Arsenal have held talks with the entourage of Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Evan N’Dicka over a summer move and Brighton’s Yves Bissouma has also been the subject of several lines of enquiry from the Gunners. The France U21 international, who was signed from Auxerre for £4.7million in 2018, has been developing at a frightening rate in the past 18 months under boss Adi Hutter.
N’Dicka was an unused substitute as Arsenal ran riot with a 3-0 win at Commerzbank-Arena in the Europa League group stages in September 2019.
Since then he has become a mainstay in the team and is currently thriving on the left-side of a back three, with Eintracht now pushing for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga largely thanks to the goals of Andre Silva.
Mikel Arteta is planning a defensive restructure in the summer with Callum Chambers set to follow Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi out the door.
A commanding presence at the back is now on the agenda and Express Sport understands that talks have already been held with N’Dicka’s representatives.
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The Mali international has been exceptional for Brighton this term and looks set to earn a big move away from the Amex before next season.
It’s understood that Bissouma does not have a relegation clause written into his contract, something that may have come into effect should Brighton fail to beat the drop.
Graham Potter’s side are currently living dangerously but will be able to demand a premium fee, even if they are playing Championship football next season.
With hopes of European qualification fading in the Premier League, Arsenal are now gunning for Europa League glory.
Winning the tournament would secure the return of Champions League football at the Emirates and therefore bolster their summer transfer kitty.
Arteta will have to clear the decks once again in order to raise funds to spend, with Hector Bellerin among those who could leave the club.
Should he end his 10-year spell with the Gunners, Arsenal will look to target another Brighton star in the form of Tariq Lamptey.
The 20-year-old recently signed a new contract with the Seagulls that does not include a release or relegation clause.
Lamptey is set to undergo another operation on his hamstring with his season now over. Chelsea have a 20 per cent sell-on clause but possess no option to re-sign their former academy graduate.
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Wayne Rooney has been told he is the perfect man to take charge at Manchester United should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leave. It comes from Shinji Kagawa, who knows all about the former striker having worked alongside him at Old Trafford.
Rooney could take over as United manager because he possesses three vital traits.
It comes after the Englishman took over at Derby on a permanent basis earlier this year after initially being put in interim charge.
That saw the 35-year-old call time on his outstanding playing career and start life as a manager.
Rooney is fondly remembered by United fans who would no doubt love to see him in the Old Trafford dugout one day if he impresses as a coach.
And Kagawa believes his former team-mate could be the answer for the Red Devils.
He told the Mirror: “It’s hard to make any predictions because in the world’s top league, the manager is let go if they don’t get results.
“But I hope that Rooney will be successful and eventually become a manager at Manchester.
“He definitely has the personality, the experience and record for it.
“He’s the manager for Derby now, but I’m sure he’ll be creating success stories as a manager for a Premier League team soon.”
“Wayne Rooney was the player I most wanted to play with when I joined Manchester United.
“He had the image of being mischievous and crazy, so I really didn’t know what he was like.
“But on the pitch, he fought harder than anyone and he protected his team-mates more than anyone.
“He was a team player. I played with many amazing football players at Manchester, but Wayne Rooney was the best athlete.”
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F1: Lewis Hamilton extends Mercedes contract
The legendary racing commentator has sadly passed away at the age of 97, after becoming one of the most iconic voices in British sporting history. For 52 years Walker delivered commentary, following in the footsteps of father Graham in taking up the mic on motor sports. His career was hugely successful, and from the Seventies, he would earn acclaim for his pulsating reports on Formula One.
Throughout his career, Walker commentated on some of the greatest names the sport has ever produced, including seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
But in a throwback report, Walker discussed his first encounter with the driver he once described as the greatest of all time.
Speaking last year to the Telegraph, Walker said: “It’s amazing to think first time I met Lewis he was at the Autosport Awards in whatever year it was, and he came up to about my knee, and he had a dinner jacket and a black tie on, and his autograph book, and he wanted my autograph.”
Hamilton has since gone on to become a seven-time champion himself, and as a result one of the world’s most recognisable, and wealthy, sportspeople.
Murray Walker’s first encounter with Lewis Hamilton unearthed: ‘Asked me for an autograph’ (Image: GETTY)
Murray Walker has passed away at the age of 97 (Image: GETTY)
And for Walker, although it was a difficult decision to choose who was the best, Hamilton may have edged it.
He said: “People ask me who is the greatest of all time and I always say ‘Look, you really can’t compare drivers of one generation with drivers of another, because the regulations are different, the circuits are different, the cars are different and the competition is different.
“But having said all that, in a situation where I used to unhesitatingly say ‘Fangio – five world championships, they’re never going to beat that’, and then it was ‘[Michael] Schumacher – seven world championships’.
“And people talk about [Ayrton] Senna. Well actually I think Hamilton actually can be called ‘greater’ – in inverted commas – than the last two for one very simple reason, and that is their driving tactics. Schumacher and Senna were not always irreproachable. Hamilton has always been as clean as a whistle.
JUST IN: Murray Walker dead: Legendary F1 commentator dies aged 97
Murray Walker chats to Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in 2010 (Image: GETTY)
“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for him.”
Walker became known for his iconic commentary pairing with James Hunt, up until the former racing champion’s death in 1993.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Hunt’s death, Murray told the BBC how the pair “were oil and water” which “seemed to work as a commentator mix”.
He detailed how there was “often a lot of friction in the commentary box” which came as a result of the pair have to share just one microphone.
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Murray Walker alongside Michael Schumacher (Image: GETTY)
Recalling one particularly incident at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Murray added: “I had been talking for what James thought was too long and he wanted to say something.
“He grabbed hold of the microphone wire and gave it a good jerk. The microphone flew out of my hands and into his. He started talking and I was absolutely incandescent with rage.
“I actually had my fist back to thump him but I looked across the commentary box and our producer was wagging his finger at me – and I got a ‘no, no, no!’ expression on his face.
“The blow never landed – and it’s just as well as it would have broken up a great friendship.”
Murray Walker with co-commentator James Hunt (Image: GETTY)
Such was Walker’s standing in the sport, after he completed his last ever Formula One television commentary in the US in 2001, a dinner to mark his career was attended by megastars like Schumacher.
Tributes for the icon have flooded in since the news of his death was confirmed on Saturday by the British Racing Drivers’ Club.
In a statement, the group said: “It’s with great sadness we share the news of the passing of BRDC Associate Member Murray Walker OBE.
“A friend, a true motorsport legend, the nations favourite commentator and a contagious smile.
“We thank Murray for all he has done for our community.
“RIP our friend.”
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And Solskjaer admits that he is very much on the same wavelength as Murtough when it comes to who he wants to bring in.
“I have worked very well with John. He is very easy to communicate with. He knows what I want because we speak freely” says the Norwegian.
“With Darren [Fletcher] coming in as well that gives us another angle.
“John’s knowledge has been really good for me to rely on.
“All the players who have come in so far in my time have been identified by every one of us.”
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Sheffield United have announced that Chris Wilder has left the club following a disastrous second season in the Premier League. Wilder initially took over at the Blades when they were in League One before earning promotion to the Championship in his first full season.
And he needed just two more season to get them back to the Premier League for the first time since 2007.
But he created history in his first season as a Premier League manager, with the Blades going on to finish ninth – they’re highest finish in the top flight since 1975.
Wilder earned high praise for his style of football which saw them agonisingly miss out on European football.
However, it’s been far from smooth sailing this time around with United languishing at the bottom of the table.
And United owner Prince Abdullah has taken the decision to call time on Wilder’s managerial career, insisting it was mutual.
The statement read: “Sheffield United confirms that Chris Wilder has left the Club by mutual consent.
“The Board and Chris Wilder, who has managed the Blades to more than 100 wins in his almost five years at Bramall Lane, made the decision following discussions.
“Earlier this season, Chris Wilder surpassed 200 league games in charge of the Blades, becoming the sixth United manager to reach this milestone.
“We are confident that all Blades fans around the world will join us in thanking Chris for his hard work, commitment and expertise in driving the Club.
“Now the Club will turn its attention to completing the season as strongly as possible and if we are relegated, to preparing for the Championship.
“We confirm our intention to keep the core of the player group together and will continue to invest further in the Academy and the First Team, to place us in the best possible position for the future.”
Wilder commented: “Being manager of Sheffield United has been a special journey and one I’ll never forget.
“I was delighted to be given the opportunity back in 2016 and have been delighted with the success which we have achieved, including two promotions and a highest ever Premier League finish.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Club’s accomplishments along the way, including the players, staff and, in particular, the supporters.”
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Former Rangers and Everton manager Walter Smith is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery. A Rangers statement read: “Rangers Football Club can confirm Walter Smith had an operation on Monday and he is currently recovering in hospital.”
Smith spent the majority of his playing career north of the border as a defender for Dundee United.
However, most of his success came later in life when he turned his hand to management.
Smith started out in charge of Scotland’s youth teams before taking up a role as assistant to player-manager Graeme Souness’at Rangers in 1986.
The Lanark-born boss was promoted to the main hotseat at Ibrox in 1991 and he won seven consecutive league titles before departing for Everton.
After failing to break into the top 10 of the Premier League for three seasons, Smith was sacked and he took up the helm of his national team.
Smith finished his career with Rangers from 2007 to 2011, where he won three more league titles and reached the final of the 2008 UEFA Cup.
Meanwhile, Smith spoke last week to give a stern warning to current Rangers boss Steven Gerrard after he ended Celtic’s nine-year dominance of the Scottish Premiership title.
“You can’t relax,” he told the Essential Scottish Football Podcast. “It’s always just a beginning. You win a league championship and you start again. You get no time to sit back, for one reason.
“For Scottish clubs, the finances are totally driven by the Champions League. And the qualifiers are your first games of the season. You win a championship and think: ‘That’s great’.
“Then you’re drawn against a team from Cyprus or somewhere like that and you find it’s very difficult.
“You maybe don’t get through, as happened to me at times, and it feels like you’ve not won a championship. You think: ‘Where did that go?’
“So you don’t have time to sit back and wallow and think: ‘This is fantastic’. You’ve got to look at the next season. You’ve got no time.
“You go away on holiday and you spend half your time on the phone trying to enhance your squad of players by getting a few new players coming in.
“And that recruitment is a massively important part of your job. Once you win a championship you’ve got to try and enhance your reputation in Europe.”
Smith has been a mentor to Gerrard since the former Liverpool midfielder took charge of the Glasgow club.
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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has claimed that Kai Havertz can thrive as a central striker for Chelsea after they were held to a goalless draw by Leeds United on Saturday afternoon. The Blues enjoyed the lion’s share of both possession and chances but failed to break down the hosts, who saw a first-half strike from Tyler Roberts ruled out for offside.
Roberts also struck the crossbar before half-time, while Diego Llorente narrowly avoided an embarrassing contribution when he fired the ball off his own goal frame.
The result marked Chelsea’s tenth clean sheet in 12 matches, with Tuchel continuing to find success in defence with his three-at-the-back system.
Havertz was selected to start at the tip of Chelsea’s attacking trident, leading the line ahead of Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic.
The 21-year-old looked lively in the role and came close to opening the scoring on a number of occasions, but simply did not get the rub of the green.
He registered more shots on target than the entire Leeds side, but was ultimately unsuccessful in his efforts to find the back of the net in the Premier League for the first time since October.
JUST IN: Chelsea have five stars on borrowed time under Thomas Tuchel
Despite this, Tuchel suggested after the final whistle that Havertz may continue to feature as a striker for the foreseeable future.
“He is pretty much a number nine because he likes to be high and not necessarily drop to 10 and turn,” the Chelsea boss told BT Sport.
“He loves to be high and arrive in the box. He loves to be there and have the last touch. This is for me why he played number nine today.”
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United are likely to be busy in the summer window, with the club overhauling their structure behind the scenes.
John Murtough was this week named as the Red Devils’ first football director, who will liaise directly with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Darren Fletcher has also been named as technical director and will work alongside chief transfer negotiator Matt Judge,
After the restructure, it was confirmed that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would still have a pivotal say in recruitment, as they look to close the gap on Manchester City.
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Chelsea: Tuchel sends Pulisic message amid frustration
All the while Chelsea are winning and on course for a top-four finish, it’s hard for anybody to question elements of Thomas Tuchel’s Stamford Bridge regime. The German has not been shy to shake things up dramatically with several former Frank Lampard favourites now on the fringes of his starting XI.
His team does seem to change every week but Tuchel appears to be using rotation to his advantage to get results and drive Chelsea up the table.
This week he defused claims that Christian Pulisic is facing an uncertain future at the club, emphasising that he is still assessing and experimenting with all of the players at his disposal.
It’s not the first time he has faced questioning in recent weeks surrounding a player’s future, with a number of other stars also facing a fight to stay in west London.
With that in mind, Express Sport takes a look at the five players on borrowed time in the race to win over Tuchel ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Elland Road…
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Christian Pulisic is one of several Chelsea stars on borrowed time under Thomas Tuchel (Image: GETTY)
Christian Pulisic
As part of a recurring theme, Tuchel said all the right things when explaining his use of Pulisic.
He said: “I can say nothing else but good things about him. Maybe his biggest problem is that I know him from Dortmund and I think he started only in the cup games.
“It is my responsibility and it is a bit unfair but I know what impact he can have in the last 20 or 30 minutes.”
Pulisic is said to be frustrated with his minutes and still found himself on the bench against Everton, despite rotation across the frontline.
The United States international is towards the bottom of the attacking pecking order with Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich reportedly monitoring the situation.
He was excellent after Project Restart and looked set to become the main man this season. With game time he could still turn things around but for now, things are looking bleak.
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Hakim Ziyech
It’s been a frustrating time at Chelsea for Ziyech following his arrival from Ajax for £34million, where Erik ten Hag built the team around him.
His morale seems low and he does not seem to be enjoying his football, even when on the field.
Ziyech is used to having things his own way from his time in Holland and with competition for places fierce, it’s easy to see why there are doubts over his future.
The system is also struggling to accommodate him and the width of the wing-backs is limiting his space on the field.
A change of formation could result in an upturn in fortunes for the Moroccan, who undoubtedly has bags of ability and quality.
Hakim Ziyech is yet to replicate his Ajax form since arriving at Chelsea (Image: GETTY)
Tammy Abraham
Abraham’s future has now been plunged into serious doubt, having been left out of the past few Chelsea match day squads.
The striker has had several runs in the team but failed to nail down his place ahead of Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner.
Now he is hesitant to extend his stay given that he wants to play regularly and could do so elsewhere.
It’s already becoming clear that Tuchel is unconvinced by Abraham and a move could well be on the cards, permitting Giroud stays.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa has made two appearances under Tuchel, keeping consecutive clean sheets against Barnsley and Newcastle.
Yet since then, he hasn’t played a single minute and Tuchel has confirmed that Edouard Mendy remains the No 1.
It has been suggested that the randomly assigned game time was an attempt to drive up his price-tag ahead of the summer transfer window.
But ultimately, Kepa’s performances warranted a longer run in the side and now the writing appears to be on the wall.
The writing appears to be on the wall for Kepa Arrizabalaga at Chelsea (Image: GETTY)
Kurt Zouma
Although he played the full 90 minutes against Everton – keeping a clean sheet – Tuchel does not seem to fancy Zouma.
The Frenchman was a regular under Frank Lampard and looked impressive alongside Thiago Silva at the heart of defence.
Yet even with the Brazilian out injured and Fikayo Tomori loaned out to AC Milan, Zouma has not been selected as part of Tuchel’s back-three.
It’s a major body blow for Zouma, who at this stage of his career will be desperate to play regularly.
He is unlikely to be short of suitors should Chelsea be willing to let him leave.
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Chelsea can at least temporarily leapfrog Leicester into third place in the Premier League table when they take on rivals Leeds United at Elland Road today (12.30pm kick-off). The Blues are 11 unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel after beating Everton last time out. Express Sport looks at how Chelsea might line up against Leeds with several players in line for a recall in Yorkshire, Tuchel knowing he has a Champions League last 16 second leg on Wednesday to also keep in mind.
Goalkeeper: Mendy
Tuchel has made it clear Edouard Mendy, signed in the summer from Rennes, is Chelsea’s No 1 over Kepa Arrizablaga – at least for the rest of this season.
That means the Senegalese shot-stopper keeps hit spot between the sticks having kept 13 clean sheets in 23 Premier League appearances so far this season.
He hasn’t conceded in the league for 336 minutes having kept three shut-outs on the spin and will hope to maintain that record here.
Defence: Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been a firm fixture on the right side of a back three under Tuchel and has completed the full 90 minutes in every Premier League and Champions League match of the German’s short tenure.
The Spaniard will be asked to go again but there could be a change alongside him, with Antonio Rudiger coming back into the side.
After being an unused substitute against Everton on Monday, Thiago Silva was poised to make his first start since the win over Tottenham on February 4 after injury.
But Tuchel said on Friday: “Thiago had a little setback in training. At the end of the training session the day before yesterday, he felt at the very end something around the same area that he injured.
“So we had to take him off. So he is back into the transition phase but not team training so he will be out.”
Silva’s absence means Andreas Christensen should start on the left while Rudiger should be restored in the middle after Kurt Zouma made a sporadic start against Everton.
Midfield: James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell
Callum Hudson-Odoi is a rival to Reece James on the right-hand side of the midfield four but Tuchel may keep the faith with James given the threat of Stuart Dallas, while Raphinha could also be deployed on the left.
On the opposite side Luke Ayling is also an offensive threat for the Whites and so Ben Chilwell could displace Marcos Alonso at left wing-back given his superior defensive abilities.
Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho started together at Everton while N’Golo Kante came off the bench for the former in the second half.
Brazil-born Italian Jorginho is suspended for the second leg against Atletico next week, however, meaning he should play the full match here.
Kante should join him in the centre of the park to allow Kovacic a rest before he and his French team-mate occupy the engine room against Diego Simeone’s dogged La Liga side in Europe.
Attack: Mount, Werner, Havertz
Kai Havertz enjoyed his best game yet for Chelsea in the last match at Everton, lining up as a false nine with Olivier Giroud benched and Tammy Abraham unavailable.
Christian Pulisic is still waiting for his opportunity but Tuchel declared on Friday that the American winger needs to improve in matches where he starts.
That means Timo Werner, after missing some good chances against Everton, should stay on the left-hand side against a vulnerable Leeds defence.
Mason Mount came off the bench versus the Toffees, having scored against Liverpool in the game before that, and the in-form England international should come back into the XI here.
Tuchel then has Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi and Giroud as attacking options in reserve at Elland Road.
Predicted Chelsea XI vs Leeds: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Werner, Havertz
Players in bold represent changes from previous starting line-up
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