Connect with us

Football

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is ‘No.1 target’ for Champions League club

Published

on

Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, according to new reports from Germany. Ten Hag has been without a club since leaving Old Trafford earlier this season after a disappointing start to the Premier League campaign.

Despite winning just three of the opening nine league matches, his tenure at United saw success in cup competitions, with the Dutchman guiding the team to victories in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Before his time in England, he enjoyed a highly successful spell at Ajax, where he won five trophies, including three Eredivisie titles.

Now a free agent, Ten Hag is reportedly Leverkusen’s top choice to take over the managerial role this summer. The German club is preparing for the likely departure of Xabi Alonso, who is widely expected to become the next head coach at Real Madrid.

Alonso, who has led Leverkusen to remarkable success during his tenure, is thought to be high on Madrid’s shortlist as they plan for life after Carlo Ancelotti. The veteran Italian coach is reportedly fielding a lucrative offer to manage in Saudi Arabia worth around €50 million per season, effectively ruling him out of the running for Brazil’s national team job.

Leverkusen’s interest in Ten Hag is bolstered by his previous experience in Germany. He coached Bayern Munich’s second team for two years and is fluent in German, a factor that could ease his transition if he accepts the role.

According to the German outlet Kicker, Ten Hag has already been contacted by Leverkusen and is currently the number one name on their shortlist. Also reportedly under consideration is Xavi, the former Barcelona coach, who remains in the mix as Leverkusen evaluate their options.

Alonso’s time at Leverkusen has been nothing short of historic. Last season, he led the club to a domestic double and a spot in the Europa League final, where they lost to Atalanta.

Leverkusen also made history by completing an entire Bundesliga season unbeaten, setting a European record of 51 consecutive games without defeat across all competitions. Alonso’s achievements have greatly enhanced his reputation, accelerating his rise to the top of Madrid’s managerial targets.

Amid ongoing speculation, Alonso has remained calm about his future. When asked recently about his plans, he emphasized the importance of open communication with the club’s management and suggested that decisions would be made collectively and without pressure.

Sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed that Leverkusen are actively planning for the future behind the scenes, suggesting that clarity is coming soon as the club navigates this pivotal transition.

Football

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Published

on

‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

Continue Reading

Football

Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Published

on

Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

Continue Reading

Football

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Published

on

Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Alpays Media.

News
Live Scores
Live TV
App