September 2020 – Page 3 – Football Flame

Month: September 2020

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TRANSFERS

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard eyes cheap transfer alternative despite Declan Rice ‘agreement’

Declan Rice of West Ham United during Training at Rush Green on September 25, 2020 in Romford, England. Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is interested in signing Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare as an alternative to Declan Rice, according to reports.  West Ham star Rice is Lampard's priority target for the remainder of the transfer window and has reportedly agreed a five-year contract with the Blues. However, the Hammers are demanding up to £80million for the England international. The Mail claims Lampard wants to sign a young holding midfielder and Soumare is an alternative to Rice. Soumare is likely to cost considerably less than Rice, with reports claiming Newcastle had a bid of £35m accepted for the 21-year-old in January, only for the player to reject a move to St James' Pa...
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Leicester City fail with £30m bid to sign 27-year-old Premier League star

James Tarkowski of Burnley controls the ball during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Turf Moor on July 15, 2020 in Burnley, England. Leicester City have failed with a bid of around £30m to land the signature of Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski, The Telegraph reports. The England international has been a long-term target for the Foxes and they were initially interested in signing him last summer after the sale of Harry Maguire to Manchester United. It was recently revealed that the Foxes had revived their pursuit of the 27-year-old and were discussing a possible £30m deal with the Clarets. However, it appears that Sean Dyche’s side have quickly snubbed the approach from the Foxes despite the fact that the club were prepared to include s...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City captains revealed by Riyad Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez during the Carabao Cup third round match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on September 24, 2020 in Manchester, England. Manchester City need all the character and leadership they can get right now as they three tough games with a depleted squad. The Blues have just 13 senior players available for Sunday’s clash with Premier League leaders Leicester, with injuries and positive Covid-19 tests biting deep into their resources. But it might be a blessing that four of the unaffected stars have all been named as dressing room leaders by ex-Foxes ace Riyad Mahrez, another of the Blues players who will be OK to play. Many feel that City have lacked leadership since Vincent Kompany left over a year ago, to be replaced as captain by the much quiete...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Rodgers keen for Evans to sign new deal

Jonny Evans of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 7, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers hopes Jonny Evans will soon commit to the club by signing a new contract. The Northern Ireland defender is expected to be drafted straight back into the side for Sunday's Premier League trip to Manchester City. The return to fitness of 32-year-old Evans comes as makeshift centre-back Wilfred Ndidi is set to be out for up to three months with an abductor injury which will need surgery. Evans has now served a suspension following his sending-off against former club Manchester United at the end of last season and recovered from a thigh strain picked up while on international duty. Despi...
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Lyon set new reduced price for Houssem Aouar as Arsenal close in on deal

Houssem Aouar of Olympique Lyon celebrates following his team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Lyon at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 15, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Lyon have reduced their asking price for Houssem Aouar, with Arsenal closing in on a deal for the French midfielder.  The Ligue 1 side will reject Arsenal’s £32million bid but expect Mikel Arteta’s side to return with a new and improved offer.  Lyon chiefs initially wanted £55m for the central midfielder but, according to ESPN, have now reduced that figure to between £36-41m, which is not far away from Arsenal’s opening offer.  The French outfit have been forced to lower their demands for the playmaker due to the coronavirus pandemic impacting their ...
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Leicester City make £30m move for James Tarkowski

Burnley's James Tarkowski during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Turf Moor on July 26, 2020 in Burnley, United Kingdom. Leicester have launched a £30m bid for Burnley's James Tarkowski. The Foxes are long-term admirers of the defender and are believed to have made an offer that includes add-ons. They had two bids of around £30m rejected in January but have returned as Brendan Rodgers looks to improve his defence. Burnley are understood to want £35m up front, with £10m of add-ons, and Leicester’s opening bid is likely to fall short of the Clarets’ asking price. Tarkowski would be keen on a move to the King Power Stadium as he looks to improve his England chances. He is yet to add to the two caps he earned in 2018 and is understoo...
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SERIE A

Morata: Happy to be here at Juventus playing for Pirlo

Juventus Unveils New Signing Alvaro Morata at Allianz Stadium on September 25, 2020 in Turin, Italy. Juventus officially unveiled Alvaro Morata as a Bianconeri player for at least this season after completing his loan move to Turin from Atletico Madrid. Speaking to the media, the striker talked about how happy he was to return to the side he played for two years earlier this decade. “Being back here is great. I’m now a more experienced person and player. This is the chance of a lifetime. “Seeing Andrea Pirlo as a coach has been great. I saw it coming because he was made to be one. Juve need him and I’m happy to be here with him. “After the first two training sessions, I was already impressed with how he managed the group. He knows how to get us to play well with the ball. “...
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LALIGA

Suarez responds to Messi’s farewell message

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez arrive with Barcelona team in Lisbon for the Champions League at Humberto Delgado Airport on August 13, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. Lionel Messi made headlines again on Friday with an explosive goodbye message to friend and strike partner Luis Suarez that also included another blast at Barcelona. The Argentine has let fly at the club a couple of times recently, and his latest missive criticised Barca for the way they’ve handled Suarez’s exit. Suarez responded to Messi’s Instagram outburst with a message of thanks. “Thank you, friend, for your words, but thank you for being the way you are, for what you were from the first day with me and my family,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful to Messi the human - funny an...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Nuno unhappy with coronavirus test results process

Nuno Espirito Santo the manager / head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 21, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Wolves were tested on Friday but will not know the results until Saturday, leaving Nuno urging the government to speed up. He said: "It's tough for us, you get tested - we got tested today [Friday] - and we don't know the results. We're preparing for the match on Sunday and having the stress about the final result, can you use a player, can you not? "We are living in a bubble and every time a fan asks for a photo or for you to sign something you have to keep your distance. It's very disruptive for preparation and planning. "Faster results of the test would hel...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City suffer blow as Gabriel Jesus joins Sergio Aguero on injury list

Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 21, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for at least three weeks after the Brazil Football Federation revealed it had been informed by Manchester City that the striker suffered an injury in Monday’s win at Wolves. The CBF stated that Jesus would not be fit for the internationals against Bolivia and Peru on the 9 and 13 October.  The absence of Jesus means Guardiola will have no first-choice striker for at least three matches – the Premier League meetings with Leicester and Leeds and a Carabao Cup tie with Burnley – because Sergio Aguero’s knee injury needs u...
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LALIGA

Zidane not interested in new Real Madrid transfers

Head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga Santander match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid at Estadio Anoeta on September 20, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he does not want to sign any more players before the transfer window shuts, even after his side looked short on firepower in their 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in last week's season opener, according to Reuters. Real have been unusually quiet in the transfer window since winning La Liga in July, making no new signings despite parting ways with Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon. Their only new arrivals were Borja Mayoral, Alvaro Odriozola and Martin Odegaard who all returned from loan spells. Madrid's squad was so light against Re...
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Manchester City open talks with Benfica over £50m deal to sign Ruben Dias

Ruben Dias of SL Benfica reacts during the Liga NOS match between FC Famalicao and SL Benfica at Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on September 18, 2020 in Vila Nova de Famalicao, Portugal. Manchester City have opened talks with Benfica over a £50million deal for defender Ruben Dias. The Premier League title contenders have switched to the stylish 23-year-old after growing frustrated by Sevilla's valuation of Jules Kounde. Dias has long been on their shortlist but had been priced at £87million owing to his buy out clause. The knock-on effects of the covid pandemic though mean Benfica are now willing to drop their price to attract much needed revenue. City may also include Nicolas Otamendi in negotiations but Benfica would prefer a straight cash deal at this stage. Dias has a lo...
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Burnley land midfielder Stephens from Brighton on two-year deal

Dale Stephens of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at St Mary's Stadium on July 16, 2020 in Southampton, England. Burnley have signed midfielder Dale Stephens from Brighton and Hove Albion on a two-year deal, the Premier League clubs have said. The 31-year-old made 223 appearances for Brighton after arriving from Charlton Athletic in 2014 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League in 2017. “I’m very happy. It’s probably taken a few more years than expected but I’m happy to get it over the line this week and finally become a Burnley player,” Stephens said in a statement on the Burnley website. “I’m coming back to a Premier League club that’s done well in recent years in this league and I’m exci...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Edouard Mendy: ‘At a club like Chelsea, you have to win’

Edouard Mendy of Chelsea poses with his shirt at Chelsea Training Ground on September 24, 2020 in Cobham, England. New Chelsea signing Edouard Mendy has outlined his ambitions after joining the club he supported as a boy. Mendy completed his £22million transfer from Rennes on Thursday morning as Frank Lampard looked to increase competition for the No1 spot at Stamford Bridge. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, joined Chelsea in 2018 but has struggled to impress under Lampard and has made a string of mistakes this season already. While Mendy is expected to eventually emerge as the club’s No.1 goalkeeper, the Senegalese international is more than aware of what is required at his new club. “I want to adapt to this league, continue my progression that has be...
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NEWS

European roundup: Tottenham survive scare, Liverpool hit seven in Lincoln

Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League third round qualifying match between Shkendija and Tottenham Hotspur at National Arena Todor Proeski on September 24, 2020 in Skopje, Macedonia. Tottenham had to ask for the goalposts to be changed ahead of their 3-1 win over Shkendija in Skopje, Macedonia on Thursday to reach the final round of Europa League qualifying. Son Heung-min and Harry Kane struck in the final 20 minutes to set up a playoff round tie at home to Maccabi Haifa next Thursday on an eventful night in Macedonia for Jose Mourinho's men. Mourinho said his goalkeepers noticed before the game that the goalposts at both ends of the ground were around five centimetres too small. "I thought ...
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NEWS

Bayern Munich complete quadruple with Super Cup win in front of 15,000 fans

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich lifts the UEFA Super Cup trophy as he and team mates celebrate victory after the UEFA Super Cup match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Sevilla at Puskas Arena on September 24, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. Bayern Munich beat Sevilla 2-1 after extra time on Thursday to lift the UEFA Super Cup and complete a quadruple under coach Hansi Flick, in the first European game played with fans in the stands since the sport returned amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Substitute Javi Martinez headed in the winner in the 104th minute after Europa League winners Sevilla had taken a 13th-minute lead through Lucas Ocampos’s penalty and Bayern leveled through Leon Goretzka in the 34th. The Bavarians, unbeaten now in 32 consecutive matches, also won the domestic league and Cu...
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SERIE A

Ibrahimovic: ‘COVID had the courage to challenge me. Bad idea’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Bologna FC. AC Milan won 2-0 over Bologna FC. Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the highest-profile Serie A player to contract COVID-19 since play in Italy resumed in June following a three-month hiatus because of the pandemic. The 38-year-old AC Milan striker was placed in quarantine at home following the test carried out ahead of the team’s Europa League tie against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, the Italian club said. The announcement came a day after his Brazilian team-mate Leo Duarte also returned a positive test. “All other team members and staff have tested negative,” the club said in a statement on its website. The vet...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Auba: I considered leaving but Arteta was key

Pierre-Emerick Aubamdeyang of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 22, 2020 in St Albans, England. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says he considered leaving Arsenal but the chance to improve under Mikel Arteta was a "key factor" in his decision to sign a new contract. Barcelona made a concrete offer to sign Aubameyang, who also attracted interest from Inter Milan, before Arsenal confirmed their captain had signed a new three-year deal after months of speculation over his future. The 31-year-old helped Arsenal win the FA Cup final last season and the Community Shield at the start of 2020/21 - scoring in both games - and netted in his side's opening Premier League win over Fulham. Arsenal boss Arteta recently said his star striker chose to extend his contract ...
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LALIGA

Luis Suarez Wants Atletico Madrid To Sign Midfielder

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona looks on during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on June 30, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Luis Suarez hasn't been an Atletico Madrid player long but he's already recommended his new team buy a new player to go along with his signing. On Wednesday Atleti agreed a reported £5.5 million fee to sign Suarez from Barcelona and the Uruguay striker completed the move on Thursday, tearing up as he said goodbye to his now former club. He's already made himself feel comfortable with Diego Simeone's side and is hoping the manager will follow his 'endorsement' of another transfer. According to AS, Suarez has asked the club to sign Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, with his fellow countryman already on Atletico's wanted list....
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BUNDESLIGA

“Jadon Sancho wants you to know that he’s better than you” – Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier

Thomas Meunier of Borussia Dortmund and Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund look on during day 2 of the pre-season summer training camp of Borussia Dortmund on August 11, 2020 in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. Borussia Dortmund newcomer Thomas Meunier has revealed what it's like playing with Jadon Sancho, drawing parallels with his time at Paris Saint-Germain in the same team as Kylian Mbappe. Meunier joined Dortmund in summer 2020, after winning three Ligue 1 titles during a four-year stint with PSG. The 29-year-old Belgium international brings a wealth of experience to the table, but admits getting to grips with BVB's whippersnappers is proving quite the challenge, with Sancho the chief culprit. "Jadon is a bit sneaky," Meunier told former Dortmund defender Patrick Owomoyela in an inter...
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