Football News

Erik ten Hag has admitted that Manchester United signed Rasmus Hojlund last summer because they were unable to bring in Harry Kane. Hojlund joined United for £72million from Atalanta for £72million, with Kane signing for Bayern Munich from Tottenham for £100million. So far in his first season at United Hojlund has scored eight goals in 26 Premier League appearances, while Kane has found the net 35 times in 31 Bundesliga games for Bayern.

KIERAN GILL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: Ange Postecoglou could not contain his rage as he watched Tottenham crumble at Chelsea, admitting afterwards that they have bigger problems than being vulnerable from set-pieces. Postecoglou questioned the mindset of his players after a pitiful performance at Stamford Bridge with the Spurs boss as angry as we have seen him on the touchline. Despite being decimated by injuries, Chelsea capitalised on two set-piece opportunities with headers from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson inflicting a third consecutive Premier League loss on Tottenham, who now face a fight to finish fourth above Aston Villa.

Marcus Rashford is reportedly set to meet with Manchester United's new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership group for crunch 'showdown talks' over his future at Old Trafford.  Reports this week claimed that the Red Devils were set for a total overhaul of their first-team. The Telegraph had claimed that the club were open minded about which players could leave this summer, with Mail Sport also revealing that selling Rasford was an option.  The England forward has largely failed to live up to his 30-goal haul of last season, finding the back of the net just eight times accross all competitions this season. Rashford has also struggled with off-field issues too after he was spotted in a Belfast night club and subsequently missed training. 

ASTON VILLA 2-4 OLYMPIACOS - TOM COLLOMOSSE AT VILLA PARK: Villa's hopes of a first major continental trophy since 1982 were left hanging by a thread as Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick to help Olympiacos to victory. El Kaabi's double put Olympiacos in control and though Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby scored either side of half-time to bring Villa level, El Kaabi sealed a hat-trick from the spot and Santiago Hezze's deflected effort made it four. Douglas Luiz then missed a penalty leaving Villa with a huge task to overturn this in Athens next week and reach the Europa Conference League Final.

Graeme Souness believes that Mohamed Salah is one of the 'most selfish players' he has ever watched and has claimed that the Egyptian forward 'is leaving Liverpool' amid speculation he could be on his way out of Anfield. Doubts have been raised this week over whether Salah will stay at the Merseyside club past this summer, after the 31-year-old was embroiled in a touchline row with Jurgen Klopp during the Reds 2-2 draw away to West Ham on Saturday.  The outgoing manager had opted to rest Salah from the starting line up for that match - with Liverpool's attackers having struggled in front of goal during the Reds' title run-in. The 31-year-old forward, whose contract will expire in 2025, was seen speaking furiously with Klopp on the sideline before the Egyptian fanned the flames after the match, telling journalists: 'If I speak, there would be fire if'.

Ange Postecoglou was left fuming at his Tottenham players after a dismal first half perfroamnce against Chelsea.  After a north London derby defeat on the weekend, Tottenham were keen to respond in style against Mauricio Pochettino's side.  However, their poor start to the game was punished  when Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring to give Chelsea the lead. 

Prince William looked delighted as he took his place in one of the executive boxes at Villa Park on Thursday evening for Aston Villa's Europa Conference League semi-final clash against Greek visitors Olympiacos. The royal was seen actively engaging in conversations with those around him and pointed out various things happening inside the ground prior to kick-off before taking his seat.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen celebrating on the pitch at full-time, after his Olympiacos side hung on to seal a 4-2 victory against Aston Villa in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.  The shipping and media tycoon owns the Premier League club, Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave, and was spotted high-fiving visiting fans inside Villa Park after the Greek side survived a resurgence from Unai Emery's side.  On Thursday, Olympiacos put a huge dent in Villa's hopes of reaching their first European final in 42 years, after the visitors survived a resurgence from the home side to take a two goal advantage into the return leg. 

Will Still left his role as manager of Reims with immediate effect, the Ligue 1 side have announced.  The 31-year-old has impressed at the French side since he took on the role in 2022. Still met with Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot and general manager Mathieu Lacour on Thursday, where it was agreed he will not continue as head coach next season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (centre-right) dined out with his key advisors Sir Dave Brailsford (centre-left) and Jean-Claude Blanc on Wednesday night, with Man United's new hierarchy having signalled a mass squad overhaul this summer. Ratcliffe and his Ineos group have made significant changes since taking charge of football operations at Old Trafford, after the British billionaire bought a 27.7 per cent stake in the club. Brailsford, Ineos director of sport, has taken a key role a part of the new regime at Man United. Blanc was also present. The Frenchman is set to become United's interim CEO until July 13 after the club announced Patrick Stewart will leave at the end of the season.