18-year-old Moriba has been with the Catalan giants since he was seven years old, progressing through the club’s La Masia academy and now regarded as one of Barca’s brightest talents.
Ronald Koeman has set about introducing the midfielder to the first-team in recent months, handing him a senior debut in a Copa del Rey clash against Cornella in January with the player making his La Liga debut against Alaves in February, marking the occasion with an assist.
The Spain Under-18 international came off the bench as Barcelona sealed a memorable fight back against Sevilla to book their place in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday.
According to Mundo Deportivo there are several clubs across Europe interesting in prising Moriba, who is represented by super-agent Jonathan Barnett, away from the Camp Nou.
Moriba shares an agent with Gareth Bale in Barnett (Picture: Getty)
With his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2022, United have already made an offer for his services, along with RB Leipzig.
The youngster is said to have a €100million release clause written into his current contract.
However, the report adds Moriba may choose to remain at Barcelona to repay the faith shown in him by head coach Ronald Koeman, who has placed his trust in the club’s youngsters during a difficult season.
Barcelona fought back from 2-0 down in the first leg to seal a 3-2 win over Sevilla this week. They will meet Athletic Bilbao, last season’s winners, in the final in April.
Daniel Farke’s Norwich City look well placed to seal an instant return to the Premier League (Picture: Getty)
Norwich manager Daniel Farke could have been forgiven for asking chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty to give his post-match changing room speech on Wednesday night.
Let’s take it one day at a time! Exercise caution! Things look good but it isn’t over yet! We must be patient! Do not get ahead of ourselves! Yes, he would have had to have said all of those things, but the Canaries’ controlled 1-0 win over nearest challengers Brentford was enough to put them ten points clear at the top of the Championship, prompting even the most cautious of pundits to phone the fat lady to tell her that she’s coming off furlough.
Even with third-placed Swansea’s 11-point gap with two games in hand, it is hard to imagine how Norwich could possibly throw away an immediate return to the Premier League.
Last season, they finished rock bottom of the top tier, 14 points from safety and so far off the pace they were overtaken by Maureen from Driving School.
What happened next was not a huge surprise to anyone who has paid attention to this club in recent years. There were no knees jerked at boardroom level, the gaffer stayed put and they retained the services of the majority of the team that thrived last time out in the Championship.
Retaining Emi Buendia has been key to Norwich’s impressive form this season (Picture: Getty)
Only Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis were sold on, but there was no real pressure for a fire sale, even taking into account the empty stands, because they did not burn tens of millions of Premier League pounds in the first place.
In Emiliano Buendia, they kept hold of a footballer with the type of X factor that would make Louis Walsh froth at the mouth and pass out. He is the first player this season in the Championship to reach double figures in both goals and assists, a feat which might only be matched by one other, namely Brentford’s Ivan Toney. Add to that his passing range, his work rate, his vision, and Emi is quite simply irreplaceable.
The worst-kept secret of Norwich City’s success is his electric connection with Teemu Pukki, which would cause even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to cast an envious glance in their direction. However, there is more love to go around. Young Oliver Skipp, on loan from Spurs, has been omnipresent in midfield, providing the type of protection that should earn him the nickname ‘Durex’. Surely, he will be given the chance to shine in North London next season.
Todd Cantwell has stepped up big time, Max Arrons remains so important, while Burnley loanee Ben Gibson has often been the right fit beside big Grant Hanley at centre-back. And I have to mention Dimitris Giannoulis, the Greek left-back who has not even played ten games since his January loan from PAOK and already looks like a Norwich native.
Todd Cantwell has continued to enhance his reputation in The Championship (Picture: Getty)
While they have scored considerably less than they had at this stage on their way to the Championship title in 2019, they have also conceded way fewer, and are actually seven points better off than they were after 33 games two seasons ago, which is the most important stat of them all.
Undoubtedly, the Canaries have been a yo-yo club in recent seasons, but that is only on the pitch. Off it, they have a clear strategy that doesn’t see them too high on their successes, or too low from their setbacks, and if you want real consistency, look no further than their fans.
They are guaranteed to snap up tens of thousands of season tickets regardless of which division they rock up in. I don’t want to be accused of cursing them but I would be flabbergasted if Gary Lineker isn’t introducing their highlights next season.
It ain’t over till it’s over, but it is safe to say the Carrow Road faithful, just like Norfolk’s very own Alan Partridge, are already thinking about the pedestrianisation of Norwich City Centre in order to keep the wolf from the door, so to speak.
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Redknapp thinks Mount should be Chelsea’s next captain (Picture: Getty Images)
Jamie Redknapp is a big admirer of Mason Mount and thinks he is in line to become Chelsea’s next captain.
Another moment of magic from the Blues midfielder proved the difference between Thomas Tuchel’s side and Liverpool as Chelsea climbed into the top-four for the first time in their new manager’s reign.
Mount, 22, was a big favourite of former manager Frank Lampard’s and appears to have earned Tuchel’s trust, too.
He has featured in 26 of their 27 matches this season, scoring five goals and producing three assists, and become an integral part of the Chelsea team.
And Redknapp, the former Liverpool midfielder, thinks he is a standout candidate to become the club’s captain in the future once Cesar Azpilicueta gives up the armband.
‘I think the best way to state what he is right now is the ultimate modern-day player,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports.
Mount was on the scoresheet (Picture: Getty)
‘He can play in a two in midfield. He can play the No. 10. He can play wide left, wide right. He has that much quality, you could play him as a false 9 if you had to.
‘He starts the press. His touch, he’s got finesse. I think he’s got everything to be the next Chelsea captain going forward.
‘Chelsea didn’t produce players in that academy for such a long time and he got given an opportunity and he’s taken it with both hands.
‘Right now, what would he be worth in the current market? He is just such a talent.
‘You’re never going to sell him. He’s the dream player and one of your own.
‘They’ve not done this before, the last one was John Terry, to have a player like him.
‘Of course Reece James, he’s got a lot to do and he’s going to get better but he [Mount] leads the way for that team.’
Frank Leboeuf reacted to Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool (Picture: YouTube)
Frank Leboeuf hailed ‘fantastic’ Mason Mount after Chelsea’s impressive victory over Liverpool at Anfield but said it was clear summer signing Hakim Ziyech is ‘still struggling’.
Chelsea’s revival under Thomas Tuchel continued on Thursday night with a well-deserved 1-0 win over defending Premier League champions Liverpool.
Mount’s superb first-half goal was enough to separate the teams but Chelsea were good value for their win, controlling the game and thwarting Liverpool’s misfiring attack.
Former Blues star Leboeuf raved about ‘leader’ Mount after Chelsea’s win but said Ziyech – who joined the club from Ajax last summer – was ‘still struggling’.
‘He [Mount] is absolutely fantastic — [and] he’s still a young lad, we shouldn’t forget that,’ Leboeuf told ESPN FC.
‘He [has played] under two different coaches, and he’s been perfect – and he’s a leader. He’s the kind of player that makes the difference.
‘Up front, even if you can say [Timo] Werner had a good game and [Hakim] Ziyech is still struggling, there is one who always gives his best and does very very well, that is Mason Mount.
Leboeuf was impressed by Blues star Mason Mount (Picture: Getty)
‘What he did to Fabinho, how he found the corner, how he scored the goal, he shows that he’s already matured and always makes the right decision.
‘Hats off, my man, carry on like that because you have a great future, for sure.’
Chelsea’s victory saw them climb to fourth in the Premier League and Blues boss Tuchel said he was ‘very, very happy’ with the team’s performance.
‘It was clear we needed a complete performance in all aspects of the game,’ he said. ‘We did this, we were very brave with the ball and never lost intensity with the ball.
‘We were always aggressive and very brave. This was the key. It was a top team performance and a deserved win.
‘Both teams started in a high level of speed and intensity. We knew that. We told the team we don’t want to give too much information. When you arrive in a match like this you cannot overthink it.
‘We managed all situations very, very good. Very, very encouraging.’
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is reportedly set to join Leicester City (Getty)
Leicester City are closing in on a deal to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, according to reports.
The 23-year-old has been sublime since joining Celtic from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 with 81 goals in 160 appearances.
Brendan Rodgers was the man who brought Edouard to Celtic on an initial loan deal from PSG in 2017 before his move was made permanent a year later for £9 million.
Edouard has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, while Arsenal are also understood to have been monitoring the striker’s performances.
But according to MailOnline, Leicester believe they have won the race for Edouard and a deal in the region of £15m is close to being agreed.
The report claims that Edouard has indicated that he wants to be reunited with Rodgers at Leicester this summer.
Brendan Rodgers brought Odsonne Edouard from PSG to Celtic in 2017 (AFP via Getty)
When asked about a move for Edouard in January, Rodgers said: ‘I know Odsonne because I signed him for Celtic when he was there, so I know the level of player Celtic have.’
Edouard will have just one year remaining on his contract with Celtic at the end of the season, while PSG also have a 40 per cent sell-on clause.
Leicester have been heavily reliant on Jamie Vardy this season with the 34-year-old scoring 12 Premier League goals so far.
Rodgers’ side currently sit third in the Premier League, four points clear of fifth-placed Everton.
Michael Owen has been hugely impressed with Thomas Tuchel’s new-look Chelsea (Picture: PLP)
Michael Owen is confident Chelsea ‘are going nowhere’ and will comfortably cement a place in the top four after Thomas Tuchel’s side became the lastest team to leave Anfield with three points.
Mason Mount’s first-half goal was enough to seal an important victory and inflict upon Liverpool a record fifth successive home defeat. The scoreline barely reflected Chelsea’s dominance as they comfortably recorded an eighth clean sheet in 10 matches, restricting the champions to just a solitary effort on target.
Chelsea were languishing in ninth position, five points adrift of the last Champions League qualifying spot, when Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard.
The German’s impact has been immediate and impressive with Owen confident that a newfound defensive resolve will see the Blues comfortably meet the target their new manager was set upon his appointment.
Mason Mount’s goal helped Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Owen told Premier League Productions: ‘It’s the acid test really if your manager takes over and you are five or six places below where you currently are then of course you are looking at the league table and thinking ‘core, look at this we never even thought this was possible, we were quite a way away from these Champions League places’.
‘All of a sudden you are there within the blink of an eye. Now you’ve got the momentum, you’ve got the confidence and the self belief, you’ve got a massive squad that is all chipping in so a great atmosphere around the place.
‘You ride the crest of a wave, they’re not going anywhere. They are staying in the top four.
‘They’re not conceding goals, eight clean sheets in 10 games, they’ve only scored 11 goals.
‘It’s not like they’re knocking the lights out they are a team that are probably scoring at the same race as Crystal Palace and Brighton, they’re just not conceding and they don’t look like it.’
The Reds slipped to their fifth successive home defeat on Thursday night as Thomas Tuchel’s side clinched a 1-0 win thanks to Mason Mount’s superb first-half goal.
Klopp replaced Salah with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with 30 minutes remaining and Liverpool’s top goal-scorer did not look particularly impressed with the decision.
Former Liverpool winger Pennant was also ‘disappointed’ by Klopp’s ‘silly’ move and says it was a mistake to take off a player who can produce ‘magic’.
He told Stadium Astro: ‘I’m concerned that you’re bringing him off. You don’t bring off a player of that stature.
‘Not because he’s bigger than the club, but because what he can do on the pitch. He can produce magic, we’ve seen that every season that he’s played for Liverpool.
‘He can be quiet for 80 minutes and bring out one piece of magic when they need it. In a game like this, you should always have Salah on the pitch.
Klopp subbed off Mohamed Salah during the defeat (Picture: Getty)
‘Bringing on Jota, great substitution. If they would have had Firmino, Jota, Mane and Salah on the pitch, they would have put Chelsea on the back foot even more.
‘Taking him off, I was baffled. You should always keep Salah on the pitch. You can’t bite your nose to spite your face.
‘Taking him off was silly. If he was on the pitch, who knows what would have happened? I think Klopp needs to be more reasonable than that, I think it was a silly decision.’
Liverpool’s defeat leaves the club seventh in the Premier League table – four points outside the top-four with nine matches of the 2020-21 campaign remaining.
Speaking after the loss to Chelsea, Reds boss Klopp said: ‘You saw the game – it was a tight one, it was a close one, it was an intense one.
‘We forced them to make mistakes, they forced us to make mistakes. They used one, we didn’t use ours. Against Chelsea, it would be surprising to play them off the pitch – but we were in the game.
‘It is just annoying to talk about the same things again and again. It is tough. We have to fight through this.’
Werner saw a goal chalked off (Picture: AFP via Getty)
Thomas Tuchel has told Timo Werner there’s no room for ‘self-pity’ after he saw a goal chalked off in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield.
Werner had the ball in the back of the net after rounding Alisson Becker and clipping into the empty goal but saw his effort ruled out by the narrowest of offside calls.
The Germany international has now scored just one goal in his past 18 Premier League games but his overall performances have improved since Tuchel’s arrival.
He was a constant threat in behind the Liverpool defence playing off the shoulder, although it took a moment of magic from Mason Mount to break the deadlock and secure the three points for the Blues.
The result lifted them into the Champions League spots and extended Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Chelsea manager.
Tuchel was satisfied with the efforts of his misfiring striker – who also missed a glorious opportunity in the first half – and told him he doesn’t need to ‘worry too much’ about his lack of goals.
And he advised him that as long as he keeps applying himself, he will be a success at Stamford Bridge.
‘I demand 100% in every training, I don’t allow self-pity,’ Tuchel said.
‘Timo is full of talent and plays for one of the best clubs in the world, in one of the best leagues in the world. So there is no need for him to worry too much.
‘So if he puts in the effort, puts himself in a state of mind to play on the highest level.
‘We are not counting the minutes [to goals] and for me and my approach it is not an issue.’
Thomas Tuchel was blown away by N’Golo Kante’s display against Liverpool (AFP via Getty)
Thomas Tuchel has hailed N’Golo Kante following Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool on Thursday evening.
Mason Mount’s superb first-half strike was enough to see off the Premier League champions at Anfield.
But Chelsea delivered an accomplished performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side, with Kante and Chelsea’s defence limiting Liverpool’s chances in front of goal.
‘He [Kante] is a gift. It’s incredible,’ Tuchel told RMC Sport after the game.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this. At training, in games, he never stops.
‘We look at the data on his intensity and he is incredible. He really is a gift.’
Thomas Tuchel says N’Golo Kante is ‘a gift’ (AFP via Getty)
Tuchel also praised the performance of Andreas Christensen, who impressed once again at the heart of Chelsea’s defence in the absence of Thiago Silva.
‘Andreas stepped in during the middle of the first half versus Tottenham which was a tough thing to do, and from the first minute he is absolutely impressive,’ said Tuchel.
‘He is brave, strong in individual challenges and very brave and intelligent in our build-up.
‘He plays with a lot of confidence and I am absolutely happy with his performance.
‘How he has stepped up is a big part of our performances.’
