Author: cimi

?Real Madrid are open to letting Gareth Bale leave on loan this summer, amid concerns they will not be able to sell him for a big transfer fee due to a lack of interest.

Bale has struggled for consistency once again this season, while much of the Real Madrid fanbase has used the former Tottenham star as a scapegoat in a season that quickly went from being transitional to disastrous.

Bale, who has eight goals in 19 La Liga starts this season, has been the subject of boos and whistles at the Santiago Bernabeu in recent months, stoked by interviews from teammates Thibaut Courtois and Marcelo which intimated that the Welshman has still not adapted to Spanish culture.

?Marca are unequivocal on ?Bale’s future, describing the Welsh star’s exit as a ‘formality’ following Zinedine Zidane’s return as manager.

However, the report claims that Real Madrid have not received a single offer for Bale since his match-winning display in the Champions League final last year and are now considering a James Rodriguez-style ‘loan to buy’ solution.

The report cites near-constant injury issues and the burden of an enormous wage and transfer fee as reasons for a lack of interest in the 29-year-old.

With his ?Real Madrid contract not expiring until 2022 and Bale himself reluctant to push for a move, the four-time ?Champions League winner does not make for an attractive investment despite his obvious talents.

As it stands, Marca claim that Madrid are ‘waiting for an English club to show interest’ in Bale, with Manchester United the only club with the economic might and need for a player like the Welshman. Although, credible reports suggest United’s summer strategy will focus on much younger targets.

Previous reports claimed that Real Madrid would seek as much as ?€130m in a permanent deal, while allowing Bale to choose his next club. However, Marca’s assessment is much less optimistic suggesting a loan to buy option is now a possibility, similar to that of James at Bayern Munich. This would allow some of the burden of Bale’s €17m contract to be lifted over the next three years, and agree a fixed fee. 

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Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez has played down speculation that an exit from the club is guaranteed, though he has admitted that he’ll have several “options” this summer.

The 25-year-old has been in superb form for the Magpies this season, and he netted the first hat-trick of his career at the weekend in a comfortable 3-1 win over Southampton at St James’ Park.

Perez’s impressive performances, coupled with Newcastle’s inability to make any significant headway in the transfer market, has fuelled speculation that the Spaniard may leave the club this summer – but Perez insists that quotes suggesting he is actively looking to leave the club were poorly translated.

?“Obviously, it was translated quite different to what I meant,” Perez said, as quoted by ?Shields Gazette.

“I just said that in summer there are going to be options. That means I have done something well. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to leave 100%. I can hear what’s coming for me, what they offer for me, and that’s it – but it doesn’t mean I’m going to leave 100% at the end of the season.

“It’s going to be a difficult decision. It depends on a lot of things. I have felt really well playing for this club, playing for this badge.

“It has been five great years, and I cannot thank enough Newcastle what they have done for me. I wasn’t even professional when I signed for Newcastle. I always have that in mind. Obviously, it has been five great years over here and I have improved a lot as a player and a person.”

Perez continued by admitting that everybody connected with ?Newcastle wants manager Rafa Benitez to stay, though he insisted that focus should also remain on the club’s final three ?Premier League fixtures.

“Obviously, we all want him to stay – it means a lot for this club,” Perez added. “Every fan wants him to stay as well. So there are a lot of things to think about but we will see. Now it is time to finish the season on a high if we can, three games to go, and hopefully we can pick up some more points.”

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?Arsenal manager Unai Emery defended Shkodran Mustafi after the Germany international made a huge error which lead to a goal in the 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Gunners missed a big opportunity to move up to third in the Premier League, as they fell to a shock 3-2 defeat to the Eagles, and Mustafi bore the brunt of fans’ criticism on social media for his role in the Eagles’ second goal.

In a move which will have confused ?Wilfried Zaha as much as anyone inside the stadium on Sunday, Mustafi seemed to forget what he does for a living and allowed Zaha to skip past him and take the ball through on goal, slotting past Bernd Leno to put Palace back in front.

However, when asked about his defender’s performance, ?Arsenal boss Emery said as quoted by the? Daily Express: “Sometimes he can play very well. I prefer to speak about the consistency in the season.

“We are, every player, helping, playing with a big performance. Today (Sunday) also when you can defend. Against Benteke and Zaha you can suffer more.

“If today we were better in the set pieces maybe we could win this match. In all the season I think he has been consistent.”

It’s safe to say Gunners fans on Twitter do not share Emery’s feelings towards Mustafi, who is often singled out for criticism when things aren’t going so well in north London.

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Good morning and happy Easter Monday bank holiday to everybody except Shkodran Mustafi.

— Pete Martin (@petemartin1981) April 22, 2019

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When we sell Mustafi I am going to hire out Finsbury Park and host a massive rave, everyone is welcome, we can celebrate together.

— MR DT © (@MrDtAFC) April 21, 2019

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When we sell Mustafi I am going to hire out Finsbury Park and host a massive rave, everyone is welcome, we can celebrate together.

— MR DT © (@MrDtAFC) April 21, 2019

The greatest fraud of my lifetime is the fact that Mustafi has won a World Cup

— 7???ic??ff (@7amkickoff) April 21, 2019

One Arsenal fan even compiled? a thread of Mustafi’s key mistakes this season, citing two senseless fouls in the box against ?Tottenham and ?Crystal Palace (which were duly punished).

??Much to the despair of Gunners fan, Mustafi is a regular under Emery and has featured 34 times in all competitions this season. However, of the 16 games the German international has missed, Arsenal have lost just two.

Coincidence? You decide.

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?Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Kylian Mbappe has stated that he will remain with the club next season, bringing the speculation of a move to Real Madrid this summer to an end.

Zinedine Zidane is thought to be a huge fan of the forward and was linked with a blockbuster move for Mbappe as part of his summer squad overhaul.

However, speaking to ?Cana?l+ following PSG’s 3-1 win over Monaco on Sunday, ?Mbappe put an end to the speculation around his future.

He said: “I’m staying at PSG. I joined the PSG project. I’m happy for ?Real Madrid if Zizou has returned. I will watch the matches as a fan.”

The links to Los Blancos strengthened recently following Mbappe’s public bust-up with manager Thomas Tuchel. Speaking to ?Canal+ after their shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of Lille, Mbappe questioned his side’s mentality, drawing criticism from his manager in his own post-match ?interview.

Mbappe was subsequently dropped for the following game against Nantes, before returning to the lineup to net a hat-trick against his former side on Sunday to seal the Ligue 1 title for PSG.

This season, the 20-year-old has racked up a stunning 36 goals and 17 assists in just 40 matches in all competitions, ensuring PSG picked up a sixth league title in the last seven years.

This kind of form has attracted the interest of Zidane, and many had speculated that PSG may be forced to sell the youngster amid fears of breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations. However, Mbappe’s recent comments seem to have put an end to such rumours.

Instead, Zidane is expected to target the likes of ?Chelsea’s ?Eden Hazard, ?Tottenham Hotspur’s ?Christan Eriksen and ?Manchester United’s ?Paul Pogba, although their move for the latter could be in jeopardy over ?Pogba’s high wage demands.

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?Arsenal took a huge step towards their first Women’s Super League title since 2012 on Sunday after a narrow win over Everton took the Gunners four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. It means just one more victory from their two remaining games will seal the title.

First half goals from Arsenal defender Louise Quinn and record breaking WSL top scorer Vivianne Miedema proved decisive, with second from bottom Everton pulling one back in the second half through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.

The Gunners have dropped just six points all season and now have enough of a cushion over City, who didn’t play this weekend, that a win against Brighton in their next outing will ensure that the title is wrapped up with a game to spare.

That being said, an unexpected slip up against Brighton would turn the final day of the season into an all or nothing title decider when Arsenal host City on 11 May. Based on form, the more likely scenario is that the Gunners beat Brighton and the final day becomes a victory lap.

Elsewhere in the WSL, Liverpool ended a run of three consecutive defeats by thrashing Bristol City 5-2. There was a hat-trick for England junior international Rinsola Babajide, while Yana Daniels and Ashley Hodson also got on the score sheet for the Reds.

Dutch defender Danique Kerkdijk had equalised in the first half for Bristol, but four further Liverpool goals without reply ensured a late Niamh Fahey own goal was only consolation.

Birmingham kept up the pressure on reigning champions Chelsea in the race for third place by winning their game in hand against West Ham. Canadian international Adriana Leon had given the Hammers a first half lead, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was then sent off shortly before the interval for handling the ball outside of the penalty area.

FT – West Ham 1 (Leon) Blues 2 (Ladd, Arthur)

Blues come from behind for the second time in four days to secure another three points on the road, and Tejedor’s first back-to-back victories in the league.#BluesLIVE pic.twitter.com/lQ7ylx7vRo

— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCwomen) April 21, 2019

Birmingham’s Hayley Ladd immediately capitalised by converting the resutling free-kick, while Chloe Arthur scored a 75th minute winner for the visiting Blues to move just two points behind Chelsea, who were in action in the Champions League semi final this weekend instead.

The only other WSL action of the weekend took place on Saturday when Reading emerged victorious over Brighton after a single goal from Rachel Furness early in the second half.

That result confirmed that Reading can finish no lower than sixth this season, while Brighton are now almost certain to end their campaign at top flight level in ninth place.

??There will be a full WSL fixture list on Sunday 28 April, with Yeovil to host Chelsea on Tuesday 7 May, before the final day of the 2018/19 season on Saturday 11 May.

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