Kramaric: I rejected Chelsea

Andrej Kramaric turned down the chance move to Chelsea in January in favour of joining Leicester City because he did not want to join another club on loan.

Kramaric was expected to move to Stamford Bridge during the transfer window but the deal fell through as the Blues - who send a number of squad players on loan to Dutch side Vitesse - were unable to offer the striker assurances that he would be part of their first team plans.

The Croatia international instead moved to Leicester in a transfer understood to be worth €9.8 million.

"I never had a chance to meet [Chelsea boss Jose] Mourinho, it is true there was an option for me to join Chelsea," Kramaric told the Vecemji List newspaper.

"It wasn't an easy decision for me, but after I heard I was supposed to go on loan somewhere outside England, I rejected Chelsea and chose Leicester because I wanted to feel real football, I wanted to play in Premier League!"

Kramaric is now set to face the club he could have joined on Wednesday night and has been impressed by the champions elect.

He added: "I've played against Man United, Man City and Arsenal, and I am not impressed at all by their strength. Chelsea is one step ahead of all the others."

Manchester City to offer £30m for Wilshere

Manchester City are set to offer Arsenal £30m for midfielder Jack Wilshere. City are refusing to give up on the England international despite the Gunners insisting he will not be sold.

Giroud: Arsenal will not copy Chelsea style

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has insisted the Gunners will not change their style despite being 10 points behind Chelsea as the Blues close in on the Premier League title.

Despite almost certainly missing out on the title, Arsenal could still end the season with silverware having made it to the FA Cup final for a second year in a row, where they will face Aston Villa.

The Gunners’ 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday led to accusations the Blues were 'boring' and, while Giroud agrees they play a different style to his side, he insists Arsenal will continue to follow Arsene Wenger's philosophy.

"Boring? I don't know but there is the table, which speaks for them," he told reporters.

"It is true maybe they are not [playing] the same game as us but we are not going to change our game and I think they are not going to change their game.

"I think they are pleased with that and if they are champions, what can you say?"

Giroud has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season but has come in for criticism, with club icon Thierry Henry insisting Arsene Wenger needs to sign a "top quality striker". 

However, the France international says he is proud of his record since joining Wenger's side.

"To get second in the league and win the FA Cup would be a great season," Giroud said. "I know we can still improve ourselves and that is what we have been doing since I signed for Arsenal.

"I am proud of what I've done and I'm pleased with that. I just want to carry on like that and I know if we keep our best players and this determination with the team spirit, I am sure we are going to join this championship race next season.

"It has been a few years since we finished second and, if we can do it, we can see an improvement, which is great. Next year, hopefully, we will have fewer injuries, will keep the same group and, with maybe one or two new players, we will have a great season I am sure.

"As for myself, in sport you have to question yourself every week and be ready in your head and you have to be at 100 per cent of determination if you want to keep going and win games; you cannot afford to be at 80% or 90%.

"You have to have faith in your own qualities, that is part of being a footballer: being strong in your head. That is more than half of the quality you need to be a football player."

Mourinho: Chelsea were scared for Oscar

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admitted that he was “scared” for Oscar after he suffered an apparent concussion during Sunday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal. 

The Brazilian raced through on goal in the 16th minute of the Premier League clash at the Emirates and collided painfully with Colombian keeper David Ospina, leaving him visibly dazed as he lay prone on the turf.

The Chelsea medical staff saw fit to allow Oscar to rejoin the game, but he did return for the second half and was sent to the hospital to undergo further tests.

"He went to hospital to have some scans and see what is going on because at half-time we were a bit scared,” said Mourinho.

“We had to change things because of his injury. We don't know yet if it's concussion." 

New Premier League regulations give the club doctor the final say on whether a player who has suffered a head injury should play on, as well as introducing a ‘tunnel’ doctor, who evaluates the severity of injuries via television monitors.  

Oscar has played a key role in Chelsea's march towards the Premier League title, while the 23-year-old is also closing in on a half-century of appearances for Brazil, with 45 caps and 12 goals to his name since making his senior debut in 2011.

Barcelona to make move for Laporte if Laporta is elected

Joan Laporta is lining up a move for Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte as part of his expected Barcelona presidential campaign.

The former club chief has not officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming elections, but is expected to confirm that he will run at the last minute.

The 52-year-old, who presided over the club from 2003 to 2010 - during which time the Blaugrana won four league titles and two Champions Leagues - is already making moves to invest in the team should he be re-elected.

Barca are closing in on a move for 20-year-old centre-back Laporte and are ready to match his release clause at Athletic, which his believed to be between €30 and €36 million.

The Camp Nou club are currently banned from registering new players after irregularities in the signing of minors, meaning they would buy the player in the summer but he would remain at San Mames until January 2016.

Laporta has a good relationship with Laporte's agent, Jorge Mendes, and sources have told Goal that the club would offer him a five year deal with an annual salary of €3.5 million.

If the deal goes through this summer, Athletic would not play the France Under-21 international in European competitions next season to ensure he is eligible for Barca's Champions League campaign when he completes the move in January.

He's a very talented player' - Rodgers praises Liverpool target Depay

Brendan Rodgers admits that Liverpool target Memphis Depay is a "very talented player" as the club step up their summer recruitment plans.

The Reds have stolen a march on Manchester United in the race to acquire the PSV forward, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions thus far this season.

Depay is understood to have held talks with the Reds last week and Rodgers admits that Liverpool are in the market for more firepower.

"The kid [Depay] is obviously a very talented player," he said.

"It is clear we need a goal threat for next season. There will be a raft of players that will be looked at. Then it will be up to the club to see if they are affordable and available.

"There are targets that have been identified as a priority. We will have to see if they are available."

Liverpool drew 0-0 with West Brom at the weekend and currently sit in fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, although the Reds do have a game in hand.

Nevertheless, Rodgers is sure the club will be able to acquire ther top targets this summer regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League.

"That will be more for the players to decide," he said.

"If the project is right for them to learn and develop, even if we are not in the Champions League, players will maybe still want to come here.

"Of course they will want to play in the Champions League, but if they have watched us over a few years – and this is a season we miss out on – if we can regroup, get some quality starters in for the summer, we can go on another great adventure next season and hopefully get back in there."

NPFL Day 6 Round Up: Giwa hold on to top spot after draw in Makurdi

The Jos Elephant are still league leaders after another impressive display in Makurdi while Enyimba, Sunshine, Pillars and Rangers secured home wins

ENYIMBA FC 3-2 SHARKS FC

The People's Elephant got another vital home win against troublesome neighbours, Sharks in Aba on Sunday after they ran away with a 3-2 victory.

Chinonso Okonkwo and Mfon Udoh’s double in the 15th, 23rd and 68th minutes put the Aba side on the ascendancy but Jackson Daniel’s brace in the 60th and 85th minutes for the Blue Angels ensured that the game ended with the Enyimba’s fans sitting at the edge of their seats.

Enyimba move to 11 points from six matches on the log same as leaders, Giwa FC of Jos who are atop on superior goals difference while Sharks are on six points from six matches.

SUNSHINE STARS 3-2 WIKKI TOURISTS FC

The Akure Gunners needed another injury time winner from Adebayo Adigun to beat hard fighting Wikki Tourists 3-2 at home on Sunday. Sunshine have won all their home matches thus far with dying minute goals against Gabros International FC and Dolphins before the latest against the Bauchi side.

Wikki’s Mubarak Umar had stunned the home fans with the curtain raiser in the 37th minute but Paul Onobi leveled for Sunshine in the 45th minute. Nafiu Bala raced the visitors into another lead in the 60th minute but the home team restored parity in the 75th minute through Tamen Medrano before the late back breaker from Adigun.

Sunshine are on 10 points from six matches while Wikki are also on the same number of points from as many matches.

AKWA UNITED FC 2-0 DOLPHINS FC

Former Akwa United FC captain, Ini Akpan and Aniekpeno Udoh goals in the 34th and 88th minutes sent the Promise Keepers to a 2-0 home win over Dolphins at the Uyo Township Stadium to bounce back from their 4-0 embarrassing loss to Giwa FC in Jos in one of the mid week actions.

Dolphins came to Uyo on the euphoria of their first league win of the season against Enugu Rangers but they met difficult opponents in Akwa United who were desperate to make amends for their heavy loss in Jos last Wednesday.

Akwa United are on seven points from six matches while Dolphins remain on four points from five games.

ENUGU RANGERS FC 3-0 EL KANEMI WARRIORS FC

The Flying Antelopes woke up from their slumber from their early season off form to thrash visiting El Kanemi Warriors 3-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium barely a week after their surprise home loss to Giwa FC.

Goals from Odah Marshall, Chisom Egbuchulam and Pape Ousmane in the fifth, 50th and 75th minutes were enough to hand the Coal City side valuable three points in Enugu. It was there second win of the season from six matches while El Kanemi Warriors are on nine points from five games.

ABIA WARRIORS FC 1-0 3SC

The Umuahia side pinned the Oluyole Warriors 1-0 at home to secure their second consecutive win after their home loss to Wikki Tourists last weekend.

Chisom Chikatara scored the only goal of the match in the 13th minute for the home team after the visitors lost crucial chances that came their way.

Abia Warriors are on 10 points from six matches while 3SC mini revival has been punctured. They are on four points from five games.

LOBI STARS FC 1-1 GIWA FC

The Makurdi side have become draw specialists after they got their fifth draw of the season from six matches. They were forced to another draw by Giwa FC in a tough league clash played at the Aper Aku Stadium on Sunday.

Nanen Imenger Jnr got the equalizer for the home team in the second half after the Jos Elephant silenced the Makurdi fans with the opening goal in the 25th minute.

The draw kept Giwa FC’s place at the top on goals difference as they are on 11 points from six matches while Lobi are on five points from six matches.

KANO PILLARS 2-1 FC TARABA

Sai Masu Gida returned to winning ways on Sunday in Kano after they labored to a 2-1 home win over FC Taraba.

Pillars were beaten 2-1 by Nasarawa United on Wednesday to move to nine points from four matches while FC Taraba’s recent slide continued after another defeat in Kano. They remain on seven points from six matches. They are yet to secure a point since they played the opening three games of the season without a loss.

KWARA UNITED FC 1-0 NASARAWA UNITED FC

The Harmony Warriors beat the Solid Miners 1-0 in a tough league duel at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin.

It was the club’s first league win in three games after they had lost their last two encounters to Heartland FC and 3SC of Ibadan.

Kwara United FC are on eight points from six matches while Nasarawa United have seven points from six games.

BAYELSA UNITED FC 0-0 GABROS INTERNATIONAL FC

The Restoration Boys were unable to penetrate through the wall of defence of the Ifeanyi Uba’s sponsored team at their adoptive stadium in Oghara on Sunday.

Bayelsa United FC wasted many scoring chances that came their way and they could only add a point to their tally on the log. They have six points from as many matches while Gabros International FC have succeeded in getting their first road point of the season. They have 10 points from six games.

Arsenal v Chelsea: See Wenger And Mourinho's Funny Press Conference Argument Here

DISCLAIMER: Like Wenger's record against Mourinho, don't take this video seriously.

It’s Arsenal v Chelsea this Sunday and ahead of the games we got access to a heavily edited press conference between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

The duo discussed everything from the match at the Emirates to their FA Cup records, before the insults began to fly between the rival bosses.

But will the ‘specialist in failure’ finally get one over the ‘Special One’? We’ll find out this afternoon…

Borussia Dortmund Plot Summer Move For Manchester City Star

Borussia Dortmund are ready to make a move for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

The Bosnian has found regular first-team football hard to come by at the Etihad this season with manager Manuel Pellegrini often rotating his forwards.

Dortmund spent big to bring in Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile and Colombia international Adrian Ramos last summer, but neither have hit the heights the German club would have hoped.

And now, according to Bild, Dortmund are ready to test Manchester City's resolve over the future of Dzeko.

The 29-year-old has three years to run on his contract at the Etihad but the Bundesliga side are hopeful City could be ready to cash in.

Transfer rumours and paper review – Monday, April 27

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Monday's newspapers...

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to reshape his squad this summer and is plotting deals for PSV Eindhoven's Dutch winger Memphis Depay, Aston Villa's Belgian forward Christian Benteke and Burnley's English striker Danny Ings. (Daily Telegraph)

Chelsea are eyeing a £20million deal for French midfield sensation Giannelli Imbula. (The Sun)

Tottenham are ready to move for Marseille midfielder Florian Thauvin this summer. The French club rejected an enquiry from the north Londoners for their 22-year-old back in January but Spurs have continued to track the winger, who can also play behind the striker. (Daily Mirror)

Southampton’s hopes of completing a transfer deal for Manchester United’s Javier Hernández have taken a substantial step forward after Louis van Gaal admitted he is intending to sell the Mexican this summer. (Metro)

Queens Park Rangers winger Matt Phillips is at the centre of a tug of war between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton. The Premier League rivals are gearing up to go head to head in the summer to land the Scotland international. (Daily Mirror)

Twitter reacts after Jose Mourinho ridicules Arsenal fans for 'boring' jibes

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho fuelled further animosity amongst Arsenal fans after mocking him for a series of chants during his side's 0-0 draw at the Emirates.

When asked in his post-match press conference about his side's stoic performance, he replied: 'Boring? I think 10 years without the title. That's boring!'

Chelsea produced a professional display at the Emirates, frustrating their title rivals to remain 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with just five games left in the season.

Mourinho was centre of attention following the encounter