Six of the biggest football stories today: Walker, Schmeichel, Balotelli & more

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Kyle Walker, Kasper Schmeichel and Jordan Pickford are at the centre of some of Monday’s biggest football news stories.

Walker wants out

Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City are all reported to be interested in signing Kyle Walker, with the right-back wanting to leave Tottenham.

According to The Independent, Walker has fallen out with Mauricio Pochettino after the manager unhappy with the England international’s fitness and displays training.

Walker was left on the bench for the North London derby and could cost close to £50million, it is said.

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Mourinho bemoans Man Utd injury crisis

Jose Mourinho has revealed he will choose between Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick and Alex Tuanzebe to form his central defence for Manchester United’s trip to Celta Vigo in the semi-final of the Europa League.

Mourinho has also suggested he could be forced to field an Under-23 team in the Premier League were United to reach the final.

He said: “Maybe I can bring (academy coach) Nicky Butt and his team to play against Crystal Palace, and hopefully Palace doesn’t need a game to stay in the division because it would be very, very bad if they needed the points for us to play with the under-23s. It’s difficult.”

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Manchester battle for Schmeichel

Manchester United are leading Manchester City in the race to sign Kasper Schmeichel, according to Sky Sports.

David de Gea has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer and Schmeichel – who is among three of the most likely contenders to replace the Spaniard – could follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming No.1 at Old Trafford.

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Patrice Evra loves Mondays

Patrice Evra is without a doubt one of the funniest footballers to follow on social media, and the Marseille left-back treated everybody to a Monday morning pick-me-up.

Renowned for regaling his followers with a song, Evra took on The Temptations – My Girl and brightened up many a Monday morning.

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Magpies move a no-go for Pickford

Newcastle were among the clubs linked with a move for Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford this weekend, but it appears unlikely the goalkeeper will follow in Jack Colback’s footsteps by swapping the Stadium of Light for St James’ Park.

“I would never do that,” he told Sky Sports. I couldn’t do it myself. I would never go to Newcastle.

“[Leaving Sunderland] is not something I’ve looked at yet and it’s not something I want to look at either.”

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Super Mario

It’s hard not to love Mario Balotelli, although PSG certainly found a way to on Sunday.

Balotelli scored the first goal as Nice beat PSG 3-1 to seriously dent the Parisian’s title hopes, and the Italy striker certainly enjoyed the occasion. Blaise Matuidi, less so.

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