Latest transfer news and rumours

Manchester United target happy to stay with current club claims his agent

Victor Lindelof, the Benfica defender, is linked with many big clubs, but he is in no rush to leave as claimed by his agent Hasan Cetinakaya

The 22-year old is a prime target for Manchester United as Jose Mourinho looks to strengthen the defense by signing the Swedish international in January transfer window

However his agent feels he is enjoying life at one of the most prestigious clubs in the continent and is in no rush to leave.

"There's a lot of speculation, of course, and as I've said before, Victor is already playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe," he told A Bola. "He's fighting for titles, he plays in the Champions League, and he's very happy at Benfica at the moment.

"Of course there are clubs that are aware of what he has done at Benfica. Victor has done very good things here. But we have a very good relationship with the president [Luis Filipe Vieira] and he will make a decision for Benfica."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressed his desire last month that he is the one player Mourinho should sign 

"I think Victor is doing great things, he is playing good for Benfica, he gets a lot of responsibility for the national team now, he is growing," said Ibrahimovic.

"I think he's good enough for the big clubs out there. It's up to him what he wants. Whatever he chooses will be good for him.

"I know he is hot on the market so let him make the right choice, what fits him good."

West Ham and Crystal Palace tussle for Aleksander Mitrovic signature

Both clubs are fighting relegation battle and they look to bolster their attacking options by signing the 2nd choice striker of the already relegated Magpies.

Newcastle United got relegated last season for the 2nd time in 7 years but they are now currently top in the Championships, thanks to former Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle.

As Dwight Gayle continues to perform well, the Serbian in seen mostly on the bench

And as both the Premier League clubs feel a striker is the need of the hour, they would go ahead to head for bringing the striker to their respective clubs.

However Newcastle boss, Rafa Benitez is keen to keep the striker with him

Mitrovic has had some disciplinary issues but now seems to be in control

Despite being 2nd choice at Newcastle this season he has managed to grab 5 goals and 2 assists

Loaned prodigy says he is ready to play for Parent club if needed

Andreas Pereira, who is on a loan spell to La Liga side Granada, just netted his first goal for the club and dedicated his first senior goal to the victims Chapecoense tragedy.

Speaking to Goal, Pereira said: "We [he and Mourinho] are always in contact and we talk after my games. If Manchester United needs me, I am always ready."

Speaking about his time so far with Granada, the Pereira said: "The experience here in Spain has been very good, even though the club has struggled a bit. But I think we have been improving game by game and the last two games it showed that we are on the right track.

"I came here to play games, get a good experience playing in a top league and then to go back and to fight for a spot in the squad."

Despite making 11 appearances under former United manager Louis van Gaal, the winger was deemed not in Jose Mourinho's first team plans for this season, with the likes of Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Memphis Depay, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan all blocking his route to the starting XI.

Despite beginning his international career with birth nation, Belgium, Pereira made his debut for the Brazil U23's earlier this year, scoring a superb individual goal; the likes of which United fans will be hoping to see more of when he eventually returns to Old Trafford.

With recent transfer talk speculating that Mourinho is planning an exodus, which would include shipping out the likes of Wayne Rooney, Depay and even Martial over the course of the next two transfer windows, Pereira may stand a better chance of seeing some first-team action next season for United and will use this season on-loan to advertise his worth to his parent club.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Honours even at the Emirates, FC Bayern shocked in Russia and other Champions league results

Matchday 5 had some real drama and some brilliant matches. Some great comebacks and some shock defeats.

Group A

Arsenal vs PSG

Arsenal and PSG were fighting for the top spot in group. Both have not lost any match in group stage this season and gave it all out for a win at Emirates.

PSG started the game on the front foot and it took them just 17 minutes to grab the opener, a nice build up saw Thiago Motta finding Blaise Matuidi on the left, who ran into the box and squared it for Edinson Cavani at the far post, who poked the ball home.

Arsenal struggled to get hold of possession for the major part of the first half but somehow managed to earn a penalty after Olivier Giroud robbed Krychowiak off possession just outside the box and found Mesut Ozil, who played a brilliant reverse pass to Alexis Sanchez on the right, Krychowiak came sliding in after Alexis cut inside and just clipped his right foot. The referee pointed to the spot and Olivier Giroud leveled the score at the stroke of halftime.

In the 2nd half Arsenal looked completely a different team, sustaining continuous pressure on PSG and thus found their reward on the hour mark, when Carl Jenkinson, teed up by Sanchez, fired a cross in the box from the right and Marquinhos clearance ricochetoff shin's of Marco Veratti for an own goal.

PSG didn't hold back and the substitute Hatem Ben Arfa proved to be the culprit for Arsenal. His corner found Lucas Moura free on the far side, who was left unmarked and he sent his header towards goal which took a subtle touch off Alex Iwobi's head and went away from Ospina. Arsenal paid back for the own goal with an own goal thus leveling the score again.

Both managers threw everything to grab a winner but it ended all square at the Emirates and PSG lead Arsenal at top of the table with one matchday left.

In another group A match, Basel and Ludogorets played out a 0-0 draw in Bulgaria. The fight for a place in Europa league is still on.

Group B

The most trickiest group as 3 teams are in contention for the top two places.

SSC NAPOLI vs DYNAMO KYIV

The hosts were left frustrated by the Ukrainian side. After having so many chances, they had only themselves to blame as lack of sharpness in the final third cost them two points. Napoli are still top of the group but they would be really upset as they could have wrapped the group as table toppers.

They face Benfica away on last matchday.

BESIKTAS vs BENFICA

The most incredible match of the night as Besiktas came from three goal deficit to earn a point. Benfica scored three goals in the first 30 minutes of the match and had plenty of other chances but Besiktas rallied in the second half and Vincent Aboubakar leveled the score in the 89th minute to snatch a point and Benfica would really have been kicking themselves as they blew away a three goal lead and the chance to advance to knockout stages.

Group C

Celtic vs Barcelona

Two Lionel Messi goals on either side of the half helped Barcelona win in Glasgow and thus advancing to knockout stages while securing top spot in the Group.

Neymar assisted the first goal as it was a vintage Barcelona build up and Lionel Messi finished it.
In the 2nd half Suarez was brought down in the box and Lionel Messi stepped up to grab his second of the night and thus sealing all three points and top spot in the Group.
Leo Messi is the top scorer in group stages this season with 9 goals in 4 matches he has started. He is chasing Cristiano Ronaldo's record of most goals in Group stages. 

Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City

Pep Guardiola's side last game in Champions league saw them defeat Barcelona at the Etihad.
City could have challenged Barcelona for the top spot but they only managed a draw against a sturdy Gladbach defense.

Gladbach took the lead in 23rd minute through Raffael after mounting early pressure on City's defence.
City equalized after a brilliant play through David Silva in the first half stoppage time.

2nd half saw both teams receiving Red Cards for poor challenges. First Lars Stindl of Gladbach barged into Otamendi and saw red, then minutes later Fernandinho pulled Raffael off the ball and was shown red. Though City protested for their red card as they thought it was harsh.
Both teams shared the spoils in the end and Manchester City with the draw went through to knockout stages behind Barcelona.

Group D

FC Rostov vs FC Bayern 

The biggest upset of the matchday 5 happened in Russia when the mighty Bayern lost 3-2 to FC Rostov.

Rostov produced a brave performance against the 5 times European champions. Althiugh Bayern went ahead through Douglas Costa when Renato Sanches ran into the box past defenders and fired a shot, the goalkeeper saved it but a horrible clearance from Rostov send the ball in the path of Costa who launched a thumping strike into the goal. FC Rostov equalized just 8 minutes later when Costa misplaced a pass and Poloz pounced on it and he send the ball to Sardar Azmoun who showed brilliant composure inside the box , taking advantage of Boateng's slip and send the ball past Bayern goalkeeper.

In the 48th minute a controversial penalty decision was given when Rostov's Noboa goes down under a challenge from Boateng, replay showed he got the part of the ball but referee didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot and Poloz buried the chance to give FC Rostov the lead.
Bayern stored parity just 2 minutes later, after a good link-up play between Renato Sanches and Ribery, who then teed up Bernat to finish home. It was blistering strike into the ceiling of the goal from the left-back.

Rostov continued their confident play and earned a free kick in the 64th minute. The free kick specialist of the team, Christian Noboa, took the charge and sent the ball around the wall and into the goal. It was a stunning strike from the specialist.

Home crowd got behind their team as it was deafening atmosphere in the stadium.
Rostov were leading the match and hold their nerves in the dying moments to beat Bayern.
It was their first ever champions league win and it would go down as the most memorable night in the club's history.

Bayern will now finish second in the group behind Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid vs PSV Eindhoven

Atletico Madrid were the only team to have a 100% record in this season's champion league and they capped it with another comfortable win against the Dutch club.

Atletico won 2-0 on the night with goals from Kevin Gameiro assisted by Griezmann and Antoine Griezmann. Both goals were scored in the 2nd half.
Griezmann was the man of the match for his one assist and a goal.

The win saw Atletico Madrid topped the group with one game to spare.

This is how the matchday 5 unfolded and 12 teams have already qualified for the knockouts while remaining 4 positions will be fulfilled on the last matchday.
Some groups are still waiting for their table toppers as the last matchday will surely be an exciting one.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com