Sergio Aguero says Premier League stars are “scared” of going back to training

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero admits the majority of players are “scared” of going back to training during the coronavirus crisis.

Aguero said: “The majority of players are scared because they have family, they have children, they have babies.

“When we go back, I imagine that we will be very tense, we will be very careful and the moment someone feels ill, you will think: ‘what’s gone on there’.

“It does scare me but I have just been here with my girlfriend, I haven’t had contact with other people.

“I hope there is a vaccine so all this ends.”

“[But] there is no desire to end the season at this time. We want to play the games.

“There is a great will to play the games. We simply can’t afford to not play but nothing will be done without government approval.

“If we wait for a vaccine or herd immunity it could be 18 months without football and 90 per cent of clubs would go bust.

“Even if we sacked 95 per cent of our employees, we’d still go bust because we would still have to pay the players.”

Former Chelsea star says Maurizio Sarri told him to hasten his exit from Stamford Bridge

Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has revealed how Maurizio Sarri prompted him to leave Chelsea and join Torino, initially on loan and then on a permanent transfer.

The Nigerian wing-back spoke to Baiteze Squad on their Instagram livestream interview.

“Sarri told me I would have to go on loan, I would not have played,” said Aina of their 2018 conversation as cited by Football Italia.

“During the market , I received offers from Championship clubs, but I wanted to play in the Premier League.

“When Torino came for me, I accepted immediately because I would have had the opportunity to play in Serie A, in important stadiums and against top-level teams and players and above all in a team that wanted to go to the Europa League.”

The 23-year-old made the move permanent for €10m in the summer of 2019, after a year on loan with Torino.

Tottenham star Dele Alli taunts Arsenal over Chelsea rivalry

Dele Alli has taunted Arsenal by claiming Tottenham see Chelsea as bigger rivals thanks to their Premier League clashes in recent seasons.

The Spurs star, 24, has revealed his team-mates all see the Blues as bigger rivals than the Gunners – but knows it’s different for fans.

The England midfielder told Copa90: “I think if you ask the fans they will give you a different answer.

“But as players – the way things have been going with the league and the games – the rivalry with Chelsea is bigger than the one with Arsenal, because of what they have done to us in recent years.

“For fans it’s different, because the North London derby is massive, but as players I think it’s Chelsea.”

Arsenal step up battle against Chelsea over defence ace after prime target agreed to join Bayern Munich

Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly set to battle it out for Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes in the summer as both clubs look to bring in a defender.

The 22-year-old Brazilian is almost certain to leave the French club in the upcoming transfer window following an impressive season in Ligue 1.

The Gunners are known to be admirers of Gabriel, with boss Mikel Arteta desperate to bolster his leaky defence.

And Arsenal could decide to step up their pursuit of the player after it was reported that Dayot Upamecano has allegedly agreed to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

Frank Lampard meanwhile is also a fan of the defender, with it claimed he is targeting a double raid on Lille for Gabriel and striker Victor Osimhen.

According to Le10Sport, the player will be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of £30million.

Brazilian footballer dies after being electrocuted

Brazilian youngster Kaio Felipe Santos Silva has died after being electrocuted while flying a kite.

According to The Sun, his kite hit an overhead power cable in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and sent an electric shock through his body.

The 21-year-old Brazilian played as a left-back for Independente, a small club in Brazil’s most-populated city.

His club – who play in the Campeonato Paulista A2, the second tier of regional football – expressed their sadness at the awful accident.

Accompanying a photo which was caption ‘official mourning’, they wrote on social media: “With a feeling of regret Independente Football Club report the death of our player Kaio Felipe.

“We send our sincerest condolences to his friends and family.”

Kaio Felipe turned professional with Inter de Limeira and also played for Centro Sportivo Paraibano before joining Independente, where he scored six goals in 22 appearances.

Local journalist Edmar Ferreira paid tribute to the set-piece specialist.

He said: “So young, so full of life, so polite, so humble, so friendly.

“I had a beautiful friendship with him, which started at Inter Under-20s.

“I even nicknamed him the ‘Fabio Santos of Pradao’ because of his penalties and free-kicks.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

Victor Osimhen’s dream of playing for big club in England takes shape as Liverpool open transfer talks

Reports in France and England claim Liverpool have opened talks with the representatives of Lille forward Victor Osimhen.

The 21-year-old – dubbed “the future of Nigerian football” by Odion Ighalo – is tipped to leave Lille for a deal in the region of £60m when the window re-opens.

Osimhen was having an outstanding season for Lille when the coronavirus pandemic brought French football to a halt last month, racking up 13 goals and four assists in Ligue 1.

Only Neymar, Moussa Dembele, Wissam Ben Yedder and Kylian Mbappe have scored more goals than the promising 21-year-old in the French top flight this term.

The Nigerian’s outstanding form in front of goal has caught the attention of the Premier League’s elite in recent months, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City all credited with interest.

According to Le 10 Sport, Liverpool have now entered the race for Osimhen after making their first contact with the forward’s camp.

The report suggests the Merseyside giants are laying the foundations ahead of a possible contract proposal for the talented Nigeria international.

The Metro report that a fierce ‘battle’ is likely to take place between England’s top clubs for Osimhen’s signature.

It’s claimed his agent has held discussions with Liverpool, while Chelsea, Leicester and Manchester United are said to hold an interest.

Lille president Gerard Lopez has already revealed that he has received offers for the attacker.

Earlier this month, Osimhen revealed his ambitions to “play for a big club in England” and thanked fellow countryman Odion Ighalo for the advice he’s given him at the start of his career.

“Of course, one day I’d like to play for a big club in England,” he told The Independent.

“I’ve spoken to Odion about it. He gave me very good advice, he’s a legend and a big brother.

“My goal is to play at one of the biggest clubs in the world but now I’m very happy in Lille.

“My priority is to play a lot of games. Signing for a big club and being on the bench is not exciting for me.”

Former Man United star reveals his role in Anthony Martial move to Old Trafford, asks for commission

Former Manchester United man Dimitar Berbatov had revealed the role he played in bringing Anthony Martial to the club in 2015.

The Bulgarian was teammates with a young Martial at AS Monaco and was asked for his recommendation.

“The United head scout called me, he was like: ‘Berbs, we are looking at this kid Martial and wanted to ask what you think,’” the Bulgarian explained in an interview on TalkSPORT.

“I told him this boy is unbelievable, the things he can do. He can be a great player, he just needs someone to guide him on the pitch.

“Of course, I’m still waiting for my commission!”

Two Serie A top clubs in talks to sign Liverpool, Chelsea target Timo Werner

Juventus and Inter Milan have reportedly commenced transfer talks with RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.

That’s according to Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, who claims Inter Milan and Juventus are already in discussions with the Germany international.

Premier League Liverpool are eager to bolster their attacking options with manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly scheduling a meeting between the pair.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is equally said to be interested in the Germany international, but the striker is keen to join Klopp at Anfield.

“I know that Timo Werner will leave RB Leipzig, for sure,” Di Marzio told Sky Sports. “His agents are moving to find a solution for him.

“They are talking to Juventus and Inter Milan, so they want him to change clubs. They are probably talking to Liverpool because Liverpool have wanted him for a long time.”

Frank Lampard calls “Dries Mertens almost every day”

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has reportedly showed his determination to sign Dries Mertens by calling the Napoli hotshot everyday according to transfer intermediary Vincenzo Morabito.

There had already been multiple reports of strong Chelsea interest in the Belgium international in January, and he will be a free agent when his Napoli contract expires in the summer.

“Mertens had originally said he wanted to stay at Napoli, but then his lawyer started offering him to various international clubs, meaning something changed between the player and the Azzurri,” Morabito told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli as cited by Football Italia.

“I know this because I was working on the Olivier Giroud issue when he was meant to leave Chelsea in January, with a lucrative contract line up for Mertens.

“Chelsea have now extended Giroud’s contract as a precaution, but they are very interested in Mertens and Lampard is calling him almost every day. I can see Mertens going to Chelsea.”

Inter, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been mentioned when it comes to the Belgian striker.

“I haven’t spoken to (Zinedine) Zidane since I left”

On loan Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos says he has not spoken to Zinedine Zidane since leaving Real Madrid.

The Spanish midfielder joined Arsenal on a season-long loan and despite the lack of communication with Zidane – Ceballos hopes to play for the Spanish giants in the future.

“I haven’t spoken to Zidane since I left,” Ceballos told Movistar. “It has to be difficult to have a dressing room with so many players. I don’t think Zidane talks to the loan players.”

“Hopefully [I will play for Real Madrid again]. I now have a contract with Arsenal. At the moment in Madrid it is difficult to play with the players that are there. Now I am focused on being important at a club.”