Chelsea’s Middlesbrough loanee Omeruo on Lille radar

Chelsea defender Kenneth Omeruo is a transfer target for French club Lille according to reports.

The Mirror suggests that the 20-year old Nigerian centre-back has impressed Les Dogues with his performances in the Championship while on loan with Middlesbrough in the second half of the season.

Omeruo, who is contracted until the summer of 2015, has been at Stamford Bridge since joining from Standard Liege in 2012 but is yet to play at senior level for the Blues.

The former ADO Den Haag loanee has been selected in Nigeria’s 30-man provisional squad which is sure to further alert Lille who are expected to receive competition from Boro for his signature this summer.

 

Juventus chasing Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez

Juventus are lining up a bid for Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez.

Gazzetta dello Sport says Juve are ready to move for the Chile international and hope to tie up a deal before the World Cup.

Alexis has enjoyed his best season with Barca, scoring 18 goals this season.

However, it’s suggested Barca are prepared to sell for the right price.

 

Inter Milan eyeing Chelsea’s Mikel

Italian club Inter Milan are showing significant interest in Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel.

The 27-year old Nigeria international is on the outer at Stamford Bridge having made just 10 Premier League starts this season as second-choice to Nemanja Matic.

The Mirror is of the belief that the Nerazzurri, who are looking to rebuild their squad, are keen on Mikel to arrive at the San Siro as a defensive midfielder.

The 51-time international joined Chelsea from Norwegian club Lyn in 2006 and has since helped the west Londoners win one Premier League title, the Champions League, Europa League, four FA Cups and a League Cup.

 

Dani Carvajal: Real Madrid youth system better than Barcelona

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal rates their youth system ahead of Barcelona’s.

Carvajal came through the academy at Real before moving to Bayer Leverkusen last season.

Now back at home, he told Sportium: “I had to leave, but I always hoped to come back.

“Real’s youth system is the best in the world. They teach you the fundamental values to develop as a person and a professional from a very young age.”

 

Arsenal to enquire about availability of Bayern’s Martinez

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to learn the availability of Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez.

The Daily Mail has reported that the Gunners manager is a big admirer of the 25-year old Spaniard who is believed to be unhappy in Munich.

Wenger went after Martinez in the summer of 2012 when he was with Athletic Bilbao but Bayern easily trumped any offers by paying £32million for his services.

Arsenal are determined to land a defensive midfielder this summer and will enquire about the possibility of luring Martinez to north London before pushing ahead with their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender.

 

AC Milan legend Van Basten: Seedorf not right appointment

AC Milan legend Marco van Basten has taken a swipe at current coach Clarence Seedorf.

The SC Heerenveen boss has been unimpressed by his fellow Dutchman.

“Had it been me, I would never have entrusted the Milan bench to [Seedorf],” Van Basten said.

“The Rossoneri need a more experienced tactician. Donadoni, for example, is perfect, he has been training for 15 years and has the profile and experience needed for this bench.

“At Milan they need experience, but there is also a very talented Coach there in Inzaghi. If they decide to entrust him to the bench, then he would need time.”

 

Pellegrini now expects Man City to win title

Manuel Pellegrini is expecting his Manchester City side to win the Premier League title this weekend.

The 2012 champions defeated Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday night to move two points and plus-13 on goal difference clear of Liverpool.

With one fixture remaining – against West Ham United on Sunday – City only have to avoid defeat to be crowned champions for 2013/14 which their boss is expecting to happen.

“Now we can talk about the title because if we win the next game we are going to win the title,” he told Sky Sports after the win.

“We could not do the same before this game because we had to beat Aston Villa.

“Of course I expect to win the title because now we are top of the table.

“It has been a strange season maybe because we were never top of the table.

“Everyone said we were favourites but we were nine points behind Liverpool and eight points behind Chelsea.

“We had three games in hand but we must win all those games. Now we are top of the table and I hope we are not going to lose next Sunday.”

Edin Dzeko scored in the 64th and 72nd minutes at the Etihad Stadium before Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure wrapped it up with later goals as City grabbed pole position ahead of the final match of the campaign.

 

AC Milan legend Sacchi: Seedorf needs to change tactics

AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi has called on coach Clarence Seedorf to change his tactics.

Sacchi is open to Seedorf staying on next season.

“He has shown he has some ideas,” Sacchi said to Radio 2. “But there is a great deal of difference between talking and doing.

“He has managed to achieve some decent results, but his style of play has not always worked.

“In other words, if you want to create a rock band but you only have jazz artists at your disposal, it is a difficult task!”

 

Man City patience pleases Pellegrini

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the way his side waited for their scoring chances on Wednesday night.

The Eastlands outfit did not score until the 64th minute in their eventual 4-0 win over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium but once they did hit the back of the net, the floodgates opened.

Edin Dzeko turned the ball in from close range after he was found by Pablo Zabaleta before he slotted home the rebound in the 72nd minute when Samir Nasri’s effort had been saved by Brad Guzan for his fifth goal in three outings.

Substitute Stevan Jovetic grabbed a third for City in the 89th minute with a neat finish from a Yaya Toure pass before the Ivorian produced a stunning individual effort, racing at the Villa defenders, before firing beyond Guzan in injury-time to notch up City’s 100th goal of the campaign.

Despite their final 25 minutes being full of opportunities, City had to wait for those chances and the patient performance was certainly not lost on a proud Pellegrini.

“It was a very big test because it was not an easy game. We know that we had to win and I think the team played very, very well,” he told Sky Sports.

“We were very patient in the first half. They had just one chance to score.

“It is not easy to play against a team with 10 defenders but I spoke to the players and told them to continue the way they were going because I thought we were doing very well.

“I was absolutely sure that we were going to score and now we have to win our last game to win the title.”

City now need to avoid defeat when West Ham United visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in order to lift the 2013/14 Premier League title.

 

Sacchi coy over Italy taking AC Milan striker Balotelli to World Cup

AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi refuses to fully back Mario Balotelli for Italy World Cup selection.

Sacchi was asked about Balotelli’s Brazil chances.

“Should Balotelli go to the World Cup? The great players show their personality, their reliability and their professionalism.

“If Balotelli ticks those boxes, he should go.”