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    in Motorsport

    Michael Schumacher’s close pal Jean Todt gives rare health update after ‘regular’ visits to see stricken F1 star

    MICHAEL Schumacher’s close pal and ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt has opened up about his “regular” visits to the stricken Formula One legend.The seven-time world champion, now 56, has not been seen in public since his horror skiing accident in 2013.Michael Schumacher’s close friend and former boss Jean Todt, left, has given the latest update on the stricken starCredit: AP:Associated PressTodt revealed that he visits Schumacher ‘regularly and with affection’Credit: AFPThe ex-Ferrari and FIA boss previously said Schumacher is ‘no longer the Michael we knew’Credit: AFPHis family has remained fiercely private about his condition, with only a select few given access to the German ace.Todt, who led Ferrari during Schumacher’s dominant era, remains one of the family’s closest confidants.Speaking to La Repubblica, the former FIA president revealed he still visits Schumacher frequently and cherishes their friendship despite the tragic turn of events.“The family has decided not to answer the question (on his condition). A choice that I respect,” Todt said. Read more on Schumacher“I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. “Our bond goes beyond the past work. It is part of my life, which today is very far from Formula 1.”BEHIND CLOSED DOORSTodt’s words offer a rare glimpse into Schumacher’s life behind closed doors.He has previously acknowledged that his old friend “is no longer the Michael we knew”, but has remained steadfast in his support.Most read in MotorsportThe Frenchman is one of the very few people allowed to visit Schumacher, joining a tight circle that includes his former teammate Luca Badoer, longtime manager Sabine Kehm, and ex-Ferrari ace Felipe Massa.It is believed that Schumacher and Todt still share their love for racing, with reports suggesting they watch Formula One together whenever possible.Watch as Schumacher ‘blackmailer’s’ son is DRAGGED off cam by lawyerGRANDDAD SCHUEYThe F1 legend is now set to become a grandfather for the first time after his daughter Gina announced her pregnancy just three months after her wedding.The 27-year-old shared the exciting news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.”She accompanied the message with a picture of a foal standing next to pink balloons.Gina and Iain Bethke pictured in 2017Credit: GettyMichael carrying Gina as a toddlerCredit: RexGina married longtime partner Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa last September, with initial reports claiming Schumacher was present.Guests were reportedly forced to hand over their phones to prevent any leaks.But Schumacher’s former F1 teammate Johnny Herbert later dismissed the speculation as “A1 fake news”.“It will always be a closed shop,” Herbert told Flashscore. READ MORE SUN STORIES“The most recent rumour was he attended his daughter’s wedding.”Unfortunately, from what I understand that was all A1 fake news and no truth in it.”Michael Schumacher’s years-long recovery from cruel ski accidentMCIHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury. Since then, his family has fiercely protected his privacy, while only a select few remain in contact with the stricken racing legend.December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. Airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable.” His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.June 2014 – Awakening from coma: Schumacher is brought out of his coma after nearly six months. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home on the shores of Lake Geneva. His wife Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.2015–2018 – Years of silence: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection.”September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news.” Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.December 2024 – Schumacher to become a grandfather: Gina announces she is pregnant, three months after her wedding. She shares the news on Instagram, writing: “Impatiently awaiting the arrival of our little girl.” More

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    in Soccer

    Meet Aston Villa signing Marco Asensio’s stunning Wag, who worked as a waitress in a nightclub and is now an architect

    DESPITE losing Jhon Duran during the transfer window, Aston Villa were able to bolster their attack.In came Man Utd outcast Marcus Rashford, to much fanfare from Villa’s support.Meet Marco Ascensio gorgeous wife Sandra GaralCredit: instagram @ssandragaralStunning Sandra is an architect and interior designerCredit: instagram @ssandragaralAston Villa new boy Marco Asensio began his romance with Sandra in 2019Credit: instagram @ssandragaralWhile, intriguingly, former Real Madrid star Marco Asensio joined on loan from PSG.The 29-year-old Spain international had fallen out of favour at the Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique.So, it’ll be a relief for Asensio that fellow Spaniard Unai Emery could offer him valuable game time instead.Off the pitch, the attacking midfielder is very settled. He married longterm love, Sandra Garal in 2023.Read more football newsThe glam Wag has emerged as one of football’s most popular partners, as SunSport reveals.Who is she?The Spanish beauty, 30, graduated from Madrid’s Superior Technical School of Architecture.She is an architect and interior designer by profession – and runs her own business.But, it’s not all work and no play for Sandra who is a total fashionista.Most read in FootballOn her Instagram, where she over 362,000 followers, she shares her enviable lifestyle.Top ten Premier League managers’ WagsThat includes fashion shoots peddling online brands, including yoga wear from alo and jewellery by Luxenter.She plays the role of Wag well – looking glam in designer wear.Last year she attended Milan Fashion Week, where she shared glimpses inside the shows of Louis Vuitton and Elisabetta Franchi.How they metThe couple met at a nightclub in Madrid in 2019.Sandra was reportedly working as a waitress when Asensio laid eyes on her.Early on, they kept their romance private.However, that same year they were guests at Asensio’s former teammate Sergio Ramos’ wedding to Pilar Rubio.Sandra and Asensio said their ‘I do’s’ at Mallorca’s La Fortaleza, in an intimate ceremony attended by close friends and family.Asensio’s father was his best man, while guests included Gareth Bale and Rafael Nadal.Fashionable Sandra met Asensio when she worked as a waitress in a Madrid nightclubCredit: instagram @ssandragaralSandra regularly shows off her amazing bikini body on social mediaCredit: instagram @ssandragaralAscensio and Sandra got married in 2023 after dating for four yearsCredit: instagram @ssandragaralread more sport featuresThe winger has his own charity, Marco Asensio Foundation which is dedicated to supporting children with cancer and their families.Instead of wedding gifts, they asked guests to make contributions to the organisation.Don’t mention Dua Lia…Bizarrely, before Asensio met Sandra he was linked to pop sensation Dua Lipa.The Houdini singer performed in the opening ceremony of the Champions League final featuring his old club, Real Madrid and Liverpool.However, Dua Lipa soon dismissed the reports – insisting she’d never met Asensio.READ MORE SUN STORIESStylish Sandra attends the Louis Vuitton event at Milan Fashion WeekCredit: instagram @ssandragaralSandra always cuts an elegant figure and loves dressing to the ninesCredit: instagram @ssandragaralSandra shares her enviable lifestyle on Instagram to 362,000 followersCredit: instagram @ssandragaralAsensio was linked to Dua Lipa who performed at the 2018 Champions League finalCredit: Getty Images – GettyAddressing the rumours, she wrote on social media: “I haven’t even met Marco Asensio and it is highly unlikely I ever will as my Liverpool supporting manager would never forgive me.”Dua Lipa’s loss was Sandra’s gain, and if his loan at Villa Park is a success maybe we will see her permanently on our shores. More

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    in Soccer

    How will January transfer activity affect Dream Team? Starting prices revealed for new additions

    THE January transfer window has officially slammed shut.The only thing to do now is mull over what it all means for Dream Team managers.Dream Team bosses should always be aware of new optionsCredit: Dream TeamAston Villa have bolstered their ranks with five new arrivals in an attempt to ensure a strong second half of the campaign.Right-back Andres Garcia (£2.5m) and forward Donyell Malen (£2.9m) have joined on a permanent basis but it’s the Villains’ loanees who may appeal most to gaffers. Defender Axel Disasi (£3.3m) has temporarily switched over from Chelsea while Marco Asensio (£3.5m) has joined from PSG.The Spain international is an interesting prospect.Dubbed a wonderkid in his younger years, the 29-year-old hasn’t quite lived up to expectations but he remains a talented player who is capable of significant contributions in the final third.Asensio averages a goal or assist every 115.5 minutes in Ligue 1 since his transfer to PSG.Villa have bolstered their attacking options after Jhon Duran’s exitCredit: GettyAnd he averaged a goal involvement every 165.3 minutes over eight seasons in La Liga despite being deemed a second-string option for most of his Real Madrid career.Crucially, Asensio has been added to the game as a midfielder but it wouldn’t come as a shock if he played some minutes as a centre-forward.Most read in FootballExperienced Dream Team bosses will be the first to acknowledge the heady heights Marcus Rashford (£3.4m) is capable of reaching when everything clicks.The England international scored 30 goals in all competitions for Manchester United in 2022/23 but his relationship with his boyhood club deteriorated under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.If Unai Emery can restore the 27-year-old’s confidence then there could be more than a few Dream Team points up for grabs, especially with Villa assured of their place in the Champions League last 16.Fresh startCredit: Instagram / avfcofficialManchester City have been the biggest spenders this winter.Gaffers have already had a look at Abdukodir Khusanov (£3.2m) and Omar Marmoush (£4.5m); the former desperately struggled against Chelsea but the latter has looked bright in his two outings, without the points to show for it.The defending champions’ deadline day signing of Nico Gonzalez (£3.5m) from Porto might turn a few heads.In Rodri’s absence, midfield has been a problem area for Pep Guardiola in recent months and so the 23 year-old Spaniard could feasibly pin down a regular starting spot in double quick time if he hits ground running.It would be unrealistic to expect a new signing to immediately fill the boots of the current Ballon d’Or holder but the prospect of fresh blood at Man City is an intriguing one from a Dream Team perspective.Gonzalez is an adaptable midfielderCredit: AFPElsewhere, Mathys Tel (£3.5m) has agreed loan move to Tottenham with an option to buy in the summer.The teenage winger was linked to several Premier League clubs throughout the window but ultimately chose Spurs after a conversation with Ange Postecoglou.Tel has been limited to 253 league minutes for Bayern Munich this season, hence his desire to move, but will probably be thrown straight in at his new club amid Spurs’ injury crisis.The Frenchman is still a developing talent but highly rated by those who have followed his career closely.Categorised as a forward in Dream Team, it will be interesting to see how he is deployed by Postecoglou – attack-minded Spurs assets have done every well in Dream Team this season.Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United were also said to be interested in TelCredit: RexThe North Londoners have also strengthened in defence with the loan signing of centre-back Kevin Danso (£3.5m) from Lens.Although gaffers will be wary of Spurs defenders who don’t offer an attacking threat.Manchester United have added left-back Patrick Dorgu (£2.5m) to their ranks.The 20 year-old Denmark international’s place in the pecking order is not yet clear but he’s impressed at Lecce since making his professional debut last season.Finally, it will be interesting to see how Evan Ferguson (£2.7m) gets on at West Ham.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Irish striker has previously enjoyed spells of relative popularity in Dream Team but he scored just one goal in Brighton colours this season before his loan switch to East London.At the very least, Dream Team managers should be aware of new possibilities off the back of the January transfers window.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOW More

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    Thomas Tuchel ready to fast-track Myles Lewis-Skelly into England squad after Arsenal starlet’s incredible breakthrough

    ENGLAND manager Thomas Tuchel is monitoring Myles Lewis-Skelly ahead of a potential call-up.The Arsenal full-back, 18, has become a regular for Mikel Arteta’s side of late.Myles Lewis-Skelly has been an Arsenal regular of lateCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel is reportedly considering the Arsenal full-backCredit: GettyWith the Three Lions having struggled at left-back, Lewis-Skelly could be fast tracked into the senior squad.Tuchel, 51, is said to hold some reservations over the Gunners teenager’s age and lack of experience.Lewis-Skelly has not even yet debuted for England’s Under-21s, let alone the senior side.With Tuchel short at left-back, however, Lewis-Skelly has a chance to quickly becoming part of the squad.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAccording to The Times, Tuchel has twice personally checked in on the Arsenal academy graduate’s progress.They add that England staff are “stepping up” their scouting of Lewis-Skelly.Tuchel is set to take charge of the Three Lions for the first time against Albania at Wembley on March 21.Three days later his side will host Latvia in a further World Cup qualifier.Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYLewis-Skelly, who has made 10 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, will hope to be involved.Luke Shaw has been England’s preferred left-back in recent years but has been dogged by injuries.’I’m getting emotional’ – England manager Thomas Tuchel’s comments on Cole Palmer leave Chelsea fans close to tearsThe Manchester United star has played just three times this season, but could be in line to return in the FA Cup this weekend.Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell will hope to return to contention after joining Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea.Chilwell is a player Tuchel knows well from his time at Stamford Bridge.Lewis Hall has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Newcastle and earned his first two caps earlier this season.While Djed Spence has recently excelled at right and left-back for Tottenham.Tuchel did not attend Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday.READ MORE SUN STORIESInstead he headed to Italy to watch AC Milan’s 1-1 draw with city rivals Inter.The match was Kyle Walker’s Milan debut, while Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham were also in action.Tuchel watched Kyle Walker in action last weekendCredit: Rex More

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    LaLiga chaos as referees willing to go on STRIKE after Real Madrid statement claiming decisions are ‘manipulated’

    LALIGA referees are reportedly considering going on strike after a letter from Real Madrid questioning their integrity.In a bombshell statement, the Champions League winners said “decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored.”LaLiga referees are willing to go on strike after Real Madrid issued a statement claiming their decisions were ‘manipulated’Credit: AFPReal Madrid were left furious after this challenge on Kylian Mbappe was only punished with a yellow cardCredit: DAZNVinicius Jr also saw a goal disallowed due to this off-the-ball challenge from MbappeLos Blancos were left furious with the quality of officiating during their 1-0 loss at Espanyol.Vinicius Jr saw a first half goal disallowed for an off-the-ball foul by Kylian Mbappe.And Espanyol’s Carlos Romero was only shown a yellow card for a studs-up lunge on Mbappe, before going on to score the winning goal.The Real Madrid letter also stated: “The scandal generated by this match has once again had worldwide repercussions, with the international press denouncing the biased use of VAR in Spain and the lack of credibility of Spanish refereeing.”READ MORE ON REAL MADRIDAnd the club called for the VAR audio footage of the incidents in question to be released immediately.But, answering a question from a caller, Cope journalist Isaac Fouto claimed that some referees in LaLiga are in favour of going on strike in response to the accusations.He said: “There are referees from the First Division who believe that they should go on strike.”But he added: “The strike is either everyone [or no-one]… some have said they will go, but everyone has to go.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”It is being considered, it is being considered in the environment. If this takes this turn, the competition will stop.”Following the Real Madrid letter, the Spanish FA [RFEF] released a statement backing its officials.Wholesome moment Jude Bellingham leaves a young Real Madrid fan crying with happiness as he hands him his shirtThe RFEF commented: “The refereeing task, by its very nature, is subject to review and analysis.”But this cannot lead to generalised accusations that cast doubt on their integrity, as this not only affects the referees themselves, but also erodes the credibility of soccer as a whole.“It is important to reflect on the consequences of this type of systematic questioning of refereeing. “Constantly delegitimizing the work of referees outside the established channels generates a climate of mistrust that benefits neither Spanish football nor its competitions.”Meanwhile Carlo Ancelotti has come out and said that the refereeing is better in the Premier League than LaLiga.The Real Madrid boss said: “What league has the best referees? Difficult to say. It’s a tough job. “What I can say is referees suffer less pressure in England, so they do their job better.” More

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    How net transfer spend of Premier League ‘Big Six’ compares since Pep Guardiola’s arrival with Man Utd outspending City

    PEP GUARDIOLA hit the panic button in the January transfer window.After the worst run of his managerial career – which included five defeats in a row before collapsing against Feyenoord – he sanctioned a whopping £182million outlay to try and rescue Manchester City’s season.Pep Guardiola is spending his way out of trouble amid a difficult season for Man CityCredit: GettyMan City have splashed the cash in January including £64m on Omar MarmoushCredit: GettyCity started off their New Year spending spree by landing centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov for £33.6m.The Premier League’s first Uzbek player was followed to the Etihad by fellow defender Vitor Reis for £29.6m.Guardiola then bolstered his attack with the biggest signing of the January transfer window in England, dropping £64m on Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.Juma Bah joined for £5.1m and then City ensured they secured the four biggest deals of the month by snapping up £50m Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez on deadline day. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTogether with Savinho as their main new acquisition back in the summer for £21m, City spent more than £200m on players this season. But they also made £159m in sales.More than half of that came from Julian Alvarez’s exit to Atletico Madrid while Joao Cancelo headed to Saudi Arabia and once again the cash added up by letting a host of academy graduates go. But City’s £201m expenditure and £42m net spend were both far exceeded by neighbours Manchester United.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSRuben Amorim’s main signing in January was the £29m dropped on left-back Patrick Dorgu – adding to the £200m spent in the summer on the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte. With only £86m raised in departures, the 2024-25 net spend was £143m. Meet Man City signing Nico Gonzalez, who is son of Pep Guardiola’s former team-mate and could be £50m Rodri solution And that was the biggest of the ‘Big Six’ this season – therefore extending their ‘lead’ as the overall biggest net spenders among the elite English clubs since 2016, when Pep Guardiola arrived. 1. MAN UTD – £1billionSince 2016, Manchester United have spent a staggering £1.37billion on new players.Paul Pogba’s £89m arrival that year remains the club record, although Antony (£85.5m), Harry Maguire (£85m), Romelu Lukaku (£75m), Jadon Sancho (£73m) and Rasmus Hojlund (£72m) all arrived in massive deals.Their biggest signing this season was Leny Yoro for up to £52m. United’s record sale remains Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m in 2009 so the highest fee received in the period since 2016 is the £73m they got from Inter Milan for Romelu Lukaku in 2019.Ironically, the money banked for Mason Greenwood (£26.6m) and Scott McTominay (£25m) in the summer are among the biggest United sales of all time.Across the period from 2016, United have sold £371m worth of players – the lowest in the ‘Big Six’ – to take their overall net spend to just about exactly £1bn. Man Utd are the biggest net spenders in the Premier League – and unveiled new signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven on SundayCredit: Getty2. CHELSEA – £836millionChelsea’s crazy spending has gone to even more bonkers levels since Todd Boehly took over in 2022. But in the last nine seasons, the total is barely believable: a staggering £1.97bn. This season’s £54m deal for Pedro Neto does not even make the top ten on their list – behind the likes of Wesley Fofana (£75m), Kai Havertz (£70m) and that man Lukaku again (£97.5m).Chelsea are the only English team to have spent £100m-plus on two different transfers – the £106m for Enzo Fernandez and £100m, possibly rising to £115m, for Moises Caicedo. But while Chelsea are the biggest Prem spenders, they are also the biggest Prem sellers, racking up £1.13bn in player exits – including £88m (Eden Hazard to Real Madrid), £65m (Havertz to Arsenal) and £60m (Mason Mount to United) – as their net spend works out as £836m. That was helped by fetching big money for Ian Maatsen (£37.5m), Lewis Hall (£28m), Conor Gallagher (£36m) and Lukaku (£25.2m) this term. Pedro Neto doesn’t even crack the top ten biggest Chelsea transfers in the last nine seasons, even at £54mCredit: AP3. MAN CITY – £695millionWe’ve already discussed City’s spending this season but how does that play into the overall picture in the Guardiola era?In total, the Etihad giants are second for outlays on £1.46bn.Marmoush’s arrival is fourth in their all-time list, just behind Ruben Dias and then a way off Josko Gvardiol (£77m) and record-signing Jack Grealish who cost £100m.As with Chelsea, though, City fetch some hefty prices for selling off a wave of youngsters good enough for many teams but just not quite at Guardiola’s required elite level. The Alvarez deal could rise to £81.5m while the money for Taylor Harwood-Bellis (£20m), Liam Delap (£15m), Sergio Gomez (£8.4m) and Tommy Doyle (£4.3m) racks up.After Alvarez, City’s other biggest sales in the period are Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Cole Palmer (all between £47.5m and £40m). And the total tally is a net spend of £695m with Guardiola in the dugout.4. ARSENAL – £688millionCity’s net spend is just £7m or so more than Arsenal’s over the same period – but they have six more Premier League titles, four more League Cups, an extra Champions League and an extra Club World Cup to show for it, and the same number of FA Cups. Arsenal’s total is £688m in the red – including approximately £23m this season with approximately £100m spent and £77m received. David Raya (£27m), Riccardo Calafiori (£42m), and Mikel Merino (£31m) were the major arrivals but Emile Smith Rowe (£27m), Aaron Ramsdale (£18m) and Eddie Nketiah (£25m) all departed. Arsenal have not been afraid to spend big, splashing out £60m on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and £72m on Nicolas Pepe before the more recent arrivals of £65m Kai Havertz and £105m Declan Rice. The Smith Rowe deal is their fifth-biggest sale ever – and Nketiah ninth – while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tops the pile on £35m to Liverpool in 2017.Riccardo Calafiori is Arsenal’s biggest purchase of 2024-25 at £42mCredit: Getty5. TOTTENHAM – £580millionTottenham are just shy of the £1bn spending mark since 2016 – on £995m.That includes £145m this season on record arrival Dominic Solanke (£65m), £40m on Archie Gray, £25m on Wilson Odobert and £12.5m on goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky who came in during January. Other major outlays were Richarlison (£50m), Dejan Kulusevski (£25m), James Maddison (£40m), Pedro Porro (£37.3m), Micky van de Ven (£35m) and Brennan Johnson (£47.5m). As for their sales, they total £415m in the time frame – the big one being Harry Kane leaving for Bayern Munich at the beginning of last season for an initial £86m.Kyle Walker’s move to Manchester City in 2017 was worth around £50m but the biggest sales this season were Oliver Skipp to Leicester (£20m), Emerson Royal to Milan (£12.8m) and Joe Rodon to Leeds (£10m). And that all means Spurs are down £580m on transfer fees since 2016.Dominic Solanke set back Tottenham £65m last summerCredit: Getty6. LIVERPOOL – £282millionPerhaps it is no surprise to see Liverpool with the best net spend of the ‘Big Six’ on a mere £282m over the past nine seasons. In fact, the Reds have actually made a profit in the 2024-25 campaign by only buying Federico Chiesa for £10m and raising £50m in sales from Fabio Carvalho (£20m), Sepp van den Berg (£20m) and Bobby Clark (£10m). It continued a wise – and successful – transfer strategy that has seen Liverpool sell big and then wait to find the right players at the right time for the right price. In the pre-2016 era not included in these figures, Liverpool sold Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Raheem Sterling.They then secured an eye-watering £145m from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho in 2018, making up more than a quarter of their £505m in sales during the set period. READ MORE SUN STORIESLiverpool have not been afraid to splash the cash too – £787m in total since 2016 – with te overall £85.3m deal for Darwin Nunez in 2022 their record signing ahead of Virgil van Dijk (£75m), Alisson (£67m), Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m) and Naby Keita (£53m). Interestingly, Liverpool’s £282m net spend since 2016 is significantly less than West Ham (£451m) and Newcastle (£396m) and just £8m more than Aston Villa after they sold Jaden Philogene (£20m), Diego Carlos (£8.5m) and Jhon Duran (£64m) in January.Liverpool have made a £40m profit this season, signing only £10m man Federico ChiesaCredit: Getty More

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    Major Newcastle stadium update with club leaning towards new £1.6billion venue that would overlap St James’ Park

    NEWCASTLE chiefs are edging towards building a new £1.2billion stadium, according to reports.Toon bosses want to either expand or leave their traditional St James’ Park home.Newcastle could look to leave their St James’ Park homeCredit: GettyThe new stadium could be built adjacent to St James’ Park over a portion of Leazes ParkCredit: Getty – ContributorBoard members have been exploring the possibility of departing St James’ Park for a new stadium.According to the Telegraph, Newcastle’s new stadium would overlap the current ground’s Leazes and Milburn Stands.The rest of it would stand over what is currently part of Leazes Park.One stumbling block could be that Leazes Park is a protected Victorian-era green space.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLClub bosses hope that by only needing a small portion of the park, and by building new green space nearby, members of the public and council could be persuaded.The new stadium would hold just under 70,000 supporters.This would make it the second-biggest club football stadium in the country.In building their new stadium, Newcastle would likely opt for a similar path followed by Tottenham, who also built adjacent to their former home on land they already owned.Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYNewcastle’s new stadium could be built adjacent to the current groundThe road that currently runs behind the Milburn Stand would not be altered by new plans.But the car park by the current Leazes Stand would need to be demolished.Premier League stadium given subtle makeover during international breakIt’s hoped that Newcastle could continue playing at St James’ Park after work was to get underway.A temporary relocation is not out of the question, although they would not groundshare with rivals Sunderland.The most realistic option would be to play at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, around 120 miles away.Newcastle would hope to have a possible new stadium finished in time for the 2031-32 season. Despite leaning towards building a new ground, no decision has yet been made.The Newcastle board will eventually present their final preference to the club’s Saudi owners, who will have the ultimate say.Rather than building a whole new stadium, the Toon could still opt to renovate the Gallowgate End.READ MORE SUN STORIESThis could still take the overall capacity to in excess of 60,000, while likely being a much quicker job than a total rebuild.No decision has yet been made and all avenues are still being explored.The Gallowgate End could be renovatedThe Gallowgate End could undergo significant changesCredit: Rex More

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    How Marcus Rashford should take heart from a string of players who left Man Utd for bigger and better things

    MARCUS RASHFORD should be very, very excited after joining Aston Villa on loan.But it’s less about Villa, no disrespect to the Midlanders who are flying high, currently in the Champions League last 16 and chasing a top-four spot in the Premier League.Marcus Rashford has escaped Man Utd to join Aston Villa on loanCredit: Instagram / avfcofficialRashford had been frozen out at Man Utd but could get a new lease off life away from Old TraffordCredit: ReutersMan Utd are struggling and fans are starting to fear the club are the problem – not the players or even managersCredit: PAIt’s more about Manchester United – once the biggest team on the planet, with the best manager, a squad of elite players and trophies coming out of their ears.And now? The Red Devils sit 13th in the Premier League with an unproven boss in Ruben Amorim, a raft of largely overpaid and underperforming flops and no title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season, 2012-13.On paper, things should be rosy for the red half of Manchester with lots of talented players, like Bruno Fernandes.Their ability to beat rivals to the signing of in-demand stars including Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund and many more.READ MORE SPORT STORIESThe transfer of former world-beating Real Madrid star Casemiro was a particular coup at the time.There’s even been an influx of talented youngsters breaking into the team, most-notably Kobbie Mainoo.So what on earth is going on at Old Trafford? How have their top transfer targets, for the most part, fizzled out and the incredible array of talent in the squad struggle so much?Given how many managers United have gone through since Fergie left, it’s starting to look less and less like the managers… and you can hardly blame the players for a 12-year slump.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWhat, perhaps, is most telling is how many players quit Man Utd and go on to become world-beaters once more.In recent years, we’ve seen the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Memphis Depay, Wilfried Zaha and Angel Di Maria – to name a few – quit United and thrive elsewhere.Marcus Rashford says joining Aston Villa from Man Utd was an easy decisionAnd the theme has continued well into this season… with Rashford the latest big-name star to jump ship, joining Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season, at least.As we prepare for Rashford’s debut for the Midlanders, SunSport takes a look at seven stars enjoying a monster season having recently quit Old Trafford.David De GeaHe won the Premier League in Fergie’s final season, as well as two Prem Golden Gloves, five Man Utd Player of the Season gongs and five Prem Team of the Season entries.And yet by the end the Spaniard, now 34, looked a shell of his former self.A string of high-profile blunders seemed to shatter his confidence and United quickly went public in looking for a new goalkeeper – one who was better with his feet.De Gea was released in the summer of 2023 and spent a year unemployed before Fiorentina came knocking.And ever since, the ex-Atletico Madrid stopper appears to be a man reborn and clearly loving life.After being limited to two Conference League matches to start his Viola career, De Gea has quickly become the Serie A giants’ No1 and was even statistically the best shot-stopper in Europe this season until December.You’d wager United fans would have him back between the sticks now…David De Gea has excelled at Fiorentina, even after a year out of the gameCredit: RexChris SmallingSmalling’s 10-year spell at United did see him rack up more than 300 appearances – in which time he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.But when he departed for Roma on loan in 2019, it looked as though his stock was falling – out of favour at Old Trafford and looking unlikely to ever add to his 31 England caps.That was until he began to produce some sensational displays for the Italian giants.He permanently joined the club in 2020 and thrived even further under former Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho, helping the club to Europa Conference League glory and the Europa League final.While Smalling, 35, was never given another England look-in despite seemingly coming close, he continue to dominate in Italy before joining Saudi side Al-Fayha.Chris Smalling left United and enjoyed a resurgence at RomaCredit: APMan Utd player ratings vs Crystal PalaceMANCHESTER UNITED’S mini-revival under Ruben Amorim came to an abrupt end as Crystal Palace ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford.Here’s how the Red Devils stars rated on a disappointing day.Andre Onana – 5Was left vulnerable by a shaky back-line and beaten by Lacroix’s looping header, which came off the crossbar into Mateta’s path.But he couldn’t do much about the second goal.Leny Yoro – 5Came in for De Ligt, who was benched. Was inches away from scoring his first United goal early on.Did well to block Mitchell after a Mazraoui error, but his positioning was a problem later in the game.Harry Maguire – 3Lost his battle with centre forward Mateta, who held the ball up well and got in behind every time, and was left stranded for the Frenchman’s first goal.Hasn’t connected with Yoro. Palace, namely Sarr, opened them both up with ease and should’ve buried some chances through Mateta.Lisandro Martinez – 6Was stretchered off after jarring his knee in the 79th minute.The Argentine has been scoring the goals recently, but blazed a centre-back’s shot over the bar on the brink of half-time.Noussair Mazraoui – 5He was okay in the right wing-back role again but it is obviously not his best position.Struggled with the dual threat of Mitchell and Daichi Kamada down Palace’s left side.Diogo Dalot – 4Awful link-up play with a horrible blind pass inside the Palace box in a promising team position before the break. He’s not a left winger and it’s clear why Patrick Dorgu has been signed.Manuel Ugarte – 6Missing in the middle when Mateta’s stunning 80-yard run. Missed half a chance in the second-half.Bruno Fernandes – 5Restricted. Couldn’t get forward much and was unlucky not to score from his usual 20-yard territory after being denied by Henderson.Was one of three United players booked.Amad Diallo – 6Great individual runs, on and off the ball. Dropped to wing-back after Mainoo came off and was involved in anything good creatively.Alejandro Garnacho – 5Predictable build-up. But worked hard tracking back as one of the two 10s.Was quieter in the second half and struggled to step up when the going got tough.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Huge experiment by Amorim to have Mainoo lead the line, albeit falsely. It didn’t pay off, but it wasn’t all his fault.He didn’t get the service or have the hold up play required to be effective.SUBSHojlund (’70 for Mainoo) – 5Came on for the last 20 minutes and ran around a bit without doing much of note.Zirkzee (’70 for Mazraoui) – 5As above, not a great deal to write home about despite trying to make things happen.Alvaro CarrerasUnited swooped to sign Alvaro Fernandez Carreras from Real Madrid in 2020, when he was just 17.After a couple of years in the youth squad, hopes were high the Spaniard could be the answer to the club’s well-documented issues at left-back.He was loaned out to Preston, Granada and Benfica before eventually joining the Portuguese giants on a permanent deal last summer.United made just £5million selling the defender, 21, but have now sent scouts to check him out with a view to re-signing him.Worryingly for United, it’s claimed there’s a £42m buy-back clause in the deal.Should Amorim swoop for the star – who would fit his preferred 3-4-3 very nicely – it would prove to be a disastrous bit of business, financially.Alvaro Carreras has been so good for Benfica, Man Utd want him backCredit: ReutersScott McTominayEyebrows were raised when Erik ten Hag allowed the midfielder to quit and sign for Napoli – linking up with fellow Scotsman Billy Gilmour.McTominay, 28, started to show promise in a more advanced role having been touted for huge things by Sir Alex Ferguson when he was younger.Entering his prime years, United only managed to rake in £25m for the midfielder, who’s since been dubbed Napoli’s ‘Elixir’ and ‘Blue Label Scotch’ following a phenomenal start to life in Italy.McTominay has scored six times in 22 games for the Naples giants and won over fans with his work ethic and all-around play.Perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the midfielder has been dubbed a Maradona regen by giddy supporters.The Scot ace had been on the books of the Old Trafford side since he was FIVE YEARS OLD, and yet, becomes another man reborn outside of Old Trafford.Scott McTominay has become an instant fan favourite at NapoliCredit: GettyAngel GomesAfter joining the United youth ranks aged just six, United expected big things of Gomes.The 5ft 6in midfielder, now 24, played just five times in the Premier League for United.And in 2020, he was sold to Ligue 1 giants Lille in a shock transfer.Gomes has gone on to play 132 times for Lille and forced his way into a crowded England midfield set-up, putting in a string of impressive performances under interim boss Lee Carsley.Now with four senior caps to his name, having played for every Young Lions age group from Under-16s to Under-21s, the future is looking very bright for Gomes.Another one who slipped through the net…Angel Gomes is now a part of the England set up after thriving at LilleCredit: GettyAnthony ElangaHaving joined United aged 11, fans couldn’t wait to see the talented winger in action for the senior side.He played twice late in the 2020-21 Premier League season before forcing his way into the squad.However, he was limited to a bit-part role and after two fairly impressive seasons, he joined Nottingham Forest in a £15m deal.Elanga, now a 19-cap Sweden international aged just 22, immediately became a force for the reinvigorated fallen giants.He played all but two Prem matches in 2023-24 and has featured in every league match this season with surprise-package Forest flying high in third.Elanga even bagged a hat-trick of assists in Forest’s 7-0 mauling of Brighton at the weekend.In fact, he’s easily outperformed ALL of United’s attackers since leaving Old Trafford…Anthony Elanga has been sensational for Forest and would arguably start for UnitedCredit: RexCristiano RonaldoA man who needs no introduction, Ronaldo rejoined United for a second stint in a shock transfer in the summer of 2021.The Red Devils beat neighbours City to the coup and hoped he’d bring with him his sensational goalscoring record from Real Madrid and Juventus with him.However, after a strong start, Ronaldo quickly faded away.And, in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, the 217-cap Portugal legend took aim at then-boss Erik ten Hag in brutal manner.After just 16 months, Ronaldo led a Saudi revolution, joining Al-Nassr in a shock deal – where he has found his feet again, scoring 87 times in 95 matches and even winning the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a late-career boost after quitting Man Utd and joining Al-NassrCredit: ReutersBonus round: AntonyIt’s only been one game… but Antony already looks a star reborn at Real Betis.In two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford, the £85.5m signing became one of the club’s most-criticised transfers ever.In 62 Prem games, he scored just five times and rarely had a major effect on games.After leaving last month to join LaLiga side Betis on loan, Antony had an immediate impact, as his shot just 14 minutes into his debut led to an easy tap-in for ex-Real Madrid star Isco.READ MORE SUN STORIESFans on X were quick to pile into the Red Devils, with one even saying: “Maybe United are the problem.”Given the amount of talent who leave the club and suddenly look like world-beaters again, you can’t blame supporters for thinking that.Antony already has a smile back on his face after joining Real Betis on loanCredit: Getty More