Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic has reportedly rejected a new contract with the club. Paris Saint-Germain are said to be interested in the Austria international.

Continue for updates.

Arnautovic Snubs New Deal

Thursday, Jan. 7

According to Simon Jones of the MailOnline, the 26-year-old’s decision to reject the terms offered to him is twofold.

Arnautovic is said to be demanding £80,000-a-week in order to extend at the Britannia Stadium, and there is also recent “serious” interest from PSG, with scouts from the French giants reportedly running the rule over the winger this term.

The player’s current deal at the club expires in the summer of 2017, and Stoke fans will be desperate for their side to keep hold of a player who has become a talismanic figure for Mark Hughes’ team.

Indeed, since moving to the club in the summer of 2013, Arnautovic has become a big favourite with supporters. He’s still a little erratic at times, but the Austrian’s driving runs, strength on the ball and brilliant bits of skill have helped Stoke’s progression from a team of pragmatists to one of the most aesthetic sides in the division.

It’s during this season that Arnautovic has really stepped up, though, adding a steady stream of goals to his game.

At the start of 2016, WhoScored.com took a detailed statistical look at his form so far this campaign:

A move to a team like PSG may seem appealing for a player who is finally realising his potential, but having flopped at Inter Milan, Arnautovic must be wary about moving back to an elite side. Indeed, as good as he has been this term, it’s tough to see him ousting the likes of Angel Di Maria, Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani on the flanks in Paris.

Stoke are a team making encouraging developments under Hughes, and Arnautovic has been central to that progress. With that in mind, surely a new deal will be struck at some point before the season ends, handing the player a suitable pay rise and allowing the Potters to protect their investment.

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Serie A midweek action continues on Wednesday afternoon as title-holders Juventus host Hellas Verona at home.

Following an awful start to the campaign, the Turin side have gotten their act together and are on a run of seven straight wins in the league, shifting them up to the table into fourth place, just three points off leaders Inter Milan.

Hellas Verona’s own poor start to the year simply hasn’t come to an end at all; 17 games into the season they have still yet to win a single match, drawing their last two but still eight points adrift of safety after scoring only 12 goals all season.

The match kicks off at 2 p.m. GMT (9 a.m. ET) and our coverage starts shortly beforehand.

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Serie A returns to action this week, with Juventus hosting Hellas Verona on January 6, the date Italian football traditionally ends its winter break. Currently sitting bottom of the table and without a single win this term, the visitors could not have asked for a more daunting task than a trip to Turin.

Indeed, the Bianconeri have finally returned to form, ending 2015 with seven consecutive league wins, adding a Coppa Italia victory over cross-town rivals Torino in for good measure. They will be looking to continue that streak, especially as they are now just three points behind early leaders Inter.

Yet the players appear to only be focused on their next opponents, with midfielder Stefano Sturaro in no mood to discuss Juve’s long-term objectives during an interview with Sky Italia late last week.

“We’re taking each game at a time,” he said per the club’s official website. “To start talking about the title now would be premature and the wrong way to go about things because we’re only at the midway point of the season.”

His team-mate Paul Pogba believes that the improvements are down to the work ethic instilled by Juventus, telling La Stampa (h/t Football Italia) that being at Manchester United felt “like being on vacation in comparison.”

They will be made to work by Hellas, too, with veteran striker Luca Toni believing the timing of the fixture gives his side an advantage, as he discussed the matchup with Tuttosport last week.

“It’s better we face them now after the Christmas break, so hopefully some will still be distracted,” Toni said (h/t Football Italia). “Juve are clearly stronger, but we can cause them problems.”

The 38-year-old has, of course, been reunited with former Bianconeri boss Gigi Delneri, but the two men will know it will take something special to get the better of their old club as Juventus look to continue their climb up the table.

Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Time: 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin

TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK) BeInSports 1 (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Connect (UK)

Form Lines

Last five domestic results:

Probable Formations

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Juan Cuadrado, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala

Unavailable: Andrea Barzagli, Mario Lemina and Roberto Pereyra (all injured)

Hellas Verona: (4-2-3-1): Pierluigi Gollini; Eros Pisano, Matteo Bianchetti, Vangelis Moras, Samuel Souprayen; Federico Viviani, Emil Hallfredsson; Pawel Wszolek, Artur Ionita, Luca Siligardi; Luca Toni

Unavailable: Jacopo Sala (suspended), Romulo and Michelangelo Albertazzi (both injured)

Key Battle

Luca Toni is the danger man for Hellas Verona, the veteran striker having ended last season alongside Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi at the top of the Serie A goalscoring charts. The 2006 World Cup winner bagged a remarkable 22 goals to lift the Capocannoniere crown but has struggled somewhat with injuries this term.

Limited to just eight starts thus far, the 38-year-old has still struck three times, a tally representing a third of Verona’s total goals so far in 2015/16. Toni is, of course, well-known in Turin, having netted the first-ever goal at Juventus Stadium during his short spell at the club.

The task of keeping him under wraps is likely to fall to Giorgio Chiellini, and the Bianconeri defender will be undaunted by the physical battle that will ensue as the two men go head-to-head.

Player to Watch

If Toni poses the biggest threat for the visitors, perhaps the man to watch here will be working at the opposite end of the field, with Mario Mandzukic in excellent form for Juventus.

The Croatian striker struggled in the early months of the campaign but has recently found his scoring boots, weighing in with five goals and an assist in his last five appearances before the winter break.

Mandzukic was named Juve’s Player of the Month for November, according to the club’s official website, and he will look to start the New Year by finding the back of the net once again here.

The Gialloblu may struggle to stop him, conceding no fewer than 27 times thus far in 2015/16—a tally only beaten by Carpi (33), who are just above them at the foot of the Serie A table.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 25-1

Home win: 50-357

Draw: 11-2

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Liverpool make the hour-long trip down the M6 to take on Stoke City on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at the Britannia Stadium.

Managers Jurgen Klopp and Mark Hughes will both be desperate to secure a positive result on their way to silverware in 2015/16.

It is the second time the two sides have met so far this season, although this encounter is perhaps the most important, with a win for either the Potters or the Reds providing a solid platform for progress to a February 28 final at Wembley Stadium.

Hughes’ Stoke have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far in the Premier League, with the combined talents of Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic forming a formidable attacking line.

This marks a remarkable change in emphasis for a club previously renowned for their direct, physical style of play under former manager Tony Pulis.

With both sides undergoing a sea change in recent seasons, this semi-final gives Stoke and Liverpool the opportunity to make another step towards success—but who will win out on Tuesday night?

Date: Tuesday, 5 January, 2015

Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke, England

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK) / beIN SPORTS (U.S only)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK) / beIN SPORTS CONNECT (U.S only)

Form Lines (Last 5 Games)

Stoke City: D-L-W-W-L

Liverpool: D-L-W-W-L

Team News

Hughes heads into Tuesday’s clash buoyed by the news that Geoff Cameron’s red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion had been overturned.

The versatile American defender was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor following a push on Baggies midfielder Claudio Yacob, with Hughes telling BBC Sport after the game: “I think he went down really easily with the intention of maybe getting Geoff sent off, which he succeeded in doing.“

Hughes launched an appeal to rescind the 30-year-old’s three-game ban, and the Football Association subsequently withdrew their ruling. This leaves Shay Given as his only absentee.

Nevertheless, speaking to reporters on Monday, as relayed by the club’s official website, Hughes said Saturday’s disappointing defeat at the Hawthorns could affect his team selection:

There’s always a temptation to change things. I could have made changes against West Brom, but there’s no danger of our mentality changing. 

We have a clean bill of health for the game, and everybody with the exception of Shay Given, is available for the game.

Chelsea loanee Marco van Ginkel and former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam are in Hughes’ thinking as potential replacements for Cameron, and could still hope to feature, while both Jonathan Walters and Joselu are in line for starting roles.

Facing a considerably more restricting injury list, Klopp will be without a number of first-team stars for this must-win semi-final.

Divock Origi, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter, Martin Skrtel, James Milner, Jon Flanagan and Joe Gomez are all unavailable due to injury, and the manager also ruled out both Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, per the club’s official website.

On Henderson, Klopp explained: “He’s having treatment and, everything we can do to bring the blood out of the foot, we are doing. But we cannot rush more, it’s time we need.”

Meanwhile, Sturridge‘s intensive training continues at Melwood, with Klopp not willing to risk the England striker before he is fully fit:

It’s a pre-season without games so it should not happen too much but some little things happened, we always have to handle this.

It’s not a row of sessions and now we are here. I’m the first who will pick him when he’s available, when he’s ready for this, I will never hold him back.

In this moment because he didn’t have one session with the team, which was the usual plan for this week, he’s not available.

One player who is available, however, is 19-year-old academy winger Ryan Kent, who has returned to the club following a successful loan spell with League One side Coventry City.

Predicted Lineups

As Hughes referenced the “temptation to change things” before the game, the Welshman could make a number of alterations to the side that lost to West Brom at the weekend.

With Given still absent, Jack Butland is likely to continue in goal, while Glen Johnson, Ryan Shawcross, Philipp Wollscheid and Erik Pieters should keep their places in defence.

Ahead of regular defensive midfielder Glenn Whelan, Cameron can continue his role alongside former Barcelona man Ibrahim Afellay, with this midfield trio supporting three of Bojan, Arnautovic, Walters, Shaqiri, Joselu and Peter Crouch.

With this tie representing Stoke’s best opportunity of sealing a spot in the final, Hughes could continue with the well-tuned forward line of Arnautovic, Bojan and Shaqiri.

As Liverpool travel to take on Exeter City in the FA Cup on Friday night, Klopp could look to make a few changes to his starting lineup at the Britannia, with his first team showing signs of fatigue in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Adam Bogdan is likely to continue his stint as Liverpool’s League Cup goalkeeper, while Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho are set to take up their regular positions in defence.

Klopp‘s back four could see one change, however, with the impressive Brad Smith able to come in for Alberto Moreno, offering the Spaniard a much-needed rest.

In midfield, injuries to Henderson, Milner and Rossiter gives Klopp little option but to continue with Lucas Leiva and Emre Can, while he could toy with the possibility of reverting to a 4-3-3 formation, fielding Joe Allen alongside them.

If he perseveres with the 4-2-3-1, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana are likely to take up supporting roles behind Christian Benteke.

Both Kent and Jordon Ibe will be hopeful of an appearance, as will Portuguese midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira and academy stars Cameron Brannagan and Pedro Chirivella—though game time against Exeter is more likely.

Likely Stoke City XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Cameron, Whelan, Afellay; Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautovic.

Likely Liverpool XI: Bogdan; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Smith; Can, Lucas; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Benteke.

Players to Watch

Xherdan Shaqiri

A former Liverpool target, Shaqiri made the surprise move to Stoke in August, with the Potters sanctioning a club-record fee of £12 million for the Swiss winger.

Having turned out for FC Basel, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in his career to date, Shaqiri was seen as something of a coup signing for Stoke, despite his ailing reputation in Europe—the 23-year-old spent just seven months with Inter, making 15 Serie A appearances.

A pacy, skilful winger, Shaqiri boasts the potential to be one of the most devastating attacking talents in Europe, and looks set to continue his development at the Britannia.

So far this season, Shaqiri has scored two goals and made three assists in 16 Premier League appearances for Hughes’ side, including a spectacular volley in December’s 4-3 win away to Everton.

Shaqiri could provide Stoke with the inspiration to defeat the Reds on Tuesday night.

Brad Smith

Liverpool’s decision to award 22-year-old Smith with a new contract in November was considered a questionable one by many supporters, with the Australian having failed to establish himself in the first team after making his debut under Brendan Rodgers in 2013.

But, clearly having impressed Klopp with his efforts at the club’s Melwood training complex, Smith has been rewarded with a role in the German’s first team after extending his terms.

So far, Smith has made three appearances for the Reds in 2015/16, including a positive performance in October’s 0-0 draw away to FC Sion in the Europa League.

Strong, fleet-footed and boasting an exceptional delivery from the left flank, Smith will be looking to impress if he is given a starting role at the Britannia.

Key Battle

Bojan vs. Lucas Leiva

Like Shaqiri, Bojan was something of a surprise signing for Hughes’ side, with the Spaniard making the £3 million move from Barcelona in 2013, after two years at Roma and a loan spell with Ajax.

Once considered one of the most promising young talents in world football, Bojan‘s peripheral role at Barcelona saw his development stall, but he has since shown his talents with a string of exceptional performances in the Premier League under Hughes.

Typically operating in a floating role as Stoke’s No. 9, Bojan will be one of Klopp‘s main targets in preparation for Tuesday’s clash, and the onus could fall on Lucas to combat his threat.

Lucas is a fleetingly effective defensive option most at home in a three-man midfield, and after struggling alongside Can at West Ham United on Saturday, he will be keen to impress in the League Cup.

Odds

Stoke City: 36/17

Liverpool: 32/21

Draw: 26/11

Odds via Oddschecker and correct at time of writing.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk. 

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Paris Saint-Germain are into the hat for the Coupe de France round of 32 after squeezing past CFA A outfit ES Wasquehal 1-0 at Stadium Lille Metropole on Sunday.

Laurent Blanc named a far-from-full-strength squad for the trip to northern France, so the starting XI in Villeneuve d’Ascq was largely composed of youngsters and fringe players.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, captain for the day and one of a handful of regular starters in the side, scored the only goal of the game after an hour.

Speaking with the capital club’s official website after the match, Le President was simply relieved to have made it through to the next round.

Blanc said:

It’s never easy getting back into competition after a break and there was also some tricky conditions with the weather. We would have preferred to have scored earlier and killed the game off, but we weren’t able to do that today. We got through a lot of work last week and so we had a few heavy legs. The main thing was to qualify and we did that tonight.

After his goal in the 1-0 friendly victory over Inter Milan in Doha, Qatar, last Wednesday, young attacker Jean-Kevin Augustin was expected to make the most of a rare start against Wasquehal.

With eight first-team regulars missing for the game on the outskirts of Lille, the 18-year-old had the opportunity to prove that he merits a greater number of opportunities over the second half of the season from the bench or in the starting XI against some of PSG’s weaker opponents.

Augustin failed to take the chance presented to him by Blanc and did more harm than good in a poor performance against Wasquehal.

The teenage scoring sensation missed two very good first-half chances. The first was an opening from right in front of goal, which he somehow failed to connect with, while the second was a volley that he skied from Adrien Rabiot’s inch-perfect lofted pass to the back post.

Augustin missing his second chance was understandable. Although he has the technique to finish that sort of opportunity, a volley in the cold and wet conditions in Lille was not the easiest finish to execute and the PSG No. 29 no doubt had his earlier miss playing on his mind.

That first spurned chance, the miss from almost underneath the Wasquehal crossbar, was Augustin’s most costly error. There is no excuse for the young Frenchman failing to connect with the ball in from the left and had he made contact with the ball, it would have been a certain goal.

Augustin can have no complaints if Blanc does not hand him another chance to impress until perhaps the next Coupe de France game (the round-of-32 draw takes place on Monday evening) after his disappointing outing against Wasquehal.

The teenager must now remain patient until his coach sees fit to either throw him on from the bench or to start him in a game against lower-quality opposition, either in Ligue 1 or the Coupe de France.

Augustin tried hard to make up for his wasteful first half in the second 45 minutes, but he would have done more to aid his cause by passing to an unmarked Ibrahimovic in the dying minutes of the game instead of going for goal and bringing a save out of Wasquehal goalkeeper and captain Romain Samson.

Wasquehal will not be Augustin’s final chance to impress and Blanc will surely give him another opportunity to prove his worth. However, few future opportunities will be as golden as the one that has just passed the PSG youngster by.

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