Five Talented youngsters to Watch in the new Premier League Season

AFP Sports picks five young talents that could shine in the English Premier League this season: 

 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) 

Everything so far has gone swimmingly well for the 18-year-old, one genuine success Louis van Gaal could point to in terms of bringing him into the side when pretty much all else didn’t go right for the Dutchman. However, now the England forward — who showed more spark and invention in a cameo appearance at the end of the Iceland Euro 2016 debacle than anyone else had done that evening — faces two challenges. One is to maintain his progress, having lost that element of surprise, and another is to convince new manager Jose Mourinho that youth, not experience, can be more effective. ‘The Special One’ was at pains at his unveiling press conference to dismiss suggesstions he didn’t favour youth. How Rashford fares under him may well reflect the truth of that statement. 



Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City)

At £5 million (6m euros, $6.5m), Sobhi could prove to be one of the signings of the close season. The 19-year-old winger has been compared to one of Egypt’s greatest players, Mohamed Aboutrika. He already has six full caps to his name and made his league debut for Egyptian giants Al Ahly aged 16. Played a huge role in Al Ahly winning the title last season under former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol. Another Egyptian great, Mido, has no concerns about him stepping up a few levels in the Premier League, although he preached patience. “The most important thing for me is he has the character, he has a big personality and is not scared of big occasions,” Mido told the Stoke City website.


Lewis Cook (Bournemouth) 

For a 19-year-old, Cook arrives with a lot of playing experience having shone for fallen giants Leeds United over the past two seasons. The midfielder was named Football League Young Player of the Year last season — previous winners include Dele Alli and Gareth Bale — and knows what it is to win trophies having been a member of the England Under-17 side that won the European Championship in 2014. He is likely to get a fair bit of playing time and should come along nicely under the tutelage of Eddie Howe. Despite Bournemouth defying the odds and staying up last season, Cook may find a lot of responsibility falling on his young shoulders in what looks sure to a battle for survival this term. He did that admirably at Leeds but in a higher echelon it is asking a lot of such a young talent. 


Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton) 

Southampton may have once again lost several established stars but in the 21-year-old Danish international midfielder they could have acquired a real gem — certainly Saints think so in paying a reported £12.8 million ($16.6m, 15m euros) to Bayern Munich. Despite getting off to a good start with Pep Guardiola at Bayern they eventually fell out and he was loaned to firstly Augsburg — where he flourished — and then Schalke. Ostensibly a defensive midfielder, has also been used out wide. Faces a big task in replacing midfield enforcer Tottenham-bound Victor Wanyama but he will be determined to prove to Guardiola, now at Manchester City, that he made an error in banishing him when he was at Bayern. 


Ben Chilwell (Leicester City) 

Claudio Ranieri has made superhuman efforts to persuade established stars such as Jamie Vardy to sign new contracts with mixed success. However, Chilwell’s decision to sign a five-year deal could be equally as significant for the 19-year-old is a very highly regarded left-back. He has played for England up to Under-21 level and Ranieri ensured he got some regular first-team play by shrewdly loaning him out to Huddersfield Town last season before recalling him. Yet to make his Premier League debut but is an option to replace the 30-year-old Austrian Christian Fuchs in the first team.

Paul Pogba Seals World-Record Manchester United Move

New Manchester United signing Paul Pogba admits that he always believed that returning to Old Trafford was in his destiny. 

The long drawn out transfer saga involving the Frenchman finally came to an end last night when Manchester United officially confirmed the signature of the 23-year-old midfielder.

Pogba left Old Trafford in 2012 and joined Juventus for a paltry compensation fee, and Manchester United paid a world record £89m to snare him away from the Italian champions this summer.


The Frenchman has indicated that he always believed that one day he would return to Old Trafford, and feels he left some unfinished business at Manchester United when he joined Juventus four years ago. 

The midfielder told MUTV: “I think it's destiny, I would say it's destiny. First my mum told me I would come back here and I told her, ‘You never know, you’ll see.’  
"for myself as well it’s a big challenge too, just to come back to where I came from, where I grew up, where I started. I didn’t finish what I started here so I think I came here to finish it.”

The midfielder believes that he has returned to Manchester United a better player, and feels his record at Juventus speaks for itself.

“I’m more experienced, I’ve won titles at Juventus. I’ve been playing with big players like when I started at Man United, of course.

“I came back. I’ve not come back from the Academy now; I went to play somewhere else and I came back, I would say, as a person, as an adult. I would say with experience, with more games, so I think that’s the difference.”

With just a few days left for the Premier League season to start, it remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho decides to include Pogba in his squad for Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Pogba already has seven senior appearances under his belt from his previous stint at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho to to drop World Champion from Premier League Squad

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that Bastian Schweinsteiger is not a part of his squad for this season.

The 32-year-old joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2015 from Bayern Munich, as former manager Louis van Gaal looked to bolster his midfield.

The former Germany captain, who recently retired from international duty, struggled in his opening season at Old Trafford with injury problems.
Sustaining a knee injury in January against Sheffield United was followed up with a similar problem shortly after, making it a campaign to forget for Schweinsteiger.

And Mourinho has now dropped a massive hint that the German is not a part of his future plans, with Juventus superstar Paul Pogba set to replace him.

“I think is what is happening in every club in the world which is the manager decides his squad and chooses a certain number of players to face the season,” Mourinho said at his press conference.

“That’s it and I normally like to work with 20 players plus the three goalkeepers which is what I do for 15 years because we have so many players but at the same time we also have so many competition and especially the Europa League is a competition that changes a lot of the season you can play 15 matches, you play on the Thursday, you have a big risk, travel a lot.

“Normally you are going to play the Premier League on the Sunday so I made the decision to be with 23 players plus three goalkeepers which I think is still a lot and I had to make my decisions.”
The news will disappoint some Manchester United fans, but will not come as a surprise after several reports recently revealed that Schweinsteiger was not in Mourinho’s plans for this season.

Schweinsteiger’s brother, Tobias, also tweeted earlier this week ‘no respect’ in regards to the decision to let his sibling leave Manchester United in such sour circumstances.

The midfielder has not even appeared under Mourinho in pre-season, after only recently returning to the club from his post-Euro 2016 holidays.

Credit: Squawka

Antonio Conte wants to Trim Chelsea squad with 5 first-team players facing uncertain futures

Antonio Conte is ready to cut his current 34-man Chelsea squad ahead of the forthcoming season.
The Italian wants a smaller squad to work with when the Blues kick off their Premier League campaign at home to West Ham on August 15th.

According to the Evening Standard, the likes of Pedro, Asmir Begovic, Juan Cuadrado, Oscar and Loic Remy face an uncertain future, while several youngsters are expected to be sent out on loan.

“We have 30 players and four goalkeepers. Now we have one game against Werder Bremen (on Sunday) and then we must take a decision – and I hope to take the best decision for the club,” Conte said after Chelsea’s 3-1 win over AC Milan.

“My ideas are very clear now, but first I must talk about these ideas with the club.
“It is normal when we go back to London that I will talk with the club. We will talk about these two weeks and what I have learned and I will also speak to all the players.

“My ideas are more clear than they were two weeks ago. It is normal when you have 30 players and in just 10 days we start our League. We have to get the right squad and the right numbers.”

Chelsea entered last season as champions but disastrous form saw them finish 10th in the league, with Conte’s predecessor Jose Mourinho being sacked early in the campaign.

A lack of European football can be advantageous as Leicester City showed last season when they astonishingly swon the Premier League.

Conte arrives having taken Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, where they were eliminated by world champions Germany on penalties.

Credit: Squawka

Manchester City Sign Germany International Leroy Sane on 5 year Deal

Manchester City have secured the services of 20 year old German midfielder Leroy Sane from Schalke 04.
The youngster penned a five year deal with City for a reported £37million.

The  German international admitted that the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola was the primary reason over him moving to the Premier League.

He said: "One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola.

"He convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career.

"I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players. I think he can make me a more complete player.

"I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it's another league and there's a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly."

City's protracted pursuit of the midfielder finally came to an end after the deal was officially finalised on Tuesday morning.

Citizens boss Guardiola had made it abundantly clear that he harboured ambitions of bringing the starlet to Eastlands ahead of the 2016/17 season.

And the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager says that City's supporters can look forward to being excited by the prodigious young talent.

He said: "He is a special talent, and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching.

"He has great technical ability, is comfortable on the ball and there is much to admire about the way he plays football.

"He is fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works hard for the team and scores goals, too. He also has a very positive attitude and will fit in well with our squad.

"At 20, he is still developing as a player but he is already a member of the German national side and I think he will be a fantastic asset to our club. We are very happy he decided to join us."

Mikel: I'm Definitely Staying at Chelsea

The Nigeria international has been targeted by teams in China, Turkey and the Middle East this summer but, after a decade at the club, is determined to fight for his place under new manager Antonio Conte.

Speaking to Standard Sport, the 29-year-old said: “I am definitely staying at Chelsea and I will try to give my best to the club, like I have always done.

“I want to help the team fight for every point, every win and to win trophies. I also want to help the team qualify for the Champions League again as soon as possible.

“For 10 years I have been going to the same training ground, the same locker room. It is an amazing club, with an amazing owner. They are like a family to me. It is a place that has become a part of me.”

The midfielder, who wants to be referred to as Mikel John Obi from now on, has 12 months left on his contract.

He hopes to convince the club to offer an extension but insists he will not hold any grudges if he ends up leaving on a free transfer.

“I have a year left and then we will see what happens,” he said. “If I play well this season, it will help me earn a new contract.

“I will give 120 per cent every time I’m on the pitch or come off the bench. I will always give my best.

Credit: Standard sport

Anthony Martial's Brother Slams his Brother's Ex in Instagram post

More controversy in the Martial/Samantha split and Manchester United fans will be hoping that the drama surrounding Anthony Martial doesn’t affect his performances on the pitch as the 2016/2017 season approaches. Anthony Martial was revealed to be cheating on the mother of his child last season and Samantha has not stayed quiet on social media since their break-up.The Manchester United forward has been accused of not supporting his daughter and leaving his ex without the basics to look after their child.
She recently like Zlatan Ibrahimovic's post where he reveals his new Manchester United number which was formerly Martial's.

Anthony Martial’s 25-year-old brother Johan, who plays for Troyes in France, took to Instagram today in a bid to defend his brother of any wrongdoing.

@jomartial971 post, Translated to English, read below.

Samantha, I accept that you’re having a hard time coping with the situation with my brother but I can’t hear your lies anymore because you’re hurting Anthony and our name.

1. You were not married to Anthony

2. You didn’t meet Anthony when he had nothing but when he was a Monaco player so was already making a very, very good living.

3. Anthony pays you €3500/ month for you to provide for Peyton (their child) since the day of separation – So much more than a judge would give you. So claiming you do not have the money to buy a high chair is an incredible lie.

4. Anthony loves his daughter and wants to see her every day. He has apparently become a very bad father since he is no longer with you but he was the best three months ago.

5. Constantly making drama on social networks is shameful. When you were with Anthony you almost never posted?

Anthony prefers not to talk in public but I can not let your little game last.

Watching you play the victim is unbearable and it’s obviously just to make money. Millions of couples break up and do not pay € 3,500 a spouse, especially after never being married. I am obliged to restore the truth and I hope that you’ll pull yourself together for the good of Peyton.

I can understand that you suffer from the situation and after this message you are free to make a sketch and victimise yourself but it is important to restore some truths.

Anthony will always be for his daughter and my family.

“Johan”

Ahmed Musa talks up Similarities with Vardy

JamieVardy was one of Leicester City’s best players last season, scoring 22 goals as the impressive Foxes went against all odds to win the Premier League title.

Musa who just signed from CSKA Moscow thinks he and his Leicester City teammate are similar in size and style of play.
“It doesn't matter what size you are, it's what you can do that matters. I think I am like Jamie Vardy. I have speed, I like to work hard, we are similar in lots of things,” the striker told Sky Sports.
"Am I faster? I can't say yet, I have never played with him. But I am looking forward to finding out. I'm looking forward to playing with Vardy. I like his style. I think we can fit well together."

Musa started his football career at a local side in Nigeria called GBS Football Academy, before playing for JUTH F.C and Kano Pillars.
Before his professional career, the forward revealed that he was a goalkeeper before switching positions.
"I was a goalie between 10 and 12, but changing was the best decision of my life because I would never have been good enough to become a professional goalkeeper,” he added.

Later in the interview, Musa who won the Russian Premier League last season with CSKA Moscow admitted that the Premier League is tougher.
"The intensity here is quite different to Russia. Here it is a little bit harder, in Russia they are more laid back. I think that is the most difficult thing,” he said