United delay Varane contract decision

Manchester United have decided to delay Raphael Varane’s contract renewal.

Varane’s contract expires in June and was about to get a one-year extension. However, the management is waiting until they have the agenda of new 25 per cent owners INEOS, under the chairmanship of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

INEOS want to appoint a new Sporting Director and also review the position of coach Erik Ten Hag at the end of the season. This will determine whether Varane stays. Jonny Evans is in the same position and at 36, he has already played 20 times this season.

Varane has played nine of the last 11. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton’s contract runs out in the summer and United might also release full-back Brandon Williams, who is on loan at Ipswich. Scott McTominay’s contract is up next year and again, United have not decided whether to trigger his years extension.

However, there will be no lack of offers from other Premier League clubs should he become available.

Chelsea frustrate coach and fans over Gallagher

Crowd favourite Conor Gallagher has made his wishes known to Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues’ management. He wants to stay at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino has also made his position clear…he wants to keep the midfielder. Why is Chelsea stalling on offering him a new contract?

His two match-winning two goals at Crystal Palace brought him to the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate once again. Gallagher has captained Chelsea in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell and he was proud to do so.

He causes no trouble off the pitch, is polite and friendly and is well-liked by his teammates. His energy in chasing every ball has made him one of Pochettino’s favourites.

So what is owner Todd Boehly’s problem? Why hasn’t he put together a decent contractural package?

The owner expects Chelsea to be in the top four as soon as possible. Pochettino might not be in charge to take them there but it also reflects on Gallagher.

Despite his commitment on the pitch, the management is questioning his technical ability. Very often his main contribution is winning the ball from an opponent and getting Chelsea high up the pitch. The management questions his abilities once he has the ball.

The management contradict themselves claiming that Gallagher wants more than £150k a week and they say they cannot break current financial rules. However, Reece James was awarded £250k a week just over a year ago. The fact is, Chelsea could pay Gallagher more if they wanted to.

He is entering the final 12 months of his contract and could have been sold for £50m in January. His value with an ever-shortening contract could halve by the summer transfer period. Chelsea are known for selling their homegrown players and banking the money… Amando Broja and Mason Mount are two cases in point and Gallagher could be the next one to leave.

Moyes' future at West Ham uncertain

David Moyes said his future at West Ham would work out and the closure of the January transfer window, which saw Kalvin Phillips arrive from Manchester City, would see an end to speculation that he could lose his job.

Regrettably, those words look unwise as the Hammers have hit a wretched run of form. The board is now considering his position on the back of a 6-0 home thrashing by London rivals Arsenal. Moyes is in the final five months of his contract.

West did not replace Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals and the Hammers have paid the price. They are still eighth in the Premier League, five points off the top six and are still in the hunt for European football. The hesitation in signing a new contract, however, comes at the back of a winless run of seven games.

The next four weeks will probably decide his future. There is hope for the coach since four of those matches are against sides in the bottom seven, beginning with an away match at Nottingham Forest this Saturday.

Spanish wonderkid watched by Arsenal

Arsenal have dispatched scouts to watch 21-year-old Athletico Bilbao winger Nico Williams.

The attacking midfielder has already played for Spain and fancies the Premier League.

Ipswich’s McKenna rejects Palace deal

Crystal Palace have approached Championship side Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna to take over as coach at Selhurst Park. Roy Hodgson has been going through a tough time at Palace. Against Brighton, half the visiting fans walked out at halftime as Palace trailed 3-0.

Banners calling for the removal of the current management have been displayed at matches by the supporters and Palace lost again at home to Chelsea on Monday.

McKenna has refused the offer and pledged his loyalty to Ipswich at least until the end of this season when his decision will possibly depend on whether or not they are promoted. Palace, I understand, were willing to wait until the end of the season but three wins in 19 matches has forced their hand to replace Hodgson now.

Alcantara sidelined again

Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara is out injured again. The 32-year-old is understood to have felt muscle pain in his comeback at Arsenal, another in a long line of injuries since joining the Reds from Bayern Munich for £20m in 2020. His contract ends at the end of the season and there’s no extension arranged.

Broja could be cheap deal for Fulham

Fulham’s loan signing of Chelsea’s Armando Broja could well cost them only half the agreed amount of £4m. It is all based on the number of games the forward plays. Broja has not impressed Fulham in training and only brought him on in the 72nd minute against Bournemouth, where he was impactless.

Guardiola says any top team can become champions

Despite their current run of form and Liverpool’s hiccup against Arsenal, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola believes the title is more than a three-horse race.

Aston Villa are just five points behind leaders Liverpool and Arsenal are only two behind the leaders. City occupy second place on goal difference but have a game in hand. This season, more than any other I can remember, has the added excitement of most of the top teams being capable of winning against their rivals.

There is a strong possibility that fewer points will be needed to win the trophy this year and it is already impossible that any team can match City’s 100 points in 2018.

Arsenal's Marquinhos going to South America

A loan deal has been set up by Arsenal for Marquinhos to join Brazilian club Fluminense. The deal has a clause that gives Fluminense an option to buy the winger at the end of the season. This is the third time he has been loaned out after French club Nantes and Championship side Norwich.