Football news LIVE - Arsenal eye Barcelona raid, Maguire and Mount next moves

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Rooney's Prem tip

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has expressed doubts about Arsenal's ability to handle the pressure of the run-in as he tipped Manchester City to win the title.

The Gunners lead the Premier League by eight points heading into the return from the international break. City can close the gap to five points with a win over Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime, before Mikel Arteta's men host Leeds.

Arsenal are hoping to win their first title for 19 years, but still have to play their title rivals away from home. And though Rooney wants them to end their long drought without a title, he believes Arteta's side will buckle under the pressure.

Read more here.

Who is the Prem's fastest player?

The top 10 fastest defenders, midfielder and forwards in the Premier League have been revealed, with Kieran Tierney, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Brennan Johnson leading the way.

The top-flight is set to return ahead of the run-in, with most teams having just 10 games to play. That means that most players have just a short time remaining in which to overcome the division's fastest speedsters so far this campaign.

Unsurprisingly, the defenders' times are much slower than their midfield and forward colleagues, but that group of 10 are still seriously fast. Here, Mirror Football looks at who has made the cut, according to stats given by Squawka.

See all the stats here.

Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move

Fowler calls for Diaz return

“In the two games he’s started against City, he’s terrorised them. His pace and trickery has caused a massive problem against them, but I think it’s bigger than that - Liverpool have missed him more than people realise.

“This has been a season of transition with the front three as they’ve tried to fit both Nunez and Gakpo in alongside Mo Salah, with Mane leaving and Firmino out injured for long periods.

“I think Diaz’s presence would have offered more continuity from last season - he clicked straight away, and made a huge difference, so that’s a huge miss with Mane leaving and Firmino out.”

See more here.

Qatari takeover unaffected by change in Prem rules

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's bid for Manchester United will be unaffected by the Premier League's new rules surrounding ownership.

The Qatari is in the running to buy the Red Devils, with the Glazers open to selling, in what would be a world-record deal for a sports team. Sheikh Jassim's connection to the Middle Eastern state, which effectively owns European rivals PSG, was thrust into the limelight on Thursday as the Premier League plans to tighten its rules regarding who can purchase a club - with human rights abuses a major red flag.

Countries across the Middle East have copped major criticism for their societal norms, which do not align with the western world. The Sheikh however is operating as an individual and would therefore not be threatened by the recent changes. Qatar are also not on the UK government sanction list.

Read more here.

Greenwood wants return now, Man Utd stick to investigation

Mason Greenwood has told Manchester United that he wants to return playing for them as soon as possible, it has been claimed.

The forward is currently subject to an internal investigation by the club and is neither training nor playing for the team. Greenwood was suspended after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were brought against him.

These charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February. The forward, who graduated through the academy, is still under contract until 2025, leaving United with a decision to make over his future at the club.

And, according to the Daily Mail, it seems as though Greenwood has made it crystal clear to United that he wants to return to action as fast as possible and show a commitment to the Old Trafford side. United, however, have responded by stating that the investigation won't be completed until the end of the season.

Read more here.

What can we pick up from Arsenal training?

Arsenal are stepping up their preparations for their return to Premier League action, with a visit from Leeds coming on Saturday.

The Gunners are eight points clear at the top of the table, though closest challengers Manchester City will play before them this weekend. Leeds will prove a tough test having enjoyed an up-turn in fortunes under new manager Javi Gracia.

But boss Mikel Arteta will be keen to get the title run-in off to the best possible start at the Emirates Stadium. Here, Mirror Football looks at the five biggest talking points from Arsenal 's latest training session, held on Thursday morning.

Read more here.

Richarlison makes Conte feelings clear

Richarlison blasted reports that he was set to issue an ultimatum demanding Tottenham sack Antonio Conte before the Italian left his job on Sunday.

Conte was fired by Spurs eight days after he delivered a furious 10-minute rant about the situation at the Premier League club. There was to be no way back for him after that furious tirade, with Cristian Stellini leading the team for the rest of the season.

Conte and Richarlison had a number of run-ins across the season, with the Brazilian having struggled for form since arriving from Everton. He was forced off injured early into the draw with Southampton, which led to Conte launching into his furious rant.

Read the full story here.

Schneiderlin's Man Utd anger

Morgan Schneiderlin admits he's still angry at himself for wasting his opportunity at Manchester United.

The Frenchman rose through the leagues whilst with Southampton and had blossomed as one of their leading lights in the Premier League. So much so that United came calling and signed the midfielder in the summer of 2015 as Louis van Gaal splashed the cash.

Schneiderlin arrived with a big reputation having excelled as a holding midfielder for the Saints, but was never able to make the grade at Old Trafford. A series of moves followed before he eventually headed to Australia, where he is now, but his Manchester frustrations very much still linger.

Read more here.

ICYMI - Mitrovic "regretful" for his outburst

Aleksandar Mitrovic has apologised to referee Chris Kavanagh and expressed his regret after he was sent off for pushing the official during Fulham's recent FA Cup defeat against Manchester United.

Mitrovic had fired the Londoners into a second-half lead in their quarter-final tie at Old Trafford earlier this month. However, the match was turned on its head after Willian deliberately stopped a shot on the line with his hand. Fulham boss Marco Silva saw red whilst Kavanagh was checking the incident via VAR before an incensed Mitrovic put his hands on the match official. The Serbian striker, along with Willian, was also sent off, leaving Fulham with just nine men.

Mitrovic is expected to receive a lengthy ban for his actions at Old Trafford. And the 28-year-old, who has widely been condemned for his actions, has broken his silence on the incident, revealing he has apologised to Kavanagh and accepted a club fine.

Read more here.

Prem toughen rules on human rights abusers

The Premier League has toughened its ownership and directors test to include a ban on human rights abusers, the violent and corrupt.

The move will not immediately impact the Saudi Arabian ownership of Newcastle United, or UAE or Qatari owners as they are not on a UK government sanctions list.

But an “annual report of compliance” will ensure an owner or director of a top flight club has not broken the regulation in the previous 12 months or been sanctioned, in a beefed up set of rules.

Human rights abuses, based on the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020, will now be one of a number of "disqualifying events".

Read more here.

Arteta eyes Barca raid

Arsenal are eying up a move for former Manchester City defender Eric Garcia this summer.

The 22-year-old has struggled for game time at Barcelona this season and could be allowed to leave the club as they attempt to balance their books. Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde have formed an impressive partnership at the back, leaving Garcia's minutes limited.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Mikel Arteta is tracking the progress of Garcia, who has made just 14 La Liga appearances this season. The Gunners were linked with a move for Garcia in the January transfer window but opted to sign Polish youngster Jakub Kiwior instead.

Read more here.

Bruno's dream midfield

Bruno Fernandes' dream midfield partners suggests he will be delighted with Erik ten Hag's plans for the summer transfer window.

Ten Hag boosted Manchester United's midfield with the signing of Casemiro ahead of this campaign. But he is set to once again add to that department in the upcoming window, with Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham top of his shortlist.

Casemiro has been one of United's top performers since his arrival from Real Madrid, with Fernandes also starring for the Red Devils. Fred and Scott McTominay have impressed on occasion, but United are widely seen as needing a final piece of the midfield jigsaw.

Full story here.

Mount's three questions

Mason Mount has paid little mind to the transfer rumours swirling around him as he reflected on his poor season for Chelsea, asking: "Why did that happen?"

The England midfielder, 24, is a target for Liverpool and Bayern Munich as he rapidly approaches the final year of his contract, having rejected the offer of an extension. Jurgen Klopp admires the boyhood Blue while Thomas Tuchel hopes to reunite with his former player after taking over as Bayern manager.

Despite the intense interest in his services, Mount is enduring a poor season as he has registered three goals and two assists in the Premier League - a far cry from the 21 goal involvements (11 goals, 10 assists) he plundered last campaign. This underwhelming recent form has left the 2021 Champions League winner scrambling for answers to three questions in particular.

Full story here.

Jack Diamond charged

Sunderland winger Jack Diamond has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The 23-year-old's loan at League One club Lincoln City has been terminated after charges were brought against him on Thursday. Diamond was arrested after an alleged sexual assault in Washington, Tyne and Wear in May 2022 and he has been suspended by Sunderland pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

A Northumbria Police investigation has led to him being charged and a brief statement from Lincoln confirmed his loan spell had been cut short "with immediate effect". Diamond is due to appear in South Tyneside Magistrates' Court in May this year.

Full story here.

Messi offered tempting proposal

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal have offered to make Lionel Messi the world’s highest-paid player in a proposed deal that would eclipse that of Cristiano Ronaldo at rivals Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo completed a stunning move to Riyadh-based club Al-Nassr at the turn of 2023 and earns in the region of £173million per year – comfortably the highest salary of any footballer on the planet. The contract also encompasses his image rights and several contractual responsibilities.

Ronaldo’s long-term sporting rival Messi may also be about to join him in the Middle Eastern nation as his future at Paris Saint-Germain looks more uncertain than ever. Alongside Sergio Ramos, his contract talks have been put on hold by the Ligue 1 giants

Read the full story here

Aguero suffers heart scare on Twitch stream

Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has suffered a heart scare during a live streaming session with Spanish internet celebrity Ibai Llanos.

The ex-footballer, forced to retire from the game in December 2021 aged just 33 due to a heart condition, suddenly stopped talking and brought his hand to his chest. Ibai was filmed asking the Argentinian, "What's the matter?", as Aguero fell into silence and hung his head.

The former Argentina international appeared to gasp momentarily for breath before replying in an obvious state of shock: "Oh, I think... I think that I just suffered a minor arrhythmia." He appeared to be checking a monitor on his mobile as he said the words.

Read the full story here

Messi and Ramos could both leave PSG

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos are both seriously considering leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer after the club put their contract talks on hold amid offers from Saudi Arabia.

The French giants have concerns they will face fresh Champions League sanctions for further Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches after being hit with a €10million fine for their 2020-21 season accounts with a €45m suspended fine for future breaches.

The French league leaders were dumped out of the competition with a tame three-goal aggregate loss against Bayern Munich earlier this month. Now, they are aiming to restructure their squad to drastically reduce outgoings and comply with financial regulations.

Read the full story here

Haaland not seen in training

Manchester City face a nervous wait, with Erling Haaland not spotted in training ahead of this weekend's match against Liverpool.

Premier League top scorer Haaland sat out Norway's first two Euro 2024 qualifiers through injury, leaving him a doubt to return in time for Saturday's game. The 22-year-old played just over an hour of City's last game, an FA Cup quarter-final victory over Burnley before leaving the field with a groin problem.

City are gearing up for the title run-in, but may have to begin that process without their star man. Haaland was nowhere to be seen in Wednesday's or Thursday's session, with the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at the Etihad Stadium drawing ever closer.

Read the full story here

Maguire's transfer options

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire may well find himself on the lookout for a new club this summer, having fallen out of favour at Old Trafford.

The England international began the campaign as one of United's starting centre-backs under Erik ten Hag, but the manager has largely preferred the pairing of Raphael Varane and summer signing Lisandro Martinez. With United linked with further reinforcements in the form of Martinez's former Ajax team-mate Jurrien Timber, the writing could be on the wall for the England international.

While Maguire himself may want to stay and fight for his place, he will be well aware that Euro 2024 is on the horizon and a lack of minutes could harm his status in Gareth Southgate's international squad. With that in mind, Mirror Football has looked at a handful of other potential destinations for the 30-year-old.

Read the full story here

Sheikh Jassim's Man Utd deal explained

The Manchester United takeover process is now being described as “fluid” following last week’s farcical deadline collapse that has fuelled speculation over the possibility of the Glazers remaining in charge.

Yet the declared bidders Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe remain the frontrunners, despite the offer for a minority stake from US hedge fund Elliott and another late submission from Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus that appears to have been given short shrift by Raine Group, the New York bank in charge of the auction.

Sources have indicated that they hope to receive some indication of the next steps from Raine in the next seven days. But it is unclear whether that will be a decision around a preferred bidder, who would then enter a period of exclusivity and be granted access to sensitive financial documents to complete their due diligence, or a whittling down of options.

Read the full story here

Latest on Diaz's Liverpool return

It's been a long and painstaking wait for Luis Diaz on the sidelines as the winger watched Liverpool's season crumble in front of his eyes.

The Colombian star was set for a big campaign at Anfield following his electric start to his Reds career last term and the subsequent departure of Sadio Mane during the summer. Diaz has been out of action since October after sustaining a knee injury in the defeat to Arsenal, before suffering a setback during the club's Dubai training camp in December.

But his delay in getting back on the field has certainly not been down to a lack of trying, as reports from Liverpool's training ground state Diaz has left onlookers in awe at his determination to return to full fitness.

Read the full story here

Man Utd handed De Jong boost

Barcelona are working on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan this summer – a move which would throw the future of Frenkie de Jong, a Manchester United target, into question.

United had an initial transfer fee of £56.2million agreed with Barca to sign the 25-year-old last summer but the player’s wish was to stay at Barca. Former United striker Dwight Yorke claimed the Dutch international privately would not rule out a transfer to Old Trafford.

However, the deal did not materialise as De Jong instead preferred to remain at Camp Nou for this season. The midfielder, 25, is once again top of United’s summer transfer shortlist as his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag aims to bring him to Old Trafford.

Read the full story here

Parlour tells Arsenal to follow up Saka deal

Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour wants Arsenal to follow up Bukayo Saka's new deal by tying William Saliba and Martin Odegaard down to improved contract.s

“You want the young players to stay together, that’s what it’s all about,” Parlour told Fairplay. “Once you get a group of young players, they develop together. Gabriel Martinelli obviously signed a new contract, which is good news, it looks like Saka has and hopefully William Saliba is the next one that can sign a new contract.

“Martin Odegaard has also shown enough now to deserve a new contract, I’d certainly be negotiating, because he’s played so well. He's been the best midfielder in the Premier League this season, he’s been that good for Arsenal. What he’s done in an Arsenal shirt has been excellent.

“It’s so important for the club, once you’ve got that young core of players, that you try and develop them over the next four to five years. And they’re only going to get better, that’s the beauty of having young players because they should improve together and if that happens the team will improve as well. I’m sure during the summer, if Arsenal can win the Premier League, there will be lots of players who are deservedly renewing their contracts.”

Mount still hopeful of Chelsea resolution

Mason Mount is still said to be hopeful of a resolution to his Chelsea future as Liverpool and Bayern Munich monitor his stalling contract talks.

The England midfielder, 24, has one year left on his current deal at the end of this season, and talks over a new contract have dragged on for months while the Blues have brought in several new faces.

There have been suggestions that Mount could be offloaded in order to help Chelsea comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, but The Athletic report that his preference would be to stay at Chelsea despite ongoing interest from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Bayern, who appointed former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel last week.

Read the full story here

Man Utd's debts increase

Manchester United have published their most recent financial results as talks continue over the sale of the Premier League giants.

United say that commercial revenue has increased by 22.2% to £78.7m for the most recent quarter in their latest financial results, with the club's matchday revenues down despite record sales of tickets, hospitality and memberships.

The club said that it made a net profit of £6.3m for the quarter, which included a five-week break from first-team action because of the World Cup, and for the fiscal year it expects total revenue to be between £590 million and £610 million, with "its adjusted EBITDA guidance of £125 million to £140 million."

Read more here

Arsenal injury latest

Thomas Partey is expected to be fit for Arsenal's clash with Leeds when the Premier League returns at the weekend - though William Saliba is still a doubt.

Midfielder Partey has been on international duty with Ghana but did not come off the bench during their 1-1 draw with Angola on Monday. Ghana boss Chris Hughton revealed after the match that Partey was battling with "small injury issues" in concerning news for Arsenal ahead of the meeting with Leeds at the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile defender Saliba did not join up with France for the international break after suffering an injury during Arsenal's Europa League penalty defeat to Sporting Lisbon which forced him out of their last fixture against Crystal Palace.

Read the full story here

Ten Hag hands United transfer shortlist

Erik ten Hag has handed Manchester United a transfer shortlist of six strikers to consider signing this summer – including Tottenham star Harry Kane.

Signing a centre-forward is a priority for Ten Hag this summer and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is thought to heads the club’s striking wish list. Osimhen has bagged 25 goals for the Naples giants this season as they look set to win their first Serie A title since 1990.

Spurs striker Kane, 29, is on Ten Hag’s target list and Untied are weighing up whether to launch an £80million bid when the summer window opens. Tottenham supremo Daniel Levy is known for being a tough negotiator and the club are wary about being drawn into a prolonged transfer saga similar to the one they were involved in with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong last year.

Read the full story here

Premier League Hall of Fame shortlist announced

The Premier League has announced its shortlist for the next round of inductees into its Hall of Fame, with former Manchester United stars Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville among those in contention.

This is the third year in which players will join the hall of fame. Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry were named in the inaugural group back in 2021, with Didier Drogba and Peter Schmeichel among those to be inducted in 2022.

The list of nominees comes after Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger became the first managers brought into the Hall of Fame. Players need to have been retired by January 2023 to be in consideration for this year's list, and the latest group is a who's who of elite Premier League talent.

Read about the nominees here

Revisiting Neville's Valencia spell

Gary Neville's forgettable stint as Valencia manager finished almost as suddenly as it started, with the Spanish club pulling the plug on his stint after just four months.

Many who followed football at the time will recall their surprise at seeing the Sky Sports pundit given the top job at the Mestalla in December 2015. While his brother Phil was part of the coaching staff, having served under recently-departed manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Gary's experience was just as thin.

The new boss had worked with the England team under Roy Hodgson, but was already better known for his punditry work. He would return to that work after leaving Spain, to the point that his four months at the helm might be easy to forget had he not owned up to the mistakes he made when finding his feet at one of Europe's top clubs.

Read more about that ill-fated spell here