118
(^) Daily Mail, Saturday, August 17, 2019
Football
documents show that the case is being
classed as an ‘unfair dismissal’ claim.
In May, a Premier League tribunal ruled in
favour of Conte, apparently bringing to an
end a 10-month feud between him and the
club over his severance package.
It has been reported that the club’s defence
in that tribunal included that Conte’s treat-
ment of Diego Costa — he reportedly told
him by text message he was not in his plans
— was not in the best interests of the club.
They are also believed to have argued that
he breached his contract by his behaviour
towards players and senior staff.
Conte’s lawyers, meanwhile, have argued
that the delay in his dismissal had hindered
his chances of landing another managerial
position. Rather than accept the ruling of
that tribunal, Chelsea have continued the
legal battle. With the proceedings being
heard in private, the facts of both
parties’ legal cases are not yet known.
Conte has since been appointed as Inter
From Back Page
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER wants By JACK GAUGHAN
Alexis Sanchez to stay at
Manchester United and expects
him to prove his critics wrong.
Sanchez has had interest from
Serie A clubs, with the European
transfer window open until
September 2 but his wages may
prove an obstacle to any move.
United manager Solskjaer
conceded Sanchez (right)
remains a number of weeks
behind the rest of his squad after
returning from the Copa
America with a hamstring injury.
United are organising friendlies
behind closed doors at
Carrington in a bid to accelerate
Sanchez’s return to fitness. The
30-year-old striker’s form is of
greater concern, with only
three Premier League goals
since a move from Arsenal in
January 2018.
‘Alexis is such a professional
and he comes in working every
single day really hard,’
Solskjaer said.
‘He’s part of our squad
and he is a really
good player. He has
had three weeks
now, so he’s a few
weeks behind
the rest but close to being part
of it. We don’t have the biggest
forward line in numbers so
Alexis might end up playing a lot
more games than you expect.
We expect him to
come good at this
club, he’s quality.’
Sources close to the
player claim he
wants to leave Old
Trafford but Solskjaer
insisted Sanchez,
whose wages could
potentially hit £560,000
a week, is working
hard to return.
‘We’ve had a
behind-closed-doors game and
he is doing a little bit of extras,’
Solskjaer said. ‘He’ll be
gradually integrated into more
and more playing time.
‘We’ll have more behind-closed-
doors games because with one
game a week now it’s hard to
keep everyone ticking over.’
There is also a question mark
over Paul Pogba’s future. His
brother, Mathias, claimed the
midfielder is ‘waiting’ to leave
for Real Madrid. In an interview
with El Chiringuito Mathias
Pogba said: ‘He’s going to have a
hard time because what he
wants is not going to happen as
right now it’s a little late. I don’t
think he’s worth 200m (euros),
but now the football world is
like that. United are going to ask
for a lot, but not 200.
‘It’s a delicate situation but the
player has his personal goals, if
you have to leave, well, that’s it.
I can’t assure you he is going to
stay at United. We know he
wanted to move, but he’s not to
blame. He’s waiting. We’ll see
what happens. His dream is to
win the Champions League.’
Real Madrid boss Zinedine
Zidane said yesterday: ‘Paul is a
player for Manchester United
and we have to respect that.’
Solskjaer: We’re banking on Sanchez to come good here
AIR TURNS BLUE
Conte battle
as Lampard
slams racists
United and City
line up to bring
Sancho home
JADON SANCHO is set to leave Borus-
sia Dortmund next summer with the
German club already searching for the
England star’s replacement.
The news will spark a scramble for his
signature with Europe’s elite clubs,
among them Manchester United and
Manchester City, set to join the race for
the 19-year-old forward, who will cost
in excess of £100million.
Sportsmail understands Dortmund
chiefs have started looking for
Sancho’s replacement, knowing they
will find it very difficult to keep the
talented winger beyond the end of the
season.
Sources suggest United are most
advanced in their pursuit. The club
have a long-standing interest in
Sancho, whose contract expires in
2022, and even considered a summer
move for the teenager, who already has
six England caps.
United will revisit their interest in the
teenager next summer and, having
already completed plenty of the ground
work, will feel they have an advantage
in the race to land Sancho. But City,
the club Sancho sensationally left in
2017 to join Dortmund for £7million,
will also keep tabs on the situation.
As part of the deal that saw Sancho
move to the Bundesliga, City inserted
a clause that means they are entitled
to be informed as and when Dortmund
accept an offer for Sancho, allowing
them to make a counter-offer.
But United and City can expect
competition for his signature from
Europe’s richest sides.
A report from CIES Football Observ-
atory released yesterday values Sancho
at £145m, ranking him as the fifth most
valuable player on the planet.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian
Mbappe topped the list with a
valuation of £230m, while Liverpool’s
Mohamed Salah (£200m), City’s
Raheem Sterling (£190m) and Lionel
Messi (£153m) of Barcelona are also
ahead of Sancho.
Premier League stars Sadio Mane
(£144m), Harry Kane (£143m), Roberto
Firmino (£132m) and Leroy Sane
(£125m) all feature in the top 10.
Golden boy:
Sancho has
lit up the
Bundesliga
since 2017
AP
EXCLUSIVE By SAMI MOKBEL
WATCHING BRIEF...
CHELSEA
v LEICESTER CITY
Kick-off: Tomorrow, 4.30pm Stamford Bridge.
TV: LIVE Sky Sports Main Event from 4pm.
Referee: Graham Scott.
Milan boss. It has cost Chelsea more than
£80m in pay-offs to managers since
Roman Abramovich bought the club in
2003, but this is the first severance pack-
age to result in a legal dispute.
Meanwhile, current manager Frank Lam-
pard said he was disgusted by Chelsea
fans who racially abused Tammy Abraham
on social media after he missed a penalty
Wednesday’s Super Cup shootout.
Sportsmail understands discussions
between Twitter and Kick it Out will take
place as matter of urgency in the next two
weeks, after Lampard called for social
media platforms to crack down on vile racial
taunts. ‘Tammy is obviously disappointed
— more than disappointed,’ said Lampard.
‘I am particularly disgusted by the
so-called Chelsea fans. Tammy Abraham
asked to take the fifth penalty. At the same
time, someone sitting behind a keyboard
sends the most disgusting thing you
can say. I don’t know how
these platforms can allow
this. Something needs to
be done.’
Additional reporting:
SAMI MOKBEL
v1