According to daily Express, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will reportedly be sacked if he doesn’t get the club into the Champions League this season – but it would cost him.
United sit eighth in the Premier League after 12 matches, already 12 points behind leaders Manchester City. It comes after a 3-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday in which the Red Devils were outplayed throughout.
Mourinho’s side have already lost four Premier League matches this season and sit behind AFC Bournemouth and Watford in the table. They are seven points off Tottenham who occupy the last Champions League place in fourth spot.
Mourinho has been under constant pressure this season following a poor start which has also seen the club knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship outfit Derby.
And the Sun now report that United chiefs are willing to wield the axe if Mourinho doesn’t get the Old Trafford side into the top four. It’s claimed that the former Chelsea boss knows Champions League football is critical to Manchester United.
And it’s believed Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up to replace Mourinho at the Theatre of Dreams. Should Mourinho be sacked, it would cost him a year on his contract.
The 55-year-old signed a new deal at Old Trafford earlier this year, keeping him at the club until 2020. But the Sun also claim that a sacking would cost Mourinho one year of his salary at £15million. Mourinho’s style has regularly been criticised at Manchester United, often opting for a defensive tactic.
Lionel Messi snubbed for 2018 Ballon d’Or
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will both miss out on the Ballon d’Or award, it has been claimed.
Ronaldo and Messi, of Juventus and Barcelona respectively, have both won the Ballon d’Or between them every year since 2007.
However, journalist Eric Macruth – who works for French radio station RFI, claims both players have missed out on the award.
And it is Luka Modric, of Real Madrid, who will win the prize and end both Ronaldo and Messi’s dominance of the accolade.
“Exclusive #BallondOr: After counting half the votes, the head trio is as follows: 1) Modric 2) @raphaelvarane 3 @KMbappe. @xbarretfoot @RFIRadioFoot Info @RFIsports,” he tweeted.
Barcelona wages
Barcelona spend a staggering £424million (€487m) per-year on wages – that’s higher than any other club in European football.
Barcelona’s financial figures for the 2017/18 season show a 43 per cent increase on last seasons total – with £38m (€44m) of that figure down to bonuses, as reported by the The Swiss Ramble on Twitter.
They spend £80m than rivals Real Madrid, £150m more than Manchester United and £167m more than Pep Guardiola’s star-studded Manchester City.
Lionel Messi accounts for 15 per cent of that outlay with his £500k-a-week wages, while Philippe Coutinho (£200k) and Luis Suarez (£290k) are the next highest earners.
The top providers in the English premier league
Premier League superstars have settled into a rhythm for the season, with some players standing above the crowd to rack up eye-catching statistics.
For almost every top flight strike that sails beyond the goalkeeper, there’s a creative maestro providing the ammunition.
But who are the most prolific assist kings in the Premier League so far in 2018/19?
Manchester City stars dominate the top five, but none of Pep Guardiola’s squad rank in the top spot.
Chelsea are represented twice in the elite group, with Eden Hazard in terrific form and a fringe player also in the mix.
Arsenal also have a duo among the top assist-makers but neither star is Mesut Ozil despite his reputation.
Watford, Bournemouth and Burnley players are all included in the list with strong numbers of assists.
Take a look below to reveal the Premier League 2018/19 assists chart after 12 games.
Premier League 2018/19 assists table
Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) – 4
Luciano Vietto (Fulham) – 4
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) – 4
Raul Jimenez (Wolves) – 4
Jose Holebas (Watford) – 4
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – 4
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) – 4
Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford) – 4
Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley) – 4
Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) – 4
Sergio Aguero (Man City) – 4
Raheem Sterling (Man City) – 5
MORE FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Liverpool are ready to make a club record £85m bid in January for Barcelona’s French World Cup winning winger Ousmane Dembele, 21. (Sun)
Manchester United’s Spanish midfielders Juan Mata, 30, and Ander Herrera, 29, are both discussing new contracts at the clubs. The pair’s current deals expire in the summer. (Sky Sports)
Red Devils forward Alexis Sanchez, 29, is frustrated by the lack of playing time at Old Trafford and could seek a move away in January. (Evening Standard)
United manager Jose Mourinho is ready to sell Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 24, and Argentina international Marcos Rojo, 28, in order to bring in a new centre-back in January. (Telegraph – subscription required)
Tottenham are looking to make a £35m bid for Cagliari’s 21-year-old Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella. (Sun)
Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are ready to offer Wigan’s English attacking midfielder Nick Powell, 24, a pre-contract in January as his deal with the Championship club ends next summer. (TeamTalk)
Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund and Ligue 1 side Marseille are both interested in Arsenal’s 17-year-old midfielder Ben Cottrell. (Sun)
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