The future of the Swansea City manager Garry Monk looks to be in serious doubt if reports on the back pages of a couple of prominent tabloids are to be believed. Both the Mirror and Sun say the Swans chairman, Huw Jenkins, is ready to swing his Big Axe O’P45 at the 36-year-old, who just a couple months ago was being hailed as one of the golden-balled boys of English football management.
Amid rumours of a row between manager and chairman over the latter’s poorly received plan to parachute in a mentor to help the former, it seems Monk may be ushered to the exit door so that a new man can be put in place during the international break. Swansea have won one of their past eight Premier League matches in a run similar to that which resulted in Monk’s predecessor Michael Laudrup getting the bullet after an uninspiring sequence of league results that yielded six points from a possible 30. With his history of pre-empting the rot before it becomes too much of a problem, it would be no great surprise to see Jenkins replace Monk, even if such a move would seem rather harsh on a talented manager who is unlikely to remain out of work for long.
The feeding frenzy around José Mourinho continues unabated, even though it seems no one has the foggiest idea what exactly is going on at Chelsea. Following their latest reverse, at the hands of Stoke City in a performance that was actually one of their better showings this season, some news outlets are reporting there is no way Mourinho is getting sacked, while others say an interim replacement is already being considered before Diego Simeone’s inevitable appointment as successor this summer. Should Roman Abramovich decide to dispense with Mourinho, Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Di Matteo and Guus Hiddink have all been mentioned as contenders to mastermind Chelsea’s relegation battle on the Russian’s behalf. One of few consistent performers for the beleaguered defending champions this season, Willian, might also be on his way out of Stamford Bridge if Bayern Munich get their way.
With Kit Symons having been sacked by Fulham, Nigel Pearson could find himself the subject of a tug-of-love between the Cottagers and QPR, who are both in the market for an occasionally chippy drill sergeant type with a history of getting teams promoted from the Championship and keeping them in the Premier League. David Moyes may also be in the market for a managerial role, with the dogs on the streets of San Sebastián barking that he’s going to be sacked by Real Sociedad shortly after the flight he’s on from Manchester to Spain lands on Monday.
The Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport says Liverpool will bid £25m for the Inter striker Mauro Icardi in January. Currently in and out of Roberto Mancini’s first team, the Argentinian has only three goals to his name in 10 Serie A appearances this season and is rumoured to be open to a move to Merseyside.
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reckons the Newcastle striker Ayoze Pérez is inching his way across Manchester United’s radar and could be the subject of a January bid. The 22-year-old scored the winner in Newcastle’s rather fortuitous win over profligate Bournemouth on Saturday and in news that will cause the Newcastle chairman, Mike Ashley, no end of delight, is also understood to have potential suitors in Liverpool and Spurs.
And finally, despite making only one appearance since inking a £7m four-year contract with West Ham in September, the former Nottingham Forest winger Michail Antonio is already being linked with a move in January. Forest’s bitter rivals Derby County could be the Londoner’s next port of call.
