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Friday, May 26, 2017

Good news for Manchester United fans, as Mourinho reveals transfer plans

Manchester United are set for a huge transfer outlay in the summer, but have prioritized signing quality players instead of just piling up the numbers ahead of next season, which is promising to be an assault on the Premier League title.

A return of EFL Cup, Europa league and the Community Shield has been decent, but it is the club’s gap to champions, Chelsea that will most likely give Jose Mourinho sleepless nights. United finished 24 points behind high flying Chelsea, but Mourinho is looking at mounting a sustained title challenge.

Via Talksport, after the Stockholm Final in which United won 2-0 on the night, Jose said,
“(The agents) don’t have my number,” Mourinho told BT Sport.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Champions League or not, Ed Woodward (the United executive vice-chairman) has my analysed (targets).

“He has what I want, what I would like, for more than two months.

“So now it’s for him, for the owners, for the people that work with him and I just wait but I don’t care about football now.”

Mourinho knows that only three or four quality additions are needed to make the team win its first league title in five years. The likes of Antoine Griezmann, James Rodriguez and Michael Keane are all rumoured to be close to moves to Old Trafford.

A top defensive midfielder is also needed to complement the midfield, while a top class goalkeeper is needed to potentially replace David de Gea, who is reportedly keen on a move back to Spain to join Real Madrid.

United have struggled to complete for the title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, while Jose Mourinho is keen to get one over Chelsea and Antonio Conte, as the Chelsea fans spectacularly booed him when United lost 1-0 in the FA Cup back in March.

OH BOY NOT GOOD; THIS IS WHAT EDEN HAZARD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIS CHELSEA FUTURE

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been incredible this season

The Belgian suffered a miserable dip in form last season, as Jose Mourinho departed and Chelsea went on to finish 10th in the Premier League.

But with the enjoyment these days comes the knowledge that he needs to be a leader at Chelsea.

Hazard has hit 17 goals this season but it is the overall revival in his play under Antonio Conte that has elevated the Belgian back into an elite group of players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The Chelsea forward is 26 and has been at Stamford Bridge for five years.

He is no longer the exciting kid who might turn a match with one elusive dribble, one electric run - he is the one who is expected to.

John Terry’s departure from the Blues at the end of this season has, as Chelsea prepare for the FA Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley today, raised the question of where the next generation of leaders at Stamford Bridge are going to come from.

And Hazard says he is ready to take up that mantle.

Propelled by the hard-work regime of Conte, this season has been entirely different.

The Blues picked up the Premier League trophy last Sunday - and they are going for the Double today.

Hazard said: “This is football. Sometimes you are at the top and sometimes not. People are always talking, but I don’t care about that.

“I try to be the best I can. I don’t know if I am top five, top 10, top 20 in the world. It’s not my target. I just want to enjoy my football.

“Players like Ronaldo and Messi are leaders. People that want to be better every day. That’s why they have been at the top for the last 10 years.

“They need to prove, we all need to prove every day. But I don’t think too much about that. I just concentrate on myself, on football, on the pitch, on the training ground. Then I see what comes.

“When I signed for Chelsea in my head it was to win titles. Maybe not like this - I have already won two Premier Leagues, one League Cup, one Europa League.

“It’s not bad - but it can be better. The FA Cup and Champions League, why not?”

As for leaders, Hazard admitted: “We have a couple of players who can be leaders. I am in my fifth year at Chelsea. We have some guys who have a lot of experience, so we are ready.

“I try to be a leader on the pitch. John is a legend for us, the club, for all the fans.

“Next season he’s not here anymore, but some of the guys are ready to take this opportunity.”

Hazard believes a win at Wembley would lay down a marker for what Chelsea hope to achieve next season.

He said: “We have this new manager, we have a couple of young players so everything is ready to build something.

“The last 10 years in Chelsea have been great. Now it’s like a new generation. Frank Lampard is finished, Didier Drogba is finished, Ashley Cole, and now John.

“It’s a new generation, and we want to prove that the club is one of the best in the world.

“For next season, the FA Cup is a good opportunity to put pressure on Arsenal and all the other opponents. To show what we can do next season.

Chelsea slap £60 million price tag on wantaway Atletico Madrid target

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Chelsea will reportedly hold out for a fee of around £60 million and upwards for wantaway striker Diego Costa, who is wanted by Atletico Madrid.

According to The Times, Chelsea are reportedly ready to listen to offers for wantaway striker Diego Costa. The Blues, however, will not do a cut-price deal to part with the Spaniard and will hold out for at least £60 million for the player, who has been linked with Atletico Madrid recently.

Diego Costa has been one of the cornerstones of Chelsea’s successful campaign this season – a campaign that saw the Spaniard chip in with 20 goals and 8 assists in the league alone.

Related videos • Costa is happy at Chelsea - ConteThe 28-year-old, though, has continued to be mired in controversy, linked with a mega-bucks move to China – a rumour that was followed by reports of a training ground bust-up with Antonio Conte. The Italian manager, though, has handled the striker superbly throughout the season.

Costa, though, was thought to be on his way to China in the summer, with a move to Tianjin Quanjian all but confirmed – a deal that would involve a £76 million transfer fee along with a contract that would make Costa the highest earner in the world.

The 28-year-old, though, has been linked with a fairytale return to Atletico Madrid as well, who would require the addition of a striker in case Antoine Griezmann ends up leaving for Manchester United – a rumour which is gaining traction by the day.

Atletico Madrid do have Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres apart from Griezmann. But, the duo are a level lower to the French superstar and Simeone is unlikely to leave the summer transfer window without an addition in the said position in the wake of Griezmann’s departure.

Costa’s move to China is most likely off, after the Chinese Super League imposed a 100% tax rate on high-profile imports, which is likely to mean that Tianjin would have to shell out around £150 million if they are to bring the Spaniard over to the country.

Los Rojiblancos will see a large influx of cash from Griezmann’s deal, provided the deal does happen, and El Cholo can utilise a portion of it to facilitate the return of the 28-year-old. Diego Costa has been vocal about his desire to return to the club and the player is likely to grab the deal with both hands, if the opportunity presents itself.

GOOD NEWS; CHELSEA STAR CONFIRMS THAT HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR CHELSEA NEXT SEASON

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Over the last few months, Willian has been touted with an exit from Stamford Bridge, with Man Utd reportedly keen. A departure would, in some ways, make sense – with the Brazilian rarely a starter ahead of Pedro under Antonio Conte.

However, Willian, in an interview with the Evening Standard, has revealed that he wants to stay at Chelsea next season: “Yes [I want to play here next year]. I have a contract with Chelsea until 2020 and I am very happy here”.

Unsurprisingly, this has left the fans in the Transfer Tavern chanting Willian’s name, with the winger a real fan favourite at Stamford Bridge. The standout figure at the club during a tough spell in the 2015/16 season, the Brazilian has endeared himself to supporters, and many want him to end his career at Stamford Bridge.

Despite his lack of game time this year, Willian, who reportedly earns £110k-per-week, has continued to impress – picking up 8 goals in the English top flight.

Chelsea fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!

GOOD NEWS Manchester United STRAR Agree to 2-Year Contract Extension

Image result for man utd trophy celebration 2017

Antonio Valencia has signed a new two-year contract extension with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2019, and he'll have the option to stay another year beyond that.

United made the announcement on Friday via their official website.

Valencia said: "Manchester United has been my life since 2009, and I am absolutely delighted to have signed a new contract."

Should the Ecuador international see out his new deal he will celebrate a decade at the club.

Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho added: "It is no secret that I had been an admirer of Antonio's long before I joined the club. I knew what a fantastic player he was, and he has not disappointed me on that front."

ESPN's Alex Shaw hailed the decision to hand the former Wigan Athletic man an extension:

Valencia has been resurgent under the Special One this season and recaptured the exceptional form he showed earlier in his United career.

Football writer Liam Canning hailed his performances this year and believed he was a strong choice to lead out the team in their UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday:

His performances this year have also been recognised by his peers, per United's official Twitter account:

According to Squawka, he showed his defensive quality in the Premier League this season by making 44 tackles, 42 interceptions and 67 clearances, while at the other end he also scored once, assisted three times and created 32 chances overall.

Reliable at the back but capable of making marauding runs forward, the hardworking winger has successfully transitioned into an excellent full-back during his time at Old Trafford, and despite turning 32 in August, he has continued to produce consistently strong performances.

United will soon need to find a long-term replacement for him, but locking him down for the next couple of seasons while they work on that is a shrewd move.

GOOD NEWS: Antonio Conte makes decision between Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata transfer

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly decided to make Everton’s Romelu Lukaku his top priority ahead of this summer, leaving Alvaro Morata on the second place in the Italian’s transfer target list, Marca (via Metro) claims.

The Spanish media outlet believes that Chelsea see Lukaku as a better fit to the team for his experience in the Premier League, also boosting the team’s home-grown quota.

Morata has also been linked with moves to Manchester United and AC Milan, with the two transfer rivals stepping up the chase for the £52m rated striker.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to offer David De Gea to Real Madrid in hope of landing Morata ahead of the Blues this summer.

Conte is known to be a big fan of Morata, who has also hinted at moving to Chelsea as he told the media he sees himself working with the Italian manager ‘sooner or later’.

Lukaku bagged an astonishing 25 league goals this season and could reach even bigger amount of goals at Chelsea next season.

FA CUP FINAL: HOW CHELSEA COULD LINE UP AS ANTONIO CONTE TARGETS THE DOUBLE

Image result for chelsea vs arsenal fa cup 2017

Antonio Conte will walk out at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon aiming to become the first manager to win a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season in English football.

His Chelsea team stormed to the domestic title, winning 30 of a possible 38 games that is the second most in the Premier League. Conte did so with a constant core to his starting lineup.

But, ahead of the FA Cup final against Ars è ne Wenger’s Arsenal, he has decisions to make. Here, Newsweek looks at how the Italian may put out his team.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois will be one of the first names on Conte’s team sheet. The Belgian goalkeeper featured in all but two of the matches in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign, with Asmir Begovic deputizing due to a sprained ankle. Courtois picked up the Golden Glove award after keeping 16 clean sheets this season.

Defense

Conte got sentimentality out of the way in Chelsea’s final game of the Premier League season. Club captain John Terry started the game against Sunderland but was substituted after 26 minutes, and given a guard of honor in what was his farewell from the club he has been part of for 22 years. So, the Italian can stick with his trusted 3-4-3: David Luiz at the center of a back-three with Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill either side of him. In the wing back positions, Victor Moses will finish the season in his new position, having been Conte’s most miraculous work at Chelsea, and Marcos Alonso on the left.

Midfield

Here, Conte has his biggest decision to make. Does he look to go on the attack by starting former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has been a key member of the Chelsea team this season despite starting much of the campaign on the bench? Or, does he opt for conservatism in the shape of the imposing and powerful screen of Nemanja Matic? Double Player of the Year winner N’Golo Kante is certain to start against a team that could — and should — have signed him last summer.
Attack

With 21 goals this season, Diego Costa will surely start for Chelsea, right? Possibly not. The last time Conte sat in the dugout at Wembley Stadium, he had Costa sat behind him on the substitutes’ bench. The Italian chose Michy Batshuayi for the FA Cup semifinal against Tottenham, and Chelsea advanced to the final. Since then, the 23-year-old Belgian has scored four times in the last three games, giving his manager a decision to make ahead of Saturday.

Eden Hazard will likely start on the left side of attack, but Conte has switched between options on the right side throughout the season. He has preferred the Spaniard Pedro, who has made 42 appearances but Brazilian Willian has also featured 40 times, most of which came from the bench.