Category: Soccer

Liverpool 'will not pursue Timo Werner and have withdrawn from talks'

Liverpool ‘will NOT pursue Timo Werner and have withdrawn from talks for Red Bull Leipzig’s star striker… with club not willing to go above £30m given current financial uncertainty’

  • Timo Werner has a release clause at Red Bull Leipzig in the £50m region 
  • But Liverpool now value Werner at nearer to £30m due to the current climate 
  • As a result, the Reds will reportedly not pursue the 24-year-old this summer
  • Werner has previously spoken of his admiration for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Liverpool have reportedly withdrawn from talks for Red Bull Leipzig striker Timo Werner, due to a difference in valuation of the player. 

The 24-year-old, who has been one of Europe’s leading marksman this season, has a release clause in the £50m region.

However, due to the current financial instability caused by the coronavirus crisis, the Reds now value him at less than £30m in the market and due to the difference in price-range, Jurgen Klopp’s side won’t be pursuing Werner, according to The Mirror. 

Liverpool have reportedly withdrawn from talks for Red Bull Leipzig striker Timo Werner

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has held an interest in Werner but will not pursue the German

Statistics in all competitions according to Transfermarkt 

The report details that despite Klopp showing interest in working with the Germany international, and vice-versa, the transfer market has been flipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on football.

Liverpool do, according to the report, have a good relationship with RB Leipzig, but the difference of £20m plus in their valuations of Werner means a deal will not be reached in the coming months. 

On Wednesday night, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said as much: ‘It [Leipzig’s valuation of Werner] won’t get any cheaper. We will not sell a player below value if he is under contract for more than a year. 

RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff insists the club won’t sell Werner for anything less than £50m

‘In general, we always ask the question: can we replace a player if we sell him for less than his market value?’

The Reds have held a longstanding interest in the striker, who has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season. 

Werner, who recently labelled Klopp ‘the best coach in the world’, can now see out the remaining two years of his contract at the Red Bull Arena, or look for a move elsewhere – though Anfield was said to be his preferred destination. 

Werner is an out and out goalscorer and has netted 30 times for RB Leipzig this season

Inter Milan and Barcelona are also keeping an eye on Werner’s situation, though they too know business will be different this summer due to the pause of football and the affect this has had financially on clubs across Europe.  

Despite this news, Liverpool remain stocked with attacking talent, with Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri backups to lethal forward trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. 

Werner, meanwhile, failed to find the back of the net in Leipzig’s 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin on Wednesday, after scoring a hat-trick at the weekend against Mainz. 

Liverpool’s Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been lethal in the past few years




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Troy Deeney receiving abuse for concerns over football''s return

‘I saw people saying “I hope your son gets corona”’: Troy Deeney reveals abuse he has been receiving for expressing his concerns over football returning too soon

  • Troy Deeney has expressed his concerns about football returning too soon
  • The striker opted out of non-contact training due to COVID-19 health risks
  • Deeney has a five-month-old son, who has had breathing difficulties 
  • Watford are hopeful that their captain will return to training to finish the season
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Watford skipper Troy Deeney has had to deal with people wishing his baby son gets coronavirus after being targeted for expressing his concerns over football’s return.

Deeney has been absent from training since Watford and other Premier League clubs returned to non-contact sessions last week.

The forward’s concerns over potentially passing on Covid-19 to his five-month-old son, who has had breathing difficulties, came even before team-mate Adrian Mariappa and two other Hornets staff tested positive.

Troy Deeney has been vocal about his concerns over football returning too soon

But the 31-year-old found himself and his family in the firing line during Mental Health Awareness week.

‘I saw some comments in regards to my son, people saying: ‘I hope your son gets corona,” Deeney told CNN Sport. ‘That’s the hard part for me. If you respond to that, people then go: ‘Ah, we’ve got him’ and they keep doing it.

‘In a time where it’s all about mental health and everyone says ‘speak up, speak out, please speak’, Danny Rose spoke out and I spoke out and we just get absolutely hammered and battered for it.

‘So people see that and go ‘woah’ and it’s not just us that gets it, the missus gets direct messages and you’ll be walking down the street and people will be like: ‘Oh, I’m at work, you go back to work’.’  

Premier League clubs have voted unanimously for a return to contact training following Government approval and that step is set to take place this week. 

And Deeney accepts he will need to accept some risk.

Watford are confident their captain will make a return before the season restarts 

CNN reported he had been speaking to England’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, about the statistics which show people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by Covid-19.

‘He’s been doing very, very good research and there is a lot of goodwill on his part to tell me, ultimately, that I’m going to be looked after as best as they can and, ultimately, there is going to be some form of risk for all of us going back to work,’ Deeney said.

‘Lockdown and the social distancing measures coming down mean people will still always have risk.’


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Premier League agenda as all 20 clubs prepare for season-defining meeting

Premier League clubs will hold crunch talks on Thursday over a huge TV headache.

They face having to pay back £340million to broadcasters even if they finish the season and a staggering £762m if they cannot complete the 92 fixtures.

Premier League bosses are hoping to offset the huge potential costs with Sky, BT Sport and Amazon with a “strategy for rebate minimisation” and “enhancements” to the current broadcasting package.

That would mean more games, showing back-to-back games at weekends, Champions League style double headers in midweek plus discussions on dressing room access, half time interviews and extra camera angles in empty stadiums.

It is likely to be the most important item on the agenda for Thursday’s crunch meeting with the 20 clubs.

They will also look to set a return date with the Premier League originally wanting June 12 with managers pushing for June 26.

They could compromise on the weekend of June 20-21 with Sky set to show Tottenham's clash with Manchester United as their first live game back which could be on Friday June 19 – otherwise they will try to keep Fridays clear for the EFL.

The agenda, which has been seen by Mirror Sport , will also discuss stadiums with the Premier League hopeful games will be staged in their own stadiums but neutral grounds are still on the table.

Clubs are braced for the most important meeting in Premier League history.

The video session starts at 10.30am and is expected to drag out long into the afternoon with a back-up plan also on the agenda in case the season is curtailed.

The restart date is still a sticking point even after the clubs unanimously voted through phase two of contact training.

They fear that, after such a long lay-off, they will need more time to get match fit.

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Newcastle open talks with Philippe Coutinho as Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal register interest

Newcastle have reportedly begun negotiations with Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho and they lead a host of Premier League rivals who are all vying for his signature.

Coutinho is set to return to Barcelona at the end of the season after a 12-month loan spell at Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian did not do enough to convince the Bundesliga side to trigger the purchase clause in the contract.

Barcelona will turn to the Premier League in a bid to offload the midfielder this summer.

And Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claim Newcastle are leading the pack and have already made contact with the 27-year-old.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are all said to have registered their interest.

Magpies owner Mike Ashley is closing in on a £300million sale of the club to a group of wealthy Saudi Arabia investors led by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

If the takeover goes through then heavy investment is expected to help Newcastle challenge at the top of the table.

And the potential new owners have apparently identified former Liverpool playmaker Coutinho as the ideal star to take them to the next level.

It was thought a move to St James’ Park would only materialise if ex-Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is brought in to replace Steve Bruce.

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  • Valtteri Bottas opens doors for Vettel to join Lewis Hamilton

But Mundo Deportivo claim Coutinho would still be open to joining Newcastle if Rafael Benitez returns to the helm, as has been suggested this week.

Meanwhile, Leicester have also been linked with a move for Coutinho as Brendan Rodgers managed the midfielder during their time together at Liverpool.

But the Northern Irishman ruled out a reunion with the Barca star.

“I’ve seen lots of speculation around young Phil,” Rodgers told the Eamonn and the Gaffers podcast.

“I don’t think… Philippe’s a wonderful player, a brilliant talent.

“But he would be someone who is way out of our price bracket.

“The market I feel is going to be very difficult this year, this coming summer.

“It’s one where we have discussions but there’s certainly nothing concrete at this stage.”

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Liverpool PULL PLUG on Timo Werner transfer and end talks with RB Leipzig striker

Liverpool have reportedly refused to pay Timo Werner’s £52million release clause and withdrawn from negotiations with RB Leipzig. The Reds were closing in on an agreement before the coronavirus outbreak.

But Liverpool’s finances have been hit hard by the lack of revenue in the last two months while matches have been postponed.

Werner has flirted with the prospect of moving to Anfield next summer and will have only done his hopes well by netting a hat-trick against Mainz at the weekend.

However, the Mirror claim Liverpool will stand firm and pay no more than £30m at the end of the season.

A similar stance is being undertook by the Bundesliga club as they will not drop their valuation below £50m.

That means talks have hit an impasse and Liverpool will no longer pursue the forward this year.

Transfers are expected to be heavily affected by the global pandemic as fees are set to drop in the next window.

Clubs will have much less money to spend given the lack of matches played over recent months.

However, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff insists his side do not need to recoup any cash by flogging their top stars on the cheap.

“It won’t get any cheaper,” the chief said of Werner. “We will not sell a player below value if he is under contract for more than a year.

READ MORE

  • Valtteri Bottas opens doors for Vettel to join Lewis Hamilton

“In general, we always ask the question: can we replace a player if we sell him for less than his market value?”

Meanwhile, Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has recently admitted his star is considering walking away from the club.

“He is in a good mood, feels good and trains well,” Nagelsmann told Sport Bild.

“I do not have the impression that he is carrying a large cross with him. But he is a young guy who is sure to sit at home with his girlfriend and ponder whether he will stay or change.

“When the question is in the room, you are always a little bit somewhere else. It was no different for me than when in Hoffenheim, it was about whether I go away.

“It is more obvious with strikers, because then there are phases in which they do not score.”

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Premier League: Four more positive cases after third round of coronavirus testing

Four more people from three Premier League clubs have tested positive for coronavirus after the third round of testing.

There were 1,008 tests carried out on Monday and Tuesday – and a fourth round will take place on Thursday and Friday, with up to 60 people from each club to be tested.

  • PL clubs approve return to contact training
  • Nev: Plan June 19 restart, players will be fit

It is not yet known whether the four new positive tests are players, non-playing staff, or a combination of both – or whether any of the positives are from people who tested positive in the first round and who have returned after self-isolating for seven days.

A statement read: “The Premier League can today confirm that on Monday 25 May and Tuesday 26 May, 1,008 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19.

“Of these, four have tested positive from three clubs.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.

“Previously, between 19-22 May, 996 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19, of which two tested positive from two clubs.

“Some 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19 on 17-18 May, with six testing positive from three clubs.

“For the fourth round of testing, the number of tests available to each club will be increased from 50 to 60.”

COVID-19 impact on football

March 5 – Pre-match handshakes banned in the Premier League.
March 11 – Man City v Arsenal is first Premier League game suspended; Liverpool v Atletico Madrid the last top level game played in England.
March 12 – Man Utd, Wolves play away Europa League ties behind closed doors, Rangers host Bayer Leverkusen in front of fans.
March 13 – Football suspended following an emergency meeting between PL, FA, EFL and WSL
April 15 – SPFL clubs approve plan to end the Scottish Championship, League One and league Two seasons.
May 15 – League Two clubs vote to end the season with immediate effect.
May 17 – Premier League players and staff tested for COVID-19.
May 18 – Scottish Premiership curtailed, with points per game determining league positions and Celtic named champions.
May 19 – Premier League clubs return to socially distanced group training.
May 25 – Women’s Super League cancelled, with title and relegation to be determined.
May 27 –Premier League clubs vote to resume contact training.

The next set of testing will be the first to be conducted when at least some of the Premier League clubs have resumed contact training, which was unanimously approved on Wednesday.

No matches have been played in the Premier League since March, but the government has given the go-ahead for elite sport to resume from June 1.

And the return of contact training is seen as a major step towards a possible resumption of the Premier League next month.

Clubs will meet again on Thursday to discuss the broader details of how what has been dubbed Project Restart might take shape – including contingency talks on how curtailment of the season would look, if it is not deemed safe to resume.

Premier League clubs approve contact training

Premier League clubs voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a return to contact training, in another significant step towards the resumption of matches “when safe to do so”.

The significance of contact training is that it’s the single biggest step towards the resumption of matches.

Throughout the pandemic there have been concerns raised about the risks associated with training and what it takes for coronavirus to be transmitted on the pitch.

If there is no spike in positive tests, with fewer negative results over more tests, it will give the authorities, and clubs, the confidence that it will be safe to resume competitive games next month.

If everything goes to plan with contact training, a third vote, on a specific date, is expected in due course.

Read more here about the return of contact training and what it means for the Premier League season

Contingency plans to be discussed on Thursday

Thursday is another important day for the Premier League. That is when all other aspects of Project Restart will be discussed, including the league’s contingency plans on relegation, the issue of the use of points-per-game, and the award of the Premier League title, if the season has to be curtailed.

Analysis: 12 positive tests but 12 different people?

Analysis by Bryan Swanson, Chief Reporter, Sky Sports News

“Four positive results out of just over 1,000 tests in the third round of testing only tells us half a story.

“There have been 12 positive results since testing has been published this month.

“But we don’t yet know whether these new results include any of the six people who tested positive in the first round and have since returned from seven days in self-isolation.

“The figure is still relatively low so will provide further cautious optimism for the Premier League, only hours after the significant decision was made to resume contact training.

The figure is still relatively low so will provide further cautious optimism for the Premier League, only hours after the significant decision was made to resume contact training.

Bryan Swanson, Chief Reporter, Sky Sports News

“These latest results again demonstrate that coronavirus is not widespread in all 20 clubs at the moment, at least not among an average of 50 people tested per club in the third round.

“Crucially, there has been no cluster of positive results in one club.

“The fact there are four positive tests must be taken seriously and those individuals must self-isolate for seven days before they take a further COVID-19 test.

“They cannot attend the training ground and three clubs will want to establish what contact those individuals had with other people, in particular in the same household.

“In theory, they should have not have come into close contact with anyone outside their household since March, under the government’s social distancing rules.

“It is important to highlight there have been 2,740 negative results in the first three rounds, around 99.5 per cent.

“Up to 60 people from each club will now be tested from the next round, twice a week, in line with an agreement to resume contact training.

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Livingston keeper Gary Maley to donate wages to charity after joke poll

A light-hearted Twitter poll allowing fans to decide whether Livingston should give their third-choice goalkeeper a new contract has ended up raising money for a children’s charity.

With a regular job at a civil engineering company, and the COVID-19 pandemic making it a difficult time for clubs, 37-year-old part-timer Gary Maley had offered to stand down, so his salary could pay for a younger player.

But the Scottish Premiership club decided instead to “put it in the hands of fans”, regarding whether to offer ‘Stretch’ an extension.

📋| Quite possibly a football first but we’re giving you the chance to decide on the future of goalkeeper @Maley1Gary.

With his contract expiring next month, we’re leaving it in the hands of the fans as to whether or not we offer “Stretch” an extension.

Stay or go – you decide!

“Stay or go – you decide!” the poll declared.

Assistant manager David Martindale, best man at the goalkeeper’s wedding, joined in by promising a pound to charity for every vote – only to find more than 190,000 votes had been cast by Wednesday!

Some fans expressed shock that the club would put a player’s future out to a vote – but Maley has confirmed he was in on the stunt.

It’s time to hang your gloves up big fella, you had a good run at it. Scott McDonald penalty save at Tannadice a glorious high in your career, the only high tbf. Take care but we have to move on 👍🏻👍🏻⚽️⚽️

He is a contracts director for civil engineering firm GGK Contracts and said: “Davie (Martindale) told me to come and look at a couple of issues that I could get my guys to fix with the drainage in the dressing room.

“He mentioned my contract and I said ‘look, give it to one of the kids, I am 37, I am nearly done’.

“He said ‘we will have a bit of fun with it, have a laugh, we will put up a vote on Twitter’.

“Davie said he would put a pound in per vote for charity, thinking we would get 500 votes.

“Obviously it escalated something ridiculous and Davie soon withdraw that offer!

“It was really meant as a joke and a bit of fun. I am part-time at football, it’s something I enjoy but I have a day job.

“It looks as though I’m going to win the vote and extend my deal but I said I will donate the next two months’ wages to charity and Davie will match that.

“It is all for a good cause. It is for the John O’Byrne Foundation, which helps really ill children.

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Liverpool stars handed boost as Premier League gives contact training go ahead

Liverpool stars ramped up their training regime on Wednesday after the Premier League confirmed that full contact will now be allowed.

The Premier League champions elect recently returned to training at Melwood but were adhering to strict guidelines put in place to ensure safety – one of which was maintaining social distancing protocols.

Jurgen Klopp's side are just a matter of points away from sealing a first top-flight title in 30 years.

And they seemed in the mood at Melwood as the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana all appeared in high spirits during a session in the Merseyside sunshine.

The session came after the Reds and their fellow Premier League clubs voted unanimously to resume contact training, as 'Project Restart' took a giant step forwards.

After starting with small, socially-distanced training sessions, players and managers from the 20 top-flight clubs were briefed on proposals for the reintroduction of contact training on Wednesday.

The matter was voted on the following day by Premier League shareholders and has been given the green light as a mid-June return edges closer.

In a statement, the league said: "Premier League shareholders today voted unanimously to resume contact training, marking another step towards restarting the Premier League season, when safe to do so.

"Squads are now able to train as a group and engage in tackling while minimising any unnecessary close contact.

"The Premier League's priority is the health and wellbeing of all participants.

"Strict medical protocols are in place to ensure the training ground is the safest environment possible and players and staff will continue to be tested for Covid-19 twice a week.

"Stage Two of the Return to Training protocol has been agreed following consultation with clubs, players, managers, the PFA, LMA and the Government.

"Discussions are ongoing as work continues towards resuming the season, when conditions allow."

Liverpool are 25 points clear of second-place Manchester City having played a game more.

Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.

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Newcastle star urged to snub transfer amid £300m takeover and spending spree

Newcastle star Jonjo Shelvey has been urged to snub a move away from St James’ Park by Paul Robinson. The former Premier League goalkeeper says the midfielder could be part of something special at Newcastle as their £300m takeover draws closer.

Shelvey has been linked with a switch to West Ham ahead of the summer transfer window.

Hammers boss David Moyes is said to be an admirer of the 28-year-old.

However, Robinson says Shelvey should stay put with Newcastle’s takeover drawing closer.

When asked whether Shelvey should join West Ham, Robinson told Football Insider: “I think it could be a great time to be part of things at Newcastle. He should at least give himself the opportunity to be part of things.

DON’T MISS: Newcastle takeover in serious doubt with £300m move under threat

“West Ham’s future is far from sealed at the moment. If the league is to be restarted they have got a real perilous set of fixtures.

“If they were to be relegated then it is a different proposition for Jonjo Shelvey.

“Does he want to be part of a Newcastle that are heading in the right direction if the takeover was to happen or does he want to end up in the Championship with West Ham?

“It will be very dependent on the end of the season.”

Newcastle fans are hoping their £300m takeover is completed in the coming days.

READ MORE

  • Man Utd chief Ed Woodward identifies Jadon Sancho transfer alternative

Toon owner Mike Ashley has agreed to sell the club to PCP Capital Partners, an organisation backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

However, it emerged on Tuesday night that a new court ruling could scupper the deal.

The World Trade Organisation ruled Saudi Arabia is behind a pirate satellite TV and streaming service, leaving the takeover in jeopardy.

They ruled the Saudi government is behind beoutQ, which offers illegal streams to sporting events, including Premier League games.

The likes of Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League, La Liga have tried to take action against beoutQ, however, the copyright cases were unsuccessful.

READ MORE

  • Man Utd fans convinced Jadon Sancho transfer is done

Following the claims, a subsequent case was taken to the WTO, who ruled Saudi Arabia is in breach of international law.

The ruling could see Newcastle’s proposed new owners fail the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test.

Newcastle were tipped to splash the cash in the summer transfer window if their takeover was completed.

The Toon had been backed to sign Barcelona ace Philippe Coutinho, Gareth Bale of Real Madrid and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

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RB Leipzig boss admits Werner is pondering future amid Liverpool interest

RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann admits Timo Werner is considering his future as links with Liverpool continue.

The German striker has enjoyed his most impressive season to date scoring 30 times for the Bundesliga outfit.

Leipzig have again challenged for the title and made the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time.

Werner has been crucial to that success and has attracted Premier League interest with Liverpool thought to be heading the queue.

And Naglesmann is aware that the 24-year-old has a decision to make, but does not think it has been affecting his performances.

“He is in a good mood, feels good and trains well,” the Leipzig boss told SportBild.

“I do not have the impression that he is carrying a large cross with him. But he is a young guy who is sure to sit at home with his wife and ponder whether he will stay or change.

“When the question is in the room, you are always a little bit somewhere else. It was no different for me than when in Hoffenheim, it was about whether I go away.

“It is more obvious with strikers, because then there are phases in which they do not score.”

Werner scored a hat-trick at the weekend as Leipzig put five past Mainz.

That was a week after he'd failed to find the back of the net on the Bundesliga's return.

Liverpool themselves are considering adding more attacking players with speculation continuing over the futures of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Both have been linked with moves elsewhere which has led to the interest in Werner.

The German's style also lends itself to the system employed by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

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