Golden Soccer 360

Brutal honesty and a will to improve steered Gonzalo Higuain towards a record-breaking season under Maurizio Sarri at Napoli. Three years on, the pair are set to be reunited at Chelsea. But will Higuain be the centre-forward solution Sarri is craving at Stamford Bridge? There have been question marks raised regarding Higuain's Premier League credentials, doubts over whether a 31-year-old with eight goals in 22 games this season is the right man to spearhead the attack of a top-four club with loftier ambitions. But, if you are a Chelsea fan looking for positives, you need only look at his one year under Sarri's guidance in Italy... Higuain and Sarri both spent three seasons at Napoli, but crossed over for just the 2015/16 campaign. It proved to be a fruitful one for Higuain in front of goal - his best ever, in fact. With 36 goals in 35 league games, the Argentinian broke Gunnar Nordahl's 66-year-old Serie A record, and equalled Gino Rossetti's tally set in 1...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits Nicolas Otamendi is unhappy with his limited first-team opportunities this season. Otamendi has started just eight Premier League games, compared with 33 starts last term, with Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte also vying for a place in central defence. Guardiola says he understands Otamendi's frustrations and praised the 30-year-old's professionalism this season. "He's not happy," Guardiola said. "I don't have an answer. When he plays he's happy, when he doesn't play he's not happy. "But it's not just Otamendi, [it's] everybody. All of them. I don't know what I can do but be honest with myself and with them. "Of course when he doesn't play he's not happy. In the end with Nico, I know we can count on him at any time in any situation because he's an incredible professional and always he's ready. I'm delighted with him. "Bu...

Gonzalo Higuain's expected loan move to Chelsea is still "in the air", according to AC Milan assistant manager Luigi Riccio. Higuain was left out of Milan's team for their 2-0 win over Genoa in Serie A on Monday, with manager Gennaro Gattuso admitting the striker has told him he wants to move to Chelsea. The 31-year-old is currently on loan at Milan from Juventus, but  Sky in Italy  report Chelsea have agreed a deal with Juve to sign Higuain on loan until the end of the season, with an option of a further 12 months. However, Riccio told Gazzetta: "As for the transfer market we are all grown-ups, we know how to deal with these situations. "It has been in the air for a few days. But we will work with the players at our disposal." Higuain's move to Chelsea is believed to be being held up by Milan's negotiations with Genoa for Krzysztof Piatek, who the Italian side have identified as a replacement for the Argentine. ...

Virgil van Dijk leads and commands the Liverpool defence like Jamie Carragher did in his playing career, says his former team-mate Emile Heskey. Carragher spent his entire playing career at Liverpool, winning the Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups in a trophy-laden 25-year spell at the club in which he served as their vice-captain for a decade. Van Dijk signed for Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 for £75m and has played 51 games across all competitions, helping the team mount a serious challenge for this year's Premier League title. Speaking of the two players, Heskey said: "When you look at Van Dijk and when you look at Liverpool, in essence they haven't had that leader I would go as far back as Jamie Carragher. "Someone who really commands a defence. Someone who really stands out and is counted for. Someone who is marshalling people around. Now Van Dijk has come in and he seems to be that man. "He's a great defender...

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a loan deal until the end of the season. The 31-year-old former Ghana international has joined from Serie A club Sassuolo in a £1.8m deal which includes an option to buy for £7.1m in the summer. Boateng, who joined Portsmouth from Spurs in 2009 before going on to sign for AC Milan a year later, will be presented to the media on Tuesday morning. "It's a very sad day. Because I'm saying goodbye to an amazing group and club like Sassuolo that gave me a lot," Boateng told  Sky in Italy  on Monday night, before boarding a plane to Barcelona. "Going to Barcelona is a huge opportunity and an incredible feeling. I was very stressed today but I wanted to say goodbye to everyone, I respect Sassuolo. "I remember my debut [with AC Milan] in the Gamper trophy against Barca, and the emotions run high…" Boateng's arrival at the Nou Camp mar...

Tottenham are not interested in signing West Ham's Andy Carroll amid reports linking him with a move to the club, Sky Sports News understands. Spurs are short of options up front with England captain Harry Kane ruled out until March with an ankle injury and Heung-Min Son currently away on international duty at the AFC Asian Cup with South Korea. Fernando Llorente led the line for Tottenham at Craven Cottage on Super Sunday, with the striker inadvertently scoring Fulham's opener after turning into his own net from a corner. Former England striker Carroll has failed to re-establish a starting place at West Ham following his return to fitness from ankle surgery in October. The 30-year-old's West Ham contract is up at the end of the season, but he revealed earlier this month there is an option in his contract which could see his stay at the east London club extended by a further two years. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino handed 20-year-old striker Kazaiah...