Ashley Young speaks: On the verge of signing for Inter, the Manchester United winger told waiting reporters that it was a very nice day, the weather was very good and that it was his first time in Milan. So now you know.

Lampard: Ross Barkley is going nowhere

Frank Lampard has insisted Ross Barkley will not be leaving Stamford Bridge any time soon, despite West Ham admitting interest in signing the Chelsea midfielder on loan.

“There’s no talk here of Ross Barkley going anywhere; he’s our player,” said Lampard. “He’s played the last couple of games and done very well. I’ve got a lot of faith in Ross.”

Klopp rails against fixture schedule … again

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the injury to Harry Kane which could force him to miss Euro 2020 may eventually force action from the FA on fixture congestion.
The England captain had surgery on a ruptured hamstring tendon at the weekend and, although the initial prognosis was he could return by April, doubts are now being expressed that he will be out for longer and miss this summer’s tournament.

Klopp, a vocal opponent of what he considers a bloated schedule, felt that may force a change in thinking among the powers that be. “I feel massively for Harry Kane, I now hear he may not be in the Euros,” he said. “For the first time some English people in the FA may think ‘Oh, too many games maybe’. Something has to happen for them to really start thinking about it.”

WSL preview: The Arsenal manager, Joe Montemurro, is down to 17 players before the crucial Women’s Super League game against Chelsea on Sunday, wirtes Suzanne Wrack.

Nuno issues Wolves rallying call

With his team winless in five games and a trip to revitalised Southampton ahoy this weekend, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has called on his weary troops to rally ahead of their 39th match of a gruelling season.

“Everyone knows how we play,” he said. “Teams are trying to find new things and we have to raise our standards. This is the process we have and we have to try new solutions.”

Nuno also revealed that defender Ruben Vinagre has been ruled out for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury.

Wales to face Austria and the USA

Wales have announced March friendlies against Austria and the United States as part of their build-up to this summer’s European Championship.

Ryan Giggs’ side will play fellow Euro 2020 finalists Austria at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, 27 March – the first time Wales will have played in Swansea for seven years.

Wales will then host the USA at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, March 30 in what will be only the second-ever fixture between the two nations.

Christian Eriksen to play for Spurs against Watford

Christian Eriksen will play when Tottenham visit Watford on Saturday, despite speculation about his future. The midfielder is out of contract in the summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Inter this month but Jose Mourinho insists the Serie A club have not yet made an offer.

“You have to ask the agent and Inter because they know more than me,” he said. “If they are confident it is because they are ready to make us an offer, which didn’t happen yet. When I see people speaking, especially people with responsibilities, it makes me surprised. He is trying to do his best and it is normal until 31 January his brain is not totally focused.

“It is a normal consequence of the situation. I still don’t understand that optimism. For a few matches people are saying he is playing his last game. Eriksen plays tomorrow.”

The latest on Olivier Giroud-to-Inter

Inter are understood to be extremely eager to sign the Chelsea striker this month, but Frank Lampard insists that no deal has yet been agreed between the clubs.

“If everything is right it might happen, but it’s not, so whilst it’s not, he’s our player,” said Lampard. “And the great thing about Ollie is that he’s got great experience and professionalism, and he’s been nothing but great with us.”

In other news around Stamford Bridge, Reece James signed a new Chelsea deal this week, committing himself to his home club until 2025. “I rate him very highly, I knew him as a youth player in the academy here,” said Lampard of the young full-back. “He did fantastically well at Wigan last year and I tried to get him to Derby but we couldn’t get him in mid-season. There’s a lot more to come from Reece James, he’s a really talented player.”

Roy Hodgson has been trash-talking …

“We need to go there in full humility and to understand we will be confronted with a team that is one of the best in Europe and quite capable of winning the Champions League,” said the Crystal Palace manager ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester City.

“I appreciate the way his (Guardiola’s) teams play and the way he handles himself in interviews,” added Hodgson. “It will be a pleasure to meet him again.”

Norwich City news

Norwich boss Daniel Farke has been boosted by the return of several players as his side prepare to host Bournemouth in a Premier League relegation battle.

Top scorer Teemu Pukki is available, with Ben Godfrey also expected to make his comeback from injury. “A victory is always good for the confidence, for the mood, for the table,” he said. “But one victory is not enough. To stay in this league we need to win seven out of our next 16 games.”

Fabinho and Matip are fit for Sunday

In good news for Liverpool fans, Jurgen Klopp has revealed that both Joel Matip and Fabinho are available for selection for the league leaders’ match against Manchester United on Sunday. Matip has been sidelined with injury since the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford on 20 October, while Fabinho has not played since Liverpool’s draw with Napoli in the Champions League at the end of November.

David Lammy: We’ll beat racism in football by working with fans (and scanning their retinas and fingerprints)

The Labour MP for Tottenham has written an interesting article in Parliament’s The House magazine, in which – among other things – he makes the extremely controversial call for the introduction of retina and fingerprint technology to be used at football grounds.

“If anything,: he writes. “Racism in football has become more prevalent [than in the 1980s]; the proliferation of social media has made it easier to target players with vitriol.”

Lammy goes on to say that “as a nation, we’re good at condemning loutish incidents of racism” before claiming, in what is appears to be a dig at the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that “we’re less good at condemning the more articulate forms of racism spouted by our politicians, which is why Gary Neville stood out when he courageously bucked the trend. And we’re less good at coming out strongly against forms of racial bias in our own media.”

Lammy believes “the FA needs to get serious about punishments and enforcements” and ventures the controversial opinion that “we also need to reduce anonymity so that it’s easier to keep offenders out of stadiums, via effective and equitable use of retina and fingerprint technology.”

A wise idea or a gross invasion of privacy? Would you, as a football fan, have a problem with Big Brother watching you? Let us know in the comments section below …

Your indoctrination starts here

Exciting news from Southampton, who are celebrating their improved form under Ralph Hassenhuttl by staging their annual Family Day before, during and after their match against Wolves at St Mary’s tomorrow. The Saints Brass will be providing musical entertainment, while fans are invited to try their hand on a climbing wall, “take on the pros with ICON Skills in the Fanzone”, get a photo with club mascots Sammy and Mary, “be wowed” by our incredible circus performers and buy discounted replica kit in the Saints Store.

Right, that concludes my involvement for the moment. Barry, it’s over to you.

Eriksen will play on – for now

Speaking at his presser today, José Mourinho says Christian Eriksen will play when Tottenham visit Watford on Saturday, despite speculation he will be joining Internazionale. Mourinho insists the Serie A club have not yet made an offer.

He said: “You have to ask the agent and Inter because they know more than me. If they are confident it is because they are ready to make us an offer, which didn’t happen yet. When I see people speaking, especially people with responsibilities, it makes me surprised. He is trying to do his best and it is normal until January 31 his brain is not totally focused. It is a normal consequence of the situation. I still don’t understand that optimism. For a few matches people are saying he is playing his last game. Eriksen plays tomorrow.”

“When I see people speaking, especially people with responsibilities, it makes me surprised” is a classic of the José genre. Good to have his sunshine back.

Quiz! Quiz! Quiz!

Following Chelsea signing Sam Kerr, another Australian is heading to the Women’s Super League. Hayley Raso, the forward, has joined from Brisbane Roar for an undisclosed fee. She will be free to play for Everton from mid-February, after featuring in Olympic qualifiers for the Matildas.

Meanwhile, an Ev legend has been getting behind the women’s team.

Derby being investigated over their ground purchase, and Sheffield Wednesday were charged in November. Looks like that show has come to the end of its run, though clubs resorting to it shows the unsustainable nature of the Championship.

On the Ashley Young being the oldest English Serie A debutant question, there’s been a shout for David Beckham but he was 33 when he made his AC Milan bow in 2009 and Ashley Cole, who was also 33 when he made his Roma bow in 2014.

Jamie Jackson has interviewed one of Manchester City’s young stars unable to get into that glittering first team. Have to say, Joleon Lescott as the club’s loan manager came as a revelation.

Ashley Young arrives for his medical in Milan. Would he become the oldest Englishman to make his debut in Serie A at 34? Answer BTL if you fancy.

On that impending Ashley Young transfer from BTL and Twitter.

Premier League match previews are here.

Ok, these are big shoes to fill on a red-hot day of soccer news but I will give it my best try. Let’s start with memory lane. This game will also be remembered as Rio Ferdinand’s last before he began his ban for skipping a drugs test. He limped off in the first-half.

John Brewin will be taking over here for the next hour or two. Please be gentle with him …

What now for Glenn Murray?

The Argus reports that Brighton manager Graham Potter is not inclined to let his striker, Glenn Murray, go to a Premier League rival. Reduced to the role of bit-part player at Brighton this season, the 36-year-old has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, who travel to the Amex Stadium tomorrow, but they are about to sign Genk striker Mbwana Samatta for £8.5 instead. It has been reported that Murray is in talks with Nottingham Forest about a possible move to the City Ground.

“It doesn’t make sense to help the opposition,” said Graham Potter yesterday. “You never know in football, of course, but Glenn was a sub for us and came on at Everton last week, so clearly he’s someone we think can help us.”

Potter later insisted that Murray was welcome to stay at Brighton and insisted he had a healthy working relationship with the striker, despite rumours to the contrary.

“Glenn is with us,” he said. “I worked with him this morning and have no problems with him whatsoever. I’m happy for him to be with us. I enjoy working with him and I hope he stays.”

Dembélé to return to the UK?

Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé was linked with a possible move to the Premier League earlier this week, prompting his club president Jean-Michel Aulas to say that the player is not for sale. Dembélé, formerly of Celtic and Fulham, is believed to be the subject of interest at Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle.

This morning, the Newcastle Chronicle report that Lyon are on the verge of signing Villarreal striker Karl Toko-Ekambi, whose agent had previously offered the Cameroonian forward to Newcastle for £21m. Should Ekambi finalise his deal with Lyon, our colleagues in the north-east reckon President Aulus may reconsider his position on Dembélé.

More from Eddie Howe …

Bournemouth’s manager has been waxing lyrical on the difficulties of bringing in attracting quality players to a club that’s struggling and in the Premier League’s relegation zone.

“I think a combination of things makes it very difficult for us in this window to recruit,” he told reporters. “League position, availability of players, resources available to improve the squad. It’s potentially going to be loans that we’re looking at and it is not easy to find the right players to improve the squad.

“I could sign a whole host of players but I need someone to come in and actually improve what I’ve got and I think that’s the most difficult part.

“We’ll search until the end of the window because if there is that one player out there that can make the difference then we need to find him.”

Lend us your ears …

The latest edition of The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast is here for your listening pleasure. Max Rushden chairs proceedings, soliciting controversial, highbrowed and often amusing opinion from esteemed guests Jonathan Wilson, Jon Brodkin and … eh, me. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up (for free) in all the usual podcast places.

Ole on Ashley young’s move to Inter

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has said that Manchester United weren’t prepared to offer Ashley Young a two-year contract extension and intimated that the winger/wing-back/full-back/whatever he is these days had his heart set on a move to pastures new. Young will cough for the doctor at Inter today, before moving to the Serie A side for £1.5m.

“He’s 35 in the summer and if he gets a two year contract somewhere I think it’s up to him to take that,” said Solskjær. “We weren’t ready to offer that. He has been a good servant, captain … won trophies, league cups, but we’ve got players coming through and when Ashley’s head and mindset was on [a move to Inter] so why not now.”

Solskjær refused to comment on United’s ongoing pursuit of Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes. “I can’t tell you about any players that play for other teams,” he said.

Howe denies being asked to stand down at Bournemouth

Eddie Howe has rubbished the suggestion that he was asked to resign his position at relegation-threatened Bournemouth, who have taken just four Premier League points from the past 33 available.

“No, there’s no truth in that,” he said. “It’s a difficult moment, a negative moment. We’ve got to find ways to improve and change our results, change our performances.” Bournemouth travel to Norwich City tomorrow, for the mother of all six-pointers.

Rashford unlikely to be fit for Liverpool

In much the same way that Steve Bruce isn’t going to jump into any windows for the sake of it, Ole Gunnar Solskjær isn’t going to be holding his breath. At least that’s what he said upon being asked if Marcus Rashford, his star striker, would be fit for Manchester United’s trip to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. “I’m not going to hold my breath,” he said. “I would probably think he won’t be ready.”

Solskjær sent Rashford on as a second half substitute during United’s 1-0 win over Wolves in the FA Cup on Wednesday night, only to see the 22-year-old hobble off with a back injury a little over 15 minutes later. The Manchester United manager has been criticised for introducing the player, as it led to him exacerbating an existing injury.

Steve Bruce hoping to freshen up his Newcastle squad

Having sat down with Mike Ashley following Newcastle’s midweek FA Cup win over Rochdale, Steve Bruce seems confident that Newcastle’s owner will support him in the remaining fortnight of the January transfer window.

“We just reiterated what I’ve been saying to you guys,” said Bruce to the Tyneside press posse this morning. “We showed what we’re trying to do and he was very supportive of that. We’ve got one or two plates spinning and we hope that we can add to the squad by the end of the month.

“What I’ve said from the start is we’ve got one or two targets in mind; if they don’t come off, then I’m not just going to jump into the window for the sake of it. They have to improve us if we’re going to act.”

Chris Wilder hails Sheffield United’s success

The Sheffield United manager has been speaking to the ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, who have been asking him about the remarkable manner in which his team have adapted to life in the Premier League.

“It’s an outstanding news story so far and I’d love for it to be a brilliant story come the end of the season,” he said. “I think it is one of the stand-out stories so far. A newly-promoted team coming up, playing the way we’ve played and the position we are in and how we have done it – over the last two or three years as well and from a financial point of view too.

“There’s always going to be talk about Liverpool and Manchester City, and while Leicester are going well, for us to be in sixth position is quite remarkable. We’ve done fantastically well, there’s no doubt about that.”

You can sense there’s a “but” coming, can’t you?

“But it’s only this stage of the season and I’m not into that,” he continued. “I’m into the end of season’s and reflection and how we’ve done, there’s still a lot of football to be played.” Wilder’s side take on Arsenal at the Emirates tomorrow afternoon, having already done a number on them courtesy of a Lys Mousset winner at Bramall Lane Bramall Lane in October.

Maguire named Manchester United club captain

Following the announcement that Ashley Young is off to Inter for a fee of €1.5m (£1.3m), Ole Gunnar Solskjær has revealed that Harry Maguire will be taking over from the 34-year-old as Manchester United’s club captain.

With the weekend upon us, it’s time to bring you all the news that’s fit to print – and much that probably isn’t – ahead of another couple of days of hectic football action.

Throughout the day we’ll bring you news from assorted managerial press conferences, keep you updated on all the latest transfer tittle-tattle and generally keep you posted on anything else of note that’s occurring on Planet Football.