72 2GM Thursday May 26 2022 | the times
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“He’s asked to be left out of the squad
for a bit of head space. He’s not
switched, it’s not cemented or anything
like that. But he’s had an approach.
“We’ve made it clear how important
we see him to us. I know the seniors
have as well. I’ve rung him every day.”
Lamptey has two caps for England
Under-21 but faces stiff competition at
right back, with Gareth Southgate’s
squad including Trent Alexander-
Arnold, Reece James, James Justin,
Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
“He would be a big loss,” Carsley said.
“We do have some really good right
backs but that doesn’t mean we should
become blasé about our players.”
Players with dual nationality can
switch allegiance as long as they have
played three senior national matches or
fewer before the age of 21.Carsley’s team face the Czech
Republic, Albania, Kosovo and
Slovenia next month, with the Arsenal
midfielder Emile Smith Rowe the
standout inclusion in the squad, having
dropped down from the senior squad.Chelsea players whose contracts will
soon expire are eager to hear about the
ambitions of the club’s new ownership
before renewing long-term deals.
The UK government approved the
£4.25 billion takeover by the Todd
Boehly-led consortium yesterday, and
Chelsea are now preparing an official
announcement, having also got the
green light from the Premier League on
Tuesday night.
Thomas Tuchel, the club’s head
coach, has warned Chelsea against
repeating the mistakes leading to Anto-
nio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen-
leaving for free this summer at the end of
their contracts. The midfielders N’Golo
Kanté and Jorginho are now entering
the final year of their deals at the club.
England Under-21 squad: Goalkeepers Joe
Bursik (Stoke), James Trafford (Bolton), Carl
Rushworth (Walsall). Defenders Max Aarons
(Norwich), Charlie Cresswell (Leeds), Taylor
Harwood-Bellis (Stoke), Levi Colwill
(Huddersfield), James Hill (Bournemouth), Luke
Thomas (Leicester), Ben Johnson (West Ham),
Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest, on loan from
Middlesbrough). Midfielders Ryan Sessegnon
(Tottenham), Tommy Doyle (Cardiff), James
Garner (Nottm Forest, on loan from Man United),
Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves), Jacob Ramsey
(Aston Villa), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Harvey
Elliott (Liverpool). Forwards Flo Balogun
(Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Everton), Angel
Gomes (Lille), Keane Lewis-Potter (Hull), Emile
Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Cameron Archer (A Villa).Lamptey considering offer to play for Ghana
Tom RoddyTariq Lamptey is considering switching
allegiance from England to Ghana after
asking to be exempt from selection for
the under-21 squad this month.
Lee Carsley, the England Under-21
manager, has been calling Lamptey
every day to convince the 21-year-old
Brighton & Hove Albion right back to
remain with England, whom he has
represented since under-18 level.
London-born Lamptey was due to be
in Carsley’s squad for the forthcoming
2023 European Under-21 Champion-
ship qualifiers but requested an exemp-
tion after an approach from Ghana.
“There’s an issue over his dual
nationality,” Carsley said. “He’s had an
approach. It’s something he’s consider-
ing at the minute.Kompany has left his
role at Anderlecht
Burnley hopeful
of persuading
Kompany to
take the reins
taking even though the club are now in
the second tier.
That Kompany’s wife, Carla, is from
Manchester, and that he is a fan of the
English game after his 11 years at City,
are factors that he will take into consid-
eration when deciding his next move.
Anderlecht announced last night
that Kompany had left the club after
three years in charge.
Kompany, who came through
Anderlecht’s youth academy at the
start of his playing career, said: “Today
only one feeling prevails — I am proud
that I was able to start this new chapter
at the club of my heart. I have now been
a player and a coach of RSC Ander-
lecht, but above all I remain a loyal fan.”
Kompany left City to become player-
manager of Anderlecht in 2019. The
former centre back hung up his boots
the following year to concentrate on
managing the club where he began
his playing career.
After finishing eighth in his first
season, Kompany led Anderlecht
into the play-offs in the
following two campaigns
but was unable to win the
title.
Last month, Anderlecht
lost to Gent on penalties in
the Belgian Cup final.
Kompany has also had
his differences with the
Anderlecht board of late.
“The club and the coach
have analysed the season and
discussed the plans for the
future,” Anderlecht said in a
statement. “The two parties
have decided to part ways in
mutual consent.”
6 Patrick Vieira has escaped
punishment from the FA after
appearing to kick an Everton
fan who had been goading him
on the Goodison Park pitch last
week.
The Crystal Palace manager
reacted after being taunted by
one Everton fan who told him
to “suck on that” while raising
his middle finger at him after
the home side’s 3-2 win.Paul Hirst
Burnley are hoping to appoint Vincent
Kompany as their new manager after
the former Manchester City captain
left his post as Anderlecht boss yester-
day.
A few details in the deal are yet to be
agreed, but the club are hopeful that the
36-year-old Belgian will become the
permanent replacement for Sean
Dyche, who was sacked on April 15.
Mike Jackson lost only three times
during his eight-match stint as interim
boss but was unable to keep Burnley in
the Premier League.
Kompany, Wayne Rooney, the Derby
County boss, and Kjetil Knutsen, the
highly rated Bodo/Glimt manager, are
on Burnley’s shortlist.
Jackson, the 48-year-old who was
formerly the under-23s manager, is
not being considered for the
position.
Craig Bellamy, the former Wales,
City and Blackburn Rovers
striker, is set to be Kompa-
ny’s assistant if he agrees
to take over.
Bellamy worked with
Kompany at Anderlecht,
who finished their
league campaign on
Sunday against Club
Bruges, but stepped
down from his role
last September to prior-
itise his mental health.
Burnley’s six-year stay in
the top flight ended on the
final day of the season when
they lost to Newcastle
United.
Kompany, the former
Belgium defender, also has
offers from Wolfsburg and
Borussia Mönchenglad-
bach.
Burnley executives
have been trying to per-
suade Kompany in recent
days that the job is worth
Chelsea players keen to hear of new owner’s plans
Chelsea’s priority is to replace Rüdi-
ger and Christensen, the two central
defenders who are joining Real Madrid
and Barcelona respectively, with Jules
Koundé and Josko Gvardiol among the
targets being considered. Christopher
Nkunku, the RB Leipzig forward, is also
on their list of potential signings.
Boehly’s group wants to secure the
futures of key players, as Kanté and
Jorginho are joined by Mason Mount
and Reece James in requiring new
deals. They intend to improve the
contracts of James, who has three years
left, and Mount, who has two years left,
this summer with talks expected to
begin soon.
While these players are happy at
Stamford Bridge they are keen to hear
how Boehly’s group intends to operate
and compete with Liverpool andManchester City before committing
their futures.
Boehly has already met with some
members of the squad during his visit to
the club’s Cobham training base earlier
this month — when the American
billionaire had lunch with Tuchel —
and spoke of his excitement to work
with them.
Receiving the operating licence
means Chelsea can now enter negotia-
tions with other clubs over players, and
Tuchel can begin to spend the £200 mil-
lion budget Boehly’s group has set aside
this summer. Tuchel intends to remain
in London over the coming weeks to
make key decisions over the future of
players and new signings.
He has been keen to strengthen in
central midfield and the midfielder
Declan Rice is among his preferredoptions, although the £150 million valu-
ation of the player by his club, West
Ham United, is likely to put Chelsea off
making a move this summer.
The operating licence also allows
Chelsea to begin selling players in an
already bloated squad. The left back
Marcos Alonso and the goalkeeper
Kepa Arrizabalaga both expect to leave
the club this summer. Barcelona are
hopeful of signing César Azpilicueta,
the Chelsea captain, despite him
triggering a one-year extension with
appearances last season, and have put a
proposal to Alonso.
Other players, including Timo Wern-
er, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and
Ross Barkley, are open to leaving, while
Tuchel also has to assess the returning
loan players, with Armando Broja and
Conor Gallagher among them.Tom Roddy
Eddie Nketiah is likely to sign a long-
term contract at Arsenal after being
told that he will get opportunities by
Mikel Arteta, his manager (Gary
Jacob writes). The forward, 22, is out
of contract next month and has been
weighing up offers to join Crystal
Palace or Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Arteta offered him a new deal and
the promise of game time but still
plans to sign at least one senior striker
this summer as Alexandre Lacazette
is set to leave as a free agent.
Options included Gabriel Jesus, of
Manchester City, and Lautaro
Martínez but the Inter Milan striker
lost interest after Arsenal failed to
qualify for the Champions League.
Nketiah’s expected decision will be a
blow to Palace who were confident of
signing him. Arsenal rejected Palace’s
£6 million offer in January.Nketiah set to stay with
Arsenal and reject PalaceJOY FOR JOSÉ Nicolò Zaniolo scores to give Roma a 1-0 victory over Feyenoord in the final of the inaugural Europa
Conference League in Tirana. It was Roma’s first major European title since 1961 but the fifth for coach José Mourinho,
inset, who became the first manager to win a European trophy with four different clubs. He has won all five of his finalsDEFODI IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES