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Former United States starlet Freddy Adu has claimed he was once a better player than Angel Di Maria, while admitting that he made a mistake in leaving Benfica at the start of his European football journey.

Adu made history when he became the youngest American to sign a major professional contract in any team sport at the age of 14, with D.C. United bringing him onto their books during the 2004 Super Draft.

The Ghana-born forward went on to score 11 goals in 94 senior matches for the MLS outfit before being sold to Real Salt Lake, where he further enhanced his reputation as one of the most talented young players in world football.

Benfica won the race to bring Adu to Europe when they forked out £1 million to sign the teenager in July 2007, but he struggled for regular playing time during his first season in Portugal.

The ex-United States international was sent out on loan to Monaco the following year after only managing four goals in 17 appearances for the Primeira Liga giants, which marked the beginning of a downward spiral.

Adu also took in loan spells at Belenenses, Aris and Caykur Rizespor before Benfica cut their losses on the attacker and accepted an offer from Philadelphia Union in 2011.

The 31-year-old has since played for clubs in Brazil, Serbia and Finland, with his latest venture coming in Sweden with Division One outfit Osterlen FF.

Looking back on a turbulent career which has ultimately seen him fail to live up to his early promise, Adu has expressed regret over his decision to join Monaco after overshadowing Di Maria at Benfica.

The Argentine moved to Estadio Da Luz at the same time as the American, but has gone on to enjoy a far more successful career, carving out a reputation among the elite wingers in the game during stints at Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG.

"The biggest mistake I made in my career was leaving Benfica on loan to Monaco," Adu told The Blue Wire Podcast. "I say it from the heart. It was one of those decisions that, if I could take it again, I wouldn't make it.

"I had three coaches in a year in Benfica. The club was in such a dysfunctional moment that I just wanted to get out of there and go the other way as soon as possible.

"But it turned out to be the worst decision. I joined the club at the same time as Di María. In the first year, I was better than him.

"I played better than him, but I decided to leave for Monaco on loan. And Di María stayed at Benfica. And guess what?

"He had the chance to play with a coach who later came and became a starter. A year or two later he went to Real Madrid. And I ended up being loaned to a secondary team.

"I made the worst possible decision for my career. It is my biggest regret."

Jesse Lingard has not been playing for Manchester United after having to self-isolate "a few times" due to coronavirus, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said.

The 28-year-old has only played 99 minutes of football this season having fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and has not featured in a Premier League matchday squad since the start of October, where he was an unused substitute in the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham.

A potential loan deal away is being explored ahead of the January transfer window amid the England international's struggles for time, but Solskjaer says he will be involved against Everton for Wednesday’s League Cup clash and has explained the reasoning behind his absence.

“Jesse will be in the squad, yeah,” Solskjaer said. “He's been working hard in training. He's been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or close contact with Covid, not even having it himself.

"He's been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He works really hard and he'll be involved in the squad, definitely, on Wednesday.”

Another player who could be involved is Mason Greenwood. The teenager was an unused substitute in the 6-2 win against Leeds on Sunday but could make a return to the starting XI at Goodison Park.

“Mason's fit enough to play, he was on the bench [against Leeds],” Solskjaer said about Greenwood’s role on Sunday.

“Of course, Luke [Shaw] came off with an injury so that had to be done, Edinson [Cavani] has been out with an injury for a while, we need to get him going and Bruno [Fernandes] is one that I also have to protect.

"It just wasn't to be for Mason to come on and he will be involved in the squad unless something happens in the next couple of days.”

The quarter-final clash is another chance for United to get a step closer to winning their first trophy under Solskjaer. They fell at the semi-final stage three times last season and Solskjaer believes winning a first trophy could be the catalyst for future success and instil a winning mentality within his team.

“Of course [winning a trophy] is something we're aiming for. We want to improve every season and to improve on last year is to get to the final and, of course, when you get to the final there's only one thing that matters and that's to lift the trophy,” Solskjaer said.

“I remember myself winning my first trophy. Even towards the end of my career, I think it was Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic's first trophy in the Carling Cup, 2006 was it?

"I think that was their first trophy and it does give something to a team. We are desperate to get our hands on a trophy, these players are desperate to learn how to win.”

Allan Saint-Maximin has denied suffering any lasting effects from Covid-19 while squashing talk of a rift with Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce.

Newcastle were dealt a major blow heading into the festive period after a coronavirus outbreak at the club forced the Premier League to cancel their fixture against Aston Villa at the start of the month.

The Magpies training ground was closed for over a week to prevent any further spread of the illness, but the team was able to return to action on December 12, with a 2-1 home win over West Brom temporarily lifting the mood at St James' Park.

Bruce, who saw his side plummet back down to earth with a 5-2 defeat away at Leeds United and a 1-1 draw against Fulham the following week, confirmed on Friday that two members of his squad were still dealing with "damaging effects" of Covid-19 after being diagnosed with the disease earlier in the season.

The 59-year-old did not name the duo in question, but told reporters at a press conference: "My thoughts are with the two players, and the welfare of them.

"It's frightening when you think they are young and fit and absolutely supreme athletes. If anybody needs reminding of how serious this is, then we have witnessed it.

"We've had vomiting, sores, mouth ulcers, no smell, no taste, but the big thing, and which is worrying, is the welfare of one or two of them. It's not great at all.

"That long-term Covid is something which you wouldn't think possible in young, fit athletes. Unfortunately, it is so.

"They go for a walk for half an hour and then they want to go back to bed... It's as brutal as that."

Reports had since confirmed that Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles were the two players laid low with the virus, amid reports of a squad-wide fall out with Bruce in the dressing room.

Saint-Maximin has come out to address both issues ahead of the Magpies' Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Brentford on Tuesday, however, insisting he is in perfect health physically and mentally and that he has "no problem" with his manager.

"I feel great. I have no problem, nothing. Not injured," the French winger said on Instagram Live.

"[I have] No problem with the club, with Steve Bruce. I love this trainer a lot and he takes care of me. I love the club, I love the fans.

"I love everything, I love my life in England and everything and I feel great. That is the only thing you have to know."

Kenya international Michael Olunga has been crowned as the J1-League Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the concluded 2020 season.

The lanky striker scored 28 goals for Kashiwa Reysol and helped them to a seventh-place finish in the concluded season. The Sun King finished the season as third best scorers with 60 goals. Champions Kawasaki Frontale scored 88 while Yokohama F Marion, who finished ninth, scored 69.

Olunga played a great role for the club and his influence led to his crowning as the best in the concluded season.

"It was a great season for me in 2020," the Kenya international told Goal after being crowned on Tuesday.

"I was able to score a lot of goals. I would like to thank the people at Kashiwa Reysol for their support. I am very honored to be Kashiwa Reysol's first top scorer and the first African MVP."

The 26-year-old has further revealed his hope for the league and African players at large.

"I hope that what I have achieved will have a positive impact on Japan and on the rest of the world.  

"I hope that the J-League will continue to be the best football in Asia and that more and more African players will play in it."

The former Gor Mahia striker went on to appreciate his colleagues as well for their role in his achievements.

"Glad to be named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) 2020 in the Meiji Yasuda J-league," Olunga posted on his social media account.

"First, I want to thank God for this opportunity and blessings throughout this season.  

"Also, the collective effort from myself, my teammates, the entire Kashiwa Reysol fraternity and fans helped make this dream realizable for me, and for this, I am grateful. 

"I hope this is the beginning of more achievements in my career. Thank you all once again and happy holidays."

Olunga, played 32 games for Kashiwa Reysol in the 2020 J1 season and scored 28 goals and as a result, won the Golden Boot. This was the first time an African player has won the MVP in the J1-League.

Karim Benzema is playing the best football of his career for Real Madrid but can still improve, according to head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Former France forward Benzema scored one goal and created two more in Madrid's 3-1 win at Eibar on Sunday.

The 33-year-old's latest telling contributions, following on from a brace against Athletic Bilbao, took him to seven goals and five assists for the champions in La Liga this season.

He leads Madrid in both regards, also topping the charts in terms of shots (40), shots on target (18) and big chances created for his team-mates from which they would be expected to score (five, tied with Rodrygo).

Benzema is averaging 1.0 goals or assists per 90 minutes this term, his best rate across a season since 2015-16 (1.4).

Leading the line alone this term, unlike in that campaign when Cristiano Ronaldo carried the burden, Zidane has been delighted by his number nine's form.

Asked if this was Benzema's best-ever stretch, the coach told reporters: "I think so, yes. Most recently he's been in his best form. What he's doing recently, he's been phenomenal.

"What's yet to come? I think Karim can even get better than he is now - that's what we all hope, for the team, for him, personally.

"On top, it's his ambition. He wants to get better as well as a player. That's very important."

Benzema has played 12 of Madrid's 14 league games, but they took just one point from the two matches he missed.

Indeed, Madrid have won all seven of the fixtures Thibaut Courtois, Sergio Ramos, Casemiro and Benzema - the team's spine - have started together, claiming only two victories when at least one of that quartet have been absent.

Zidane's team selection has therefore come under scrutiny with the topic of rotation broached at Tuesday's news conference before a midweek clash with Granada.

"You guys make me laugh in a good way," said the Blancos head coach. "In the end, if I rotate, you ask me why I do it; if I don't, you ask me why I don't.

"I have it clear what I want to do and how I want to deal with my players. I'm going to count on every one of my players.

"It's true that recently the team has been playing very well and we've rotated less, but I think the players are ready and training very well.

"I think the important thing is with the amount of games coming up - and we have a lot of games coming up - when a squad player gets called upon, he is ready and ready to do a job. That's exactly what they're doing."

Despite the reliance on their key men, Madrid are level on points with rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, although Diego Simeone's men have two games in hand.

Real Sociedad, who have played a further game more, are three points back in third, but Zidane is not yet calling a two-horse race.

"We know how difficult this league is. You ask me about Atletico Madrid, they are going to say the same thing as me," he said.

"There are a lot of teams here that are going to challenge for this league title. That's the beautiful thing with this league; there are no easy games, you have to always battle, you have to always go out on the pitch to suffer and to win, it's always difficult.

"In any way, we're going to face difficult teams until the end to win this league."

Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight-match unbeaten run will be tested against Jwaneng Galaxy on Tuesday when the two sides meet in a Caf Champions League first round match at Lobatse Stadium.

Arriving in Botswana against a backdrop of five Premier Soccer League wins and three draws, Downs will be looking to add a positive result on the continent to that domestic form.

They face a Galaxy side that have a contrasting profile to theirs and will be keen to avoid an upset.

While Sundowns are celebrating 50 years of existence and having established themselves as continental heavyweights, Galaxy were founded in 2005 following a merger between Jwaneng Comets and Debswana Youngsters and are new to the Champions League.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV

Squads & Team News

Themba Zwane is Sundowns’ man of the moment so far this season after managing seven PSL goals in as many league matches.

After the attacker was rested for Downs’ last league match away at Golden Arrows, he is expected to be back for the Galaxy assignment together with Kermit Erasmus, who has not featured in Masandawana’s last two games.

The Botswana champions could be in for a torrid afternoon if Zwane combines with Erasmus and Peter Shalulile to complete an attacking partnership that has terrorised PSL defences.

In the Arrows game, Sundowns' coaches also rested other key players like captain Hlompho Kekana and Rivaldo Coetzee, who could also be given a run on Tuesday.

Jwaneng Galaxy will be welcoming back Botswana international goalkeeper Ezekiel Morake who rejoined the club on a two-year deal from PSL side TS Galaxy.

It is a big boost for the Jwaneng-based outfit, who have also confirmed that attacker Gift Moyo and defender Lesego Keeredilwe are available for selection after recovering from injuries.

Midfielder Gape Mohutsiwa has also been certified fit to play.

Match Preview

Jwaneng Galaxy and Sundowns have never met before.

Since football was suspended in Botswana in March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Galaxy's only taste of competitive action since then was the recent Champions League preliminary round victory over Zilimadjou from the Comoros.

A 5-1 aggregate victory was recorded by the Botswana champions from the two-legged stage saw them win 4-0 at home, before forcing a 1-1 away draw.

Coach Sikalame ‘Six’ Keatlholetswe will be hoping that those two games were enough to gear up his side for the Downs challenge.

Sundowns players, meanwhile, arrive at Lobatse Stadium with a lot of game time under their belts after playing nine games in all competitions so far this season and have been in fine form.

The winner of this round will proceed to the Champions League group stage.

For a team that is making their maiden appearance in the Champions League, it would be a massive achievement if Galaxy beat Downs and reach the tournament’s next round.

Orlando Pirates begin their 2020/21 Caf Confederation Cup campaign with a first round visit to Angola for Tuesday’s clash against Sagrada Esperanca at the Coqueiros Municipal Stadium.

After the disappointment of preliminary round elimination from last season’s Caf Champions League at the hands of Zambian side Green Eagles, Pirates are back in Africa.

They will be hoping for improved fortunes in the second-tier continental club competition, in which they last participated in 2015 when they reached the final and lost to Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel.

It will also be the first time ever for Pirates and Sagrada Esperanca to face each other.

Interestingly, the game in Luanda will be Pirates' third straight match in three different competitions after lifting the MTN8 trophy on December 12, before beating Chippa United in a league match four days later.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV

Squads & Team News

Tuesday’s match will see Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer taking charge of his first ever African inter-club match.

Expectations are high for the German to see if he can steer Pirates back among the most feared sides on the continent, and the 1995 African champions, who also reached the 2013 final of the Caf Champions League, are expected to reach the latter stages of the Confederation Cup.

At his disposal, Zinnbauer has seasoned players in the form of Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Ghana number one goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Innocent Maela, Deon Hotto as well as forwards Frank Mhango and Thembinkosi Lorch.

DR Congo forward Jean-Marc Makusu has experience in the Confederation Cup after helping AS Vita reach the final of this tournament in 2018 where he finished as the competition's second top goalscorer.

It is, however, not yet clear if the Congolese will be available to play on Tuesday.

Match Preview

In terms of match fitness, Pirates go into this match with a huge advantage over their opponents who were last involved in competitive action in March just before the Angolan Girabola was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

That tips the odds in favour of Pirates who have played 11 matches across all competitions this season and are yet to lose a single match.

The Buccaneers start their Confederation Cup journey at this stage of the competition after receiving a preliminary round bye. They now face their Angolan opponents, whose last appearance in Africa was a play-off stage exit from the 2016 Confederation Cup after getting past three hurdles.

Sagrada Esperanca accepted to participate in this season's tournament as replacement for Interclube who opted against taking part. They then earned a first round spot without kicking a ball after their preliminary stage opponents Mbabane Swallows withdrew from the competition.

It is not the first time for the Angolan side to take on a South African opponents side as they eliminated Cape Town Spurs (then as Ajax Cape Town) from this competition in the 2016 edition’s preliminary round on a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.

Express FC head coach Wasswa Bbosa is contented with how his charges have launched their campaign to win the elusive Ugandan Premier League (UPL) title.

The Red Eagles have started the 2020-21 season with two wins and two draws and are now on eight points and with a game on the leaders.

The team’s latest result saw them come top in the derby as they edged out SC Villa 1-0 at Wankuluku on Saturday.

With the top-flight taking a break until February 2021 to pave way for the African Nations Championship (Chan) to be held in Cameroon, and where Uganda will be represented, Bbosa has now said he is satisfied for now.

“First of all people have to know we started the league under adversity [Covid-19] so players had taken a while without training as a group which is hard to handle coming into a new season but am glad we’ve managed to slide through,” Bbosa said as quoted by the club’s official website.

“My technical team especially strength and conditioning led by Helen Buteme has done a fantastic job and I know we have more work to do but worry not, we shall be ready when the league resumes again.”

On beating Villa in the derby, Bbosa said: “The most important thing is that we have earned the three points in the derby, our target remains trying to win silverware, this is now done, we look forward to the next game, come next year," he told the same publication.

Against Villa, Express delivered an early Christmas present to the fans after George Ssenkaaba cooly and calmly slotted home from the left-wing, leaving shot-stopper Saidi Keni helpless, for the winning goal.

The game saw both teams cancel each other out in either half with few chances to write home about. Forward Eric Kambale rattled the crossbar 18 minutes into the game while Kabonge Nicolas sent his freekick off the mark from just outside the 18-yard area.

The Red Eagles, who are in position six on the 16-team log, have had a seven-year silverware drought with 2012 being the last time they won the league title.

After signing a three-year deal to handle the side, Bbosa revealed one of his main targets is to help the club to reclaim the league title.

Mohamed Salah should hate Real Madrid, not want to join them, says John Aldridge, with the Liverpool forward suggesting that he may be open to making a move to Spain at some point.

The Egyptian has sparked fresh speculation regarding his future by admitting that he cannot rule out a move to Santiago Bernabeu, or to Barcelona on the other side of a fierce Clasico divide.

Salah has told AS: “I think Madrid and Barcelona are two top clubs. 

“Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now I am focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool again.”

Aldridge is not surprised to see transfer talk rage around a global superstar, with Salah now forming part of world football’s elite, but he would like to see the 28-year-old steer clear of Madrid given that the Blancos – and Sergio Ramos in particular – dashed his Champions League dreams in controversial circumstances back in 2018.

“If you’re a player of Salah’s quality, you’re always going to be linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona and other such deals. Harry Kane will be the next one as Tottenham fall away. That’s just the way it is,” former Reds striker Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo.

“Sadio Mane is talked about too. We’re talking about one of the very best forwards in the world. Mane, Salah - they’re always going to be linked with Real Madrid.

“Personally, I think after the experience of the Champions League final and the way Ramos treated him, I’d have had a hatred for Real Madrid if it was me, after that incident. It wouldn’t appeal to me but I wouldn’t want to leave Liverpool anyway.

“It’s up to Jurgen Klopp and what he wants. You have to trust the manager to deal with such situations when they arise in the right way. Players are so strong now, if they want to go then they’ll go. End of story.

“But Liverpool have got the best front three in the world, that goes without saying. Tottenham have got a fantastic front three and there’s other clubs as well, but you wouldn’t swap Salah, Mane or Firmino for anyone.”

Salah stepped off the bench to bag a record-setting brace for Liverpool in their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Sadio Mane less than impressed at having to make way for a club colleague that he has not always seen eye-to-eye with.

Aldridge has no issue with a public display of frustration from a Senegalese winger, adding: “I’m made up when players don’t want to come off, I used to do it all the time. I never wanted to come off, especially for Ireland. Jack Charlton always used to take me off with 15 minutes to go in a lot of games and I used to hate it and have a little go at Jack.

“But he knew what was best for me and I’m sure Jurgen has told Sadio, ‘I’m protecting you, I need you, you’re vital for me. I just don’t want you to get over-worked or injured.’

“That will have been the only reason and it was great to see his reaction because he’s hungry for goals. He’s not been scoring lately and he’s got his first goal back, that’s all it is.

“He wanted more and I have no problem with that.”

Young midfielder Danial Amier was officially unveiled as the latest signing for Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) on Tuesday morning as he adds to the plethora of options available to the seven-time Malaysia Super Champions for the 2021 season and beyond.

Moving away from Felda United, the 23-year-old central midfielder who is also a Malaysian international has inked a 2-year contract with the Southern Tigers, giving him a chance to not only compete for the highest honours in the country but also a chance to feature in the AFC Champions League.

Club owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) could not hide his delight in his latest capture and firmly believes that Danial is one for the long-term as JDT begins the a phase of replacements for the local players who have or are close to the wrong side of 30.

“We’re very excited to have him (Danial). To me it’s a great honour and pleasure to have a player who is not only talented but one who is willing to take the challenge at JDT because we all know that JDT is an established club that is continuing to improve," said TMJ during the press conference.

"We know it’s tough to be in the JDT squad where there are a lot of great players but what I admire about Danial is the fighting spirit that he has to face the challenge. I think he has made the right decision to join the best club in the country.

And a tough fight Danial will have when he joins the team properly for pre-season training in the coming weeks. A regular starter at Felda under Nidzam Jamil, things will not be that straight-forward for him at the new club where he has to duke it out with the best in the country.

Hariss Harun, Afiq Fazail, Leandro Velazquez, Nazmi Faiz, Syamer Kutty Abba, Ignacio (Natxo) Insa and Gary Steven Robbat are those that will compete with Danial for the central midfield berth, assuming JDT maintain their preferred 4-3-3 formation for the coming season.

But Danial has had more than a year to at least prepare mentally for this new challenge as it is widely known that JDT attempted to sign him before the start of the 2019 season. It is clear what Danial brings to the party and with him being to operate in at least two of the three midfield roles, there's little to suggest he would not get his playing time.

“I was surprised when I found out that JDT were interested because it’s not an honour that many players get to experience. It became a big motivation for me to work harder, to change myself, to change my mentality - all for me to arrive here," explained Danial.

“Of course I knew coming in that JDT has great players with great foreign players. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and be in a team where I know I can grow and develop myself. It’s a challenge to myself to be better and prove myself during training and where I get the opportunity on the pitch.

“I chose JDT for a lot of reasons. I have good friends here who have succeeded and they told me that it will be good for me to come here and grow. It’s only fair when an employer spends the time and money to get a player, they want something back in return. It’s up to me to be prepared and face the challenges.

“In any team, if we don’t fight for our place then you will only get to sit on the bench. Even at Felda, I’ve been put on the bench. It will be tougher at JDT but sitting on the bench it’s not something I’m thinking about because I would not be here if I only think of that."

Head coach Benni McCarthy believes that Siyabonga Nomvethe ticks all the right boxes in his capacity as the new AmaZulu assistant coach.

Nomvethe was announced as the new Usuthu coach last week and the first game he and newly-appointed head coach McCarthy took charge of together, against Chippa United, ended in a 3-1 win at the Kings Park Stadium.

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker Nomvethe enjoyed an illustrious career as a player although he did not have any previous top-flight coaching experience.

However, as McCarthy points out, there are many reasons why Nomvethe is a perfect fit for his home-town club, whom he played for between 2016 and 2019, shortly before his retirement.

Nomvethe spent his final season as a player at second-tier side Uthongathi and scored his final goal at the age of 43.

"You know Nomvethe ‘Bhele’, I’ve asked him to join my coaching staff and he has been a breath of fresh air," McCarthy said, as quoted by Farpost.

"He still looks like a player and still behaves like he fits in the group with the team.

“I think it’s just so nice that you have someone from Durban, someone from the township, someone that came through the ranks and has played at the highest level, a Bafana legend."

With McCarthy and Nomvethe having previously played together for the national team, the fit at AmaZulu seems a natural and easy one, which could reap rewards if they are able to transmit that energy to the players.

“Bhele and I, two young guys who a lot of people think they don’t have what it takes, we just had fun with it, and it showed in the way the team played," McCarthy added.

"And they know this is going to be a fun team, this is the team that wants to play football to entertain the fans and football to score goals and to win matches.

“When you’ve got two guys that have done it at the highest level, sitting together, working together, what more can you ask for?"

Kepa Arrizabalaga has become a “tough sell” for Chelsea, admits Robert Green, with error-strewn performances from a £71 million ($95m) goalkeeper meaning that the Blues may find it difficult to find any takers in January.

Frank Lampard is expected to seek out suitors for a Spain international when the transfer window re-opens.

Kepa has slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, with Edouard Mendy drafted in over the summer to take his place between the sticks.

A 26-year-old custodian struggling for confidence could do with finding regular game time elsewhere in 2021, but attracting interest may prove tricky.

Green expects that to be the case, with there a chance – given the financial factors involved – that even a loan agreement will be out of reach.

“It’s a tough sell. It’s a numbers thing,” former Blues keeper Green told The Athletic.

“Chelsea and [their director] Marina Granovskaia are not in the business of losing money.

“They have an asset which is depreciating greatly but with football clubs in the financial state they’re in, it’s going to be tough to put something together.

“I’m not even talking just about selling, even a loan is going to be a struggle.

“The transfer fee and the wages [believed to be around £170,000 a week] is the biggest obstacle to resolving the situation.”

Green added on the lack of options available to Kepa, with clubs around the world prioritising other areas for strengthening in the middle of a season: “Someone has to have a real shortage and if someone goes, then a slot from the selling club also has to be filled. That’s why it rarely happens. 

“If you’ve got money to spend on fees and wages in January, invariably, you will spend it on a striker or an attacking player. You’re usually covered for keepers in a season, so to need one is unlikely and on the financial side of it, it is very rare you spend your budget on a keeper.

“If you’re a club, especially one struggling at the bottom, your main thinking is, ‘I don’t need someone to save me 15 goals’. You’re thinking, ‘I want one to score 15 goals’.

“This mindset exists because, as a keeper, you’re not seen to be creating something — you’re just stopping something. If you make a save, people will say ‘he should have saved that’. It’s quickly forgotten. Should a striker do a bit of skill and fire one in from 25 yards, people think, ‘If he does stuff like that a number of times, we stay up, achieve our ambitions’.”

Kepa started the season as Chelsea’s No.1, as Lampard closed in on Mendy, but has seen just one Champions League appearance – in a 1-1 draw with Krasnodar – since the middle of October.

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have become the new Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham, admits a man who formed part of that fearsome attacking unit for England, with Spurs boasting one of the most devastating strike forces in world football.

Jose Mourinho has been putting that firepower to good use in the 2020-21 campaign, with his leading frontmen netting 20 Premier League goals between them.

Kane has also chipped in with a healthy haul of 10 assists – 13 in all competitions – as he embraces a new role in a creative No.10 berth.

Son has been the main beneficiary of the England captain’s vision and passing ability, with the South Korea international hitting a serious purple patch, but Spurs are thriving as a collective.

Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, knows what it feels like to form part of productive pairings in the final third and sees similarities between Tottenham’s favoured options and the partnership he struck up with ex-Spurs and Manchester United star Sheringham.

“They are both world-class forwards, and are so in tune with each other's game that they have a picture in their head of what the other is doing before the ball arrives, and it is just a matter of one of them picking the other out,” Newcastle legend Shearer told BBC Sport of Kane and Son.

“The fact that Son is so clinical means that few of the chances he makes for him are wasted, and vice versa.

“Their partnership reminds me of the one I was lucky enough to have with Teddy Sheringham for England. He knew exactly what I was going to do, and I was the same was him.

“I had some excellent striker partners at club and also international level but Teddy was brilliant because he was so clever. He did not have great pace, but it didn't matter because he thought a second or two ahead of everyone else and he knew exactly when to pick his pass.

“He was unbelievable at dropping deep and finding me and, as a striker, it makes such a difference when you know that pass is coming.

“If Teddy was deep and got on the ball, or was about to, I knew he would be trying to find me so I would make my run. When you watch Son with Kane, he does exactly the same.

“It is a sign of how good any player is that, even if the opposition know what he is going to do, they still find it difficult to stop him. That was the case for Teddy, and it is the same for Kane now.”

Shearer has also hailed Kane’s shift from out-and-out goalscorer to game-changing deep-lying frontman, with the former England skipper adding on the man who fills that armband at present: “A lot of strikers do change their game as they get older, often because they don't have any choice.

“I became more of a hold-up player later in my career, and did more of my work between the 18-yard lines rather than running out wide and hitting the channels. I had to do that, because I had a couple of serious injuries and I lost a yard of pace.

“Fortunately there is no sign of that happening with Kane. He is only 27 and while he is adding different aspects to his game and growing into a more rounded striker, he is doing it without losing the most important thing - goals.

“He is playing the Sheringham role, but still scoring too. That's a sign of what a fantastic player he is, and how well he is managing his game. He is choosing the right moments to get forward, then has the same superb finishing ability when he gets there.”

Harry Maguire has hailed "magnificent" Scott McTominay for his star turn against Leeds United, describing the Manchester United midfielder's performance as one of the best he's ever seen.

McTominay scored his first two Premier League goals of the season in quick succession to set United on their way to a thrilling 6-2 win in Sunday's Pennines derby clash.

The Scotland international's perfectly placed strike from just outside the box opened the scoring with two minutes on the clock, and he notched his second 60 seconds later as he took an Anthony Martial pass in his stride before producing an expert finish.

The 24-year-old is now the only player in the history of the top-flight to find the net twice in the opening three minutes of a match, with his stunning contribution in the final third paving the way for his team-mates to run rampant at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes also grabbed a brace, with goals from Victor Lindelof and Daniel James rounding off a comprehensive victory that ensured that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men moved up to third in the top-flight standings.

Maguire was left in awe by McTominay's all-action display, and has reserved special praise for his team-mate ahead of the Red Devils' trip to Everton in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

“You’ve seen in recent months how we’ve been relying on the forward lads in [Marcus] Rash[ford] and Bruno, so for Scott to score was great. He was magnificent – one of the best performances I’ve seen and played with on the pitch from a central midfielder,” The United captain told the club's official website.

“He deserved his two goals and it’s nice for Victor [Lindelof] to get on the scoresheet as well, it’s something we’ve worked on - a great touch from Anto[ny Martial] at the front post.

“It’s nice to spread the goals around, we know we’ve got goals in the team and it was a great night for players to get on the scoresheet. But more importantly, everyone is happy with the performance, the six goals and the three points.”

Maguire added on the Manchester outfit's healthy position in the Premier League table amid talk of a title challenge: “I think it’s just important to keep winning games and looking after your own points tally.

“You can get ahead of yourself in terms of looking at other people’s results and you just need to look after yourself. If you keep winning games and putting three points on the table then you’ll be there or thereabouts.

“We’re not getting carried away, as I said. We had a big win [against Leeds] but there is lots of improvement we need to make to make sure we’re challenging at the end of the season. That’s what we’ve got to aim for.”

Asked how important it is for United to progress in the League Cup on Wednesday as Solskjaer bids to bring a three-year trophy drought to an end, the 27-year-old responded: “It’s really important this season that we try and get our hands on silverware and win a trophy.

“At this club we’re expected to win trophies and we go into this game full of confidence from the result [last weekend]. We’ve got to start winning trophies, we haven’t won in the last two or three years now and it’s important. It’s an important competition for ourselves to build momentum and confidence.”