Madrid Considering Lewandowski January Move

Real Madrid are reportedly considering an outlandish move for Lewandowski in January transfer window.

The Polish international has been in outstanding form this season and has registered 18 goals in his first 13 appearances of the season for Bayern, including two in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory at Olympiakos.

The news of Madrid’s interest has been reported in the somewhat unreputable media outlet Ok Diario, which is directed by Eduardo Inda of El Chiringuito de Jugones.

It has been said that Zinedine Zidane believes his attack needs more firepower and the former Borussia Dortmund forward t, has been identified as a key target.

The Pole is contracted at €75m - which would be a significant outlay by the club.

A number of players has been linked with the exit door of Los Blancos this January including Isco, Brahim Diaz and Mariano Diaz.

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Messi Adds To Champions League History

After scoring against Slavia Praha, Argentine magician Lionel "Merciless" Messi has become the first player in Champions League history ever to score at least once in every 15 consecutive seasons in the European competition. 

The 32-year-old Barcelona forward and captain is still on the way to making more histories!

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Nigerian Sensation Poised To Join Los Blanco's In The Summer

The future of the Super Eagles is exciting with a lot of new talents available for German Coach Gernot Rohr and Real Madrid is set to make a huge bid worth £40m (N18.4billion) for Villarreal wonder boy, Samuel Chukwueze in the summer.

According to Spanish transfer market website Fichajes, the Los Blancos are planning for the exit of Wales international Gareth Bale, who is strongly linked with a return to the premier league and the Chinese Super League.

The Tottenham Hotspur winger has been regularly linked with a transfer to Manchester United in recent months and saw a move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning fall through at the last minute in the summer transfer window after Zinedine Zidane pulled the plug.

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Supercomputer Predicts Final Premier League Table For 2019-20 Season

Supercomputer has predicted how Premier League table for 2019-20 season will finally be.

We are two months into the 2019-20 Premier League season and already, the competition has seen a fair share of twists and turns.

Liverpool FC and the Citizens are at the top of the table right now, with the Reds at the top.

While we are almost certain that Liverpool and City will continue with their dormancy at the top of the table, we are yet to say with certainty as to who will take home the coveted trophy at the end of the season.

Given the nature of the competition, a few other teams are also likely to be in contention for the title of Premier League Champions for 2019-20.

We are also unsure as to how and where the other teams will finish their ongoing campaign.

That being said, TalkSport has claimed that their supercomputer already knows how the final league table will look like, at the end of this season.

Let's have a look on what the super-computer predicted:

20. Newcastle United (relegated)
19. Brighton and Hove Albion (relegated)
18. Watford (relegated)
17. Aston Villa
16. Norwich City
15. Crystal Palace
14. Sheffield United
13. Burnley
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers
11. Southampton
10. Bournemouth
9. Everton
8. West Ham United
7. Leicester City
6. Manchester United
5. Arsenal (Europa League qualification)
4. Chelsea (Champions League qualification)
3. Tottenham Hotspur (Champions League qualification)
2. Manchester City (Champions League qualification)
1. Liverpool (Premier League champions, Champions League qualification)

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English Premier League Golden Boot Has GoneTo The Wire

The Premier League hotshots look like finishing the season level on goals scored - but what happens to the Golden Boot in that situation?

Unlike the World Cup where the Golden Boot is decided by assists if a number of scorers are level, the Premier League instead shares it between the players.

It happened previously when Chris Sutton, Michael Owen and Dion Dublin shared it in 1997-98 and and then again in 1998-99 when Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, Michael Owen and Dwight Yorke shared the spoils.

This year it looks like we will have three players - Salah, Mane and Aubameyang on 22 goals.

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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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Am Not Considering Exit - Isco

Real Madrid star Isco insists he is not looking to leave the Spanish Giant in January despite failing to win into starting eleven under new coach Santiago Solari.

Isco last started a LaLiga match in the 5-1 Clasico humiliation by Barcelona on October 28, Julen Lopetegui's final game in charge.

Since then, Isco has made Madrid's starting XI just twice; the 6-1 Copa del Rey thrashing of minnows Melilla and a shock 3-0 home defeat to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Solari has consistently insisted he has no problem with Isco and continues to rate him highly.

Still, the situation has unsurprisingly led to speculation suggesting the player will seek a move if things do not improve soon, though he has dismissed such reports in the media.

"I'm not thinking about leaving in the winter market," the Spain international told Deportes Cuatro on Sunday.

"I'm very happy, my goal is to win many titles at Real Madrid."

Madrid are next in action against Villarreal on Thursday as LaLiga resumes following a mid-season break.

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Solskjaer Does Not Want Lukaku Playing 'Target Man' Role

Manchester United interim Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hinted Romelu Lukaku will not play in a "target man" role as long as he is in charge.

Lukaku endured a difficult first half of the season, struggling for form and fitness after claiming he had been negatively impacted by building up too much muscle during the World Cup.

The 25-year-old striker was granted compassionate leave over Christmas and, as such, is further behind than the majority of his team-mates with respect to match sharpness.

But, in Sunday's 4-1 hammering of Bournemouth, Lukaku came on as a second-half substitute for the impressive Marcus Rashford and scored United's final goal, beating Asmir Begovic after latching on to Paul Pogba's pass.

It was the first time Lukaku had featured since former boss Jose Mourinho with whom the Belgian was said to have a close bond was replaced by Solskjaer, and the new man at the helm is excited by the prospect of the former Everton man being fully fit.

"At times he's a good target man, but if you tell him to be a target man he'll never face the goal," Solskjaer told reporters. "Today [Sunday] he was side-on and he's got the attributes of a top, top striker.

"We need to work on his fitness, but I'm delighted. Even though he was half a yard offside [for his goal], it was a good finish."

Bournemouth lost their goalscorer and defender Nathan Ake to injury late in the game, but manager Eddie Howe was unsure about the severity of the suspected hamstring issue.

"I don't know the latest on Nathan Ake," Howe said. "I'll need to speak to him and the medical team, but it looked like a hamstring complaint."

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Van Dijk Lauds Trio, Moh Salah, Firmino And Mane

Anfield star Virgil van Dijk has heaped praises on "scary" attacking trio Moh Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane as the Reds top the Premier League table.

Salah, Firmino and Mane combined to lead high-flying Liverpool to a 5-1 demolition of Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday.

Firmino scored a hat-trick, while Salah and Mane were also on target as centre-back Van Dijk lauded the deadly trio ahead of Thursday's trip to second-placed Manchester City.

"We were almost perfect. We conceded the goal. That was the only thing," said Van Dijk. "But it was an important win. We have finished 2018 now pretty well, and hopefully we can keep that going.

"Confidence is definitely here, but it can change over a couple of games. We won't get carried away. We need to keep doing what we have been doing. There will be setbacks, as there always is in life, but it's how you react and so far we have been doing pretty well.

"At the beginning of the season, people were saying they [the front three] didn't click. They're fantastic. You see in this game as well and they can be undefendable. It's scary — and I'm happy to see that."

Liverpool hold a seven-point lead as they make the trip to reigning champions City, who ended a run of back-to-back defeats against Southampton on Sunday.

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Lloris Determines To Win Silverware With Tottenham

Tottenham Marshall and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is determined to end the club's wait for silverware this season.

Spurs have impressed under manager Mauricio Pochettino, however, Tottenham are without a trophy since winning the 2008 EFL Cup.

Tottenham are third in the Premier League this season and nine points behind leaders Liverpool, while Spurs are in the Champions League last 16 and EFL Cup semi-finals against Chelsea.

A World Cup winner with France at Russia 2018, Lloris said: "This [winning silverware] is what we work for.

"We know we are in the Premier League and there are a lot of contenders, big teams, big players, and that is why we are excited to be here.

"We are in the most competitive country, so we keep working with the same mentality and do our best.

"We have shown in the past that Tottenham is very competitive and we are reducing the gap with the best."

Following their shock 3-1 loss at home to Wolves, Tottenham will face Cardiff City on Tuesday.

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