Holly Percival, Jacob Whitehead and more
March 25, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
March 25, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
That’s it for today
Join us again tomorrow as we bring you all the latest news from around football.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 25, 2022 at 4:26 PM EDT
Half-time in key Africa qualifers
Egypt are leading Senegal 1-0 through an own goal by Saliou Ciss, while Ghana and Nigeria remain goalless after the first 45 minutes.
Follow all the action here.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 25, 2022 at 4:06 PM EDT
And then there were four…
Here’s a reminder of the big news we broke earlier today. Read Matt Slater’s story by clicking on the link below.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March Madness update: ladies & gentlemen, here’s your Final Four for Chelsea….
? Team Boehly
? Harris/Blitzer & friends
? Stephen Pagliuca & Bain
? The Ricketts & Ken GriffinA winner to emerge by end of Aprilhttps://t.co/9y08PBqxTs
— Matt Slater (@mjshrimper) March 25, 2022
March 25, 2022 at 3:34 PM EDT
Listen to the latest The View from the Lane
Join Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Maw and Danny Kelly as they discuss all things Tottenham Hotspur.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 25, 2022 at 2:53 PM EDT
BREAKING: Boehly, Blitzer and Harris, Ricketts family, and Pagliuca shortlisted for Chelsea takeover
Raine has shortlisted bids from Todd Boehly, David Blitzer and Josh Harris, the Ricketts family and Boston Celtics owner Stephen Pagliuca as the four candidates to take over Chelsea.
The Athletic reported on Thursday night that Nick Candy and Woody Johnson were out of the race to buy Chelsea.
And now it is understood that the Raine Group has shortlisted the final four bids.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Matt Slater·
Football Writer
March 25, 2022 at 2:06 PM EDT
Listen to the latest Talk of the Devils podcast
Manchester United fans can stay up to date with the club’s managerial search by listening to the latest episode of Talk of the Devils.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 25, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
Follow our live blog on Ghana vs Nigeria and Egypt vs Senegal
Click here if you want to be kept updated on tonight’s big 2022 World Cup qualifying games in Africa.
Rivals Ghana and Nigeria meet at 7:30pm while there is a repeat of the Africa Cup of Nations final at the same time.
Both games are likely to be thrilling so follow the updates right here on The Athletic.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 25, 2022 at 12:57 PM EDT
Special report: Guendouzi is Arsenal’s past, but what about Saliba?
Guendouzi and Saliba are two hugely promising young players, both part of Didier Deschamps’ most recent France squad.
Both players are technically on loan from Arsenal, although there is a tacit acknowledgement on both sides of the channel that Guendouzi will remain in Provence and not return to north London.
The midfielder’s loan arrangement came with an obligatory purchase clause in the region of €11 million (£9.2 million), provided certain on-field criteria were met. That deal will be formally completed in the summer.
Guendouzi, then, appears to belong to Arsenal’s past.
Many Arsenal fans hope that Saliba could yet belong to their future.
So what is the situation? James McNicholas reports.
Jacob Whitehead
GO FURTHER
Special report: Guendouzi is Arsenal’s past, but what about Saliba?
March 25, 2022 at 12:41 PM EDT
Explained: Liverpool’s £8.5 million NFT sale and why people view it as controversial
Liverpool could earn more than £8.5 million from non-fungible token (NFT) sales after becoming the latest sports team to venture into the complex world of digital assets.
In an announcement on Thursday that quickly attracted scorn on social media, the club said the “LFC Heroes Club” will give fans the opportunity to purchase animated, cartoon-style digital artwork of 23 players and manager Jurgen Klopp.
So why are some fans unhappy? Caoimhe O’Neill and Joey D’Urso explain.
Jacob Whitehead
GO FURTHER
Explained: Liverpool’s £8.5 million NFT sale and why people view it as controversial
March 25, 2022 at 12:13 PM EDT
NEWS: Eden Hazard a doubt to face Chelsea as Real Madrid forward undergoes surgery
Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard is a doubt to face Chelsea as he is planning to have surgery on his leg.
He will have a plate removed in his right leg, which was implanted after the 31-year-old broke his ankle in March 2020.
Madrid travel to reigning champions Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals on April 6.
A club statement read: “In the coming days, our player, Eden Hazard, will undergo surgery to remove the osteosynthesis plate in his right fibula.”
Full story here.
(Photo: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 25, 2022 at 9:48 AM EDT
Smiles and sun at St Georges Park
The England team are training hard at St Georges Park ahead of their friendly against Switzerland on Saturday.
The weather would have me smiling from ear to ear too!
Holly Percival·
Junior Editor, News
March 25, 2022 at 8:57 AM EDT
West Ham make donations to nine animal welfare charities after £250,000 Kurt Zouma fine
West Ham United have made donations to nine animal welfare charities after fining Kurt Zouma £250,000 after the defender was filmed kicking and slapping his pet cat last month.
A video obtained by The Sun last month showed Zouma, 27, dropping the cat from chest-height, and kicking it as it lands. He then chased it around the living room, at one point throwing a pair of shoes at the cat, before slapping it in the face.
Zouma faces an RSPCA prosecution alongside his brother Yoan, who filmed the video, under the Animal Welfare Act.
To read the full story, click here.
Holly Percival·
Junior Editor, News
March 25, 2022 at 8:34 AM EDT
NEWS: FA lift blackout to allow Manchester City vs Liverpool semi-final to be shown at 3.30pm on Saturday
The FA will lift English football’s 3pm blackout to allow Manchester City and Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final to be shown on television in the United Kingdom at 3.30pm, The Athletic understands.
The game was set for 3.30pm by the FA. Due to the Easter weekend schedule and FA Cup postponements, only three Premier League games, and no Championship, League One or League Two matches, will kick-off at 3pm.
This means they have lifted the blackout.
Holly Percival·
Junior Editor, News
March 25, 2022 at 8:19 AM EDT
Italy FA chief Gravina backs Mancini to continue as manager despite missing out on World Cup
Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina has thrown his support behind Roberto Mancini to continue as manager despite missing out on a place at the World Cup following their shock defeat to North Macedonia.
The 1-0 defeat on Thursday night knocked Italy out of the European play-offs. This is the first time Italy have failed to qualify for successive tournaments — two humiliations bookending their Euro 2020 win.
“I hope Mancini continues with us,” said Gravina. “He has a commitment with us for this project, I hope he can shake off this elimination just like all the Italians and that he remains at the helm to continue our work together.”
Holly Percival·
Junior Editor, News