Sanchez, Mkhitaryan swap deal completed
LONDON: Alexis Sanchez has joined Manchester United in a rare swap deal among two of England’s top teams that has seen Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to Arsenal. The transfers were announced simultaneously by the clubs on Monday. Sanchez, who joined United over neighbor and Premier League leader Manchester City, said he was “thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world.” Mkhitaryan said he “always dreamed of playing for Arsenal.” While Sanchez entered the final six months of his contract at Arsenal, Mkhitaryan was 18 months into a fouryear deal at United.
SPURS COACH DISMISSES KANE’S REAL MOVE
SOUTHAMPTON: Mauricio Pochettino dismissed talk of a potential £200 million Real Madrid bid for Harry Kane after the England striker scored his 99th Premier League goal in a 1-1 draw at Southampton. “I’m not going to speak about rumours because if I give information about one rumour I have to do it at all press conferences. It’s not my problem to talk about rumours,” he said.
Pochettino did say he doesn’t expect to sign any new players this month after seeing his team miss the chance to move back into the top four as they were denied by a spirited Southampton. “I am not concerned about that. I know very well it will be difficult to add quality to the team in this period. If something happens and all the conditions are right to sign a player then perhaps. I am relaxed, calm.”
VAN PERSIE DOES FIRST TRAINING SESSION
ROTTERDAM: Dutch football star Robin Van Persie on Monday underwent his first training session with his boyhood club Feyenoord Rotterdam. “1st training back with the team, @Feyenoord #Rvphomecoming,” the forward tweeted. The 34-year-old made his senior football career debut with Feyenoord in 2001.
GRACIA NAMED WATFORD COACH
WATFORD: Premier League club Watford appointed former Malaga coach Javi Gracia as their manager on Sunday, hours after sacking Portuguese Marco Silva.
Watford, who sit 10th in England’s top flight, announced that the 47-year-old Spaniard had signed an 18-month contract, becoming the club’s 10th manager since 2012.
“It’s a special atmosphere and I’m very happy to feel this experience and to say thanks to them because I know they (Watford fans) are the number one,” Gracia said in a video posted by Watford on Twitter.