Thiago Alcantara reveals how Coutinho, Xabi Alonso convinced him to join Liverpool

Liverpool’s new boy Thiago Alcantara has revealed how former Reds stars Philippe Coutinho and Xabi Alonso helped convince him to join the club.

The Spain international has joined the Reds on a long-term deal after turning down a new contract at Bayern Munich.

And Philippe Coutinho and Xabi Alonso were amongst those to tell him what the expect and sway his decision.

Alcantara was a former team-mate of Alonso at Bayern Munich whilst Coutinho also played with him in Bavaria last season during his loan spell from Barcelona.

Asked if he consulted anyone about his move, Alcantara told Liverpool’s official website : “Yeah, for sure. More than the football aspect because in the end, Liverpool is what it is for the last years, the last decades.

“They were amazing, they performed and it is raising every year as much as you can, as much as they can, as much as we can, is what I should say.

“More than that, it is the family aspect, the life aspect – how is the city?

“Where to go, how life was. People like Philippe Coutinho and Xabi Alonso helped me a lot to take this last step. It’s really good.”

Asked why Liverpool is the right club for him, he explained: “Because at the end, when the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more.

“I think this club describes what I am as well; I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.

“It also [has] this kind of family [feeling] that I need because we [like to] have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well.”

Photo Credit: Twitter/LFC

Frank Lampard reveals key Chelsea players out of Liverpool cracker as he provides injury update

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has released the names of Blues star who won’t be availabe for the Liverpool encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Despite training with the team for the first time this week, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva are among those who won’t feature.

Also, former Ajax forward Hakim Ziyech will not feature against the Premier League champions.

But Lampard did have positive news on another new acquisition, Werner, who suffered a dead leg on his debut at Brighton.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Cobham, Lampard said: “Ben Chilwell is not ready for the game, and Christian Pulisic is not ready for the game started.

“We’re hope they’re training and progressing over the next week or so.

“Hakim Ziyech is also not ready for the game, same story. Timo Werner is fit.

“Thiago has been training with us for the last three or four days. We are just working with him on his fitness at the moment, so Liverpool will come too soon for him.”

He spoke further about the Brazilian defender who he has worked with for the first time in recent days.

“Thiago is certainly a leader. He brings that with him by nature. He doesn’t speak the language that great, something we’re working on very quickly, but we have a lot of players in the squad who are multi-lingual and help with that.

“By presence, by attitude in training, by the quality of the player he commands respect. I look forward to having him around. He already seems very engaging and intent on helping the team, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

Frank Lampard bares mind on Gareth Bale’s Tottenham move

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard admitted Spurs will challenge his side with the addition of Gareth Bale.

Lampard guided Chelsea to Champions League qualification in fourth spot while his old manager Jose Mourinho secured Europa League football for Spurs in sixth last season.

Bale is expected to be announced by Tottenham imminently.

And Lampard said: “Gareth Bale is an incredible player, he is an incredible individual talent that we remember very well from his Premier League days at Tottenham.

“We have seen from afar the incredible success that he has had at Real Madrid and if he does come to Tottenham which I keep seeing will virtually happen soon then he is going to be a big addition to their squad, of course.

“Of course, they have got very good individuals at Tottenham. They will beat teams and be expected to challenge in and around the Champions League places and above.

“They have fantastic individuals and if they get Gareth Bale, they will have another one for sure. He is one of the best players in the world, in my opinion, over the last four or five seasons.”

Lyon president writes off Arsenal over move for Mikel Arteta’s prime target

Arsenal target Houssem Aouar could be out of reach for the Gunners if what the Lyon’s president Jean-Michel Aulas is saying is true.

There were reports during the week indicating that Arsenal were packaging an “imminent” £36.5million bid for main target Aouar.

The Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta is a fan of Lyon’s attacking midfielder.

Aulas doesn’t believe the North London side have the funds required to poach him.

Aulas told journalist Chris Wheatley: “No I don’t think so [whether Arsenal will sign Aouar]…no offer yet, it seems that Arsenal don’t want to, or can’t invest the price for Houssem, who is our best player.”

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas tells me: “No I don’t think so [on whether afc will sign aouar].. no offer yet, it seems that Arsenal don’t want to, or can’t invest the price for Houssem, who is our best player.” pic.twitter.com/HDpiHFdXul

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) September 18, 2020

Barcelona legend hails Gareth Bale’s move to Tottenham

Barcelona legend Rivaldo says Gareth Bale will be a ‘great’ signing for Tottenham.

The Brazilian icon, 48, believes a move back to Spurs from Real Madrid will benefit both Bale and his old manager Jose Mourinho.

Bale is thought to have said his goodbyes at Real Madrid’s training ground on Thursday before he jets into London on Friday to seal a sensational return to the club he left for a then world-record £85million in 2013.

He is set to move on loan for the season with Tottenham picking up the bill for around 40 to 50 per cent of his £650,000 wages.

Rivaldo told Betfair: “It will be great news if Gareth Bale signs for Tottenham.

“He has not been playing regularly for a long time and it will be great for him to get the chance at his former club which he knows well and where he played some of his best football ever.

“Jose Mourinho’s team did not start well in the Premier League, losing to Everton, and he will love having one of his former stars in the squad to add some attacking power.”

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comes under verbal attack over Odion Ighalo

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been accused of not giving Odion Ighalo a chance to shine at Manchester United.

The on-loan Shanghai Shenhua striker scored five times in eight games in the Europa League and FA Cup but struggled to nail down a regular spot in their Premier League side.

Ighalo was restricted to a bit-part role and never played more than 20 minutes in a game as Solskjaer’s men secured a top four spot.

The Nigerian’s deal at Old Trafford has been extended until the new year, and former Super Eagle Victor Ezeji has urged Solskjaer to give Ighalo the opportunity to impress, report the Mirror.

He told Goal : “Every coach believes in his starting XI and to be very fair to Ighalo, the Covid situation did not help him, because if not for Covid, [Marcus] Rashford would still have been out until the end of the season.

“And when Rashford recovered, because of the belief Ole has in Rashford, he had to bring him back into the team.

“And then you can see that [Anthony] Martial was firing on all cylinders, same as [Mason] Greenwood, so there was no way Ole was going to drop any of those guys for Ighalo.

“But where I will fault Ole is that even when these guys are not meeting up in some games, I think he should have tried Ighalo.

“It wasn’t really nice that a player’s contract was renewed and you didn’t even allow him to play up to 20 minutes of any Premier League game. That is not encouraging. It makes a player lose all the confidence he has built over time.”

Chelsea set to launch audacious bid for Declan Rice despite Board’s disagreement with Frank Lampard

There are reports in England that Chelsea are set to launch an audacious bid to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in the final piece of their blockbuster spending spree.

Frank Lampard has been keen on a move to sign Rice since before the window opened, and the 21-year-old was said to be his top target.

But the club’s board members are reportedly opposed Chelsea move for the youngster giving reasons for their decision.

However, West Ham have always maintained he isn’t for sale, and have demanded £73m for him.

Rice is believed to be open to a move, having spent time at the Chelsea academy along with Mason Mount.

But he is, according to the Express, unlikely to hand in a transfer request and force through a move, despite West Ham’s poor start to the season.

The Hammers lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle on Saturday and Rice – among others – faced heavy criticism for his lacklustre performance.

Now, it appears he could be offered an escape route, as Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips claims the Blues are set to make another bid for him.

He also claimed the club’s deal to sign Mendy will be wrapped up soon.

Lampard has been keen to get a new goalkeeper through the doors to act as competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

They have agreed to fork out £27.5m for his services, but the deal is being held up by a last-minute request by Rennes.

Manchester United legend reveals interesting quality Frank Lampard told him about Hakim Ziyech

Rio Ferdinand revealed that he had spoken to Chelsea FC boss Lampard about one of the Blues’ signings Hakim Ziyech recently.

Chelsea FC wrapped up a deal to bring Ziyech to Stamford Bridge from Ajax earlier in the year and Ferdinand revealed that Lampard has been particularly impressed by the Morocco international’s passing ability.

Ferdinand said: “You know what, I spoke to Frank the other day about Ziyech and he said: ‘His passing is ridiculous’.

“I’m looking to see them passes when he cuts with his left foot and has the likes of Mason Mount, Timo Werner Kai Havertz etc all making runs – and I think Ziyech will be putting it on a plate for these boys.”

Chelsea FC are currently preparing for their Premier League showdown against defending champions Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.

Atletico Madrid identify replacement for Arsenal target Thomas Partey

Reports in Spain suggest that Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone could move for Gent midfield star Elisha Owusu if Thomas Partey leaves the Spanish capital.

Ghanaian international Partey has been heavily linked with a switch to Arsenal before the transfer window closes next month.

However, the Gunners have not made a firm offer for the 27-year old, amid growing rumours the Premier League side are unable to afford his €50m release clause at the Wanda Metropolitano.

If Mikel Arteta does make a late offer for Partey in the coming weeks, reports from Mundo Deportivo claim Simeone has already lined up Owusu as a replacement in a possible €15m deal.

Owusu has impressed with the Belgian side following his arrival from Lyon at the start of the 2019-20 campaign, with 33 league appearances as Wim De Decker who finished second behind Club Brugge.

Despite being under contract until 2023, Atletico are confident they can secure a deal, if Simeone needs to strengthen his midfield options.