Sportingo.com’s Mark Apostolou brings daily coverage of the Premier League’s hot gossip.Â
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Straight after their ding-dong derby, Arsenal and Spurs go head to head again, this time in the pursuit of 18-year-old Burkina Faso international Charles Kabore (The Sun). The midfielder, who plays for French second division club Libourne-Saint-Seurin, is also interesting Chelsea.
Scouts from all three clubs have watched Kabore who could cost as little as half a million pounds. Arsene Wenger has a history of picking up such young talent so expect Arsenal to be leading the pack. But Kabore may opt for megabucks Chelsea or White Hart Lane, where at least he’ll get a game.
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has suddenly decided to give Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez a tongue lashing. Big Sam reckons Benitez is lucky to be in a job still after some poor finishes in the Premier League. According to Allardyce, it is only Rafa’s exploits in the Champions League that have saved his skin and the Spaniard is accused of failing to understand that the Premier League is what counts for English fans (Daily Mirror).
Where do I start with this one? Benitez’s finishes in the domestic league could hardly be considered poor and stating that the Champions League triumph and reaching the final last year kept him in the job is failing to see the momentous nature of these successes. If any manager took their club to such heights then they would expect to be in a job. You would be hard pressed to find any football fan who would consider Rafa’s reign as anything other than a success and one that seems to be growing ever upwards.
I also take it that these comments were made before Newcastle’s defeat to Derby County last night.
Upton Park fans would have been buoyed with the return to fitness and form of long-term injury-table occupant Dean Ashton. Now the West Ham striker has been given a huge England boost. Former Norwich man Ashton is on standby for an England SOS call – after being sent a suit by the FA yesterday (Daily Mirror).
This is good news for all concerned, although sending a Three Lions jacket round is an odd way to announce news of an international call-up. Let’s hope it’s not tempting fate and and that the 23-year-old Ashton can remain injury-free.
Former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann looks poised to do the unthinkable as he is said to be interested in taking Jose Mourinho’s job at Chelsea.
After snubbing former club Tottenham, a close friend has been quoted as saying: “He met with Peter Kenyon in Los Angeles earlier this year and is still very, very interested in Chelsea. He thinks he has a good chance of getting the job if and when Mourinho leaves.” (Daily Express)
Let’s nip this in the bud, Chelsea would be mad to alienate their most successful manager ever and Klinsmann wants to stay in the States. Bingo, that’s summed that one up!