Theo Hernandez to Chelsea, Real Madrid target BOTH Mbappe and Haaland, Newcastle want Umtiti transfer EXCLUSIVE

Chelsea financial woe

Chelsea have felt the crippling impact of the pandemic by recording a post-tax loss of £145.6million for the financial year ending in June.

The bleak figure is largely put down to a near-complete loss of matchday revenue due to fans being shut out, as well as a decrease in profit from selling players.

t is in stark contrast to the previous financial year before Covid-19 struck when Roman Abramovich’s Blues made a profit of £39.5m.

Turnover actually went up by £29m to £416.8m – largely due to a broadcast income boost.

But matchday revenue was just £7.2m – constituting a whopping annual fall of £68.4m.

January signings best XI

On January 1 the transfer window opens, and the top Premier League clubs will hoping to do big business.

Here’s the best eleven of players we could see on the move, with Vlahovic upfront, Dele Alli swapping Spurs for West Ham and Ousmane Dembele coming to the Prem.

Scary Man City

Should Manchester City be successful in their pursuit of Harry Kane, here’s how they could line-up.

One word. Frightening.

Puskas contender

EX-RANGERS striker Greg Stewart made himself a sure contender for the illustrious Puskas Award with a stunning strike in the Indian Super League.

The 31-year-old gave current side Jamshedpur the lead against rivals Kerala Blasters with a sublime free-kick in the 14th minute of the riveting Boxing Day clash.

Check out the strike below.

Brighton kid set to leave

Brighton youngster Zak Sturge has turned down a contract extension from the club.

Sources have told SunSport that Sturge, who is considered as a highly-rated talent, decided against putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Seagulls.

The left-back has shown immense ability within the team’s youth ranks and has attracted interest from the Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are among a few clubs keeping tabs on the 17-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.

Important Mount

Chelsea may be stuttering at the moment, but at least they can turn to their talisman, Mason Mount.

The playmaker has been directly involved in 12 Premier League goals this campaign.

That’s only bettered by Mo Salah and Emmanuel Dennis.

GUESS WHO

This Newcastle legend was a centre back at the club who scored a famous 30-yard lob against Manchester United.

The flamboyant defender sported a moustache during his heyday, and turned out for Belgium. But can you guess who it is? Scroll down for the reveal…

It’s Philippe Albert, of course, who is now a TV pundit in his homeland.

Mike Dean slammed

Thomas Tuchel has slammed referee Mike Dean after Chelsea were denied a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday.

The Blues’ boss was adamant that his team deserved a penalty in the 50th minute after Christian Pulisic was tripped by Joel Veltman in the box.

However, Mike Dean did not have the same view and the challenge was not looked at by VAR.

“We have a 100 per cent penalty against Christian Pulisic,” Tuchel challenged.

Tractor boy

Chelsea fans have fond memories of Diego Costa on the pitch, but he’s also got quite the reputation off it.

The former Chelsea striker’s latest stunt involved driving around the streets of Brazil behind the wheel of an enormous yellow tractor.

Costa is even joined in the vehicle by three children, with one perched on his lap and a further two sat behind him, in a clip originally posted to his Instagram.

Exclusive: EFL scraps Covid tests

The EFL have scrapped Covid tests on the day of a game to stop late call-offs.

This move is coming into force immediately after several matches were left in the balance by a wait for checks that have led to postponements.

There has been anger among the 72 clubs and the EFL that this has led to fans going to matches and being left frustrated by results that lead to games being shelved.

Under the new protocols, no player will be tested on a matchday unless he is showing symptoms. 

Toney jokes about Man City

Ivan Toney might be waking up with sore legs after spending 90 minutes chasing shadows against Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Brentford put up a good fight against the champions, but went down 1-0 thanks to an early Phil Foden goal.

But Toney likened City’s possession to playing in the school playground.

The 25-year-old joked on Twitter: “Not the best kick about year 11s Stole our ball.

“But we go again next year. Fans were behind us right till the end. Happy new year everyone stay safe. 🐝 ❤️ @BrentfordFC.”

Tuchel’s moan

Thomas Tuchel believes it is “stupid” to think his Chelsea side are in the title race as injuries and illness robs him of his top talents.

He told BBC Sport: “We have seven Covid cases. We have five or six players out for six or more weeks. How should we compete in a title race?

“Everyone else who has a full squad, everybody in training has the full power to come through this league.

“We would be stupid to think we can do it out of Covid and injuries. Just play and everybody would be stupid to do it without 23 fit players.”

Morata to Barcelona?

Alvaro Morata has been linked with a shock move to Barcelona in January as Xavi looks to bolster his attack.

The Blaugrana boss remains keen to strengthen his frontline having already landed Ferran Torres from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £55million.

And Marca state that he has now turned his attention to compatriot Morata, who is currently in the second year of his loan spell at Juventus from Atletico Madrid.

Should the 29-year-old link up with the Catalan outfit, he would be the 38th player to have signed for both Barca and Real Madrid.

China bans footballers tattoos

China have banned footballers from getting tattoos and told national team players who have been inked to remove or cover them up to set a ‘good example for society’.

A growing number of high-profile Chinese players have been sporting tattoos, including international defender Zhang Linpeng.

He has previously been told to cover up while appearing for both the national team and club side Guangzhou FC.

The General Administration of Sport of China (GAS) published a statement titled, ‘Suggestions for strengthening the management of football players’.

It stated that the Chinese Football Association would set out disciplinary requirements for national team players.

Hudson-Odoi slated

Callum Hudson-Odoi was slated for his ‘very strange’ pass trying to pick out Mason Mount.

And the bizarre decision came back to bite the Chelsea winger and his team as Brighton snatched an injury-time equaliser.

And after Lukaku headed the Blues in front on 28 minutes, the winger, 21, looked destined to double their lead ten minutes after half-time.

But running through the middle to the edge of the area, rather than pulling the trigger to shoot, the academy graduate attempted a convoluted ball across for Mount.

However, rather than intricately threading for his mate, Hudson-Odoi proceeded simply in gifting possession to Seagulls defender Joel Veltman.

Biggest transfers

In just two days, clubs around the world will be able to trade players again.

Over the years we’ve seen some mega transfer fees spent.

Will any January sales make it into this list?

Newcastle in for Dembele

Barcelona contract rebel Ousmane Dembele has reportedly been approached by Newcastle over a potential move to Tyneside.

Dembele is out-of-contract at the end of the season, although Barcelona boss Xavi remains determined to tie him down to a new deal.

However, after a long-meeting with club bosses whereby nothing was agreed, two Premier League clubs are said to be in the running for his signature.

One of those is Newcastle, with Eddie Howe keen to make a marquee signing at St. James’ Park.

Messi dancer

Lionel Messi showed he’s got the moves on a night on the tiles with missus Antonella at a concert in their homeland.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, 34, last played on December 22 and does not take to the field again until January 3.

And he has made the most of the time off to head back to Argentina on holiday with his family.

There, he treated his partner to a night out, with a video on social media showing the pair having fun.

Kane still on City’s radar

Man City could potentially go from having no strikers to boasting two of the most lethal finishers on the planet.

Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are both on City’s radar to replace the departing Ferran Torres, reports suggest.

City won’t sign a Torres replacement in January, but will instead wait to bring in a marquee signing up front in the summer, according to ESPN.

And it’s claimed the club ‘still hold an interest’ in Kane, after failing to sign the England captain six months ago.

Lloris transfer

Hugo Lloris is considering rejoining Nice next year, according to reports.

The Tottenham goalkeeper and captain’s contract at White Hart Lane expires at the end of this season.

And if he decides against extending his stay in North London or is not offered an extension, he could return to his boyhood club.

According to Foot Mercato, Nice are lining up an approach to land the experienced stopper.

MORNING FOOTY FANS

Manchester City soared eight points clear as Thomas Tuchel claimed it was ‘stupid’ to think his Covid-hit Chelsea side could keep pace at the top.

Phil Foden shone with an early tap-in winner and a disallowed effort – VAR confirming both decisions – as City triumphed 1-0 at Brentford.

But sub Danny Wellbeck rewarded Brighton’s 18 chances at Stamford Bridge by heading their 91st-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Fit-again striker Romelu Lukaku had celebrated his first top-flight start since October by nodding the Blues in front.

But Tuchel reckons Chelsea can’t sustain a title bid, saying: “We would be stupid to think we can do it out of Covid and injuries.”

To make it worse, defenders Reece James and Andreas Christensen went off crocked against the Seagulls.

As for tonight, Manchester United will leapfrog Spurs into sixth place if they defeat third-bottom Burnley at Old Trafford.

Fit-again striker Edinson Cavani is pressing for a start after suggesting he should only be a sub in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Newcastle… when he came on to rescue a point.

Off the pitch, the Red Devils could move for Barcelona’s in-form centre-back Ronald Araujo after his contract stand off.

The Uruguay superstar has a £168million release clause amid his superb campaign.

Lastly, it’s been suggested Liverpool will consider a move for Arsenal’s main man Bukayo Saka. 

Samir reveals huge Mancini bust-up

Samir Nasri claims he almost wrecked Manchester City’s first top-flight title in 34 years… by threatening to beat up boss Roberto Mancini’s KIDS.

The ex-France midfielder repeatedly clashed with Mancini following his £25million move from Arsenal in 2011.

And newly-retired Nasri has now revealed his side of the story over the duo’s explosive feud as City closed in on the 2012 Premier League crown.

The 34-year-old said he told Mancini he would attack the current Italy coach’s sons Filippo and Andrea, who were allowed to train with City.

And 41-cap ace Nasri admits calling the manager, now 57, ‘every name under the sun’ – as well as planning to hurl a boot at him.

The pair’s flare-ups reached boiling point as City prepared to face neighbours United the following week.

He said: “Mancini told me to defend one way, and his assistant David Platt said another way.

“Mancini insulted me in Italian, but I understood him so I swore back.  He told me to leave training, and I ripped off my bib and threw it at him.

“I went back to the dressing-room, then found him in the weights room. I told him to get up and talk with me.

“We went back to the dressing-room and began shouting at each other. I called him every name under the sun.

“At that time his sons used to play for our reserve team, and they sometimes trained with us.

“I told him, ‘I’ll get your kids when they are in the car park”.

“Patrick Vieira, who was a club ambassador at the time, came to my house.  He said, ‘I told you not to talk to Mancini – he is mad’.”

Rangnick backs Maguire and Varane

Ralf Rangnick will stick by his struggling centre backs Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane despite their horror show against Newcastle.

But the Manchester United interim coach has called on his star-studded squad to stand up and be counted – admitting they have not made as much progress as he would have liked.

The Red Devils put on a woeful display at St James’ Park as they scraped a 1-1 draw after Edinson Cavani cancelled out Allan Saint-Maximin’s stunning opener.

Varane made his comeback from a hamstring injury picked up on October 30 – but alongside Maguire was tormented by a struggling Toon attacking outfit.

The French World Cup winner was at fault in the build-up for Saint-Maximin’s goal, while Maguire looked a bag of nerves.

But with fellow defender Victor Lindelof a doubt after testing positive for Covid, German boss Rangnick is ready to give the pair another chance against Burnley tonight.

Rangnick said: “In three months Raphael has not played that much. Yes he made a mistake before the first goal but apart from that I think he was okay.

“He was not outstanding, and the same goes to Harry. They did okay.

“Our problem was that we allowed too many transitional moments – this is not the problem of just the centre backs but the whole team. It starts up front.

“You can speak of the role of the No10s in that kind of formation, so I don’t think it makes sense to speak about the individual performances of players. We need to get better as a team.”

Tuchel: ‘Stupid’ to think we can win title

Thomas Tuchel says it would be ‘stupid’ to think Chelsea can sustain a title charge with the amount of Covid and injury cases that have hit their squad.

His Blues side lost ground on Manchester City with a 1-1 draw against Brighton when Danny Welbeck’s last-gasp header chalked off Romelu Lukaku’s opener.

But an arguably bigger blow came when Reece James was forced off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half, while Andreas Christensen had to be subbed at half-time with a back problem.

The German said: “We have seven Covid cases. We have five or six players out for six or more weeks.

“How should we compete in a title race? 

“Everyone else who has a full squad, everybody in training has the full power to come through this league. 

“We would be stupid to think we can do it out of Covid and injuries. Just play and everybody would be stupid to do it without 23 fit players.

“We knew before that this was going to be a tough match against a strong side.

“They come well prepared, it is always like this. I have not seen one team play a nice match against them (Brighton).

“It was clear we would struggle, we have simply way too many players with who we don’t know what we can demand. 

“We have long injuries, they come from Covid, I simply don’t know what they are capable of doing.”

Dembele boost for Red Devils

Ousmane Dembele has rejected a new contract at Barcelona following a furious meeting with club bosses – as TWO Premier League clubs contacted the winger over a free transfer.

The French winger, 24, is believed to have agreed to personal terms last week and told Xavi and Co he wanted to stay.

But after a nervy, hours-long meeting, Dembele’s agent left WITHOUT his client putting pen to paper, according to Spanish outlet Sport.

Dembele has long been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp as injuries continue to hamper his progress following his £138million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

But new boss Xavi has piled praise on the forward time and time again and is said to be fighting tooth and nail to keep him.

Last week, reports suggested Dembele had greed a new five-year deal at Barcelona on a LOWER weekly wage.

The cash-strapped club are desperate to trim back their sky-high wage bill, despite splashing £55m on Manchester City forward Ferran Torres.

Barca and Dembele were both confident the deal would be sealed by the end of the year.