Tuchel Talks to Ben White About Potential England Return
Thomas Tuchel has spoken with Arsenal defender Ben White regarding the possibility of a return to the England squad, according to The Sun. White hasn’t played for England since March 2022 and has since excluded himself from national team contention, missing last year’s Euros under Gareth Southgate. However, with the new England manager now in charge, he has reached out to see if White would consider joining for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia in March. The details of the conversation remain unclear, including whether Arsenal would allow White to participate, considering his recent return from knee surgery.
De Bruyne Accepts Reduced Role at Man City
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly accepting a reduced role at the club next season, with manager Pep Guardiola set to decide if it’s worth keeping the 33-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, according to The Mirror. De Bruyne’s game time has already been limited this season, and his future with the club is uncertain. He has started less than half of City’s Premier League games this season, a sign he can no longer keep up with Guardiola’s demanding system. His recent performance, including being substituted for James McAtee in a match against Liverpool, further highlighted his diminishing influence.
Leverkusen Eyes McAtee Amid Wirtz Links
Bayer Leverkusen is targeting Manchester City’s James McAtee as their top priority for this summer, according to the Daily Mail. The German club had previously approached City for the 22-year-old in January, but the bid was rejected. With City also interested in Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen is reportedly hoping to include McAtee in the negotiations. McAtee, who has just one year remaining on his contract, is seeking more first-team opportunities, and with competition fierce in City’s midfield, he might consider a move for regular playing time. City is among the favorites to sign Wirtz, who has established himself as a key player for Germany.
Leicester Stands by Van Nistelrooy Amid Struggles
Leicester City continues to support head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy despite a tough run of form, with just one win in their last 11 Premier League matches, as reported by The Telegraph. To try and turn things around, van Nistelrooy has dismissed two members of his coaching staff ahead of crucial matches against West Ham and Chelsea. The team is currently in 19th place in the league, having failed to score in their last six home games. Van Nistelrooy has made staff changes, including replacing first-team coaches Ben Dawson and Danny Alcock and promoting former Leicester player Andy King to the first team.