Arsenal ‘should appoint Conte’ and Mahrez returns to Leicester

Premier League news and talking points

Merson: Gunners would be mad not to go for Conte

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Arsenal should swoop to appoint Antonio Conte if the Italian manager leaves Chelsea.

Current Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger signed a two-year deal with the club last summer, but Merson says that Conte is the perfect replacement for the long-serving Frenchman. Merson said: “The day Conte leaves Chelsea, if I was Arsenal, I’d be straight on the phone. Managers like Conte don’t come along too often.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

“Arsenal need someone that is going to go in there and upset people. Conte upsets people. He wants you to play a certain way and he’ll make you rock solid at the back. As soon as Arsenal get rock solid at the back, they’ll be a force. I think Arsenal would say: ‘we’d have you next season’. I think they’d be mad if they didn’t.”

Mahrez set to return to Leicester training

Riyad Mahrez is expected to return to training at Leicester City today, the BBC reports. Mahrez has not trained with the Foxes since the club turned down a bid from Manchester City on deadline day. Leicester face Man City tomorrow but Foxes boss Claude Puel said yesterday that the 26-year-old would not feature in the squad for the clash against the Premier League leaders.

Internet giants not bidding for TV rights deal

The Guardian reports that Facebook, Google and Netflix will not be submitting bids for the Premier League’s next round of TV rights. The deal for the 2019-2022 seasons will see broadcasters submit their offers today and an announcement is expected next week. Sky and BT “will remain the major players”, the Guardian says, but Amazon could also bid for “one of the less attractive of the seven packages”.

United financial loss down to ‘Trump tax reforms’

Manchester United have posted their biggest financial loss in eight years and according to The Times the deficit could be down to new tax reforms in the US by President Donald Trump. The Times says that United had made a £29.1million loss for the second quarter of the financial year and wrote off £49m because of the recent changes in US tax laws.

Lacazette’s Arsenal career ‘as good as over’

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes that the arrival of £60m striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang means Alexandre Lacazette’s Gunners career is already at risk. Lacazette signed for Arsenal for £52m last summer, but was an unused sub in the 5-1 win over Everton last week. Petit told The Sun: “Lacazette is under massive pressure. He needs to improve or face the exit this summer. Aubameyang’s signing tells me it might already be too late. Arsene Wenger’s belief in Lacazette has gone.”

Rodriguez denies making racist remarks

West Brom’s Jay Rodriguez has been charged by the FA for allegedly making racist comments to Brighton defender Gaetan Bong. However, the Daily Mirror reports that the striker has hit back at the charge and denied the “false allegation”. He tweeted: “Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in. I 100% deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my innocence.” If he is found guilty, The Sun says that Rodriguez could face a minimum five-match ban.

Premier League transfer news and rumours

Eden Hazard: Chelsea to Real Madrid

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard insists he is “happy” at Stamford Bridge but has refused to rule out a future transfer to Real Madrid. The Belgian has admitted to Spanish newspaper Marca that Real boss Zinedine Zidane was his “idol” growing up and says “you never know in football” what will happen.

Emre Can: Liverpool to Juventus

The Daily Mirror says Juventus are growing more confident of signing Liverpool star Emre Can on a free transfer this summer. Can is out of contract at Anfield and the Italian giants have long been favourites to sign the German midfielder. Juventus watched Can in action last weekend and the Mirror says they have made him a “huge offer” to move to Serie A.

Premier League fixtures and live matches on TV

Tomorrow’s Premier League fixtures (3pm unless stated)

Sunday’s Premier League fixtures