Reports from Germany – following on similar stories in the British press last weekend – claim that Manchester United has bid $95 million for German international striker Thomas Muller. Louis van Gaal enjoys a close relationship with the player, whom he handed his Bayern Munich debut back in 2008, and is keen to test the Bavarian club’s resolve to hang onto one of their star men.
The Premier League has brought in a lot of players this offseason with plenty who show promise of filling the boots of those who have left England. Two players in particular, Jordan and Andre Ayew, are newcomers this year and are looking for anyway to put their names up in headlines. Just like the Toure or Wright-Phillips brothers before, the two Ayew brothers bring a sibling rivalry to the league that is one to watch for.
We were going to call this article “10 Things I Hate About Mou”, but decided it suggested a degree of familiarity with teenage rom coms that no grown man should admit to. So instead, in the week that Jose Mourinho publicly belittled his medical staff for doing their job and then heavily reduced team doctor Eva Carneiro’s role within the club for acknowledging some people on Facebook, The18 brings you the Portuguese’s 10 biggest dick moves of the last decade.
Arsenal fans were left shocked this past Saturday as West Ham defeated the title hopefuls 2-0 in the season opener. This was supposed to be Arsenal’s season; with a strong finish last season the Gunners were expected to continue where they left off. But instead, they looked flat and lacked any real sense of urgency.
Chelsea and Manchester City are highlighting matchday two in the Premier League and it will surely be a match not to miss. The two English giants have squads that would make anyone salivate over the sheer power and strength they share. Even the players themselves get nervous lining-up across the field from those who are considered the most elite in the sport, and Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany is looking for any possible way to stop Eden Hazard.
During the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Chelsea striker Diego Costa once again found himself as the center of the attention in the Blues' match against Swansea, as he was involved in two prominent penalty shouts while on the attack. He did not get either call and was quick to show just how upset he was that a penalty was not awarded. Which begs the question: is Diego Costa his own worst enemy at this point?
Aston Villa will host Manchester United this weekend in their first home opener match at Villa Park and will look for a second win despite many pivotal players leaving the club. At least Christian Benteke will start for Villa as a striker, right? As far as Neil Warnock is concerned, Tim Sherwood will play Benteke up front with Fabian Delph right behind him in central midfield.
With all the glee you’d expect from a British tabloid reporting a sex scandal, the Daily Mail broke the news yesterday that Miss Belgium “hopeful” Emily Vanhoutte claims to have had an affair with Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois shortly before last year’s World Cup.
The summer transfer window in England is usually syncopated by splashy arrivals at Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and/or either of the Manchester powerhouses. But with lucrative TV deals in place, clubs a little further down the Premier League table now have the resources to woo the most talented footballers to England.
Yaya Toure's second goal against West Brom Monday was nice, but he didn't get Manchester City's best goal of the week. That went to Toni Duggan, who became the first woman to win Manchester City's "Goal of the Season" award with this volley against Chelsea last year: