Sports
David Ornstein explains Man Utd stance on Antoine Semenyo transfer
Manchester United’s inconsistency reared its ugly head again on Monday as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton despite having a man advantage for much of the game.
Ruben Amorim’s side were defeated by David Moyes‘ Everton on yet another return to Old Trafford for the former Red Devils boss and failed to take advantage of dropped points by Tottenham, Sunderland, and Bournemouth around them in the Premier League table over the weekend.
Whereas United could have gone up to fifth, level on points with Aston Villa and just one behind Manchester City, they were undone by a determined defensive effort by the Toffees.
The game saw Amorim stick with his usual 3-4-3 system even when chasing things late on as he was left with four defenders on the pitch including Diogo Dalot at left wing-back and two natural centre-backs.
United had 25 shots to Everton’s three and attempted 38 crosses (three of them being connected with) yet only 16 of their 684 passes ended up inside the penalty area.
It points towards a side lacking in the forward areas, and reports suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are continuing to look at potential reinforcements.
United interest in Antoine Semenyo
The Everton performance comes just over one month before the January transfer window, when many will expect the club to continue a rebuild under Amorim.
Although the attack was revamped in the summer with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, United have only scored 16 non-penalty goals from 12 matches this season and they have now been linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
He has a £65million release clause which becomes active on January 1 but The Athletic’s David Ornstein is unaware of United pressing ahead to beat their rivals to the Ghanaian man.
The transfer expert told NBC Sports prior to the Everton match: “Interested clubs are said to contain the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur.
“Spurs were keen on him last summer, as were Manchester United. They were told around £70million at the time and didn’t go for it.
“I think United’s interest is ongoing but I don’t know of them activating anything at this time. We’re not sure about the player’s preference right now.
“I’m sure he will assess the options and see what comes in, if anything materialises into a transfer.”
Amorim’s style doesn’t suit Semenyo
The question for United with yet another big-money signing is where to fit them all in. Bruno Fernandes is already playing deeper to accomodate Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, although it was Joshua Zirkzee trying without much success to be the striker on Monday.
Semenyo has thrived off either flank for Andoni Iraola but it isn’t clear where he would play for United. The 25-year-old can play both sides and up front as one of the most two-footed players around, but it would disrupt the United front three who are still trying to gel as it stands anyway.
Like Amad Diallo, he could be moved into an attacking wing-back role, but there is probably only room for one of those with balance needed on the opposite side. United just do not appear to suit Semenyo’s needs the most, especially not compared with Liverpool and Tottenham.
With Mohamed Salah struggling and Tottenham struggling with injuries, both sides look more akin to being destinations for Semenyo.
Semenyo shows up United options
Only two players have managed more than Semenyo’s five open-play goals in the league this seaosn with Mbeumo also on the same number.
Erling Haaland and Danny Welbeck have 14 and seven respectively but neither have assisted a goal. Semenyo has laid on three times for teammates, the joint-second most in the division.
Behind Haaland, he has a serious claim to be the player of the season so far and that comes off the back of scoring 11 and assisting five last term.
He looks set to improve on that, but where will he spend the second half of the season?
Sports
Chelsea’s Post Savaging Arsenal After Champions League Final Loss Goes Viral
Chelsea have immediately poked fun at their London rivals Arsenal on social media with a viral post following the Gunners’ penalty shootout defeat to PSG in the Champions League final.
The Premier League champions took an early lead in the game through Kai Havertz, but they were pulled level by their Ligue 1 counterparts when Ousmane Dembele converted a penalty around the hour mark.
While both teams pushed for a winner, neither could be separated in regulation time nor extra time, meaning penalties would be needed for just the 12th time in the final of the Champions League.
Misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes proved costly for Arsenal, as PSG retained the crown as champions of Europe, while the Gunners were mere inches from winning the title for the first time in the club’s history.
That led to some rival fans poking fun at the side for coming so close, yet so far from glory, with Chelsea leading the pack with shots fired on social media.
Chelsea Mock Arsenal Over Champions League Final Loss
Shortly after Arsenal’s defeat in the Champions League final, Chelsea took to social media to have a cheeky dig at the Gunners for their lack of a European title.
The club posted on X and said: “Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now.”
The timing is hardly a coincidence, with the post showing off the Champions League and the Club World Cup, two tournaments that Arsenal are yet to add to their trophy cabinet.
Chelsea’s inclusion of the two stars in the post were also a not-so subtle hint at the Blues sealing two Champions League wins in their history, claiming the title in 2012 and 2021.
It didn’t take long for the post to go viral, with the West London outfit stealing a march on others who were looking to poke fun at Arsenal for their misery.
Tottenham star Richarlison later joined in, posting a video of a child laughing on his Instagram story, before posting a flushed emoji in an indirect shot aimed at his North London rivals.
It also continues an ongoing fued between Gabriel and Richarlison, with the pair often trading digs at each other on social media through the years.
The Gunners may have the last laugh, with their Premier League trophy parade on Sunday, but how they would’ve desperately wanted to add a Champions League trophy into the mix.
Arsenal And Chelsea Trophy Comparison
With Arsenal missing out on an opportunity to add European silverware to their trophy cabinet, Chelsea remain the team ahead when it comes to battling on the continent.
The two teams have varying success through the years when it comes to winning trophies, with more records fairing on the side of the Gunners.
|
Competition(s) |
Arsenal won |
Chelsea won |
|---|---|---|
|
Premier League/First Division |
14 |
6 |
|
FA Cup |
14 |
8 |
|
League Cup |
2 |
5 |
|
Community Shield |
17 |
4 |
|
UEFA competitions |
1 |
9 |
|
International competitions |
1 |
2 |
Ranking the 12 Biggest Clubs to Never Win the Champions League
The Champions League has brought some dark memories for several of Europe’s biggest clubs.
When it comes to the domestic success, Arsenal certainly have a more established history than their rivals, but it is Chelsea who lead in Europe and internationally.
Both have areas they will be looking to build even more success in, having been among England’s most successful clubs in history. It won’t be the first or last time Arsenal and Chelsea will fire shots after a final, or update their trophy count.
Sports
Aston Villa Want to Trigger Moritz Nicolas Release Clause
Aston Villa are preparing for another season in the Champions League next season, and are ready to trigger the release clause of a Bundesliga star to bolster their squad.
Unai Emery’s side claimed a spot in the top competition in Europe by winning the Europa League final against Freiburg, while they also finished fourth in the Premier League in a fine campaign.
But the club are now preparing for the new season and are anticipating a potential change of goalkeeper being necessary amid question marks over the future of Emiliano Martinez, and a target has been identified.
Aston Villa Open Talks for Nicolas
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Aston Villa have now opened talks with Borussia Moenchengladbach over a deal to sign Moritz Nicolas.
Nicolas, who has been described as ‘exceptional’, enjoyed a phenomenal Bundesliga campaign this season with 13 clean sheets in 34 appearances, more than anyone else except for Borussia Dortmund star Gregor Kobel.
But Villa are anticipating more interest in current number one Martinez, who was heavily linked with a move to Man Utd last summer, and that has seen them begin the process to replace him.
Emery is keen to add a younger, ambitious goalkeeper to the squad to compete with him even if he stays, and Nicolas is considered to be a top target.
The 28-year-old has a £13m release clause in his contract, but Villa are understood to be willing to pay it as they consider him to be worth even more than that with his top-flight experience. It’s also noted that Nicolas is open to making the move to Villa Park, despite interest from elsewhere too.
Aston Villa Planning for Change
Aston Villa have had a terrific campaign this year, and they want to carry that momentum into next season, despite the uncertainty around several members of their first-team squad.
Martinez is one of the first names on their team sheet, and while his exit would be a big blow, it’s something they’re likely to have been preparing for for several transfer windows considering the speculation around his future.
Nicolas would be a top signing considering the fee and his experience in the top-flight, and Villa’s hierarchy are ready to make it happen.
Aston Villa Plotting Move for ‘Outstanding’ Liverpool Star Amid Contract Uncertainty
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Sports
My Football Idol was Man United Cult Hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has exclusively revealed to GIVEMESPORT who his footballing idol was, and it’s a face familiar to fans at Old Trafford.
Sesko has just completed the first season of his career at the Red Devils following a £74m move from RB Leipzig last summer, where he finished the season as the club’s joint top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, including strikes against Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, and Everton.
The 22-year-old has excited fans at the club with his high intensity and highly athletic style, and is tipped by many to become the long-term solution to the number nine position in years to come.
While speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Slovenia international was asked about his greatest influences and footballing idols growing up, and he revealed that his main influence is a man who lit up Old Trafford during his career.
“My idol is Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” he said. “Great player, of course. He was amazing. I looked at him a lot, but not just him.
“Just in general football, skills, goals, it was just something that I used to try to go out and copy. It could be in the summer when it’s really hot, I just wanted to get better.”
Ibrahimovic joined Man Utd on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain back in the summer of 2016, and scored a brilliant 28 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season, helping the club win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
But he suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of that campaign, and while he returned to feature seven times the next campaign, the Sweden legend then departed mid-season to move to the MLS with LA Galaxy.
Sesko Reveals ‘Love’ for Cunha, Fernandes, and Mbeumo
During his exclusive interview with GMS, Sesko was also asked about his relationship with his current teammates, having joined alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer.
All three players notched double digits for goals in their first season at the club, and Sesko believes the relationship they have off the pitch has contributed to their success on it.
“I think everyone has different kinds of skills that they can bring on the pitch, which is really important,” he said.
“We don’t have everyone with similarities, and it’s important in the club that they have all these skills. I think we’re all really skilled, and the quality that we brought this season, I think we can be more than happy.
“Not just that, I think we also work great as friends. It’s important to have good relationships that can bring success in the end.”
Benjamin Sesko: Why I Play so well with Bruno Fernandes, Amad and Matheus Cunha
Exclusive: Benjamin Sesko reveals why he plays so well with Bruno Fernandes, Amad and Matheus Cunha
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