Everton are keeping tabs on Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr, according to reports. The 20-year-old has scored nine goals and provided four assists to help the French club climb to 10th in Ligue 1. Sarr started in all three of Senegal’s World Cup games as they failed to make it past the group stages last summer. French outlet Wiwsport claim Everton are “closely following” Sarr, who continues to impress in France. Everton are yet to make a January signing despite languishing in 11th and suffering a 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Championship club Millwall. Sarr would provide competition to Theo Walcott, Ademola Lookman and Bernard – three wingers who have failed to make a major…

Liverpool star Sadio Mane has insisted he has never considered leaving the club for Real Madrid, saying the Reds are his ‘only concern’. Real were reported have a strong interest in the Senegal international after he scored against them in last season’s Champions League final. It led to fears from supporters that another of their key players could be off to Spain following Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona, but Mane put the speculation to bed by signing a new contract in November to keep him at Anfield until 2023. All three of Liverpool’s forward trio have been linked with moves away over the past 12 months, with Mohamed Salah also…

The search for the missing plane carrying Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala and a pilot has been ended, it has confirmed. Harbour Master Captain David Barker said in a statement that the difficult decision has been made to call off the search on Thursday afternoon with “no trace” of the aircraft yet found. Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson have been missing since their plane, travelling from Nantes to Cardiff, disappeared from radar near the Casquets lighthouse, Alderney on Monday evening. Despite the search resuming on Thursday morning, it was ended as confirmed in the statement from Mr Barker, released by Guernsey Police. “My team have just met to review the…

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season. The 25-year-old joins the day after signing a one-year contract extension at the Nou Camp. It is understood the Gunners are keen to make the move permanent for £20million in the summer. Suarez, who has played under Unai Emery previously at Sevilla, revealed he was inspired to join by his admiration for Gunners legends like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. “One thing no one knows about me is that when I was little I used to watch the Premier League on TV,” Suarez said. “Arsenal were a team that really inspired me.…

Ruud Gullit believes Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino is the perfect example of what Chelsea need in attack rather than new signing Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine international cut short his loan spell with AC Milan to move to Stamford Bridge until the end of the season earlier this week. Chelsea have struggled in recent months, particularly in attack, and Maurizio Sarri has been forced to play Eden Hazard in a unfamiliar central role due to his lack of faith in both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata. Higuain enjoyed success under Sarri when they worked together at Napoli, but Gullit, who was player/manager at Chelsea between 1996 and 1998, feels a target…

Former Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare believes the club are still recovering from the loss of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. The Foxes owner was among five people killed in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium following the Premier League match against West Ham in October. He will be remembered as the man who made Leicester’s incredible title-winning season possible, but also as a kind and caring person who shared a special relationship with the club. And Shakespeare, who was Leicester manager during the Thai businessman’s ownership, suggests the club are still struggling to cope with the news. “I’d been in the helicopter with him and I’d been in separately. It was…

Leeds forward Kemar Roofe has no plans on leaving Elland Road as he wants to fire the club into the Premier League. Roofe, 26, tops Leeds’ scoring charts this season and his fine form in front of goal has earned him admiring glances from elsewhere. A move to the Premier League has been mooted with Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Wolves said to be keen on the former West Brom youngster. Galatasaray, the Turkish giants, have also been linked with the 14-goal striker this month. But Roofe has no desire to leave Elland Road any time soon, especially with Leeds well on their way to securing a return to the…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he is ‘preparing for next season’ as rumours continue to suggest he will be named Manchester United’s next permanent manager. Solskjaer has guided United to victory in all eight matches since he was appointed the club’s caretaker boss last month, succeeding Jose Mourinho in the Old Trafford hot seat. The Norwegian has made it clear he would love to remain in the job beyond the end of the season, and members of his squad are believed to be keen on Solskjaer being handed the reins on a full-time basis. Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, remains a prime target for United chiefs, who will not be…

Manuel Pellegrini was pleased to see the end of the Marko Arnautovic transfer saga after admitting it had affected West Ham’s performances. Austria striker Arnautovic was left out of the squad for the defeat at Bournemouth and Saturday’s FA Cup humiliation at AFC Wimbledon after seeking a big-money move to China. But less than half-an-hour after the Wimbledon debacle, West Ham suddenly announced that the 29-year-old had signed a contract extension. Hammers boss Pellegrini – not at all impressed by the whole drawn-out saga – refused to even discuss Arnautovic’s new deal following their abject 4-2 defeat. But ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Wolves, where Arnautovic is expected to go straight…

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been completed and Manchester United will face Chelsea for a place in the quarter-finals. Tottenham, West Ham, Everton and Newcastle were among a host of Premier League big guns to be dumped out in the fourth round over the weekend. AFC Wimbledon and Millwall claimed memorable cup upsets while Newport and Shrewsbury are still in the competition after securing replays against Middlesbrough and Wolves. Chelsea, who won the historic tournament last season, beat Sheffield Wednesday yesterday while both Manchester giants are still going for glory this term. The Blues will now take on United, who beat Arsenal on Friday, at Stamford Bridge…