Deco defends Ronaldo: Unstable Real Madrid are struggling, not him

What does the future hold for Manchester United star Paul Pogba?

Out of form and out of favour, Pogba has found himself out of the starting line-up this season and the Frenchman is not happy.

Could Pogba be prepared to wait for his perfect move away?

TOP STORY – POGBA EYEING EXIT

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could leave Old Trafford on a free transfer, according to The Athletic.

Pogba left United for Juventus on a free transfer in 2012 before returning to Manchester for a then-world record €105million (£89.3m) in 2016.

But the France international is unhappy at the Theatre of Dreams, where he is contracted until 2022, amid links with former club Juve and LaLiga champions Real Madrid.

ROUND-UP…

Luka Jovic was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Wednesday, and Los Blancos new striker is one of the headline names taking part in the Under-21 European Championship.

The tournament starts on Sunday, with Poland taking on Belgium before hosts Italy face Spain; Jovic s first taste of the competition will come when Serbia play against Austria in Group B on Monday.

But Jovic is not the only young star who is looking to shine at this event, with Manchester City s Phil Foden likely to be a key cog in England s midfield, while Sandro Tonali is one of Italy s brightest prospects.

And, ahead of the tournament, we have taken a look at the main players who will be looking to make an impact for each side.

Who s winning the   this year?

— UE…

Bruno Fernandes penalty sent Manchester United level on points with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League as they edged Aston Villa 2-1 at Old Trafford.

A Villa side looking to move third in the table always promised to pose a tricky test for United and so it proved in an open encounter.

The visitors appeared to be in the ascendancy after Bertrand Traore s 58th-minute effort cancelled out Anthony Martial s first-half opener.

However, United s lead was re-established through Fernandes ninth Premier League penalty since the start of February 2020 his tally in that time two more than any other player.

And it was enough for United to further boost their title hopes, with only goal difference keeping Liverpool top of the pile.

+3pts for Man Utd <…

According to a recent report from Gianluca Di Marzio, Everton are contemplating heading into the market for a new midfielder during the January transfer window. The report indicates that their main target at this moment in time is none other than Southampton star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. 

The Danish midfielder is believed to be valued at around £35 million, but at this moment in time, they are reluctant to pay that kind of fee. He has been at the heart of Southampton’s recent resurgence in the Premier League which has seen them move to within just a few points of the top six. 

The Toffees are going in search of a few new faces before the window closes as Carlo Ancelotti attempts to turn this club’s fortunes around. While most of their work will begin in the summ…

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted his team will not be impacted by protests against the club s owners and the European Super League ahead of a defining week at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer s Red Devils were held to a 0-0 draw by rivals Leeds United in Premier League action at Elland Road on Sunday.

The pre-match build-up had been centred on the Super League controversy, which has fuelled an already negative view on Manchester United s owners – the Glazer family.

The breakaway competition, which sought to establish a closed-shop competition featuring 12 of the continent s elite clubs – including United – collapsed 48 hours after its launch, in the face of widespread opposition.

United fans have continued to protest against the Glazer…

Neymar has lauded Casemiro as the best midfielder in the world after the latter fired Brazil into the knockout rounds of the World Cup against Switzerland.

After sustaining an ankle injury in the Selecao s opening Group G match, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker was forced to watch his team s second match from their hotel.

In a cagey encounter, it was the Manchester United midfielder s late strike that earned Brazil a 1-0 win, and Neymar was succinctly effusive in his praise for his team-mate after the final whistle.

Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time, the forward simply wrote on Twitter after the match.

Casemiro é o melhor volante do mundo há muito tempo

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr)

Having left it late to s…

Xavi has told Ousmane Dembele to stop prevaricating and either sign a new Barcelona deal or find another club by the end of January.

According to Xavi, there is no alternative for the French forward, who has entered the final six months of his contract at Camp Nou.

Dembele has struggled since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for an initial €105million, and this month s transfer window could be a final chance for the club to recoup some of that outlay.

Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany told Dembele this week he must leave immediately , which prompted the 24-year-old to issue an angry riposte on social media.

I am not a man who cheats and even less a man who has a habit of giving in to blackmail, Dembele wrote.

Barcelona are …

Real Madrid are not contenders to win the Champions League this season, according to former player Hamit Altintop.

Madrid won three consecutive Champions League trophies under Zinedine Zidane between 2016 and 2018 but, without the Frenchman, exited to Ajax in the round of 16 last term.

Zidane is back at the Santiago Bernabeu with Madrid already guaranteed to finish second in Group A behind Paris Saint-Germain, while domestically Los Blancos are only behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona on goal difference.

Altintop spent the 2011-12 season with Madrid and the former Turkey international does not believe Madrid are cut out for Champions League success this term.

I don t think they are a championship contender, Altintop told Omnisport. I think you can compare th…

England captain Harry Kane will come back stronger from his penalty heartbreak against France, says Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris.

The Three Lions suffered a 2-1 loss in Saturday s keenly fought quarter-final tie, sending Gareth Southgate s side home from Qatar 2022 as Didier Deschamps men remained on course for a title defence.

Having converted an earlier spot-kick to level both the match and Wayne Rooney s all-time England goal record, Kane subsequently skied another penalty over the crossbar late on, missing the chance to make it 2-2.

Lloris, who has played with Kane at Tottenham for a decade now, says he has briefly spoken with his club colleague, and believes he will pick himself up in impressive fashion when the dust has settled.

I don t need to …

It all comes down to this.

Whether you re flying high at the top of your local leagues, battling for the top 100 nationally or just desperate not to lose face with friends, matchday 38 of the Premier League is a decisive moment for fantasy football players the world over.

Amid last-minute transfers, wildcards and triple-captaincies, it can be difficult to find true value in selections that could give you the edge over your rivals.

That s where we come in.

Using Opta data, we have compiled a final selection of seven recommended players to draft in for this most dramatic of weekends

MARTIN DUBRAVKA

If you were considering a Newcastle United goalkeeper but just didn t have the guts previously, now is the time to be bold.

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