Premier League LIVE: Barcelona and Bayern join Alexander-Arnold race, Wilshere agrees to leave Arsenal, Paqueta issues statement on betting case

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Premier League gameweek eight fixtures

• Wilshere agrees move

  talkSPORT understands that Jack Wilshere has now agreed to leave Arsenal and join Norwich City.

  The former Gunners midfielder departs the Emirates after a 10-year playing career and two years as a coach.

  Wilshere is the current U18 boss at Arsenal but he will now depart to become a first-team coach with Norwich.

  He will join Johannes Thorup’s backroom staff as the Canaries aim to achieve promotion to the Premier League this season.

  You can read more on the agreement below…

  

• ‘It was tough’

  Former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has spoken about his struggles at the club.

  Van de Beek spent four years at Old Trafford but things didn’t go well for him, only playing 42 Premier League games.

  The Dutchman failed to break into the first team under multiple managers while also suffering a serious knee injury.

  And now he has opened up about his time at Man United, telling The Athletic: “I don’t know. I think the start was quite good.

  “When I played, I think in the start of the season, I did well, and then for different reasons…I don’t know exactly but I didn’t play.

  “It’s difficult to get to the heart of the painful spot, but that’s what it is. I think that this can happen.

  “In some places, it’s clicking but sometimes, in other situations, it’s not. I think it’s for different reasons. But it’s also football.”

  He continued: “Yes. It was tough. Normally in the second season, everything gets better for a lot of players. But I think it was also a difficult situation.

  “I think the coach [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] left, and a new coach [Rald Rangnick] came in and then it’s always chaotic.”

  “I think it was quite unlucky because I played some more games [under Erik ten Hag], especially closer to the winter, and then I got injured,” he added.

  “That was not easy. It was very bad timing. If you start to play a little bit more, then you can get the rhythm of everything.

  “But that injury arrived, you need to restart again, you need to come up.”

  

• Blue Christmas

  New England manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly looking to raid former club Chelsea for backroom staff members.

  The German has become just the third foreign coach of the England national team and has signed an 18-month contract.

  Ex-Blues coach Anthony Barry has been made Tuchel’s assistant, but he wants more people from Stamford Bridge to join him.

  Matt Lawton of The Times reports Chelsea performance analyst James Melbourne is expected to join the FA, while Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario is being considered.

  Apart from those, Tuchel is largely happy to work with who is already there, but it’s clear he fancies a pre-Christmas raid of his old club.

  

• ‘I am frustrated’

  Lucas Paqueta has released a statement regarding the ongoing investigation into his betting case.

  The West Ham star was charged by the FA in May 2024 for allegedly breaking English football betting laws.

  The investigation came after some suspicious betting patterns during a game against Bournemouth at the start of last season, relating to the Brazilian receiving a yellow card.

  At the time, he denied the allegations, and continues to do so as the process rumbles on.

  If found guilty, it’s been suggested that he faces a potential lifetime ban from football, and it is these reports he’s hit out at.

  In an official statement, he said: “I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles, published in England and Brazil.

  “Some of that information is entirely false and appears designed to undermine my position.

  “I am also concerned that, although they are false and misleading, these articles are clearly sourced from an individual close to the case.

  “The FA proceedings are supposed to be confidential, and they are extremely serious for me and my family.

  “The continued leaking and publication of inaccurate information in the press is now putting at risk my chance of receiving fair hearing.

  “I have, therefore, instructed my lawyers to write to the FA to request they conduct a thorough investigation into how information about the case, even if inaccurate, is finding its way into the public domain.

  “I continue to deny the charges against me and look forward to demonstrating my innocence.”

  

• Where there’s a Wil(shere) there’s a way

  Jack Wilshere is set to end his long association with Arsenal by becoming Norwich’s new first-team coach, talkSPORT understands.

  Gunners U18 head coach Wilshere is in advanced talks with the Canaries about joining manager Johannes Hoff Thorup’s backroom staff.

  Wilshere has agreed to replace Narcis Pelach at Carrow Road and both sides are confident a deal will be struck.

  The 32-year-old has been the top target for Norwich, and they are currently agreeing a compensation package with Arsenal.

  From the Gunners’ point of view, they are happy to let Wilshere go because they understand this is a good opportunity for him.

  Since retiring in July 2022, Wilshere has established himself as a coach in the Arsenal academy.

  And now, it looks as if he’s getting a chance to work with a first team squad.

  

• Jolly Hooper

  Non-league English side Kettering Town have announced the signing of former Norwich City striker Gary Hooper.

  The 36-year-old Englishman played in the Premier League for the Canaries after joining them from Celtic in 2013.

  He spent two years at Carrow Road, making 34 top-flight appearances and scoring six goals.

  Hooper then joined Sheffield Wednesday and has since played in New Zealand, Cyprus and India.

  His most recent club was Barnet in the National League, but after being released by them in the summer, hes dropped to the Southern Premier League to play for Kettering.

  

• Ron the way

  Piers Morgan once claimed Cristiano Ronaldo would have joined Celtic or Rangers if it meant stopping Lionel Messi from breaking his Champions League records.

  Ronaldo left European football at the end of 2022 when he moved on from Manchester United to join Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

  The 39-year-old’s decision join the Saudi Pro League put a cap on his many European records, although Morgan previously suggested his friend would have preferred to sign for a Champions League team.

  

• (Stamford) Bridge too far

  Relations between Chelsea and two of their biggest Premier League rivals are reported to have soured, leading to scouts being banned from youth games.

  Recently the Blues are said to have denied requests from Liverpool and Manchester United scouts to watch matches at the Cobham training centre.

  A Chelsea source, according to The Athletic, revealed the west London club have also seen their accreditation rejected by Liverpool.

  However, sources from the Reds refute those claims, stating no requests have been rejected this season.

  They also said any Chelsea scouts applying in the future will most likely be rejected in order to reciprocate previous behaviour.

  The feud supposedly originated from the Blues losing 16-year-old attacker Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool earlier this year.

  Ngumoha was thought of as one of the best talents produced in recent years at Cobham, but left the Blues to sign for Liverpool in September, having also been approached by Man United.

  None of the rules within the Premier League’s five-step review process were broken, but the transfer is said to have left a bad taste in the mouths of the Chelsea youth system, which has undergone major changes.

  

• S-Mart appointment

  Southampton manager Russell Martin has become the latest to share his thoughts on Thomas Tuchel becoming England manager.

  He said: “I think he’s an exceptional coach with a brilliant track record. There will be lots of opinions on him not being English but if he’s the best man for the job, he’s the best man.

  “In terms of him getting the job, I think he’s a really great manager and will do a good job. I’m looking forward to watching his team play.”

  

• Not a Coq and bull story

  Former Arsenal star Francis Coquelin could be in line for a shock return to English football with Leeds, talkSPORT understands.

  The 33-year-old Frenchman is currently a free agent following his release from Spanish club Villarreal in June.

  However, the midfielder could be offered a route back to England after Leeds invited him for a trial, talkSPORT can confirm.

  The two-time FA Cup and 2021 Europa League winner would provide some much-needed reinforcements at Elland Road.

  Leeds manager Daniel Farke has seen midfield duo Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev both sidelined with long-term knee injuries.

  Coquelin’s trial comes after a proposed move for former Nottingham Forest and West Ham star Cheikhou Kouyate also collapsed.

  

• Better the Devil you know

  David Beckham has heaped praise on the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe at his former club Manchester United.

  The England legend told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast: “I really like Jim [Ratcliife]. I’ve met him a few times over the years with a few mutual friends and I think that he’s a fan and obviously he’s a great businessman as well, one of the best and one of the biggest.

  “But I think more importantly the fans see that he cares, and I think that’s a big part of it. I think obviously the fans had lost faith with the leadership over the years and obviously he really cares about what he wants to do and what he wants to create.

  “So, hopefully, things will change but these things take time.

  “I think we have been quite patient as United fans over the years but we want those good old days back.

  “We want those days back and the sooner the better.”

  

• High Barr

  Anthony Barry has shared his pride at becoming the new England assistant head coach.

  The Liverpool-born coach will reunite with Thomas Tuchel at the Three Lions after working together at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

  Barry told the England YouTube channel, external: “Pretty incredible. Quite surreal. The process since it’s started has been fantastic and Thomas and I have loved every minute of it. As soon as I saw this project it captured the imagination of Thomas in the way that it did.

  “We were back and forwards sharing so much energy towards it. The imagination of the team, what we could do with these players, and of course then there’s the extra layer for me, I’m an Englishman and I’ve worked for other federations around the world.

  “It was always a privilege to work on the highest level. But for me to come home now and represent the FA and represent England and the Three Lions is the proudest day of my career so far.”

  

• Mini Cooper

  Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has reacted to the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England manager.

  The Welshman also faced questions on whether England produces enough top-level coaches.

  Cooper led a Young Lions side featuring a teenaged Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, and Marc Guehi to FIFA U-17 World Cup success in 2017.

  On Tuchel, he said: “It was going to be a brilliant job after the work Gareth did and where he took it to. There’s no doubt the FA have appointed a top coach and an assistant with Anthony [Barry], It’s a really exciting job for whoever it was going to be.

  “It will be really good to see how they do and hopefully they can carry on the progress of the last few years.”

  On whether England produces enough top-level coaches, Cooper added: “It’s probably more of a question to sporting directors or ownership groups.

  “I believe in British coaching, we have got some brilliant colleagues around the game who I enjoy speaking to and learning from – and foreign ones as well.

  “Someone in my position is not best to answer that. What I’m conscious of is, I have an opportunity here in the best league in the world at an ambitious club that wants to succeed.

  “I never think about me, I just think about the job I want to do for the club I work for. I have to make the most of this opportunity.”

  

• Brighton supporting Sam Baldock

  Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has assured fans that the club will support development coach Sam Baldock following the passing of his brother George.

  England-born Greece international George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool at his house in Athens last week.

  A 12-time Greece international, Baldock had just moved to the Greek Super League in the summer with Panathinaikos, having spent the past seven years in England with Sheffield United.

  Baldock was part of the team that twice achieved Premier League promotion, and he left with 219 appearances to his name.

  Hurzeler said: “I can only say that we as a club, myself, we feel really sorry for him and also for the family.

  “We as a club, we give him the support he needs and we will give him the time he needs. It’s a bad situation, especially for him and his family and we are here to support him.

  “I think Brighton prove it all the time, also in the last year, when things happen, the club is there for the players, but also for the staff members, We want to support the family, support Sam and to stay together and to give him the time he needs.”

  

• Cut through the Red tape

  Real Madrid are not the only European giant chasing the signature of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.

  talkSPORT understands Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also keen on England ace Alexander-Arnold.

  The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree on a new deal with talks ongoing.

  

• Unluck of the Irish

  Former Celtic, Everton, and Sunderland star Aiden McGeady has retired from professional football.

  The 38-year-old was last at Ayr Utd under the tutelage of his former Celtic team-mate Scott Brown, but he left the club this month.

  McGeady joined the Scottish Championship club in July 2023 in an unusual joint player/technical director role.

  However, he departed at the start of October by mutual agreement having failed to feature on the pitch at all this season.

  The former flying winger, who was born in Scotland, earned 93 caps for the Republic of Ireland during a 13-year international career.

  He represented his country at both Euro 2012 and Euro 2016.

  Having made his senior debut for the Boys in Green in 2004, McGeady scored five goals before retiring from Irish duty in 2017.

  Seven years later McGeady, who also enjoyed loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Preston North End, and Charlton Athletic, has hung up his boots for good.

  

• Bright appointment

  Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has given German compatriot Thomas Tuchel the seal of approval after he was named the England manager.

  Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Seagulls’ trip to Newcastle on Saturday, Hurzeler hailed the new Three Lions chief.

  He said: “Tuchel has skills to build a successful team in a short time. He is tactically clever.”

  Hurzeler added: “I’m happy for him – I really admire him. He has proved he can build a successful team quite fast.

  “I wish him all the best. He is able to make the players better and he has tactical intelligence. In my opinion, he’s a good choice.”

  

• Shear madness

  Alan Shearer has admitted he has been left amazed by the bizarre handling of Liverpool’s soon-to-out-of-contract stars.

  Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, boyhood academy graduate and vice-skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold, and top scorer Mohamed Salah can all leave Anfield as free agents next summer.

  To make matters worse, the trio are all free to start negotiations with new clubs in January as they enter the final six months of their deals.

  Both Van Dijk and Salah are in their early 30s, but the situation of Alexander-Arnold is more pressing considering his age profile and subsequent transfer interest from Real Madrid.

  “Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed for England with a great goal and playing at left-back”, Shearer told Betfair.

  “It would be crazy if the local boy was to leave Liverpool though, with his future still very much uncertain. The problem is, so long as he hasn’t signed his new contract, we’ll keep talking about the links with Real Madrid or elsewhere.

  “We’re all amazed Liverpool have let it run down this far in terms of how long he has left on his contract, and bearing in mind in January, you can go and speak to other clubs, it’s a risky situation.

  “It’s one we’ll continue to talk about until it’s resolved, one way or the other, but it must be a priority for Liverpool to get him tied down.”

  

• Roo can’t be serious?!

  Paul Pogba says claims made by Wayne Rooney that him and Jesse Lingard danced in the dressing room after a Manchester United defeat were ‘mean’ and ‘untrue’.

  Rooney gave a damning view of the Frenchman’s impact on the Red Devils’ squad in a 2021 column for The Times.

  Now, responding to the claims, Pogba told Sky Sports: “I want to clarify something because I’ve been hearing stuff that Wayne Rooney once said that we lost a game and me and Jesse (Lingard) were dancing in the changing room.

  “You always need a witness on this, okay. So if somebody can confirm what Wayne Rooney said when you were in the changing room, I will accept it.

  “If there is not, that’s mean, it is not true.

  “When Jesse Lingard tells you – did Jesse Lingard confirm that? Never.

  “I never confirmed that because I am someone who is a very bad loser and I respect what I do and I respect the club.

  “Me coming to the dressing room and putting on music and Wayne Rooney, the legend of the club, sitting there not saying anything to us – does it match? Do you think it matches?

  “Nobody in the club will come and say nothing to us dancing after we lose a game.”

  

• British Banter

  Thomas Tuchel has detailed why he loves England and their fans after being unveiled as Gareth Southgate’s successor.

  The German managed Chelsea and led them to win the Champions League, and as a result has spent plenty of time getting to know British culture.

  He said: “It’s the country, the humour, the way of life, the attitude from the supporters to the game and what they demand from the players.

  “It shapes the character of the players, how they approach their training towards a team effort.”

  If you thought Chelsea fans were passionate after their UCL win, you wait to see what happens if you get us a second star, Thomas…

  

• New Era

  Arsenal Women have secured their third Champions League win of the season.

  This week, Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall resigned after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.

  The result left Arsenal sitting in sixth in the WSL table, five points off first place Manchester City.

  Now, the Gunners, managed by interim manager Renee Slegers, have won their first game since the end of September.

  Managerless Arsenal beat Valerenga 4-1, with Emily Fox, Caitlin Foord, Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo netting for the home side.

  

• Not for Neville

  Gary Neville isn’t a fan with Thomas Tuchel being appointed as England manager.

  The German’s impending arrival at St George’s Park was confirmed on Wednesday – and Neville isn’t impressed.

  “I think we are damaging ourselves,” he told Sky Sports. “I do think there are outstanding English candidates who could have been appointed.

  “We are in a rut when it comes to coaching. English coaching has one of the worst reputations in Europe – we don’t have a clear identity and have not built a style which is unique to us.

  “We have seen coaches from all around Europe come to the Premier League and in input their styles in our game and we’ve copied them, but in my opinion we need to build an identity and let English coaches flourish.

  “I thought we’d left that period [of appointing foreign coaches] behind.”

  

• Next chapter?

  Paul Pogba has also remained coy on his next chapter, with him still under contract with the Old Lady.

  “Where will I be? The pitch, I would just like to be on the pitch,” he smiled, when asked where he’ll make his return.

  Pressed on where, he said: “If any pitch, it’s for sure Juventus. I want to start training with teammates, it’s tough to be alone you know doing passes for yourself on the wall.

  “But you know, you try to adapt. My main focus right now is get back training, get back fit and be back on the pitch doing what I love.”

  And when asked if he could go back to the Premier League, his loyalties stayed with the Serie A club.

  “Like I said, I’m at Juventus I’m still [under] contract, this is where I am. I will see what they’re thinking, their vision. My vision is to come back and train and show I’m a football player. I’m a new Paul Pogba but I’ve got the same qualities, I’m still there, I’m still ready, that’s all I’m thinking of.”

• Game Over?

  Paul Pogba says the possibility of never playing football again crossed his mind after failing his drug test.

  The 31-year-old has two years left on his Juventus contract and had originally been dealing with the prospect of a four-year ban.

  “Yeah, it came to my mind,” he told Sky Sports. “As soon as it came to mind I took it and I threw [the thought] away.

  “I didn’t want to think about that. I said no, I’m going to go and push it. My wife was sitting me down and [said] ‘you’re going to get through this, you’re going to play again.’

  “I was like, if this happens I might have to stop.”

  He continued: “It helped me and pushed me. Family was a big part of my mental strength for sure and obviously the faith in God.”

  

• What’s up Doc?

  Paul Pogba has also insisted taking the supplement had nothing to do with trying to recover from an injury or improve his performance.

  Asked by Sky Sports why he took the drug, he said: “I would tell you the whole story, but the easy way is I would get you the document.

  “Then you can see it for yourself, it explains everything. That’s the only thing I would say.”

  “Not at all [to do with fitness], seriously you have all the answers [in the document], it was just general stuff. It had nothing to do with injury and nothing to do with the document.

  “It’s like supplements that you would take. Probably you would take it, you go to the pharmacy and get the supplements. In my case it was totally different as it was given by a professional for just having a supplement just for the normal health. But there was a mistake there.”