Friday’s latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC’s What’s Trending…
MAN UNITED: Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak amid concerns that David De Gea will push through a summer move to Real Madrid, sources have told ESPN FC.
– Jose Mourinho has rejected plans for Manchester United to train at the Friends Arena in Stockholm ahead of next Wednesday’s Europa League against Ajax in order to avoid the possibility of his tactics being leaked.
– Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling are early doubts for the Europa League final after they missed training on Friday. Wayne Rooney may have made his final appearance at Old Trafford for Manchester United.
– Ander Herrera was named Manchester United’s player of the season for 2016-17, ending De Gea’s run of three straight years winning the award.
– Mourinho has told Omnisport he believes Paul Pogba’s world-record transfer fee has weighed heavy on the player’s shoulders in his first season back at the club.
PREMIER LEAGUE: The League Managers’ Association (LMA) has announced that it will mark the 50th anniversary of its Manager of the Year award by commissioning a new trophy named in honour of Sir Alex Ferguson.
– Both West Ham United and Everton are considering a move for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, sources have told ESPN FC.
TOTTENHAM: Spurs absolutely obliterated Leicester City 6-1 on Thursday night. Harry Kane scored four goals and greatly improved his chances of winning the Premier League Golden Boot. Now with 26 goals, Kane leads Everton’s Romelu Lukaku by two with just one match left in the season.
– Kane’s manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed his striker as one of a kind and attributed much of his success to his professionalism.
– Kane has targeted reaching 100 Premier League goals by the end of next season, and says he can make a fast start next year after a rare summer off.
ARSENAL: Arsene Wenger says a decision about his future will be announced following an Arsenal board meeting that will be held after the FA Cup final. Wenger has dodged questions all season long about whether he will sign a new contract as Arsenal manager, and has frequently changed the timeline for when a decision should be expected.
– Club legend Tony Adams took a swipe at Arsene Wenger in an excerpt from his autobiography “Sober,” saying that the long-serving Emirates boss is “essentially not a manager.”
MAN CITY: Yaya Toure would be open to a move to Italy if he doesn’t agree a new Manchester City deal, his agent Dimitri Seluk has told TMW.
LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp is confident Roberto Firmino will be fit to play in Liverpool’s huge encounter with Middlesbrough on Sunday.
– Klopp wants Steven Gerrard to to succeed him as Liverpool manager once the German boss’ time is up at Anfield. He said: “I told him when I leave, or the club sack me, I don’t care of course who’ll be my successor, but I’d love that he’d be it.”
– Liverpool have not made a bid for Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe, sources have told ESPN FC.
BUNDESLIGA: Bibiana Steinhaus will become the first female referee in Bundesliga history next season.
WATFORD: Marco Silva has emerged as Watford’s leading managerial target but they face competition for his services, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has echoed Jose Mourinho’s criticism of the Premier League for not moving Sunday’s fixture against Manchester United to Saturday.
LEICESTER: With their Premier League status secure and little left to play for, Foxes’ boss Craig Shakespeare admitted Tottenham’s third goal broke his team’s back and they wilted from there on. WATCH.
LIGUE 1: David Trezeguet has warned Kylian Mbappe against following the example of Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and advised him to stay at Monaco for another season to avoid struggling at a big club.
INTER MILAN: Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio says the club will look to appoint a coach with the “characteristics” of someone like Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
REAL MADRID: Celta Vigo assistant coach Ernesto Marcucci hit out at referee Juan Martinez Munuera after Iago Aspas received a second yellow card for simulation but Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was not punished for an apparently similar offence in Los Blancos’ 4-1 win against his team.
BAYERN MUNICH: Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has said he hopes Thomas Muller will miss him a little when he retires from football after his final game on Saturday.
FRANCE: France coach Didier Deschamps has called Karim Benzema “pitiful” and warned the Real Madrid striker “a squad comes before everything” after prolonging his international exile.
BRAZIL: Orlando City striker and World Cup winner with the Selecao Kaka has told ESPN FC that he thinks Brazil are a legitimate favourite to win the 2018 World Cup.
LIGA MX: Chivas conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw with Toluca in the first leg of their Clausura semifinal. In the other match on Thursday, Tigres continued to roll with a 2-0 win at home against the liguilla’s top seed in Club Tijuana.
MLS: The group led by David Beckham that is trying to bring an MLS expansion franchise to Miami unveiled a plan on Wednesday for a new 25,000-seat stadium without available parking.
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