Erik Lamela: Tottenham midfielder out for the season

Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a hip injury.

The 25-year-old Argentina international has not played for Spurs since October because of the problem and will undergo surgery on Saturday.

Tottenham said Lamela had "achieved a good level of function" but was not at a stage to make a return to training, leading to the decision to operate.

"I tried everything to recover but my hip is still not 100%," Lamela tweeted.

"I can't compete at the level I want to. I'll face this challenge with a positive attitude and can't wait to get back with the team and be stronger."

Lamela had made 14 appearances this season for Spurs before the injury.

He joined Tottenham from Roma in 2013 and enjoyed a superb season last term, scoring 13 goals.

Spurs are second in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, who they also play in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

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China defender's wife criticises affairs after World Cup qualifying error

A Chinese player's wife has criticised his extra-marital affairs after his embarrassing mistake in a World Cup qualifying defeat by Iran on Tuesday.

Jiang Zhipeng's misplaced header set up the home team for the game's only goal.

Jiang's wife revealed on social media that he had filed for divorce.

"For three and a half years out of our four-year marriage, he was sleeping with other women," said Zhang Zhiyue. "Now he is trying to drive me to an early grave."

AFP news agency also report that she posted photos on social network Weibo of Jiang snuggling with his alleged mistress, and called for the Chinese football association and the sports bureau of Guangdong province to "expel" him from professional football.

Chinese soccer authorities have not commented on the situation.

Guangzhou R&F defender Jiang, 28, made his debut for the national team in 2013.

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Jo Pavey: British athlete thrilled to receive 'bittersweet' 2007 bronze

Britain's Jo Pavey says it is a bittersweet feeling to receive her 2007 World Championships 10,000m bronze medal after Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse had her result chalked off.

Athletics' governing body the IAAF said the silver medallist had been found guilty of an in-competition doping offence during the event in Japan.

Pavey, 43, was beaten to bronze by American Kara Goucher, who will now be upgraded to silver.

"It is frustrating," said Pavey.

"I am thrilled with the news but it is kind of bittersweet because when I think back to those championships I was running as hard as I could, I had got myself in the best shape and it was a hot and humid day. I was in a medal position right until the line but couldn't hold on.

"Instead of being a moment where I was thrilled at getting my first medal, I was lying on the track feeling totally despondent and frustrated, I felt that I had let everyone down."

'I think about the other medals I might have had'

It is Pavey's first World medal, having been on the podium at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

The saga surrounding Abeylegesse dates back to 2015 when the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced 28 athletes who competed at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships had returned "adverse findings" from retested samples.

The Turkish Athletics Federation subsequently revealed that Abeylegesse was one of those under investigation. The Ethiopian-born runner was withdrawn from the 2015 Worlds as a consequence.

Her results from 25 August 2007 to 25 August 2009 have been removed and the 34-year-old is retrospectively banned from 29 September 2015 to 28 September 2017.

Pavey says she feels angry at Abeylegesse for denying her of her podium moment, and has questioned whether she has potentially missed out on more medals.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Pavey added: "I had a few years in the prime of my career where I kept just missing out on medals and I almost had to go back to the drawing board and think how I could find that extra. How I could not keep getting it just a bit wrong on the day.

"Now I look back and I think about the other medals I might have had and actually I was doing a lot of things right but with the cheats out there it does make it so much more difficult and so frustrating."

Pavey, a five-time Olympian, is set to compete in this year's London Marathon with the aim of qualifying for the 2017 World Championships in London.

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, who won gold in the 10,000m at the 2007 Worlds, will also line up against Pavey during April's marathon.

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Manchester United vs West Brom match preview

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones for Saturday's Premier League game against West Brom at Old Trafford.

Record signing Pogba, 24, has not recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered in the Europa League last-16 tie against FC Rostov on 16 March.

Jones, 25, suffered a toe injury after colliding with Smalling in England training and could miss four weeks.

Smalling, 27, also suffered a training injury while on international duty.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic serves the final game of a three-match ban after he elbowed Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings on 4 March.

United will play nine matches in April, including the Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht.

Among their seven Premier League games are meetings with leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford on 16 April and a trip to Manchester City on Thursday, 27 April.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom have won two of their previous three matches at Old Trafford in the Premier League (lost one).
• However, their victory in September 2013 was their first away at Manchester United since 1978.

Manchester United

• Manchester United have gone 18 league games unbeaten (won 10, drew eight), with their last defeat coming away to Chelsea on 23 October.
• They have not let in more than one goal in a match during their unbeaten run, conceding a total of 11 goals.
• However, Jose Mourinho's side have won just one of their last four league games at Old Trafford, drawing the other three.
• United have scored with just 9.1% of their shots in the Premier League this season; their lowest shot conversion ratio in the competition in a single season since 2004-05 (8.2%).

West Brom

• West Brom have won just one of their last eight away games in the Premier League (drew three, lost four), with their last victory coming on New Year's Eve against Southampton.
• However, the Baggies have only lost two of their previous eight league matches (won four, drew two).
• Tony Pulis' side have scored more goals from defenders (12) than any other Premier League team this season.
• They have outrun their opponents in a league-high 93% of their matches in the Premier League this season (27/29), including the last 19 games in a row.
• James Morrison could make his 300th Premier League appearance in this match, becoming just the fourth Scottish player to reach this landmark after Darren Fletcher, Paul Telfer and Gary McAllister.

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Wijnaldum and Sakho Nominated for March Player of the Month

Since Premier League action returns in April, the manager and player of the month nominations for March have been announced today.

 Georginio Wijnaldum, Mamadou Sakho, and Jürgen Klopp all deservedly feature heading into the final two months of the season.

Wijnaldum has been in fine form in his three appearances this month, scoring the third goal against Arsenal to secure all three points and poking home the equaliser at home to Burnley to set up a much-needed win.

 The midfielder also played a key role in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad. Whether it's home or away against illustrious or modest opponents, the 26-year-old has made an impact.

Mamadou Sakho started his first league game for Crystal Palace at the end of February in the 1-0 home win against Middlesbrough.

 Two games this month have provided two wins and two clean sheets as the on-loan Liverpool defender has unsurprisingly looked majestic in defence. 

Leadership, reliability, and quality in defence for a club trying to pull away from the relegation zone. Sam Allardyce may want to sit at a comfortable restaurant, have a chat with some important people, and get this deal done.

Romelu Lukaku, Josh King, Nathan Redmond, Arthur Boruc, and Josh King complete the nominations.

 No Liverpool player has won the award this season, and that may continue considering King and Lukaku appear to be favourites after their goalscoring runs this month. The pair have each scored four goals in three games in an impressive month of Premier League action.

Jürgen Klopp is in contention for the manager of the month award and is up against Sam Allardyce, Craig Shakespeare, Eddie Howe, Mauricio Pochettino, and Antonio Conte. Klopp and Howe have both managed an extra league game this month, winning two and drawing one. 

Liverpool needed a good month after a horribly inconsistent and disappointing 2017, but seven points from a possible nine from Arsenal, Burnley, and Manchester City may have got the Reds back on track.

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ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS: HECTOR BELLERIN COMMENTED ON BY BARCELONA, TOP RUMOURS..

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has said it will be tough to sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal this summer.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo's Gabriel Sans and Fernando Polo (h/t ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia), when asked about the possibility of bringing Bellerin back to the Camp Nou, Fernandez said: "Of course Hector is a good player. He is well known. 

He is playing at a great level but there are also other players that have good characteristics. ... When a player has a long-term contract, it's very difficult."

Indeed, Bellerin signed a new deal at Arsenal in November to keep him at the club until 2022, which puts the Gunners in a strong bargaining position should Barca come calling.

The La Masia graduate had admitted to being flattered by links with a return to the club, though:

Bellerin arrived at Arsenal in 2011 and has developed into a key member of the starting XI in recent years.

The Spaniard's electric pace allows him to get up and down the right flank quickly, and his development at both ends of the pitch has generally been on an upward trend since breaking into the first team.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt believes he isn't yet the finished article, however:

While the right-back has shown great potential at the Emirates Stadium, there is still room for improvement both with his final ball—he has created just 15 chances in the Premier League this season, according to Squawka—and defensively.

He has the tools to become a star, but he's not there yet, and the cost of his transfer would likely be too high for a player who isn't yet the finished article.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's struggles in the Premier League could see them lose out to Atletico Madrid in the race to sign Alexandre Lacazette, according to TalkSport.

The pair are both admirers of the Frenchman, who appears set to leave Lyon this summer, but Arsenal look in real danger of missing out on a UEFA Champions League place.

His overall tally is 29 goals in all competitions, and he'll almost certainly surpass 30 for the season, a tally Arsenal haven't had a player reach since Robin van Persie in 2012.

Per Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse, his arrival at Atletico would not have an impact on Antoine Griezmann's future:

Lacazette is the kind of player the Gunners desperately need in the summer, one who could give them a greater ruthless streak than they currently possess.

If Arsenal are to attract players of his calibre in the transfer window and retain their best and brightest, finishing in the top four is imperative.

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Gossip: Hazard, Rodriguez, Costa, Morata, Messi, Alba, Griezmann, Coutinho

For the latest gossip and debate, check out our Sportsday rolling news service every weekday, and for a list of all the completed deals, see our transfers page.

Eden Hazard's representatives have held "positive talks" over a potential switch to Real Madrid, but Chelsea want playmaker James Rodriguez, 25, in exchange for the 26-year-old forward. (Marca, via Daily Mail)

Liverpool are interested in bringing Colombia international Rodriguez to Anfield, but the Real Madrid midfielder wants to play Champions League football next season. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea forward Diego Costa, 28, says he would be open to a move to France in the future and has praised Marseille, Monaco and Paris St-Germain. (Telefoot - in French)

Blues boss Antonio Conte has told owner Roman Abramovich he wants to sign 24-year-old Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. (AS)

Barcelona will offer midfielder Ivan Rakitic, 29, to Liverpool as part of a deal for 24-year-old Reds midfielder Philippe Coutinho. (Don Balon, via liverpool

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho hopes to sign midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan and will pay up to £43m for the 24-year-old. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)

United and Chelsea target Antoine Griezmann, 26, says he is happy at Atletico Madrid, with the France striker adding there is "no need to change". (Telefoot, via Daily Mirror)

Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 22, has agreed personal terms before a £35m move to Chelsea in the summer. (Tuttomercato, via Metro)

Arsenal will rival Atletico Madrid for the signing of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, 25. (Marca, via Daily Star)

The Gunners are also interested in signing Southampton winger Dusan Tadic, 28, for £13m. (Tuttomercato, via Daily Express)

Italy forward Andrea Belotti, 23, will reject a move to Arsenal or Chelsea this summer to stay at Torino. (Tuttosport, via Goal)

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez wants to sign Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, 27, for around £15m in the summer to spearhead what is looking likely to be their first season back in the Premier League. (Sun)

Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson, 24, will be a target for the Premier League's top six this summer, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City having regularly sent scouts to watch the England player. (Daily Mirror)

Nathaniel Chalobah, 22, says he has never considered leaving Chelsea despite spending much of his time at the club out on loan. (Daily Star)

Gunners midfielder Mesut Ozil, 28, says he will "talk soon" to the club regarding a new contract. (Die Welt, via Sun)

Barcelona are no longer interested in signing Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, with the Gunners wanting at least £45m for the 22-year-old. (Marca, via Metro)

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, 29, is keen to stop team-mate Jordi Alba joining Manchester United. The 28-year-old defender has a £130m buy-out clause. (Diario Gol, via Daily Star)

Manchester City winger Jesus Navas, 31, wants to return to former club Sevilla after enrolling his five-year-old son in a school in the Spanish city. (AS, via Manchester Evening News)

Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim says he is focused on his current club, rather than thinking about replacing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. (O Jogo, via Daily Express)

And finally

Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long used breathing techniques from his wife's pregnancy to comfort captain Seamus Coleman after his horrific leg break against Wales. (Irish Independent)

Former Tottenham, Wolves and Fulham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, 30, missed his best friend's wedding in Las Vegas on Saturday to make his debut for Ryman League Premier Division side Billericay Town. (Independent)

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Should Seahawks sign Kaepernick?

The Seahawks have a backup to Russell Wilson in Trevone Boykin. Now that Boykin has been arrested, could the Seahawks be looking for another quarterback to serve as Wilson’s understudy?

If they are, there’s one available quarterback who would make a lot of sense — if he’s willing to suspend for a year his desire to be a starter.

Colin Kaepernick, as one source explained it to PFT, has very high regard for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. And we know that Seahawks cornerback Richard Shermanhas high regard for Kaepernick; Sherman recently opined that Kaepernick is better than 20 of the current starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

While that may be an exaggeration, the Seahawks have seen first-hand what Kaepernick can do with the right coaching and game planning. If/when Wilson gets injured, Kaepernick would definitely be a better option than Boykin, especially if Boykin’s arrest results in the team moving on from him the same way it moved on from Tarvaris Jackson following an arrest a year ago.

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Out of contract in 2018: 26 Premier League players with less than 18 months to run on their current deals..

Arsenal fans have already resigned themselves to losing Mesut Ozil and  Alexis Sanchez in the summer.

The Gunners stars have 18 months left to run on their current contracts at the Emirates and do not appear to be close to signing new terms with uncertainty surrounding Arsene Wenger's future. 

So it is likely they will leave this summer in order to stop the club losing them for free in 2018.

They are not the only players nearing the end of their contracts.

talkSPORT has taken a look at the long list of players, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk, and selected 26 players whose deals run until the summer of 2018.

source;

Read more at http://talksport.com/football/out-contract-2018-26-premier-league-players-less-18-months-run-their-current-deals#TseWUQRlhWBBwM0K.99

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