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Gossip: Arsenal 'target Man Utd No 2 Faria as manager', Chelsea 'get Sarri boost', Fonseca 'snubs Everton'
Managers. Can’t live with them; can’t live without them, as my wife says. And today’s papers are full of stories about football teams who are simultaneously plotting bitter divorces and passionate new relationships.
Arsenal, emerging from a 22-year marriage where sexy football had become a distant memory, are getting more excited than anyone about the prospect of meeting someone new. Dazzled by the array of eligible guys on the market, the Sun says they have drawn up a “14-man shortlist” to replace Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners have reportedly designed a template for an “elegant” manager who will “put the club’s interests ahead of their own” – and fitting the bill is a selfless Portuguese hunk who enjoys an intimate relationship with Jose Mourinho. It’s Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria.
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The 42-year-old former fitness coach has worked with Mourinho since 2001 but he “harbours managerial ambitions of his own”.
Although he would represent something of a leftfield choice, the Sun points out that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke has “hired rookie coaches at all three of his US sporting franchises”. So what could possibly go wrong?
The Sun also has a sensational story about Arsenal signing centre-back Toby Alderweireld from rivals Tottenham in the most explosive north London transfer story since the days of Sol Campbell effigies. But the article is based entirely on some quotes Perry Groves gave to a betting website, so it lacks a certain gravitas.
Sarri and Conte set for job swap
Another club nearing a messy separation with its manager is Chelsea, but the Blues have been given a boost in their search for a spunky new fella after No 1 target Maurizio Sarri hinted he is set to leave Napoli.
After seeing his side’s Serie A title hopes fade over the weekend, thereby handing a probable seventh successive championship to Juventus, the 59-year-old complained that Italian football is boring.
Sarri laments in the Mirror: “The Premier League has this constant alternation of winners every year, but it’s a different situation in Italy. The risk is that we’ll lose many fans, because they cheer on teams that will never win. The only hope is that, in life, everything has to end sometime!”
He sounds pretty depressed, but depressed enough to move to Chelsea?
Maybe he should have a word with current Blues manager Antonio Conte, who the Sun – via the inimitable Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli – says is being lined up as Sarri’s replacement in Naples.
The Star has its own take on things, as ever, claiming the man the Blues want is in fact Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann, who is one year younger than Olivier Giroud. Just an interesting little snippet for you to impress your friends with, there. Eden Hazard is also one year younger than Danny Drinkwater (I’ve got literally loads of these).
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Meanwhile, Everton’s relationship with Sam Allardyce looks set to be very much a “Wham, Bam, Thank you Big Sam” kind of scenario, with the Toffees setting their sights on Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca.
However, the Express says the Portuguese has rejected a move to Goodison Park because he wants to replace Wenger at Arsenal. Is he on that 14-man shortlist? No idea, sorry.
As for Wenger, he has allegedly “rejected” the manager’s job at Paris Saint-Germain because he wants to take over the France national team. That’s the Star again. Hmm.
Elsewhere, in gossip that is not about managers, Wolves are set to join the £35m chase to sign Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland, who is also wanted by Liverpool and West Ham (Express), Arsenal and Chelsea are both “in talks” to sign Atalanta’s 23-year-old attacking midfielder Bryan Cristante (Sky Sports) and Man Utd’s Ashley Young says he will look back on this season with “regret” even if the Red Devils win the FA Cup (ESPN). England recalls in a World Cup year after four years in the wilderness just aren’t good enough for some people.
