Leicester City’s over-achieving players will be sold if they lose their focus and slide down the table in the second half of the Premier League season, manager Claudio Ranieri said.
The Foxes were top of the league at Christmas but have slipped to second, two points behind Arsenal, and are goalless in their last three games after losing 1-0 to Liverpool and drawing 0-0 with Manchester City and Bournemouth.
“If they lose impetus I will be very furious and desperate. If someone loses this focus, they are out,” Ranieri told reporters.
“We want to win. I saw them after Man. City, Man. United and Bournemouth and they were very sad – and that is good.”
Zidane a change for the better – Modric
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric believes Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga in Zinedine Zidane’s debut as coach shows the former Real and France great is the right man for the job.
Modric said he was sorry for Rafa Benitez, sacked and replaced by Zidane last week after less than half a season in charge, but that somebody had needed to pay the price for an indifferent run of results.
“I am sorry for Rafa and I would like to thank him for his work, but being honest and seeing today’s game I think that the change has been positive,” Modric said.
“When you lose there is always someone who has to pay.”
Deeney and Ighalo going nowhere
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is unconcerned about Arsenal’s reported interest in Troy Deeney and is confident his captain will remain at Vicarage Road.
Deeney has been linked with a surprise move to north London.
But Flores believes Deeney and his strike partner Odion Ighalo will still be at Watford when the transfer window closes.
“It is normal as Deeney has scored a lot,” said Flores when asked about Arsenal’s interest in his captain.
“Deeney and Ighalo are good players for this team. I am sure these players will not be going in the middle of the season.”
Torino want to take keeper Sirigu on loan
Torino are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the possibility of taking goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu on loan.
The Italy goalkeeper has struggled for first-team football in Paris this season and is looking to move elsewhere.
Tuttosport reported yesterday that Torino have opened talks with the French champions to try and force a deal.
One stumbling block for the move is Sirigu’s personal terms but PSG are ready to contribute up to half of the player’s wages.
Pep is overrated says Toure agent
Yaya Toure’s agent has claimed Pep Guardiola is over-rated as a manager and admitted his concern he would look to get rid of the 32-year-old should he take over at Manchester City.
The Bayern Munich boss, who is favourite to take over from Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season, sold Toure when the pair were at Barcelona.
Dimitri Seluk said: “Pep is a great coach. But he has won the title at Barcelona and Bayern.
“The truth is that my grandfather would win the title with Barcelona and Bayern Munich because they are big clubs with great players.
“I’d like to see Pep take a club that is eighth or ninth and make them champions.”
Injured Falcao not returning to Monaco
Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season after Monaco ruled out taking him back early.
The Colombian is on loan from the French Ligue 1 club, but has struggled to make a notable contribution since Jose Mourinho brought him in last summer.
Falcao has not featured at all since the end of October due to a thigh injury, on which he underwent checks at Monaco’s training ground last week.
Now Monaco believe he faces an extended spell out of action.
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said: “Falcao is currently injured. He has six to eight weeks to go like that. We have decided not to take him back to Monaco.”
Bale signing would transform United
Many Manchester United supporters are down in the doldrums, but Harry Redknapp believes Louis van Gaal can still win the Premier League this season if he signs Gareth Bale.
The Wales forward, who used to play under Redknapp at Tottenham, scored a stunning hat-trick in Zinedine Zidane’s first match in charge of Real Madrid against Deportivo on Saturday.
“Gareth Bale is in the top four or five players in the world,” Redknapp said.
“He is an amazing talent. If Manchester United took him they could come close to winning the title this year. He can make that much difference.”