the times | Tuesday May 24 2022 2GM 63
Sport
Jarrod Bowen is hoping his form for
West Ham United will earn him a first
England call-up today when Gareth
Southgate announces his squad for
June’s Nations League games.
Bowen finished the season with 18
goals and 13 assists in all competitions
and was in contention to feature for the
friendly matches with Switzerland and
Ivory Coast in March, only to be side-
lined with a foot injury.
The 25-year-old attacker finished the
campaign strongly, however, and may
be selected by Southgate, who often
rewards in-form players.
England play four matches in ten
days from June 4, starting and ending
with games against Hungary. They will
also face Germany and Italy.
Southgate is expected to name a
squad of more than 25 players for the
fixtures and will hope there is not the
usual glut of withdrawals, given this is
the penultimate training camp before
the World Cup in Qatar in November.
Marc Guéhi, the Crystal Palace
centre back, injured his ankle in the
defeat by Everton on Thursday and
missed Sunday’s final-day victory over
Manchester United, but he is expected
to join up with the squad if selected.Kurt Zouma will appear in court today
after being charged with three offences
under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
after allegedly harming his cat.
The West Ham United defender, 27,
was filmed by his brother, Yoan, kicking
and slapping one of his pets in footage
that was posted on social media in
February. The brothers will appear at
Thames Magistrates’ Court for a first
hearing.
Zouma is accused of two counts of
causing “unnecessary suffering” to the
cat by kicking it in the abdomen and
slapping it on the head. He is also
charged with failing to protect the catZouma hearing starts today
Gary JacobIn-form Bowen eyes
first England call-up
Fikayo Tomori, who won the Serie A
title with AC Milan, will also hope to be
called up. The former Chelsea defend-
er, 24, is set to be handed a new contract
by the Italian club. He was overlooked
in favour of Guéhi in March, when
Southgate opted to select defenders in
the Premier League due to the league’s
greater intensity compared to Italy.
England are due to report to St
George’s Park on Monday, but any
Liverpool players included will be able
to report 48 to 72 hours later due totheir Champions League final commit-
ments in Paris on Saturday.
The trip to Budapest on Saturday,
June 4 will be played behind closed
doors because the Hungarian FA was
punished by Uefa for trouble at the
Puskas Arena during the European
Championship. England’s home match
against Italy on June 11 will also be
played without fans as a punishment
for the crowd trouble at the Euros final.Paul JoyceBowen scored 18
goals this season
in all competitionsPSG president’s
dig at La Liga
over Mbapp é
The Paris Saint-Germain president
Nasser Al-Khelaifi has rubbed salt into
Real Madrid’s wounds by claiming
Kylian Mbappé’s decision to stay at the
French club shows that the quality of
La Liga “is no longer what it once was”.
The 48-year-old held a triumphant
media conference alongside Mbappé,
23, and responded to Javier Tebas, La
Liga’s president, who said the forward’s
decision to reject Real and sign a new
three-year deal worth about £1 million
a week was an “insult to football”.
“What the president of the Spanish
league says does not interest me,” Al-
Khelaifi said. “He may be afraid that
Ligue 1 is better than La Liga. The Span-
ish league is no longer what it once was.
“Money is not the most important
thing for Mbappé. The project was.”
Mbappé said: “I have never worn the
Real Madrid jersey and I thank the Real
fans for considering me one of their
own. I hope they will understand my
decision. I am French and I wanted to
continue a little longer in my country.”Gary JacobFabinho and
Thiago could
miss final
Thiago Alcântara faces a battle to prove
his fitness for Liverpool’s Champions
League final with Real Madrid after
having a scan on an Achilles problem.
The Spain midfielder, 31, sustained
the injury during the first half of Liver-
pool’s 3-1 Premier League win against
Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sun-
day. The problem is not serious but he
will need to respond to treatment
before Saturday’s showpiece in Paris.
Fabinho, another key part of the
Liverpool midfield, is continuing his
recovery from a hamstring injury that
has forced him to miss the past three
matches. Jürgen Klopp will hope that
the 28-year-old Brazilian can step up
his training at the end of the week.
Divock Origi, the striker who is leav-
ing the club in the summer, is out of the
final because of a torn thigh muscle.
Liverpool have confirmed that Fábio
Carvalho, the 19-year-old forward, will
join the club from Fulham on July 1 for
an initial £5 million.Paul Joyce
Northern Football Correspondentfrom “pain, suffering, injury or disease”.
Yoan, 24, who plays for non-League
Dagenham & Redbridge, has been
charged with two alleged offences after
an investigation by the RSPCA, who
said in March that it could prosecute
the pair. He is accused of two counts of
“aiding, abetting, counselling or pro-
curing” Zouma to commit the offence.
In the video, Zouma — who was fined
two weeks’ wages, about £250,000, by
West Ham — can be seen dropping,
kicking and slapping one of his cats,
while laughter can be heard. He chased
the animal before throwing a pair of
shoes at it. The RSPCA removed two
cats from his home and continues to
care for them.James Tarkowski is attracting interest
from Everton and Aston Villa, with the
29-year-old defender available on a free
transfer from Burnley this summer.
Frank Lampard, the Everton manag-
er, wants to sign a centre back and
midfield reinforcements. Fabian Delph,
Cenk Tosun and Jonjoe Kenny are all
out of contract this summer.
Villa also expect to have a busy
summer, with centre back, full back and
Everton and Villa chase Tarkowski
midfield being the priorities for Steven
Gerrard, the manager. The club have
signed midfielder Boubacar Kamara
on a five-year deal. The 22-year-old
Frenchman will join on a free transfer
after his contract with Marseille expires
on June 30.
Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have
renewed their interest in Yves Bissou-
ma, the Brighton & Hove Albion mid-
fielder who has a year left on his con-
tract and is expected to cost about
£30 million. Spurs expect to sign Fra-
ser Forster today. Forster has agreed
terms with the north London club afterthe goalkeeper was told that he could
leave Southampton when his contract
expires next month.
The 34-year-old will be a back-up to
Hugh Lloris, 35, who signed a two-year
deal until 2024. He was preferred by
Tottenham over Sam Johnstone, the
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper
who is also out of contract next month.
Leeds United expect to complete the
£23 million signing of Red Bull Salz-
burg’s 21-year-old midfielder Brenden
Aaronson, reuniting him with fellow
American Jesse Marsch, who managed
him at Salzburg.Transfer Watch
Paul Joyce, Charlotte Duncker, Gary
Jacob and Martin Hardy
take no nonsense
Players set
to leave in
United
clearout
Definitely leaving
Paul Pogba Cost £89m from
Juventus in 2016. Age 29. Value Free.
Possible destination Juventus, PSG
or Real Madrid
Ran down his contract after six
unsuccessful years at the club.
Jesse Lingard Cost Free.
Age 29. Value Free.
Possible destination Newcastle
Refused to extend contract
over a lack of game time.
Edinson Cavani Cost Free.
Age 35. Value Free.
Possible destination Barcelona
or Boca Juniors
A player United should have signed
five years earlier than they did.
Nemanja Matic Cost £40m from
Chelsea in 2017. Age 33. Value Free.
Possible destination Fulham,
Juventus
Influential figure in the dressing
room but too slow.
Juan Mata Cost £37.1m from Chelsea
in 2014. Age 34. Value Free.
Possible destination: Real
Sociedad, Real Betis
Skilful and respected but his
best days are behind him.
Lee Grant Cost: £1.5m from
Stoke in 2016. Age: 39.
Value: Free. Possible
destination: unknown
Fourth-choice ’keeper
will make way.Possibly leaving
Dean Henderson Unable to
dislodge David de Gea as No 1.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka Failed to live up
expectations since his £50m move
from Crystal Palace in 2019.
Eric Bailly Fourth-choice centre back
and likely to slip down pecking order.
Phil Jones One year left on his deal
but has been unable to play regularly
due to injury.
Axel Tuanzebe Loaned to Aston Villa
and Napoli last year. Could be sold to
raise cash.
Brandon Williams A lower Premier
League team could take a punt.
Andreas Pereira Played under Ten
Hag at PSV but not good enough for
the Premier League.
Anthony Martial Will wait to see
what Ten Hag’s plans are for him
before deciding next move.Aaron
Wan-Bissaka
Position: right back
Year signed: 2019
United Premier League
appearances: 89
United PL goals/
assists: 2/8Edinson
Cavani
Position: striker
Year signed: 2020
United Premier League
appearances: 41
United PL goals/
assists: 12/4