Radamel Is Dead

Ex Chelsea and Manchester United Forward Radamel Falcao has been thrown into mourning after the death of his father.

His father, 61, died after collapsing while playing tennis. Radamel Garcia King was rushed to hospital but passed away in the Mar Caribe Clinic in his home city of Santa Marta in Magdalena, Colombia.

The cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest.

Garcia himself had a playing career, featuring as a defender for Colombian sides Junior de Barranquilla, Independiente Santa Fe, Union Magdalena, Deportes Tolima, Atletico Bucaramanga and Independiente Medellin.

And he represented his country at the 1980 Moscow Olympics as well as featuring for Venezuelan outfit Deportivo Tachira.

The Colombian Football Federation passed on their wishes to the family, sending a message of “solidarity and strength” to Monaco forward Falcao.

Former Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla was also among those to send his thoughts, posting on social media: “I very much regret the death of your father and I will be with you in your pain from a distance. Sending you a hug my brother and lots of strength.”

Falcao had loan spells at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge between 2014 and 2016. He has scored 32 times in 81 appearances for Colombia.

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Pochettino Not Eager On Any January Arrivals

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino does not expect the club "are going to do anything" during the January transfer window.

Spurs completed a 7-0 demolition of League Two side Tranmere in the FA Cup on Friday, meaning they remain in the running to win four competitions this season.

Son Heung-min scored in the rout but will now head off on international duty with South Korea at the Asian Cup, leaving Pochettino without one of his key performers ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

Next up is the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Chelsea, while their next Premier League fixture sees a rejuvenated Manchester United visit Wembley next weekend.

Spurs did not add to their squad in the previous window and Pochettino dismissed the idea of any new arrivals coming in during this month, too.

"I don't believe that we are going to do anything," he told the media after the cup game.

When asked if he felt his squad was strong enough to cope with such a busy fixture list, the Argentinean added: "I'm so happy with my squad. Always you can improve, different things you can or not."

Fernando Llorente seized the chance to start in the third-round tie, scoring a second-half hat-trick as Tranmere conceded six goals after the break.

The Spanish striker has been linked with a return to his homeland, with former club Athletic Bilbao and Valencia linked, and his deal with Spurs expires at the end of the campaign.

"Yes, it's a six-month contract with the club and we will see what happens," Pochettino said about Llorente's future.

"As I explained for different players, it's not only in our hands, it's what the player wants. Of course, now the window is open we're going to talk."

Pochettino showed no mercy on Tranmere, playing Dele Alli for the full 90 minutes and bringing Harry Kane – who scored the final goal in the rout – off the bench with the score at 6-0.

"It's important for him to score and have 20 minutes playing football," Pochettino said of Kane.

"I think it was important for him and for the team an important victory and to get to the next stage of the FA Cup. It was an important fixture for the club. To be in four competitions is an important thing."

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No Need For January signings - Ole Gunnar Solksjaer

Manchester United Interim Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not expect any signings during the January transfer window.

Solskjaer confirmed on Friday he will hold talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over the Premier League club's transfer plans this month.

The centre-back position has been cause for concern after former boss Jose Mourinho tried to sign Leicester City's Harry Maguire and Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld before the start of the season.

Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly and Roma's Kostas Manolas have now been linked with moves to Old Trafford, however, Solskjaer is not anticipating new arrivals in January.

"I'm happy with the squad I've got," Solskjaer said. "I don't expect anyone to come in but obviously if the club have targeted and identified a few and I think they might fit here, I'll give my thumbs up. But it's not just my decision.

"Nobody had to tell me I had loads of talented players [to inherit at United]. I can see that from outside.

"We didn't speak too much about what's been going on, to be honest. It was about seeing what you can do to go back to the way we used to play, the way Man United are supposed to play, exciting football. We're looking a little bit like we want to see the team [we want to see]."

Solskjaer who was appointed until the end of the season after Mourinho's sacking in December has overseen four successive victories.

United will look to maintain their red-hot form when they host Reading in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

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Morata Must Deal With Pressure

Alvaro Morata must embrace the weight of expectation at Chelsea as the misfiring forward continues to struggle, according to Gianfranco Zola.

Morata has only managed five goals in the Premier League this season and seven in all competitions amid links with Sevilla and AC Milan.

Chelsea spent around £60million to price Morata from Real Madrid in 2017 but the Spain international has struggled for goals and confidence after a promising start to life at Stamford Bridge.

With doubts over Morata's future in London, assistant coach Zola said the 26-year-old has to deal with the pressure at Chelsea.

"It should be a motivational thing," said Zola. "You are at Chelsea, you are not playing for Southampton or Brighton with all due respect to those clubs.

"People expect a lot from the number nine at Chelsea. They expect a lot of goals and good performances. This is normal, he has to get used to it.

"If he goes to another big club it'll be the same - there is no way you can avoid your responsibilities.

"It's part of your job and if you can handle that then the better you're going to be."

Zola added: "Technically Morata - and this is the reason we invested a lot in him this year - we thought he was the perfect number nine for us.

"Maurizio [Sarri] has always said that. Technically without doubt he is one of the best in this position.

"I think he has to improve a little bit tactically because nowadays with the type of football, football is so organised you need to get better tactically, your ability is not enough.

"In my opinion he needs to improve on this. He's been working on that, he has a good attitude. He feels that he doesn't score enough and he feels a lot of responsibilities for that.

"But he has to learn to put everything behind because these are only burdens that you take on the pitch and they don't help you to perform better."

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Real Madrid To Make Offer For Palacios

Real Madrid are set to make a formal offer for River Plate star Exequiel Palacios "in the coming days", according to agent Renato Corsi.

Palacios helped River to Copa Libertadores glory in December and the talented 20-year-old midfielder has been linked with Madrid and LaLiga rivals Barcelona.

River president Rodolfo D'Onofrio last month said Madrid were planning further negotiations to sign Palacios, who made his Argentina debut in September.

And Corsi revealed a transfer to send Palacios to the Santiago Bernabeu is at an advanced stage.

"The leaders of River got together with Real Madrid in Abu Dhabi," Corsi told La Oral Deportiva de Radio Rivadavia.

"In the coming days there will be a formal offer and the operation is quite advanced.

"The family, Exequiel and I want him to go in June and Real Madrid don't have a problem with him staying at River until then."

Corsi added: "Real Madrid want him and supposedly River will sell. They agree, so between Monday and Tuesday the formal proposal will be presented."

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Emery Uncertain of Petr Cech Future

Arsenal manager Unai Emery does not know whether veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech will be at the Premier League club next season.

Cech is out of contract at the end of the campaign and the 36-year-old is facing an uncertain future in London.

He has found opportunities limited behind Bernd Leno, having started the season as Emery's first-choice keeper prior to a hamstring injury in September.

Cech is set to start Saturday's FA Cup clash against Blackpool and when asked about the Czech Republic international's future, Emery who played down links with Real Madrid keeper Keylor Navas told reporters: "I don't know for now.

"This is a question for the club and the player to deal with.

"But when he played at the start of the season, he did very well. He has very good behaviour, commitment and performance.

Then when he had the injury Leno started playing with a big performance also and then he recovered his position on the bench.

"But I am happy with him. All situations like this, we will speak with the player and with the club but at the moment, I want his focus at the same time, each training, each match.

"He is going to play Saturday to give us his performance and then we are going to decide also within what is the best for him and for the club."

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