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BBC
Manchester United bosses have urged Zinedine Zidane not to consider any other managerial vacancies while they decide on the future of manager Jose Mourinho. (Sunday Mirror)
United fans posed with a cardboard cutout of former Real Madrid manager Zidane outside Old Trafford before Saturday's win over Newcastle. (Eurosport)
Manchester United could have to pay £29m to Mourinho if they sack the Portuguese, but that figure would reduce to just £10m if he sees out the season and United fail to finish in the Champions League positions. (Sunday Mirror)
Mourinho revealed he received a text message as a vote of confidence from the Manchester United board before the 3-2 comeback win against Newcastle. (Sunday Times - subscription required)
Manchester City will have to break their transfer record to sign Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele after the Ligue 1 club placed a £70m valuation on the 21-year-old France Under-21 international for the January transfer window. (Daily Star Sunday)
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is emerging as the early favourite to take over at Aston Villa after initial talks with the club's hierarchy. (Sunday Telegraph)
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is thought to be interested in the Villa vacancy. (Daily Star Sunday)
Manchester United have told Paul Pogba he will not be sold in the January window, despite the 25-year-old France midfielder's reported wish to join Barcelona after they expressed interest in the summer. (Mail on Sunday)
Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele, 31, is not expected to discuss a new deal and the Belgium international is set to leave for free when his contract expires in the summer, with a move to China or the Middle East rumoured. (Sun on Sunday)
Arsenal could move for 28-year-old Porto captain Hector Herrera as a possible replacement for Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 27, who is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium club in either in January or next summer. (A Bola, via Football London)
Huddersfield boss David Wagner is planning a £10m move for Brentford's French striker Neil Maupay, 22, to boost his side's chances of avoiding relegation. (Sun on Sunday)
Liverpool and England full-back Nathaniel Clyne, 27, is a January target for Leicester. (Sunday Mirror)
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has dismissed talk manager Julen Lopetegui being sacked after a last-minute defeat by Alaves extended their winless run to four games. (Marca)
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says there is more to come from his side after they moved up to seventh in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, extending their unbeaten run to six games. (Express and Star)
Former Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now with LA Galaxy, is "prepared to talk" to AC Milan about a return to the Italian side, according to the 37-year-old Swede's agent Mino Raiola. (Sun on Sunday)
Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac is fighting for his job after his side were beaten 3-0 at home by Borussia Monchengladbach. (Bild - in German)
C&H
London Stadium Operator doubles turnover
Operator London Stadium 185 has published their financial accounts at companies house for the year ending December 2017.
The accounts show the French-owned operated has almost doubled turnover from £13.4m in 2016 to £25.9m in 2017 in revenue they received for operating and managing the stadium on behalf of owners E20 Stadium LLP.
Gross profit for the operator has increased from £4.9m to £6.3m but surprisingly the company posted a net loss of £790,000 compared a modest profit of £151,000 in 2016.
It should be noted that LS185 take advantage of exemptions meaning transactions between other Vinci group companies are not disclosed and LS185 are thought to outsource work to Vinci Facilities thus potentially masking some of the true benefits of the 25-year contract to the French group.
LS185 came under heavy criticism two weeks ago at the London Stadium budget and performance sub-committee when LLDC revealed that the operator was costing them £3.5m in losses rather the predicted £5m net profit included in their initial tender. LLDC confirmed they are currently going through the operator’s invoices and charges line by line.
London Stadium annual accounts can be found at https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09359341/filing-history
It really comes as no surprise to hear a Labour mayor say that the London Stadium will not be sold!
What does though is that he claims the place is a “public asset” despite the horrendous losses it is incurring under his ongoing stewardship.
Assets are normally worth something. This year the place has lost over £20 million beyond the millions before that with more put aside for court cases against West Ham whom we reckon have been to used as a handy scapegoat for his, the London Assembly and E20’s financial ineptitude.
In reality the stadium is worth absolutely NOTHING and he would do the public a big favour if he could find someone to take on the debt thus freeing them of it forever! That’s the best deal he can expect.
However, Sadiq Khan’s press office has the use fancy political promises to cover that stuff declaring: “I can confirm that the Mayor’s position remains the same; the London Stadium is a public asset and will stay in the ownership of the taxpayer.
“LLDC have significantly reduced the cost of the seat moves and are looking to make further efficiencies here; they are working with the stadium operators to reduce the high operating costs.
LLDC are also working to maximise the commercial opportunities by staging events beyond the Premier League and they are looking to address naming rights as well as the fees paid by both of their main concessionaires.”
All sounds pretty fancy doesn’t it!
It is of course political BS given we have waited for a naming rights partner for years and that no explanation of how seating costs are to be achieved are detailed.
Not even a hint either of what type of events beyond Premier League football are going to be staged and they have tried most – including such iconic bands as The Stones and AC/DC.
Perhaps they could explain what sort of events make a profit beyond football – baseball perhaps Mr Khan?
Sorry and all that but I don’t believe a word of that convenient statement which seems designed to defuse the growing wave of anger headed in their direction from the taxpayers and regain some sort of upper hand in the ongoing chaos.
A public asset indeed – you’re having a laugh!
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