Round-up: Chelsea almost there, Mackie contract offer, Holloway wants signings
Chelsea are one more win from the title after beating Middlesbrough 3-0 in a one-sided game at Stamford Bridge.
Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic scored for the Blues, who moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and will be crowned champions if they win at West Brom on Friday.
Boro never threatened an upset and their defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship.
Conte savours ‘big win’
Antonio Conte again insisted the title race iss not over, but he acknowledged: “For sure now I am a bit relaxed. This was a big step – a big win.”
The Blues boss added: “At this stage of the season, to win is great and now we need to go another step, We have the possibility to do it on Friday against West Brom but it won’t be easy.
“West Brom are a really good, physical team. But for sure today we took a big step – we must be honest.”
Chelsea link ‘flattering’ – Tierney
Kieran Tierney says he is happy at Celtic despite reports linking him with Chelsea.
It has been claimed that Chelsea are keen on the 19-year-old full-back, who has made three appearances for Scotland.
Tierney told Sky Sports: “It’s just a story and I’m just concentrating on Celtic and my next training day.”
Mackie offered deal – on reduced terms
QPR have offered Jamie Mackie a new contract.
Mackie, whose current deal expires this summer, is in his second spell at Loftus Road.
Rangers’ financial position means the 31-year-old has been offered reduced wages, and the club are therefore waiting to discover whether he intends to re-sign.
Mackie will be available on a Bosman free transfer if he turns down the offer or at least decides to keep his options open.
Meanwhile, Karl Henry, whose contract is also due to expire, will be leaving after four years at Rangers.
Henry, 34, has not played since December, when he was told he had no future at the club following a fall-out with manager Ian Holloway.
Holloway wants more new signings
Ian Holloway says it will take QPR two more transfer windows to significantly turn their fortunes around.
Manager Holloway made wholesale changes in January and wants to further revamp his squad after losing 18 of his 30 matches since replacing the sacked Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Financial Fair Play rules and ongoing legal wrangling over the scale of QPR’s fine for the club’s previous lavish spending mean there will be less money to spend.
“It’s going to take another couple of windows. We’re not moving forward money-wise, we’ll be moving backwards,” Holloway said.
“Other clubs might be adding to their budgets, but we’ve thrown a load of money away and we’re not going to do that anymore.
“Hopefully, with the new scouting network I’m putting together, I’ll be able to coach and I’ll be able to get people I can have.”
Bees trigger Jota clause
Brentford have taken up an option in Jota’s contract to keep him at Griffin Park until the end of next season.
The 25-year-old scored 12 goals in 23 games for the Bees after returning from a loan spell with Spanish club Eibar in January.
Fulham ‘ready for everything
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is confident his side can overcome Reading and reach the Championship play-off final.
The Whites will face Reading over two legs for a place at Wembley, with the first leg at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Jokanovic declared: “We must be ready for everything. This team (Reading) finished third and that shows their level.
“The table says they are favourites and we are going to try to surprise them. We must be ready.
“It’s going to be a tough two games for us and for them too. We are confident and believe we can play good football and win.”
