Top Stories

Tuesday Kickoff: Mourinho in contract extension talks; Maradona blasts Blatter; and more

JoseMourinhoChelsea1-CrystalPalace2015 (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Jose Mourinho’s first stint with Chelsea only lasted a little more than three seasons. It’s a safe bet that this time around, he’ll be at Stamford Bridge for the long term.

After securing Chelsea’s first English Premier League title in five years, the club are in talks with Mourinho to extend his contract through June 2019. Mourinho signed a four-year contract in June 2013 worth £10 million per season, and it’s expected that he’ll receive a raise with the new contract extension.

According to Italy’s Gazzetta Dello Sport, Mourinho and Chelsea already have a verbal agreement and Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes is putting the finishing touches on the deal, which could be signed in the coming days.

Mourinho’s Premier League title takes his trophy haul to eight at Chelsea and 22 titles overall.

Here are some more stories to kick off your Tuesday:

MARADONA BLASTS BLATTER, SUPPORTS PRINCE ALI FOR FIFA PRESIDENT

Don’t count Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona on FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s long list of fans and admirers.

In an interview at the Soccerex Asian Forum in Jordan, Maradona hit out at Blatter’s tenure as president, saying there is “anarchy” in FIFA and that Blatter “knows absolutely nothing.” At the same time, Maradona backed Jordanian candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein for the FIFA presidency in the upcoming elections.

“If I didn’t believe that he would be a good president, I wouldn’t be here,” Maradona told Guillem Balague of Prince Ali. “As the football world knows, inside FIFA there is total anarchy, where there is only one man who decides everything.

“But he (Blatter) knows absolutely nothing. Therefore it is time for a change. And it is so because even his colleagues should actually advise him to leave. He has done a lot of damage to football since he has been there. It’s time for him to step aside and let us, who are full of strength, renovate football.“

ARSENAL SECURE TOP FOUR FINISH WITH ROUT OF HULL CITY

Arsenal’s three-goal outburst in the first half was enough for them to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League for the 18th consecutive season.

The Gunners blasted Hull City, 3-1, on Monday evening, with star Alexis Sanchez scoring twice and earning every pence and shilling of his reported £35 million transfer fee. Sanchez has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season for Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Arsenal now are tied with Manchester City on 70 points and with three games to go, manager Arsene Wenger is targeting a second-place finish.

“For me it makes a difference to finish second,” Wenger told reporters after the match. “We want to finish as high as we can. That’s a competitive attitude. We secured only top four. Let’s see if we can maintain the run.”

QUICK KICKS

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is ready to make an €8 million transfer bid to sign Sampdoria and Italian National Team forward Eder. (REPORT)

Former England National Team boss Steve McClaren has turned down an offer to manage Newcastle for the rest of this season. (REPORT)

Werder Bremen has triggered the release clause of FC Koln forward Anthony Ujah, signing the Nigerian to a contract through 2019. (REPORT)

Manchester City scouts were in Buenos Aires on Sunday to watch River Plate’s Matias Kranevitter. (REPORT)

FIFPro, the world players union, has urged the players of Czech Republic second division club Banik Most not to take a lie detector test after allegations of match fixing arose following their ninth consecutive loss. The players haven’t been paid since March. (REPORT)

—————–

What do you think of these reports? How long do you see Mourinho staying with Chelsea? Who do you see him signing this summer in the transfer season? What do you think of Maradona’s comments?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “The club are in talks…”

    You know, I realize how this whole plural ridiculousness started, but at some point someone has to say this is grammatically dumb.

    Reply
  2. What Maradona calls “anarchy” is actually the opposite; as he says, it’s one guy essentially making all the key decisions. It’s actually quite organized — corrupt, but organized.

    Reply

Leave a Comment