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Manchester United have released a special collection of apparel inspired by one of the city’s most famous and revered musical heroes, the Stone Roses.

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With designs inspired by the paint-splattered artwork that adorned the legendary Mancunian band’s eponymous debut album, the retro-infused collection includes various items of pre-match and warm-up kit, T-shirts, tracksuits, and of course, the obligatory bucket hat.

This Is the One 🎵❤️

Introducing the United x @adidasFootball x Stone Roses collection, inspired by the iconic 1989 debut album 🍋

Available now ➡️ https://t.co/WdJTlHSGCQ

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 8, 2024

The artwork was originally created by Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, who formed the band along with frontman and vocalist Ian Brown in the early 1980s.

They later became a staple of the “Madchester” scene following the release of their first album in 1989 and have had a major influence on countless bands and artists ever since.

United have also marked the release of its Roses Are Red collection with a short film that features a small cast of fans and Reds past and present including Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Gary Neville.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has rubbished suggestions Erling Haaland is unhappy at the club.

Haaland has been the subject of reports in Spain which have suggested the striker wants to end his stay at the Etihad Stadium because he dislikes Manchester and the weather in the city and secure a summer move to Real Madrid.

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But Guardiola believes the 23-year-old, who has returned to the team following two months out with a foot injury, is settled and is not looking to leave.

“I don’t know, you have to ask the media from Madrid,” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

“Maybe they have more info than we have. We don’t have that feeling that he’s unhappy. He was [unhappy] because he could not play for two months because he was injured but maybe the media from Spain, and especially Madrid, have more information than us.”

Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 goals last season to lead Guardiola’s side to a historic treble and has already got 19 in 23 games this term. He made his return from injury in the 3-1 win over Burnley on Wednesday, coming off the bench to play the final 20 minutes.

The 23-year-old is halfway through his second season at the Etihad, where he has a contract until 2027.

He has been continually linked with a move to Real Madrid since his time at Borussia Dortmund with reports that the Spanish giants would eventually like to sign both the Norway international and Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé, who could be a free agent at the end of the season.

“We cannot say he didn’t adapt quickly and he was not fine since he arrived — just the level he showed since he arrived on day one,” Guardiola said. “But we cannot control what people say. What’s important is he’s happy. And when he’s unhappy, he will take his decision.”

Paris Saint-Germain have signed Brazilian 18-year-old midfielder Gabriel Moscardo from Corinthians, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday.

He has signed a contract with PSG until 2028 and is immediately being loaned back to Corinthians until the end of the season. ESPN reported in December that the two sides had agreed a deal worth €20 million ($21.6m) deal for the midfielder

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Moscardo, who joined Corinthians last season, has played 18 games in Brazil’s top flight Serie A.

“I’m looking forward to joining up with the squad and to meeting the team and the coaching staff, and I hope to win many trophies with Les Rouge et Bleu and to make the fans happy,” Moscardo said in a statement

PSG are top of Ligue 1, eight points ahead of second-place Nice.

A physical Australia side dominated India to win their Asian Cup Group B opener 2-0 on Saturday in front of a crowd largely made up of Indian fans at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

After a cagey opening 45 minutes, Australia got on the board through Jackson Irvine before Jordan Bos made it 2-0 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

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The encounter felt almost like a home game for India with the crowd at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium largely made up of fans from the Indian diaspora in Doha and they made their presence felt, roaring the team on despite Australia’s early dominance.

But after being shut out in the first half, Australia silenced the crowd with the opening goal soon after the break. Their second deflated both the Indian team and the arena.

“The excitement of the first game [of the Asian Cup] got to the players in the first half,” Australia’s coach Graham Arnold said.

“At half-time, we discussed where we could hurt India and calmed them down. We told them, ‘Just be patient and it will come.'”

The match also saw Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita become the first woman referee to officiate a men’s Asian Cup encounter, with assistant referees Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi making it an all-female trio.

Spurred on by the crowd, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri missed a golden opportunity when he sent a header wide, but Australia turned the screws thereafter and controlled possession as India rarely managed to venture out of their own half.

It soon became apparent that India were no match for Australia’s physicality across the pitch as the 2015 champions regularly won duels to prevent Igor Stimac’s side from progressing the ball.

“[It was] very difficult match for us with the physicality of Australia, we suffered from their corners,” Stimac said.

“We couldn’t get out of the zone and were unable to make that second pass to move past the half line… Australia are more experienced, they read situations better.”

India held firm until the break, but five minutes after the restart Australia found the breakthrough.

Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh failed to deal with a cross and his tame effort to palm it away fell to Irvine, who needed no second invitation to score.

Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

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“We had to be patient. These games are cagey when teams play deep,” Irvine said.

“We created some really good moments but maybe rushed things in the first half.”

The goal took the wind out of India’s sails and Australia capitalised with a second in the 73rd minute when Riley McGree dribbled into the box and cut a pass back for Bos to score.

Although Australia took all three points, Arnold said there was still room for improvement.

“One disappointment was our set pieces. You’ve got to credit India for how they set up against that,” Arnold said.

“Full credit to India for their determination and their fight, they put their bodies on the line a lot of times when we had opportunities… They’re very well-coached.”

The winter transfer window hasn’t re-opened in Europe yet, but there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Gunners mull moves for Solanke, Toney

Arsenal have identified AFC Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke and Brentford star Ivan Toney as potential targets in January, according to Calciomercato.

The Gunners have their eyes firmly set on the title this season and are currently sitting one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, with manager Mikel Arteta reportedly eager to bolster his forward options ahead of what will be a busy second half of the season.

Gabriel Jesus has netted seven goals in all competitions for Arsenal this campaign; however, should the Brazil international suffer an injury, Arteta would be light on attacking replacements with Eddie Nketiah the only other recognised striker in the first-team setup.

Solanke has been in impressive form for Bournemouth this season, notching nine goals in 17 Premier League outings, while Brentford forward Toney has missed the first half of the campaign following an eight-month suspension for betting charges. The 27-year-old, however, will be available to play from Jan. 17 onwards.

Neither option will be cheap for the Gunners, although they have proved willing to splashing the cash over the past six months. Arsenal brought Declan Rice to the Emirates from West Ham United in the summer for £100 million, whilst Kai Havertz also made the move to north London from Chelsea in the same transfer window for £65m.

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PAPER GOSSIP

– Real Madrid have set a valuation of €60m for defender David Alaba amid interest from Manchester United, Juventus and Al Ittihad, according to Sport. However, the Austria international suffered an ACL injury in Los Blancos’ 4-1 win against Villarreal on Sunday, which makes a move unlikely in January. Man United, in particular, are desperate for defensive reinforcements, with Lisandro Martínez missing the majority of the season with injury and Raphaël Varane reportedly keen to leave Old Trafford in the winter.

– Arsenal and Manchester City have identified Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz as a target, reports Football Insider. It is suggested that Villa will not be receptive to any approaches in January, with manager Unai Emery desperate to keep hold of the 25-year-old, who has impressed for the Midlands outfit this season.

– Juventus are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface, according to Calciomercato. Boniface has notched an impressive 15 goals and eight assists in all competitions this season, which has led to admirers across Europe. The report reveals that Boniface would currently set Juventus back €40m in January, which means the Italian giants would likely have to facilitate Dusan Vlahovic’s departure in order to match Leverkusen’s valuation.

– Dion Drena Beljo is seeking a move away from Augsburg in January, with several clubs in Europe interested in the forward, says Florian Plettenberg. The Sky Sports Deutschland journalist reports that the 21-year-old is unhappy with his current game time, which has seen him primarily limited to substitute appearances. Alongside other clubs in Germany, it is reported that teams in England and Italy are monitoring the forward, who could depart in the winter.

The winter transfer window hasn’t re-opened in Europe yet, but there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Phillips to switch sides of Manchester?

Manchester United have made Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips their top priority for the summer transfer window, according to The Sun.

Amid speculation over the 28-year-old’s future, City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday that he was “so sorry” the lack of game time the England international has received since his £42 million move from Leeds United in 2022. Phillips has seen just 216 minutes of action across all competitions so far this term.

While Guardiola can’t see a place for the midfielder in his team, under pressure United manager Erik ten Hag is believed to be a big fan of Phillips and feels that he would be a perfect fit for the direction the Dutchman wants the Red Devils to go in. United’s new investors are also said to be keen to bring in a core of English players and Phillips is still being picked consistently for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions.

Man United are currently watching the situation very carefully, with it being felt that Phillips will go out on loan in January until the end of the season, after which he will then look for a permanent departure from the Etihad.

The cross-town move would likely be controversial, but it is claimed that Guardiola wouldn’t stand in Phillips’ way as he wants the situation resolved as quickly as possible. There would be even greater controversy if Phillips ended up at Old Trafford given the rivalry that exists between Man Utd and Leeds.

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PAPER GOSSIP

– Manchester City want to sign Club Brugge winger Tajon Buchanan during the January transfer window, reports The Daily Star, which adds that a move would require around £50m. The 24-year-old’s contract runs until the summer of 2025 and he is unlikely to sign a new deal, which could play into Club Brugge letting the Canada international depart, although there will be competition from Internazionale.

– Manchester United have made RB Leipzig striker Loïs Openda their top priority for the January transfer window, says The Mirror, which adds that Tottenham Hotspur have also been watching the 23-year-old. Openda joined Die Roten Bullen from Lens for £35m during the summer, but it would now reportedly take £75m to sign him.

– Juventus are interested in signing Lazio winger Felipe Anderson if the 30-year-old is available as a free agent in the summer, reports Calciomercato. The Brazilian’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and Lazio president Claudio Lotito has paused negotiations as he wants to see an upturn in the winger’s form before offering him a four-year deal worth €3.5m per season.

– Real Madrid have opened talks with Reading about a move for 18-year-old forward Caylan Vickers, according to The Sun, which adds that the Royals want £1m and a percentage of the funds earned from any future move. Arsenal have been tracking the teenager while Leicester City, Norwich City and Celtic have also sent scouts to watch him.

– Lyon see the midfield as a key area to strengthen to aid their hopes of staying in Ligue 1 and are hoping to bring in AC Milan’s Rade Krunic, according to Le10Sport, although they will face competition from Fenerbahce for the 30-year-old. Lyon are also looking at Real Betis’ Guido Rodríguez and Stade Rennais’ Baptiste Santamaria as alternative options for that position.

Declan Rice’s header deep in stoppage time sealed an enthralling 4-3 victory for Arsenal over Luton Town to send them five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday.

Six minutes of stoppage time were almost up when Rice found space to glance a header into the net, sparking joy for the visitors and heartache for an intrepid Luton side.

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“Luton are a top side and they can’t be overlooked in this league for the quality they have,” Rice told Amazon Prime. “To score in the last minute and keep the momentum building, it’s massive for us. Those are the moments you look back on. What a game. To score the winner is an honour.”

There was little to hint at the thriller ahead in a low-key opening 20 minutes on a raw night at Kenilworth Road, but the game exploded into life when Gabriel Martinelli’s scuffed shot from Bukayo Saka’s pass put Arsenal ahead.

Luton responded five minutes later with Gabriel Osho powering a header past David Raya from Alfie Doughty’s corner.

Saka and Martinelli were both denied by saves from Thomas Kaminski, but Arsenal went ahead again just before the break with Gabriel Jesus heading in Ben White’s dinked cross.

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Arsenal had not won at Luton since 1986 and they were rocked on their heels as first Elijah Adebayo headed in another corner in the 49th minute before Andros Townsend played in fellow former England international Ross Barkley eight minutes later to drill a low shot underneath Raya, who endured a difficult night.

Raya should have done better for Luton’s second and third goals, but his blushes were spared by his teammates.

The old stadium was rocking to its foundations, but Luton’s joy was cut short as Kai Havertz squared it up on the hour from a Jesus pass. Rice then left the hosts in despair as Arsenal again showed their penchant for late goals.

They have now taken nine points this season courtesy of goals in the last five minutes of games.

“Incredible evening. First of all, congratulations to Luton, their players, staff, the atmosphere they created made it a special night to play football and they made it very hard for us,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

“They are so good at set pieces and they made us really fight for the game and at the end it was a beautiful win.”

Luton remain fourth from bottom with nine points and while the defeat stung, manager Rob Edwards was rightly proud of his players, who gave Arsenal a real scare.

“Arsenal wanted a game of order and we made it chaotic at times,” Edwards said. “I don’t think that has ever happened to me, conceding that late to lose a game so I’m flat right now.”

Arsenal have 36 points from 15 games played with Liverpool on 31 and champions Manchester City on 30, with the latter two teams in action on Wednesday.

Manchester City scored two goals barely a minute apart to beat Manchester United 3-1 and spoil the home side’s night at Old Trafford in the Women’s Super League derby on Sunday.

City climbed over United into third in the WSL standings on 13 points after seven games, six points behind leaders Chelsea, while United have 12 points.

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The crowd of 43,615 smashed United’s previous attendance record of 30,196 for a WSL game at Old Trafford set in 2022 against Aston Villa.

Captain Katie Zelem put United ahead with a penalty in the 21st minute after Alex Greenwood’s handball, but Jill Roord and England international Lauren Hemp scored in the 34th and 35th minutes in a breathless first half.

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United gifted City a goal when England keeper Mary Earps hesitated to meet a soft pass back from Maya Le Tissier. Earps’ attempted clearance ricocheted off an onrushing Khadija Shaw and into the net, leaving United’s keeper angrily yelling about the error.

City were reduced to 10 players in the 72nd minute when Laia Alexandri was shown a second yellow for a foul on Lucia Garcia, and while United dominated with a flurry of chances in the final few minutes, City held strong and their fans were singing “Blue Moon” by the final whistle.

Arsenal beat Brighton earlier on Sunday for their fifth successive WSL victory with goals from Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum. Arsenal climbed to within three points of leaders Chelsea.

Chelsea, the only undefeated team, had moved six points clear atop the table on Saturday with a 5-1 win over Liverpool that featured a Lauren James hat-trick amid their quest for a fifth successive WSL title.

England international Rachel Daly scored in added time to lift Aston Villa to a thrilling 3-2 victory at West Ham United. Anna Patten and Canadian international Adriana Leon also scored before Daly hooked in the winner from inside the box for Villa, who are ninth with just two wins.

Celin Bezit scored a second-half equaliser to ensure Tottenham left the King Power Stadium with a point in a 1-1 draw against Leicester City. Tottenham are fifth, two spots ahead of Leicester.

Amalie Thestrup scored in the 82nd minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Bristol City at Everton. Everton are 10th in the table, two spots ahead of bottom side Bristol City.