Title challengers Tottenham Hotspur will not be distracted by the prospect of lifting the Premier League trophy in May and are solely focused on their upcoming fixtures, midfielder Mousa Dembele said.
With 12 games left, second-placed Spurs have managed to cut the deficit to leaders Leicester City to just two points with a resounding 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
“We won’t try to dream, we’ll just have to stay very concentrated in each game. The next match is always important and we’ll see where we end up, but it’s looking very positive for us,” Dembele told the club’s website.
Enforced break will help Stones – coach
Everton defender John Stones has benefited from taking a break from football following the hamstring injury he picked up in January, manager Roberto Martinez said.
The 21-year-old has been a regular feature in an Everton rearguard that has conceded a Premier League-high 23 goals at home this season.
“John started with the group on Monday and has benefited a lot from the break... I expect him to be part of the squad and to have a very strong ending to the season,” Martinez told reporters yesterday.
Martins seals move to Shanghai Shenhua
Former Inter striker Obafemi Martins is leaving Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders for China’s Shanghai Shenhua, according to a statement on his Twitter account.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Newcastle United and Birmingham in England and Wolfsburg in Germany, will join up with former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba at the Chinese Super League (CSL) club.
“After significant reflection, I have decided to join Shanghai Shenhua FC of the CSL,” Martins tweeted yesterday.
Zenit’s Criscito open to Inter transfer
Domenico Criscito remains open to the prospect of a summer move to Inter after revealing a potential transfer fell through last year.
Zenit St Petersburg’s Italian left-back swapped Genoa for Russia in June 2011 and has since been a part of two Premier League title-winning teams.
Criscito told calciomercato.com: “The Inter rumours? I’ve had no contact from them at the moment, in terms of discussing my plans for next season. I was definitely very close to joining in the summer.
“The absence of an agreement between the two clubs blocked any further negotiations.
“Right now I’m focused on the Champions League and finishing the season with Zenit, but I will always leave the door open for Inter.”
Ibrahimovic drops Premier League hint
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hinted at a move to the Premier League in the summer when his Paris St Germain contract expires.
The 34-year-old striker has won league titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France during a sparkling career, but could finally bring his undoubted talents to England on a short-term deal before pursuing an expected swansong in the United States in 2017.
The Sweden international, quoted in several national newspapers, said: “I have another three months here and then... what will happen? Big things will happen.”
Asked specifically about a move to the Premier League, Ibrahimovic added: “Let’s just say I am in good shape.”
Dawson extends West Brom contract
West Brom defender Craig Dawson has extended his contract at The Hawthorns until 2018.
The ex-Rochdale man was contracted until 2017 but has agreed an extra 12 months with improved terms at the Baggies.
The 25-year-old, who joined Albion in 2011, has made 31 appearances this term to become Tony Pulis’ first-choice right-back.
“I was really pleased to be able to extend my contract here, and that will take it until the summer of 2018,” he told the club’s official site.
“I’m really enjoying my football, especially over the last year-and-a-half when I’ve been a regular in the first team.”
Valbuena, Benzema may meet – magistrate
A magistrate yesterday lifted a ban on France striker Karim Benzema meeting team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, whom he is suspected of trying to blackmail over a sex video, which has meant the two cannot feature on the same team.
The public prosecutor appealed, but dropped an earlier statement that the ban would have to stay in place until the appeal was heard. The magistrate separately upheld a ban on Benzema contacting other people linked to the investigation.
Real Madrid player Benzema, who denies any wrongdoing, has been suspended indefinitely from the France team because of suspicion of involvement in a scam to blackmail Valbuena over a video sex tape.