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Chelsea target Anthony Gordon tells Everton he wants to leaveChelsea are expected to make an improved bid for the Everton forward, who has told Frank Lampard he wants to leave Goodison Park
Chelsea have been given further hope of signing Anthony Gordonafter the winger told Everton he wants to leave.
The Merseyside club rejected a £45 million bid for the 21-year-old last week and have insisted he is not for sale while manager Frank Lampard is keen to keep him.
But Chelsea are expected to return with a second offer for Gordon and the England Under-21 international has made it clear he hopes to go to Stamford Bridge.
Gordon attracted interest from Tottenham and Newcastle earlier in the transfer window but Everton had hoped that selling Richarlison to Spurs meant they would be able to keep their other prized assets.
Lampard said on Friday that he could not guarantee Gordon would stay and that any decision would be made on “a football level and a club business level.” But selling him would help fund their buying as they look for a striker and a midfielder.
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Chelsea have invested heavily in young talent this summer, bringing in midfielders Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei and goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
Gordon has been targeted as manager Thomas Tuchel seeks to rebuild his squad, with wingers Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi all possible departures before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea have already spent over £170 million this transfer window and, with Gordon, Wesley Fofana, Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all wanted, that sum could rise considerably.
Gordon, who has scored four goals in 63 games for his hometown club, would get a substantial pay rise if he joined Chelsea. His current five-year deal was signed in 2020, before he was a first-team regular at Goodison Park, though Everton were keen to give him an improved contract.
Everton are interested in Chelsea striker Armando Broja, which could form part of any negotiations.
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Man Utd eye moves for Kevin Trapp and Yann Sommer in pursuit of ball-playing goalkeeper
Man Utd eye moves for Kevin Trapp and Yann Sommer in pursuit of ball-playing goalkeeper
The Red Devils are also closing in on Brazilian striker Antony but need to agree a fee with Ajax – who value him at over £75m
Chief Football Correspondent9 hours ago
Kevin Trapp helped Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League last season
(Getty Images)
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Manchester United are considering moves for Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Kevin Trapp and Borussia Monchengladbach‘s Yann Sommer to give Erik ten Hag the option of a ball-playing goalkeeper, as they also pursue a deal for Ajax‘s Antony.
The Dutch coach was hugely encouraged by David De Gea‘s performance in the momentum-shifting 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday, and especially his willingness to come off his line, but has been considering the safety net of an alternative choice.
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Erik ten Hag era receives belated lift-off as Manchester United beat Liverpool
Man United 2-1 Liverpool: A fast start and a Jadon Sancho goal set the tone at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford adding a second before Mohamed Salah’s consolation
As Jadon Sancho so deftly changed direction, he may well have changed the course of a season. Liverpool, like James Milner and Alisson, were left sprawling into the wrong direction and looking up at Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s side were finally looking forward, looking much so much better, and just picking up speed.
That was the story of this stirring 2-1 victory, that absolutely transforms the mood around these two great rivals.
United are resurgent, sparked by the electrical charge of their own acceleration. Liverpool are forced into reverse, as they struggled to keep up, and possibly forced into a crisis of their own too.
Jurgen Klopp’s team did look so notably lightweight, as Ten Hag got all his big calls right. That didn’t just apply to leaving Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire on the bench, but also bringing the reborn Anthony Martial off it just as his team seemed to be dropping off. He put Marcus Rashford through and the forward, similarly inspired, put the game beyond doubt.
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Old Trafford, already raucous in protest against the owners, was now rocking in celebration and hope.
Maybe this is the real start of the Ten Hag era. Maybe it’s just an emotionally defiant response to desperate circumstances.
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The key is they can look up again.
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Klopp does not have that luxury, or the comfort of maybes. He needs certainty, as it suddenly feels like absolutely nothing is assured about his team.
Klopp could point to team selections of his own, but most of them enforced, rather than his choice.
That midfield nevertheless looks a real mistake. It wasn’t just Sancho’s feet that Milner was struggling to keep up with.
This was why that goal was so much more than a composed change of direction. It was a debilitating change of pace. This was one reason Milner, Alisson and most of the Liverpool team were so wrong-footed. They had been struggling to keep up with United’s energy and aggression, as Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes – in particular – were first to almost every ball. It was the Portuguese’s quick-thinking that actually set his side off, sending the play much higher up the pitch with an inventive ball that was more like a drilled volley. Liverpool just about managed to clear from the resultant chaos, only for Fernandes to then send the ball across the box when everyone expected a shot or pass inside. Anthony Elanga played it back, and Sancho played an entire defence for fools.
United’s lead was more than deserved, especially given how Elanga had hit the post early on.
The only potential caveat was that it was like their gameplan was entirely founded on pace. They weren’t able to hesitate or suffer doubt in the way they did against Brighton and Brentford because they just didn’t give themselves that time to think. De Gea was now getting it up the pitch. Raphael Varane was so maturely setting the pace, Martinez was setting the tone.
It was just that, once that energy inevitably wore off, Liverpool did finally look in command. It of course led to their best spells.
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It also led to a second inspired call from Ten Hag.
Martial – who many around United believe could be the coach’s big individual “project” this season – was introduced, and just offered enough impetus. The French striker, whose name was first made in this fixture, may well have remade his reputation with one touch. It was Martial’s ball that took out the entire Liverpool backline just after half-time, setting up Rashford for a one-on-one.
On any other occasion in the last six minutes, including the opening game against Brighton, many would have expected the forward to hesitate, halt and waste the chance.
Not a bit of it.
There was no doubt about Rashford whatsoever, as he thundered the ball past Alisson before the Liverpool player had a chance to think.
(Getty Images)
Another little reflection of the night.
United obviously couldn’t keep the pace up again, but they now didn’t need to. They just had to keep strong in defence, keep honest.
That was aided by some admittedly snide play. Fernandes and Martinez were getting right into it. Varane was now slowing down the pace.
Liverpool inevitably enjoyed one of their better spells. They had no choice. Mohammed Salah got his goal.
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Liverpool still couldn’t get back into it. United instantly overtake them, Klopp left with just two points from three games and so many questions.
How quickly things change, but mostly because Ten Hag ensured his United – for that’s what this was – so impressively accelerated.
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Marcus RashfordJadon SanchoErik Ten HagMohamed SalahJurgen KloppPremier League
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Martin Odegaard at the double as Arsenal top table with victory at Bournemouth
William Saliba also scored as the Gunners made it three wins from as many games with a 3-0 success at the Vitality Stadium
Arsenal coasted to victory at Bournemouth as captain Martin Odegaard’s early brace took the visitors to the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners kept up their perfect start to the new campaign, their 3-0 win at the Vitality Stadium sealed with a fine William Saliba strike as the defender opened his account for the club.
Odegaard had put Arsenal clear inside the opening 11 minutes, the first time the Norway international has scored twice in a match since a double for Stromsgodset in October 2014.
At this stage of last season, Mikel Arteta was facing calls to be axed as Arsenal boss as they sat bottom without a point or a goal.
The summer signing of Gabriel Jesus has done much to herald such a stark turnaround in fortunes and, while he did not add to his goal tally on the south coast, the Brazil forward was again instrumental.
He plucked the ball out of the air with one touch, brushed off a challenge and fed Gabriel Martinelli, whose low shot was saved by Mark Travers.
However, Odegaard was on hand to turn home one of the easiest goals of his career to break the deadlock with less than five minutes on the clock.
Odegaard doubled the lead soon after, this time latching onto a loose touch by Jesus in the box and firing past Travers to set Arsenal on course for another three points.
Bournemouth, having lost 4-0 at champions Manchester City last weekend, were again struggling to get a foothold in the game as Arteta’s side continued to dominate.
Despite being on top, Arsenal had to wait until after the interval to further extend their lead – but it was a goal worth the wait.
Martinelli’s deep cross was collected by Granit Xhaka, who laid the ball perfectly into the path of Saliba – the France international continuing his fine start to life in the Arsenal side by curling home his first goal in English football.
Jesus thought he had got in on the act as he collected an Odegaard pass to finish with aplomb, only for celebrations to be cut short with VAR ruling out the effort for a marginal offside.
Bournemouth had not tasted defeat at home since losing to Boreham Wood in the FA Cup back in February but they were never at the races.
Arteta’s first game as Arsenal boss came here on Boxing Day 2019, a 1-1 draw in which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the equaliser.
Now the Spaniard has a front man in fine form and a team built to play the way he desires with only Xhaka and Bukayo Saka having started both games.
Martin Odegaard at the double as Arsenal top table with victory at Bournemouth
William Saliba also scored as the Gunners made it three wins from as many games with a 3-0 success at the Vitality Stadium
Mark Mann-Bryans33 minutes ago
(REUTERS)
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Arsenal coasted to victory at Bournemouth as captain Martin Odegaard’s early brace took the visitors to the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners kept up their perfect start to the new campaign, their 3-0 win at the Vitality Stadium sealed with a fine William Saliba strike as the defender opened his account for the club.
Odegaard had put Arsenal clear inside the opening 11 minutes, the first time the Norway international has scored twice in a match since a double for Stromsgodset in October 2014.
At this stage of last season, Mikel Arteta was facing calls to be axed as Arsenal boss as they sat bottom without a point or a goal.
The summer signing of Gabriel Jesus has done much to herald such a stark turnaround in fortunes and, while he did not add to his goal tally on the south coast, the Brazil forward was again instrumental.
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He plucked the ball out of the air with one touch, brushed off a challenge and fed Gabriel Martinelli, whose low shot was saved by Mark Travers.
However, Odegaard was on hand to turn home one of the easiest goals of his career to break the deadlock with less than five minutes on the clock.
Odegaard doubled the lead soon after, this time latching onto a loose touch by Jesus in the box and firing past Travers to set Arsenal on course for another three points.
Bournemouth, having lost 4-0 at champions Manchester City last weekend, were again struggling to get a foothold in the game as Arteta’s side continued to dominate.
Despite being on top, Arsenal had to wait until after the interval to further extend their lead – but it was a goal worth the wait.
Martinelli’s deep cross was collected by Granit Xhaka, who laid the ball perfectly into the path of Saliba – the France international continuing his fine start to life in the Arsenal side by curling home his first goal in English football.
Jesus thought he had got in on the act as he collected an Odegaard pass to finish with aplomb, only for celebrations to be cut short with VAR ruling out the effort for a marginal offside.
Bournemouth had not tasted defeat at home since losing to Boreham Wood in the FA Cup back in February but they were never at the races.
Arteta’s first game as Arsenal boss came here on Boxing Day 2019, a 1-1 draw in which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the equaliser.
Now the Spaniard has a front man in fine form and a team built to play the way he desires with only Xhaka and Bukayo Saka having started both games.
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With the points secured in such comfort, Bournemouth’s opening day win over Aston Villa already seems a long time ago following two chastening defeats and with a trip to Liverpool next weekend.
Arsenal, meanwhile, take on another newly-promoted side as Fulham visit the Emirates Stadium to face a team aiming to make it four wins from four.
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Harry Kane heads Tottenham to narrow win over Wolves
For the second week in a row, Tottenham required Harry Kane’s instincts at a corner to rescue a result that in other seasons might have been slipping away. The striker’s header to defeat Wolvescame much earlier than his last-minute equaliser to steal a point at Chelsea last Sunday, but more significantly for Antonio Contewas its impact in turning one point into three, rather than salvaging one from nothing.
It points towards where Spurs expect to be and what is required if they are to take on Manchester City and Liverpool stride for stride over the opening part of the season, as many expect them to do. Tottenham did not quite hit those standards here, but the sight of Spurs sitting at the top of the table in these early season days is perhaps all that matters for Conte.
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The Italian’s side remain a work in progress while new signings continue to be settled in. Ivan Perisic took time to warm up on his full Premier League debut but made two key contributions to Tottenham’s goal. Meanwhile, the value of the addition of Richarlison has been emphasised by Son Heung-min’s slow start to the season. It’s a reminder of the options Spurs have now, and their importance in grinding out results such as these, as this was far from easy.
After the blood and thunder of last weekend at Stamford Bridge, the same fight Conte displayed on the touchline in his confrontation with Thomas Tuchel was exactly what Spurs were missing until they finally woke up in the second half.
Wolves, sleek and oh so very Portuguese, lost their way after their impressive opening period, almost in response to their familiar struggles in front of goal. The striker’s sense of Kane to evade the sleeping Nathan Collins at the back post was just what Wolves were lacking and continues to hold them back. It’s what they hope will return now Raul Jimenez is back in action following his knee injury.
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Bruno Lage’s side had two new faces from their last outing, becoming even more Wolves and taking their Portuguese contingent in the starting line-up to seven. There were debuts for Goncalo Guedes on the right wing and the club record signing Matheus Nunes in midfield – a player described by Pep Guardiola as “one of the best in the world” and whose initial £25m fee has already been covered by what Nottingham Forest have dropped on Morgan Gibbs-White this week.
Harry Kane celebrates what turned out to be the winning goal
(Reuters)
Guedes added a burst to their front line, while the imposing figure of Nunes turned what would have been a poor first touch in the Premier League into an impressive one with a puff of his chest and rolling of his shoulders to stride away from the two closest Spurs players with the ball, setting the tone for an assured debut after having just one training sessions with his new teammates.
It was reflective of the overall picture early on. Wolves were smart, organised, and awkward for Tottenham. While they often struggle to beat the teams they should, Wolves have a knack of often beating the sides they shouldn’t, and are exactly the sort of opposition you don’t want to play at 12:30pm on a Saturday afternoon. They do not look to be a team who have now gone 10 matches without a win – but until they add a cutting edge to their play, that is exactly the point.
While they had the better of the first half, they were still limited to a Ruben Neves volley fired straight at Hugo Lloris and Daniel Podence scuffing wide. They had the same issue as Spurs did to begin with, too little space, but came closest as Neves scooped a pass over the last line and Nunes flicked a header wide.
Jose Sa saves well from Kane towards the end of the first half
(Action Images/Reuters)
Spurs looked a little lost. Wolves had matched up with their system to deny Conte’s side space out wide as well as in central positions. Perisic didn’t quite look in sync early on in his full debut. Son continued to have a strange time and Conte’s barks on the touchline grew louder and more frequent. Shortly before the whistle, Perisic dug a cross out and Sa was required to tip Kane’s looping header over the bar in their only effort of the half. Wolves, meanwhile, had racked up 12.
But Spurs emerged from half-time with purpose and far more attacking intent. Dejan Kulusevksi cut inside with a drive that had been missing and curled a lovely cross onto Kane’s head, with his effort this time crashing off the crossbar. Kane then picked out Son with a smart quickly taken free kick, but the South Korean was unable to bring the ball down in time as Collins made a crucial intervention in the penalty area. Soon after, Son struck the outside of the near post as he looked to catch out Sa from the angle.
Spurs had woken up and the second the goal finally felt it was coming, it duly arrived.
Kane heads the winner for Spurs
(PA)
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Wolves opened up slightly on the hour-mark and Perisic found space for what felt like the first time on the left. He skipped past Jonny Otto and his cross was blocked for a corner. From there, Son’s cross was flicked on at the near post by Perisic and Kane, having ducked behind the right shoulder of Collins at the back post, put Spurs ahead with his 250th goal for the club in all competitions, and the 1,000th Premier League goal scored on home soil by Spurs.
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Richarlison threatened on the break after replacing Son late on while Wolves appeared to have exhausted their chances in the false dawn of their first-half performance. Neves curled wide from a free kick in their only clear effort after the interval. Kane, in more ways than one, was the difference.
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Harry KaneSon Heung-MinIvan PerisicWolverhampton WanderersAntonio Conte
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