Wayne Rooney: Why I want to be England manager when I retire

WAYNE ROONEY wants to boss England once he hangs up his international boots after the 2018 World Cup.

 

England’s record goalscorer revealed he aims to lead the Three Lions after he retires from the game.

The Manchester United and England skipper, 30, is currently taking his coaching badges in a bid to become a manager.

Rooney yesterday dropped the bombshell news that he will call time on his international career after the next major tournament and said: “Come Russia I feel that will be the time to say goodbye to international football.

"My mind is made up. It’s still two years away. I started playing professional football when I was 16, and started playing internationals when I was 17.

"Fifteen years is a lot. I’d be 34 by the next tournament. I’ve had a fantastic international career so far. I’ve enjoyed every minute.

"Russia will be my last opportunity to do anything with England so I’m going to try to enjoy these two years and hopefully I can end my time with England on a high.”

Rooney is playing under his fifth England manager in Sam Allardyce - following Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.

And he said that he was keen on having a go in the hot-seat himself.

He said: “I’ve spent my whole life playing football and I think it would be a shame to walk away form it completely.

"I feel I’ve got a lot of experience behind me and when I do finish playing I would like to stay in the game at some level.

"I’m doing my badges – it’s a long time. But I’m doing it and I’m enjoying it. I’m just trying to get them done while I’m still playing really.”

BADGES: Rooney is earning his coaching stripes 

Rooney will overtake David Beckham on Sunday to become his country’s most capped outfield player.

He wins his 116th cap for the opening World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

But Rooney stressed he still plans to carry on playing for United after ending his international stint.

He added: “I will have a year left at United then.

"I’ve said to United I want to stay there, finish my career there. So it’s a case sitting down with United when the time’s right.”

 

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Jack Wilshere looks set to choose Crystal Palace after meeting with Alan Pardew

CRYSTAL PALACE are hoping to conclude a season-long loan deal for Jack Wilshere in an eye-catching move ahead of tomorrow’s transfer deadline.

 

Jack Wilshere looks to be on his way to Selhurst Park for a season-long loan 

Wilshere met Palace manager Alan Pardew for talks earlier today after being inundated with interest from more than 20 clubs after Arsenal agreed to make him available for a temporary move.

Among the potential suitors are Celtic, Watford, Bournemouth and West Brom, while AS Roma and Valencia offered options abroad.

But Palace boss Pardew was quick to register his interest in the 24-year-old and they are now in pole position to land the midfielder, who would command a loan fee with Arsenal also wanting his £80,000-a-week wages to be covered.

The chance to stay in London, close to his young family, would appeal to Wilshere as he seeks to relaunch his fortunes. It would mark another intriguing late piece of business by Palace, who also agreed a season-long loan deal for Chelsea striker Loic Remy yesterday to follow on from the recent club record £27m signing of Christian Benteke.

Wilshere has played just 37 minutes for Arsenal this season and has slipped further down the pecking order following the arrival of £30m Granit Xhaka at The Emirates.

His lack of game time cost him a place in Sam Allardyce’s first England squad and his overall situation prompted Wilshere to seek talks over his future with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal’s only condition was that Wilshere would not be allowed to move to a top four club.

Wenger feels he has enough midfield cover to cope in the absence of Wilshere, who has been plagued by injuries and missed most of last season with a broken leg. He is also set to sell 21-year-old Serge Gnabry to Werder Bremen and Calum Chambers will join Middlesbrough on loan. Meanwhile, Wilfried Zaha will be staying at Palace after Tottenham dropped their interest in the winger.

  

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Jose Mourinho furious with Bastian Schweinsteiger after rejecting transfer

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER left Jose Mourinho seething yesterday after refusing to join Sporting Lisbon on a free transfer.

 

NO GO: Schweinsteiger won't play for another European club 

Manchester United even agreed to pay part of the German midfielder’s £190,000-a-week wages in Portugal.

But the 32-year-old World Cup winner dug in his heels and told Mourinho he would not go.

The angry United boss has vowed not to play the midfielder again despite Schweinsteiger claiming he is still determined to forced his way back into the picture.

Mourinho has already axed him from his first-team squad and suggested he would rather pick hopefuls out of the youth team to play in midfield.

Schweinsteiger, who calls time on his international career tonight in a friendly against Finland, has two years left on the contract he signed after arriving from Bayern Munich in 2015.

The 32-year-old could earn around £18m just by sitting tight until his deal runs out in June 2018.

But he believes he can get Mourinho to change his mind.

Schweinsteiger said: “The transfer window is closed in the USA so I’m not going there now.

“It’s my dream still to play for Manchester United and if I get a fair chance, I believe in it.

“The USA is certainly an option, should it come to that.”

Although the MLS transfer window does not open again until after Christmas it seems unlikely United will attempt to find Schweinsteiger a club before the transfer window closes today.

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Chelsea make £30m bid for former defender David Luiz - Sky sources 

David Luiz could be set for a stunning return to Chelsea with the Premier League club offering £30m plus add-ons to Paris Saint-Germain, according to Sky sources.

The 29-year-old Brazilian left Stamford Bridge for France two years ago in a £50m deal which was a world record fee for a defender.

But with just a day to go until Transfer Deadline Day, Sky Sports News HQ understands discussions are ongoing with Luiz reportedly keen on a return to west London.

New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has made it clear a centre-back was top of his priority list with moves for Alessio Romagnoli at AC Milan and Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli falling through so far.

Sky in Italy reported last week that Chelsea's £30m bid for Romagnoli was rejected, and that there was a "90 per cent" chance of Koulibaly not moving to Conte's team.

Chelsea first purchased Luiz in January 2011 from Benfica for £21m.

In his three-year stay in west London, Luiz made 143 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.

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Arsenal transfer news: Gunners set to complete £52m worth of transfers

Luscas Perez looks set to complete his move to Arsenal from Deportivo after touching down at Heathrow Airport earlier today according to The Sun.

Per-the-source, the 27-year-old will put pen-to-paper on a deal with Arsenal this week and will be available for selection after the international break. The Sun states that the deal will cost the month London based club £17 million.

The Spanish striker scored 17 goals in La Liga last season and will bolster Arsene Wenger's attacking options.

The report goes onto state that Arsenal have also confirmed the signing of Valencia's £35m German defender Shokodran Mustafi. The Germany international will bring some much needed depth to Arsenal's defence. Mustafi and Perez will cost Arsenal a combined £52 million.

Arsenal are currently facing a defensive crisis following injuries to Per Mertesaker and Gabriel. Manager Arsene Wenger has been forced to field the young defender Rob Holding in the opening two games of the Premier League season. Arsenal recorded a 3-1 victory over Watford FC over the weekend.

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Ancelotti: Madrid will win LaLiga and Cristiano Ronaldo will be top scorer

After a 6-0 win in the opening fixture of the Bundesliga season, Bayern Munich will take some stopping and while coach Carlo Ancelotti is focused on helping the club lift a fifth consecutive title, the Italian also predicted former club Real Madrid would be crowned champions in Spain.

Ancelloti left the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the 2014/15 season but with his reputation as one of  Europe's elite coaches intact, the 57-year-old was appointed Pep Guardiola's successor at Bayern Munich.

"In Spain it is difficult, but I think after so many years Real Madrid will win the league title and Cristiano Ronaldo will be the top scorer", Ancelotti told Italian television.

Los Blancos have not enjoyed quite such an emphatic start to LaLiga as Ancelotti's Bayern but that didn't stop the three-time Champions League winning coach from tipping Real to recapture the trophy.

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Barcelona reveals Messi hamstring injury

The Albiceleste captain reversed his decision to quit international soccer after speaking with coach Edgardo Bauza, but he could miss the next games with fitness issues

Lionel Messi could miss Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela after Barcelona confirmed he has suffered a hamstring problem.

Medical tests on Monday uncovered an issue with Messi's left hamstring, but he will travel to Argentina to link up with his teammates and undergo further assessments.

Messi, who featured for Barcelona in its 1-0 La Liga win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, quit international football after Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario final to Chile on penalties, only to later reverse his decision.

He had been expected to play against Uruguay on Saturday, with a game against Venezuela to follow on Sept. 6.

"His presence in those matches will depend on how the injury develops," a Barcelona statement read.

Coach Edgardo Bauza is already without Messi's fellow forwards Sergio Aguero and Javier Pastore for his first game in charge due to injury.

Argentina is third in South American qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, with Friday's opponent Uruguay topping the CONMEBOL standings after six fixtures.

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BVB striker Aubameyang pushing to join Real Madrid this week

Borrusia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is pushing to join Real Madrid.

Marca says even if Madrid have already splurged on Alvaro Morata ahead of the new season, the attacker wants to make the move south with Dortmund informing Los Merengues that they are his ideal destination, should an acceptable offer be tabled.

Negotiations are yet to advance to a serious stage, but they'll benefit from a good relationship held amongst the Real hierarchy and Dortmund's president, Reinhard Rauball, and sporting director, Michael Zorc.

Whether a sale can be pulled off in the final hours of the transfer window remains to be seen, should Aubameyang stay in Germany, he'll target Robert Lewandowski's Bundesliga top scorer crown , and reiterate his Bernabeu dreams soon after.

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Man Utd defender eyed for loan move after approach for Liverpool's Sakho collapses

STOKE are hoping to secure a loan deal for Manchester United defender Phil Jones, according to reports.

 Phil Jones is on Stoke's rader

The 24-year-lod England international was on the Gunner's radar last week.

But with a deal for Valencia's Shkordran Mustafi imminent, Arsenal appear to have plugged their defensive injury crisis.

Stoke had been hoping to bring Liverpool;s Mamadou Sakho on loan.

But the Frenchman turned down a move to the bet365 Stadium.

And according to the Daily Mirror, Potters boss Mark Hughes still hopes to land Jones on loan.

The report suggests that with Jones not in Jose Mourinho's plans, Hughes thinks the prospect of first-team football could tempt Jones to leave Old Trafford.

United, who beat Hull 1-0 on Saturday, have two weeks to recover before they face Manchester City in their first Premier League game after the international break on September 10.

 

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Sam Allardyce reveals Wayne Rooney will remain as England captain

SAM ALLARDYCE has put Wayne Rooney out of his misery - by confirming he's still England skipper.

 

The new Three Lions boss gave the Manchester United captain a wake-up call by making him sweat until he joined up with the squad at the FA’s base at St George’s Park today.

The 115-times capped Rooney - England’s record scorer with 53 goals - came in for some stinging criticism for the way he failed to lift the team, as his and their game fell apart, in the shocking 2-1 KO by minnows Iceland at Euro 2016.

Allardyce has had ample opportunities to confirm Rooney, 30, was keeping the armband.

But has kept him on tenterhooks for over five weeks since being appointed Roy Hodgson’s successor.

Last night Allardyce said: “Wayne has been an excellent captain for England and the manner in which he has fulfilled the role made it an easy decision for me to ask him to continue.

"Wayne’s record speaks for itself, he is the most senior member of the squad and he is hugely respected by his peers. All of these factors point towards him being the right choice to lead the team.”

Rooney, who took over the role when Steve Gerrard quit international football following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, will lead out his country for the opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on Sunday.

Allardyce also revealed yesterday the best captain he has ever worked with - Jay Jay Okocha, who played under the 61-year-old at Bolton, where the midfielder was from 2002-6.

"On and off the field he was the captain you looked for,” he said. “In a multi-national side from all over the world he could speak four different languages, communicate very well with some of the players who couldn’t speak quite as good English.

"He sorted the odd scuffle out in the dressing-room, talked to the players about how we had to go out and win. He’d take the manager’s instructions and apply them in the right way.

"Then there was outstanding ability on the field, leading by example and showing everybody he wasn’t a mercenary which was suggested in the beginning, that he’d only come for the money.

"He became an iconic figure at Bolton Wanderers.”

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Joe Hart will fly to Italy on Tuesday ahead of a planned loan move to Torino 

City 'keeper Joe Hart appears to be heading to Serie A

Joe Hart will fly to Italy on Tuesday for a medical ahead of a planned loan move to Torino.

Hart met up with the England squad at St George's Park on Monday as planned but the FA have confirmed that he has been given permission to leave the camp.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper has lost his place as Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper following the arrival of new manager Pep Guardiola, prompting speculation about his future.

The signing of Claudio Bravo last week means Hart is likely to drop to third in the pecking order if he remains at City.

He started the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest last week but has been on the bench behind Willy Caballero for City's opening three Premier League matches.

Hart's agent Jonathan Barnett was quoted as saying by www.tuttosport.com: "Yes, Joe Hart will play with Torino. It's done. The player said yes to the club and also Manchester City have given the green light. It is all true. Tomorrow [Tuesday] Hart will have a medical in Turin."

Claudio Bravo has been signed by Manchester City

A move to Torino would give Hart the opportunity to play first-team football, whereas his England place could be endangered by a prolonged spell of inaction at City.

Torino sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has been quoted as saying: "The goalkeeper is an idea we wanted to follow.

"If it's Hart then good, otherwise we will certainly be doing something in the market for that role."

Torino, who finished 12th in the league last season, have started the new campaign by taking three points from their first two games.

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Tottenham line up Isco loan after Real Madrid block James Rodriguez sale

Isco looks to be the odd man out in Real Madrid's crowded midfield 

Tottenham are set to sign Real Madrid star Isco on a seasonlong loan, with an option for a permanent deal next summer, according to the Sunday mirror. Although the Spanish international has attracted interest from Chelsea, it's Spurs--who can offer Champions League football -- are favourites to secure the 24-year-old's services.

The report suggests that the former Malaga playmaker has been made available for transfer after Real president Floretino Perez blocked attempts to sign James Rodriguez, who has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Juventus, An initial loan deal for Isco is likely to suit Tottenham, whose bid for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha was knocked back last week.

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Munir enters negotiations with Valencia

Celta looking less likely due to state of Alcacer deal

 A loan deal is on the cards for Barcelona striker Munir EL Haddad, and Valencia rather than Celta Vigo is looking like the likely destination given Paco Alcacer's immenint signing for the Catalan club.

Munir may have already reached a verbal agreement with Celta, but the Blaugrana would prefer the forward join Valencia, and director of football Garcia Pitarch has already started to negotiate with the player's representatives.

Although the Catalans may insist otherwise, the Munir deal is dependent on what ends up happening with Alcacer, so that may sway mattes in another director.

Luis Enrique the Catalans may insist otherwise, the Munir deal is dependent on what ends up happening with Alcacer, so Mames, though whether he features or not may depend on developments in the next few hours.

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Manchester United plan Bale approach in 2017

While Raeal attempt to tie down the Welshman on a lucrative long-term deal, the Red Devils are already thinking of adding the star to their team for 2017-18

 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is planning  to raid former club Real Madrid in order to sign Gareth Bale in 2017, according to the Sunday Star.

The Wales international moved to the Santiago Bernabeu shortly after Mourinho's exit in 2013, and while Mourinho will not make an approach in the current transfer window he has apparently singled the forward out as a top future target.

Madrid, however, are desperate to keep their man, and have already opened talks over a new five-year contract to tie Bale down in the Spanish capital.
 

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Serie A teams offering Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart escape route

Joe Hart could be tempted by a move to Serie A

 JOE HART held showdown talks yesterday with Manchester City director of football Txiki Begristain in a bid to save himself from the footballing wilderness.

The England star is racing against the clock to sort out his future before Wednesday's 11am transfer deadline after finding himself as City's third-choice keeper behind Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo.

Hart sat down with begiristain after training yesterday to discuss the options he has now that City boss Pep Guardiola has demoted him.

The Sunday Express understands that two Italian clubs - thought to be AC Milan and Torino - have made contract with City in the last 25 hours to inquire about a move for the keeper.

Milan's 17 - year-old first choice Gianluigi Donnarumma received his first Italy call-up last week but that's not stopped them asking about Hart.

German giants Borussia Dortmund are also keen - especially as City have agreed to pay the bulk of Hart's wages which had been a sticking point.

Sunderland have been strongly lined with a loan move after their first choice Vito Mannone was ruled out of action for three months with an elbow injury.

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Arsene Wenger: I'm not spending £52m om Mustafi and Perez to appease Arsenal fans

ARSENE WENGER has told Arsenal’s disgruntled fans that they will never force his hand into spending big.

 

Arsenal are set to announce the £52million signings of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez

The double deals will bring an end to the growing pressure on the Gunners manager ahead of Wednesday night’s transfer window deadline.

Arsenal initially turned down the chance to sign Perez last month and Wenger had previously also been reluctant to pay over the odds to sign Mustafi, despite the club’s defensive crisis.

The sudden change of heart had raised suspicions that Arsenal were panic buying and bowing to unrest among their disgrunteld supporters.

But Wenger said: “Look at my face. Am I the face of somebody who does a panic buy?

"I am happy when our supporters are happy but my focus is on strengthening the squad in the right way. If you look at the last season for example, it is not necessarily the club who bought the most that is in front.

"It is my job to make the right decisions for the team and the club. At the end of the season you will see if I made it.”

Asked if he gets stopped in the street by supporters urging him splash the cash to keep pace with their big-spending rivals, Wenger added: “Yes, many times. But it’s never aggressive. It’s quite a difference between the people I meet when I go out where. People are usually nice and supportive.

"Now people have been addicted to news. We live in a society where we need always new faces, hope for the future.

"You want to dream and fear as well because the other clubs buy, you don’t buy. There is fear to be behind the others.

"My job is to resist stress and pressure, while keeping my head in the blue.

"What has changed from the ‘80s to today is that transparency has become unlimited. Everybody knows who is available, who you should buy. I’ve always said it’s not a question of numbers.

"But who has finished in the market? Nobody. Everybody is waiting, I think, to get the deals done.”

Spanish striker Perez, whose raw pace has drawn comparisons to former target Jamie Vardy, has flown in to the capital to complete his £17million move to Emirates.

While the long-running pursuit of Mustafi is also finally close to a conclusion with the German centre-back expected to arrive for £35m.

Wenger said: “Perez is a late developer, he played in a different position. He moved centrally in a successful way.

"He has good link up qualities, good quality of receptions, good finishing qualities.

"Mustafi was Valencia’s captain. If we get it done we get what we wanted.”

With only one point from their two Premier League games, Arsenal can ill-afford to slip up again and fall further behind their rivals ahead of today’s trip to Watford.

Their head coach Walter Mazzarri uses an interpreter at press conferences, so perhaps something was lost in translation when he said that he likes the “English culture” of giving managers plenty of time to build a team.

Watford, remember, have had eight different men in charge of their first team since the Pozzo family bought the club in summer 2012.

"When I spoke to the president he gave me a three-year contract,” said Mazzarri. “He believed in me. Instead of one year or two years as often happened, he wanted to start a new cycle with me and give me three years.”

Meanwhile, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has been named as an assistant to new Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.

Henry, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup winning team, will be part of the backroom staff alongside Graeme Jones, who was Martinez’s assistant at Swansea, Wigan and Everton.

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Kane: I want to stay at Tottenham for my whole career

Tottenham striker Harry Kane wants to spend his entire career in north London, insisting Spurs are "going forward as a club."

Harry Kane believes Tottenham is in "great shape" for the future and has believes he could spend his whole career at the club.

Kane hit 25 Premier League goals last season as Spurs finished third but he is yet to open his account two matches into the new campaign.

Despite a slow start, Kane is positive about Tottenham's chances of improving on last season's third-place finish and insists he sees himself staying at the club long term.

"I'd love to stay here," Kane told Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against Liverpool. "The club is in great shape at the moment and we're going forward as a club and that's important. As long as there's a vision with the club, and we're not stale, we're going forward as a club. At the moment, we're an excited group of young players with a great manager, great training ground and a new stadium coming too.

"I'd love to stay here for the rest of my career. We'll just have to see what happens."

Tottenham faces a tough task to fight for the title with Manchester United and Chelsea expected to be stronger than last year among others, but Kane is backing his club to be in the mix.

"We want to improve on last year, we want to get better," Kane said. "We're not scared of anyone, not scared of any players or managers. We're confident in our ability. We're there to be right at the top and fight for the title again. Teams buy players and change managers if they feel they need change at the club. The gaffer doesn't feel like we needed that. He was happy with his squad.

"He added a couple of great signings, and we're happy. We've been getting better every year, but for us it's just about staying focused. There's a lot of talk about the Uniteds, the Citys, the Chelseas, the new managers, new players - and we're happy for people to talk about them - we'll just do what we do each week."

Tottenham has signed Vincent Janssen to provide competition and cover for Kane and the England international is impressed with how the Dutchman has adapted to life at White Hart Lane.

"He's been great," Kane said. "He's come in and is very fit, very physical, and he's exactly what we needed, that other option up front.

"We can play together, sometimes one of us will play and one won't. He fits into the way we play."

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