Lionel Messi was asked about the tournament favourites in an interview with former Argentina striker Jorge Valdano on Movistar on Monday night. The PSG star sees France as a title contender, despite the injuries that have plagued Les Bleus, as well as the Brazil of his friend and club teammate Neymar.
Mason Mount’s negotiation for a new contract seems more difficult than expected, according to The Telegraph. He has started every game since Graham Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel as manager, and is one of the few players to have continued to shine despite the London club's recent on-field woes. "Mason Mount is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract with Chelsea without agreeing on new terms after a stalemate in negotiations over his contract extension at Stamford Bridge," the Telegraph nevertheless reports. "The 23-year-old England midfielder has been in talks since the summer over new terms at the club where he has spent his entire career, but there has been no breakthrough yet."
According to the London Evening Standard, one club in the English capital is more than ever the favourite to sign CR7 this winter after his shocking statements. Not surprisingly, it is Chelsea. Football London has confirmed that Todd Boehly is still hoping to land him and is working hard to do so. The American businessman, who has a good relationship with CR7's agent Jorge Mendes, was already on the case last summer. He had pushed to recruit him but Thomas Tuchel, who had been advised by Ralf Rangnick, had refused. The German has since left and been replaced by Graham Potter.