Dortmund expect to lose Sancho to premier league club

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund expect to lose England winger Jadon Sancho to a Premier League club with both Manchester United and City reportedly tracking the teenager, director of sport Michael Zorc has admitted.

After turning down a new Manchester City contract to join Dortmund in August 2017, Sancho, still only 19, made his England debut last October on the back of stunning performances for the German club.

He has scored 18 goals with 29 assists in 64 games for Dortmund who in the current market can expect around 100 million euros ($109 million) for Sancho having paid eight million pounds for him after he signed a five-year deal until June 2022.

According to the British media, United and ex-club City are monitoring him.

Sancho has made a great start to the season with four goals and six assists in nine games and Dortmund have reportedly doubled his salary to six million euros per year.

Many fans, however, do not expect the club to hold onto the fleet-footed winger for much longer and Zorc agrees that “the really top clubs” are “not blind”.

“You don’t have to be a prophet to say that Jadon will certainly not be playing here for another five years,” said the Dortmund boss ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League game away to Slavia Prague.

Sancho had yet to turn 18 when he played his first Bundesliga game over 90 minutes in January 2018 — a chance he most likely would not have had so young in England.

“But he knows very well that he took a positive step in his development at Borussia Dortmund,” added Zorc.

“I doubt that this would be possible with top English clubs.

“We trust players from an early age and are not afraid to let them play. He (Sancho) acknowledges that.”

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De Bruyne sidelined by groin injury

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will miss Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Dinamo Zagreb with a groin injury that could also see him miss Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Wolves.

The Belgian has been in sensational form for the English champions, scoring twice and providing nine assists in just nine appearances this season.

“Kevin De Bruyne suffered a groin injury in the win over Everton and will miss tonight’s game against Dinamo Zagreb,” City said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The extent of his layoff depends on how well he responds to the rehabilitation programme overseen by the Club’s medical staff.”

De Bruyne missed the majority of last season due to two serious knee injuries.

However, this latest setback is not expected to keep him out for long.

After Wolves’ visit to the Etihad on Sunday, City have a two-week layoff for an international break before travelling to Crystal Palace on October 19.

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Klopp says Salzburg won’t take Liverpool by surprise

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp said Tuesday that he is determined that unfancied Salzburg spring no surprises on  Liverpool as the long-time admirer of the Austrian champions prepares for a key Champions league clash at Anfield.

Salzburg are top of Group E after thrashing Genk 6-2 in their Champions League opener two weeks ago, while the Reds are under pressure to bounce back with a win after losing 2-0 at Napoli.

Teenage sensation Erling Braut Haaland scored a sensational hat-trick in the Genk mauling, and Liverpool are well acquainted with Salzburg’s development of young players, with Reds duo Sadio Mane and Naby Keita both having had spells with Salzburg earlier in their careers.

“We have to start winning and we should not waste time. It is really tough and they will surprise a lot of people, tomorrow night and in the future,” said Klopp on Tuesday.

“The way Salzburg play is made to surprise bigger teams. But if there is anybody in the world who knows most about the way they play, how they do (it), what they do, it’s probably me.

“I’ve followed their way for a long, long time. I had a similar idea when I started as a manager.”

Liverpool will again look to their fortress home ground as a lift, with Klopp’s men unbeaten at Anfield in the Premier League or Champions League since April 2017.

That form has also helped Liverpool open up a five-point lead over Manchester City in England. 

But Mane insisted ending a 30-year-wait to win a league title will not be given precedence over retaining their Champions League crown.

“Both are important for me. Both are our target. We are Liverpool, we have a great team so I don’t think we should have a problem about it,” said the Senegalese, who is looking forward to facing his former club. 

“It’s a special game for me. I’ve been playing for two years in Salzburg. Now I play against them and I’m sure they will be ready for me.”

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Shankland earns first Scotland call-up as Tierney misses out

Glasgow (AFP) – Lawrence Shankland was rewarded for his stunning form in Scotland’s second tier for Dundee United with a first international call-up by Scotland boss Steve Clarke on Tuesday.

However, there is still no place for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.

Shankland, 24, has been selected for next month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and San Marino after netting 15 goals in 12 appearances for United following his summer switch from Ayr.

“Lawrence is in form and deserves his chance,” said Clarke, who admitted he is not “over-burdened with top strikers.”

“The best way to look at him and gauge what level he is at is to bring him into the squad.

“It’s an opportunity to have him in the group, see how he works in the squad and hopefully he can score a few goals for us.”

Tierney, who became the most expensive Scottish player of all-time when he made a £25 million ($31 million) move from Celtic in August, is still short of match fitness after recovering from a hernia operation.

And Clarke acknowledged he had bowed to Arsenal’s wishes after Tierney made his comeback in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest last week.

“I was close to selecting Kieran,” added Clarke.

“Arsenal have indicated to us they would prefer us not to select him at this time because he has only played 70 minutes of football.”

After defeats to Russia and Belgium at home last month left Scotland second bottom of Group I, Clarke admitted his side’s realistic chances of automatic qualification are now gone.

Instead, he is focusing on preparing for a playoff, earned via the Nations League, next March.

Scotland face Russia in Moscow on October 10 before hosting San Marino three days later.

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Current transfer fees are “unbelievable”, says Bayern’s record signing

Berlin (AFP) – Lucas Hernandez, the most expensive signing in Bayern Munich’s history, says “unbelievable” fees are currently being paid on the transfer market, putting pressure on the players concerned to justify the astronomical sums.

The 23-year-old 2018 World Cup winner signed for 80 million euros ($87.2 million) from Atletico Madrid and  became a Bayern player in July after recovering from knee surgery in March.

The Frenchman cost nearly double the price of Bayern’s previous record signings — Corentin Tolisso, from Lyon in 2017/18 for 41.5 million euros, and Javi Martinez for 40 million euros from Bilbao in 2012/13.

The price Bayern paid for Hernandez is dwarfed by the world record 220 million euros Paris Saint Germain paid Barcelona for Brazil forward Neymar in August 2017.

“Transfer fees have recently become more and more exaggerated. Unbelievable sums are being paid,” Hernandez told broadcaster DAZN.

He has played the full 90 minutes in four of his last seven games and is set to feature when the Bundesliga leaders play Tottenham Hotspur away in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Hernandez says he is obliged to justify the price tag Bayern paid.

“Due to all the trust the club has placed in me with this sum, it is now up to me to pay it back on the pitch and to give my all,” he added.

“One day the club, should also be proud of the fact that they spent this money for me.”

He expects a tough away clash in London against Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs after helping Bayern win their opening Group B game 3-0 at home to Red Star Belgrade a fortnight ago when Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Olympiakos.

Striker Robert Lewandowski has scored in each of Bayern’s last eight games, leaving him with 12 goals in nine matches this season, with Philiipe Countinho, on loan from Barcelona, is superbly running Munich’s attack.

“It will be a huge and difficult game for us, but we have good players with high individual quality and we are a great team,” added Hernandez.

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Czechs lean on Slavia players for Euro qualifier against England

Prague (AFP) – Eight players from reigning Czech champions Slavia Prague have been called up to face England in next week’s Euro 2020 qualifier, Czech Republic coach Jaroslav Silhavy said Tuesday.

The Czechs face England on October 11 and Northern Ireland in a friendly three days later, both in Prague.

Seeking their seventh straight Euro appearance, the Czechs will be without two centre-backs, captain Marek Suchy from Bundesliga side Augsburg and Bristol City’s Tomas Kalas, who are both out injured.

“It’s not ideal when you lose your captain, but we have other options,” Silhavy told reporters.

Silhavy has called up the entire Slavia back line, including national team newcomer David Hovorka, and has not ruled out starting with it.

Defence was a cause for concern for the Czechs when they played against England at Wembley in March as they lost 5-0, suffering their worst defeat since the country’s independence in 1993.

England top Group A with 12 points from four games and a game in hand, while the Czechs sit in second on nine points from five games, a point ahead of Kosovo.

Slavia are top of the table in the Czech league, having earned nine wins and two draws in 11 games, conceding only two goals.

They stunned Inter Milan with a 1-1 Champions League draw at San Siro last month and face Borussia Dortmund in their next game on Wednesday.

Czech Republic squad:

Goalkeepers: Tomas Vaclik (Sevilla/ESP), Ondrej Kolar (Slavia Prague), Jiri Pavlenka (Bremen/GER) 

Defenders: Ondrej Celustka (Antalyaspor/TUR), Filip Novak (Trabzonspor/TUR), Pavel Kaderabek (Hoffenheim/GER), Ondrej Kudela (Slavia Prague), David Hovorka (Slavia Prague), Vladimir Coufal (Slavia Prague), Jan Boril (Slavia Prague), Jakub Brabec (Viktoria Pilsen)

Midfielders: Jakub Jankto (Sampdoria/ITA), Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague), Lukas Masopust (Slavia Prague), Josef Husbauer (Slavia Prague), David Pavelka (Kasimpasa/TUR), Alex Kral (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Vladimir Darida (Hertha/GER), Jan Kopic (Viktoria Pilsen), Ladislav Krejci (Bologna/ITA)

Strikers: Michael Krmencik (Viktoria Pilsen), Patrik Schick (Leipzig/GER)

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Italy midfielder Pellegrini out for two months after foot surgery

Milan (AFP) – Italy international midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini has been ruled out for two months after undergoing foot surgery, his Serie A club Roma said Tuesday.

“Pellegrini underwent a corrective procedure on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot,” the club said in a statement.

The surgery was successful and Pellegrini should “complete his recovery in around 60 days,” it added.

Pellegrini will miss Italy’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Greece in Rome on October 12, when the Azzurri could seal their spot in next year’s continental tournament.

The 23-year-old, who has 12 caps, scored his first goal for Italy in a Euro 2020 qualifying win over Armenia last month.

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