Gattuso leaves door open for Higuain move to Chelsea

The manager has said he will do what he can to hold onto the forward, but that he could be “difficult to convince”

It is up to Gonzalo Higuain to choose his Milan future amid reported interest from Chelsea, according to manager Gennaro Gattuso.

The Argentina international joined Milan on loan from Juventus over the summer and has scored eight goals in all competitions this season.

Though Milan have the option to buy at the end of the season, Higuain has reportedly been the subject of interest from Chelsea, who are managed by his old bo Any deal between Chelsea and Higuain would be made more complicated by fact he is on loan, but that does not make it an impossibility.

Gattuso has previously voiced his desire for the 31-year-old Higuain to remain with the club, but admitted it may well fall on the striker to make the final call on his decision.

Speaking after Milan’s 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Sampdoria in which Higuain went 111 minutes but didn’t score, Gattuso praised the striker yet conceded his uncertainty over what the future holds.

“[Higuain] was active today,” Gattuso told Milan TV. “He didn’t score but he did everything right.

“We have a very honest relationship, we say things to people’s faces. There is great honesty.

“When a player makes certain choices, it becomes difficult to convince him “At this moment, he is a Milan player and we’re holding on tight.

“I don’t know what will happen. We are honest with each other and I want him to maintain this attitude, which has never been lacking thus far.”

The Milan boss also claimed that he would do what he could to try and hold onto the striker during his post-match press conference.

“I haven’t figured out what Higuain is unhappy with, because I see him look content and involved in the locker room atmosphere.

‘We’ll see what happens. If it was up to me, I’d keep him at my house and feed him my dinner.”

Milan’s victory was their second straight after a five-game winless run across all competitions.

Patrick Cutrone scored both goals in extra time as they got past the hosts, leaving Gattuso pleased at the result.

“The players did very well today,” Gattuso said. “We knew Sampdoria were a o great team so we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Manchester united close in on Top four

The interim boss overtook Sir Matt Busby’s record thanks to Marcus Rashford’s goal on Sunday

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has equalled the record for the most successful start of any Manchester United manager in history after winning his first five league games in charge.

 

The Norwegian matched Sir Matt Busby’s record of five consecutive wins in the top flight when his side beat Tottenham at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

 

Solskjaer took over in December following the sacking of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, although he is currently set to leave United at the end of the season with Gareth Southgate, Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino among the front-runners for the permanent job.

 

Premier League victories against Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Newcastle, as well as a FA Cup third-round win at home to Reading, have seen Solskjaer’s stock rise, and the win over Spurs is his best result yet.

 

The fact the Red Devils beat Pochettino’s side made the win even more poignant given the Argentine’s strong links to the job.

 

United’s players have shown renewed energy levels and enthusiasm under Solskjaer after they had grown weary with the leadership of Mourinho.

 

Paul Pogba in particular had had a public rift with the Portuguese, but has shown excellent form since being given a leading role by his new boss and set up Rashford against Tottenham with a stunning pass that dissected the Spurs defence.

 

Rashford himself has also excelled after being chosen ahead of Romelu Lukaku to lead the line for the Reds and has now scored four goals in five Premier League games since Solskjaer’s appointment; compared to just three under Mourinho prior to the Portuguese manager’s sacking.

It means the Reds have kept three clean sheets in a row, and they have David de Gea to thank for that after the keeper made 11 saves in the second half – more than any keeper has made in an entire Premier League game this season.

Although United have not improved their league position since the Norwegian’s appointment, they have now drawn level with fifth-placed Arsenal on points which means they have bridged the eight-point gap that existed when Solskjaer took over.