^ ^ The two reasons ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka wants to complete shock Chelsea transfer

Granit Xhaka is angling for a move to Chelsea from Sunderland (Picture: Getty)

Granit Xhaka will continue to push for a move to Chelsea with personal terms already ‘guaranteed’.

The 33-year-old midfielder has emerged as a shock target for the Blues who are looking to add more experience to a squad that floundered baddly last season.

BlueCo appear ready to admit the mistakes that have undermined their attempts to arm various managers with squads capable of competing for major trophies.

The likes of Enzo Maresca, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino have all struggled to keep pace with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool as a consequence of a strategy that has relied upon recruiting Europe and South America’s best emerging talent.

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Upon appointing Xabi Alonso as Liam Rosenior’s permanent replacement, the Spaniard was notably given the title of manager rather than head coachfollowing his insistence that he be heavily involved in player recruitment.

Complementing Chelsea’s best young players with seasoned Premier League performers represents a priority for the latest man in the Chelsea hot seat.

A deal to sign Crystal Palace’s France international centre-half Maxence Lacroix appears to be progressing well, while Xhaka would add vast knowhow to a midfield engine room that could well be losing Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid.

Granit Xhaka and Xabi Alonso won the Bundesliga together at Bayer Leverkusen (Picture: Getty)

According to Fabrizio Romano, Xhaka wants to be reunited with Alonso at Stamford Bridge given the success they enjoyed together at Bayer Leverkusen where they helped the club win a first Bundesliga title, dethroning Bayern Munich in the process.

Moreover, Xhaka is keen to relocate his young family to London where he spent seven years as an Arsenal player, several as club captain, having spent last season at Sunderland.

Xhaka captain the Black Cats during their first season back in the top flightin eight years and helped secure unlikely European qualification, ironically after they beat Chelsea at home on the final day of an uplifting campaign.

Granit Xhaka captained Sunderland last season (Picture: Getty)

Granit Xhaka spent seven years as an Arsenal player (Picture: Getty)

After that match, Xhaka addressed the Sunderland fans and claimed ‘it was only the start’ but he now appears determined to renege on that promise and sign for Chelsea.

Sunderland, however, will not part with the veteran midfielder, who is currently playing for Switzerland at the World Cup, without a fight.

Xhaka joined Sunderland last summer in a £13million deal and with two years left on his contract they will at least hope to make their money back, if not a significant profit.

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^ ^ World Cup: Steve Clarke Goes & England Get The Job Done

Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland manager following their World Cup exit, with Eilidh Barbour joining Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith to react to the news and assess what went wrong for Scotland.

England are through to the last 32 after a 2-0 win over Panama. Paul Robinson joins from the stadium to break down another slightly underwhelming performance, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham again central to the result to get the job done.

The Athletic's Adam Crafton looks ahead to England’s knockout tie with DR Congo and runs through the standout fixtures from an exciting last 32 line-up.

Plus, Rick and Lloyd discuss the Nigerian goalkeeper who’s taken over everyone’s algorithms despite not being at the World Cup, and Lloyd shares a story from his time working in DR Congo on an old job.

^ ^ Harry Maguire sends clear message to Man Utd over Marcus Rashford’s future

Marcus Rahsford impressed for England in their 2-0 win over Panama (Credits: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Harry Maguire insists Marcus Rashford would be welcomed back with open arms were to he stay and fight for his Manchester Untied future.

The 28-year-old’s career appeared certain to lie away from Old Trafford having been deemed surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim.

Rashford was loaned out to Aston Villa for a six-month spell in January of last year, before earning a dream move to Barcelona the following summer.

The Spanish champions, however, passed on the option to sign the England international on a permanent basis earlier this summer despite Rashford enjoying a productive campaign.

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With Anthony Gordon having been signed for £70million, a return to Camp Nou looks increasingly implausible and Rashford appears destined to begin pre-season back at his boyhood club.

Under new management and with Michael Carrick now in charge, Rashford could yet perform a dramatic U-turn and resurect a United career that appeared dead and buried.

The versatile forward is understood to still maintain a number of Premier League suitors but Maguire insists his long-time teammate could yet thriveat United with Carrick at the helm.

Marcus Rashford was brought into the starting line-up for England’s game against Panama (Picture: Getty)

He told The Rest Is Football: ‘I have an amazing relationship with Marcus and had some great times with him over the years.

‘I know what what a wonderful player he can be. It’s up to the club and up to Marcus and finding a mutual agreement.

‘Of course, if Marcus does come back we want him to come back and play and be happy and confident.

Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona has complicated Marcus Rashford’s future (Picture: Getty)

‘It needs to be right for himself, it needs to be right for the club but everyone knows what a great player Marcus can be for whatever club he plays for next season.’

Rashford did his reputation little harm with an eye-catching performance in England’s 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night.

The Three Lions booked their place in the last 32 as group winners and will be strong favourites to progress at the expense of DR Congo.

Whether Rashford maintains his place in the starting XI at the expense of Gordon remains to be seen, but Maguire was impressed with the winger’s display.

Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford have been teamamtes together for England and Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

He said: ‘I think he was so direct and positive with everything that he did. We spoke about the Ghana game where it was a bit slow and we had too much patience.

‘I think Rashy straight away took the game to Panama and I think first 10 minutes he put four or five crosses in the box and it wasn’t as accurate as he normally is and then he finds that one where Harry probably was unfortunate not to score.

‘He was a constant threat throughout the game and when he’s in that mood I think us England fans know how good he can be and I’ve had the pleasure of playing with him at Manchester Unite for many years so when he’s in that frame and in that direct mode he’s unstoppable on his day.’

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^ ^ Gary Lineker tells Netflix co-host to ‘shut the f*** up’ after Harry Kane breaks his World Cup record

GaryLineker is no longer England’s top scorer at World Cups (Credits: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

Gary Lineker offered Harry Kane his congratulations after the England captain broke one of his predecessor’s long-standing World Cup records.

The Three Lions advanced to the knockout round as winners of Group L following what ultimately turned out to be a routine 2-0 win against Panama.

England, who made five changes to their starting XI, were frustrated in the first-half by opponents who were ranked 58th in the world.

Thomas Tuchel resisted the temptation to make changes at the break and his faith was rewarded just past the hour mark when Bukayo Saka’s corner was hooked home by Jude Bellingham.

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The Real Madrid superstar turned provider five minutes later when he twisted away from a defender and delivered the perfect cross for Harry Kane who headed home from close range.

Kane’s goal, his third of the tournament so far, created a little bit of personal history given it was his 11th overall on the biggest stage and moved him one ahead of Lineker, much to the delight of his The Rest Is Football co-host Micah Richards.

‘Harry, Harry I absolutely love you,’ said the former Manchester City defender who was appearing on the Netflix show via video link. ‘Gary is no more, he’s not relevant any more, he’s irrelevant.’

Harry Kane scored England’s second goal against Panama (Picture: Getty)

”Shut the f*** up will you,’ retorted Lineker who hit the off button on his remote before deciding to bring Richards back.

‘I’ll let you back because it’s really late there,’ said Lineker who scored 10 World Cup goals for his country at the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.

Speaking after his latest goalscoring exploits, meanwhile, Kane was asked if he had a message for the former England skipper and said: ‘Sorry Gary, I’m one ahead of you now.

‘I’m sure he’ll send some congratulations and I’ve said before one of England’s greatest strikers, especially in World Cups.

‘To go ahead of him now is a proud moment for myself and I’m sure he’ll be happy for me.’

Harry Kane scored three goals in the group stage and is in contention to win the Golden Boot (Picture: Getty)

Lineker was indeed happy for a player who has time and again delivered for England and offers them arguably their best chance of finally winning a first World Cup since 1966.

He said: ‘Thank you very much Harry, sincere congratulations, absolutely. I genuinely mean it I’m thrilled for it.

‘Forty years is a long time I am kind of bored of it. I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s Harry Kane.’

Bellingham, who also caught the eye against Panama, echoed Lineker’s sentiments and described Kane as ‘the best England player of all time’.

Jude Bellingham hailed Harry Kane as England’s greatest ever player (Credits: WILLIAM VOLCOV/Shutterstock)

With three goals during the group stage, Kane will be eyeing a tilt at winning the Golden Boot for a record second time as he remains in a contest with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr.

‘I have built a good relationship with Harry over the last four or five years, especially after Qatar, playing so close together,’ he said.

‘It is an honour to play with him. For me he is the best England player of all time, he is the one who has showed up more than anyone, more than any other England player.

‘It is quite easy to play with him in all honesty, he is at a level at the minute which is just incredible.

‘You don’t doubt him at all, in terms of whether he is involved or not, he is going to make a difference in the game and he did.’

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