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News Extra: Mandzukic talks on future, Villa's Mings bonus, Umtiti's return

The latest news snippets from across the footballing world, including Juventus's plans to hold Mario Mandzukic talks, Aston Villa's extra payment for Tyrone Mings and Samuel Umtiti's return for Barcelona.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news snippets from across the footballing world, including Juventus's plans to hold Mario Mandzukic talks, Aston Villa's extra payment for Tyrone Mings and Samuel Umtiti's return for Barcelona. Scroll down for more!


Juve chief confirms Mandzukic talks

Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring for Juventus on December 22, 2018© Reuters

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has confirmed that he plans to hold talks with Mario Mandzukic amid increased speculation of a January bid from Manchester United. Reports suggest that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are confident of landing the 33-year-old forward, who saw a move to Qatar collapse over the summer, in a £9m deal.

"With Mandzukic, we chose a quiet time for him to leave but a move to Qatar did not materialise so he stayed with us," Paratici told Football Italia. "Now we will talk to him and see what happens in January."


Bournemouth to get Mings bonus

Tyrone Mings in action for Aston Villa on July 24, 2019© Reuters

Bournemouth are due an extra £250,000 from Aston Villa after Tyrone Mings made his debut for England on Monday night, according to The Telegraph. The centre-back moved to the Midlands over the summer in a £21m deal but as part of the contract, Villa are obliged to pay the Cherries £250,000 for each of his first four appearances for the Three Lions.


Umtiti to return for Barca this weekend

Samuel Umtiti in action for Barcelona on September 18, 2018© Reuters

Samuel Umtiti will make a long-awaited return to the Barcelona lineup for this weekend's game with Eibar, Mundo Deportivo says. The 25-year-old has been out for more than five months with a knee injury and with Gerard Pique suspended, Umtiti could be straight back in the starting XI to partner his replacement Clement Lenglet.


Mason questions James decision

Wales' Daniel James down injured as referee Bjorn Kuipers gestures on October 13, 2019© Reuters

Ryan Mason has questioned Wales's decision to allow Daniel James to play on after he took a knock during the side's Euro qualifier with Croatia last week. Wales boss Ryan Giggs later claimed that James was "acting" when he appeared to be out cold but Mason, whose career was ended after a sickening head collision, had a different view at the time.


Inter 'try to raise Martinez release clause'

Lautaro Martinez celebrates scoring for Inter Milan on October 2, 2019© Reuters

Inter Milan are attempting to increase Lautaro Martinez's release clause amid interest from Barcelona, according to Tuttosport. The 22-year-old striker is currently available for £96m but with Barca circling, the Italian side are now seeking to up that figure or abolish the release clause altogether.


Bulgaria keeper: 'England players overreacted'

Plamen Iliev in action for Bulgaria on September 7, 2019© Reuters

Bulgaria goalkeeper Plamen Iliev praised his country's fans for being "good" despite a number of racist incidents that tarnished his side's 6-0 loss to England on Monday evening.

Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Iliev - between the sticks in the home end while most of the abuse happened - said: "If I am honest, I believe [the fans] behaved well today. There wasn't any abuse [as far as I could hear] and I think [the England players] overreacted a bit. The public was on a good level – I didn't hear any bad language used towards their or our players."


Newcastle 'failed with £24m bid for Mateta'

Jean-Philippe Mateta pictured in December 2018© Reuters

Newcastle United failed with a €28m (£24m) bid for Mainz striker Jean-Philippe Mateta over the summer, according to SportBild. The Magpies were one of eight sides to show interest in the 21-year-old, who scored 14 goals last season, but fell short of the German side's reported £35m valuation.


Lacazette: 'Guendouzi can be world class'

Matteo Guendouzi in action for Arsenal on October 6, 2019© Reuters

Alexandre Lacazette has said that Arsenal teammate Matteo Guendouzi has demonstrated that he can become one of the best midfielders in world football. The 20-year-old joined Unai Emery's Gunners last season after cutting his teeth in Ligue 2 and has gone on to become an integral part of the side, making nine appearances so far this season.

"He is like the younger brother," Lacazette is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "We all really have a good relationship, we like to work and to laugh together so it's really good.

"I'm really happy for Matteo, he played really well, he helped the team when we needed him, he is really improving each season so we are all really happy with his performances this month. We can see that every top midfielder in the world is like this. They all want to take the ball. Matteo has a good ambition, he wants to be one of the best players in his position so every day he is trying to be the best and this month he showed that he can be."

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Neil Wilkes
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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