Rumour Has It: Man City ready to offer improved new deal to Haaland to ward off rival interest

Erling Haaland has enjoyed a remarkably prolific start to life in England with Manchester City.

Ahead of Sunday s derby with Manchester United, Haaland has netted 14 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions for City since his off-season move.

The Norwegian joined City from Borussia Dortmund in June on a five-year contract, following interest from several top clubs.

TOP STORY – MAN CITY CONSIDERING IMPROVED HAALAND DEAL

It is only a few months into Erling Haaland s first Manchester City contract, but the English champions are ready to offer him a new and improved deal, reports the Daily Star.

City have gone early on revised contracts in the past to shore up key players before they become transfer targets for rivals and they will do the same w…

Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk vs VfL Wolfsburg

Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk to Win

Odds:

Bookmaker:

The UEFA Europa League gets underway on Wednesday evening as Shakhtar Donetsk host Wolfsburg, with a place in the competition s quarter-finals the prize for the victors.

Heading into the clash, it is the Ukranian side that are ahead, having established a 2-1 lead in the first leg at the Volkswagen Arena. They will hope to retain, or even add to that advantage, and reach a last-eight tie against either Basel or Eintracht Frankfurt.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Having dropped into UEFA s second tier continental competition from the UEFA Champions League, Luis Castro s men were probably one of the strongest in the competition. That was justified in the last round as they managed to overcome Portuguese gian…

Prediction: FC Utrecht vs Sparta Rotterdam

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker:

Two sides who will be looking to take a giant leap towards booking a Europa Conference League ticket, Utrecht will welcome Sparta Rotterdam to the Stadion Galgenwaard on Thursday night.

FC Utrecht

Starting with the hosts, while Utrecht might have found themselves at the heart of a wobble on either side of opening the New Year, Ron Jans’ men came roaring back in a hugely impressive fashion. Last seen mounting a sensational second-half comeback away at AZ Alkmaar as they eventually clawed back a 3-3 stalemate, the Cathedral Citizens lost just one of their final seven Eredivise appearances. However, despite gaining a reputation from across Holland’s elite for their success on home soil, the former Twente boss is calling on his squad …

Premier League data dive: KDB misses the mark as City-Liverpool stalemate leaves Leicester top

Another day of Premier League drama finished with Leicester City at the summit, unseating Tottenham while Liverpool were held.

Spurs had required a late winner at West Brom before the Foxes edged past Wolves, setting the stage for another mammoth meeting between Manchester City and the champions.

Sunday s action was not done there, though, as Aston Villa went to Arsenal and won in style.

Read on for the story of the day s play in our Opta-powered data dive.

 

West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: Kane leaves it late but keeps closing on the greats

Tottenham were made to wait at West Brom in the day s early game, but Harry Kane s 150th Premier League goal maintained their perfect away start to the season.

Spurs have now won each of their fir…

Mancini confident more is to come from Italy as Bonucci hails team spirit

Roberto Mancini has no doubt in his Italy side s ability to improve during Euro 2020, despite the Azzurri starting their campaign in emphatic fashion.

Italy beat Turkey 3-0 in Rome on Friday in the tournament s opening match – Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne scoring after Merih Demiral had put through his own net.

The Azzurri have won their last nine games, keeping a clean sheet in all of those encounters, while Mancini is closing in on Vittorio Pozzo s record of 30 games unbeaten, with his Italy team just two shy on 28.

They will be looking to increase those respective records on Wednesday, with Switzerland next up at the Stadio Olimpico. Indeed, a win would be enough to ensure Italy s progression from Group A.

The Turkey game was difficult, Manci…

West Ham United want to sign Jack Clarke from Sunderland

West Ham United are interested in signing Jack Clarke from Sunderland in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League club West Ham held talks with Championship outfit Sunderland over a January deal for Clarke, and that the London club are still keen on the former Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur winger.

Football Insider has reported that Sunderland are willing to sell Clarke, but the Black Cats are looking for more than £15 million in transfer fees for him. Clarke has turned down the offer of a new contract from Sunderland.

Clarke made 39 starts and one substitute appearance in the Championship for Sunderland last season. He scored 15 goals and gave four assists in those games. The 23-year-old English winger scored nine goals…

Premier League data dive: Solskjaer surely out of time after latest humiliation, Liverpool continue

Saturday provided no shortage of talking points as the Premier League returned after the international break.

Manchester United suffered another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Watford, and it will likely be one too humiliation too many for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

There was also a harsh dose of reality fed to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, as they were given a bruising by Liverpool at Anfield.

But two new managers began their respective tenures with victories, as Aston Villa and Norwich City each hope to enjoy a prolonged new manager bounce .

Below, Stats Perform looks through the pick of Saturday s Opta facts…

Watford 4-1 Manchester United: Writing s on the wall for Solskjaer

Another week, another humiliating defeat for United and Sol…

Holders Borussia Dortmund shocked by St Pauli in DFB-Pokal

Erling Haaland s penalty was not enough to rescue Borussia Dortmund as they crashed out of the DFB-Pokal following a shock 2-1 defeat by St Pauli.

The reigning champions  title defence came to an abrupt end at Millerntor-Stadion, where the 2. Bundesliga leaders claimed a memorable victory.

Dortmund arrived in the tie having netted five goals without reply in their opening two matches of this season s DFB-Pokal, defeating Wehen Wiesbaden 3-0 and Ingolstadt 2-0.

Meanwhile, only Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg had beaten them in this competition since 2011.

Our Pokal campaign comes to an end

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)

However, they fell behind to Etienne Amenyido s fourth-minute strike, while an Axel Witsel own goal dou…

Rooney reunites with ex-Man Utd midfielder Morrison at D.C. United

Wayne Rooney has moved to make former Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison his first international signing as D.C. United head coach.

Much-travelled Morrison scored four goals and assisted four more in 36 appearances playing under Rooney in the Championship last season.

A little over a week on from announcing the appointment of Rooney, who stepped down as Derby boss last month, United confirmed the arrival of free agent Morrison on Thursday.

The 29-year-old has signed for the MLS side until the end of the 2023 season, with the option of a further 12 months.

The full package

What is bringing to

— D.C. United (@dcunited)

Wayne worked closely with Ravel during his time as manager of Derby County, president of soccer ope…

Manchester United Women 4-0 Tottenham Women: Garcia double secures Red Devils´ first FA Cup triumph

Manchester United Women banished last year s FA Cup demons to lift the trophy for the first time in their history after smashing Tottenham Women 4-0 at Wembley Stadium.

United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea Women in the final of this competition last term but exacted revenge after Lucia Garcia scored twice in a comfortable win on Sunday.

Ella Toone s eye-catching strike in the first half set the tone before a goal for Rachel Williams and Garcia s double added gloss to a convincing scoreline, despite Beth England hitting the crossbar for Spurs.

We re shook.

— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen)

Marc Skinner s side dominated the opening half as Millie Turner saw a header cleared off the line by Martha Thomas, while Williams headed over.