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​Inter have confirmed the signing of Ashley Young from Manchester United on a six-month contract.

The 34-year-old had entered the last six months of his deal at Old Trafford and had already snubbed the offer of a new contract to try and force through an immediate exit to the Serie A side.

​Inter took to their ​official website to announce that the deal is done, with Young penning a deal which also includes the option to extend by a further year at the end of the current campaign.

Manager Antonio Conte was eager to add some more depth to his wing-back positions, with Young emerging as a viable option for I Nerazzurri, despite the initial belief that a move would occur at the end of the season.

Young agreed terms with the Italian side, which prompted ​United to submit their own contract proposal to the 34-year-old, but he quickly rejected the offer in the hope of making an immediate move to Inter.

He has now been given his wish, with Young bringing an end to his nine-year association with the Red Devils in order to join Conte.

In total, Young managed 261 appearances for United following his switch from Aston Villa back in 2011, racking up 19 goals and 43 assists in all competitions. He enjoyed plenty of success with the club, lifting the ​Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League once each.

Earlier in the day, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that the club were unable to meet Young’s demands, and they accepted that they had the squad depth to cope without him for the remainder of the campaign.

“He is 35 in the summer and, if he gets a two-year contract somewhere, I think it’s up to him to take that. We weren’t ready to offer that,” he confirmed (via the club’s ​official website).

“He’s been a good servant for the club. He’s been captain and he’s won trophies, leagues, cups, but we’ve got players coming through. So it was time now, then. When Ashley’s head and mindset was on ‘yeah, I want to try this’, why not do it now?

“Ashley’s mindset was that he wanted to try a new adventure and he he’s approaching 35 now. He’s done a fantastic job and he’s served this club fantastically. I think it was an opportunity for him that we had to say yes to. We got a transfer fee for someone who’s been so loyal to the club.

“Good luck. That’s what Manchester United do, you have players for a long time and then they move on and someone else steps in.”

Tottenham’s quest for FA Cup silverware continues after their 2-1 home win over Middlesbrough in the sides’ third round replay on Tuesday night.

First-half goals from Argentine duo Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela proved enough to see off the Championship side and set up a fourth round tie away to Southampton.

​Spurs were gifted the perfect start by their visitors when Lo Celso was the fortunate recipient of a misplaced pass from Boro keeper Tomas Meíjas in the second minute.

The midfielder gratefully cut inside and rolled the ball into the corner of the net, and it wasn’t long before Lo Celso’s compatriot was getting in on the act.

In the blink of an eye, Spurs had a second. Lamela picked up the ball a fair distance from goal but burst through the defence and deftly slotted home with the outside of his left boot.

A comfortable 2-0 is how it remained until Boro substitute George Saville hit an arrowed shot into the bottom corner to set up a nervy finish.

Spurs brought on Dele Alli to put the tie to bed but he couldn’t provide the final flourish, and Boro were unable to find a last gasp equaliser as José Mourinho’s men held out for the win.

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Tottenham

Key Talking Point

It was crucial that Mourinho’s men secured safe passage to the fourth round as Spurs have struggled of late.

The hosts were looking for a confidence-boosting win having not tasted victory since their Boxing Day win over Brighton.

And they were in confident mood here, Boro played into their hands as their shape gave Spurs an overload in the middle of the pitch and they duly took advantage.

It hasn’t always been the case since Mourinho took charge but in the first half in particular, the players played with a real purpose and attacking intent.

Spurs players from front to back wanted to receive the ball, get on the front foot and join in attacks.

Lucas, Lamela and Lo Celso were full of pace, power and imagination, as were the young full-back pairing of Japhet Tanganga and Ryan Sessegnon.

They were rampant and ran their lower league opponents ragged in a first 45 full of verve and promise.

It was one that will excite Tottenham fans, who will now hope their side can replicate that first-half showing for a full 90 minutes in the ​Premier League.

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Player Ratings

Starting XI: Gazzaniga (7); Sessegnon (7), Vertonghen (6), Sanchez (5), Tanganga (7); Dier (7), Winks (6), Lo Celso (8*), Eriksen (6); Lamela (8), Lucas (7)

Subs: Son (6), Dele (6)

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Man of the Match: Giovani Lo Celso

Lo Celso showed the Spurs faithful why securing his permanent signature is so pivotal if they are to progress into a real attacking force.

At times, the Argentine made Boro’s defence chase shadows as he came off the right and picked up space in the middle of the park.

Having scored his side’s opener, the midfielder was clearly galvanised by his goal and was instrumental in all of Spurs’ forays forward.

After Lamela had added a second, Lo Celso’s perfectly weighted pass almost allowed Tanganga to score a third but the right-back’s shot went narrowly wide.

The 23-year-old was a thorn in the Boro side time and time again, pressing the back three relentlessly and linking well with his fellow attackers when in possession.

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Middlesbrough

Key Talking Point

Boro’s game plan went totally out of the window as Mejias – who had played under Mourinho at Real Madrid – gave his old boss an almighty freebie.

With no less than two minutes on the clock, the 30-year-old Spaniard, making only his second start in four years with the club, was guilty of overplaying.

His passed clearance went straight to the feet of Lo Celso who made the keeper pay by tucking the ball away.

It was the worst possible start for boss and former Spurs manager Woodgate, who found his side immediately up against, a situation from which they never recovered.

They soon found themselves 2-0 down and in spite of fleeting moments, they will look mournfully back on the calamitous opening to the game that immediately gave Spurs the impetus.

In spite of a stirring fightback near the end, Boro weren’t able to find an equaliser and ultimately Mejías’ faux-pas proved very costly indeed.

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Player Ratings

Starting XI: Mejías (4); Howson (6), McNair (6), Fry (6); Clayton (6), Spence (7*), Johnson (6), Liddle (5), Wing (6); Nmecha (6), Fletcher, (5)

Subs:​ Saville (7), Gestede (6), Tavernier (6),

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STAR MAN: Djed Spence

The 19-year-old showed reason to believe that he has a bright future in the game and was the one standout for Boro.

Squaring up against Ryan Sessegnon, he didn’t seem fazed and was more than a match for his Tottenham counterpart.

Full of endeavour and running, he battled away on Boro’s right flank all evening and offered a constant outlet for the Teessiders.

Calm and composed on the ball, he showed a maturity beyond his years and on this competent display, it’s easy to see why he was named the EFL Young Player of the Month for December.

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Looking Ahead

Up next for Mourinho’s men is a tough-looking Premier League trip to Vicarage Road on Saturday to face a Watford side who are bang in form.

As for Boro, Johnathan Woodgate’s charges face a visit to Craven Cottage to take on play-off chasing Fulham in the Championship on Friday night.

​Inter face fellow Serie A side Cagliari in the Coppa Italia round of 16 at San Siro on Tuesday evening, following their 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Saturday.

Antonio Conte’s side will be hoping to brush aside their visitors as they aim to progress in the competition and move one step closer to adding another trophy to add to their illustrious collection, though they haven’t earned a major honour since triumphing in this tournament in 2011.

It won’t be a piece of cake for I Nerazzurri though, as Cagliari themselves have enjoyed a decent start to the season and currently occupy sixth position in Serie A. As a result, it could end up being a closer clash than many would expect.

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Where to Watch

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​When Is Kick Off?	Tuesday 14 January           ​
What Time Is Kick Off?​	​19:45 (GMT)
​Where Is It Played?	​San Siro
​TV Channel/Live Stream?	​N/A
​Referee?	​TBC

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Team News

Sebastiano Esposito, Inter’s 17-year-old attacker who has made headlines recently, is expected to gain a place in the starting XI – as is Borja Valero, who offers a wealth of experience in midfield.

Matias Vecino is likely to sit alongside Valero in the centre of the park, with key men Marcelo Brozovic and Stefano Sensi to be rested as Conte focuses on ​Serie A as a priority.

Esposito’s presence would mean one of Lautaro Martinez or ​Romelu Lukaku drop to the bench, which, as previously mentioned, suggests a focus on the league.

Cagliari remain without long-term absentee Leanardo Pavoletti (cruciate ligament rupture), while right backs Fabrizio Cacciatore and Federico Mattiello are both doubts with muscular injuries.

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Predicted Lineups

​

Inter​	​Handanovic; Bastoni, Godín, Skriniar; Lazaro, Barella, Valero, Vecino, DiMarco; Esposito, Lukaku.
​Cagliari	Olsen; Faragò, Pisacane, Klavan, Pellegrini; Nandez, Cigarini, Rog: Nainggolan, Joāo Pedro, Simeone.​

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​Head to Head Record

As you’d expect, ​Inter have been the dominant figure when it comes to meetings between these two sides in the past.

I Nerazzurri have won 21 out of 36, whereas their opponents have been victorious on just six occasions. Dear oh dear. Oh, and nine matches have ended in a draw. Not that it offers much consolation; Inter are very difficult for Cagliari to beat.

Tuesday’s hosts have won four and lost one against Cagliari in recent times, with the latest meeting ending 2-1 to Conte’s side in September. Time for a change in fortunes?

Meh, probably not.

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Recent Form

​Not only have Inter been dominant over Cagliari in their head-to-head history, but also when it comes to recent form.

Lead by the remarkable strike pairing of Martinez and Lukaku, the Italian giants have been a Serie A surprise package this season, challenging champions Juventus for the Scudetto.

Losing just one league game all season, Conte has rejuvenated Inter. Only Atalanta (49) and Lazio (41) have bettered their 40 goals in 2019/20.

Cagliari meanwhile…well, they started ever so well, but their form has dropped off significantly. In sixth place with 29 points at the halfway stage, they have bettered most people’s expectations, but without a win in their last five Serie A games (1D 4L), Gli Isolani have fallen away from contention for the top four.

Winning against Inter in the cup would give them a lot of confidence though, and could sway things in their favour once again. Likewise, if they are defeated, well, at least their fixture list is less congested. It’s a win-win scenario for Cagliari.

Here’s how each side have fared in their last five games across all competitions

​Inter	Cagliari​
Inter 1-1 Atalanta (11/1)​	​Cagliari 0-2 Milan (11/1)
Napoli 1-3 Inter (6/1)​	​Juventus 4-0 Cagliari (6/1)
​Inter 4-0 Genoa (21/12)	​Udinese 2-1 Cagliari (21/12)
Fiorentina 1-1 Inter (15/12)​	Cagliari 1-2 Lazio (16/12)​
​Inter 1-2 Barcelona (10/12)	​Sassuolo 2-2 Cagliari (8/12)

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Prediction​

Cagliari will be battling hard to try and turn their form around once more, but the squad depth Inter possess is likely to make things an uphill battle.

From young talent with Esposito to a proven goalscoring duo in Lautaro and Lukaku who are likely to be available on the bench, their attacking force is just too strong for the visitors.

I Nerazzurri will progress to the quarter final stage with a narrow victory.

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Cagliari

Sheffield United rode their luck twice amid further VAR controversy to edge past West Ham at home in the Premier League on Friday night, and move up to fifth in the table.

Oli McBurnie struck after receiving a gift from Hammers substitute keeper David Martin, but the Blades were even more fortunate when a late West Ham equaliser was ruled out by VAR in dramatic style.

The game only really sparked into life in the dying moments as Robert Snodgrass’s last-gasp strike was disallowed due to a handball by Declan Rice in the build-up. An electric atmosphere greeted the sides as Blades fans were in party mood, having heard the news that manager Chris Wilder had signed a new four-and-a-half year deal with the club.

But in the main, the game was anything but electrifying. The most noteworthy moment of the first half was Hammers keeper Lukas Fabianski being forced off through injury.

Early in the second half, his replacement Martin – promoted to back up the Pole after Roberto’s string of mistakes before the turn of the year – had a moment to forget as he played the ball straight to John Fleck’s feet, and the midfielder laid it on a plate for McBurnie to put the hosts 1-0 up.

Wilder’s men were in complete control, but late drama ensued. First Sebastien Haller’s effort was ruled out for offside, then Snodgrass was cruelly denied in the dying seconds to ensure Irons boss David Moyes tasted defeat for the first time since his return to the club.

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Sheffield United

Key Talking Point

​Sheffield United enjoyed two huge pieces of luck to bounce back from two consecutive Premier League defeats.

First Martin misplaced a routine pass from a goal kick, which allowed John Fleck to square the ball to McBurnie, who squeezed the ball past Martin’s despairing dive.

But that slice of major fortune will not be the main talking point.

That falls to the VAR decision that ensured the hosts secured victory against a desperately unlucky Hammers side, who were denied a draw in added time.

West Ham’s Declan Rice was adjudged to have handled before playing in Snodgrass for the apparent equaliser. The handball appeared unintentional but, since adding near-impossible judgement of ‘intent’ to the laws of the game would cause chaos, the VAR was within his rights to overrule the referee’s original decision. 

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Player Ratings

Starting XI: Henderson (7); Basham (7), Egan (7), O’Connell (7); Baldock (7), Lundstram (6), Norwood (7), Fleck (8*), Stevens (7); McGoldrick (5), McBurnie (7).

Subs:​ Mousset (7), Besic (6), Sharp (6).

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STAR PLAYER – John Fleck

The midfielder will have done his international chances no harm at all, as he impressed in front of watching Scotland boss Steve Clark.

Fleck was key in the opening goal of the game as, baring down on goal, he played in teammate McBurnie to tap home.

Fleck gave Hammers captain Mark Noble the runaround all evening, and controlled proceedings from the middle of the park. He almost got a second assist of the game when he picked out substitute Lys Mousset, but his effort was blocked by Martin’s legs in the Hammers goal.

The 28-year-old was composed alongside Oliver Norwood in the Blades’ engine room, and the duo were far superior to their Hammers counterparts. Fleck was the pivot through which all of the home side’s attacking intent was threaded, and brought quality to a largely lacklustre affair.

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WEST HAM

Key Talking Point

​

The trip to Bramall Lane was a big test for the new-look Hammers, and Moyes’ toughest examination yet.

But ​West Ham never looked like replicating the fireworks of the 4-0 home win against Bournemouth which kicked Moyes’ second coming off in style.

The biggest drama before the final minutes was losing keeper Fabianski in the opening stages of the game. After a goal kick, the Polish keeper reached for his calf, then immediately signalled to the bench and was replaced by Martin.

 

And as had happened during his first spell on the sidelines, his absence in the game at Bramall Lane was noticed instantly, as his replacement Martin had a moment to forget.

Fabianski had only recently come back from a lengthy three-month layoff following a hip injury sustained against Bournemouth in September. Hammers fans will be hoping this new injury is not as serious as it looked, as uncertainty amongst the backline ran amok during Fabianski’s last period on the sidelines.

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Player Ratings

Starting XI: Fabianski (N/A); Balbuena (6), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (6); Zabaleta (6), Rice (6), Noble (6), Masuaku (6); Anderson (7), Lanzini (6); Haller (7).

Subs: Martin (6), Snodgrass (7*), Fornals (6).

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STAR PLAYER – Robert Snodgrass

The substitute changed the game once he came on to the field and looked to have grabbed a late-gasp equaliser, but was denied by yet another controversial VAR decision.

Prior to his role in the match’s main point of controversy, he had provided a spark for the Hammers from the bench. His free kick was met by Haller for the visitors’ first disallowed goal, and he continued to pepper Sheffield United’s backline with dangerous deliveries.

The Scottish midfielder was incredibly unfortunate not to earn his side a point but, on this display, it is likely he has earned a place in the starting XI for West Ham’s next game.

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Looking Ahead

The Blades have a tough task ahead of them as they face a trip to north London to take on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Premier League next Saturday.

And the Hammers are also in league action on that day, as they invite Carlo Ancelotti’s ​Everton side to the London Stadium.

​Timo Werner is believed to have turned down an approach from Liverpool last year due to fears that there was no place for him in the side thanks to the impressive form of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.

The 23-year-old has already hit 23 goals this season for RB Leipzig, with his performances helping Julian Nagelsmann’s side rise to the summit of the Bundesliga.

His displays have unsurprisingly caught the eye of a number of top European clubs with Chelsea the ​most recent side to be linked with the player. Werner has also previously been courted by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool but, as reported by the ​Athletic, he turned down their advances as he was not convinced he would enjoy enough playing time.

The approach was made last season, when the Reds’ famous front three of Salah, Mané and Firmino, were at the peak of the powers, and the former Stuttgart man is understood to have believed there was ‘no space for him to play’.

​Bayern Munich are another side who have previously chased Werner with the two parties even agreeing personal terms for a move – only for Bayern to never submit a bid to Leipzig. It is thought that Die Roten did not see a place for the forward in their squad either and instead focussed their efforts on bringing Leroy Sané to the club in the summer.

​90min learned in November that Sané continues to have his heart set on a transfer to the Bundesliga holders, despite a deal failing to materialise in the summer.

Paris Saint-Germain are also admirers of Werner, though it is unlikely that they would make a move for him when they still have such a wealth of attacking talent at the club.

Despite all the interest, it is does not appear that the striker will depart Leipzig in January, with neither the club nor the player keen on a mid-season move.