INTER MIAMI are confident of signing PSG star Lionel Messi when his contract expires, it has been revealed.
The Argentine will see his contract up in France at the end of the season and now it has been reported that he is set for a move to Inter Miami in the MLS in a shock transfer.
Elsewhere, Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie just months after his arrival at Camp Nou.
AC Milan are also interested in bringing their former player back to the club, but his agent has since denied any potential departure.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from around the grounds…
- Sam Dymond
Gunners offer Saliba new deal
Arsenal have formally entered into contract negotiations with William Saliba.
The French international has been a breakthrough star for the Gunners this term following three seasons of impressing out on loan.
Now a permanent fixture in the first team three years after signing, the Londoners are wary that the centre-back has just 20 months remaining on his current deal.
The subject has been raised with the 21-year-old by the media in recent weeks, who has responded in positive fashion at the thought of committing his future to the club.
Now, according to The Athletic, formal discussions are underway with Arsenal understood to have made an initial offer.
- Sam Dymond
Beckham's Miami Inter Messi
David Beckham's Inter Miami are reported to be on the verge of a stunning swoop of Lionel Messi.
According to The Athletic, representatives of the MLS side have been in discussions with the legendary forward's father, Jorge, for two years.
Messi's contract at current club Paris Saint-Germain is due to expire in the summer, and there is now an 'increasing confidence' that he will opt for Florida.
PSG are keen to extend the 35-year-old's time in the French capital, while Messi's former club Barcelona are hoping he'll decide on an emotional return to the Nou Camp.
Messi has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 17 games for the French champions in all competitions this season.
- Sam Dymond
Potter: Chelsea must endure pain
Graham Potter's unbeaten start to life as Chelsea manager came crashing to an end at former club Brighton on Saturday – and afterwards, the Blues boss warned supporters that there may be more to come.
The Londoners were thumped 4-1 by the Seagulls on Potter's return to the Amex Stadium, adding to their own misery with two own-goals.
Afterwards the Chelsea manager, who was given a frosty welcome by his former fans, suggested that suffering is inevitable in the pursuit of development.
“It was not a pleasant afternoon for us but you have to have that sometimes if you want to make progress,” Potter told the press.
“If you think the line is just going to go straight up, it’s impossible. That team that you see out there for Brighton wasn’t the team that was there three years ago.
“It’s a process of pain that you have to go through and you have to keep trying to improve.
“I don’t know any other way. Whenever you’re trying to master something or get better at it, you need to sometimes have a bit of a step back or you have to suffer or you have to go through a bad experience to then grow and be better."
- Sam Dymond
Youri favourites: Arsenal lead race
Arsenal are said to be leading the race to land Leicester ace Youri Tielemans.
The Belgian will leave the King Power on a free transfer at the end of the season following four years with the Foxes.
A host of clubs are interested in the midfielder, but The Express report that it is the Premier League leaders in the box seat.
The Gunners were heavily linked with Tielemans during the summer, but Leicester’s asking price was considered too high for a player with just 12 months remaining on his contract.
While Manchester United remain interested in the 25-year-old too, Arsenal’s hopes have said to have been boosted by Juventus pulling out of the race.
- Sam Dymond
Centurion Rashford in better headspace
Marcus Rashford scored his 100th goal for Manchester United – and then revealed he is in a much better headspace than last season.
The forward reached the milestone with the only strike of a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
“It’s a completely different energy around the club and the training ground,” Rashford told Sky Sports afterwards.
“That puts me in a better headspace and I just feel really motivated now. That’s the area I was struggling in.
“I was struggling at times with more mental things. It wasn’t really my own performance but other things off the pitch. That’s the biggest difference from last season.
“I get that it’s your job to speak about what happens on the pitch but for the players we have to get into the right headspace for every game.
“Too often last season, I wasn’t in the right headspace for games. I wasn’t surprised by some of the stuff that was happening.”
- Sam Dymond
Good morning, football fans
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there’s no life after “God” in France.
The ever-modest Swedish legend 41, claims Ligue 1 has become boring since his heavenly presence left PSG six years ago.
The former Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United striker hopes to return in the new year after suffering an ACL injury in April.
And having played in all of Europe’s big leagues, he feels the French top-flight never recovered from him being spirited away from Paris.
The 121-cap star told the Canalplus TV station: “Since I left France, there is no longer any interesting subject.
“Why? Because you don’t have God.”
Franck Kessie’s agent has slammed rumours linking the midfielder with a move away from Barcelona as “fake news”.
The 25-year-old joined Barca on a free transfer in the summer.
But he has started just twice in La Liga since arriving at the Nou Camp.Reports in Italy have even linked Kessie with a quick exit from Barcelona as soon as January, with former club AC Milan claimed to be keen, as well as Man Utd.
Now Kessie’s agent, George Atangana, has put those rumours to bed.
Newcastle are lining up a January swoop for Brazilian wonderkid Eguinaldo.The winger’s agent has confirmed Toon are one of several clubs keen on a move this winter.
But Newcastle will have to meet Eguinaldo’s £26million release clause to get a deal over the line.
The Vasco ace, who stars in Brazil’s second tier, can play across the entire front three but is most at home on the left.
Eguinaldo, 18, has three goals in 18 games this season.
- Jon Boon
De Jong’s stance
Frenkie De Jong does not want to leave Barcelona in January, according to reports.
The Dutch midfielder was a primary target for Man Utd in the summer, although he repeatedly snubbed a move.
Now, Spanish outlet Sport claim that De Jong doesn’t want to leave the Camp Nou halfway through the season.
- Jon Boon
God complex
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there's no life after "God" in France.
The ever-modest Swedish legend 41, claims Ligue 1 has become boring since his heavenly presence left PSG six years ago.
The former Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United striker hopes to return in the new year after suffering an ACL injury in April.
And having played in all of Europe's big leagues, he feels the French top-flight never recovered from him being spirited away from Paris.
The 121-cap star told the Canalplus TV station: "Since I left France, there is no longer any interesting subject.
"Why? Because you don't have God."
- Jon Boon
Pique's boot mishap
Gerard Pique hilariously asked Sergio Busquets to untie a knot in the laces of his boot.
That’s after being completely unprepared when called on as a sub for Barcelona.
The comical moment happened 15 minutes from time when Jules Kounde went down injured.
The Frenchman, signed from Sevilla over the summer, could not continue as he struggled with a muscle problem.
And Xavi Hernandez immediately signalled for veteran defender Pique to come on in Kounde’s place.
But the Spaniard was far from ready to make the leap from bench to pitch.
As it became clear Kounde was coming off, Pique was still sat down wearing flip-flops, as well as no socks or shin pads.
He slowly began to get himself ready when it was clear he was needed.
But with so many things to do, Pique called upon pal Busquets to help untie a knot in his boot laces.
Commenting after the game, boss Xavi said: “Pique was not wearing boots nor shin guards because he didn’t expect to come on.
“He had no time to warm up either.”
- Jon Boon
Rashford’s candid confession
Marcus Rashford admits he “wasn’t in the right headspace” last season.
But the striker is feeling better than ever after hitting Manchester United’s winner against West Ham on Sunday.
Rashford already has two more goals than he managed the whole of the 21/22 campaign.
And in a candid post-match interview, the United ace admits he struggled to deal with the pressure last term.
He said after United beat West Ham: “[The 100th goal] has been on my mind for the past couple of games but we’ve been winning games so I’ve been happy and just been waiting for it to come.
“It’s a complete different energy around the club and the training ground [this season].
“That puts me in a better headspace and I just feel really motivated now. That’s the area I was struggling in.
“I was struggling at times with more mental things. It wasn’t really my own performance but other things off the pitch. That’s the biggest difference from last season.
“I get that it’s your job to speak about what happens on the pitch but for the players we have to get into the right headspace for every game.
“Too often last season, I wasn’t in the right headspace for games. I wasn’t surprised by some of the stuff that was happening.”
- Jon Boon
Real top
Real Madrid returned to the top of LaLiga on Sunday.
That’s despite being held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Girona.
The defending champs threw away a lead at the Bernabeu as they were pegged back with 10 minutes remaining.
And the result was further overshadowed when star man Toni Kroos received his first-ever red card at the death.
- Jon Boon
Casemiro ‘King of the Gym’
Casemiro has dethroned Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United’s “King of the Gym”.
Both icons have been getting more bench practice than they hoped this season.
But they played the whole of Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win at home to West Ham – showing their strict regime is worth the weight.
It’s claimed Casemiro can leg-press 300kg “with his eyes shut” whereas Ron is known to push 30 reps of 250kg.
- Jon Boon
Kessie link denied
Franck Kessie’s agent has slammed rumours linking the midfielder with a move away from Barcelona as “fake news”.
The 25-year-old joined Barca on a free transfer in the summer.
But he has started just twice in La Liga since arriving at the Nou Camp.
Reports in Italy have even linked Kessie with a quick exit from Barcelona as soon as January, with former club AC Milan claimed to be keen, as well as Man Utd.
Now Kessie’s agent, George Atangana, has put those rumours to bed.
- Jon Boon
Eguinaldo chase
Newcastle are lining up a January swoop for Brazilian wonderkid Eguinaldo.
The winger’s agent has confirmed Toon are one of several clubs keen on a move this winter.
But Newcastle will have to meet Eguinaldo’s £26million release clause to get a deal over the line.
The Vasco ace, who stars in Brazil’s second tier, can play across the entire front three but is most at home on the left.
Eguinaldo, 18, has three goals in 18 games this season.
- Jon Boon
Saka injury update
Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Bukayo Saka’s injury.
The Gunners star hobbled off in the first half, after a blow to his ankle.
However, his Spanish boss doesn’t believe he will miss the World Cup and it is too serious.
He said: “Hopefully not (miss the World Cup). It was a bad kick that he suffered right at the start of the game, he was limping for a bit.
“But I don’t see it as anything further than that.” When quizzed on the nature of the injury and whether it affected Saka’s ankle, leg or foot, the Spaniard continued: “I would say everything. He got kicked a few times.”
- Kiro Evans
Same Old Saka
Even in injury, you still can't hold back Bukayo Saka.
The 21-year-old went off with a knock in the first-half of Arsenal's 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest after clashing with Renan Lodi.
But before that he assisted Gabriel Martinelli's opener to make even more history.
- Kiro Evans
In Max We Trust
Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved has ruled out a swoop for Tottenham boss Antonio Conte.
Nedved has insisted Juve "full faith" in under-fire gaffer Massimiliano Allegri.
Juve have been linked with a move for Conte, 53, who is claimed to be stalling on signing a new Spurs deal and previously managed in Turin.
But Nedved told DAZN: "Our position is always the same, what we always said: the club, players and everyone have full faith in coach Allegri.
"It’s normal when not getting the wins Juve expect that names will emerge in the media, there will probably be more, but we remain firm on our position.
"We’ll give him the opportunity to do his work and do it well."
- Kiro Evans
Ronaldo Starts
Cristiano Ronaldo starts against West Ham this afternoon as Erik ten Hag makes four changes.
It’s quite the route back for the ex-Real Madrid star, who last weekend against Chelsea had been exiled from the squad due to his touchline antics a few days earlier.
But there is some bad news for United with Antony missing with injury and Victor Lindelof out with illness.
Kick off is at 16.15
- Kiro Evans
Arsenal chop up Forest
With around 20 minutes to go, Arsenal have ran into a 4-0 lead over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
Gabriel Martinelli scored early but it's the Gunners' second-half goal blitz which has put Steve Cooper's side to bed.
Reiss Nelson – who came on for the injury-hit Bukayo Saka – scored twice in three minutes, while Thomas Partey netted the fourth.
How many goals are left in this for Arsenal or will Mikel Arteta tell his troops to ease off?
Follow the final stages with full text commentary here.
- Kiro Evans
Are You Fer Real?
CRISTIANO RONALDO was persuaded NOT to sign for Manchester City in a 3am phone conversation with Rio Ferdinand – a new book claims.
The 37-year-old Manchester United icon came close to joining the blue side of town last year before sealing an emotional return to Old Trafford.
The book, which details the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s stellar career, is published next month.
And 'Messi vs Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World’s Game' claims Ronaldo was on the verge of a controversial switch.
That was until a 3am call with Ferdinand stopped a sensational move to the Etihad.
Read the full exclusive SunStory here.
- Kiro Evans
Red in the Face
Liverpool have had their worst start to a Prem season in SEVEN years.
The Reds slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds last night, meaning they have picked up just 16 points from their first 12 games.
The last time they made a worse start than this was in the 2014-15 campaign, when Brendan Rodgers was still at the helm.
This was their team then, with some very notable names such as Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho involved.
This was the last Liverpool team – under Brendan Rodgers – to endure such a bad start to the season
- Kiro Evans
Paper Trail
Cristiano Ronaldo carried a piece of paper detailing all of his achievements everywhere he went when he was playing at Real Madrid.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed a trophy-laden stint at United before moving to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2009.
And the Portuguese regularly reminded himself of his accolades by carrying a piece of paper with them written down in his pocket.
That’s according to his former fitness coach at Sporting Lisbon Carlos Bruno, who saw the list of the forward’s accolades during a visit to Real’s training ground.
Read the full exclusive SunSport story here.
- Kiro Evans
Downe but not out
West Ham midfielder Flynn Downes has admitted he needs to "get a lot better" if his dream of playing for England is to come true.
The 23-year-old joined the Hammers from Swansea for £12million in the summer.
But he was made to wait for his chance in Europe and the Premier League, with Moyes employing him in different positions.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Downes said: "I just enjoy it. Wherever he wants me to play, I play. There really is nothing better.
"I’m not in my prime, I have so much to give. I’ve got to get a lot better.
"I want to play for England. That’s my dream. Dec is doing that now – I am learning a lot from him.”
- Kiro Evans
Rivalries Renewed
Arsenal are set to play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League for the first time in the 21st century as the two clubs cross swords this afternoon.
Since that last league meeting in 1999, they’ve only played each other four times in the two cup competitions while Forest toiled their way around the EFL.
It was only in January when Forest got one over Arsenal with their 1-0 FA Cup win.
They also beat Arsenal 4-2 in the same competition two years earlier.
In the League Cup, the Gunners won 0-4 in 2016 and 5-0 in 2019.
Forest haven’t won at the Emirates in the league since 1989.
- Kiro Evans
No Messing Around
Barcelona are ready to make a move for Lionel Messi as soon as January, according to reports.
The Catalan club are keen for a reunion with their greatest player after he left for PSG in regrettable circumstances in 2021.
Sport report that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is desperate to get a deal done but PSG will likely show resistance to any mid-season move.
Laporta said earlier this week: "Leo's era did not end how we all wanted. We have a moral debt to him and we would like that the end of his career would be in the Barca shirt."
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