Tag: Premier league (England)

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers dismisses reports linking him to Manchester United

Brendan Rodgers, who has been touted as a potential replacement for embattled Manchester United manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer has now come out to dismiss the speculations as ‘disrespectful’, according to the latest reports.

It was reported last weekend by The Mirror that the Leicester City gaffer had been discovered to be house-hunting in Cheshire in preparation for the Manchester United job. However, the Foxes’ boss, who is also linked to the Manchester City job after Pep Guardiola leaves, has dismissed  speculations he is leaving the King Power Stadium.

“There’s two things. Firstly, it is really disrespectful to ask the question when you have a manager in place, a good manager and a good man, who is working hard at the club,” Rodgers said at a news conference.

“Secondly, I can’t really comment on it, because it is not something that is real. I am here as the Leicester City manager, proud to be here, privileged to be here and fully committed to the players, the club, the ownership. That’s about it, all the other noise around that is something we can’t control.”

Rodgers linked to former club’s eternal rivals – a thing of concern for Liverpool fans

Brendan Rodgers coached Liverpool between 2012 and 2015, leading the club to a second-place finish in that period, playing some of the best football the club witnessed since Rafa Benitez left the club.

Despite not having the best of stints at the Merseyside club, he managed to win the hearts of the fans and was highly rated for his style. Many Liverpool fans still consider him one of them, and the links to Manchester United have raised concern among that section of fans.

However, Rodgers has seemingly made his stance known on the Manchester United job a while back. Three months after he left the Liverpool job, the 49-year-old Leicester City manager was asked if he’d ever manage United.

“When you manage Liverpool, you know the Manchester United job is gone,” Rodgers replied.

Rodgers on a roll with Leicester City

Brendan Rodgers has brought back the confidence of the 2015 title-winning Leicester City side, winning the FA Cup last season – the first in the club’s history – and has guided them to two fifth-place finishes in the Premier League in the past two seasons, which earned them European football.

Leicester City is currently in 12th place in the Premier League with 15 points from 11 games, due to a lacklustre start by the Foxes. The club is picking up form, however, and look on course to replicate their past season.

Brendan Rodgers is currently committed to finishing the season with the Foxes, but it still remains to be seen whether he will be taking up the offer to replace Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer at United.

After missing out on Antonio Conte who joined Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United might be forced to consider a move for Brendan Rodgers, should Ole Solskjaer eventually get the sack. Only time will tell what becomes of the managerial merry go-round

 

Manchester City and Barcelona in two-way battle for Arsenal star Aubameyang

Rumours from the 2021 summer transfer window about Barcelona going after Arsenal’s captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have resurfaced again. The striker is said to remain a target for the Catalan giants for the winter transfer window of 2021, per International Business Times.

New reports, however, now place Manchester City as Barcelona’s competition for the Gabonese striker’s signature. It remains to be said about who will eventually get Aubameyang if he chooses to leave Arsenal, however, due to the wages he demands.

Barcelona’s attackers have suffered fitness issues this season. Sergio Aguero will be out for a few months as doctors monitor his heart condition to determine if he’ll ever play football professionally again. Ansu Fati suffered another injury that’ll keep him out for a few more weeks after only returning following a lengthy lay-off.

Luuk De Jong is not a favourite of Xavi Hernandez, having only been brought to the club on Ronald Koeman’s behest, and Martin Braithwaite is another striker who may not be getting as much playing time under Xavi Hernandez when he returns from his lengthy injury layoff.

This is why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s name has come up once again as a striker option for Barcelona, as reports claim that Xavi is monitoring the striker’s situation at Arsenal.

Xavi already has an opinion on Aubameyang 

The rumours of Aubameyang to Barcelona have been circulating for the better part of two seasons, and Xavi weighed in on the matter while he was still manager at Qatari side Al-Sadd.

Speaking on the rumours then which linked both Aubameyang and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane to Barcelona, Xavi said, “Mane and Aubemayang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona needs players who know how to move in small spaces.”

“I am thinking about a player who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one.”

It is left to the imagination to figure out if Xavi has changed his mind on Aubameyang being the kind of player that fits Barcelona’s profile, or if these reports are only resurfacing due to the issues surrounding Barcelona’s attack right now.

Barcelona to face fierce competition from Manchester City

Aubameyang currently has one year left on his Arsenal contract and earns £12.58 million annually. Barcelona are reportedly willing to take the risk to bring him to Camp Nou but will be facing competition from Manchester City owners, City Football Group, who can easily match his wages.

The Aubameyang deal will cost any club €20 million, but it remains to see if Arsenal will be willing to part with the striker whose form has improved after a turbulent 2020/21 season.

He only just recovered from injury himself and could prove to be risky business for Barcelona, who are reportedly only considering the striker due to the many injuries to their forward line.

Manchester United Set to Offer the Contract to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2)

The news of Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being offered a new deal comes as a surprise to soccer fans. Ed Woodward, Vice-president of Man Utd, has reportedly given the nod to extend the contract of the Norwegian. The move is an unexpected one for many reasons.

Manchester United Under Solskjaer

After the club’s dismal match with Leicester in the FA Cup, Ole Solskjaer has been under the scanner. Man Utd’s exit at the group level from the Champions League is another blotch in Solskjaer’s stint with the team.

Those against his extended contract maintain that the Red Devils have not gone past their semifinals stage during his term.
And, the 48-year old’s contention that winning cups is just a matter of ego boost for the managers is not sitting well with the team’s supporters.
But, there have been some bright points during his term. The Norwegian has ensured the team a solid second place in the Premier League. United has achieved this feat only once before under Sir Alex Ferguson.

In the Europa League, the team is set to take on Granada in next month’s quarter-final match. After failing in the domestic competitions, this tournament is their only hope this season.

Backed By the Board

Ed Woodward, the Man Utd chief has been a strong supporter of Gunnar Solskjaer. According to Daily Mail, Woodward has commended the manager for the progress made by the team under him.

The executive vice-chairman is reportedly convinced of the team being handled well by Solskjaer. Manchester United is the top favorite in the Europa League teams after it trounced AC Milan.

The eight-point lead of the team with West Ham is another point in favor of the way Solskjaer has led the team.

£30m Deal for Solskjaer

When Solskjaer signed his first contract with Man Utd in 2019, he had lost the final two games prior to agreeing to the contract. As per the contract, the Norwegian has one more year left before his term with the club ends in the summer of 2021.

The Old Trafford management is not ready to let go of the 48-year-old. Solskjaer is expected to be granted a new contract for three years.
The new deal will cost the club £30m even in the event of the team not winning the cup this season. With an increase in salary from his earlier pay of £7.5 to £10 million per year, the board is looking to bolster the team’s upward spiral under the guidance of Solskjaer.

Despite surprising supporters with the contract, the Old Trafford club is considering the new change to bring stability to the club. News about impending transfers and the controversial departure of Nicky Butt a few days back has forced the club to make decisive moves.

With Manchester City being ahead of them in ranking and boosted by the weak defense put up by Liverpool, Manchester United is looking forward to a better ending this season. The Solskjaer deal may be the right step in this direction for the club.