Down to Ten Men

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie has reportedly thrown his long-term future with the club in doubt after revealing his desire to play for Manchester United. The Ivory Coast international joined the Rossoneri on a two-year loan deal from Atalanta BC last summer with an obligation to buy.

The agent of Theo Walcott has admitted that the England international could pursue a move to Italy in order to enhance his chances of regular first-team. The 28-year-old has been on the periphery of the Gunners squad this campaign with most of his gametime coming in the Cup competitions.

In a report covered by Tuttomercato, Walcott's representative Warwick Horton admits that a switch to the Serie A is an option with his client keen on plying his trade in Italy, he said: "I know that Theo is keen on playing in Italy. We will take any offers that come in from Italy into consideration."

Italian Football President Carlo Tavecchio has revealed that Antonio Conte is one of the key candidates to become the country's next manager. The Azzurri parted ways with Gian Piero Ventura earlier this month after their shock loss to Sweden which saw them miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Speaking to an Italian station, Tavecchio revealed the name of a number high-profile managers including Conte, who could take charge of the Azzurri permanently next summer, he said: "Allegri and Mancini? You’re getting warmer. Conte? Fire. We’re looking for the best. They already have commitments until June from a contractual point of view. Then when we get to June, who will be free? The ones are Ancelotti, Conte, Allegri, Ranieri and Mancini. This is the truth of those available."

Nice striker Mario Balotelli has insisted that he would never consider a return to Liverpool. The Italy international endured a tough spell with the Merseyside outfit where he notched just one goal in all competitions. The 27-year-old spent just one year at Anfield between 2014 and 2015 before he was sent on loan to former club AC Milan, where another dry spell followed.

Balotelli has since built up his reputation with Nice whom he joined on a free transfer in 2016, and he is currently knocking on the door of the Italian national side having netted 26 goals in just 42 appearances for the South France outfit.

Manchester City have dominated proceedings domestically. They're running away with the title and look on course to have it all-but wrapped up by Easter. Their reserve team looks set to make the Carabao Cup final and they're still battling in the FA Cup. Few would bet against them doing a domestic treble.

In days gone by, that would be sufficient to satisfy fans at home. Once upon a time, a simple league and cup double was the sort of achievement fans coveted. In the modern era though, a big club must do well in the Champions League to ensure supporters get the feeling of success. Sadly, English clubs have not been performing well at all.

The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of world football, so it would surely seem unthinkable that one of only eight nations to have won the competition would fail to qualify for Russia 2018.

Well, this is exactly the fate that befell the Azzurri following a slender 1-0 aggregate defeat to a Zlatan-less Sweden in November's World Cup qualifiers. And, just as the 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016 brought the curtain down on England’s Lampard, Gerrard and eventually Wayne Rooneys’ international future, this result signalled the end of an era in international football for a whole host of Italy’s ageing stars.