John Stones OUT of England squad, Barca ‘AGREE Lewandowski transfer’, Canada reach first World Cup in 36 years – latest

Varane eases concerns over injury

Manchester United fans have breathed a collective sigh of relief after Raphael Varane confirmed he was fully fit despite an injury forcing him off in France’s game with Ivory Coast on Friday.

The centre-back was removed by Didier Deschamps as a precaution after 57 minutes, and the national coach afterwards confirmed the player had a ‘small problem in his foot.’

Immediately, watching Red Devils fearing a repeat of the injury that Varane picked up on international duty in October that kept him out for three games.

However, the 28-year-old has since eased those concerns and revealed he is contention for tonight’s game with South Africa.

Speaking to RMC Sport yesterday, Varane said: “I’m at 100% for tomorrow. It was a hit, but it was just painful.”

Captain Cesar triggers contract extension

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has triggered a one-year contract extension – but may still leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Spanish defender’s deal was due to expire in June but – due to the number of appearances he has made this season – has automatically signed on for another 12 months.

The clause is said to have been set prior to the club being sanctioned by the government.

However, despite the updated deal, Azpilicueta remains a serious transfer target for Barcelona with Mundo Deportivo suggesting that the LaLiga giants are more than prepared to pay a fee for the 32-year-old.

‘No potential’ for European Super League

Following news of UEFA’s decision to axe their controversial plans for a revamped Champions League, European Club Association chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi has also ruled out any kind of revival of last year’s doomed Super League.

Speaking this afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain president Al Khelaifi was adamant on the matter: “Regarding the non-Super League, it doesn’t exist. Not the first version, and not the second.”

A proposal for a breakaway competition involving only Europe’s richest clubs collapsed within 72 hours last April following outrage from clubs, fans and football authorities.

Leeds tracking United starlet Garner

Leeds United have been keeping a close eye on young Manchester United ace James Garner during his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

The 21-year-old has impressed at the City Ground this season, and has been a key factor in their rise up the Championship table and their run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Set-piece expert Garner has struck three goals and provided six assist in 36 appearances for Forest, and has earned praise for his performances from the likes of Roy Keane and Jurgen Klopp.

The Elland Road club are unlikely to prise Garner away from Old Trafford permanently, but the Red Devils may consider another season out on loan in order to continue the player’s development.

‘Unfair’ Champions League plans axed

UEFA has scrapped a controversial Champions League qualification proposal after the plan appeared to favour ‘big clubs’.

The top-table of European club football is set to expand from its current 32-team format to 36 from the 2024-25 season.

As part of the shake-up, Uefa had proposed reserving two of the additional four spots to clubs with a recent strong record in the competition who had failed to qualify via the usual routes.

That means, hypothetically and based on this season’s Premier League table, Manchester United could have finished sixth and still qualified for the Champions League ahead of fifth-placed club Tottenham.

Uefa have now agreed the proposed ‘leapfrogging’ is unfair, with the plan to be axed.

However, the governing body did confess they will still consider using their own rankings to decide the additional spots in the competition.

Hey Jude! Reds face Real competition

Liverpool will face fierce competition from Real Madrid in their attempts to sign England star Jude Bellingham.

BILD report that the 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder is a serious target for the LaLiga giants.

However, Los Blancos would ideally love to bring the teenager to the Spanish capital in 2023 due to budgeting restraints, and that may allow the Anfield club the opportunity to swoop.

Bellingham is expected to start for the Three Lions this evening against Ivory Coast at Wembley.

Ramsdale relishes chance to lead

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale would jump at the chance to become Arsenal captain – and claim it fully with two hands.

The England stopper was discussing the skipper’s role with FourFourTwo, and admitted he would ‘take responsibility’ if given the chance by Mikel Arteta.

“We’ve got a lot of strong characters, though, and a lot of people who I think would be good captains,” Ramsdale said.

“Just to be told ‘you’re in a leadership role’, I’d relish. You never turn down a captaincy and I think I’d excel if I was given the armband, but that’s down to the boss.”

The Arsenal captaincy has been discussed ever since previous skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club in January.

Alexandre Lacazette has been holding the fort, but is out of the contract at the end of the season. Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney have both been suggested as possible replacements.

Red-faced quartet make wasted journey

Argentina’s Cristiano Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, Emi Buendia and Emi Martinez have all made a wasted trip to South America after FIFA upheld their international bans.

The quartet were punished for not following Covid-19 protocols in September when they travelled to Brazil for a World Cup qualifier, leading to the game’s abandonment after five minutes, and were subsequently banned for two games.

Nevertheless, head coach Lionel Scaloni selected the four players for this international break in the belief that the suspensions would either be reduced or overturned.

However, after Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Venezuela on Friday, FIFA announced that they have stuck by the original decision.

Romero will now return to Tottenham without playing a game while Bunedia and Martinez head sheepishly back to Aston Villa. Lo Celso is currently on loan at Villarreal from Spurs.

Southgate defends Maguire call-up

Gareth Southgate has leapt to the defence of Harry Maguire after he was asked whether the centre-back is deserving of his place in the current England squad.

Maguire is expected to start against Ivory Coast at Wembley this evening, and Southgate has indicated he had no hesitation in selecting the 29-year-old despite his indifferent form for Manchester United.

The Three Lions boss said: “[Harry Maguire] has got us to a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final so there’s no doubt he’s more than capable of playing at the highest level.

“He was very good for us in the autumn. [Manchester United] are in a difficult moment, and there could be any number of reasons for that.”

However, Southgate also suggested that players continually out-of-form for their clubs would be in danger of missing out so long as there are suitable replacements available.

“It doesn’t mean that players can be poor for a couple of years and then still find their way in. Sometimes it depends on competition for positions.

“We’ve obviously had some forward players out who haven’t been in good form, but there’s direct, experienced replacements for those players so it is a complicated decision.”

Proud Xhaka set for milestone

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is set to win his 100th cap for Switzerland this evening when they host Kosovo in Zurich.

The Swiss captain made his debut for his country against England at Wembley in 2011, against the same opposition and at the same venue as where he made his 99th international appearance on Saturday.

Now the midfielder is preparing for an emotional encounter with the country where his parents were raised.

Speaking about the occasion and the opposition, Xhaka joked: “I didn’t invite everyone, otherwise I would have had to rent the whole stadium.”

Ralf’s ref suggestion has backing

Referees could begin training with Premier League clubs from next season – thanks to a proposal put forward by Manchester United interim gaffer Ralf Rangnick.

The Daily Mail’s Mike Keegan reports that the German coach raised the idea at a recent two-day summit between top-flight managers and referees’ boss Mike Riley.

The theory behind the suggestion is that the move would allow for a closer relationship between officials and players, and ‘break down negative preconceptions’ that may be in place.

Rangnick’s proposition is said to have been met by widespread backing, and will now be considered by PGMOL.

Gunners closing in on Cody

Arsenal are winning the race to land PSV star Cody Gakpo, according to reports in the Netherlands.

The Gunners have supposedly made an appealing offer for the 22-year-old, who is excited by the prospect of first team football at a London club.

Bayern Munich are also said to be keen on the Dutch star – who has recently broken into the national team – but Gakpo doesn’t want the risk of being sat on the bench of a foreign club ahead of November’s World Cup.

The winger, who mainly operates on the left, has hit 16 goals in all competitions for the Eindhoven club this season, and has also provided 15 assists.

PSV are thought to be willing to do business at around £45million, beating the club-record £35million they received from Napoli for Hirving Lozano in 2019.

Captain Marvel: Eriksen to lead Danes

Christian Eriksen will make an emotional return to the Parken Stadium this evening when he captains Denmark against Serbia.

The midfielder will lead his country out at the same Copenhagen venue where he suffered his cardiac arrest nine months ago.

The 30-year-old brought joy to the football world when scoring two minutes into his international comeback against Holland on Saturday.

It comes just a month after he made his first appearance at club level since being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Eriksen has signed a short-term deal with Premier League Brentford, who have revealed they are confident of keeping the player beyond this season.

Dortmund fancy nice little Werner

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly preparing to bring Timo Werner back to Germany after a disappointing two-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

The striker has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League since joining the Blues for £47million in 2020, scoring just seven times in 49 appearances.

Following another goal for his country on international duty, Werner admitted that ‘things aren’t going the way [he’d] like at Chelsea’, and that he feels much more ‘comfortable’ playing for Germany.

According to 90min, Bundesliga giant Dortmund have told officials at Stamford Bridge to keep them updated on Werner’s availability as he remains one of the top targets.

Premier League clubs chase Otavio

Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle are all closely monitoring Porto star Otavio.

The 27-year-old is enjoying the best season of his career, and has been a key factor in his side’s six-point lead at the top of Primeira Liga.

The attacking midfielder, who can operate on either flank, has scored five goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions this term.

His recent performances at club level have earned him his first international caps with Portugal, for whom he has scored twice in three games.

According to A Bola, Otavio’s release fee is €60million although the English trio will be hopeful of landing the player for considerably less than that.

Brazil’s Tite rubbishes Arsenal claims

Brazil head coach Tite has hit out media suggestions that he was in line to take over at Arsenal from the beginning of the 2023-23 season.

Reports in his homeland indicated that the 60-year-old had recently met with Gunners sporting director Edu, and agreed a deal to replace Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on international duty, Tite has expressed his dismay at what he considers fake news.

Sky Sports quote him as saying: “I am sad because an information is broadcasted to the public and it is a lie. The information is a lie.

“And the people that I represent, that feel identified with me, rest assured that Tite has a personal moral conduct and values his professional conduct.

“I know the responsibility that bears at Brazil’s national team. Sorry, Arsenal. Sorry, Arteta, this is not true. It didn’t come from us. There’s absolutely nothing.”

Raphinha only has relegation release clause

Leeds United’s Raphinha is hot property but he’s only guaranteed to leave Elland Road at the end of the season if the Yorkshire club are relegated.

The Brazilian star is being tracked by a host of Premier League club and LaLiga giants Barcelona, and it had previously been reported that the player had a minimum release fee in his contract.

However, The Athletic have revealed that the only stipulation in his current deal that allows him to leave for a set price comes in if Leeds drop back to the Championship. That fee is understood to be around £25million.

The Mirror believe that Barca will make a bid for the forward even if Jesse Marsch’s team avoid relegation – although they are only willing to be pay half of Leeds’ £67million asking price.

Good morning football fans

All eyes will be on Wembley tonight when England host Ivory Coast in a friendly.

Manchester United stars Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire look ready for action if selected by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate after both looked sharp in training yesterday.

Maguire was an unused sub in Saturday’s 2-1 clash with Switzerland but Shaw started and scored the equaliser as England came from behind to win 2-1.

They might return to Old Trafford to find their Red Devils team-mate Bruno Fernandez has agreed a new deal.

United news outlet @UtdPlug says “it will be announced in the coming days”.

Portugal playmaker Fernandez, 27, has been a key man for the Red Devils since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.

Inter Milan would be prepared to sell Arsenal-target Lautaro Martinez for about 70 million euros, according to Calciomercato.

The report says the Italian giants do not consider the 24-year-old Argentina striker “non-transferable”.

Martinez has caught the eye again at Inter this season with 14 goals and two assists.

But a Chelsea star could be going the other way and making the move to Serie A.

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri is laying the track to make a move for Blues left-back Emerson Palmieri this summer, according to reports in Italy.

The Italy defender, 27, is on loan at French giants Lyon and has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Former Chelsea boss Sarri has already “called him” about the possibility of a move to Serie A, according to Rome-based news outlet Citta Celeste.

United duo ready for England

Manchester United stars Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire look ready for England duty in Tuesday’s friendly against Ivory Coast.

Both defenders took part in training for the Three Lions today and look ready for the friendly clash at Wembley.

Maguire was an unused sub in Saturday’s 2-1 clash with Switzerland but Shaw started and scored the equaliser as England came from behind to win 2-1.

Fernandes ‘set for new deal’

Bruno Fernandez is about to agree a new contract extension with Manchester United, according to reports.

United news outlet @UtdPlug says ‘it will be announced in the coming days’.

Portugal playmaker Fernandez, 27, has been a key man for the Red Devils since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.

Chelsea quartet travel to America

Four Chelsea players not in action for their countries during the international break have travelled to America together, it has been has reported.

Hakim Ziyech, who recently declined a call-up for Morocco, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, un-capped Englishman Trevoh Chalobah, and Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga enjoyed the break in each other’s company.

The Chelsea Chronicle’s article says they have ‘decided to spend some time watching an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets at FTX Arena in Florida.’

Terry watches England training

Chelsea legend John Terry watched England’s current crop in training for tomorrow’s friendly with Ivory Coast.

The retired England skipper, 41, was present to see the Three Lions squad warming up at Tottenham Hotspur’s Enfield HQ.

Abramovich ‘suffers suspected poisoning’

Chelsea’s embattled and outgoing owner Roman Abramovich suffered suspected poisoning along with Ukraine peace negotiators earlier this month, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Russian oligarch and two officials are said to have developed symptoms including red eyes, painful tearing and peeling skin while in the role of peacemakers at a meeting in Kyiv. They have now recovered.

Abramovich is currently selling the Blues as a result of pressure put on him by the UK government in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Cascarino calls Rashford ‘not clinical’

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino says Marcus Rashford is ‘not clinical’ enough to lead the line for Arsenal.

United forward Rashford is reportedly a transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s Champions League-chasing Gunners.

Cascarino told talkSPORT: “I’m not sure if Marcus is a solution for Arsenal because Marcus is not clinical.

“He doesn’t particularly lead the line well and that’s one of the two traits you need if you’re going to play in an Arteta team.”

Pulisic insight into ‘worm’ celebration

Christian Pulisic says his ‘worm’ goal celebration – after he scored for the USA in their 5-1 win over Panama – was for a young fan with cancer.

The Chelsea winger revealed it was for 15-year-old Mason Ogle, who has osteosarcoma and was the USA’s matchday ambassador for the game.

Pulisic said: “I met someone really special yesterday.

“His name was Mason and his one request was that if I scored, he wanted to see a worm celebration. That’s what that was for.”