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VALENCIA’S FERRAN TORRES MAY JOIN MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City could make Valencia winger Ferran Torres their first summer signing to replace Leroy Sane.

Valencia want £40m for Torres, who has a year left on his contract with the La Liga club, and BBC Sport understands the 20-year-old Spain international is keen on a move to Etihad Stadium.

Germany forward Sane left City for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

City, who finished second in the Premier League, are also expected to target central defenders this summer.

England centre-back John Stones, 26, and 32-year-old Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi fell behind 19-year-old Eric Garcia as a partner for first-choice Aymeric Laporte following the coronavirus shutdown.

Spain Under-21 international Garcia started six of City’s 10 Premier League games after the season restarted in June. Stones, who missed the first two matches with an ankle injury, started only two and Otamendi three.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain has said he is expecting a “strange” transfer window given the campaign will not end completely until the end of August, with the new one starting three weeks later on 12 September.

“We have to be ready,” he told City’s official website. “We have less time than ever, so people will have to move fast. We still have the Champions League, so we have to wait to move forward.”

Begiristain also said it was possible City will play a friendly behind closed doors this weekend to prepare for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on 7 August.

City won the first leg 2-1 in Madrid before the season was suspended in March.

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LEIGHTON BAINES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER 13 YEARS AT GOODISON PARK.

Leighton Baines has confirmed his retirement from football after 13 years at Everton.

The 35-year-old full-back made 420 appearances for Everton, captaining the side and scoring 39 goals after joining the club from Wigan in 2007.

Baines, who was also capped 30 times by England and appeared at the 2014 World Cup, announced his decision announced following the club’s 3-1 defeat by Bournemouth on the final day of the Premier League season.

He was offered a one-year contract extension by the Toffees, but has only played 17 times in the last two seasons as Lucas Digne took over as first-choice left-back.

“I am incredibly proud to have represented Everton for the past 13 years and my decision to retire has been a difficult one to make,” Baines wrote in a statement.

“After speaking to my family, I feel now is the right time to end my playing career but I do so with many great memories at this proud football club.

“As someone from the city, Everton means so much to me and it has been an honour to be part of the Club for so long.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during my time at Everton, especially the fans who have been fantastic with me from the moment I signed.”

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CHRIS WILDER: SHEFFIELD UNITED NEEDS BETTER PLAYERS

Sheffield United boss, Chris Wilder has appealed to his management that his team needs some bolstering if they must out perform their current status in the just concluded premier league season.

Speaking after the 3-1 loss to Southampton, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder admitted that if his side want to progress further up the Premier League table then they need to invest in better players.

The Blades finished 9th on the log despite losing 3-1 to Southampton on final match day.

Chris Wilder’s men outclassed other new returnees to the premier league, Norwich City and Aston Villa, Only Villa managed to escape relegation on final match day after getting a draw against Westham United.

Despite missing out on European football for next season, Chris Wilder believes his team needs more bolstering if they must perform better next season.

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MAN CITY’S DE BRUYNE EQUALS THIERY HENRY’S ASSIST RECORD, BUT INSISTS HE’S SURPASSED IT

Kevin De Bruyne is adamant he has broken Thierry Henry’s Premier League assist record.

The Man City playmaker scored twice and assisted one goal in his side’s final-day 5-0 win over Norwich on Sunday.

That assist put De Bruyne level with Henry’s record (20) from the 2002/03 campaign.

In a 3-0 win at Arsenal last December, De Bruyne harshly had an assist taken off him for a Raheem Sterling goal.

The 29-year-old’s cross took a faint deflection off a Gunners defender before reaching Sterling, who tapped the ball in.
Speaking after the Norwich thumping, De Bruyne appeared to reference that goal and another one.

He said: “I have got two more assists. You guys took two away from me.

“I’m still claiming that one. For me I was already there [level with Henry’s record].”

De Bruyne, who also scored 13 league goals this season, came second to Jordan Henderson as the Liverpool captain won the PFA Player of the Year award.

While Henderson’s stats were nowhere near the Belgium midfielder, he led Liverpool to a first top-flight title in 30 years.

Only Barcelona star Lionel Messi (112) has more league assists than De Bruyne (101) since his arrival in England in 2012.

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JURGEN KLOPP HITS BACK AT LAMPARD; SAYS HE NEEDS TO LEARN

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed any notion his team is arrogant after Frank Lampard’s warning and has told his Chelsea counterpart he needs to learn to not talk about whatever happens on the touchline postmatch.

Lampard was critical of Liverpool’s touchline conduct in their midweek Premier League match, which Liverpool won 5-3 at Anfield. The Chelsea boss later clarified he was not annoyed with Klopp’s conduct, but with the “people behind the bench.”

He warned Liverpool “don’t get too arrogant” with their success postmatch. And speaking Friday, when Klopp was asked about Lampard’s warning, he gave his take on Lampard’s criticism and said the Chelsea manager needs to learn when to stop talking about what happened on the field.

“We are not arrogant. Frank was in a competitive mood, I respect that a lot,” Klopp said. “From my point of view, in this situation [mid-match] you can say pretty much what you want… he came here to win the game, or get a point to help with Champions League qualification and I respect that.

“What he has to learn is to finish it with the last whistle and he didn’t do that. Speaking afterwards about it, is not OK. Frank has to learn this, he has a lot of time to learn as he’s a young coach, but he has to learn this.

“We are not arrogant, we are pretty much the opposite. Final whistle, close the book and he didn’t do that and that’s what I don’t like.”

Klopp clarified his view, adding that he would not have spoken about Lampard, had he not been asked about the Chelsea boss’ postmatch comments in Friday’s news conference teeing up Sunday’s match against Newcastle.

“As he spoke afterwards, it makes sense to speak about what I mean,” Klopp added.

The Liverpool manager was speaking on the day his captain Jordan Henderson was named Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year.

And he paid tribute to Henderson, saying: “Resilience made him the player he is now. Talent or attitude? It’s a mix and Henderson is the perfect answer to that. If you want to have a guy who has fought his way through to become one of the best players in the league and this year everybody acknowledged that. I am really proud of him and he’s an exceptional captain.”

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PREMIER LEAGUE CONFIRM 2020/2021 SEASON START DATE

The 2020-21 Premier League season has been scheduled to begin on September 12.

Premier League shareholders agreed the start date for next term on Friday, with the final match round of the campaign set to take place on May 23, 2021.

The Premier League will continue to consult with the FA and EFL with regard to the scheduling of all domestic competitions.

Liverpool are champions of the 2019/2020 season after 30 years wait for the English title.


The reds beat former holders Manchester City to the price after narrowly missing out of the premier league in the 2018/2019 season.

Jurgen Klopp’s men lost the title by just one point last term but won the UEFA Champions League instead.

Liverpool will now lead the charge to start the defense of the title by September

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CARLO ANCELOTTI BELIEVES EVERTON CAN EMULATE LIVERPOOL AFTER PREMIER LEAGUE TRIUMPH

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has advised that the club need to copy the blueprint of local rivals Liverpool in order to succeed in the future.

Liverpool claimed their first league title in 30 years this season after securing the Champions League last year.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp lost three cup finals in his first three years at Anfield but has guided the club to four trophies over the last couple of seasons.
“First of all, we have to be a little bit patient because it takes time to improve,” “If you consider what Liverpool did, I think Liverpool started the project five years ago and they are at the top” he told newsmen

“We have to try and do the same. We have to keep the high ambition, high motivation and day by day to try to improve.”

Ancelotti also praised Richarlison who is the club’s joint top scorer this season with 15 goals level with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

“I can talk a lot about Richarlison,” he added. “What I see in him is a fantastic striker, more effective in the box than outside of the box.

“I was joking with him but he can be one of the top 10 in the box, it’s outside of the box where he has to improve.

“He needs to have more confidence outside of the box and to lose the ball less but honestly in front of goal he is really cold. I really like him because he’s a nice, humble guy and all the time he’s happy.”

Ancelotti succeeded Marco Silva at Goodison Park in December with the club four points above the relegation zone.

Everton are in 11th position in the league table with one match remaining and Ancelotti said he is happy on Merseyside.

“I am imvolved in a fantastic project and I think for a manager, the success is not only to take the cup and lift the cup high,” he said.

“Success is to see your team improve, to see your club to have ambition and give to your idea of how you want to play, that is success. It’s not only to finish in the first position.” The Italian concluded.

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MESSI WANTS MARCELO BIELSA AT BARCELONA – REPORTS

Manager Marcelo Bielsa is attracting interest from Barcelona before a Premier League ball has been kicked at Elland Road, reports have say

Bielsa is yet to agree a new contract with the Lilywhites and, according to the report, Lionel Messi wants his Catalan employers to do everything in their power to tempt the 64-year-old to Camp Nou to replace under-fire Quique Setien.

Barca would appear to be in turmoil after having lost out to Real Madrid in the title race, and their finances are such that they’re having to sell up to 11 players.

Setien’s position is under threat after just six months, and his strained relationship with Messi appears to be one of the biggest issues, with the Barca talisman believing Bielsa would sort out Barcelona in the short term.

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BAYERN BOSS CONFIRMS THIAGO’S DESIRES TO LEAVE

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed that Thiago Alcantara has told the club he wants to leave this summer.

Reports in recent weeks have claimed Thiago wants to leave Germany this summer with Liverpool his preferred destination.

There was even a suggestion the Reds had already agreed personal terms with the 29-year-old, who has now entered the final 12 months of his contract at Bayern.

And Rummenigge has now confirmed that the Spanish star has made Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic aware of his desire to undertake a new challenge this summer.

However, and contrary to some reports, Rummenigge has also revealed that Liverpool, or anyone club for that matter, have not approached the German giants over a move for the midfielder.

“Hasan had talks with Thiago. They were always very positive, but he told Hasan some time ago that he wants to do something new to finish his career,” he told the German media on Thursday.

“So far no club has contacted us. We don’t know if he’s settled things with a new club. Hasan is in talks with David and his advisor.

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HUDDERSFIELD TOWN CONFIRMS SIGNING OF LEEDS UNITED COACH

Huddersfield Town have confirmed Carlos Corberan as their new head coach.

The club sacked Danny Cowley on Sunday, received permission from West Yorkshire neighbours Leeds United to speak to their highly-rated first-team coach and under-23 supremo earlier this week.

A compensation deal was subsequently thrashed out and now that the 2019-20 regular season is out of the way and Corberan’s commitments with Leeds are over, Town have moved swiftly to announce the appointment of the 37-year-old.

Corberan’s assistants will be named ‘in due course.’

Valencia-born Corberan joined Leeds in 2017, initially as under-23 coach.

His side won the Professional Development League in 2018-19 with the Spaniard also promoted to first-team coach to work under Marcelo Bielsa last season.

Corberan turned down the chance to manage Spanish side Cultural Leonesa last summer.

Huddersfield chairman Phil Hodkingson stated that Town were looking ‘for a different vision for the way we operate the club’ following the surprise decision to axe Cowley, shortly after the club confirmed their Championship safety following a 2-1 victory over West Brom last Friday.

Tellingly, Huddersfield added that they were not accepting applications, indicating that they already had a candidate in mind to replace Cowley.

On the decision to plump for Corberan, Town’s Head of Football Operations Leigh Bromby explained: “We are very happy to be able to welcome Carlos as our new head coach today, in what is undoubtedly a very important appointment for Huddersfield Town.

“After two difficult seasons, we have put a lot of thought and work into what we want to be and how we operate moving forward.

“Obviously, we need to return to winning games, and to be successful we must have all areas of the club aligned in the way we work. We want to return to the ‘No Limits’ mentality that served this club so well back in 2017. We must start believing in ourselves and our people once again; players and staff alike.

“Carlos was our ideal candidate for our new head coach from the outset, as his idea of football is completely aligned with ours.

“He is very strong on the need for a team to have a strength of identity on the pitch; a way of playing that leaves players in no doubt on their roles when they step foot onto the grass. He believes in a high energy, high intensity, attacking style of play.

“He is a coach whose focus is on working to improve players. Like us, he has a real belief in young players too, and desire to work with them to help them thrive.

“He’s incredibly passionate about this opportunity, and he has real belief in himself. He’s determined to bring success back to Huddersfield Town.”

Corberan began his career in the setup at Spanish giants Valencia, taking responsibility for the training methodology in their Academy before quickly progressing to work with the first team under the likes of Unai Emery and Manuel Pellegrini during the Club’s run to the Europa League semi-finals.

Under the recommendation of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Carlos then travelled overseas to become assistant head coach at Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, where he gained experiences in the Asian Champions League.

Corberan’s first experiences as a head coach followed in Cyprus, where he took charge of Doxa Katokopia and then Ermis Aradippou, who he steered to safety in the division.

Through his work at the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar, he then joined Leeds ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.