HALF-TIME
That is where we leave it for now.
I’ll be back later in the day when we will have words from Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Until then.
Posted at 10:37
Get Involved – Mahrez found
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Mark Cunningham
Posted at 10:35
We have a significant update on the whereabouts of Riyad Mahrez…
Posted at 10:32
Battling against the drop
Bournemouth v Stoke, Sat (15:00 GMT)
Bournemouth
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe on facing Stoke:
“Stoke have changed their system and mentality slightly and the signs look good for them after their opening two games under Paul Lambert.
“They have a very good squad and they will be very difficult to beat.”
“I think the bottom of the table was very tight last year, but there seems a whole host of clubs down there this year.”
Posted at 10:28
‘Just positives’
Bournemouth v Stoke, Sat (15:00 GMT)
Bournemouth
Bournemouth trounced Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in their last league game.
Boss Eddie Howe said: “We’ve been in really good form. Confidence has returned to the group. The manner of the performances against Arsenal and Chelsea was very strong.
“Either way, if you win, lose and draw, you’ll always have another game to prove yourself.
“The real high is in the changing room after the game when you can celebrate what has been achieved in the last 90 minutes.”
“We just need to make sure there’s no negative effects after the Chelsea game and just positives.”
Posted at 10:25
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Was this confirmed before the transfer deadline?
Paul Bradford
Posted at 10:22
‘A tight squad’
Bournemouth v Stoke, Sat (15:00 GMT)
Bournemouth
There were no incomings for Bournemouth during the January transfer window.
Manager Eddie Howe said: “I always find deadline days so different and the priority is always the game. The players involved were excellent.
“I always maintain that I have total belief in my players and we want to develop those that are here.
“We’ve got a tight squad, there’s no denying that. Having a huge squad is never a good mix for a vibrant dressing room.”
Posted at 10:20
And Eddie Howe has been in front of the press this morning too.
Posted at 10:15
Numbers down
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Everton
Everton boss Sam Allardyce on the shape of the squad:
“Our search for a left-sided full-back, we were unable to find.
“We reduced the squad numbers, we have about 14 players out on loan now which eases the numbers on a day-to-day basis which can be a distraction.”
Posted at 10:12
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Have you seen missing Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez?
Chairman Chau: He was spotted at 3.30pm in Maryland on Evington Road, apparently was sat inside with a three-piece and a Strawberry Mirinda.
I’ve been there…many times! Their spicy wings and bbq ribs are delicioussss.
Hit me up with more sightings on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on 81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 10:05
Walcott returns to Arsenal
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Everton
Everton manager Sam Allardyce on forward Theo Walcott’s return to former club Arsenal.
“He will be doing the team talk tomorrow.”
Allardyce also said: “I have always thought Arsenal are defensively weak because they commit so many players forward.”
Ouch.
Posted at 9:59
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Will Wicks: I saw Mahrez in a travel tavern exactly halfway between Leicester and Manchester, eating breakfast from a big plate.
thepredatorpro: I am sure he served me some fish and chips on Friday.
Why are you having fish and chips for breakfast???
Hit me up with more sightings on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on 81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 9:53
Leftie
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Everton
Everton manager Sam Allardyce the on incomings and outgoings during deadline day.
“I didn’t want Ademola Lookman to go but he was insistent. It is a difficult task to get in the side and it is consistency level. We are the top team to play youngsters in every division in his country – they play more minutes than in any club in any of the divisions in this country.
“Eliaquim Mangala is naturally left-footed, which we haven’t got apart from Leighton Baines when he is fit.”
Posted at 9:49
And on to Sam Allardyce.
Posted at 9:43
Get Involved
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Luke Sugg: Mahrez set to be fined £200k for not turning up for work?I’d get sacked if I didn’t turn up for work. I get that football is different, but 200k is nothing. Should be fined millions!
Ed Hunter: Is Riyad Mahrez worth £95 million ? No, so he has a genuine complaint at Leicester having put that valuation on him. To reach compromise for the rest of the season, Leicester should back off fining him and tell him they will let him go for a more reasonable fee.
Posted at 9:40
Re-signing an old player?
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger said former midfielder Alex Song has been training with Arsenal as he aims to find a new club, but ruled out re-signing the player.
Posted at 9:37
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
Most credible sighting so far…
Hi I’m a private taxi firm and we gave Mahrez a lift to East Midlands airport last night
Hit me up on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on 81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 9:33
‘Big gap’ to fourth
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Arsenal
Arsenal have failed to win their last five away games in all competitions and lost to Swansea last time out.
Manager Arsene Wenger said: “We lost a game we should not have lost, January was a very difficult month for us. As much as it was disappointing on the pitch-side, on the transfer side it worked well for us and that is what we have to show on the pitch in the coming months.
“Our defensive numbers aren’t good enough, that is where we need some strengthening.”
The club are eight points behind the top four. Wenger added: “It is a big gap but if we had won at Bournemouth and Swansea we would be two points behind.”
Posted at 9:29
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
Liam Statham: He was collecting trolley’s at a Sainsburys in Derby yesterday.
twocakesdakes: Spotted starting 9 holes on the North Inch Golf just a couple of minutes ago.
Liam Edwards: I saw him eating a bowl of porridge in Barking.
Hit me up on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 9:24
‘Recreate the understanding’
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Arsenal
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a doubt forSaturday’s game against Everton. He has been suffering from a virus and will beassessed today but fellow January recruit Henrikh Mkhitaryan will definitely start.
Wenger added: “The Premier League is a challenge for every big player today, it is where they want to play. Aubameyang likes the way we play football and I believe he needed a new challenge and we were the ones who could offer it.
“They are players who played together, know each other well and I hope they can recreate the perfect understanding they had at Dortmund.”
Posted at 9:19
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
No news on Mahrez but I can give you this exclusive on Sane: he’s bounced back from injury much faster than anticipated. In his absence it seems he bleached his hair and grew a beard, but he seems as committed as ever.
Hit me up on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 9:14
Ozil has to ‘take responsibility’
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has had some nice words to say about striker Olivier Giroud, who joined rivals Chelsea on deadline day.
“He was massively popular in the dressing room and the club, for all the players that left it was sad to see them go but Olivier wanted more playing time – wants as well to go to the World Cup, that is why I opened the door.
And what about midfielder Mesut Ozil, who signed a new deal?
“He has committed his future to the club at a period where we are in a tricky period on that front (Champions League qualification) – we expect him to take responsibility and lead the club to success.”
Posted at 9:10
‘A cryptic deal’
Arsenal v Everton, Sat (17:30 GMT)
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has had his say about new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined the club for a record £56m fee on deadline day.
“He is a typical striker with great pace and a good ratio between games played and goals scored,” said Wenger. “He is a team player. We lost some goals because we lost Sanchez, Giroud & Walcott who were our goalscorers.
“It was a difficult deal because Dortmund needed a replacement. It was a cryptic deal because Giroud went to Chelsea and Batshuayi went to Dortmund. That is why it was short in time and tense until the end.”
Posted at 9:06
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was up bright and early and has been speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Everton.
Let’s see what he had to say…
Posted at 8:59
Get Involved – Find Mahrez
#bbcfootball or 81111 (UK only)
Getty Images
Did your uncle give a lift to Mahrez? Has your girlfriend served him a coffee in the last few days?
I want to find out where Riyad Mahrez is and I want to return him to Leicester.
Let me know of any sightings of the Algerian around the country, or in fact, anywhere in the world.
Hit me up on Twitter using #bbcfootball (pics would be good!) or text in on 81111 (UK only). Names on texts please.
Posted at 8:52
The Daily Star
And the Daily Star write that a number of Leicester players are “furious” at Riyad Mahrez’s continued absence.
The Daily Star
Posted at 8:47
The Daily Express
The Daily Express says Riyad Mahrez will have to “make a grovelling apology to his team-mates” once the Algerian returns to Leicester.
The Daily Express
Posted at 8:42
Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror claim Riyad Mahrez will “go AWOL from Leicester” again today.
The club do not know where the player is.
Daily Mirror
Posted at 8:37
The Sun
The Sun say Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez missed training for a third straight day on Thursday and faces a £200,000 fine for breach of contract.
The Sun
Posted at 8:35
Here are the papers…
Posted at 8:28
MISSING
Getty Images
If found, please return to:
Leicester City Football Club
King Power Stadium
Filbert Way
LE2 7FL
[“Source-bbc”]
