CITY TO COMPLETE ALEXIS SANCHEZ BEFORE DEADLINE

Manchester City are set to complete the deal for Arsenal playmaker Alexis Sanchez before the transfer deadline on Thursday, according to reports.


The Chile international netted 24 times in the Premier League last term but he wants out from Arsene Wenger’s side.

Wenger insists on forcing the player to see out his deal at the club instead of selling to a top rival. The last time the Frenchman did that Manchester United emerged the league champions.

Coach Pep Guardiola is keen on landing the former Barcelona player as he is confident that he would boost the City attacking prowess. The 28-year old still has up to three years at top level and he could help City win titles before he tires out. If Sanchez arrives at the Etihad, Raheem Sterling would be on his way out of the crowded City attack line.

BUFFON DESERVED THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MEDAL

Twenty two years ago, 17-year old Gianluigi Buffon was resting in a hotel camped by Parma a day to a classic showdown with AC Milan.


The Crociati had just finalized the training for the day and in the process, lost chief goalkeeper Luca Bucci to injury.

Coach Nevio Scala was said to have visited little Gianluigi later that night and informed the teenager he would be thrown into the starting line-up. With the very composure that Gigi will later come to be known for, he succeeded in shutting out an AC Milan attack boasting of Roberto Baggio and George Weah, keeping a clean sheet and effectivelyannouncing his name to Italian football.

Years on, and none could be more symbolic nor popular than the Tuscany-born as far as Italian football goalies go. Gianluigi has become a legend and not just any legend but the type that are lucky and good enough to be viewed from a decentralized template.

Just like Totti and to some extent Andrea Pirlo, Buffon is the kind of player whose reverence thrives above rivalry, tribe or language. There are some players whose substitution even during a derby compels every spectator both for and against to register a standing ovation. Gigi is one of such.

KANTE WINS PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Chelsea midfielder N’GoloKante has been awarded the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award for the year 2016/17.


The 26-year old ranked ahead of his teammate Eden Hazard, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, Manchester United top striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arsenal playmaker Alexis Sanchez.

On the other hand, Dele Alli beat his competitors to retain the Men’s Young Player Award for the second year in succession. Also, Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze won the Women’s Player of the Year award. Birmingham star Jess Carter picked up the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.

Kante is arguably the best buy in the Premier League this season after Chelsea snapped him up from the league winning side of Leicester City last summer. He has been spectacular in the role and he is on course for a double as Chelsea are favourites to lift the Premier League and the FA Cup.

WENGER HAPPY SANCHEZ OUT OF CHILE SQUAD

Arsene Wenger and Arsenal faithfuls would be delighted with the fact that top-notch striker Alexis Sanchez has been left out of the Chile squad competing in January’s china cup.


This is an early Christmas gift for Wenger who is looking to keep his top man fit in other to mount a credible title challenge in January.

The 27-year-old Arsenal striker has been in fine form all seasons scoring an incredible 12 premier league goals and providing five assists. His performance so far is responsible for his team’s overall success, and it would be a huge setback should Sanchez be injured anytime soon.

Wenger who is aware of the busy premier league fixtures at this period of the season is looking to manage collateral damages by keeping all his players fit in other to mount a title challenge in January. This news would no doubt bring some relief to the Arsenal boss who harbors the fear that Sanchez could be injured should he be selected in the Chilean squad for the January’s china cup competition.

Coventry City coach threatens to quit

Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray has threatened to resign from his post if the team doesn’t end their winless league run.


Mowbray has been in charge for 18 months, and after the draw played with AFC Wimbledon, Mowbray said: “I won’t be a burden to this club. I think I’m an honourable guy, and I won’t be around too long if we’re not winning. I won’t expect to be paid. I know this club needs every penny.”

After ten League One games, City are bottom of the log. The former Celtic coach took Coventry to the top of the League One just few months back, but fortunes have quickly changed. Mowbray took charge in March 2015 but after frustration in the summer transfer market, it seems he would take a walk. There have been continued protests from the club’s supporters against the club owners. Happenings are taking its toll on the players as only five goals have been scored in ten games. City have played six draws, and it seems the issues with the club would not end anytime soon.

United will not win title this season

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has stated that Manchester United will not win the title this season.


He believes that Jose Mourinho will need to be a magician if he can turn Manchester United into champions as from this season.

He believes that the team will improve this season, but he does not think that they will become champions. He said that it is possible that there will be more players coming in, but the Premier League is becoming tougher to win. He believes that Jose Mourinho should be given some time before he can win the title with Manchester United.

He said that if Jose Mourinho manages to win the title in his first season with Manchester United, he must be a magician. He believes that Mourinho is a great manager and will revolutionize the way Manchester United plays, but he will not be able to win the title in his first season.

Tim Howard doubted about his Selection

Tim Howard reckons as he is not entrusted with the job of picking the players who will start, so, concerning himself about whether he would be preferred as the no. 1 goalie in Copa America doesn’t make any sense.


He would rather just wait for the coach’s call.

Howard was America’s no. 1 goalie before going on a break some time back which saw Brad Guzan, his understudy, taking his chance and cementing himself in the XI. Now, with both being in the squad, who will and should start is up for debate.

Speaking about the uncertainty of him going to play or not, Howard said, “The selection is under the control of the coach, not mine. It’s always the coach who is in charge of making calls and the current scenario is no exception to that. I don’t think you should bother yourself about what you cannot control.”

“I would certainly like to stay in the frame for three years as I have an ambition of featuring at the World level again, but, then, you never know how things would take shape in that long a time. So, I can’t see that far and I believe what is right at this point is just to be there and available at any possible opportunity.”

Ryan Shawcross says that Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruined his international career

Ryan Shawcross says that Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruined his international career after scoring four goals when he had just come on to see out the game.

England had a 2-1 lead going into the final 20 minutes of the match against Sweden in 2012. Shawcross was brought to defend this position and the Stoke City player was just making his debut for the national team. He would have been hoping for a much easier opponent than Ibrahimovic. Even though the PSG striker did not have a great record against the England national team or any of the English clubs, he had a fearful reputation across European football.

The game turned out to be one of the worst nightmares for Shawcross after he witnessed a masterclass from the big Swede. There was a major warning sign after the striker has scored the opening goal of the 20th minute. The real fireworks, though, came just after Shawcross was introduced. The striker scored an impressive hat-trick in the space of 15 minutes to win the match 4-2. The hat-trick included one of the wonder goals in the history of the game. Even though Ibrahimovic remains as one of the greatest strikers in the last few decades, Shawcross has not been forgiven for his part in the defeat.