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    Daniel Munoz, Bryan Mbeumo and other winners of Dream Team’s end-of-season awards for 2024/25!

    ROLL out the red carpet and pop the champagne, it’s time for Dream Team’s end-of-season awards!We’ve got eight gongs to dish out in total so let’s crack on.A round of applause for our winnersCredit: Dream TeamBEST NEWCOMEROur first award goes to the most impactful new addition and so only players who graced Dream Team for the first time this season are eligible.A mention for Noussair Mazraoui who, despite Manchester United’s woes, will finish the campaign as the sixth-best defender.The Morocco international got through a mountain of defensive work, making 177 tackles in all competitions – the highest tally among all players.For a while it seemed as if Marco Asensio would claim this award as he scored eight goals in the space of seven games soon after agreeing a loan move to Aston Villa in January.Unfortunately, the Spaniard’s points dried up in the last two months of the season.And so our winner is Omar Marmoush!Man City’s expensive January acquisition frustrated Dream Team bosses in the FA Cup final but he’s otherwise impressed with eight goals and three assists at a rate of one goal involvement every 141.4 minutes since his transfer from Frankfurt.The Egyptian forward finishes the season with an average of 6.3 points-per-game and there’s a feeling he could rack up big numbers in 2025/26.Most read in FootballWINNER: OMAR MARMOUSH A welcome addition to Dream TeamCredit: GettySURPRISE PACKAGESeveral players made our shortlist for this one with Jacob Murphy, Brennan Johnson and Chris Wood all having performed well above expectations.It would be fitting to give the award to a Nottingham Forest representative given their transformation from relegation battlers to Champions League hopefuls but there can only be one winner in the grand scheme of things.Daniel Munoz was the only defender who earned 300+ points this term, beating the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Josko Gvardiol, Pedro Porro and Virgil van Dijk to top the rankings in his position.This is an extraordinary achievement given Crystal Palace did not have European commitments to bolster their schedule.The Colombian wing-back was a beast in defence (17 clean sheets, 152 tackles) and a huge threat in attack (six goals, eight assists).It will be very interesting to see how he goes next season.WINNER: DANIEL MUNOZAn unexpected Dream Team superstarCredit: AlamyBEST VALUE-FOR-MONEYMunoz could have easily scooped this award too but we’ve decided to recognise the efforts of Morgan Rogers to share the love around.Having been a bit-part player in 2023/24, the ex-Middlesbrough midfielder established himself as one of Unai Emery’s most trusted assets from the get-go this season.Rogers started the season at just £2.5m and was available even cheaper than that after a relatively slow start but he quickly became a fantastic enabler.Once he started converting his talent into points, he essentially became a must-have player as his bargain price allowed for heavy investment into the likes of Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah.When all was said and done, Rogers racked up 318 points via 14 goals and 16 assists to finish as Dream Team’s fourth-best midfielder.He certainly won’t start at £2.5m next season!WINNER: MORGAN ROGERSWhat a bargain!Credit: RexMOST OVERLOOKEDThis award goes to the player who, no matter how hard they tried, simply couldn’t convince Dream Team managers they were worthy of a place in a competitive XI.For whatever reason, several players went overlooked by the vast majority of gaffers for months on end despite their undeniably impressive returns.Youri Tielemans spent most of the season among the highest ranked midfielders (thanks to his sizeable bonus point count) but his ownership remained modest throughout – perhaps because the aforementioned Rogers covered Villa’s fixtures nicely.Elsewhere, only six players averaged more points-per-game than Jarrod Bowen (7.7) but most Dream Team bosses flat out refused to entertain the idea of recruiting anyone associated with West Ham.Our winner, however, is none other than Matheus Cunha.Granted, the Brazilian’s disciplinary troubles were a concern but even when he was available and at his swaggering best, approximately 97% of gaffers were happy to go without him.Only Salah and Haaland averaged more points-per-game than Cunha in 2024/25 – an incredible statistic.One suspects he will appear in many, many more teams when he joins Manchester United.WINNER: MATHEUS CUNHAUnderutilisedCredit: AFPDIAMOND IN THE ROUGHThis award recognises a standout individual who thrived in Dream Team despite the broader failings of their team.The aforementioned Cunha and Bowen were among the nominees, as were several Tottenham players before victory in the Europa League final changed the entire complexion of their season.But Bruno Fernandes is clearly the most deserving winner.The Portuguese playmaker amassed 443 points (only Salah earned more) via 19 goals and 20 assists while representing a team that ultimately finished 15th in the league and no trophies to show for their extracurricular activities.Where would the Red Devils be without him?WINNER: BRUNO FERNANDESA one-man team at timesCredit: ShutterstockTHE BREXIT AWARDTo qualify for the Brexit award, players must have nothing to do with Europe.In other words, only those who did not participate in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League are eligible.Once again, Munoz is in the conversation but three players earned even more points than Palace’s wing-back without European fixtures: Eberechi Eze, Bryan Mbeumo and Alexander Isak.Newcastle’s star striker notched the most points (340) of the lot having scored 27 goals but given the spirit of the award is about defying schedule disadvantages, we believe Brentford’s talisman is most worthy.Whereas Isak and Eze benefited from domestic cup successes, Mbeumo was limited to just three Carabao Cup outings and one FA Cup appearance.The Cameroon international was phenomenal in the Premier League all season long.Depending what Palmer does in the Conference League final, Mbeumo will either finish second or third among Dream Team midfielders – an outstanding effort.WINNER: BRYAN MBEUMOPremier League specialistCredit: GettyBIGGEST FLOPGenerally, we prefer to celebrate the most successful players but it would be remiss to ignore the darker side of Dream Team altogether.Emile Smith Rowe was initially among the most popular midfielders in the game following his transfer from Arsenal to Fulham but the 24-year-old delivered just 135 points overall, fewer than Bilal El Khannouss, Lewis Cook and Adama Traore.During his heyday, Raheem Sterling once finished as Dream Team’s top performer for the season but he scored just one goal for Arsenal in 2024/25 and has become a punchline among the Emirates faithful.Elsewhere, Darwin Nunez conspired to average just 3.6 points-per-game while representing the best team in the country.However, the most disappointing element in Dream Team this season was the severe drop-off of Manchester City.Pep Guardiola’s side recovered to finish third in the league but as a collective they provided far fewer points than gaffers have come to expect.Erling Haaland and Josko Gvardiol were worthy of their popularity but it says a lot that Phil Foden was City’s third-highest points scorer as most would agree the England international was under par this season.The FA Cup finalists conceded 71 goals in all competitions, severely damaging the viability of their defensive assets.In fact, Gvardiol was the only City defender in the top 30, a far cry from previous seasons.WINNER: MAN CITY’S DEFENCE (EXCLUDING GVARDIOL)A rare trophyless season for GuardiolaCredit: ReutersMOST VALUABLE PLAYER (MVP)We finish with the most prestigious award and the most clearcut winner.Mohamed Salah was already a Dream Team legend but this season he reached an otherworldly level.When Liverpool’s hero equalised against Brighton in Gameweek 37, he made it 57 goal involvements for the campaign in all competitions!This obscene tally was the primary reason he ended as a quintuple centurion, with 503 points to his name to be exact – Bruno Fernandes was the only other player to achieve 400+ points.Simply put, Salah was in a league of his own.Read More on The SunWINNER: MOHAMED SALAHDifferent gravyCredit: AlamyWho knows what starting price the Egyptian superstar deserves in 2025/26… More

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    ‘Just magic’ – One of F1’s most recognisable voices reveals Leclerc and Hamilton moments that will live with him forever

    CHARLES LECLERC and Lewis Hamilton won arguably the two most iconic Formula One races of the 2024 season.Leclerc made history as he won his home race at the Monaco Grand Prix with “tears” in his eyes, while Hamilton defied the odds to take the chequered flag at the British Grand Prix in his final home race with Mercedes.Charles Leclerc won an emotional 2024 Monaco Grand PrixCredit: RexLewis Hamilton then made history at the British Grand Prix later onCredit: ReutersBoth races were made iconic by the man behind the microphone for F1TV and Channel 4, Alex JacquesCredit: X @C4F1Both races have already gone down in the annals of F1 history for their huge significance in the modern era of the sport.But for many fans, that experience was elevated to even greater heights by the man behind the microphone, Alex Jacques.Jacques is the lead commentator of F1TV and Channel 4, and the voice of the EA Sports F1 25 video game, while he has also featured in the Netflix series Drive To Survive.His voice has become synonymous with formula racing, given he also spent a decade as the commentator of F2 before leaving the role to spend more time with family at the start of this year.READ MORE IN F1Following his work at both Monaco and Silverstone last year, fans showed their love by featuring him in numerous social media clips, often edited with emotive background music, of the races.And Jacques has not been blind to the outpouring of love fans have given him for his work.Speaking exclusively to SunSport at a launch event of the EA Sports F1 25 video game, Jacques explained his thought process in the moment and gave his thoughts on the fan reaction to it.He said: “You’re trying to tell their stories and both of those examples that you used, so for Charles Leclerc, my overarching, and it links back to the previous question, so it’s amazing to see all of those edits. Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”As a commentator, you want to do justice to the moment. If you’re watching the Monaco GP and you’re watching Charles Leclerc, you might be an F1 fan and you might not know that backstory.”That’s my job as the commentator, to tell you that this guy from Monaco, oh, it’s just a rich kid winning the Monaco GP. Nothing of the sort. This guy’s been through heartbreak on multiple occasions and it’s his life’s purpose to win that race. Lewis Hamilton sent ‘flying’ after hitting huge bump as Ferrari endure Monaco Grand Prix nightmare”On that last lap, I tried to distil quite a complex story into quite a short amount of time. He’s such a well-supported driver that that lap has, as you say, been subject to so many edits on social media.”He continued: “With Lewis Hamilton, this is a driver that we got used to winning week in, week out. Suddenly, goes through a winning drought. “That was one of the best Grand Prix of all time in the entire history of the 75 years. To see him come out on top when it could have been five drivers. “So rarely do you get a Grand Prix where five drivers could win it. For him to come out on top, top three was three British drivers at the British GP. He ends his winless drought.”If you can’t do justice to those moments, that’s when you have to step forward as a commentator and hopefully provide the words that match the pictures. Both of those occasions were just magic Formula One moments.”Jacques’ infectious love for motorsport means it was “tough” for him to step away from working on F2.What was is like working on the EA Sports F1 25 game?Alex Jacques:”It’s a really long time recording the commentary for the game but it’s a wonderful experience because these are the games that I played growing up, right? So maybe it wasn’t the case with commentators from a previous generation but for me I used to love the F1 game coming out and then to be part of it and to get to record the lines. “So I’m very happy to spend a week of my life in a very dark room effectively reading and in fifth place and in sixth place and so on and so forth. “You also get to do loads of creative stuff as well and they’ll bring in other people for you to commentate with so it’s a long process but when you hear your own commentary in the game it’s well worth it.Anything in particular for fans to look out for?”Yeah, there’s new tracks all the time, there’s new storylines all the time. One of the cool things that we got to do this year is they were introducing the cars and the characters from the F1 movie. so that’s a part of the game as well and it was great to be able to, it’s very weird when you’re finding yourself talking about Brad Pitt’s character in the game. but yeah and a lot of fun. “There’s always something new, they’re always coming up with new things for the game as well. The accuracy of the tracks this year is ridiculously good and you’re like, hold on, I’ve been there, there is a hot dog stand at that point, how have they got that in the game? So yeah, loads of fun stuff like that to enjoy.”However, “he has no complaints” about stepping back to spend more time with his family after becoming a father for the first time just before this season’s Imola Grand Prix, although he jokes it has led to his favourite drink being a “strong black coffee, given how sleep deprived I am”.He said: “It’s been a strange one because I got the job in F2 first and then got opportunities in F1. F2 has always felt a little bit like the home team, if you like. “F1 is the big international call-up, if you want to put it in a football metaphor. It was tough saying goodbye because very rarely you have to leave that paddock behind. “The nice thing about whether you’re telling the story of George Russell or Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc, these are all drivers that I’ve known from when they were very young because of commentating on F3 and F2 and watching their journey all the way through. But eventually it’s time. “Eventually, you just cannot commentate on everything as much as I would love to. It was sad to say goodbye, but I have the best job in the world, so I have no complaints. “I think to get 10 years commentating on any championship in any sport is a privilege and I thoroughly enjoyed it…Thoughts on 2026 possibly being last year at Imola? Alex Jacques:”I’m not entirely sure what the situation is for Imola, but I will say that it is a historic place to go racing. “It’s very, very fortunate. Anytime you’re covering motor racing in Italy, you’re having a great week of your life. Right?”That’s the nature of it. It’s obviously the circuit closest to Ferrari’s factory, and also you’ve got the Racing Bulls factory close around there. “But it’s the nature of gravel traps, narrow circuit, tight walls, thrilling undulations. Those are the things that drivers, not just at Imola, but those are the things across the calendar that the drivers respond to.”It’s important to have that balance between the old school tracks that we love and to have the amazing locations that we go to around the world. “And we’ll see. But I certainly adore going to that racetrack every time we do.””Eventually, my wife was like, it would be nice if we could hang out at some point rather than you travel the world all the time. “I got that F2 job when I was 25, so eventually you have to make more time for the people that support you when you’re away for ages and have to do the day-to-day moments. “So, yeah, very, very fortunate to be the dad of a lovely baby girl and I have a very supportive wife and it’s nice to have a bit more of a balance even though there’s still a fair bit of travel involved.”Despite his new responsibilities away from the track, Jacques does still make time to keep an eye on F1’s feeder series and earmarked Irish racer Alex Dunne as one star to keep an eye on, even before he scored a maiden pole position at Monaco last weekend.Jacques said: “I’ve been impressed with Alex Dunne, Irish driver, making that step up. There are some drivers that I think you take them from a F3 car, you put them with a little bit more power, a little bit more grip, and they seem to come alive.”He seems to fall in that category. So, he’s an exciting prospect. but there are loads of really, really talented drivers. You’ve got to be consistent. Thoughts on Ipswich Town’s season?Alex Jacques:”Was there a season this year? I don’t know. You skipped over.”Well, it’s worth saying that we are having this chat underneath Tottenham’s stadium. And the one thing I would say about Ipswich’s season is that, okay, it didn’t go to plan. “And I think there was an expectation around the club that we would be more competitive than we turned out to be. But we got some away days at grounds that we hadn’t visited before.”We got away days at, you know, and the combination of being able, I watched Ipswich win their first Premier League game in 22 years with my dad upstairs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That’s a memory I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. “What Kieran McKenna gave Ipswich Town fans was not only amazing football in League One, in the Championship, but also when we got to the Premier League, away days and experiences that other clubs take for granted. And Ipswich hadn’t had for two decades.”Hadn’t had a trip to Old Trafford. That was amazing. Taking the lead there. You’ve got to see it as glass half full.”Okay. Lost a lot of points from winning positions this year. But hold on, last year we gained 30 points from losing positions. So you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth.”Did we get promoted a little bit too early? Clearly on the evidence, yeah, we probably did. But have we bought? well?”I think so. I think we’ve got a great squad for the Championship next year. Take nothing for granted with like, oh, bounce back immediately. You have to win so many games.”We’ve seen this with Burnley. Seen this with Leeds. You’ve got to win an awful lot of games. I think the club is a little bit exhausted.”It will catch its breath over the summer. I think when you go from League One, when Kieran McKenna took over at Ipswich Town, Ipswich Town were below Accrington Stanley in the table. “I don’t think anyone could be moaning about the fact that it didn’t go to plan in the Premier League. I’ll take whatever timeline this is and he can stay for as long as he likes.”We need to build a statue of him for what he did. Not all seasons are going to go to plan, but I still enjoyed all the away days in the Premier League I was able to get to. “And I’ve got full confidence that if he’s still behind the wheel next year and he hasn’t been poached by a Premier League club, we’ll bounce straight back. “”But ultimately, I think all the drivers that eventually make it to F1, there are defining days in F3, in F2, where you watch what they do.”Thinking about Kimi Antonelli, the new Mercedes driver, at Silverstone last year, one second a lap faster than everyone else in the field. And that includes three F1 drivers who also graduated with him.”That is the type of performance that if you put in in F2, you can make a name for yourself. And everyone’s watching, everyone’s watching in the F1 paddock. “So, great start for Alex Dunne, lots of talented names in that championship this year, but you need to see a standout performance, whether it be an overtaking performance through the field. Get yourself on the radar. A standout head-bind drive is the best way to do it.”However, Jacques’ position on the “ludicrous” three-way 2025 F1 title race is far less clear as the 36-year-old can’t pick between McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris or reigning world champion Max Verstappen, but is certain it is “the best type of season” with the field being so close.He added: “I really loved it because you’ve got three drivers at totally different stages of their careers. You’ve also got Lando Norris, [who] came in as the pre-season favourite.”Can he deal with the expectation on his shoulders? And Oscar Piastri, exceeding expectations for where he is. You’ve got the McLaren drivers trying to win their first championships.”You’ve got Max trying to make history and emulate the great Michael Schumacher. And he’d only be two behind the all-time record if he gets five with a lot of his career still to go. It’s a wonderful dynamic. The qualifying sessions have been so tight.Read More on The Sun”We’ve not had a gap between first and second. that’s been over a tenth. That is ludicrous. We used to have gaps between first and second of a second back in the early 90s. F1 is ultra-competitive, we’re having a great season.”EA SPORTS has launched their new F1 25 game, with the iconic Edition out now and the Standard Edition launching May 30th. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.Quickfire questions: Alex JacquesBuild your dream driver:Racecraft: Fernando AlonsoQualifying Pace: Charles LeclercTalent: Max VerstappenAwareness: Lewis Hamilton all dayDefence: Fernando AlonsoTyre management: Ooh, tyre management. Probably be one of the McLaren boys at the moment because they seem to have that on lock, don’t they? Yeah, we’ll give Lando tyre management.Quickfire round: Favourite drink: Favourite drink? Wow, I didn’t expect that. Probably a strong black coffee, given how sleep deprived I am on the boat.Favourite food or snack during comms: You’ve got to have a bag of Haribo to get you through, especially if you’re doing an overnight one.Guilty pleasure: Guilty pleasure. Yeah, watching Ipswich Town win this year because it’s not been a regular occurrence.Favourite racetrack: Monza. Favourite car: Favourite car? Of all cars. F1 or… F1 or what? The 1998 McLaren. That’s the first season I watch, so that’s always my favourite F1 car. Favourite driver of all time: Favourite driver of all time? Similar answer. Mikka Hakkinen, champion the first year that he won and my childhood hero. And yeah, still get starstruck by him in the paddock. He’s a lovely chap. More

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    Marcus Rashford’s camp ‘meet with Barcelona’ over transfer from Man Utd – but another Prem star is their No1 target

    MARCUS RASHFORD’S camp has met with Barcelona over a permanent transfer this summer, according to reportsThe Manchester United star looks destined to leave his boyhood club in the coming weeks and months after it was revealed that he will be available for £40million.Marcus Rashford’s team has met with Barcelona over a potential transfer away from Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyRashford spent the second half of the season on loan with Aston VillaCredit: RexRashford first spoke to Barcelona about a move in January, but ultimately landed on his loan switch to Aston Villa.According to Fabrizio Romano, a new set of talks have now taken place today over a permanent move.It’s claimed that Rashford is one of four options on the Catalan club’s shortlist for a summer arrival in attack.Spanish outlet Sport report that Barcelona’s number one target is Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHowever a deal for the Columbian could be more expensive and more difficult to complete than one for Rashford.It’s said that Rashford is “eager” to play for Barca, and SunSport revealed earlier this week that the 27-year-old is holding out for a Champions League team – something Barcelona would be able to offer.It’s likely that Rashford would have to take a significant pay cut to join Barcelona, who are unable to match his mammoth £350,000-per-week salary at Old Trafford.While they could try and strike up a deal that sees them sign Rashford on loan with an obligation or option to purchase given the expense of signing the star.Most read in FootballBarcelona would like to sign Luis Diaz from LiverpoolCredit: EPAJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordRashford scored four goals and registered five assists in 17 games during his loan spell with Aston Villa, ultimately earning a return to to the England national team.But with Rashford having the final say on his future, and the impact of Villa missing out on Champions League football, Unai Emery’s side will not be activating the buy-option they included in his loan deal.Inside Marcus Rashford’s demise from one of football’s biggest stars to £60m benchwarmerIt looks like Rashford is already being replaced after reports claimed that Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who is on the brink of sealing a move to Man Utd, will wear the academy graduate’s No.10 shirt next season when his £62.5m switch is announced.United could lose another star player too as captain Bruno Fernandes has been given 72 hours to decide on his future at the Theatre of Dreams.According to the Mail Online, Fernandes has been given a “take it or leave it” offer by Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal.The Riyadh club are said to be willing to QUADRUPLE Fernandes’ wages – offering him a tax-free pay packed of £700,000-PER-WEEK.The Portuguese playmaker opened the door for an exit after United’s Europa League heartbreak at the hands of Tottenham.He said: “If the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in, it is what it is.”United’s failure to qualify for Europe in any form for the first time since 2015 has left them in dire financial straits.Read More on The SunArgentine academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly been told to find a new club in the summer.Garnacho, who was left out of the matchday squad alongside Andre Onana for the United’s final-day win over Villa, is one of many players that will be up for sale as United try and resolve their worrying financial situation.Bruno Fernandes could be on his way out of Man UtdCredit: Getty More

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    Newcastle ‘ready to make statement £100m-plus double transfer swoop’ for Marc Guehi and Bryan Mbeumo

    NEWCASTLE are preparing a statement £100m double transfer swoop after qualifying for next season’s Champions League.The Toon are eyeing moves for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, reports claim.Newcastle are interested in Brentford winger Bryan MbeumoCredit: Shutterstock EditorialEddie Howe’s side previously pushed to sign Marc Guehi last summerCredit: ReutersThanks to Manchester United beating Aston Villa 2-0 on the final day, Newcastle have cash to spend after finishing in the top-five, despite defeat to Everton. And sporting director Paul Mitchell wants to get one final major deal done before he quits St James’ Park after 18 months in June.Newcastle tried and failed to sign Guehi last summer after a long pursuit, but have always remained interested in the England centre-back.And Palace could be tempted to cash-in now with Guehi, 24, entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSNewcastle won’t pay the £65million asking price they were quoted 11 months ago, but hope a compromise can be reached, according to The Telegraph.Brentford’s Mbeumo, 25, is a top target for several clubs, including Premier League champions Liverpool, after an electrifying season.Howe has long been an admirer of the Cameroon international, who scored 20 GOALS and provided eight assists in the Prem this season.But Bees manager Thomas Frank won’t let Mbeumo go easily, with the West London club set to ask for between £50-£60million.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMbeumo finished just three goals behind Newcastle No 9 Alexander Isak, who came second to Mo Salah in the Golden Boot race this season.A right-sided forward and a defender have been the two more pressing positions to fill for the last couple of years.Newcastle star Callum Wilson bravely opens up on moment he considered taking his own life as a childWhen asked about transfers last weekend, Howe stressed that Newcastle must move quickly.The 47-year-old, who led the club to their first trophy in 70 years, said: “Speed is key for us. I’ve reiterated that many times internally. “We have to be dynamic, we have to be ready to conclude things very, very quickly because good players don’t hang around for long.“That’s always been my thought and my message on recruitment because you can have a period where you think you’ve got time.“But then you can look around quickly and realise that that time has elapsed and you have missed opportunities that you won’t get again.“That’s what we’ll be trying, but obviously the reality of that is it’s not always in your hands. But we’ll be doing our best to do things early.”Newcastle gaffer Eddie Howe has urged the club to move quickly this summerCredit: Getty More

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    Martin Zubimendi set for Arsenal medical ahead of £51m transfer as Gunners beat Real Madrid to Real Sociedad midfielder

    MARTIN ZUBIMENDI will complete a medical in the coming days ahead of his £51m switch to Arsenal.The Real Sociedad midfielder has been in advanced talks with the Gunners since January and is on the verge of becoming Mikel Arteta’s first capture of the summer.Martin Zubimendi is on course to join Arsenal in a £51million dealCredit: GETTYThe 26-year-old is set to undergo a medical with the north Londoners in the coming daysCredit: GETTYPersonal terms and relevant documents have already been signed and agreed, as well as the payment structure around the Spaniard’s £51m release clause.Senior Arsenal figures expect the deal to be completed swiftly as they also target landing a striker – with Sporting Lisbon’s £60m-valued Viktor Gyokeres a top priority.Once Zubmendi, 26, passes his medical, he will be announced as an Arsenal player.He will provide depth to a midfield that has already lost veteran Jorginho, who is heading to Brazilian outfit Flamengo on a free transfer with his Emirates deal expiring next month.READ MORE ON ARSENALThomas Partey is also out of contract, but the club are in talks to extend his stay after an impressive campaign, while Albert Sambi Lokonga – who spent last season on loan at Sevilla – will see a one-year extension triggered on his contract.Zubimendi is highly rated by Arteta, who convinced the Euro 2024 winner of the North London project after he turned down a switch to Arne Slot’s Liverpool last summer.It is the start of a huge summer of incomings for Arsenal as they prepare to splash around £200m on new talent to fire them to Premier League glory next term.Swedish striker Gyokeres, 26, is viewed as an ideal attacking signing following a two-year stint in Portugal that has seen him bag 97 goals in 102 appearances in all competitions, and is favoured by sporting director Andrea Berta.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSSporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha revealed this week: “He has three more years on his contract. At the moment there are no offers.“We want to keep the best players and retain talent. We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts.Thierry Henry hits out at Mikel Arteta as trophyless Arsenal are shown up by ‘the Man Utd that everyone laughs at’“But the market is not under our control, we are always dependent.”Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, 21 – valued between £60m and £70m – is also on Arsenal’s radar, having attempted to sign the Slovenian last summer and in the winter window.There is still a chance Arteta could make a move for Sesko, but SunSport understands there is a concern over his age and experience at the top level, needing the player to hit the ground running in the Prem.Chelsea are also interested in Sesko as they prepare to sign a No.9 this summer too.Arsenal are also considering moves for £50m-rated Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, 22, as well as £25m-valued Espanyol back-up keeper Joan Garcia, 24. More

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    Rio Ferdinand QUITTING TNT Sports after 10 years as Man Utd icon releases emotional statement about ‘difficult decision’

    RIO Ferdinand has announced he is quitting his pundit role with TNT Sports.Former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand, 46, has been one of the faces of the channel since joining its predecessor BT Sport in 2015.Rio Ferdinand has announced he’s quitting TNT Sports after ten yearsFerdinand has become a popular pundit since ending his playing career in 2015Ferdinand has acted as both a pundit and co-commentator for domestic and European football, including last week’s Europa League Final between United and Spurs in Bilbao.But the ex-Three Lions skipper will step away from the TNT microphone after Saturday’s Champions League Final between Inter Milan and PSG in Munich.Ferdinand explained in a lengthy social media post: “After 10 incredible years. I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final.“Since retiring from football it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sports and TNT Sports.READ MORE ON MAN UTD“I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen, but has been essential to our success. “To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday, and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals.“The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever, and I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead. “Lastly, I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford“They have supported me to travel all over the Europe following the best players and watching the best matches. For a football fan like me, it’s been a dream come true. “As I turn the page to the next chapter. I carry with me countless memories.Rio Ferdinand calls out Roy Keane and Gary Neville’s takes on Man Utd vs Man City “I’m excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests.“I hope to stay connected with all of you in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything.”Sources at TNT suggested Ferdinand could return to the channel in the future, whether on a guest or permanent basis and that it was entirely his decision.The decision not to renew his deal allows Ferdinand to concentrate on his own online channels, which have become increasingly popular.Ferdinand was hospitalised after a health scare at the start of the monthFerdinand was recently off work after suffering from a health scare, forcing him to miss Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain.He was hospitalised with a serious virus, which he later called a “crazy illness” that left him vomiting.Ferdinand can now juggle his time better between family life and work commitments.Read More on The SunHe is married to wife Kate, who he shares two biological children with.The couple also raise three kids from Ferdinand’s first marriage to late partner Rebecca, who tragically died from cancer in 2015.Ferdinand is married to former Towie star Kate More

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    Raheem Sterling urged to join Arsenal’s London rivals with Emirates loan up and Chelsea career all-but over

    RAHEEM STERLING has been urged to seek a “fresh challenge” at Premier League side Fulham.The 30-year-old winger is set to return to Chelsea now that his season-long loan at Arsenal has ended.Raheem Sterling’s season-long loan with Arsenal has come to an endCredit: Shutterstock EditorialSterling is set to return to Chelsea, where his contact ends in 2027Sterling hoped to revive his career under Mikel Arteta after being frozen out by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca last summer.But he failed to make an impact at the Emirates, scoring just once in 28 appearances.The four-time Premier League winner started just SEVEN out of 29 available league games this season.Sterling struggled for game-time, with Arteta even reluctant to rely on him during Arsenal’s injury crisis in forward areas.RED MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe Spaniard often played 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to cover Bukayo Saka’s right flank and turned midfielder Mikel Merino into a No 9 when Kai Havertz was ruled out for months.While Sterling is now set to return to Chelsea, he does not have a future at the club while Maresca is still in charge.But ex-Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas has tipped the England international for another Prem club this summer. Gallas thinks Sterling could benefit from following several Arsenal stars who have left North London for game time at Fulham.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeGallas told Casino Games: “I think it’s time for a fresh challenge for Sterling.”I think one of Arteta’s biggest mistakes has been a lack of rotation at times because they have picked up injuries.Thierry Henry hits out at Mikel Arteta as trophyless Arsenal are shown up by ‘the Man Utd that everyone laughs at’William Gallas can see Sterling at FulhamCredit: Getty”You have to give players a rest at certain times, but with Sterling, he must be frustrated, maybe he will want to stay in the Premier League and in London.”He’s 30 now, but maybe a club like Fulham could give him that opportunity and more chances to play.”The Cottagers enjoyed another steady season under Marco Silva, finishing 11th in the Prem and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.Goalkeeper Bernd Leno, midfielder Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe all joined Fulham from the Gunners over the last few seasons, while Willian played for all three clubs, including Chelsea.Sterling was one of the marquee signings of the early Todd Boehly era, joining for £47.5m in the summer of 2022 from Manchester City.He earns an eye-watering £325,000-per-week in wages, with his contract expiring in 2027. Read More on The SunSterling enjoyed the best period of his career at Man City, scoring over 100 goals for the club and lifting 12 trophies.The Wembley-born winger was named PFA Young Player of the Year at City in 2018/2019.Sterling’s Premier League stats this season More

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    Thierry Henry hits out at Mikel Arteta as trophyless Arsenal are shown up by ‘the Man Utd that everyone laughs at’

    THIERRY HENRY has hit out at trophyless Arsenal by comparing them to “the Man Utd that everyone laughs at”.The French striker’s former team finished second in the Premier League for the third season in a row, this time losing out on the title to Liverpool, while the two years prior were against Manchester City.Thierry Henry has said it is right that questions are being asked of Mikel ArtetaCredit: YouTube/The OverlapArteta has not won a trophy in the last five years at ArsenalCredit: GettyHenry compared Arsenal’s nearlymen to ‘the Man Utd that everyone laughs at’Credit: GettyThe Gunners have once again become regular title challengers under Mikel Arteta in the league, while they are also now making deep runs into the latter stages of the Champions League.However, Arsenal’s lack of silverware, domestic or European, under Arteta has led to some criticising the Spanish manager’s time in charge with no tangible success.Indeed, with Tottenham winning the Europa League after 17 years without a trophy, Arsenal now hold the record for the longest run without a trophy among the “Big Six”.Their last silverware – or final appearance – came in Arteta’s first season in charge when he led the club to FA Cup success after taking over from Unai Emery in the 2019/20 season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIn that time, Manchester United have struggled for consistency in the league but have been to five finals – two Europa Leagues, two FA Cups and the League Cup – and have won two trophies.And Gunners icon Henry believes it is right that questions are being asked about the club’s lack of success under Arteta after a huge outlay of money on transfers.Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Henry said: “I understand that at the very beginning [for Mikel Arteta] you arrive and it’s not your team, you need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to. “It takes time and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates”Now, for the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in or a final. “Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final. Mikel Arteta will be sacked by Christmas if Arsenal are not in top two, warns former Gunners star”So, I do understand when people ask the question, ‘Surely you should compete for a trophy?’ “I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing.”Addressing fans at the Emirates after their final home game of the season – a 1-0 win over Newcastle – Arteta urged fans to continue backing the team so they could make their trophy dream a reality.He said: “We had a dream. It was to be here today or in a week’s time and bring big trophies to you guys. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do it for many circumstances. “But make sure that chasing a dream doesn’t get blurry and you don’t see what these players, this staff and this football club is doing. And make sure that you chase the dream with enthusiasm and positivity next season.”What I have said before, is we have to start creating our own history here in this stadium. We certainly have started this season. There is much more to come. We have to do it all together. It is not going to be easy.”But this group of players, I am telling you, they have the hunger, they have the quality, they have the talent and we are coming again. We need to reset first…”But before we do that – please – because I know what these players have been through, this staff, this season.”Any other club in this position would finish in a position that you cannot even dream of, so please say thank you to the players, say thank you to the staff and thank you to all of you for your support.”Arsenal have been urged to recruit a top forward or two to finally see them win the Premier League after more than two decades.Read More on The SunReports suggest the Gunners have launched a formal offer of around £62million to land Sporting Lisbon ace Viktor Gyokeres.Other forwards linked to a move to the red half of north London include Benjamin Sesko, Julian Alvarez and Rodrygo. More