PREMIER LEAGUE captains have brokered a deal to fund £4m to the NHS, but it remains to be seen whether English football’s top flight will resume.
And the Olympic Games may be cancelled altogether as it has been revealed chiefs are worried the event will not be able to go ahead even in 2021.
Follow all the latest news and updates as the sporting world deals with the threat of coronavirus…
Jake Lambourne4 hours ago10th April 2020
HAMMERS HELP
West Ham’s players have agreed to defer part of their salaries until football is back.
The Hammers squad led by captain Mark Noble have OK’d the plans in a bid to help the East London side combat the financial impact of coronavirus.
Irons boss David Moyes and vice-chairman Karren Brady have also accepted 30 per cent reductions to help the cause.
The measures introduced will enable the club to avoid using the furlough scheme – unlike bitter rivals Tottenham – and continue to pay their non-playing staff 100 per cent of their wages.
Noble, who was commended for a £35,000 donation to Basildon council’s coronavirus effort earlier this week, said: “As players we have been in constant dialogue with the club since the situation around Covid-19 emerged.
“And I am proud that our entire squad have made clear their strong desire to play our part in helping to support others through this situation.
“At West Ham United, we are one team and our priority reflects the club’s aim to help ensure the staff get 100 per cent of their salaries while we are unable to play our matches.”
Joint owners David Gold and David Sullivan – alongside other minor shareholders – also injected £30million into the coffers via a share re-purchase scheme.
Jake Lambourne5 hours ago10th April 2020
ART TO HEART
Mikel Arteta has comforted pal Pep Guardiola after the heartbroken Manchester City boss lost his mother to the coronavirus.
Guardiola is back at the family home in Barcelona following the death of 82-year-old Dolors Sala Carrio on Monday.
And Arteta was among the first to offer his sympathy — having been English football’s first Covid-19 sufferer last month.
Arsenal boss Arteta, who spent four years as Guardiola’s right-hand man at City before replacing Unai Emery at the Emirates in December, said: “I have been in touch with Pep and it’s really sad news.
“I know his family really well and I send my condolences to them all and hope that they can come through this all together.
“He was worried about his parents before this happened because they are getting older, and they have been trying to isolate them.
“Things are really complicated back in Spain at the moment. They have taken even stronger measures to deal with the situation and it is critical at the moment.”
Jake Lambourne5 hours ago10th April 2020
KING KENNY
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has been admitted to hospital where he has been tested for coronavirus.
A statement from the Dalglish family said: “Sir Kenny was admitted to hospital on Wednesday April 8 for treatment of an infection which required intravenous antibiotics.
“In keeping with current procedures, he was subsequently tested for COVID-19 despite having previously displayed no symptoms of the illness. Unexpectedly, the test result was positive but he remains asymptomatic.
“Prior to his admission to hospital, Sir Kenny had chosen to voluntarily self-isolate for longer than the advised period together with his family.
“He would urge everyone to follow the relevant government and expert guidance in the days and weeks ahead.
“He would like to take this opportunity to thank the brilliant NHS staff, whose dedication, bravery and sacrifice should be the focus of the nation’s attention at this extraordinary time.
“He would also ask that they are given the space to do their jobs during what is an extremely challenging time for them and that his own family’s privacy is respected.
“He looks forward to being home soon. We will provide further updates as and when it is appropriate.
Jake Lambourne6 hours ago10th April 2020
PHIL AT HOME
Phillipe Coutinho’s agent has claimed the Premier League could be his natural home – but the coronavirus pandemic could pay an end to his hopes of a return to England.
Coutinho has failed to make an impact at Barcelona since his £145million move from Liverpool in 2018 and is currently spending the season on loan at Bayern Munich.
The Brazilian playmaker and his advisor Kia Joorabchian would love him to make a move back to the top flight with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea clubs he has been linked with.
But Joorabchian admits any plans may be dashed by the financial crisis in football as a result of Covid-19 forcing the game across the world to shut down.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Joorabchian said: “After the Champions League game he played in England we had a long chat about it.
“The Premier League is something that he has always enjoyed playing in, and loved playing in, and would probably love to come back and play in.
“The question is what are going to be the financial conditions of all the clubs, including Barcelona and all the Premier League clubs at the end of this pandemic?”
Jake Lambourne6 hours ago10th April 2020
TAKING THE MIK
Mikel Arteta revealed Arsenal’s transfer plans are “changing daily” as coronavirus wreaks havoc on football.
The Spaniard was one of the first famous faces to be diagnosed with the deadly disease but got straight back to work after he recovered.
Yet the 38-year old admitted his job has been made almost impossible by the global pandemic.
He told Sky Sports News: “I’m planning two or three different scenarios that we can face. Depending on one of those three, we will be able to do more, less or nothing.
“We have to react daily. We don’t know what the financial situation is going to be, we don’t know the rules, the timing, the window.
“There are so many things we cannot control at the moment.”
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