According to Sky Sports New, citing Portuguese outlet Record, Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Benfica youngster Jota Filipe.
Jota is said to have a release clause in the region of £26.3m.
The 20-year-old is a product of Benfica’s youth system and has made 47 appearances for Benfica B.
In those 47 games, he has scored nine and assisted eight.
Jota has also made six appearances for Benfica’s first-team this campaign.
The promising starlet is naturally a left winger, but he can also play on the right and behind the striker.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 03: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between Tottenham Hotspur and FC Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on October 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Rose urges Tottenham to listen to Pochettino
If Tottenham were to sign Jota, he would be their first senior signing in three transfer windows.
Earlier this season, Mauricio Pochettino revealed how he was disappointed at Spurs’ lack of transfer activity.
Now, after guiding Tottenham to a Champions League final for the first time in their history, Danny Rose has urged Tottenham’s board to listen to Pochettino:
“They [the board] must listen to the manager. He said recently that he needs to know what the next chapter of the club is. I fully agree with everything he says.
“Not many people could operate in the circumstances that he’s done. We had no stadium, we’ve not signed anybody.
“Tottenham are part of the big six in the Premier League and we have a different way of working.
“Not many managers would have been able to do what Mauricio has done, in terms of securing Champions League football four years in a row and finishing second, third and fourth.”
Daniele Pochettino, cousin of Spurs boss Mauricio, has this evening confirmed that the Argentine taking over at Italian giants Juventus this summer is ‘a feasible hypothesis’.
Allegri sacked
Serie A champions Juve confirmed last Friday that, on the back of 5 trophy-laden years with the club, Max Allegri was set to be removed from his post as Bianconeri boss this summer.
The Italian tactician’s sacking came as something of a surprise more-so than a shock, with the Old Lady, despite waltzing to their 8th-consecutive Italian top-flight title, having disappointed for much of the campaign.
This came to a head when Juve were deservedly ousted from the Champions League, the tournament which many had tipped them to win on the back of Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival last summer, at the quarter-final stage, by Ajax.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final second-leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Allianz Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Juve’s manager search
As such, rumours have since been rampant regarding who the board at the Allianz Stadium will opt to appoint as Allegri’s replacement.
The likes of Maurizio Sarri, Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi, Didier Deschamps and Mauricio Pochettino have all been touted as potential arrivals on the Juve bench.
And the Old Lady’s hopes of securing a surprise agreement with the latter of the aforementioned tacticians have this evening been dealt a boost, courtesy of a surprising source.
‘Has the desire to coach Juve’
As confirmed by the cousin of Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs boss has a very real interest in taking the reins of the Old Lady this summer.
Speaking in an interview with TuttoJuve, Daniele Pochettino revealed that the 47-year-old’s Italian heritage have seen him drawn to a Serie A switch, with Poch’s entire family rooting for him to down tools in north London to join Juventus:
(It should also be noted that Daniele is the deputy mayor of Virle Piemonte in Turin, the city in which Juve are based.)
‘Mauricio to Juventus is a feasible hypothesis. Everyone in our family wants to see him at Juve.’
‘He is certainly attracted to Italy. He told us he wants to come to our country to find his ancestral heritage.’
‘I met Mauricio a few months ago. We talked about Piemontese food (among other things). He’s a nice and helpful person.’
Mauricio Pochettino during the UEFA Champions League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
‘He has the desire to coach Juve. He’s equipped with all the qualities needed to coach Juve. Juve always recruit the best coaches.’
‘Juve are looking for a coach who has the profile of a winner and Mauricio has this attitude. In style, he is a bit like that of Conte because he wins with a competitive spirit and intensity.’
‘I don’t know if he can be convinced (to come to Juve). We must always see what would be eventually proposed to him.’
‘At the end, it is his decision. In the event he accepts Juve, we will welcome him with open arms (to Piedmont).’
‘Close the five-year chapter’
Pochettino is of course currently in the midst of preparing for the biggest fixture of his managerial career, June 1st’s Champions League final between Spurs and Liverpool.
The former Southampton boss, though, recently hinted that he could well call time on his Tottenham stint, if the capital giants defy the odds yet again to emerge victorious in the Madrid showpiece:
‘Winning the Champions League? It would be fantastic, no? Close the five-year chapter and go home.’
‘To win the Champions League with Tottenham, in this circumstance, in this season, maybe I need to think a little bit to do something different in the future, for sure. Because to repeat this miracle, you know…’
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has this afternoon provided a fitness update on his squad, ahead of the FA Cup final.
Man City vs Watford
The Citizens are set to take on Watford at Wembley tomorrow evening, in the respective clubs’ final outing of the season.
City will head into proceedings as overwhelming favourites to secure glory, having dominated domestically once again over the course of the campaign.
In fact, so impressive have Pep Guardiola’s men been this season, that if they do manage to push past the Hornets, the Sky Blues will become the first English club in history to seal a domestic treble.
After securing the League Cup back in February with a showpiece victory over Chelsea, City went on to clinch their 2nd-straight Premier League title last weekend, courtesy of a 4-1 win over Brighton.
Fernandinho in, Mendy out
And the Citizens’ hopes of adding to their already-impressive trophy haul have this afternoon been boosted further.
Speaking in his final press conference of the campaign a short time ago, Pep Guardiola was asked for a personnel update on his squad.
And the Spanish tactician confirmed that, following the bones of a month on the sidelines with a knee injury, City midfield lynchpin Fernandinho has returned to training, and will be available to feature at Wembley.
Long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy, though, is set to miss out:
Chelsea have provided an update on Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s injury ahead of their Europa League final clash with Arsenal at the end of this month.
With the Europa League final coming up, Chelsea flew to Boston to take part in a charity-based friendly with the New England Revolution.
The clash would raise funds for Anti-Semitic Foundations around the world but would also keep Maurizio Sarri’s squad fit ahead of the game against Arsenal.
However, it really didn’t go to plan for Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The midfielder had to be withdrawn from the match after a very serious looking injury.
After coming on at half-time in the game, Loftus-Cheek lasted just 20 minutes before the blow, with Chelsea’s medical staff helping him off the pitch and straight down the tunnel.
Now, Chelsea have provided an update on Loftus-Cheek’s injury and it doesn’t look good.
CARDIFF, WALES – MARCH 31: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea celebrates after he scores his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Chelsea FC at Cardiff City Stadium on March 31, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Lengthy spell on the sidelines for the Chelsea youngster
That’s because Chelsea have confirmed that the midfielder has ruptured his Achilles’ tendon.
As a result, Loftus-Cheek will need surgery having seen a specialist on Thursday.
While it looked very unlikely anyway, that means he will miss the Europa League final.
Chelsea’s statement read:
“Ruben Loftus-Cheek has seen a specialist today (Thursday) and will have surgery on his ruptured Achilles’ tendon this evening.
“The Chelsea midfielder left the pitch during the second half of yesterday’s game in Boston, USA.”
Loftus-Cheek won’t only be worried about the final, though.
The Englishman will now likely miss the Nations League finals with England and may not return until after next season starts.
Even after that, a ruptured Achilles is no easy injury to overcome and we wish him the best in his recovery.
Chelsea fans react
Safe to say, it wasn’t the news Chelsea fans were hoping for.
Some took to social media to show their sympathy for Ruben.
Loftus-Cheek’s injury: He deserved to play in a Europa League final and lift the trophy after being an integral part of Chelsea’s campaign this season. He has also simply been one of Chelsea’s best players of late. He described the game as the biggest of his career… #CFC
If Loftus-Cheek can’t play the Europa League Final that’s an absolute travesty.
No more friendlies during the season.
Devastated for Loftus-Cheek. Heads should roll. #CFC
Ruben Loftus-Cheek came out of the dressing room on crutches..
Both Everton and Leicester City have reportedly made ‘informal inquiries’ over the future of RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin.
It was an average season for both the Toffees and Foxes in the recent Premier League campaign.
Despite some flashes of brilliance, there were also some terrible lows which resulted in a pretty bog standard campaign for the stature of both clubs.
However, next season will likely be a different story.
With Marco Silva and Brendan Rodgers at the helm respectively, both sides will be looking to push for at least Europa League football in the next campaign.
To do that, both Everton and Leicester will need to sign well and could go head to head for one particular striker this summer.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Everton Director of Football, Marcel Brands looks on prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park on September 1, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Everton and Leicester looking at Augustin
That player comes in the form of RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin, with the Telegraph reporting that both Everton and Leicester have made ‘informal inquiries’ about his availability.
The Frenchman started his career at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Leipzig in hope of first-team football.
He initially got that, playing 37 times and scoring 12 goals in his first campaign.
However, Augustin has found time on the pitch a little harder to come by this season.
The Frenchman has only featured five times in 2019, with a combined total of 35 minutes.
Though, he’s impressed enough during his time on the pitch that both Everton and Leicester are looking into signing him.
According to the Telegraph, the 21-year-old would only cost ‘around 20million euros (£17.5million) if he is sold this summer.’
That would represent a pretty attractive price for a striker who has scored a solid amount of goals and has plenty of his career ahead of him.
Whether Everton or Leicester decide to make a move or not, Jean-Kevin Augustin would represent a solid signing for many clubs this summer.
Two days after Man City were crowned Premier League champions, the Sky Blues are in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
It’s been common knowledge for a while that Man City are being investigated by UEFA for potential breaches of the Financial Fair Play rules.
One of the main accusations leveled at Man City is that they received a £59.5 million sponsorship payment from the club’s owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, rather than Etihad Airways.
To be clear, Man City are being accused of intentionally circumventing FFP rules. City are accused of wrapping up investments in the club as sponsorship deals rather than cash injections from the club’s owners.
So are Man City guilty of the charges?
This Tuesday the Sky Blues are edging closer to being found guilty. As reported in the Times:
Members of the financial control body, which is led by the former Belgium prime minister Yves Leterme, met in Nyon two weeks ago to finalise the conclusions that they will put forward to Uefa’s adjudicatory chamber, which will decide on the sanction in the coming weeks.
A report in the New York Times yesterday said that their recommendation would be a Champions League ban of at least one season.
Could this mean Arsenal play 2019-20 Champions League football?
Arsenal finished the Premier League season in fifth spot.
That qualified the Gunners for next season’s Europa League.
Of course, Arsenal could qualify for the 2019-20 Champions League if they can beat Chelsea in this season’s Europa League final.
But could Arsenal also benefit from Man City’s possible Champions League ban threat?
Put simply, if City are kicked out of next year’s Champions League, could their spot go to the Gunners?
The Sun float the possibility of Arsenal benefiting from Man City’s punishment:
That (Man City) punishment could open the door for fifth-placed Arsenal to be handed a Champions League place even if they lose the Europa League Final to Chelsea.
So what’s likely to happen?
While the Sun’s Arsenal angle is eye-catching, it’s also likely to be wide of the mark.
There appears to be a helluva lot of water to pass under the bridge before any Man City punishment is actually sentenced.
The first step for UEFA is to actually conclude that Man City should be subjected to a Champions League ban. Today, that’s not been rubber-stamped.
If such a decision comes to pass, Man City will surely appeal that decision.
For the record, as confirmed in the Times, Man City wholly reject any claims of wrongdoing. Readers are reminded:
City have strenuously denied any wrongdoing and vowed that they would mount an aggressive response to any effort to bar the club from the Champions League. “The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false,” City said in a statement this year.
Should such an appeal to be lodged by City, the Sky Blues are likely to receive a stay of execution with regards to any Champions League ban.
The result: it’s close to certain that City will be in the Champions League next season, meaning that Arsenal must win the Europa League to book their spot in the competition.
Atletico Madrid have this evening confirmed that Antoine Griezmann has informed the club of his desire to move on this summer, with a transfer to La Liga rivals Barcelona now looking imminent.
Griezmann’s Atleti stint
French attacker Griezmann has been plying his trade in the Spanish capital since 2014, after Atletico secured his signature from fellow Spanish outfit Real Sociedad.
And the 28-year-old has since gone on to etch his name indelibly into the history books of Los Rojiblancos.
All told, across over 250 appearances in Atleti’s colours, Griezmann has notched 133 goals, guiding Diego Simeone’s men to a Europa League title, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and a Champions League final.
LYON, FRANCE – MAY 16: Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during the UEFA Europa League Final between Olympique de Marseille and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stade de Lyon on May 16, 2018 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
This past season, meanwhile, the World Cup winner directly contributed to 33 goals across all competitions.
Metropolitano departure
As per the aforementioned announcement a short time ago, though, the 2018/19 campaign will stand as Griezmann’s last as an Atletico player.
In a statement across the club’s social media platforms, the capital giants confirmed that their star attacker has communicated that he will call time on his Atleti journey this summer:
A clip of Griezmann himself opening up on his decision to seek pastures new has since also been forthcoming, with the Frenchman having provided a farewell message to the Colchoneros faithful:
‘It’s been an incredible five years. Thank you very much for everything. I will take you in my heart.’
Barca bound?
News of Griezmann’s bombshell comes just an hour after Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that Barcelona had opened negotiations with the attacker over a move to the Camp Nou, having decided to activate his 125 million Euro release clause:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is looking to emulate the leadership that John Terry showed at Chelsea.
RLC’s Chelsea future has been up in the air for much of the season, with the midfielder having been linked with a loan move earlier in the campaign.
This wasn’t too surprising given his lack of playing time when Maurizio Sarri first took over.
In recent months, though, Loftus-Cheek has begun to rack up more and more minutes under the Italian.
Then, before Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final second-leg vs Eintracht Frankfurt, Loftus-Cheek stated that he had no reason to leave Stamford Bridge.
And Chelsea fans will be even more happy to hear that RLC wants to become a similar leader to John Terry.
When asked if he wants to become a player like Terry, Loftus-Cheek stated:
“Yeah definitely, but I think that comes with a lot of experience. I don’t think Chelsea can ever replace John [Terry]. He was the best leader I’ve seen, not just on the pitch but off it.
“He was always organising and sorting stuff out to make it easier for us. On the pitch he was very vocal and was that character you have at the back who would organise and make you feel safe.
“I’ve observed that and felt that feeling, and that’s something that comes with experience. The more experience I get, then hopefully I can be that person.” As quoted by ESPN.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 25: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group L match between Chelsea and FC BATE Borisov at Stamford Bridge on October 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Loftus-Cheek played the full 90 minutes of the Blues’ last league game of the season vs Leicester.
However, they still have one more competitive game before the season is out.
Maurizio Sarri’s men will face Arsenal in the Europa League final on May 29th.
Loftus-Cheek has been a key figure for Chelsea in the Europa League this season.
In 11 appearances, he has scored four and assisted three, including a key goal in their 1-1 draw with Frankfurt in the second-leg of their semi-final.
Arsenal have booked their place in the 2019 Europa League final in Baku.
The Gunners would beat Valencia 7-3 over two legs in the semi-final.
Their opponents will be Chelsea, meaning it is the first time ever that all 4 finalists for the Europa League and Champions League are from the same nation.
Arsenal should also be pretty confident heading into the final as Unai Emery has already won the competition three times.
WARSAW, POLAND – MAY 27: Unai Emery, coach of Sevilla kisses the trophy after the UEFA Europa League Final match between FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and FC Sevilla on May 27, 2015 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
Xhaka wants 5th and 6th in Champions League
Before heading to Baku, though, Arsenal had one more Premier League clash to play vs Burnley.
Prior to facing Sean Dyche’s side, Granit Xhaka had been speaking about how he believes the top six Premier League clubs should all qualify for the Champions League:
“Every team that can get to a final is strong enough so, we know Chelsea, we play a lot against them.
“Four teams in the final shows everyone what a league the Premier League is and we hope we are ready for the final.
“You should have to go for the first six from the Premier League into the Champions League, so strong is the league.
“It is only four teams, four teams in the final now and so we can be proud.” As quoted by the Evening Standard.
Arsenal can make next season’s UCL if they win the Europa League.
However, barring a final-day miracle, they couldn’t have finished any higher than 5th in the league this campaign. This may well have prompted Xhaka’s recent comments.
Arsenal went on to secure 5th-spot with a 3-1 win over Burnley that saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang score a brace to win this year’s Premier League Golden Boot award, alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
