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    Arsenal ‘urged to re-sign Alexis Sanchez on free transfer in shock return but face battle with Marseille’

    ALEXIS SANCHEZ could be set for a stunning return to Arsenal this summer, according to reports.The Chilean, 34, joined Marseille at the beginning of this season and has impressed for the French club.
    Alexis Sanchez’s Marseille contract expires at the end of the seasonCredit: AFP
    Sanchez spent three and a half years at ArsenalCredit: AFP or licensors
    He has scored 18 goals in 41 appearances for the French side, helping them to third in the Ligue 1 table.
    However, the club are yet to reach a deal with the ex-Arsenal and Manchester United man over a new contract.
    He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season if an agreement cannot be struck.
    According to Chilean journalist Jose Tomas Fernandez Pumarino, Marseille have detailed their offer to Sanchez.
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    But the report also states that “at Arsenal there is a recommendation from the management to seek the return of Alexis”.
    And Gunners supporters are keen on the idea of him coming back.
    One said: “I want to see an Alexis Sanchez regen at Arsenal next season. This man carried our team for years, him in this team this year, we win the league.
    “He won us games on his own. Player of the Emirates era. Sanchez 2.0 and we can win it all.”
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    While another added: “Alexis Sanchez will shine in all five attacking roles at Arsenal currently!!!”
    Sanchez left Arsenal for Man Utd in January 2018 after racking up 166 appearances for the North London club.
    He contributed 80 goals and 45 assists across three and a half years with the Gunners.
    And he departed with two FA Cups to his name.
    A dreadful 18 months at Old Trafford followed, before he joined Inter Milan in 2019.
    He would go on to bag 20 goals in 109 games for the Italian giants and was part of their Serie A title-winning team under Antonio Conte.
    Sanchez then left Inter last summer and signed for Marseille.
    He is also still playing for Chile – where he has accumulated 123 caps and holds the country’s goalscoring record with 51. More

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    Pochettino needs ‘a miracle’ to keep Mason Mount at Chelsea with relations at all-time low as Arsenal eye £60m transfer

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO faces a massive uphill battle to keep Mason Mount at Chelsea.The incoming boss has targeted the £60million-rated midfielder’s contract stand-off as one of his main priorities when he takes over at the end of this season.
    Incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will need a “miracle” to keep Mason MountCredit: Getty
    But SunSport understands Pochettino’s arrival is coming too late to save negotiations and one of Chelsea’s most popular players looks set to leave his boyhood club after 18 years.
    Mount, 24, has barely a year left on his deal and talks are at loggerheads after ten months.
    SunSport can reveal Mount was offered a one-year extension by Chelsea in February but this was flatly rejected and seen as a ploy simply to raise his transfer fee.
    Relations between the player’s representatives and the club are at an all-time low and Pochettino needs a “miracle” to turn it round.
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    A Blues source said: “It feels like it is too late now for Mason.
    “Pochettino is good but he can’t work miracles.
    “If he had been brought in when Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel in September then maybe it would be a different story.
    “But in ten months there hasn’t been any resolution and other clubs want him. Good luck to Poch and Mason but we’re not hopeful.”
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    Mount is injured but eyeing a return for the final two games this season — at Manchester United then home to Newcastle on May 28.
    That could well be the end of the England star’s Blues journey, which started when he was six.
    Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal have been strongly linked with interest in Mount.
    And Chelsea will sell if he does not sign a new deal as they do not want him leaving for free at the end of next season.
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    Mount is being targeted by Arsenal with Chelsea relations at all-time lowCredit: Getty
    Poch has agreed to take over from caretaker boss Frank Lampard but will wait until next month to officially take the reins.
    Former Tottenham chief Pochettino had an interview when Tuchel was axed in September but chairman Todd Boehly opted for Graham Potter.
    Potter was dismissed in April and Lampard came in.
    Poch is seen as one of the best in the business but wants a big say in matters and will have to oversee a mass clearout to balance the books. More

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    Fans can’t believe how many times Arteta has been booked this season as Arsenal boss sees yellow for touchline tantrum

    MIKEL ARTETA was booked for his latest bout of touchline antics – with fans left stunned it was only his SECOND yellow of the season.The Arsenal boss lost his rag on the touchline as he watch his side’s title dreams go up in smoke in the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Brighton at the Emirates.
    Mikel Arteta was animated on the touchline in Arsenal’s clash with BrightonCredit: AP
    The Spaniard was shown a second yellow card of the season in the 63rd minuteCredit: EPA
    Footie fans couldn’t believe the caution was Arteta’s second of the seasonCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
    Arteta had been riled up all game after referee Andy Madley let some heavy challenges go unpunished in the first half.
    That included a hefty challenge on Gabriel Martinelli by Moises Caicedo – leaving the Brazilian in a walking boot – in apparent retaliation for an earlier elbow on Kaoru Mitoma.
    In the 63rd minute Madley finally had enough and booked the Arsenal boss.
    It came as no surprise to viewers, who have seen Arteta rant and rave on the touchlines all season.
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    But they were stunned to discover, from SkySports’ graphic, that this was only the second time he’s been in the referee’s book all campaign.
    One tweeted: “Can’t believe that was only Arteta’s second yellow of the season.”
    Another said: “Does Arteta know what that box in front of his dugout is actually for?”
    And another said: “Yeah, that yellow card has been a long time coming for Arteta in this match.”
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    One remarked: “MIKEL ARTETA GETTING A YELLOW CARD. Behave yourself Arsenal – Jesus.”
    Another chimed in: “This should be a weekly occurrence with the way he acts on the touchline.”
    One watcher of the game said: “Arteta should pick up a yellow card every game.”
    Arsenal’s faint hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy went up in smoke thanks to Roberto De Zerbi’s soaring Seagulls.
    Brighton ran out 3-0 winners at the Emirates, with goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Oscar Estupinan putting the final nail in the coffin of the Gunners’ title challenge.
    Arsenal are now four points behind defending champions Manchester City in second place but have played two games more the Pep Guardiola’s charges.
    They must beat relegation battlers Nottingham Forest next Saturday to ensure City don’t get their hands on their fifth title in six seasons before the final day.
    City will be back in league action on Sunday, welcoming Chelsea to the Etihad. More

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    Arsenal target Ferland Mendy told he can leave Real Madrid with fee SLASHED – but agent’s plans could wreck transfer

    FERLAND MENDY is reportedly available for Arsenal at a discount price – but the star’s agent could complicate any move to the Emirates. The Gunners have been previously linked to the left-back who has increasingly fallen out of favour at Real Madrid.
    Mendy has dropped down the pecking order at Real Madrid this seasonCredit: EPA
    Carlo Ancelotti has opted to start midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in the full-back role during big games with Nacho Fernandez also being drafted in to play there.
    It has left Mendy surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu and his price tag seemingly slashed.
    Reports had previously suggested that Arsenal would have to find £52.5m to land the 27-year-old, whose contract runs until June 2025.
    But the Mirror report that the price has now slipped to just £17.5m with the Spanish side keen to sell Mendy this summer.
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    However, it may not be plain-sailing for Arsenal with the defender’s agent getting involved.
    The same report claims that Mendy’s representatives are seeking to speak to Tottenham.
    While that could present a problem for the Gunners, Mendy is believed to be keen on competing in next season’s Champions League, something that is now out of Tottenham’s reach.
    Arsenal’s two left-back are currently Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney.
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    But the first-choice Ukrainian is out injured for the rest of the season and has suffered with knocks throughout his debut campaign at the Emirates.
    While speculation surrounds Tierney’s future in north London, with the likes of Newcastle linked.
    Arsenal will be hoping some savvy recruitment in the summer can help them build on a brilliant season.
    While they need some favours from elsewhere to pip Manchester City to the title, Mikel Arteta is still set to guide his team to their highest league position since 2016. More

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    Arsenal showing transfer interest in France colossus Mohamed Simakan despite new RB Leipzig contract

    ARSENAL are reportedly interested in defender Mohamed Simakan – despite the star recently signing a long-term deal. The Gunners enter the final games of this season with huge injury issues across their backline after William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko were ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
    Simakan joined RB Leipzig from French club Strasbourg in 2021Credit: Reuters
    The club are believed to be keen to strengthen defensively during the summer and have been linked to many names, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
    Tall RB Leipzig defender Simakan is reportedly also on the shortlist.
    The Guardian claim that Arsenal have shown “strong interest” in the star.
    But the club could have a real fight on their hands to secure Simakan after he signed a five-year deal in December.
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    The 23-year-old is now contracted to the German side until 2027, putting Leipzig in a strong negotiating position.
    Arsenal have had a reputation for spending money wisely under Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu but may need to pay top dollar to land Simakan.
    He can play both right-back and centre-back, potentially providing cover across the back four for Arsenal.
    The Frenchman has made 21 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring one and assisting one.
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    The Gunners have had to reshuffle the defence in recent weeks due to injuries.
    The loss of Saliba in March has proved potentially decisive to their title challenge.
    The London club had conceded only 25 times in 27 league matches which Saliba started before letting in 14 goals in the eight games after his injury. More

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    Mario Balotelli lined up for bizarre transfer to 12th club with Arsenal star tipped to join him

    MARIO BALOTELLI is being linked with ANOTHER transfer less than 12 months after signing for Swiss side FC Sion.The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, 32, signed a two-year deal at the beginning of the season and has netted six goals in 18 games for the club.
    Mario Balotelli is being linked with a move away from FC Sion this summerCredit: Getty
    Catalin Cirjan is a young talent in Arsenal’s squadCredit: Getty
    But he is already being mooted with a potential exit this summer as interest from Romania emerges.
    According to Romanian outlet GSP, Rapid Bucharest are keen to strike a deal with the Italian forward.
    However, they have been told they will need to pay Balotelli £880,000 up front in order to acquire his signature.
    A move to Bucharest would make it the 12TH transfer of the attacker’s journeyman career.
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    It would also be his SIXTH club in just four and a half years.
    And he could be joined at Rapid by Arsenal youngster Catalin Cirjan.
    The 20-year-old Romanian midfielder has been training with Mikel Arteta’s side.
    He was even included on the bench in four of their Europa League games this season.
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    But he is yet to receive any minutes for the first team.
    And a loan move to Bucharest is now being touted as an option for the 2023/24 campaign.
    Cirjan has registered four goals and one assist in 36 appearances for Arsenal’s U21s.
    He has also been capped by Romania’s U16s, but refused to turn out for their U20 side after being called up.
    He later claimed he felt “unwanted” by the national team. More

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    David Moyes gives biggest update yet on Declan Rice future with Man Utd and Arsenal chasing transfer

    DAVID MOYES admitted for the first time that there is a “good chance” Declan Rice will leave West Ham this summer.Arsenal are favourites to snap up the Hammers skipper, 24, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are also in the hunt.
    David Moyes says there is a “good chance” Declan Rice leaves West Ham this summerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Rice, whose deal expires in June 2024 with a club option to extend by a further year, has turned down several contract extensions over the past 18 months.
    And boss Moyes said: “We would love Declan to be a West Ham player but we are aware that may not be the case come the end of the season.
    “That is one of the scenarios when it comes to planning.
    “There are plans that we have Dec here but we are fully aware that there is a good chance we won’t have him.”
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    Rice has missed just one game for West Ham in the Premier League this season.
    Illness ruled him out of the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City earlier this month, but he has played all 90 minutes in the Hammers’ other 34 league games this term.
    West Ham have struggled in the Prem but will secure safety on Sunday if they win at Brentford.
    There also remains the chance of qualifying for Europe for a third straight season should they go on to win the Europa Conference League next month.
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    The Hammers take a slender 2-1 lead into next week’s second leg against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.
    A Said Benrahma penalty and instinctive Michail Antonio finish secured a comeback win in Thursday’s first leg after Tijjani Reijnders had initially put the visitors in front.
    Moyes and Co will face either Fiorentina or Basel if they reach the final. More

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    Tottenham lead Emi Martinez transfer race with ex-Arsenal keeper likely to leave Aston Villa

    TOTTENHAM are leading the way to sign Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez, reports in Argentina say. Martinez has become one of the star stoppers in the Premier League in recent seasons following his move from Arsenal to Villa.
    Spurs lead the way to sign Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez, reports in Argentina say.Credit: Getty
    And his stock went up last winter when helping Argentina to their first World Cup since 1986.
    Now according to  TYC Sports, Martinez is looking to leave Villa Park and has options on the table.
    Manchester United and Chelsea are among them, but it is Tottenham who are said to be most interested.
    Spurs are in the market for a new keeper with captain Hugo Lloris, 36, suffering a dip in form in recent seasons.
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    Martinez, 30, left Arsenal in 2020 to join Villa and has 109 appearances for the club.
    Chelsea are believed to be also joining Spurs in the market for a new keeper as they prepare to welcome a new manager.
    It is claimed frontrunner Mauricio Pochettino has identified signing a new goalkeeper as one of the key areas to focus on.
    The Blues have recently been linked with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, rated at £40millon.
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    It leaves Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy’s future in doubt, with BOTH in line to be sold.
    Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is another linked with Chelsea.
    Meanwhile, De Gea could be set to stay at United amid reports he is willing to take a PAY CUT to remain at Old Trafford.
    Manchester United star David de Gea has agreed a new deal with the clubCredit: Rex More