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

FA Cup 3rd round draws are out- Defending champions to host Reading

The Emirates FA Cup 3rd Round draws are out and Manchester United will host Reading, Manchester City will travel to East London to face West Ham and Chelsea will face Notts County.

A total of 64 teams, inclusive of the 20 top flight teams and 24 Championship sides will compete for the prestigious trophy.

The draw will add more stress to the schedule of Premier League sides.

Holders Manchester United will face Reading at home, while Manchester City will travel to London to another Premier League side West Ham.
Chelsea will face Notts County and Arsenal will travel to Preston.

Everton will challenge Leicester in an all Premier League clash. While other club from Merseyside, Liverpool will play hosts to Newport County of Plymouth.

See the full draw below.

Ipswich v Lincoln or Oldham

Barrow v Rochdale

Manchester United v Reading

Hull v Swansea

Sunderland v Burnley

QPR v Blackburn

Millwall v Bournemouth

West Ham v Manchester City

Brighton v Charlton or MK Dons

Blackpool v Barnsley

Wigan v Nottingham Forest

Birmingham v Newcastle

Chelsea v Notts County of Peterborough

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday

West Brom v Derby

Everton v Leicester

Liverpool v Newport County of Plymouth

Wycombe v Stourbridge or Northampton

Watford v Burton

Preston v Arsenal

Cardiff v Fulham

Stoke v Wolves

Cambridge v Leeds

Bristol City v Shrewsbury or Fleetwood

Huddersfield v Port Vale

Tottenham v Aston Villa

Brentford v Halifax or Eastleigh

Bolton v Crystal Palace

Norwich v Southampton

Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon

Accrington Stanley v Luton

Rotherham v Oxford or Macclesfield​

All ties to be played between 6-9th of January 2017.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Arsenal out of the EFL Cup, Real Madrid thrash Leonesa in CDR and other results

Massive aggregate win for Real Madrid

It was a comfortable outing for the Los Blancos as they scored 6 past Cultural Leonesa at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zidane named a team which had many young players and they romped to victory.

Real Madrid won the tie 13-2 on aggregate. 

Enzo Zidane scored a goal just in18 minutes after coming on to the pitch. James Rodriguez too showed his class as he found the back of the new from a close range header.

Madrid took the lead in the first minute of the game through Mariano Diaz.

Real Madrid advanced to the next round of the Copa del Rey with ease. Zidane must be really happy and proud, both as a father and a manager, as Enzo made a lovely finish on his debut. 

In other CDR First leg matches Atletico Madrid thrashed Guijuelo 6-0 away. Yannick Carrasco scored a brace.
While Barcelona held for a 1-1 draw by Hercules.

Arsenal out of the EFL Cup

Arsene Wenger made a tough call by naming a team with 10 changes from the weekend clash against AFC Bournemouth and not enough strength on the bench, in the quarter final tie against Southampton at the Emirates.

Mohammed Elneny was the only one to retain his place while Rob Holding, Emiliano Martinez and Lucas Perez made a rare start. 

Two first half goals from Southampton handed Gunners the second defeat of the season in all competitions as they bid goodbye to the League Cup.

Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand scored the goals for Saints in the 13th minute and 38th minute respectively.

Arsenal had their chances but they fell short on the night against the opponents they had struggled in recent times.

Southampton played really well and deserved to win.

Manchester United hit 4 past the Hammers

West Ham returned to Old Trafford in just 3 days time after drawing the Premier League fixture, which saw José Mourinho sent to the stands after kicking the water bottle and was serving a one match touchline ban in the quarter final tie.

Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini were also suspended for the game after accumulating 5 yellow cards.

Mkhitaryan made a start and had a great game. As he assisted the first goal for the Red Devils. Mkhitaryan also assisted Anthony Martial's second and United's third in the 2nd half.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic poked the ball home after being teed up by the Armenian in the 2nd minute of the game.
West Ham equalised when De Gea failed to hold on to the shot of Dimitri Payet from outside the box and the rebound fell into the path of former Red Devil Ashley Fletcher to finish home from a close range.

Manchester United looked like a team the mission in second half. As Anthony Martial scored two goals to take the game away from the Hammers. The Frenchman found his lost mojo against his favourite opponents.

Bastian Schweinsteiger came on to the pitch in the 86th minute in the place of Anthony Martial as the Red Devil fans burst into an uproar. He made his first appearance since March.

The German, in the night's short stint, had a shot on the goal from outside the box and then later played a part in United's fourth goal of the night as he found Herrera with a neat pass.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the 4th goal to cap off a win with virtually the last play of the game.

Manchester United are the 4th team to advance to the semifinals after Liverpool, Hull City and Southampton.

EFL Cup semi-final fixtures are out

​The EFL Cup semi-finals will see Southampton pitted against Liverpool while Manchester United will face Hull City.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Latest Transfer News

Take a look at some latest updates and rumours 

Mourinho hints at new deal for Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick can be offered a one year contract extension by Manchester United, as suggested by Mourinho.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hinted he could offer the "fantastic" Michael Carrick contract extension to keep him at the club for a further year.
Mourinho said, "Michael is 35 years old. It's very sad to know that time flies for every one of us. He is such a fantastic player and it is a pity, I always loved him, but instead of being his manager when he was 25 I am his manager when he is 35."

"We have a good understanding. We know when he can play. We know when he is ready and when he needs rest."

"I am still having Michael Carrick and probably for one more season. That's life."

Lorenzo Insigne's wage demand alert Liverpool

Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne has a €4m a season wage demand, which gives Reds the opportunity to sign the disgruntled star after Napoli owner reportedly turned it down, according to a report in Sport Witness.

The 25 year old plays on the wing and is continuously linked with the Reds for a while, and speculations in Italy suggest that Jurgen Klopp is heavily interested in the diminutive star.

Lemar unaffected by transfer rumours

AS Monaco's Thomas Lemar says he is focused on Monaco despite Atletico Madrid and Manchester City interest in him.
He says he is fully focused on Ligue 1 title challengers Monaco.

Speculation has suggested Lemar could leave Monaco in January, with switches to La Liga or Premier League mooted, but the 21-year old brushed off the transfer rumours.

"I don't think about everything. I'm focused on my football with Monaco," he told Telefoot.

"But if there are other opportunities that come to me, as was the case with the French National Team, it makes me happy and I take everything there is to take."

The midfielder earned the maiden call from his National side this international break.

West Ham lead the race to sign temporarily outcast Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool forward trio of Sadio Mané, Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have already stacked up 30 goals this season.

Daniel Sturridge has just made eight league appearances but still hasn't found the back of the net, yet. He has been marred by injuries recently giving him a torrid time and despite the fact that Liverpool are competing firmly in Premier League this season, Sturridge is set to depart in the January transfer window, with West Ham leading the pack in race to sign the 27-year old.

West Ham are in search of a talented forward who could lead their frontline and Sturridge will be a good signing for them. They have also enquired about the possibility of Chelsea's young forward Loftus-Cheek.

Tottenham Hotspur to make a third attempt in row to sign Spain's Malaga U-21 striker Sando Ramirez

Tottenham are in line to make a third attempt in January transfer window to sign Ex-Barca striker Sandro Ramirez.

Spurs were interested in the player since last winter transfer window, they made a second bid in this summer's transfer window, before the striker opted to leave the Catalans for Malaga.

According to The Mirror, Tottenham boss Pochettino is still interested in bringing the player to White Hart Lane after he made a great start to season in Spain, scoring 5 goals in 10 appearances.

The player would cost around £15m and is expected to brought in due to the dissatisfaction with the £17m summer signing, Viktor Janssen, who has failed to make an impact in the Premier League.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com