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Arsenal hope of Matheus Cunha transfer takes new turn as Wolves ace speaks out again

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Amidst speculation and rife transfer rumours, Matheus Cunha, Wolves' highly sought-after star, has delivered a definitive message to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and other interested parties: he never considered leaving Molineux.

Throughout the drama of the January transfer window, both Arsenal and their North London rivals Spurs were consistently mentioned as being in the hunt for the Brazilian forward's signature to bolster their attacking options.

Despite Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta failing to secure any new signings and Spurs observing from a distance as Ange Postecoglou sealed a loan deal for Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, the buzz around Cunha remained.

The dynamic change in leadership from Gary O'Neil to Vitor Pereira at Wolves provided an upsurge of form for 25 year old Cunha, who put together a sensational run, netting 12 goals and providing four assists.

His performances didn't just aid Wolves in their escape from relegation scare but also set the rumour mills ablaze with potential transfer fever. However, silencing all the whispers, Cunha has now doubled down on his dedication to the club.

He secured his future at the club by signing a fresh contract extension spanning four-and-a-half years. Shedding light on his unwavering loyalty in a candid chat with BBC Sport's Football Focus, he shared: "I never think about leaving, honestly. I know I have a lot of things to do already and I always said that this was the club that gave me the chance to come back.

"They opened the door for me and I always felt that I wanted to give back everything so to leave in this type of situation is hard. I am so happy to be here. I hope to continue doing good things."

Spurs were rumoured to have entered the race later in the recent window, while Arsenal's interest had been speculated from the beginning. Despite whispers about a £62m release clause in Cunha's contract being activated by Premier League rivals, the player himself is solely focused on his current responsibilities.

"Of course, they need to be excited. I keep saying; 'Keep belief to the end'," he added regarding Wolves' efforts to secure their place in the English top-flight.

"We need to feel focused and confident to change the situation and I will do everything. I hope I help everyone to be better and we solve the situation as fast as we can."

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Ipswich vs Tottenham: TV channel, streaming and kick-off information

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Tottenham Hotspur will face Ipswich Town with a renewed sense of optimism, having secured two consecutive wins for the first time since September. The return of players like James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Brennan Johnson has eased manager Ange Postecoglou's injury woes.

Despite currently sitting 12th in the Premier League, Spurs are beginning to see a glimmer of hope. However, they face a challenging run of fixtures against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham. Before those three, though, they travel to Portman Road today to seek revenge against Ipswich, who defeated them 2-1 back in November.

Kieran McKenna's side have only managed two more victories since then, leaving them 18th and two points from safety. Should Spurs claim a third win in a row or Ipswich complete the double over the north London side, fans won't be able to watch the game live on TV with Express Sport providing all the information on how to tune into the clash.

Why isn't Ipswich vs Tottenham on TV?

Unfortunately for UK fans, the match won't be broadcast live on TV. This is because Sky Sports and TNT Sports did not select it for this weekend's schedule. Instead, Everton's clash with Manchester United will fill TNT's 12.30pm slot, while Sky will show Aston Villa versus Chelsea at 5.30pm, reports the Mirror.

Sky's Super Sunday is shaping up to be a thrilling affair, featuring Newcastle and league high-flyers Nottingham Forest at 2pm, followed by the blockbuster meeting between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium at 4.30pm. Meanwhile, Ipswich's fixture against Spurs falls foul of English football's Saturday blackout, which runs from 2.45pm until 5.15pm, making live broadcasts of 3pm kick-offs in the UK a no-go since 1960.

Fans have criticised this long-standing rule, especially given the rising costs of TV subscriptions and their inability to watch all available games. Last year, a Premier League spokesperson defended the blackout to Mirror Football, claiming it helps "protect attendances throughout the English football pyramid".

How to watch Ipswich vs Tottenham?

Around 20 minutes post-match, short highlights and key moments will be accessible on the Sky Sports app and its YouTube channel. For further analysis, extended highlights will feature on Match of the Day on BBC1 at 10.30pm that Saturday, and Sky Sports will air 30-minute highlight programmes of all Saturday’s games later that evening.

Fans seeking live updates can tune into BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT for regular coverage. Despite the lack of live broadcasts in the UK, international viewers will be able to watch the match through their local Premier League TV rights holders. For instance, US football fans can catch the game on Peacock, while those in the Middle East can tune into beIN Sports Connect.

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Tottenham make odd 'name-change request' in leaked email to Premier League broadcasters

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Tottenham Hotspur have requested that the club is no longer referred to as 'Tottenham' by broadcasters.

Daniel Levy and other senior figures in north London are keen to distinguish the club from the name of the area. That was made clear in the 'remastered brand identity' published late last year, and club chiefs now have taken their vision to the next level.

The Athletic claim that broadcasters received an email on February 10 titled 'Tottenham Hotspur Naming Update'. In it, the club specified that they would only like to be called 'Spurs' or 'Tottenham Hotspur' going forward.

"Tottenham Hotspur have provided clarification regarding the club’s name," it read. "They have requested that the club are primarily known as Tottenham Hotspur, with Spurs being the preferred short version. The club have requested that they are not referred to as Tottenham."

On the face of it, the request is an odd one. Spurs being referred to as 'Tottenham' is a common occurence among fans, in chants and during pundit analysis. Generally, 'Tottenham' is an accepted name for the club in the same way that 'Newcastle' and 'Leicester' are shortened labels for the Magpies and the Foxes.

But one excerpt from the 'remastered brand identity' makes the club's position clear. It reads: "In a world full of Uniteds, Citys and Rovers, there is only one Hotspur, Tottenham Hotspur.

"When referring to the team or the brand, please use ‘Tottenham Hotspur’, ‘Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’ or ‘THFC’. Never refer to our Club as ‘Tottenham’, ‘Tottenham Hotspur FC’ or ‘TH’."

Sky Sports adhered to Spurs' request in their coverage of last weekend's clash between the north Londoners and Manchester United. A graphic showing the bottom half of the Premier League table put 'Tottenham Hotspur' in 12th place, whereas one month prior - before the email was reportedly sent out - they were listed as 'Tottenham'.

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While broadcasters are evidently paying attention to such fine details, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has a concerning bigger picture to contend with as his players bid to claw their way into the top half.

Next up is a trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon, with Manchester City at home pencilled in for the following midweek. A two-legged Europa League knockout tie with AZ Alkmaar is also in the offing, with Postecoglou hoping a silverware triumph could put some credit in the bank amid speculation over his future.

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Europa League draw LIVE: Man Utd, Tottenham, Rangers learn opponents and path to final

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Rangers have been paired with seventh-place Olympiakos and will face either Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce in the last 16.

Bodo/Glimt beat Twente in a thrilling play-off tie, losing the first leg 2-1 but won the second 5-2 after extra-time.

Fenerbahce drew 2-2 at Anderlecht last night but won the first leg 3-0 to secure safe passage.

Could Jose Mourinho descend on Ibrox?

Manchester United and Tottenham are paired after finishing the league phase in third and fourth, meaning they will be on different sides of the draw.

It also meant that both Premier League clubs will have had a keen eye on the same play-off matches last night.

In those ties, AZ Alkmaar beat Galatasaray 6-3 on aggregate, while Real Sociedad knocked out Midtjylland by a 7-3 aggregate scoreline.

AZ are on the left side of the bracket with fellow play-off winners Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt and Ajax.

La Real are on the right with AS Roma, Fenerbahce and FCSB.

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Express Sport's live coverage of the Europa League draw.

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers are set to learn their last-16 opponents and routes to the Bilbao final on May 21.

Stay tuned for regular updates across the next couple of hours...

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Chelsea and Tottenham breathe sigh of relief as UEFA ‘bend rules’ for Premier League duo

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UEFA are reportedly willing to make an exception to their same-city fixture rules for Chelsea and Tottenham.

The two Premier League heavyweights are gearing up for European knockout ties next month. Chelsea breezed into the UEFA Conference League last 16 with a perfect record in the league phase, while Spurs comfortably finished inside the top eight in the Europa League.

Under normal circumstances, UEFA rules prevent fixture 'clashes' whereby two clubs in the same city, or within a 50km radius, host matches on the same day. But according to The Daily Mail, European football chiefs are prepared to let both games go ahead on Thursday March 13.

Having each finished in the automatic qualifying spots for the knockout rounds, Chelsea and Spurs both earned the right to enjoy home advantage in the second leg of their upcoming last-16 showdowns.

But the prospect of a 'clash' may have left them wondering whether they could be asked to switch things around. The distance between Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium falls well inside the 50km threshold, and thousands of home and away fans will flood the capital.

Relevant authorities have still given the 'green light', providing Blues boss Enzo Maresca and his Tottenham counterpart, Ange Postecoglou, some form of clarity around what lies ahead.

Chelsea could play either Gent, Real Betis, FC Copenhagen or FC Heidenheim in the last 16, depending on the outcome of the quartet's play-off ties on Thursday evening.

Tottenham will face either AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Midtjylland, depending on play-off results. The draw for both competitions is set to take place on Friday.

Spurs boss Postecoglou will be desperate to make an impression in the first leg, having pointed out at the start of this season that he 'always wins things in his second year'.

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The north Londoners' Premier League form has been miserable, leaving them 12th in the table with nine wins in 25 games. The Europa League is their last shot at silverware this campaign, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa and the Carabao Cup by Liverpool earlier this month.

Chelsea sit one point off the top four and still have plenty to fight for in the league. But Maresca has come under mounting scrutiny amid a troubling run of results which includes three defeats in their last four games across all competitions.

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Europa League state of play: Which of four teams are Man Utd and Spurs set to face next?

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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will be keeping tabs on Thursday night's Europa League knockout play-off second legs ahead of discovering their paths to the May final. The Premier League heavyweights will be on opposite sides of the draw after finishing the league phase third and fourth, respectively.

However, there is a long road until an all-English final in Bilbao, and both will learn which teams stand in their way after Friday's draw.

United won five consecutive Europa League matches after Erik ten Hag oversaw three draws at the start of the campaign.

The upturn in results under Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim saw them rank third out of 36 teams with 18 points as the only unbeaten side left across the Champions League and Europa League.

Spurs ended up one point behind the Red Devils, also winning five times but suffering one defeat.

A fourth-place finish paired Ange Postecoglou's men with their Premier League rivals in the new draw format, which means they can't meet until the final.

Following a play-off draw earlier this month, United and Spurs discovered their four potential opponents - the same quartet due to their pairing - in the round of 16.

The draw pitted the winners of AZ Alkmaar vs Galatasaray and Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad against the Prem pair, and last week's first legs made it clearer which two outfits would progress.

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Galatasaray beat Tottenham in the league phase and caused United profound misery in last season's Champions League. A return to Istanbul would not be an attractive proposition.

However, AZ eased those concerns by demolishing the Turkish giants 4-1 in the Netherlands in the first leg.

Galatasaray were without Victor Osimhen in that meeting and will have him back at their disposal for the second leg. However, Okan Buruk's defensive woes offer little expectancy of a comeback.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad travelled to Denmark as the favourites in their tie against Midtjylland and ran out 2-1 winners. They have been heavily tipped to finish the job in San Sebastian.

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Should AZ and La Real progress, United and Spurs will learn which of the two sides they will face in the last 16 when the draw is held at 12pm GMT on Friday.

The draw will focus on placing each of the league phase's top eight in their spots on the bracket, thus confirming their first knockout opponents.

United and Spurs are joined by Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt and Lyon.

In the new format, all 16 remaining clubs will know their routes to the May 21 final after the ceremony.

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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirms three new injuries suffered against Man Utd

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that his side suffered three new injury scares against Manchester United.

Kevin Danso, Rodrigo Bentancur and Son Heung-min were all brought off late on and they were not pre-planned substitutions.

"Kevin [Danso], Rodri and Sonny all picked up knocks," Postecoglou confirmed.

"They should be fine but the beauty now is that we can allow them to rest and recover rather than throwing them straight back out there [three days later]."

Spurs beat United 1-0 thanks to a 13th-minute James Maddison goal. The midfielder, who was making his first appearance back from injury, tapped home from close range after Andre Onana spilled Lucas Bergvall's shot.

Maddison's celebration courted controversy as he hit back at Roy Keane's criticism earlier this week. He ran towards the Sky Sports camera and put his finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, before his trademark darts move.

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"Everyone has mentioned his celebration. It doesn't surprise me that Madders didn't accept what was said about him and shot back," Postecoglou explained.

"He's a quality player and if you look at his goal return this season it is quality."

Postecouglou has been under intense pressure this season but the latest three points lifts his side up to 12th in the table.

He added: "Everyone likes an impeding car crash. I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario on. I know how hard these players have worked.

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"Our training was better and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better, but were not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

"We have had a few players who have not got injured at all."

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Arsenal signed free agents including ex-Tottenham ace and AC Milan star

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Mikel Arteta recently conceded that Arsenal might be considering a free agent to address their striker issues - a move not entirely unfamiliar for the Gunners. The 42-year-old manager finds himself in a tricky situation after Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring injury during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

The former Chelsea forward joins Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the Arsenal injury list. Against Leicester City, Mikel Merino, who was brought in from Real Sociedad to push Declan Rice and Thomas Partey in midfield, scored twice when Arteta deployed him up front.

While the Spaniard shone against the Foxes, the Arsenal boss could still turn to the free agent market to find a more traditional solution to their injury problems in the forward areas. As the Gunners contemplate their options, Express Football reflects on two unexpected free signings Arsenal have made in the past.

Sol Campbell

No one will ever forget Tottenham Hotspur captain Sol Campbell leaving White Hart Lane to join Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001. However, many may have overlooked Campbell's return to the north Londoners in January 2010.

At the time, Campbell was clubless following an ill-fated stint with Notts County. The England international barely lasted a month before realising his summer 2009 switch from Portsmouth to the Magpies was a mistake.

Wenger ended four months of free agency by signing Campbell on a free transfer until the end of the season. The then 35-year-old had to pass a trial and perform well in a practice match before he won Wenger's trust again.

He was unveiled by the Gunners in the 2010 January transfer window. He made 11 appearances and even scored a goal in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City.

Mathieu Flamini

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Mathieu Flamini's first stint at Arsenal from 2004 to 2008 persuaded AC Milan to sign the Frenchman when his contract in north London expired. Five years later, the tables turned as Wenger brought him back to the Emirates Stadium after Milan released him.

At the time, Arsenal were short in options in midfield and were also looking for someone who may be able to cover for Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs at full-back. He proved to be a bargain, playing a crucial role for Arsenal for three seasons and winning the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup.

Flamini made 93 appearances in his second spell, scoring five goals and assisting one. Given the number of matches he played, Arteta will hope any free agent will be as much of a bargain as Flamini.

Diego Costa

The old saying goes that you should keep your friends close but your enemies closer - and Diego Costa could be a solution for Arsenal.

Options are limited for the Gunners, but there are few strikers with Premier League experience available as free agents. Despite his disappointing spell at Wolves, Costa is still a natural born finisher who also offers bite, aggression and a mastery of the dark arts that all winners possess.

Another option could be a reunion with Carlos Vela, who scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 62 appearances between 2008 and 2011. Vela has indeed been a prolific scorer in Major League Soccer, with 78 goals and 42 assists to his name. However, at the ripe age of 35, he is far from being the perfect choice.

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Man Utd: Chido Obi in line for debut as Ruben Amorim 'promotes five starlets' vs Tottenham

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Chido Obi could make his senior Manchester United debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after Ruben Amorim reportedly named him in his squad for the first time. United are claimed to have drafted Obi and four other academy players into the first team amid a devastating week of injury blows.

In the wake of losing Lisandro Martinez for the remainder of the season, Amorim will reportedly be without Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer for the trip to Tottenham.

Another bombshell update on Saturday revealed that Amad is also set to miss the rest of the campaign after suffering ankle ligament damage in training.

Amorim is said to have reacted to the devastating setbacks by calling on the club's illustrious academy to provide fresh blood to salvage the season.

According to reputable X insider @AcademyScoop, Chido Obi has travelled down to north London with fellow youth stars Sekou Kone, Harry Amass, Jack Moorhouse and Elyh Harrison.

On Friday, Amorim hinted that multiple academy players had been involved in first-team training ahead of the Spurs clash due to fresh injuries after last Sunday's FA Cup win against Leicester City.

"We had some problems this week," Amorim said. "We called some players to be in our training, so we have the data and evaluation, and he [Chido Obi] is one of them."

And the United boss could oversee his first academy breakthrough at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, given the inevitably young bench at his disposal.

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The spotlight has been on Obi since he completed his high-profile switch from Arsenal last summer, and he has continued his prolific goalscoring habits at Carrington.

The towering 17-year-old striker has scored 12 goals in nine appearances for United's Under-18s and has also featured for the Under-21s.

Kone - a 19-year-old central midfielder - also joined the Red Devils in the summer from Guidars FC in his homeland, Mali, and has made an impressive start to life in England.

Amass caught the eye as he played a prominent role in pre-season but hasn't yet made his competitive senior bow.

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The 17-year-old left-back is considered one of the country's brightest prospects but has reportedly been cautiously handled over reservations about his physicality.

Moorhouse's development has been hampered by relentless injuries, making just 10 appearances across the previous three seasons.

The 19-year-old central midfielder, hailed for his ball-carrying ability, has wowed Amorim this term and could receive his chance this weekend.

Highly-rated goalkeeper Harrison, 18, featured on United's bench for the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League.

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Man Utd trio injured in training with 19-year-old in line for debut vs Tottenham

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Manchester United could be without Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer for their Premier League encounter against Tottenham on Sunday after the trio suffered injuries in training this week. And Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim may hand a first-team debut to Jack Moorhouse, with the 19-year-old set to travel to London ahead of the clash.

The showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set to be another enormous occasion for both teams.

The clubs’ respective managers have come under huge pressure in recent weeks, with United currently 13th in the Premier League table ahead of Spurs, who are 14th.

According to The Athletic, Mainoo’s injury is expected to rule him out for over two weeks, while Ugarte and Collyer are major doubts for Sunday’s clash in the capital.

Christian Eriksen and Casemiro may therefore come back into the fold after falling out of favour in recent weeks.

Amorim was asked about his squad ahead of the trip as he addressed the media on Friday. And he explained: “It was a good week until two days ago, we had some problems.

“We don’t have players back. Maybe we have one or two issues, we are waiting. We have one player who is sick - we will see on the weekend.”

Read more... Michael Oliver banned from refereeing game, suspension call, Liverpool red card

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Midfield dynamo Moorhouse progressed through the Red Devils academy but missed almost the whole of last season through injury.

He has appeared in seven Premier League 2 matches for United’s under-21s side this time around, bagging three goals. The teenager’s most recent appearance in club colours came last weekend when he found the back of the net in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Premier League 2.

He was drafted into first-team training earlier this week and could be handed a place in the matchday squad against Spurs if Amorim thinks he is ready.

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United and Tottenham have each claimed just eight Premier League victories this season, with Spurs thrashing the Red Devils 3-0 in the reverse fixture at the end of September.

And after being quizzed about Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of their showdown, Amorim added: “I’m a huge fan of Ange Postecoglou. But we are not winning games and I can understand the connection between me and Ange. We have the same problems.

“In my opinion, with all due respect, I am in a bigger club with bigger pressure so I understand the pressure.

“He wants to play football in the right way and that's a good thing. We know when we choose this profession, there are a lot of good things - but you have to feel the pressure when you don't win.”

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