Sports
Arsenal expect tough negotiations with Aaron Ramsey after handing Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan big contracts
Arsenal have made moves to tie down Aaron Ramsey to a new deal — but it could cost them more after Mesut Ozil’s mega-contract.
Midfielder Ramsey , who is in superb form and scored a hat-trick against Everton at the weekend, is into the final 18 months of his current agreement and at 27 his next one will be the most important of his career.
The Gunners have effectively moved the goalposts on contracts with their £350,000-a-week three year deal for Ozil, and even manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that more of their players will want to follow suit.
Arsenal’s huge offer beat off rival interest from Manchester United and Barcelona and came after Alexis Sanchez’s departure as they had to break the bank to keep Ozil.
They also signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on big contracts in January, and their existing top stars are likely to want parity with them.
Wenger has made it clear they want to keep Ramsey but if he did want to leave after a decade in north London for a different challenge, this would be his most obvious chance.
Ramsey has attracted interest from Spain in the past particularly after his performances for Arsenal and Wales.
The midfielder has scored six goals this season, while also providing six assists, and is one of Arsenal’s most important players.
The club is braced for a string of difficult negotiations — talks are also underway with fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is on course to be out of contract this summer.
Wilshere, 26, has made it clear he wants to stay, but Arsenal have made him an offer which means he must take a pay-cut on his current basic wage.
They want to give the England international – currently on £110,000-a-week – a new deal worth around £90,000-a-week and based heavily on incentives, success and appearances, because of his injury record.
Wilshere’s situation will alert several clubs and Ozil’s massive contract will only make other negotiations more difficult.
England striker Danny Welbeck is another set to be out of contact in 2019, and Wenger has insisted that more players and clubs will go into the final year of their deals in the future.
Welbeck will be desperate to ensure that he gets regular games — he knows that he will struggle to get his England place back unless he is a fixture in the Gunners’ starting XI.
Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin claims Arsenal were given a wake-up call by their horror defeat at Swansea last Tuesday.
He says it does not matter which defensive system they play, as long as everyone does their jobs.
Bellerin, who helped keep a clean sheet in Saturday’s big win, said: “It doesn’t really matter. The important thing is we know what to do when we’re on the pitch.
“After a bad performance in the last game everything looked way more solid and everybody was more aware of their defensive duties.
“We know once we have the ball we can create chances. So we were happy with the defensive performance as well.
“For me, I’ve more experience playing as a right-back. So it’s a position I’m comfortable with. But I feel comfortable as a wing-back as well. I just need to adjust a few things in my game. But whatever the boss wants, I’ll do.”
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
-
Metro5 days agoPhotos: Tragic Accident Claims Two Lives in Ogbomoso
-
Crime & Court1 week ago
EFCC nets 64 suspected internet fraudsters in Osun raid {Photos}
-
News7 days ago
EFCC calls on banks’ compliance officers to uphold confidentiality
-
News1 week ago
Nigerian Journalist Ojukwu Freed After 10 Days in Police Custody
