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    Jordan Henderson ‘closing in on shock Champions League transfer which could see him link up with Marcus Rashford’

    JORDAN HENDERSON is closing in on a stunning move to Monaco, it’s been claimed.The former England international is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands with Ajax, who he joined last January after terminating his multi-million-pound contract with Al-Ettifaq. Jordan Henderson is reportedly on the verge of leaving AjaxCredit: GETTYHenderson is reportedly on the brinking of agreeing a lucrative contract with MonacoCredit: REXBut it’s been claimed he’s on the verge of leaving the Dutch giants for a shock move to the Principality. That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims the former Sunderland and Liverpool ace has “almost agreed” an 18-month contract with the Ligue 1 side.He wrote on X: “AS Monaco are closing in on deal to sign Jordan Henderson from Ajax as new midfielder! “Permanent move almost agreed on contract until June 2026. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”Here we go, soon.”News of Henderson’s reported imminent exit from Ajax – who want to retain his services – comes just a few weeks after he vowed to stay at the Johan Cruyff Arena.When pressed about a potential return to boyhood club Sunderland, he said: “It’s my club [Sunderland], ever since I was a boy of six or seven years old. “Then I was in the stands. But I just hope I stay here [at Ajax]. I really like it here. Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSMonaco are understood to be interested in signing wantaway Manchester United striker Marcus RashfordCredit: Getty“I want to help the club to grow further. We are also taking those steps. “But I also read it [the transfer speculation]. Marcus Rashford and Henderson OUT of Gareth Southgate’s England Squad for Euro 2024″I don’t even know where all this comes from, because there has been no contact.”A move to Monaco could potentially see Henderson link-up with his former England team-mate Marcus Rashford.Monaco are understood to be one of several European clubs interested in signing the wantaway Manchester United striker.The Ligue 1 outfit will be back in action on Saturday evening, welcoming Auxerre to the Stade Louis II. More

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    Man City hint at major Rodri injury boost as he’s set to be named in Champions League squad

    MANCHESTER CITY plan to name Ballon D’Or winner Rodri in their squad for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.The Spain international was ruled out for the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September.Rodri is set to be named in Man City’s Champions League squadCredit: RexThe ace has been out since September with an ACL injuryCredit: RexBut Rodri has made excellent progress in his recovery and still believes he can be back in contention before the end of the current campaign.Boss Pep Guardiola wants to keep the door open for him to do that – even though City would have to go deep in the competition for him to be even in the frame.That in itself looks in some doubt as they will take on either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich when in the play-off round – with the draw due to be made on Friday.However after four months on the sidelines he is working hard towards his return.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLEarlier this week he was pictured in his training gear on the eve of his club’s win over Club Brugge in the final game of the league stage.He also said in an interview in Spain earlier this month that he believes he can get back for his club before the end of the campaign.Guardiola will be able to add three new players to his squad and signed Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis last week.If they can add a new defensive midfielder or full-back to their squad before Monday’s transfer deadline, it would leave them with a dilemma.Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAll clubs who have reached the knock-out stages have until Thursday February 6 to decide on their squad.Rodri joined City in a £62million move from Atletico Madrid in 2019.Rodri claims the 2024 Ballon d’Or and is congratulated by his motherHe’s since played 260 times under Guardiola, scoring 26 goals in total.And in that time he’s won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League — as well as October’s Ballon d’Or. More

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    ‘That’s better than Shrek’ jokes Wayne Rooney as Roy Keane reveals Hollywood star people mistake him for in the streets

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Roy Keane revealed he gets stopped on the streets by people who mistake him for a famous Hollywood star.Keane, 53, is one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the game and one of the most popular pundits in TV.Manchester United legend Roy Keane revealed the Hollywood star people mistake him forCredit: GettyKeane claims people mistake him for famous actor Mel GibsonCredit: GettyHowever, some still mistake the former Republic of Ireland international for someone completely different.Keane joined former team-mate Gary Neville as well as Ian Wright, Wayne Rooney and Jill Scott in the latest edition of Stick to Football.And the Irish great revealed sometimes people think he’s Mel Gibson – something he’s obviously not very excited about…Keane revealed: “A couple of people called me when I’m around and walking… They called me Mel!”Read More on Man UtdWright asked: “Mel Gibson…?”And Keane responded: “Yeah! [They say] I thought you were Mel Gibson.”I was like, ‘Mel Gibson is f*****g 80’!”Gibson, star of hit movie series Mad Max and Lethal Weapon, is in fact only 69.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSKeane’s fellow pundits agreed that was a compliment, especially Rooney, 39.Man Utd’s record goalscorer has received a lot less flattering comparisons throughout his career.Rooney quipped: “That’s better than Shrek anyway…”‘Are you alright-‘ – Gary Neville stunned as Wayne Rooney admits he STILL wants to manage and reveals unusual next stepThe legendary striker has recently crossed over to management but has been struggling greatly as he was sacked twice in 2024 by Birmingham and most recently Plymouth.Nevertheless, Wazza refuses to give up as he revealed he wants another crack at the dugout.The England great also weighed in on the Marcus Rashford drama revealing that he watched him training by himself and felt embarrassed for him.Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney insists Keane has it better than himRooney has been compared to Shrek throughout his careerCredit: Alamy More

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    England’s Georgia Stanway undergoes knee surgery ahead of Euros with midfielder expected to be ‘out for months’

    GEORGIA STANWAY has undergone a knee operation after suffering a serious injury during training with her club Bayern Munich. The England midfielder, who underwent surgery yesterday, ruptured a lateral ligament in her right knee earlier this week.  Georgia Stanway’s last competitive game prior to her lateral knee ligament injury was against Arsenal in the Champions League in DecemberCredit: ReutersBayern Munich expect the midfielder star will be “out of action for several months” for themCredit: AlamyThe German giants expect the player, 26, to be out of action for several months for their team who are battling to win a seventh Women’s Bundesliga title. This means Stanway could miss the rest of this season and face a battle to be fit for this summer’s Euros with England hoping to retain their crown. The Bayern Munich star was part of the Lionesses side, who under boss Sarina Wiegman, became the first England team to win the contest in 2022. This year’s tournament in Switzerland is due to start on July 2 with England’s group stage opener against France taking place in Zurich three days later. Read More Football StoriesShould the 75-capped Stanway return to fitness by then, there is a chance she may have not have played in any competitive matches before the contest’s start. Her last competitive appearance for her club, who are currently second in Germany’s top tier, was on December 18. Back then the midfielder was part of the team that fell to a 3-2 group stage loss to Arsenal in the Champions League. Stanway, who joined Bayern Munich from Man City in May 2022, is a highly-regarded player for club and country. Most read in FootballShe began her senior club career at Blackburn Rovers in 2015 prior to signing for Man City later that year and then joining Bayern seven years after. Stanway, who was born in Cumbria, made an instant impact on her senior Lionesses debut scoring in a 3-0 friendly defeat of Austria in November 2018Five years later, she helped her national team make history by winning the Women’s Euros for the first time. On the way to defeating Germany in the final of the 2022 contest she scored a long-range quarter-final winner against Spain. Stanway’s injury comes a month on from Alex Greenwood damaging her medial collateral ligament whilst on Manchester City dutyCredit: ReutersStanway’s fitness blow comes just over a month after Lioness and Man City defender Alex Greenwood sustained a medial and collateral ligament injury. The Cityzens captain was stretchered off during her side’s 2-0 defeat of St Polten in the Champions League.She is currently working on her way back to fitness at the club after undergoing surgery following her MCL injury.  More

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    ‘It must be embarrassing,’ says Wayne Rooney as he opens up on seeing Marcus Rashford on visit to Carrington

    WAYNE ROONEY was left embarrased for Marcus Rashford after seeing him train solo at Manchester United’s training ground.The United legend spotted the wantaway striker working with one of the club’s fitness coaches during a recent visit to Carrington to watch his son, Kai, in action.Marcus Rashford revealed late last year that he wants to leave Manchester UnitedCredit: GETTYWayne Rooney recently spotted Rashford training near the youth team pitches at CarringtonCredit: REUTERSWazza felt second-hand embarrassment for the wantaway strikerCredit: YOUTUBE@THEOVERLAPThe England international was working out in close promixmity to the pitches used by the junior Red Devils, which left Rooney with second-hand embarrassement.During a recent episde of the Stick to Football podcast, he recalled: “I went into Carrington on Sunday to take my kids to game day and Marcus Rashford was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach.”But he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids’ games.”I looked at him thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walked past. He’s there and all the parents are walking past him.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”I was surprised when this started over two years ago, but now I’m not.”Rashford stunned the Old Trafford faithful last December by revealing he wants to leave the club for a “new challenge” in an unauthorised interview.His bombshell came after he was exiled from the first team by manager Ruben Amorim, who has been critical of his efforts in tratining.And Rooney believes it’d be best for both parties if Rashford’s wish for a “new challenge” is granted.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHe said: “I’ve spoken to Marcus a couple of times and I’ve given him my thoughts and feelings that he needs to leave the football club.”Because whatever is going on in his life and at Manchester United, he’s not the same. Marcus Rashford trains with Man Utd ahead of transfer deadline day “For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club.”Rashford’s apparent lack of effort in training has stunned Rooney, who added: “The fact your manager is coming out saying you’re not training right is crazy.””It’s well known I asked Sir Alex Ferguson to leave the club but I still came in every day and trained.”With Marcus, it’s been going on for two years, it’s really sad. You have your personal pride.”Take the manager out of it, I’m coming in thinking, ‘I’ve got Roy Keane there, Ryan Giggs [and] Gary Neville.”‘I want to show them that I deserve to be here.'”United will be back in action this evening, travelling to Romania to take on Steaua Bucharest in their final Europa League group match. More

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    Champions League draw simulated in FULL as Arsenal and Liverpool find out when they’ll meet and City learn horror tie

    THE new-look Champions League group stage has finally been completed, with 24 teams now preparing to learn their fate in the competition.Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Barcelona were among the clubs to earn automatic qualification to the last-16.Liverpool finished top of the group stage table this weekCredit: ReutersArsenal earned automatic qualification to the round-of-16Credit: GettyAston Villa also qualified with Morgan Rogers sealing that in style with a hat-trickCredit: GettyMan City will have to qualify for the last-16 via a play-offCredit: GettyWhile the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will have to progress through a play-off.The Premier League champions face arguably the hardest pick of the bunch as they will be drawn against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for the grudge match.Meanwhile, we could also see a huge all-Serie A clash as well as two Dutch giants going head-to-head.With the play-off draw not scheduled until tomorrow, SunSport has completed a simulation to see which path each team could potentially face.Read More in FootballEach play-off club is in a position to face one of two possible opponents, giving them a 50/50 chance.For example, Man City have a 50 per cent chance of facing Bayern Munich and a 50 per cent chance of facing Real Madrid.This week’s draw will only determine the play-off fixtures, not which side of the bracket each of the 16 teams – not including the eight automatic qualifiers – will be on.We have selected each team one by one, placing them into brackets for the sake of the overall simulator.Most read in Champions LeagueThe first of each pairing has been put in the first half of the bracket and the second in the other.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSunSport’s simulated Champions League drawAccording to the simulated draw, City could face Arsenal in the quarter-finalsCredit: ReutersIn the simulated play-off draw, Man City have been pitted against Bayern Munich in arguably the pick of the bunch.The list of fixtures completing the first half of the draw are; Monaco vs Benfica, Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund and the all-Italian clash between Juventus and AC Milan.Arsenal ratings: Neto has nightmare debut to forget vs Girona but Ethan Nwaneri shines on first Champions League startIn the second half of the simulated draw, Dutch sides Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven have been put against each other.That side is completed with Brest vs PSG, Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta and Celtic vs Real Madrid.The round-of-16, quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place on February 21, so we will not officially know which side of the bracket each of the play-off winners will be on until then.However, SunSport’s simulated draw sees Monaco/Benfica facing Barcelona, Brugge/Dortmund against Aston Villa, Man City/Bayern vs Atletico and Juventus/AC Milan vs Arsenal on one side.That means fixtures between Brest/PSG and Liverpool, Sporting/Atalanta and Lille, Celtic/Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen as well as Feyenoord/PSV vs Inter Milan will be on the other.Who faces who in the Champions League?Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Champions League league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16. PLAYOFF ROUNDAtalanta vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeBorussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeReal Madrid vs Celtic or Man CityBayern Munich vs Celtic or Man CityAC Milan vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSV vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSG vs AS Monaco or BrestBenfica vs AS Monaco or BrestWinners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…LAST 16Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestBarcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestArsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusInter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityBayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityLille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeAston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeShould this be the case, fans could look forward to some huge potential quarter-final games including Barcelona vs Aston Villa, Real Madrid vs Inter and Man City vs Arsenal.READ MORE SUN STORIESWe could even see an all-Premier League final if Arsenal or Man City and Liverpool go the distance.The Gunners are seeking their first-ever Champions League title, with City and Liverpool both looking to take it back after winning it in recent years. More

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    Score Predictor stats and facts ahead of Matchweek 21 – £250 cash prize up for grabs!

    MATCHWEEK 21 appears to be a stiff test for Score Predictor users.It might be the case that the winner of the £250 weekly prize is someone prepared to think outside the box.Play now!Credit: Dream TeamSimply enter your predictions for the five selected Premier League games and earn points for the accuracy of your forecast as the action unfolds.If you amass the most points then you’ll claim the cash prize!Allow us to present some key stats and facts for each relevant fixture to help inform your decisions in what looks a tricky week on paper.Wolves v Aston VillaVitor Pereira’s side have slipped into the relegation zone having lost every league game this month.Only Southampton have conceded more goals than Wolves at this stage; Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers will be licking their lips ahead of their Saturday afternoon jaunt to Molineux – the latter bagged a hat-trick against Celtic on Wednesday night.The Villains have struggled to balance Champions League commitments with the relentless churn of league fixtures this term and have won just one of their previous seven games that immediately followed a European night.However, the lone win among that set came against Wolves back in September.Our Prediction: 2-1 to Aston VillaMost read in FootballRogers excelled against CelticCredit: GettyBrentford v TottenhamThis is a meeting of two teams that have endured miserable starts to the new year.The Bees’ only win this month came against Southampton while Spurs have lost to Newcastle, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Leicester on their way down to 15th in the table.Brentford have suffered rotten luck in regards to injuries this season but nothing like what Ange Postecoglou is currently dealing with – James Maddison is the latest player to be deemed unavailable.Spurs are due to host Elfsborg in the Europa League this evening and with so few senior players fit, there’s every chance fatigue may be a factor when they visit the Gtech on Sunday.Only Liverpool and Arsenal have earned more points at home than Thomas Frank’s mob while Southampton are the only team to have lost more league games on the road than Spurs.Our Prediction: 3-2 to BrentfordHard timesCredit: GettyManchester United v Crystal PalaceThe Red Devils have won just one of their last six league meetings with the Eagles.And there’s every chance of Palace extending their good record this weekend as no team in the top flight have earned more points from their last six away days.Marc Guehi and company have really tightened up at the back lately and four goals conceded from their last six outings is the lowest tally among all teams.Factor in Man United’s Thursday night trip to Romania to face FCSB and it’s easy to envisage a beleaguered Ruben Amorim looking forlorn on his haunches as Eberechi Eze pokes holes in the hosts’ defence come Sunday lunchtime.Our Prediction: 1-0 to Crystal PalacePalace have looked much better recentlyCredit: GettyArsenal v Manchester CityA massive match-up that has been a potential title-decider in recent years.This edition doesn’t possess the same status as Liverpool are firmly in control at this stage but all eyes will be on the Emirates this Sunday nonetheless.John Stones scored a 98th-minute equaliser in the reverse fixture, an entertaining contest that saw the Gunners attempt a full rearguard for the entire second half following Leandro Trossard’s much-discussed dismissal.Since then, Man City have suffered a severe dip in form and partially recovered with their current run of unbeaten league games having reached six, though even their most partisan fans would admit some vulnerabilities persist.It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Arsenal either but they are still very difficult to beat and remain the only side yet to lose a league game at home in 2024/25.Mikel Arteta would love for William Saliba to be passed fit for this encounter and we’d be inclined to back a home win if Bukayo Saka was available but as it is we’ll position ourselves uncomfortably on the fence.Our Prediction: 1-1 drawTensions boiled over back in SeptemberCredit: APChelsea v West HamThere’s no doubt the Blues are going through a bad patch at present.Defeat at the Etihad last weekend means Chelsea’s victory over Wolves remains their only win in the league since mid-December.This slump has seen Enzo Maresca’s side drop to 15th in the form table.Not that the Hammers have made huge strides in that time either.Graham Potter’s side showed signs of progress in the second half against Aston Villa last time out but there’s still plenty of room for improvement – their goal difference of minus 16 is rather damning.The hosts should feel confident of a win on Monday night but they’ve won just five of their 11 league games at Stamford Bridge this season – a record not befitting a team with hopes of Champions League qualification.It’s always difficult to judge a match-up between two units out of form but we’ll edge it to the team eight places higher in the table.READ MORE SUN STORIESOur Prediction: 2-1 to ChelseaShow us how it’s really done by entering your predictions for Matchweek 21 now!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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    Champions League winners predicted by supercomputer with Premier League club tipped for glory… but it’s not Liverpool

    A SUPERCOMPUTER has sensationally predicted the winners of this season’s Champions League.And it’s NOT the most in-form team of the tournament, which has just wrapped up its revamped group stage.Liverpool became the first-ever winners of the new Champions League group stageCredit: AFPBut the Reds aren’t the favourites to win this instalment of Europe’s elite club competitionCredit: GETTYDespite suffering defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night, Liverpool became the first winners of the new Champions League group phase.The Reds are many football fans’ favourites to lift the prestigious trophy in May.But according to a supercomputer, one of Kop club’s domestic rivals will reach and WIN the showpiece at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.BETSiE’s supercomputer has sensationally predicted that Arsenal will win their first-ever Champions League this summer.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe prediction has been made following 100,000 simulations of this season’s competition.The North Londoners have been given a 24.3 per cent chance of winning the tournament.Mikel Arteta’s troops have also been given 59 and 38.7 per cent chances of reaching the semis and the final respectively.Liverpool are the supercomputer’s second favourites to win the competition.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe Merseysiders have been given an 18.9 per cent chance of winning their seventh European Cup.It’s been calculated that they have 50.4 and 34.3 per cent chances of reaching the semis and the final.The Sun’s Shaun Custis and Martin Lipton break down the new changes for the UEFA Champions League format for 2024/25Defending champions Real Madrid are the third favourites, with the supercomputer calculating they have a 10.8 per cent chance of retaining the trophy. It’s been calculated that struggling Premier League champions Manchester City have just a 6.5 per cent chance of becoming two-time winners of the competition.Aston Villa, meanwhile, have a mere 2.7 per cent chance of replicating their stunning triumph in 1982.Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa sailed into the last 16 with respective first, third and eighth-placed finishes.Manchester City, meanwhile, will have to go through a two-legged play-off – in which they’ll either face Real or Bayern Munich – to join them in the knockout stages.Who faces who in the Champions League?Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Champions League league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16. PLAYOFF ROUNDAtalanta vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeBorussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon or Club BruggeReal Madrid vs Celtic or Man CityBayern Munich vs Celtic or Man CityAC Milan vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSV vs Feyenoord or JuventusPSG vs AS Monaco or BrestBenfica vs AS Monaco or BrestWinners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…LAST 16Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestBarcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestArsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusInter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityBayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityLille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeAston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge More