Ademola Lookman was criticised by his own manager after Atalanta’s Champions League exit (AFP via Getty) Ademola Lookman has called Gian Piero Gasperini ‘deeply disrespectful’ after the Atalanta head coach branded the forward ‘one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen’ following the club’s Champions League exit. Atalanta needed to overturn a 2-1 defeat to Club Brugge in the second leg of their Champions League play-off on Tuesday night but ended up losing 3-1 at home to the Belgian side. Lookman pulled a goal back for Atalanta early in the second half but then missed from the penalty spot as his effort was saved by Simon Mignolet. Speaking after…

Mohamed Salah’s future remains up in the air (Picture: Getty Images) Robbie Fowler has warned Liverpool that it will be a sad day if Mohamed Salah leaves at the end of the season and they will be a poorer team for it. The 32-year-old is having yet another brilliant season for the Reds, with 28 goals to his name in all competitions and leading the Premier League goal-scoring charts. The Egyptian has taken his tally to 239 Liverpool goals in 385 games and shows little sign of slowing down, despite turning 33 in June. However, there is the very real prospect that he will leave the club on a free…

Hugo Ekitike is attracting strong interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham (Picture: Getty) Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Hugo Ekitike and could test Eintracht Frankfurt’s resolve with a bid to sign the striker in the summer transfer window. Ekitike’s goalscoring exploits as a youngster with Reims convinced Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain to part with €35million (£29m) for the forward’s services in 2023. But Ekitike struggled to make a significant impact in the first half of last season under Luis Enrique and the attacker joined Eintracht Frankfurt – initially on loan – with a view to boosting his first-team minutes. A return of four goals in 14 league…

Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season (Getty) Raphael Varane admits he was surprised by Marcus Rashford’s decision to leave Manchester United and join Aston Villa in the January transfer window. Rashford had attracted interest from several clubs last month including AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona but ended up joining Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. Varane, who ended his playing career in September, spent three seasons alongside Rashford at United and feels the 27-year-old has made a ‘positive’ step by leaving United. However, the World Cup-winning defender says he expected Rashford to move to a team outside of the…

Ethan Nwaneri has starred for Arsenal in recent weeks (Picture: Getty Images) Ethan Nwaneri is quickly becoming a hero to Arsenal fans, but it could all have been very different as Manchester City tried to sign him in 2023. The 17-year-old has been thoroughly impressive this season as he has been given more regular opportunities to shine during Arsenal’s injury struggles. The versatile forward has made 15 Premier League appearances this season, four of which have come in the starting XI, and scored three goals. He also netted three times in the Gunners’ Carabao Cup campaign and has scored his first Champions League goal as he becomes a fixture in…

Ruben Amorim is in the midst of a mounting injury crisis (Credits: Alamy Live News.) Louis Saha has urged Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim to consider signing Paul Pogba. The Red Devils are in the midst of a mounting injury crisis that forced their beleagured manager to load his substitutes’ bench with untested teenagers against Tottenham on Sunday. Amad Diallo was, perhaps, the most high-profile absentee against Spurs after he sustained an ankle injury in training that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. The Ivory Coast interatnational was joined on the treatment table by Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer, while Leny Yoro and Christian…

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has huge admiration for Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala (Picture: Getty) Lamine Yamal has named Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala as his dream signing for Barcelona in the summer transfer window. The 17-year-old Barcelona winger has enjoyed an extraordinary level of success since making his debut for the Catalan giants in August 2023, aged just 15. In that time, Yamal has established himself as a key player for both club and country, playing an instrumental role last season as Barca finished runners-up in La Liga before inspiring Spain to Euro 2024 glory. The teenage sensation has picked up where he left off this term, racking up five…

Real have one foot in the last 16 (Picture: Visionhaus) Manchester City have it all to do in the Spanish capital when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight. One of the European giants will be eliminated with the other heading into Friday’s last 16 stage draw. And unless there is a miracle in Madrid this evening, City’s European campaign will be coming to a very early end. Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to a 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday but the memories that harrowing home defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s side last week will still linger. Despite leading with five minutes left on the clock at…

Phil Jones did not enjoy his tussles with Luis Suarez (Picture: Getty Images) Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones remembers ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez driving him insane during their Premier League battles. Jones was playing regularly for the Red Devils while the Uruguayan was at his devastating best for the Reds from 2011-14. Suarez scored 23 Premier League goals in the 2012-13 season and then 31 the following campaign before leaving Anfield for Barcelona. The England international admits that the controversial forward was a nightmare to deal with in almost every way. Recalling his toughest opponent in the top flight, Jones told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: ‘In the…

Takehiro Tomiyasu has played just six minutes of football this season for Arsenal (Picture: Getty) Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone knee surgery and released an emotional statement confirming details of the injury that has limited him to just one appearance for Arsenal this season. The Japan international missed the start of the current campaign following a setback he suffered on the club’s pre-season tour of America. Tomiyasu returned to action in early October and featured as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Southampton. The 26-year-old hasn’t featured since, however, with Arsenal providing few details on his absence or a potential comeback date. Taking to Instagram, the versatile defender has…