Category: Sports

English Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion are reportedly going to test Manchester United’s resolve as they aim to snap up attacker Anthony Elanga on loan from the league’s giants. Fresh reports coming from the English media have claimed that Elanga is not happy about his lack of game time at the club and would love to assess his options as soon as possible so it doesn’t affect his chances of getting called up to the Sweden national team ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this month.

It was reported a few months ago that several clubs had tendered interest in the pacy forward, including the likes of Sunderland, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and even Norwich City. However, United maintained their stance that there were not going to allow the 20-year-old to leave the club as they deemed him important at the beginning of the season. But the situation seems to have taken another turn, with Erik ten Hag preferring other options ahead of the academy graduate, especially given the emergence of sensational teen talent Alejandro Garnacho.

With Garnacho currently ahead of Elanga in the pecking order at the club, the situation may become further unbearake for the Swedish international and thus may influence his decision in the coming weeks.

Brighton are said to be in the market for a new attacker and have reportedly been monitoring the Elanga situation for some time and it may not be long before they decide to table an official offer to United for the player. Although United refused to listen to offers for the player last summer, they may now be prepared to do so in order to provide more game time for Garnacho as he continues his development and swift transition to the first team.

Manchester United are the overwhelming favourites ahead of their home game against relegation-threatened Watford this week on the Premier League front.

The Red Devils play hosts to Watford at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday evening hoping to avenge their defeat from the first league meeting between the two teams earlier this season. Manchester United on TV is expected to be a feature for the game. Manchester United on TV was a feature in the first league meeting as Watford ran out 4-1 winners with goals from former player Josh King, Emmanuel Dennis, Joao Pedro and IsmailaSarr. Manchester United got what proved to be a consolation goal through Dutchman Donny Van De Beek at the start of second half. Ex-Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Van De Beek is not at Manchester United at the moment after he joined Merseyside outfit Everton on a six-month loan deal last month.

The big loss to Watford proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager after he was sacked some hours after the game. The Manchester United legend was replaced by a caretaker manager in Michael Carrick. Carrick took charge of the team for a few games before interim manager Ralf Rangnick was appointed for the rest of the season.

Manchester United and Watford have different objectives for the rest of the current Premier League season. For United, the target is to finish in the top four places thereby qualifying for the Champions League next season, while survival is the target for Watford.

Ahead of the visit of Watford, Manchester United have won their last two Premier League matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United. Manchester United on TV was a feature for both the Brighton and Leeds games. The Red Devils can make it three league wins in a row by beating Watford.

Ex-Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has been impressed with the form of young midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe this season. Newly capped England international Smith-Rowe has been one of the best attacking players in the Arsenal team this season.

Bacary Sagna talked about the quality that Smith-Rowe has shown this season in a chat with freebets. According to the Frenchman, he had a big doubt about the young player when he demanded for the number 10 shirt previously worn by prominent football figures such as Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere.

Smith-Rowe asked for the said jersey number when he penned a long-term deal with the Gunners in the summer thereby committing his future to the club. Bacary Sagna admitted that he was wrong about Smith-Rowe and that the England player has been able to handle the pressure of the jersey number well to emerge as the joint topscorer for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe was recently given his international bow after England manager Gareth Southgate promoted him from the Under-21s. Smith-Rowe joined up with the senior team after players like Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford and James Ward-Prowse withdrew from the senior team for various reasons.

Smith-Rowe made his debut during the Albania game at home in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers coming in as a substitute for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling in the second half. He made his full debut in the next World Cup qualifier at San Marino and the young Arsenal star was able to score a goal and provide an assist during the game.

Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe is the second highest goalscorer at the club this season with five goals behind club skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has seven goals in all competitions. Aubameyang and Smith-Rowe are the joint topscorer in the league with four goals.

European champions Chelsea are said to have agreed a deal to sign Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai as they attempt to boost their options in that area of the team with the long-term futures of defenders Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen at the club in serious doubt.

CNN Turk confirmed that Chelsea have reached an agreement over the transfer of Szalai from Turkish Super League giants Fenerbahce.  According to the Turkish media portal, the Blues have agreed a deal worth €23.4m for Hungarian centre back Szalai.

It was also revealed that 23-year-old Fenerbahce defender Szalai has agreed a contract with Chelsea ahead of moving to Stamford Bridge in January. The Hungarian international has agreed a six-year deal with the European champions and he will receive a salary worth €4m on a yearly basis.

Chelsea had always wanted to sign a centre back this season. They were close to signing French international Jules Kounde from Spanish La Liga side Sevilla in the summer, but they were priced out of a move for the player. The West Londoners even tried to offer players in exchange to make it work. Compatriot Kurt Zouma was offered as a part exchange in the quest to sign Kounde, but their bid was unsuccessful. In the end, Kounde stayed at Sevilla, while French defender Zouma sealed a big money move from Chelsea to fellow London team West Ham United. Zouma has been able to push the Hammers to third place on the Premier League log and within three points of leaders Chelsea with his impressive outings.

German international Rudiger, Danish player Christensen and veteran Brazilian star Thiago Silva are all defenders who could leave Chelsea at the end of this season. They all have less than a year left on their respective existing contracts at the club.