Premier League news and gossip: Luke Shaw, Mohamed Salah, Jordan Pickford
Five things to know today about English football’s top-flight
Shaw slams fat-shamers
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has hit back at critics who claim he is fat and out of shape. The 23-year-old left-back has been accused of being overweight but says he “knows his own body”.
Speaking on United’s tour of the United States, he told The Guardian: “Of course people can say I’m fat, but I know my own body. I always look big because I’m bigger built and I have, you could say, a Wayne Rooney type of body.
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“I guess you’ve just got to take it, because there’s always going to be negative criticism and positive [words], but both of them can make you stronger.”
Shaw has less than a year left on his contract at United but in an interview with the Manchester Evening News he revealed he is not ready to sign a new deal yet. He said: “I don’t think I would want to sign a contract right now. Because I want to prove to people that I deserve a contract.”
Milner backs Salah to keep on scoring
Mohamed Salah is being tipped by Liverpool teammate James Milner to shine again this season after scoring 44 goals in his first year at Anfield. Milner said: “The best players in the world aren’t known because they just did something in one season. They do it over and over again. Mo is more than capable of doing that. There is pressure when you have had one good year to deliver again but he is a top player. He is going to keep on improving.” (Daily Mail)
Pickford is Chelsea’s No.1 target
Goalkeepers are all the rage these days. Alisson secured a big-money move to Liverpool from Roma and Thibaut Courtois could leave Chelsea for Real Madrid according to the rumour mill. If Courtois does leave Stamford Bridge who will replace him between the sticks at Chelsea? Twitter went into a frenzy after a Sky Sports report said that Everton and England keeper Jordan Pickford is Chelsea’s new No.1 target.
Zlatan: United need to win silverware
Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says the pressure will be on his old club to win a trophy this season. Ibrahimovic, who left United for LA Galaxy in March, said: “They have some new players coming in and the normal transfer market - players come, players go and you build that up. I wish them all the luck, I hope they’ll win something because they have the ability, they have the quality and the club is in need of winning.” (Sky Sports)
Is Zaha leaving Palace?
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha sent social media into meltdown today after posting a cryptic message on Instagram. The £70m-rated Ivory Coast international has removed Crystal Palace from his Instagram bio and wrote a post saying: “Today is the day I make a change with everything.” Zaha has been linked with Tottenham and German side Borussia Dortmund.
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