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    Thomas Tuchel could be DEPORTED before Christmas with German in post-Brexit visa limbo after Chelsea axe

    THOMAS TUCHEL could be DEPORTED before Christmas with the German stuck in post-Brexit visa limbo following his Chelsea sacking, according to reports.The 2021 Champions League-winning manager was incredibly let go following a poor start domestically and in Europe.
    Thomas Tuchel is unsure on whether he must leave the UK due to post-Brexit visa rulesCredit: Getty
    Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly swung the axe after watching his club fall to a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Europe.
    The brutal sacking came despite Chelsea splashing £254million on some of Europe’s top talent over the summer.
    Tuchel was replaced by Graham Potter, who left his post at Brighton to fill the vacant managerial role at Stamford Bridge.
    And to make things worse for Tuchel, he may be booted out of the country too due to Brexit rules, The Telegraph reports.
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    It is believed the 49-year-old is only able to stay for a maximum of 90 days following his sacking having arrived on a post-Brexit Governing Body Endorsement visa.
    However, there has been no official confirmation from the relevant parties.
    Talks are ongoing and Tuchel is said to be “happy and comfortable” living in the UK, and he is still weighing up his options.
    He was even spotted smiling in London on Wednesday.
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    Tuchel stopped and posed for photos with supporters.
    A representative for Tuchel told the Telegraph: “We will act in accordance with UK rules and adapt all future plans. Final decisions are not made yet.”
    Tuchel took over at Chelsea in January 2021.
    The West London club had to file a special application in order to get Tuchel and his staff access into the country following the UK’s exit from the European Union. More

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    West Ham’s Europa Conference League opponents Viborg without two players due to post-Brexit rules

    WEST HAM’S Europa Conference League opponents Viborg will be without two players for their first leg clash due to post-Brexit rules.The Danish side have confirmed that Nigerian Ibrahim Said and Gambian Alassana Jatta have been unable to obtain visas in time for the match.
    Viborg will be without Ibrahim Said at the London StadiumCredit: Getty
    Alassana Jatta also misses outCredit: Getty
    Both were likely to feature in the match, with Said in particular a regular starter for Viborg.
    A club statement read: “We are extremely sorry that we have not been able to get visas for the two players.
    “We have tried everything, and have been in close contact with DBU [Danish Football Association], Uefa, the two embassies and another foreign club which has been in a similar situation.
    “But unfortunately this has proved to be impossible, as there is a processing time of several weeks and the match was only finally decided a week ago.”
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    Viborg’s sporting director Esper Fredberg added: “It is very unfortunate purely sportingly, as both players would have had a role in the match, but even more unfortunate purely humanly, that the two miss out on the great experience.”
    Said, 20, and Jatta, 23, will not be able to play in London on Thursday night, but will be available for the second leg in Denmark next week.
    The two sides meet with a place in the Europa Conference League group stage on the line.
    Viborg have already beaten Lithuanian outfit Suduva and Faroese club B36 to reach this stage.
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    Like the Hammers, they finish seventh in their division last term.
    West Ham go into the match having just completed their sixth summer signing.
    David Moyes’ side announced the £10million acquisition of Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain this afternoon.
    Kehrer, 25, joins Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet and Flynn Downes in signing for the Hammers this summer. More

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    Gareth Bale will NOT return to Tottenham, confirms Nuno.. and Welshman faces not being registered for Real Madrid season

    GARETH BALE will NOT be returning to Tottenham this summer – and faces fight to be registered in Real Madrid’s squad next season thanks to Brexit. The Welshman won’t be returning to Spurs despite a fruitful return in front of goal during his loan spell last season.
    Gareth Bale scored a brace on the final day of last season to sink Leicester’s top four hopes and secure Spurs Europa Conference League footballCredit: PA
    Nuno is taking on his biggest job yet at Tottenham – but says Bale is NOT coming backCredit: PA
    Bale chipped in with 16 goals and three assists across all competitions for Spurs last season, helping them secure a 7th-placed finish.
    However, Bale’s goalscoring exploits won’t earn himself a move back to Tottenham.
    Nuno Espirito Santo has squashed any murmurs of a move for the winger.
    The new Spurs boss said: “Gareth Bale will not be part of our squad.”
    And according to Spanish outlet AS, Bale also faces a dilemma when he returns to Real Madrid.
    The Welshman counts as a non-EU player, and LaLiga clubs are only allowed three non-EU players in their squad – thanks to Brexit.
    Pressure has been put on both Real and Atletico Madrid, who have a host of South American talent.
    Real, in particular, will have a tough decision to make.
    One of Bale, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo or Militao will not be able to be registered as a result of the rule.
    Spanish newspaper AS have revealed one way in which Real could compensate for the returning Bale.
    Rodrygo could be sent to Real’s reserve team Castilla, who play in the Spanish third division.
    However, it would be incredibly harsh on the Brazilian winger who made 22 appearances for Real last season.
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    Nuno’s record as a manager

    Rodrygo could, however, play for Real in the Champions League despite playing in the third tier for Castilla.
    Kieran Trippier is also in the same boat as Bale, but at LaLiga champions Atletico.
    Should Atletico hold on to Trippier – despite strong interest from Manchester United – Colombian right-back Santiago Arias could be forced out to compensate for the Englishman in the clubs’ non-EU player quota.
    Watch Gareth Bale ‘do a Piers Morgan’ and STORM OFF mid-interview after Wales’ 4-0 Euro 2020 thrashing against Denmark More

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    Arsenal legend Robert Pires blames Brexit for changing ‘British mentality’ as he leaves London for Ibiza

    ARSENAL icon Robert Pires has blamed Brexit for his decision to quit London for Ibiza while his wife revels in their new sunshine setting.
    The 47-year-old ex-Gunner has enrolled their three children at a British language school on the island after joining the coaching staff at second division B side Pena Deportiva Santa Eulalia.

    Robert Pires and his wife Jessica Lemarie Pires have left London for IbizaCredit: Getty – Contributor

    And the Arsenal icon has blamed Brexit for a ‘change in British mentality’Credit: AFP or licensors

    The former footballer, born in France to a Portuguese father and Spanish mother, returned to Arsenal to assist players recovering from injury after a successful career with the Premier League side.
    He quit the UK last August to move to a rented home in Ibiza with stunning ex-model wife Jessica Lemarie Pires and their children Naia, 15, Theo, 13, and Alessio, nine.
    Pires, who scored 62 goals in his 189 appearances with Arsenal and enjoyed a second Premier League spell with Aston Villa, told local paper Periodico de Ibiza: “I’ve enjoyed a lot of time in London but what’s happened with Brexit is that the mentality of the British and the atmosphere has changed.
    “In the family, we spoke about changing and did it.

    “Finding a new place to live is not easy but I think Ibiza has it all, quality, sun.
    “Now what I’m feeling is that people are very affectionate with me.
    “I’m also Spanish because my mum is Spanish, from Oviedo in the north, so I’ve got this in my blood.
    “Being in Ibiza is a dream.”

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    Explaining a friend called Luca was also instrumental in helping him choose his new destination, he added: “Ibiza has a French school and a British one but we chose the British one so the children can keep on learning in the language.
    “They’re also learning Spanish now.
    “Why Pena Deportivo? I have a friend who lives here and works at the club. He’s called Luca.
    “I called Luca and told him ‘I’ve got two boys who want to play football. Where can I register them?’
    “He told me the best club in Ibiza is Pena Deportivo. We had a meeting and that’s where the connection began.”
    The retired midfielder married Jessica, who gave up modelling to raise their three children after splitting from first wife Nathalie.
    ‘EROTICALLY BEAUTIFUL’
    They were married for six years and divorced in 2003, with Pires admitting afterwards it had affected him professionally and interfered with his concentration and sleep.
    The mum of his three children has been showing off their new life in the sun with morning yoga routines she posts on her Instagram.
    Two days ago she wowed fans by uploading a photo of her in a green wraparound dress which left one admirer declaring: “So erotically beautiful.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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    Pierre van Hooijdonk’s son Sydney’s dreams of starring in British football like famous dad dashed by Brexit

    SYDNEY VAN HOOIJDONK has seen his dreams of copying his dad and starring in British football dashed by Brexit.
    The Breda striker, 20, son of ex-Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker Pierre, had a January move to the Championship lined up.

    Sydney van Hooijdonk’s hopes of a move have been scupperedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Forest and Sheffield Wednesday were ready to make an offer with Van Hooijdonk available on a free plus a sell on fee.
    But the chance of following his father has been scuppered following new Brexit rules this month with a stricter points system to bring in players from the European Union introduced. 
    Dutchman Van Hooijdonk is one of the first high-profile footballers to be affected by the restriction in movement.
    Instead, Van Hooijdonk is set to make the switch to Germany with several Bundesliga clubs interested.

    The highly rated forward has scored 12 goals this season with Breda fourth in the Dutch second tier.
    European players are now treated in the UK like non-EU players of the past and require governing body endorsement (GBE). Via a points-based system agreed by the FA, Premier League and EFL and approved by the Home Office, a score of 15 points is needed to grant the transfer.
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    Points are awarded on a criteria including the number of international caps, the Fifa ranking of the player’s country, the strength of the league the player is arriving from and how many club appearances they have already made.

    A score between 10 and 14 points is referred to an exceptions panel who will rule over the suitability and quality of the player.
    With Van Hooijdonk yet to play for his country and playing in the Netherlands’ second division he would not have met the criteria under the new Brexit rules.

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    How will Brexit change transfers into Premier League? Britain’s departure from EU’s impact on football explained

    BREXIT has finally happened after nearly four years of negotiations between Brussels and Westminster.
    And that means transfers are going to be affected, with the number of lower-quality EU players likely to be restricted as the transfer window opens on January 1 and shuts on February 1 at 11pm.

    Would Bruno Fernandes’ transfer to Manchester United have been scuppered by Brexit?Credit: Getty Images – Getty

    Virgil van Dijk’s career in Scottish and then English football could have been very different with BrexitCredit: Reuters

    Here, SunSport’s CHARLIE WYETT explains what happens next…
    WILL BREXIT AFFECT PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFERS?
    Yes, it will have a massive impact on English football.
    There is now a strict points system to bring in players from the EU, like the rest of the world, meaning only experienced stars are likely to be allowed.
    Because of restricted movement, teams will no longer be able to sign 16-year-olds from the EU — and must wait until they are 18.

    ANY POSITIVES FROM BREXIT?
    Potentially for home-grown players.
    Academies become even more important as clubs are forced to focus on kids from this country.
    Brexit could also see prices for younger British players increase, while the overall standard of academy graduates looks certain to worsen with top EU talent missing.
    WILL IT BE A BUSY WINDOW?
    No chance. It will be the quietest month ever.

    Clubs have been increasingly keen to avoid doing much business in January and the Covid crisis will ensure there is even less activity.
    Income has reduced massively so clubs are not interested in adding to their wage bills.
    So big-money swoops for stars such as Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski will be off the table.
    SO WILL THERE BE ANY DEALS?
    Loan deals for experienced players are the most likely to happen.
    If a Premier League club loans a player on £40,000 a week and brings in another one on the same wages, they can freshen up the side without it costing anything.
    WHICH CLUBS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO DO BUSINESS?
    Liverpool are in the market for a central defender — because Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have long-term injuries and Joel Matip is incapable of staying fit.
    However, boss Jurgen Klopp is not certain he will get the player he wants.
    At Spurs, midfielder Dele Alli could be leaving on loan — while rivals Arsenal want to offload some high-earners but have not had many takers.
    Manchester United are chasing defenders, yet they are more likely to do their business in the summer.
    Players in the last year of their contracts are now free to talk to overseas clubs, such as Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum.

    WILL WE SEE YOUNG PLAYERS LOANED OUT BY PREM CLUBS?
    January usually sees youngsters who are nowhere near the first team given the second half of the season at an EFL side.
    However, the increase to nine subs is meaning that some Prem clubs intend to keep hold of them.

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    Brexit will help the Premier League attract world’s top talent and promote British kids, insists Rupert Lowe

    RUPERT LOWE walks out of the European Parliament after waving a Union Flag  in the chamber with Nigel Farage. Former Southampton chairman Lowe last night also became a former Brexit Party MEP as the UK left the EU. Read our Brexit day live blog for all the latest news and updates Justin Allen with Rupert Lowe, […] More

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    Premier League clubs fear post-Brexit triple-whammy as transfer market changes forever on deadline day

    PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS fear a post-Brexit triple whammy in the transfer market. Big Ben won’t be chiming, but alarm bells are ringing over what Britain’s departure from the EU on Friday, the last day of the current window, will mean for the most-watched league in the world. It will be almost impossible for overseas players […] More