resume safely.

    The Football League (EFL) which organises the three divisions below the Premier League, on Saturday highlighted testing of players and others involved in games as the key issue.

    “Clearly, before any return to football can take place, suitable testing arrangements for participants must be in place.

    “This is core to our current planning, as is ensuring there is absolutely no negative impact on the country’s front-line workers, the Emergency services, League and Club staff members,” the league said in a statement.

  • EPL: I do regret leaving Everton – Moyes

    West Ham boss David Moyes has admitted regret quitting Everton for Manchester United in 2013.

    After 11 years at Goodison Park, during which he earned much praise for his work at Everton, Moyes was appointed as United manager in 2013 as the successor to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

    Moyes’ spell at United certainly didn’t go to plan as he was sacked after less than a season.

    He told Bein Sport: “I think I’ll always look back and regret leaving Everton because of the team and the players I had built at that time.

    “But I’ll never be regretful for joining Manchester United or doing what I’ve done.

    “I think in football we all make decisions – Andy will tell you as much as anything – some work for you, some don’t work for you.

    “I think on the journey of being a football player or football manager you’re never always going to have good times. You’re always at times going to have ups and downs.”

  • Why Liverpool always fail in EPL title challenge

    Why Liverpool always fail in EPL title challenge

    Liverpool Champions League winner Didi Hamann feels they were never good enough to win the Premier League.

    Hamann won European titles under both Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez.

    He told the Liverpool Echo: “It was the ability to get through the biggest fixtures that set Liverpool apart during his seven years on Merseyside, Hamann believes, as one of the most decorated players of Anfield’s modern era.

    “We showed so many times during my career at Liverpool, when it came down to a one-off game we were a match for anyone and so much of that comes down to game-management.

    “You have to grasp these opportunities and when you get a chance to hurt the opposition, you have to do that.

    “There were not many teams better than us when it came to these situations to really realise our chance to score the goals we needed.

    “There were not many better club teams than us.

    “But I think maybe to compete on the league front we were always maybe two or three players short of that.”

  • I am an Arsenal fan, Coutinho’s agent hints at EPL return

    Philippe Coutinho’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has said that the player “would love a return to the Premier League,” one day, while admitting he is a supporter of Arsenal.

    However, Joorabchian insists he will not influence which English club Coutinho chooses.

    The Brazilian midfielder is presently on loan at Bayern Munich from Barcelona.

    The Bundesliga champions are not expected to make the deal permanent, which means the 27-year-old might be on the move again this summer.

    Coutinho, who had previously played for Liverpool, is attracting attention from Chelsea and Arsenal.

    “The fact that I’m an Arsenal supporter is not a secret,” Joorabchian told Sky Sports News.

    “I don’t have any preference where the players go. I don’t try to push someone to one club or another. Everything is a possibility.

    “The Premier League is something that he has always enjoyed playing in, and loved playing in, and would probably love to come back and play in.”

  • EPL season to be announced ‘over’

    Udinese Director, Pierpaolo Marino has claimed that the Premier League will soon release a statement announcing that the season “is over.”

    Marino’s Udinese is also controlled by Watford owners, the Pozzo family.

    He said the EPL will cancel the rest of the season’s games amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Marino told Sportitalia, “The Belgian Federation has already sanctioned the end of their league, despite the threats of sanctions from UEFA.

    “In England, the Premier League is about to release a similar statement, because the situation there is becoming very, very serious. I frankly just hope we can enjoy football again after the coronavirus.

    “It doesn’t matter how long it takes, we need to get out of this danger zone. I am worried about the next seasons, not the old one.”

    Marino’s claims is coming despite Premier League’s statement last week that they will return to action, “when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”

  • Pressure mounts on EPL players to make move on wages

    Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to impose a 20 per cent wage reduction on 550 non-playing staff due to the impact of the coronavirus has prompted increased pressure on Premier League players to take a pay cut.

    The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) are in talks with the Premier League over how best to deal with the current suspension of competition.

    However, the moves by some clubs to use the government’s furlough scheme has prompted sharp criticism.

    On Monday, Newcastle United put non-playing staff on leave and instructed employees to apply for the government’s newly-created coronavirus job retention scheme.

    Professional football in England has been suspended until April 30, at the earliest, due to the pandemic.

    Norwich City on Tuesday said they were taking similar steps to “safeguard future jobs and help sustain the club” through the crisis.

    The Norfolk club said they would top up the government’s help to ensure staff received their full salaries.

    Julian Knight, the Conservative MP who is chair of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the British parliament, has condemned such moves.

    “It sticks in the throat. This exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vacuum at its centre,” he said.

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said top players should be the ones who make the sacrifices.

    “It should be those with the broadest shoulders who go first because they can carry the greatest burden and have probably got savings…

    “… rather than who were in catering or hospitality who have probably got no savings and live week by week and who probably won’t get the (government) benefits for five weeks,” he told the BBC.

    Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan said the situation was an “awful look” for football.

    “I believe there is a moral issue around an industry like football that has been awash with money,” Jordan told the talkSPORT radio station.

    “Football players and football clubs over the last five years have really had it on their toes with the revenues that have increased because of the broadcasters.

    “I think there is a situation here where football has to look at itself and say, ‘Do I really, just because the government is offering its teat, have to nuzzle on that?’.”

    Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said his move aimed to protect the club, but said he hoped that talks between players, managers and the Premier League would reach a decision.

    “We hope the current discussions between the Premier League, PFA and LMA (League Managers Association) will result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football ecosystem,” he said.

  • Tottenham places huge price tag on Kane

    Tottenham Hotspur has set a price tag for their captain and striker Harry Kane.

    Kane has drawn interest from Manchester United in the past few weeks.

    The player has been out of action since January with a hamstring injury, as Tottenham exited all competitions and are in danger of missing out on next season’s Champions League.

    According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham values Kane at £200million.

    The England international has scored 181 goals in 278 appearances for Spurs.

    Kane admitted last week that he is frustrated at not winning silverwares at Spurs, adding that he’s ready to leave if they do not make progress.

    The 26-year-old said: “I am an ambitious player. I want to improve, and I want to get better. I want to become one of the top players in the world.

    “It all depends on what happens as a team and how we progress as a team.”