January Transfer Window: Club-by-Club Guide for the Premier League

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (AFP)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (AFP)
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January Transfer Window: Club-by-Club Guide for the Premier League

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (AFP)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. (AFP)

The winter transfer window opened on January 1 with most of the 20 clubs desperate to make signings that can shape their season. Here we look at the players they hope will arrive in the next month:

Arsenal

Arsène Wenger anticipates that he will be busier fielding inquires about fringe players in his squad – he would be open to moving a few out – but he would be interested in an addition if the opportunity presented itself. The want-away Alexis Sánchez will draw the focus. He might prefer to wait for a Bosman move in the summer but an offer from Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain would change the dynamic. Arsenal would be compelled to consider it.

Possible signings Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla).

Possible outgoings: Alexis Sánchez, Calum Chambers, Theo Walcott, Mathieu Debuchy, Chuba Akpom.

Estimated budget: £50m.

Bournemouth

Eddie Howe has scarcely found joy in January, previously stating the difficulty of getting value for money in the winter transfer window. A growing injury list may force his hand, however: bringing in a defender who can play across the back four would make sense. Harry Arter is of interest to West Ham United but Howe insists the midfielder is going nowhere.

Possible signings: Danny Ings (Liverpool), Firmin Ndombe Mubele (Rennes), Dujon Sterling (Chelsea, loan).

Possible outgoings: Lewis Grabban, Adam Federici (loan), Emerson Hyndman (loan), Connor Mahoney (loan).

Estimated budget: £15m.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Chris Hughton has said he will do minimal business in this window but will at least attempt to ease the burden on the striker Glenn Murray finding the net by pushing through a deal for Moussa Dembélé. They are not the only ones interested in the prolific Celtic forward, though, and may have to fight off Premier League rivals for the Frenchman’s signature. He will not come cheap, with the Scottish champions intent on holding out for around £20m.

Possible signings: Moussa Dembélé (Celtic), Ze Luis (Spartak Moscow).

Possible outgoings Jiri Skalak (loan), Jamie Murphy (loan).

Estimated budget: £15m.

Burnley

Burnley are in a strong position, they have a small but effective squad and have shown themselves able to compete. Money is available should Sean Dyche wish to strengthen – last January they spent a club record £13m on Robbie Brady, who is now out injured for the rest of the season – although short-term fixes are unlikely. Dyche prefers to identify targets who will fit in with the rest of the squad and bring them in when they become available. Panic buying is not Burnley’s style.

Possible signings: Maybe a wide player to cover for Brady’s absence. Central defense is also a potential area of concern.

Possible outgoings: None seem imminent.

Estimated budget: Up to £20m.

Chelsea

Chelsea will effectively resume where they left off back in August, attempting to persuade Ross Barkley to join from Everton and then seeking to recruit a new left wing-back to compete with Marcos Alonso. Juventus’s Alex Sandro, targeted in the summer, may be more inclined to move now, although it is the potential pursuit of Monaco’s Thomas Lemar that is most intriguing. The France international has been courted by clubs in England and the reigning Ligue 1 champions, now with Michael Emenalo as their sporting director after he decided to leave a similar role at Stamford Bridge, may consider a sale albeit for a hefty price. Certainly, Antonio Conte will be pushing for significant reinforcements.

Possible signings: Ross Barkley (Everton), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Philipp Max (Augsburg), Alex Telles (Porto).

Possible outgoings: Charly Musonda, David Luiz, Michy Batshuayi.

Estimated budget: Roman Abramovich will find funds.

Crystal Palace

Palace will have to revisit their significant mid-season spending of last term if they are to stave off the threat of relegation, with transfer funds “ringfenced” according to the chairman, Steve Parish, and at least three major arrivals expected. The sporting director, Dougie Freedman, has been charged with securing the deals. The manager, Roy Hodgson, said: “We have only got two goalkeepers in the club, which is nowhere near enough for Premier League football. We have only one recognized center-forward and, in central midfield, we don’t have the amount of cover that is necessary at this level.” Three signings would be ideal.

Possible signings: Tomas Holy (Gillingham), Kevin Trapp (PSG), Diego López (Espanyol), Khouma Babacar (Fiorentina), Danny Ings (Liverpool), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Islam Slimani (Leicester), Gareth Barry (West Bromwich Albion).

Possible outgoings: Patrick van Aanholt, Jordon Mutch, Lee Chung-yong, Timothy Fosu-Mensah (possible loan return), Freddie Ladapo.

Estimated budget: The club’s major shareholders will find the funds required.

Everton

The pressure is on the director of football, Steve Walsh, to finally produce a replacement for Romelu Lukaku. Ronald Koeman made repeated calls for a proven striker to be included in Everton’s £140m overhaul of their squad in the summer and paid with his job when one did not materialize, and the team floundered. His successor, Sam Allardyce, has reiterated that request and is also seeking left-sided defensive cover – another Koeman wish – while looking to trim what he considers a bloated squad.

Possible signings: Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla).

Possible outgoings: Ross Barkley, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramírez, Oumar Niasse, Kevin Mirallas, Muhamed Besic.

Estimated budget: £40m, plus player sales.

Huddersfield Town

The club will go into January without a head of football operations, having decided there was no need to rush into an appointment after the departure of David Moss from the role in October. With most of last summer’s record outlay of £40m looking shrewd, major recruitment does not seem to be an urgent requirement, although some positions could do with strengthening. The injury to Elias Kachunga makes a dangerous wide player more of a priority. A central creator would also be welcome, given Kasey Palmer’s injury trouble so far this season, and there is also scope for improving cover for the central defensive pair of Christopher Schindler and Mathias Jorgensenin the center of defense.

Possible signings: Ben Woodburn on loan (Liverpool), Terence Kongolo (Monaco).

Possible outgoings: None planned but interest in Christopher Schindler would be no surprise.

Estimated budget: £20m.

Leicester City

After spending heavily in the summer and climbing up the table on the back of Claude Puel’s appointment in October, Leicester are under no real pressure to throw money at this window, especially as they have a new signing to come into the team in the shape of Adrien Silva, whose £22m move from Sporting Lisbon on deadline day failed to go through in time. One area where Leicester would like to strengthen is at right-back but that is more of a long-term target.

Possible signings: André Almeida ( Benfica).

Possible outgoings: Islam Slimani, Ahmed Musa.

Estimated budget: £15m.

Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp’s patience, and Liverpool’s financial largesse, has paid off with the defensive world record £75m acquisition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, the manager’s backline priority from the summer. Another target from the previous window, Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, could also be revisited this month but the most important business is keeping Philippe Coutinho. Liverpool have stood firm in the face of Barcelona’s dogged pursuit and will be expected to maintain that stance with a place in the last 16 of the Champions League secure.

Possible signings: Thomas Lemar (Monaco).

Possible outgoings: Danny Ings, Daniel Sturridge, Marko Grujic, Lazar Markovic, Ben Woodburn, Harry Wilson.

Estimated budget: £100m, plus player sales.

Manchester City

What do you buy for the runaway, record-breaking leaders? A center-back to cover the glaring weakness in a department that includes the chronically injured Vincent Kompany, the currently injured John Stones and the for-sale Eliaquim Mangala. Pep Guardiola is keen to recruit for the position as he continues to compete in all four competitions, including the Champions League, which the manager is intent on impressing in after last season’s dismal last-16 exit. If he fails to strengthen he will be disappointed. And might striking backup be required given the injury to Gabriel Jesus?

Possible signings: Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion), Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal).

Possible outgoings: Eliaquim Mangala.

Estimated budget: £100m-plus.

Manchester United

José Mourinho needs a prolific finisher to share the burden with Romelu Lukaku because of his side’s profligacy in front of goal but whether he will move in January is in the balance. He admires Arsenal’s Mesut Özil, who is out of contract in the summer, but the German is hardly renowned for his finishing. Fulham’s 17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon is another potential recruit, although he would be a signing for the future. It is worth adding that Mourinho is no fan of the winter window.

Possible signings: Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham).

Possible outgoings: No one, although for the right player Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be a makeweight in any deal.

Estimated budget: £100m-plus.

Newcastle United

In an ideal world, Rafael Benítez would sign a goalkeeper, a left-back, a winger, a No10 and a prolific center-forward. In reality, Newcastle United is not nirvana and Amanda Staveley’s mooted takeover is still to be completed, leaving Mike Ashley controlling the purse strings. Benítez has told the current owner that, without reinforcement, the team will be in real relegation peril this month but Ashley is a high-stakes gambler; will he heed the warning? Let alone the manager’s demand that all transfer business be completed by January 20.

Possible incomings: Uncertain but expect two domestic loans, including Kenedy, the Chelsea left winger.

Possible outgoings: Jack Colback, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Estimated budget: Unclear. Benítez was hoping for £20m but seems likely to have to settle for considerably less.

Southampton

With Virgil van Dijk finally heading to Liverpool for a £75m fee, Mauricio Pellegrino is targeting at least two signings in a bid to avoid a relegation battle. Despite Van Dijk’s departure, the priority will be to add firepower and attacking creativity, and there are big names available who may be tempted by the chance of pre-World Cup game time. With plenty of underachievers already in his squad and dissent from supporters growing, Pellegrino must choose his new recruits wisely.

Possible signings: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Nicolás Gaitán (Atlético Madrid).

Possible outgoings: Ryan Bertrand, Matt Targett.

Estimated budget: £30m, with some players arriving on loan.

Stoke City

The club have not spent particularly heavily nor particularly well in recent transfer windows but recognize that a failure to trade smart in January would leave them at risk of relegation. They can ill afford more mistakes and they will be keen to bat off any inquiries for Joe Allen or Jack Butland. The most porous defense in the Premier League would benefit, in particular, from a solid right-back, enhanced cover in the center and better protection from midfield. Up front Mark Hughes has long lacked a sharp striker. And there is a shortage of pace in all areas. Overall, the sense is the club will aim to solve their problems on the cheap and ultimately that will be their downfall.

Possible signings: Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham), Danny Ings (Liverpool).

Possible outgoings: Joe Allen, Saido Berahino.

Estimated budget: £15m plus loanees.

Swansea City

Favorites to be relegated, Swansea need to spend a small fortune to address all the weaknesses in their ill-equipped squad to have any chance of survival, yet the only money that will be made available in this window is the surplus cash left over from the summer. A creative midfielder, a winger and a proven striker are all priorities for the Premier League’s most toothless team. But, realistically, what caliber of player can Swansea hope to attract?

Possible signings: André Ayewand Diafra Sakho (West Ham), Andy Yiadom (Barnsley).

Possible outgoings: Alfie Mawson, Oli McBurnie, Ki Sung-yueng.

Estimated budget: £10m-£20m.

Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino has the full complement of 17 foreign players in his Champions League squad and that is before Érik Lamela is reintegrated. It means somebody will be squeezed out, possibly Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, and that Pochettino will prioritize the English market for any signings. The manager has said he would like to use January to prepare for the more important summer window, when quick business will be essential, so he would be open to a Dele Alli-style signing with a loan-back option.

Possible signings: Ross Barkley (Everton), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham).

Possible outgoings: Georges-Kévin Nkoudou.

Estimated budget: £25m.

Watford

The club will assess Nathaniel Chalobah’s recuperation from a knee injury – he is expected to return in late January – before deciding whether they need to recruit a defensive midfielder. They are also seeking alternative options in attack but are not expecting to conduct significant business unless one of their long-term targets becomes available or a particularly lucrative sale boosts their budget. They will not sell any regular members of the starting XI but fringe players are available.

Possible signings: Pontus Dahlberg (IFK Gothenberg).

Possible outgoings: Étienne Capoue, Isaac Success, Stefano Okaka, Brice Dja Djédjé.

Estimated budget: Less than £10m, with loans preferred unless there are significant sales.

West Bromwich Albion

Alan Pardew will have nothing like the lavish transfer pot Tony Pulis was afforded in the summer but his priorities are clear enough. West Brom need a striker and, perhaps, someone else who can play across the frontline or in behind. Neither would come cheap and difficult decisions may be required in order to do the right deals. Jonny Evans remains sought-after and Pardew has admitted he must be “realistic” about the center-back's future. Grzegorz Krychowiak, a thus-far unsuccessful loan signing from PSG, could yet return six months early in order to free up more cash.

Possible signings: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle), Danny Ings (Liverpool), Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield).

Possible outgoings: Grzegorz Krychowiak (return to PSG from loan), Jonny Evans (Arsenal/Manchester United/Everton).

Estimated budget: £5m to £10m – with the potential to rise if players depart.

West Ham United

David Moyes is not happy with the balance of his squad and has told his bosses that West Ham must improve their survival hopes by making a few additions. His team have conceded 38 Premier League goals already, so it is not a surprise that Moyes wants to strengthen in defense and midfield before thinking about reinforcements in attack. However, West Ham have disappointed in recent windows.

Possible signings: Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Lamine Koné (Sunderland), Alfie Mawson (Swansea City), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla), André Schürrle (Borussia Dortmund).

Possible outgoings: Reece Oxford, Diafra Sakho.

Estimated budget: £25m – unless there are any sales.

The Guardian Sport



Tunisia’s Jabeur Bounces Back at French Open

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates winning her first round match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates winning her first round match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Tunisia’s Jabeur Bounces Back at French Open

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates winning her first round match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2023 Tunisia's Ons Jabeur celebrates winning her first round match against Italy's Lucia Bronzetti REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Ons Jabeur got a do-over on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open and won this time.

A year after her first-round exit, the No. 7 seed Jabeur beat Italy's Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-1 to help erase some bad memories and answer questions about a recent calf injury.

The Tunisian, a crowd favorite in Paris, smiled and expressed relief in not repeating last year's mistake, when she lost to Magda Linette of Poland.

"I’m very happy to win my first match on Philippe Chatrier — because I’ve never won here,” Jabeur said on court about the clay-court tournament's main stadium.

Now she can focus on trying to win her first major. She was runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

The 28-year-old Jabeur has also battled injuries this season. She had knee surgery after the Australian Open, and was then sidelined with a calf injury. She had stopped playing against top-ranked Iga Swiatek at the clay-court tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, in late April and then pulled out of the Madrid Open.

“It was a very difficult period for me after Stuttgart,” said Jabeur, adding that she's beginning to find her rhythm.


Kosovo Olympic Committee Seeks IOC Disciplinary Proceedings Against Djokovic 

Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
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Kosovo Olympic Committee Seeks IOC Disciplinary Proceedings Against Djokovic 

Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)

Kosovo Olympic authorities have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against Novak Djokovic, accusing the Serbian of stirring up political tension by saying "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" at the French Open.

Djokovic wrote the message on a camera lens following his first-round win on Monday, the same day that 30 NATO peacekeeping troops were hurt in clashes with Serb protesters in the Kosovo town of Zvecan - where Djokovic's father grew up.

Serbian authorities said 52 protesters were wounded in the clashes. The violence erupted after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb-majority area following elections that were boycotted by the Serbs.

The world number three later said he was against any kind of conflict but defended his statement and described Kosovo's situation as a "precedent".

"Novak Djokovic has yet again promoted the Serbian nationalists' propaganda and used the sport platform to do so," Ismet Krasniqi, president of Kosovo's Olympic Committee (KOK), said in a statement.

"The further post-match statements made by such a public figure without any feeling of remorse, directly result in raising the level of tension and violence between the two countries," he added, urging the IOC to investigate "by opening disciplinary proceedings against the athlete."

The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, Kosovo's tennis federation said Djokovic's comments were "regrettable", accusing him of using his status as a well-known personality to stir tensions.

NATO, which has some 4,000 soldiers currently in Kosovo, will send 700 extra troops to curb violence and put another battalion on high alert as unrest has intensified.

Djokovic, who is chasing a record 23rd Grand Slam title, is set to play his second-round match later on Wednesday against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.


Lyon’s Aouar Gets First Algeria Call-up After Switch from France

Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris St Germain - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - January 9, 2022 Olympique Lyonnais' Houssem Aouar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris St Germain - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - January 9, 2022 Olympique Lyonnais' Houssem Aouar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
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Lyon’s Aouar Gets First Algeria Call-up After Switch from France

Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris St Germain - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - January 9, 2022 Olympique Lyonnais' Houssem Aouar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris St Germain - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - January 9, 2022 Olympique Lyonnais' Houssem Aouar during the warm up before the match. (Reuters)

Olympique Lyon's Houssem Aouar has been called up to the Algeria squad for the first time ahead of games against Uganda and Tunisia, the national football association said on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old midfielder played one game for France - a friendly against Ukraine in 2020 - before switching allegiance to Algeria, where his parents were born, in March.

Algeria play Uganda in an Africa Cup on Nations qualifier on June 18 and host Tunisia in a friendly two days later.

Algeria, Cup of Nations champions in 1990 and 2019, have already secured qualification for the Finals of the next edition in Ivory Coast next January.


Bolt Desperate for Impactful Role in Track and Field 

Athletics - Sportsman, track and field legend Usain Bolt speaks to Reuters - Hotel Westin, Mexico City, Mexico - May 30, 2023 Usain Bolt talks during an interview. (Reuters)
Athletics - Sportsman, track and field legend Usain Bolt speaks to Reuters - Hotel Westin, Mexico City, Mexico - May 30, 2023 Usain Bolt talks during an interview. (Reuters)
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Bolt Desperate for Impactful Role in Track and Field 

Athletics - Sportsman, track and field legend Usain Bolt speaks to Reuters - Hotel Westin, Mexico City, Mexico - May 30, 2023 Usain Bolt talks during an interview. (Reuters)
Athletics - Sportsman, track and field legend Usain Bolt speaks to Reuters - Hotel Westin, Mexico City, Mexico - May 30, 2023 Usain Bolt talks during an interview. (Reuters)

Usain Bolt said he is desperate to play a role in reviving the sport that made him a global superstar but has experienced something of a decline since his retirement six years ago.

The Jamaican, who dominated men's sprinting for nearly a decade after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said he had found plenty to do to keep himself busy but was really keen to remain involved in sport.

"I spend my time doing a lot of family things, when it comes to track and field, not as much as I would want to but I still try and stay in touch with what is going on," the 36-year-old told Reuters.

"I'm still waiting on a position from (World Athletics), I've reached out to them and let them know I would love to make a bigger impact in sports, as long as they want me to.

"We've been in talks but we'll have to wait and see what comes around."

Bolt added that he was aware his personality was a vital ingredient in the success of track and field during his era but thought he could see signs that athletes like US sprinter Noah Lyles might be starting to fill the charisma gap.

"It's going to be a process. After me, it kind of went down because of who I was as a person, and how big my personality was," added the eight-times Olympic gold medallist.

"But I think over time it will be better. I think young athletes are coming up and I see a few personalities that are needed in sport, hopefully in the upcoming years it will change.

"Hopefully I can play a part and help the sport to grow."

There was disappointment at the crowds for last year's World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but Bolt thought that next year's Paris Olympics could be a special moment for the sport.

"Sometimes it's all about where it is, America is not the biggest track and field place," he said.

"I think Paris will be big, because it's accessible and I know Paris always has a good team and good athletes over the years. So I look forward to that."

After a decade of Bolt-inspired global dominance, Jamaica's men have failed to win a single track gold medal at the last two World Championships.

At this year's championships in Budapest, however, Bolt sees some promise of success in young sprinters Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake.

"Last year, Seville came fourth (in the 100m) so I was very impressed. Also now there's a young kid, Ackeem Blake, who is also stepping up. So I think that's a good start," the 11-times world champion said.

"Hopefully these two will motivate other youngsters to want to step up, and want to train harder and dedicate themselves."

Jamaica are still dominant in the women's sprints and Bolt said he would be keeping a close eye on compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the World Championships in August.

Fraser-Pryce, also 36, will be seeking a record-extending sixth world 100m title in Hungary, 14 years after making her debut in the global showpiece of track and field.

"I follow Shelly a lot because we came through the same era so to see her continue sprinting and coming back from having a child, that's impressive," said Bolt.


Man City's Guardiola Named LMA, Premier League Manager of the Year

31 May 2023, United Kingdom: A handout photo provided by the League Managers Association shows the winner of the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year: Pep Guardiola. (League Managers Association via PA Media/dpa)
31 May 2023, United Kingdom: A handout photo provided by the League Managers Association shows the winner of the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year: Pep Guardiola. (League Managers Association via PA Media/dpa)
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Man City's Guardiola Named LMA, Premier League Manager of the Year

31 May 2023, United Kingdom: A handout photo provided by the League Managers Association shows the winner of the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year: Pep Guardiola. (League Managers Association via PA Media/dpa)
31 May 2023, United Kingdom: A handout photo provided by the League Managers Association shows the winner of the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy for the LMA Manager of the Year: Pep Guardiola. (League Managers Association via PA Media/dpa)

Pep Guardiola was named the League Managers Association (LMA) and Premier League Manager of the Year on Tuesday after guiding Manchester City to the Premier League title.

Guardiola led City to their fifth league crown in six seasons and the club are set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday and Inter Milan in the Champions League final a week later.

"I am at an incredible football club and without all of the support that I have had throughout my time here, this would not have been possible," Guardiola said in a club statement.

Guardiola saw off competition from Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe, Burnley's Vincent Kompany and Plymouth Argyle's Steven Schumacher to win the LMA award.


Monfils Ranks Five-Set Comeback Win at French Open as One of His Best 

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2023 France's Gael Monfils celebrates winning his first round match against Argentina's Sebastian Baez. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2023 France's Gael Monfils celebrates winning his first round match against Argentina's Sebastian Baez. (Reuters)
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Monfils Ranks Five-Set Comeback Win at French Open as One of His Best 

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2023 France's Gael Monfils celebrates winning his first round match against Argentina's Sebastian Baez. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2023 France's Gael Monfils celebrates winning his first round match against Argentina's Sebastian Baez. (Reuters)

An exhausted Gael Monfils said his epic five-set comeback victory over Sebastian Baez at the French Open on Tuesday was one of the greatest matches of his career.

The 36-year-old Frenchman was one point away from going 5-0 down in the deciding set of the near four-hour match before mounting a sensational comeback to win 3-6 6-3 7-5 1-6 7-5 under the lights at Court Philippe Chatrier.

Monfils, who reached a career-high sixth in the world in 2016, last appeared at a Grand Slam in the 2022 Australian Open quarter-finals before missing much of last season due to heel surgery.

He said Tuesday's match would live long in the memory.

"It's definitely in like top two (matches in my career)," Monfils said at his press conference after the match ended after midnight.

"Of course this one is another flavor. I'm older and (had) even less chances to win this match today. Top two, top one. It was a great atmosphere tonight."

Monfils, who lost in the second round in 2021 and is now ranked number 394, was visibly cramping at the end of the match and credited the Paris crowd for inspiring him to a victory that earned a second-round encounter with sixth seed Holger Rune.

"I'm playing full adrenaline, like honestly I asked the crowd to scream and somehow I juice up," he added. "I know on one hand I will pay and I had to hold it at the end.

"But I hope to have a good night today and tomorrow, heavy recovery. No matter what, I will be ready for him on Thursday."

He said it had been difficult getting back into court shape after the long recovery from his injury and that it took time to shake off any unease about the pain.

"At a certain age it's a bit tough when you start again, when you're back on the courts," added Monfils, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2008.

"Last week in Lyon was really good for me. Even though I was defeated, I could run. I could run without this apprehension."


Kosovo Federation Accuses Serbia’s Djokovic of Fueling Tension

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US. (Reuters)
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Kosovo Federation Accuses Serbia’s Djokovic of Fueling Tension

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US. (Reuters)

Kosovo's tennis federation has accused Serbia's Novak Djokovic of aggravating an already tense situation after the world number three wrote that Kosovo was "the heart of Serbia" on a camera lens following his first-round win at the French Open.

Some 30 NATO peacekeeping soldiers were injured on Monday in clashes with Serb protesters in the northern Kosovo town of Zvecan, where Djokovic's father grew up.

Serbs, who comprise a majority in Kosovo's north, have never accepted the country's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia. They still see Belgrade as their capital more than two decades after a Kosovo Albanian uprising against repressive Serbian rule. Ethnic Albanians make up more than 90% of the population of Kosovo as a whole.

Monday's clashes came as ethnic Albanian mayors took office in Serb-majority areas following elections that the Serbs had boycotted.

"Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence," 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic wrote in Serbian on a TV camera at the French Open in Paris.

He later explained that he was against war but he defended his statement and described Kosovo's situation as a "precedent".

"As a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to entire Serbia," he told reporters.

"My stance is clear: I am against wars, violence and any kind of conflict, as I’ve always stated publicly. I empathize with all people, but the situation with Kosovo is a precedent in international law," he said.

Kosovo tennis federation president Jeton Hadergjonaj said in a statement: "The comments made by Novak Djokovic at the end of his Roland Garros match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statements at the post-match press conference and his Instagram post are regrettable."

Hadergjonaj accused Djokovic of using his status as a well-known personality to stir tensions.

"Novak Djokovic was already the author of similar actions in the past. Despite a general message against violence, the statement 'Kosovo is the heart of Serbia' and further statements after the match, made by such a public figure, on the occasion of a worldwide event like the French Open, directly result in raising the level of tension between the two states, Serbia and Kosovo," the statement added.

The French tennis federation (FFT), which organizes the French Open, told Reuters that there were "no official Grand Slam rules on what players can or cannot say. The FFT will not be making any statement or taking any stance on this matter."

Neither the International Tennis Federation (ITF) nor the ATP, which manages men's professional tennis, were available for comment on Tuesday.


Who Can Stop Man City? Challengers Need Big Offseason to Set up Premier League Title Shot

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland poses with the Premier League trophy on the pitch after the presentation following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on May 21, 2023.(AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland poses with the Premier League trophy on the pitch after the presentation following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on May 21, 2023.(AFP)
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Who Can Stop Man City? Challengers Need Big Offseason to Set up Premier League Title Shot

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland poses with the Premier League trophy on the pitch after the presentation following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on May 21, 2023.(AFP)
Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland poses with the Premier League trophy on the pitch after the presentation following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, on May 21, 2023.(AFP)

Who can stop Manchester City?

That’s the question being asked at the end of another Premier League campaign when Pep Guardiola’s team proved too strong, winning the title for a fifth time in six years.

A look at who might be best-placed to bring down City next season:

ARSENAL (2nd place)

Juggling another run at the title with the demands of playing in the Champions League looks to be Arsenal’s biggest problem. Squad depth became a growing issue at the end of this season — look at the collapse in the defensive stats following the injury to center back William Saliba, for example — and it will be even more stark when the team has to play high-level games twice a week.

Reinforcements at left back, center back and central midfield are needed, especially if Granit Xhaka leaves. However, Mikel Arteta’s squad — the youngest in the Premier League — will be better for the experience of going toe to toe with City before eventually falling short.

“We understand where the level is,” Arteta said. “If we want to be the real deal, we can’t be happy with what we have, and we have to be next season much better. I think we have some great foundations, that is true but in sport you have to prove it again.”

MAN UNITED (3rd place)

In Erik ten Hag, United appears to finally have the manager to build a longer-term project after he led the team back into the Champions League as well as into two domestic cup finals. The Dutchman will need further backing in the transfer market, though, which is why it’s crucial that the sale of the club goes through sooner rather than later. The Glazer family is currently weighing up offers from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and others, though could yet stay in control and get external investment.

Amid the uncertainty, Ten Hag gave a warning on Sunday after United’s final league game. “The club knows if you want to play top four and compete for trophies in this league, then you have to invest,” he said. “Otherwise, you don’t have a chance, because other clubs will.”

Top of the list of requirements is a striker, with England captain Harry Kane a potential option now that he has just one year left on his Tottenham contract.

NEWCASTLE (4th place)

Newcastle has arrived and the Saudi-controlled northeast team is probably here to stay. Will this summer see the club really flex its financial muscles for the first time since the 2021 takeover, having spent sensibly rather than lavishly in the intervening 20 months?

The likes of Callum Wilson, Dan Burn, Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock have been dependable squad members this season as Newcastle secured a return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, but they might be unsure of their futures if the ownership want to bring in some higher-profile names. Central midfield and wide forwards are areas that needs to be strengthened. The likelihood for the foreseeable future is that Man City and Newcastle will occupy two of the four Champions League qualification spots.

LIVERPOOL (5th place)

A strong end to the season saw Liverpool go unbeaten for its final 11 games and was a sign that Jurgen Klopp might have found a formula that can drive another title push. Trent Alexander-Arnold looks at home in his new hybrid defender-midfielder role, Cody Gakpo appears a natural replacement for Roberto Firmino in the deep-lying striker role and the promise of strengthening in central midfield with younger, fresher legs should address the team’s biggest weakness.

However, the big question remains: by not qualifying for the Champions League, will Liverpool be able to attract the type of quality players needed to challenge Man City? Jude Bellingham has been a long-term target, for example, but is likely to choose a team in the Champions League. Alexis Mac Allister of Brighton might prove to be a more realistic option.

CHELSEA (12th place)

Chelsea is the great unknown because who really knows what its American owners will do next? Having spent more than $600 million on players in their first two transfer windows in charge, will Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital go big again this offseason after an unacceptable 12th-place finish?

They may not even afford to do that, with the priority likely being trimming a large squad to adhere to financial regulations and give incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino a tighter group of players to work with.

Romelu Lukaku’s return from a loan spell at Inter Milan gives Chelsea another option up front, while the futures of midfielders Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are uncertain amid the rebuild.


Mauricio Pochettino Hired as Chelsea Manager to Lead Rebuild After Turbulent Season

Manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on, prior to the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, on April 30, 2019. (AP)
Manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on, prior to the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, on April 30, 2019. (AP)
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Mauricio Pochettino Hired as Chelsea Manager to Lead Rebuild After Turbulent Season

Manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on, prior to the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, on April 30, 2019. (AP)
Manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on, prior to the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, on April 30, 2019. (AP)

Chelsea hired Mauricio Pochettino as manager on Monday, tasking the Argentine coach with getting the best out of an expensively assembled squad that has underperformed at the start of a new era for the English club.

Pochettino will take up the role on July 1, Chelsea said, after agreeing to a two-year contract, with the club having the option of keeping him on for a further year.

It is Pochettino’s first coaching role since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in July last year and marks his return to the Premier League, where he had an impressive 5 1/2-year spell with Tottenham that included a run to the Champions League final.

Pochettino had been widely expected to take the Chelsea job, which is considered one of the most high-profile positions in European soccer.

He is the permanent successor to Graham Potter, who was fired in March after nearly seven months in charge. Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has led the team on an interim basis since then and it finished the Premier League in 12th place — in the bottom half for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

That was despite Chelsea spending around $630 million over the last two transfer windows as the club’s new American ownership — led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital — made a whirlwind start to their reign.

The unprecedented heavy spending hasn’t immediately translated into success, though, with Chelsea amassing its lowest number of points — 44 — during the Premier League era.

Pochettino has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in European soccer since leaving Tottenham in 2019, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.

He won the French title with PSG, but left last year and has been out of work until now.

“Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea well as we move forward,” Chelsea sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement. “He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate.”

Chelsea described Pochettino as a coach who is “renowned for his sides’ high-energy and eye-catching style.

“He has built a reputation for helping young players realize their full potential within a strong squad ethos,” the club said.

Lampard used his final news conference as interim manager — after the 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Sunday — to speak bluntly about what Pochettino can expect upon taking over.

Lampard said he saw immediately after taking charge that “standards collectively have dropped.”

“We are not physically competitive enough — that’s a strong opinion I have,” Lampard said. “Also, we’ll have the capability now to get the squad in the place he wants it to be. That’s going to be some work as well.

“The squad has been too big and that the biggest challenge I have found day to day is coming in and trying to work with big numbers and players who, for whatever reason, are disillusioned that they are not playing or they might be leaving. Those situations can be sorted out now — and they need to be.”

While Pochettino coached some of the world’s most high-profile players in Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at PSG, he’ll have a less celebrated squad at Chelsea that is nevertheless full of talent and mostly young, such as Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, wingers Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke, and defender Wesley Fofana.

They are among those players who joined for massive fees and on long-term deals over the past year but have lost their way amid a turbulent season at the club.

Chelsea’s appointment of Pochettino, meanwhile, will be a tough one to take for many Tottenham fans, who still idolize the former Argentina defender for briefly turning their team into one of the best in Europe.

Tottenham is currently without a permanent manager following the departure of Antonio Conte, and the outside possibility of a sentimental return for Pochettino has now been dashed.


Alcaraz, Djokovic ‘Not Otherworldly’ in French Open Wins Over Foes Making Slam Debuts

Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
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Alcaraz, Djokovic ‘Not Otherworldly’ in French Open Wins Over Foes Making Slam Debuts

Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on May 29, 2023. (AFP)

You might assume that the opponents for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the French Open’s first round would come away from their straight-set losses Monday feeling too overwhelmed by the play of the two tournament favorites.

You would be wrong.

Forget the scores and the point-by-point particulars on a windy day at Roland Garros for a moment. Of course, it turned out that No. 1-seeded Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion, beat 159th-ranked qualifier Flavio Cobolli, a 21-year-old from Florence, Italy. And of course, it turned out that No. 3 Djokovic, a 22-time major winner, got past 114th-ranked Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 24-year-old who grew up in New York City and is now based in Florida.

And naturally, both Cobolli and Kovacevic acknowledged feeling a bit jittery at the outset of what were their Grand Slam debuts in huge arenas against a couple of elite players.

“I started in a bit of a daze,” Cobolli said after his 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 loss, “because of the emotions.”

“A couple of times there, I did look up and take it all in. I made sure of that, because this is the kind of experience I’ll definitely hold onto forever,” Kovacevic said after his 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) loss. “It’s not the best thing in the world to get lost in the crowd. You start to really look at everyone that’s there — and that’s when the nerves hit.”

But what both of them wanted to make clear afterward was that, yes, Alcaraz and Djokovic are exceptionally talented, but, no, it did not seem to be impossible to find openings to exploit.

“It’s definitely intimidating. Watching him on TV growing up, it’s hard not to look past that and knowing what he’s accomplished. But from a tennis standpoint, it’s not otherworldly,” said Kovacevic, who was 7 when he first met Djokovic and later practiced with him during the 2021 US Open after playing college tennis at the University of Illinois.

“The things he does well, he does unbelievably well, but the ball that he hits — it’s not blowing me completely off the court, which was honestly somewhat surprising.”

Other seeded men advancing on Day 2 in Paris included No. 8 Jannik Sinner, No. 12 Frances Tiafoe, No. 14 Cam Norrie and No. 15 Borna Coric. Among the seeded women moving into the second round: No. 5 Caroline Garcia, No. 14 Beatriz Haddad Maia, No. 20 Madison Keys and No. 22 Donna Vekic.

Seeds on the way out included No. 10 Petra Kvitova, No. 12 Belinda Bencic and No. 16 Karolina Pliskova in the women’s bracket, along with No. 10 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 25 Botic Van de Zandschulp in the men’s.

With 14-time champion Rafael Nadal sidelined by a hip injury, Alcaraz and Djokovic are considered the favorites for the men’s title and could meet in the semifinals. If Djokovic wins the trophy, he would earn his 23rd at a Slam and break the tie for the men’s record he and Nadal currently share.

Cobolli’s first career match on the lower-level ATP Challenger Tour was a loss in qualifying against Alcaraz in Italy in August 2000. Cobolli chuckled Monday while recalling that encounter and pointing out that, while both have grown as players since then, “He’s grown more.”

“It’s impressive how he handles himself on important points. That’s one of his best qualities. His ball speed is faster than most players in this tournament. It’s so difficult to get him in trouble,” Cobolli said. “But like all of us human beings, he does have his weaker aspects.”

Which, perhaps, was why both of these contests were lopsided at the beginning — “At the start of the match,” Alcaraz said, “I felt invincible — and included a bit of intrigue down the stretch.”

Alcaraz held three match points to close things at 5-3 in the third set but couldn’t convert, then found himself at 5-all minutes later. Djokovic served to end his match at 5-4 in the third but got broken there to also sit at 5-all.

“Made me work for my victory,” Djokovic said.

In both instances, to the surprise of no one, the higher-rated player steadied himself and sealed the deal.

Before coming to Paris, the last tournament entered by both Cobolli and Kovacevic was an ATP Challenger Tour event in Turin. Cobolli made the case that the talent there was not all that different from what his first foray in a Grand Slam bracket presented.

“I don’t think there’s a ton of distance between us and them. They have something extra, so in the end, they do take home the win,” he said. “But we can play with them.”