OptiNews - Friday 17 to Thursday 23 February 2017

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Cedric Soares says Euro 2016 experience will help in EFL Cup final

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Cedric Soares says Euro 2016 experience will help in EFL Cup final

Southampton defender Cedric Soares believes his experience of winning Euro 2016 with Portugal will help him handle the pressure of facing Manchester United in Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

Cedric played a vital role for his country as they beat hosts France to claim a maiden senior international title last July and is hoping he can help Southampton add more silverware to their 1976 FA Cup triumph, when they also beat United.

“Playing in the Euro 2016 final was very important for me and my career. It’s a game that I will always remember,” Cedric told the club’s website.

“These kind of games make you stronger as a player, make you more prepared for matches where the pressure is so high…to have another final within a year, just makes me feel better.”

Cedric also felt the pressure would be on United, who have won the League Cup four times, to dictate terms on Sunday.

“Of course, we have a little less responsibility for the game than Manchester United. They are a very big name in football. Everybody knows about them,” he added.

“They have great players and a great squad, with a great coach. But we must prepare for the game and believe in what we do…we have players who can make a difference.”

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Liverpool tipped to beat Leicester on Monday Night Football by Premier Predictor

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Liverpool are highly favoured to pile the pressure on Leicester City with a Monday Night Football win at the King Power Stadium, according to the Sky Sports Premier Predictor.

Claudio Ranieri’s defending champions have lost their last five in the top flight without scoring a goal and have found little solace in cup competitions in the past week, with an FA Cup fifth-round exit at League One Millwall followed by a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have enjoyed a mid-season break due to their earlier exits from the FA Cup and EFL Cup, and return to action two weeks after their last outing, an impressive 2-0 win over Tottenham.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are expected to come back with a victory over Leicester - they’re given a 56 per cent chance of success on Monday night by the Predictor, which which uses an algorithm to rank results, previous performances and the difficulty of upcoming fixtures. The Foxes, meanwhile, have just a 21 per cent likelihood of winning, with a draw at 23 per cent.

Elsewhere, the Sky Sports Premier Predictor is tipping wins for Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham, West Brom - and a potentially crucial victory for relegation-threatened Crystal Palace over Middlesbrough.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 23/02/2017 14:17:43

| | Video Channel ! Predicted XI V Manchester United - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | ‘Genuinely celebrated’: Southampton fans react with joy on Twitter as Man United suffer double injury blowFOOTBALLFANCAST |
| | EFL Cup Final Officials v Manchester United (26/2/17)VITALFOOTBALL |
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| New date for Saints second-string gameNUFC |

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 23/02/2017 14:56:56

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| SAINTS CUP FINAL: Find out which pubs are showing Saints take on Manchester UnitedANDOVERADVERTISER |
| | Time To Put Saints Season In Perspective - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | 'I’ll be living the dream at Wembley … but I’ll share this special day with my wife Tracey who has been there …BELFASTTELE |

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

McCalliog: Saints have to embrace the occasion on cup final day

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SAINTS legend Jim McCalliog has told the club’s players to embrace the occasion - just as he did against Manchester United at Wembley in 1976.

The Scotland midfielder provided the pass for Bobby Stokes’ winning goal against Manchester United 41 years ago - a decade after finishing on the losing side as a teenager with Sheffield Wednesday.

“Wembley’s a place where you have to rise to the occasion - if you don’t it will just pass you by,” he said.

"I was only 19 when I played for Sheffield Wednesday against Everton. I scored early on and when we went 2-0 up in the second half - but lost 3-2.

“I remember coming out of the tunnel on my own after the game. I walked out on the pitch and told myself I had to go be back and get a different result.”

Eleven months later, McCalliog scored a late winner against the world champions at Wembley as Scotland famously beat England 3-2.

Nine years later, he set up Stokes.

“They need to think differently to how I did in 1966 and make sure it’s not in ten years’ time but today that they beat United,” he said.

“They have leave it all out on the field.”

Saints were in the second division in 1976, but had vast experience.

“Micky Channon, Peter Osgood, Peter Rodriguez and myself had all played international football,” continued McCalliog.

"United had [fellow Scotland internationals] Lou Macari and Martin Buchan but that was it.

"So we were pretty confident and Lawrie [McMenemy] was magnificent. He took us away from everything, there was no pressure.

"We did one press day where we gave the media everything they needed and then looked forward to the game.

"We were in great spirits and that’s how the lads need to be on Saturday.

"It’s a wonderful club that has had some fabulous people like Lawrie and Ted Bates, God bless his soul.

"I’m really chuffed they’re back at Wembley, but it’s more than 40 years since they last won some silverware.

“If you can’t get up for this you can’t get up for anything. Once they go over the line it’s up to them.”

McCalliog will watch the game on television at the bed and breakfast he runs with his wife Debbie in Ayrshire.

“Blackburn coped with United quite well on Sunday - and they are an awful team,” he said.

"Southampton are miles ahead of where they are.

"What we need is for the younger players to work really hard to stay on top of United and for the better players to perform.

"Blackburn made it very hard for United and had a few chances. The important thing is that we do the same because, with all due respect to Blackburn, we would usually expect to create a few more chances than them.

“[Manolo] Gabbiadini looks a bit different and we’ve got quite a few other forwards who can be a danger on the counter attack, like [Nathan] Redmond and Longy (Shane Long), who can run for fun.”

Jim McCalliog hosts Legends of Football events, the next of which features Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas and Bertie Auld, one of Celtic’s Lisbon Lions, on April 13.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

We will keep moving forward.

Every detail on our journey matters.

#MarchToWembley https://grabyo.com/g/v/Qb3F4pvHKjp

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 5

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Premier League ever-presents: The 20 players who have started every match this season

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WHICH Premier League players have been ever-presents for their sides this season?

The Premier League is a tough division to play in every week - even for the fittest players.

But some stars of the English top flight have, quite incredibly, managed to start every single game for their side.

So who are the ever-presents?

Click through the gallery above to find out.

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

How did Southampton reach Wembley?

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Southampton take on Manchester United in the EFL Cup final on Sunday.

Claude Puel’s men knocked out four Premier League sides without conceding on their way to their first Wembley final since winning the JP Trophy in 2010.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at Saints’ route to Wembley.

Charlie Austin scored his fourth goal in three games as much-changed Southampton overcame Crystal Palace. The striker gave Saints a first-half lead from the penalty spot, before the impressive Jake Hesketh added their second and his first senior goal to ensure victory.

Summer signing Sofiane Boufal marked his St Mary’s debut with a stunning strike. The club’s record signing, whose introduction to English football had been delayed by injury, curled in a sensational effort to pile on the misery for David Moyes’ Sunderland and secure Saints’ progression.

Southampton outclassed Arsenal to seal an EFL Cup semi-final berth for the first time in 29 years. Arsene Wenger made 10 changes to his team, but those who came into the starting line-up were found wanting against a Saints side showing eight alterations. The visitors eased through as Jordy Clasie’s first goal for the club was followed up by a smart Ryan Bertrand finish.

Nathan Redmond’s strike secured a narrow victory that put Claude Puel’s men in the driving seat of their semi-final. The summer signing’s first-half finish was the difference at a packed-out St Mary’s as Liverpool - last season’s EFL Cup runners-up - lost to the side they have raided for key players in recent years.

Southampton reached their first major final since 2003 to leave Liverpool’s season in danger of unravelling. Despite heavy pressure from the hosts and being without star centre-back Virgil van Dijk, Saints defended stoutly and Shane Long struck in stoppage time to seal the club’s first trip to Wembley since winning the Football League Trophy in 2010.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Jose Mourinho’s impressive cup final record

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Jose Mourinho will look to build on his impressive cup final record when Manchester United face Southampton in the EFL Cup showpiece on Sunday.

The 54-year-old has won 10 out of 12 cup finals since 2003 - a feat which has seen him pick up silverware at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

And with eight league titles and five Community Shield/Super Cup victories to his name, Mourinho boasts a career haul of 23 trophies ahead of the EFL Cup final, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.

From European success to a perfect record in England, we take a look at how Mourinho has won 83 per cent of the finals he has managed…

Mourinho has never lost a final in normal time.

His two losses have only come in extra time - firstly in a 2-1 defeat to Benfica in the 2003 Taça de Portugal final, and more recently a Copa del Rey defeat to Atletico Madrid in 2013.

In total, six of Mourinho’s 12 cup finals have gone into extra time, but having won four of those, it means the task remains just as daunting for Southampton should the tie go beyond the regulation 90.

Four finals, four victories for Mourinho in England - a stat Manchester United fans will soon want to read as five in five.

Mourinho’s first English trophy came in 2005, with Mateja Kezman’s 112th-minute winner handing Chelsea a 3-2 victory over Liverpool after a Steven Gerrard own goal took the game to extra-time.

Two more domestic cups followed in 2007 - a feisty 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final in February and a 1-0 FA Cup victory over Manchester United three months later.

The run continued into Mourinho’s second spell at Chelsea, as a 2-0 win at the expense of Tottenham handed him a third League Cup trophy. Victory on Sunday would see him equal Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough’s record of four.

Mourinho has won three continental trophies, including two Champions Leagues and, despite failing to win Europe’s greatest prize with Chelsea or Real Madrid, he boasts a perfect record in European finals.

The first trophy to make its way into Mourinho’s cabinet was the UEFA Cup.

Henrik Larsson’s double for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic was not enough in the 2003 final in Seville, with Derlei’s extra-time winner handing Porto a 3-2 victory.

Porto went on to shock the continent by lifting the Champions League a year later, knocking out Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16 before completing a resounding 3-0 victory over Monaco in the final.

A move to Chelsea came just one week after this European success for Mourinho, and it was a similar story six years later as he took the helm at Real just days after guiding Inter to Champions League glory, which had handed the Italians an unprecedented treble.

“Finals are not for playing, they are for winning,” said Mourinho, after his most recent EFL Cup triumph in 2015 - and it’s a mantra which has guided the manager to near-unrivalled success.

With just nine goals conceded in 12 finals - including seven clean sheets - Mourinho’s defensive-minded approach has ultimately reaped the rewards.

Coupled with the six finals that have gone to extra time, it’s clear to see that Mourinho is content with grinding out a victory as opposed to going on the attack - just three of these final wins have come with a margin greater than one goal.

Four 1-0 victories also typifies Mourinho’s style which is seen in many of the big games, based around a sturdiness in defence and patience in attack.

Claude Puel will have to find a way through if he’s to end Mourinho’s remarkable record in finals in England.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

McCalliog: Saints have to embrace the occasion on cup final day

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SAINTS legend Jim McCalliog has told the club’s players to embrace the occasion - just as he did against Manchester United at Wembley in 1976.

The Scotland midfielder provided the pass for Bobby Stokes’ winning goal against Manchester United 41 years ago - a decade after finishing on the losing side as a teenager with Sheffield Wednesday.

“Wembley’s a place where you have to rise to the occasion - if you don’t it will just pass you by,” he said.

"I was only 19 when I played for Sheffield Wednesday against Everton. I scored early on and when we went 2-0 up in the second half - but lost 3-2.

“I remember coming out of the tunnel on my own after the game. I walked out on the pitch and told myself I had to go be back and get a different result.”

Eleven months later, McCalliog scored a late winner against the world champions at Wembley as Scotland famously beat England 3-2.

Nine years later, he set up Stokes.

“They need to think differently to how I did in 1966 and make sure it’s not in ten years’ time but today that they beat United,” he said.

“They have leave it all out on the field.”

Saints were in the second division in 1976, but had vast experience.

“Micky Channon, Peter Osgood, Peter Rodriguez and myself had all played international football,” continued McCalliog.

"United had [fellow Scotland internationals] Lou Macari and Martin Buchan but that was it.

"So we were pretty confident and Lawrie [McMenemy] was magnificent. He took us away from everything, there was no pressure.

"We did one press day where we gave the media everything they needed and then looked forward to the game.

"We were in great spirits and that’s how the lads need to be on Saturday.

"It’s a wonderful club that has had some fabulous people like Lawrie and Ted Bates, God bless his soul.

"I’m really chuffed they’re back at Wembley, but it’s more than 40 years since they last won some silverware.

“If you can’t get up for this you can’t get up for anything. Once they go over the line it’s up to them.”

McCalliog will watch the game on television at the bed and breakfast he runs with his wife Debbie in Ayrshire.

“Blackburn coped with United quite well on Sunday - and they are an awful team,” he said.

"Southampton are miles ahead of where they are.

"What we need is for the younger players to work really hard to stay on top of United and for the better players to perform.

"Blackburn made it very hard for United and had a few chances. The important thing is that we do the same because, with all due respect to Blackburn, we would usually expect to create a few more chances than them.

“[Manolo] Gabbiadini looks a bit different and we’ve got quite a few other forwards who can be a danger on the counter attack, like [Nathan] Redmond and Longy (Shane Long), who can run for fun.”

Jim McCalliog hosts Legends of Football events, the next of which features Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas and Bertie Auld, one of Celtic’s Lisbon Lions, on April 13.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Hammond confident in Saints’ chances

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Hammond was captain when Saints won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, in 2010, and he will be nervously watching as they again head to the iconic stadium this Sunday, for the EFL Cup final against Manchester United.

"It’s great for the club and well deserved as well,” said Hammond. “They’ve been through so many stepping stones, getting back to the Premier League, surviving in the Premier League, improving, getting into Europe and now getting to the cup final.

“It’s exciting, and I can’t wait to watch it. Unfortunately I can’t go, but I can’t wait to watch the game and I think if they can win it – which I think they will, I really think they will – it will be great for the club.

“Look how far it’s come in eight, nine, ten years. It would be a special time for the fans and the football club.

"Obviously, it’s a one-off game in the final, anything can happen, playing Manchester United, which is one of the biggest teams in the world, but I think the manager’s doing a really good job there.

“They’ve got young boys coming through, so it will be a great experience for them. They’ll have a game plan on the day. I’m confident if they can perform like they did against Liverpool then they’ve got a really good chance. It will be a close game I think, it won’t be an open game, it won’t be a 4-3 or a 3-3. It will be a tight game, but I think Southampton will edge it.

"It would show how far the club has come. It would be another great moment for the fans and the history of the football club. You want to get to cup finals, the club deserves to get there.

“For the club, it would be brilliant. It will be nice to see all that red and white, the fans coming out in numbers, and seeing the players celebrating taking a trophy round the pitch again – that would be great.”

Reflecting on 2010, Hammond added: “The mentality we had when we played was to win, because I don’t care what anyone says, you only enjoy it if you win.

“You can play brilliantly and lose 3-2, and you’re not going to remember it the same, it’s not going to feel the same. So my mentality and our mentality as a team was to win the game. If they win, it will be a fantastic day out.

“You never forget the experience and the celebrations afterwards. You never forget what it means to people when you speak to them after the game and in years to come. You’ll never forget it, so it’s worth the sacrifice.”

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Sourced from A tweet by OficialCedric tweet

@OficialCedric - Cédric Soares

3 days to go! Hope to see our amazing fans in Wembley! #SaintsFC #WeMarchOn #MarchToWembley

Retweets: 17

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 23/02/2017 15:57:21

| | Win League Cup final tickets to watch Man Utd vs Southampton courtesy of EA SportsGOALDOTCOM |
| | Paul Scholes & Michael Owen pick their Man Utd XI for EFL final vs SouthamptonGIVEMESPORT |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Chris Smalling on why fixture pile-up will actually HELP Manchester United

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Chris Smalling reckons Manchester United 's fixture marathon will give them the edge in Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

United take on Southampton at Wembley, looking to bag their first trophy under boss Jose Mourinho.

While Saints will have had 15 days since their last game, United have played three times in that same spell.

Mourinho has bemoaned the fixture pile-up as the season heads towards its climax.

But Smalling said United’s players are relishing the number of games they have to play and will go into Sunday’s game on a high.

“People talk about the number of games we’ve got and the final coming up,” said Smalling.

"But I think when you’re winning games, it doesn’t matter how many games you’ve got.

“We’ll be relishing Sunday and I can’t wait to get my boots back on.”

Smalling also believes United will have the edge over Saints, with their players having played at Wembley many times before.

“I think quite a few of us as players have played a number of games there and maybe some of their players haven’t,” said Smalling.

“So hopefully we can take that edge on Sunday and it can work in our favour.”

“To be able to go back to Wembley so soon, and hopefully pick up our first silverware of the season, that sets us up for the last big two or three months of the season.”

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All you need to know ahead of Manchester United vs Southampton

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Manchester United and Southampton lock horns at Wembley on Sunday as they do battle for the season’s first major piece of silverware.

The EFL Cup final will see either Jose Mourinho or Claude Puel land their first silverware for their new club in the showpiece final.

Manchester City were the winners last year, when Manuel Pellegrini’s men lifted the trophy following a penalty shootout win over Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho’s men will start the final as favourites, but Saints have put together a formidable run in the competition this season.

Here’s 11 things you need to know about the clash this weekend.

It all kicks off at Wembley on Sunday February 26 at 4.30pm.

The match will be shown on Sky Sports 1.

But if you can’t be by a television then you can follow all the action on our all-singing all-dancing MirrorFootball blog.

Manchester United saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick limp off in their Europa League last-32 second leg win over St Etienne, leaving both players a doubt for Sunday.

Southampton are still without Charlie Austin, Virgil van Dijk, Alex McCarthy and Matt Targett. Sofiane Boufal is a doubt.

While the Red Devils are growing increasingly reliant on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goals, Paul Pogba is quietly going about his business and turning in man of the match performances most weeks.

The Frenchman is doing exactly what United paid a world record fee for as he offers a dominating presence in the middle of the park, pulling the strings keeping his side ticking.

Going toe-to-toe against Paul Pogba in midfield will Oriol Romeu and the former Chelsea man will be key to Saints hopes of landing the trophy.

The Spaniard will be key in disrupting the supply to Ibrahimovic up front as he looks to continue his fine form as a defensive shield.

Romeu was forced off with injury against United earlier in the season and it showed.

Manchester United have seen off Northampton, Manchester City, West Ham and Hull to reach the final

Saints got past Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Arsenal and Liverpool to make it.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:movie_camera:

Our #MarchToWembley is getting closer. Watch as #SaintsFC continue their preparations for the #EFLCup final: https://grabyo.com/g/v/oY9o9hVv1vy

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Every Premier League club ranked on the ‘balance’ of their team - from worst to first

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While Manchester City’s frontline made up for their woeful form at the other end of the pitch in their 5-3 win over Monaco on Tuesday night, they haven’t always managed to come out on the right side of the result this season.

Plenty of teams suffer from a lack of balance in their team, with Pep Guardiola’s troops a prime example.

So we’ve decided to rank each Premier League club on how balanced their side is, from worst to first – scroll through the gallery above to check out our assessment.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

No new offers in Saints takeover

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Saints have not entered any fresh formal takeover negotiations, the Daily Echo understands.

As previously reported, Katharina Liebherr’s representatives have been speaking with Chinese firm Lander Sports Development, who were mulling over a possible investment in the club.

However, things have gone quiet on that front, and the Echo understands a deal, while not entirely dead in the water, is looking increasingly unlikely.

News that the club – or at least a significant stake in it – could be for sale has caused other interested parties to consider whether to make a move.

As is common in these instances, a lot of agents and deal brokers have tried to put various parties together - the latest to be linked with a £225m deal being Chinese investment bank CITIC Securities - but as yet there have been no firm approaches and no formal discussions have taken place with any other party.

Liebherr remains committed to Saints, and has always insisted she would only do a deal if it was in the best interests of the club, and one her late father, Markus, would approve of.

In a rare public statement last month she said: “I am writing to you in relation to an announcement made in China today about Southampton Football Club and Lander Holding.

“Please understand that I can only make limited comments regarding this process but I can assure you that any steps we do take will be in the best interests of the club. A potential partnership would need to clear multiple approvals and fulfil strict criteria before being confirmed.

“The Premier League is increasingly competitive; we need to keep moving forward and look to new markets for commercial growth, innovation and to share our journey. Together we have had many years of progression and success, and ensuring this continues is the main focus of any possible partnership.

“I cannot thank you enough for the continued support you give Southampton Football Club, and it makes me so proud to think we will soon be experiencing a major final together at Wembley. I hope you enjoy what will be a brilliant day for our club and look forward to a successful future together.”

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Rival Chinese companies to make formal bids to buy Southampton

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At least two Chinese companies are expected to make formal offers to buy Southampton after a deal involving rival investors stalled.

The Premier League club held talks with Chinese investors Lander Sports Development last month but failed to reach a formal agreement.

CITIC Securities, an investment bank in China, and Amer International are preparing to make formal offers of around £240m, according to news agency Reuters.

CITIC Securities have yet to respond to enquiries from Sky Sports News HQ and Amer have yet to comment on media reports.

Last month, in an open letter to fans, Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr said: “A potential partnership would need clear multiple approvals and fulfil strict criteria before being confirmed.”

Southampton are currently 11th in the Premier League after eight wins from 25 games, and will contest the EFL Cup final with Manchester United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Third bus firm offers free travel for Saints fans

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A third Southampton bus company is getting into the spirit ahead of Saints’ Wembley final on Sunday.

Unilink, whose sister company Bluestar, will offer free travel on the day to fans heading out in the city to watch Saints take on Manchester United.

A post on Unilink’s social media pages read: “If you couldn’t get tickets but are planning to watch the match at your local be sure to wear your saints shirt, and we’ll let you travel for free.”

Unilink are the third company to offer free travel to fans wearing their kit, as both Bluestar and First Southampton announced the same offer earlier this week.

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