Untung99

* Club open to securing £50m-rated midfielder’s future * Chelsea held informal talks with Aston Villa over move Chelsea are considering a shift in their position over selling Conor Gallagher and could make a concerted effort to agree a new deal with the midfielder. Gallagher, who is out of contract at the end of next season, remains a candidate to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and is wanted by Aston Villa and Tottenham. But while there have been plenty of ­indications that Chelsea are actively ­looking to sell ­Gallagher, who is ­valued at a minimum of £50m, there has been a change in the noise around the situation. Continue reading...

Having suffered against Ronaldo in the 1998 World Cup’s first game, the former midfielder offers a guide to coping Craig Brown had a useful knack of relaxing Scotland players in tense situations. On 10 June 1998, Brown’s team opened the World Cup against all-conquering Brazil. Craig Burley takes up the story of what transpired as the teams prepared to take to the pitch at the Stade de France. “That was one of Craig’s iconic moments,” Burley recalls. “We are lined up in the big, wide tunnel. We seemed to stand in there for an age. You could see everyone getting ready out on the field, preparing for all the razzmatazz. They held us in there for ages. Continue reading...

Talk in his brother’s kitchen two years ago led to 20-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder going to Euro 2024 with England Adam Wharton’s meteoric rise to England’s Euro 2024 squad has taken many supporters by surprise but it was the culmination of a plan hatched in his brother’s kitchen two years ago. Wharton Jr had just been handed his first professional contract by Blackburn after turning 18 and sat down with Scott – who is six years older and plays in defence for their boyhood club – and their agent to discuss his ambitions. “You have to set goals,” James Featherstone, the agent, says. “At the time he had reached a level where we knew he was going to have a career, so it was all about at what level. I’ve always said he was special, although I don’t think Adam’s ever necessarily been someone who would characterise himself like that. So he needed some encouragement that he could shoot for the stars. Adam’s not the sort of person who would have said when he was 18: ‘I’m going to pla

Fortunes are on the up after a string of lethargic displays but an overhaul beckons after the tournament This article is part of the Guardian’s Euro 2024 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 24 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 14 June. Continue reading...

* Club now discussing contract extension with Dutchman * Development of Mainoo and Garnacho impressed owners Erik ten Hag will remain as Manchester United manager. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s season review concluded that a record of two trophies in two seasons, his development of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, plus the Dutchman’s professionalism and dignity meant he deserved the chance to continue. Negotiations over a new contract for the Dutchman have already begun. The decision signals a reverse in the assessment of Ten Hag’s likely future. Ratcliffe and his advisers were previously minded to remove him, yet a number of factors ultimately persuaded them Ten Hag should remain. Continue reading...

France, Spain, England, Germany and Portugal all have Euro 2024 hopes – but they also have problems How is the form? Les Bleus approach a tournament in which they are one of the favourites disjointed and in search of fluidity. Kylian Mbappé sounded the alarm after a 2-0 loss against Germany in March. “There are lots of warnings: technically, tactically, in terms of desire and even efficiency too,” said the captain, adding that the “leadership” was “deficient”. Not exactly the serene buildup France would have hoped for, but they have known worse. The defeat to Germany came in the absence of Antoine Griezmann; without him, Didier Deschamps’ men looked lost, and the over-reliance on individuals is a concern. Continue reading...