Premier League news and transfer gossip: Harry Kane, Eden Hazard, Riyad Mahrez
Talking points, managerial mutterings and the latest transfer rumours
Premier League news and talking points
Kane ‘dived’ for penalty says Van Dijk
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been accused of diving to win a penalty during the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield yesterday.
Reds forward Mohamed Salah opened the scoring, before a Victor Wanyama thunderbolt drew Spurs level. Kane won a penalty in the 87th minute when he was felled by Loris Karius but his spot kick was saved by the Liverpool keeper.
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Salah looked to have won the game for Liverpool in injury time, but Spurs were awarded another penalty when Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have fouled Erik Lamela in the 95th minute.
Kane stepped up to score his 100th Premier League goal, but Reds defender van Dijk believes both spot kicks were contentious. Van Dijk told The Times: “There were loads of things going on. I think the first goal was offside and then [for the second one] it is a decision the referee already made and the referee is closer than the linesman.
“I don’t think that is a pen and the same with the first one. That is also clearly not a penalty. I think it is a dive. You see him [Kane] diving clearly and no one is talking about that.”
Giroud: Deschamps told me to leave Arsenal
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Olivier Giroud has revealed that France manager Didier Deschamps told him to quit Arsenal if he wanted the chance of being selected in the squad for the World Cup. A regular sub at Arsenal, Giroud signed for Chelsea for £18m during the transfer window.
He told The Sun: “Deschamps didn’t encourage me to join Chelsea, he encouraged me to change clubs. Everyone knows my attachment to the France side, and every time I wear the shirt it’s with a lot of pride. So of course I want to play the World Cup in Russia, which will surely be my last, so I need to give myself every chance. One week before the end of the transfer window, we spoke, yes. I needed to get his opinion, that’s all.”
Deulofeu: the Premier League is special
Gerard Deulofeu says part of the reason he decided to sign for Watford on loan from Barcelona is that the Premier League is “special”.
The Spanish winger, who has swapped playing with Lionel Messi and co to join the Hornets, told the Daily Star: “I’m not a player who wants to stay on the bench or not be in the squad. When I joined Barcelona I knew Neymar was in the team. Then he goes and in comes Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. So my solution is to come here and regain my confidence.
“I have to play more minutes for my options for the national team. And I enjoy the style of the Premier League. Maybe La Liga has better players with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but this league is special.”
Fabregas: Hazard can win the Ballon d’Or
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes his Stamford Bridge teammate Eden Hazard can one day win the Ballon d’Or. Speaking to Sky Sports, Fabregas said Hazard has the quality to achieve everything. “He is a player who can do one on one, he can get possession of the ball, he can pass and has great ability with the ball,” said Fabregas. “With Eden, if he wants to win the Ballon d’Or, it’s up to him. I’ve played football for a long time and played with top, top players and he has all the quality, I know what he can do.”
United supporters react to Mourinho comments
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) has issued a statement in response to Jose Mourinho’s comments that the atmosphere at Old Trafford was “quiet” during Saturday’s 2-0 win against Huddersfield.
Reported by ESPN, the MUST statement said: “We note our manager’s further comments regarding the poor atmosphere within Old Trafford following the Huddersfield home game. The decline in atmosphere is by no means limited to Old Trafford. It’s an issue affecting clubs throughout the country. And it’s certainly not an issue specific to Manchester United supporters - our away support is widely acknowledged, by fair minded fans, as the best in the country.
“We believe that atmosphere is primarily dependent on the perceived relationship between fans and club - including the degree of supporter ownership and engagement. In the absence of any imminent changes in the former we therefore concentrate on other areas where we can have an impact in the short to medium term.”
Premier League transfer news and rumours
Riyad Mahrez: Leicester City to Arsenal
Awol Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez is a target for Arsenal, the Daily Star reports. Mahrez missed out on a deadline day move to Manchester City, after a £60m bid was turned down, and has not reported to training with the Foxes since.
Leicester boss Claude Puel insists he is hopeful the 26-year-old will “come back” to the club. He said: “He is our friend and I think all the staff and all the players will help him to come back with a good mentality and a positive attitude and to enjoy his football with his teammates. Riyad is a good player but he is a good man also. I respect him. It’s important to manage this with calm inside the club.”
Jack Wilshere: Arsenal to Liverpool
The Sun reports that Liverpool are ready to make a move for Jack Wilshere if the midfielder rejects a new contract offer at Arsenal. The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been offered a deal by the Gunners, but with lower wages. Liverpool are “willing to match his current salary”, says the newspaper, if they can sign him on a free transfer in the summer.
Mateo Kovacic: Real Madrid to Manchester United
United boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic. According to the Manchester Evening News, Kovacic is said to be “tempted by the move”, but United will face competition from Juventus, Inter Milan and Tottenham for the Croatian.
Could Kluivert move see Rashford leave United?
If Justin Kluivert signs for Manchester United this summer, could it spell the end of Marcus Rashford’s Old Trafford career? The Daily Express says that Rashford will fall further down the pecking order if Kluivert, 18, signs for the Red Devils. Boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of Rashford, but the England forward may have to look elsewhere if he wants more game time.