Mourinho one of the best managers in the world' - Pochettino denies bad blood with Man Utd boss*

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists there is no rift between himself and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho ahead of their weekend showdown.

United and Spurs are level on 20 points in the Premier League and sit as the closest challengers to leaders Manchester City on the eve of a keenly anticipated Old Trafford clash.

An extract from Pochettino's new book, published this week, detailed how the Argentinian was unimpressed by Mourinho hugging and talking with Eric Dier after last season's match at Old Trafford that United won 1-0.

Pochettino accused Mourinho of putting Dier "in a compromising position" but, speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday's game, he insisted the affair had long since been put to bed.

"That is a thing that is in the past," said the Spurs boss, who will be without top scorer Harry Kane against United due to a hamstring injury.

"You can read in my book how he is, for me, one of the best managers in the world – admired like [Pep] Guardiola. I am not perfect, I am human too

Sushma Asks for 🔎Probe into Adoption of Murdered 3⃣-Yr-Old🇸Sherin Mathews*

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has requested her cabinet colleague Maneka Gandhi for an investigation into the adoption of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl who died at her new home in the US earlier this month. Maneka Gandhi is the Women and Child Development Minister.

"I have requested Maneka Gandhi Minister for Women and Child Development for a thorough investigation into the adoption process of Baby Saraswati SherinMathews who has been killed by her foster father Wesley Mathews in United States," Ms Swaraj tweeted on Friday evening.

Sherin's adoptive father Wesley Mathews was charged on Monday with an injury to a child, a first-degree felony that carries a maximum punishment of 99 years in prison, the Texas police said. The body of Sherin was found in a culvert under a road. Activists in India have called for an immediate end to intercountry adoptions, which they say fail to protect children. "Intercountry adoptions have become a lucrative market where children are effectively sold," said activist Sujata Mody.

Kane out of Tottenham's Man Utd clash with hamstring strain*

Tottenham have confirmed that striker Harry Kane will miss the club's Premier League clash with Manchester United on Saturday.

Doubts over the 24-year-old's fitness first arose on Wednesday and those were realised following a scan, which showed minor damage to the forward's left hamstring.

Spurs are unwilling to risk the Premier League's top scorer for the Old Trafford date, aware that the injury could be made worse if he were to play too soon.

Kane has been an ever present for Pochettino in both the league and Europe this season, sitting out only a couple of EFL Cup fixtures, including the 3-2 defeat against West Ham in midweek.

"We cannot take a risk for tomorrow, we'll see after for Wednesday. But tomorrow, it is impossible," manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed during his press conference.

Coutinho a doubt for Klopp's Wagner showdown*

Jurgen Klopp has doubts over the fitness of Philippe Coutinho as he prepares to take Liverpool into battle against a Huddersfield Town outfit managed by former colleague David Wagner.

The German duo worked together at Borussia Dortmund and both left for English soil in 2015, with Klopp heading to Anfield and Wagner taking the helm at a Terriers team then residing in the Championship.

He led the Yorkshire club to the Premier League last season, setting up Saturday's showdown with close friend Klopp, who could be without Coutinho as the Brazilian struggles with an adductor problem.

"It's not clear," said the Reds boss, who oversaw a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham last time out, when questioned on Coutinho's possible involvement. "Last week he had some back problems. During the week it settled with treatment. Now he has a problem with the abductor.

"We'll make the decision after training on Friday. He missed training yesterday, but that's all at the moment."

Conte blasts Chelsea player unrest rumours in fiery press conference*

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has attacked rumours that his Premier League title champions have turned against him this season.

UK newspaper The Sun claimed that players had been texting former Chelsea No.2 Steve Holland to suggest that they no longer had a healthy relationship with Conte, although the story has been been pulled from its website.

Holland left his role in the summer to be England assistant coach working under Gareth Southgate and the reports had claimed that Chelsea players felt overworked in training in 2017-18. He is thought to have sent text messages to Conte and others at Chelsea to say that the story was untrue, while Conte publicly fumed at the rumours in Friday's press conference.

“Around us there is a lot of bullsh*t," he told reporters ahead of Chelsea's clash with Bournemouth on Saturday. "I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers [at Chelsea].

"A lot of bullsh*t. They try to create problems between me, the club and the players. If someone is happy to continue to write this I answer very well in the past. I am answering very well about these different issues."

Football Manager 2018: Neymar, Messi & the most expensive players in the game

The beta for Football Manager 2018 went live on Thursday night, giving football fans their first chance to test out the newest version of the game and take charge of their favourite team.

Virtual managers will be looking to strengthen their teams as soon as they start up the game, but many of the world's biggest and best names may be a little out of their price range at the beginning.

Following his €222 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG, Brazil forward Neymar is the joint most expensive player in FM2018, with a market value of €95m. However, even if you do have that much to spend in your initial wage budget, it is unlikely that the Ligue 1 giants will be willing to sell their new superstar.

Here are the most expensive players:

🔰Neymar (PSG) - €95m

🔰Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - €95m

🔰Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) - €87m

🔰Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) - €84m

🔰Sergio Aguero (Man City) - €82m

🔰Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) - €82m

🔰Antoine Griezmann (Atletico) - €81m

🔰Isco (Real Madrid) - €78m

🔰Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - €78m