I have no Regrets over Hazard - Wenger

Arsenal were in advanced talks for the classy Belgian before Chelsea completed a €40 million deal but the Frenchman insists he was out of their financial reach

Arsene Wenger insists he does not regret passing up the chance to sign Eden Hazard as Arsenal prepare to host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Hazard arrives at the Emirates Stadium hoping to bring the Blues one step closer to a first Premier League title in five years as well as strengthening his own claim to the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

The Belgian's rise has been rapid since moving to Stamford Bridge from Lille in a £32 million deal in the summer of 2012 and boss Jose Mourinho described his star man as the "best young player in the world" back in February.

But despite coming close to beating Chelsea to the signing of Hazard, Wenger is adamant that he does not dwell on the deal that might have been.

“I have no big regrets because – at the time – there was so much money involved we could not afford it and not defend it, honestly," the Frenchman told reporters.

“It was not feasible for us financially."

Hazard made a decisive impact the last time Chelsea faced Arsenal in October, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute by winning and scoring a penalty before Diego Costa secured all three points for Jose Mourinho's men.

Giggs will be next Man United manager - Van Gaal

The Dutchman rates the 41-year-old highly and believes he will get another shot at the top job after succeeding David Moyes on an interim basis last season

Louis van Gaal has revealed he expects assistant manager Ryan Giggs to succeed him as Manchester United manager.

Giggs holds the record for most United appearances of all time, having played 963 games during a 23-year career at Old Trafford and won 22 major trophies at the club under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 41-year-old joined David Moyes' backroom team in the summer of 2013 and was named interim manager when the Scot was sacked last April, winning two of his four games in charge.

Van Gaal, who appointed Giggs as his assistant last summer, rates the Welshman highly and believes he will get another chance at the top job when the time comes for him to leave Old Trafford.

"I expect that he will be the next manager after I am gone," Van Gaal told MUTV when asked about Giggs.

"Now I have the responsibility. He has tasks that he has to perform like the players. What he has to do, for me, he does it very well."

Van Gaal's current contract as United boss expires in the summer of 2017 and he has already intimated that this will be his last job.

I want 'new Messi' Dybala to sign for Napoli - Zamparini

Although Arsenal and Juventus are among the clubs chasing the highly rated 21-year-old, the charismatic boss would prefer to see him at a side often considered more modest

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has described Paulo Dybala as the "new Lionel Messi" and said that he hopes his club's star man can complete a move to Napoli this summer.

The 21-year-old attacker has impressed in Serie A this season, with 13 goals in 30 games, attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Juventus.

The Argentine says he wants to stay in Italy, with Juve said to be the favourites to sign him. However, Zamparini says he would love to sell him to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis - a friend of his.

"It’s true, Napoli have come in for Dybala,” Zamparini told Radio Crc.

“De Laurentiis spoke to me personally. They want to improve their team, even if they don't get a place in the Champions League.

“He called me. I’ll meet him soon, but we have a mutual respect and a good friendship.

“Our relationship is special, and I hope he can take Dybala, because he’s the new Lionel Messi.”

Dybala, meanwhile, said that he is very ambitious and admitted he feels he must be careful when it comes to deciding where to move to.

“I’d love to experience playing in another country, but I would like to stay in Italy” he told Sky. 

“I have many goals I want to achieve in the future. I have my whole career ahead of me and I have to make the right choice.”

We're preparing without Iheanacho - Manu Garba

Head coach of Nigeria's U20 national team, Manu Garba has told Goal that his side is preparing for life without hot starlet Kelechi Iheanacho at the upcoming Fifa U20 World Cup in New Zealand that starts on May 30.

Iheanacho, who missed the African Youth Championship in Senegal due to injury, is unlikely to be available for the World Cup if he fails to reach full fitness in time. But the former Golden Eaglets gaffer insists they are still hopeful just as the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner and his English club side.

"I'm just hearing from you about 'the condition given by Manchester City before his release'. I can't tell you anything about Iheanacho because I have not gotten any official report on him. We are focused on the players we've already gotten to represent the country," Garba told Goal.

"I cannot discuss about his progress because I’m not with him neither do we know his state of fitness. Though I've been in contact, the boy is very keen in coming to play for the country.

"Same way the club (Man City) are also eager to see him play, though they insist he must be fit and injury-free before being released. They did promise to release him as soon as they attest to his fitness. If they do, we are always happy and ready to have in the team," the former Gombe United gaffer continued.

"At the moment, we are focused on preparing the players we have on ground for the U20 World Cup. We are hopeful on having him in the team to contribute his best to helping the country at the World Cup.

"The NFF are doing everything they can do in ensuring his release. But this technical crew is focused on working with the players available to ensure the country succeeds at the championship in case he is not fit," he concluded.

Earlier, assistant coach Nduka Ugbade had told Goal that the midfielder had returned to full training at Manchester City and he is likely to feature in Monday's FA Youth Cup final second leg clash with Chelsea.

Ugbade said: "The Sports Director of Manchester City told us Iheanacho is okay, but they want him play the one or two games without any injury concerns because they have given their words to allow him to join us to the training camp in Germany if he is fully fit."

He further confirmed that the pair of Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon, who play for KRC Genk of Belgium, will join the Flying Eagles in Germany due to their club's chase of a UEFA Champions League ticket have delayed them from teaming up with the U20 national side as well as Isaac Success of Spanish outfit Granada.

The African representatives are drawn in Group E alongside Brazil, North Korea and Hungary.

Coach Manu Garba's side will begin their campaign for glory in the international youth competition against Brazil at the Taranaki Stadium, New Plymouth on June 1.

Reports - Manchester United launch £21.5m bid for Mats Hummels

Manchester United have opened the bidding for long-term target Mats Hummels with a £21.5m offer, according to reports in Germany.

United have been desperately short of central defensive options this season and strengthening his team's back line will be manager Louis van Gaal's priority this summer.

And now Bild have reported that the Dutchman has made his first move in the transfer market by lodging a bid for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Hummels.

The 26-year-old, who was one of the stars of Germany's World Cup winning side, is out of contract in 2017 and set to leave Dortmund after they endured a torrid Bundesliga season.

United have long been linked with him and are desperate not to miss out on his signature this summer so have made an early move by lodging their first formal offer.

Man United reject fires Real Madrid into semi-finals

Manchester United reject Javier Hernandez came to the rescue for Real Madrid, as the Mexican’s 88th minute goal sent Los Blancos into the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over ten-man derby rivals Atletico.

In a tetchy encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the hosts enjoyed the better chances but, having drawn the first leg 0-0, again found the Atletico defences stubborn to break down.

Real hadn’t tasted victory against their cross-town rivals since beating them in the final to lift the European crown last season and they were frustrated throughout a turgid first half which saw only one clear cut chance.

That fell to Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Portugal star failed to make the most of his one-on-one effort as he sidefooted a tame shot straight at Jan Oblak, who did react well to parry at point-blank range.

It’s often handbags at dawn in these heated clashes, and it didn’t take long for the unsavoury nudges and barges to begin creeping in to play, with Sergio Ramos the target – though he’s often the instigator as well – of a number of rash challenges, while Ronaldo was guilty of smashing Jesus Gamez in the face with a strong shoulder when competing for a high ball.

Theatrics continued after the break, with the game predictably stop-start in nature as a result, but it was Real who carved out the better chances as they began to turn the screw.

Hernandez fired wide from a good position following a great through-ball from Isco, while Raphael Varane and Ramos both had tame headers easily saved from decent openings in the box.

The game opened up when Diego Simeone’s side found themselves a man down when Arda Turan was sent off with a second booking for a high challenge on Ramos, which gave Carlo Ancelloti’s men a much needed advantage.

Extra-time seemed imminent as the full-time whistle crept nearer and nearer, but Atletico’s long resistance was finally ended late on.

After playing a neat one-two with James Rodriguez, Ronaldo burst into the area and did well to pick out the unmarked Hernandez instead of shooting, with the Mexican slotting the ball through a crowded box and into an empty net to seal Real's first Madrid derby win of the season and their progression to the last four.

Juventus will join the Spanish giants, along with Tuesday’s victors Barcelona and Bayern Munich, will in Friday’s semi-final draw after playing out a goalless draw with Monaco, beating the French side 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Carlos Teves’ first leg goal.

The Great Debate: Is Keshi's new deal the right move for Nigeria?

The news of Stephen Keshi's return to the Nigeria hotseat has been greeted with much fanfare, but is it a good move for the Super Eagles?

Few can deny the Big Boss his glorious success of 2013, but have the bitter failings of 2014 been too easily forgotten?

Two of Goal Nigeria's finest discuss the hot topic in the nation's football today...

"Keshi deal is a backward step"

The severity of Nigeria's rapidly-waning football, both on and off the pitch, in recent times, is one that draws tears from the eyes.

The just-concluded Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in Nigeria served as a welcomed distraction from the never-ending dilemma in the Nigeria Football Federation. But like a bad stench that refuses to dissipate, drama has returned to the Nigeria football scene.

With news of the return of Stephen Keshi as head coach of the Super Eagles making the rounds yet again, should Nigerians be over-joyed and excited or bite their nails in frustration at the new two-year contract signed by the Big Boss?

The latter, judging by the niggling uncertainties inherent in the current NFF administration, perhaps portrays the true reaction of soccer-loving Nigerians, who have waited patiently and quite painfully for the identity of the new manager.

As the case has been for a very long time, there are more questions than answers.

Why did it take so long to resolve Keshi's contract talks? And, is he the right man to lead the Super Eagles forward following the series of on and off-field wranglings? The failure of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is also very much fresh in the mind.

Wanyama: Wenger wants to sign me for Arsenal

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama claims Arsene Wenger wants to sign him for Arsenal this summer.

Wenger will press ahead with a move for Morgan Schneiderlin when the transfer window re-opens, despite the emergence of Francis Coquelin this season.

But Wanyama insists he has been made aware of interest from Arsenal and admits he is keen to experience Champions League football again.

“Wenger has been talking about me. And he has let it be known he would like to sign me this summer,” Wanyama told The Sun.

“Arsenal are a great club and I’d love to play Champions League football as I loved being on that stage with Celtic. But we’ve had a fantastic season at Saints and I want to stay focused on helping the club qualify for Europe.

“Then we’ll see where I end up in the summer.”

Reports suggest that Tottenham are also interested in Wanyama and the 23-year-old says he is open to being reunited with Mauricio Pochettino.

“If I get the chance, maybe," he added. "You never know what will happen in the future. It’s nice to be linked with other clubs as it means I’m playing well."

Unlikely hero Hernandez saves Madrid's season - and Ancelotti's job

It was a typical opportunistic finish from Javier Hernandez. The Mexican's scuffed strike from close range slotted past two rival defenders and into an empty net. It won't win any awards, but it was enough to settle an extremely tense derby duel, save Real Madrid's stuttering season and probably Carlo Ancelotti's job as well.

Madrid came into this match having failed to beat Atleti in any of the last seven derbies disputed in 2014-15. They were depleted too as Marcelo missed out through suspension and injuries left Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema sidelined.

Without a like-for-like replacement for Benzema, Ancelotti was down to the bare bones and Chicharito, who has spent most of the season on the Bernabeu bench, was given a rare opportunity to show what he can do in place of the absent France forward.

"He can't fail," former Madrid and Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez said before this game. "If the midfield works, he will have a chance and he must take it."

And he did, albeit after missing several other opportunities. Unlike the more technical but languid figure of Benzema (who, incidentally, has scored only once in 15 appearances against Simeone's side), Chicharito was everywhere in this one, making himself a nuisance throughout.

The Mexican had given glimpses of his worth against Malaga at the Bernabeu on Saturday, setting up a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo and running tirelessly to cause problems for the visitors.

Exclusive - Ron Vlaar's Aston Villa future rests on Premier League survival, insists Tim Sherwood

Tim Sherwood claims Ron Vlaar’s Aston Villa future will be decided only when the club’s Premier League place has been confirmed for next season.

The Dutch defender had been expected to leave Villa Park at the end of the season, when his contract expires, with Manchester United said to be interested.

But, after helping the Villans to the FA Cup final, the 30-year-old announced he had performed a U-turn and wanted to remain at the Midlands side.

"Things have changed for me in the past few months since (Tim) Sherwood took over,” he said. “It’s possible I could stay at Aston Villa.”

But, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on Monday, the Villa chief insisted nothing will be sorted until the club have beaten relegation.

“I hope so,” he said, when asked whether he wanted Vlaar to sign a new contract. “He’s a very experienced player and has been great for the last few games.

“I’m going to have a chat with Ron and find out what his thoughts are. We’ll decide on his future once we secure our Premier League future.”