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    Man City close in on Premier League’s most expensive EVER transfer as Florian Wirtz jets in for talks

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    PEP GUARDIOLA has held talks with Florian Wirtz as Manchester City stepped up their bid to land the German star in a record £126million deal.The Bayer Leverkusen forward, 22, jetted in to Blackpool from Maastricht in Holland as City look to beat Bayern Munich to his signature.Florian Wirtz’s dad was met by a reporter after the meeting in ManchesterCredit: BildFlorian Wirtz’s mother spotted at a Dutch airportCredit: BildManchester City are hot on the heels of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian WirtzCredit: GETTYCity have held talks with the 22-year-old over a summer move to the EtihadCredit: GETTYWirtz, one of the hottest properties in Europe, travelled with his agent father to discuss a potential move to the Etihad before returning home last night.Boss Guardiola has identified Wirtz as his No 1 target as he looks to rebuild his City squad and replace club legend Kevin De Bruyne, 33. who will leave at the end of his contract in June.City’s offer would smash the British transfer record, which currently stands at £115m which Chelsea paid Brighton to sign midfielder Moises Caicedo in 2023.Wirtz, his father Hans and mother Karin took a private jet at 10am on Tuesday from Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands to Blackpool, according to German newspaper Bild.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey were then driven to Manchester to meet with Guardiola, before flying back at 4:40pm.Apparently, the small airport behind the German-Dutch border had been chosen to avoid attracting attention.However Bild were able to get photos of Wirtz’s mum and dad at the Dutch airport as they returned to their car.A reporter approached Wirtz’s father Hans who shook his hand but chose to remain silent.Most read in FootballWirtz has spoken to Guardiola previously but the attacker is yet to make a final decision on his future with two years still left on his current Leverkusen deal.JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut his club would rather sell to City than their Bundesliga rivals.He only last month returned from a knee injury, which saw him miss the Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern, but has still scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 44 games this season.Bayern, who won the Bundesliga this term after losing out to Leverkusen last season, are offering £84m for Wirtz.The German was vital to Leverkusen’s unbeaten title triumph under Xabi Alonso in 2023-24.City have also approached AC Milan to sign Tijjani Reijnders, 26, although they are yet to submit a bid.Milan want around £60m for the Dutch midfielder, which would make him their biggest sale in their history.The two clubs still have a negotiation to complete over right-back Kyle Walker, 34, who is on loan at the Serie A outfit from City for the rest of the season.Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong reveals why he snubbed Liverpool and chose Man City last time Reds tried to sign himCity are also interested in Nottingham Forest star Morgan-Gibbs White, 25.However, Newcastle will fight off any City attempt to sign England star Tino Livramento.The 22-year-old has shone since stepping up to become Toon’s first-choice right-back ahead of Kieran Trippier.Read More on The SunChampions League chasing Newcastle do not need to sell any big names.Boss Eddie Howe  said: “The summer window will be a big one for us.”Florian Wirtz was one of Bayer Leverkusen’s star performers last seasonCredit: AFP More

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      Man Utd linked with fairytale transfer as they scout Cristiano Ronaldo Jr’s Portugal debut amid shock Tottenham interest

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      A MANCHESTER UNITED scout saw Cristiano Ronaldo Jr make his Portugal Under-15 debut as a raft of top clubs sent representatives to the match.The 14-year-old son of the legendary former Red Devils No7 was cheered onto the pitch when he came off the bench in a 4-1 win over Japan’s Under-15s on Tuesday.A Manchester United scout saw Cristiano Ronaldo Jr make his Portugal Under-15 debutRonaldo Jr was also eyed by scouts from Tottenham and Bundesliga clubsWearing the same number his father wore with distinction during two spells at Old Trafford, Ronaldo Jr gave a few brief glimpses of his talent during a second-half run-out at the Vlatko Markovic tournament in Croatia.Ruben Amorim’s staff will add the scout’s report to their file on the youngster, who could earn a start in one of Portugal’s remaining matches against Greece or England.United will already know plenty from the 14 months Ronaldo Jr spent at their academy.He played alongside Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai, in the youth set-up when his father returned for an ill-fated second stint under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag.Read More on Man UtdThe Europa League finalists were among several high-profile clubs to send scouts to the match.United’s Bilbao opponents Tottenham were in attendance with up to 10 Bundesliga clubs also rumoured to be represented in the crowd.Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti report that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Juventus and Atalanta sent spies to cover the game.The Portuguese players caught the eye with their superior technique and tactical appreciation, running out easy winners over the Japanese kids.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBraga forward Rafael Cabral was the star of the match and stole Cristiano Jr’s thunder by bagging a hat-trick before he stepped out onto the pitch.The 14-year-old honed his ball skills by playing futsal from an early age while his mobility allows him to operate just as effectively from the wings as he does from the middle.He is Braga’s top scorer in the youth league with 13 goals this season and leads a seven-strong contingent from the club in Portugal’s squad, which contains no players from the traditional powers of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.Ronaldo Jr is following in his father Cristiano Ronaldo’s massive footstepsRonaldo had two stints at Man Utd before moving to Saudi Arabia and Al-Nassr More

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      Jeremie Frimpong’s agent posts cryptic two-word message after Liverpool hold advanced transfer talks for Leverkusen star

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      JEREMIE FRIMPONG’S agent has teased fans with a cryptic Instagram post.The Dutch right-back, 24, has reportedly been in advanced talks over a move to Liverpool this summer.Frimpong has been heavily linked with a move to AnfieldCredit: GettyThe Reds are searching for a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold, and have reportedly identified the Bayer Leverkusen man as the man they want.Now, Frimpong’s agent Jeffrey Lemmert has added fuel to the fire around a potential move to Anfield. The agent took to his Instagram story to post a picture of a British motorway, captioned with just two words: “We working”, captioned with an egg timer emoji. Sky Germany have reported that Liverpool are “seriously pursuing” Frimpong.Read more FootballRespected reporter Florian Plettenberg said that “advanced talks” had taken place between the Dutchman’s representatives and the Premier League champions. He also said that the right-back would be available for €35-40 million, thanks to a release clause in his Leverkusen deal. Frimpong, formerly of Celtic and Manchester City, has featured 48 times this term in all competitions, scoring five goals and laying on 12 assists. He has been a key cog in Xabi Alonso’s successful 3-4-2-1 system at the BayArena, chipping in with frequent goal contributions from right wing-back. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKHe was a crucial part of the unbeaten side last season that won a maiden Bundesliga title. He scored nine league goals that season, supplementing that with an impressive nine-assist return. Liverpool boss Arne Slot parties with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza just hours after Premier League clash with Arsenal_2Frimpong is no stranger to British football, having come through the youth ranks at Man City, but he never played a first-team game for the Citizens. He was previously linked with Manchester United when Erik ten Hag was in charge at Old Trafford, although it now appears that Arne Slot’s side are at the front of the queue for his signature.Frimpong came close to joining Liverpool when he was a kid but the deal was kiboshed because his family didn’t have a car.He said: “I chose Liverpool and I was going to sign.”However, transport concerns led him to pick Man City instead because it was closer.He explained: “It made more sense, 15 minutes on a bus.” More

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      I feared I’d never win a trophy but lifting the Bundesliga with Harry Kane makes it extra special, reveals Eric Dier

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      ERIC DIER feared he would never lift silverware — before finally winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.The centre-half and pal Harry Kane, both 31, have been on similar journeys after suffering painful losses with Spurs before both celebrated hoisting the plate-like German championship trophy on Saturday.Family man Eric Dier celebrated title glory with wife Anna ModlerCredit: GettyHarry Kane and Dier marked the occasion their trophy drought endedCredit: GettyBut now they will be going their separate ways.For while England captain Kane will remain at Bayern for a third season, Dier is joining French giants  Monaco this  summer.But the defender has loved his 18 months in Bavaria where he has played 47 games — and due to his good form he  has not given up hope of getting an England recall.Dier said: “To win a trophy feels good and it feels better than anyone has ever described.READ MORE TOP STORIES“Obviously, it’s been a long time coming. The longer you go, the more you wonder if it’ll happen.“And I think that is normal, especially when you have close calls and you don’t get it.“I think back a lot to the first season at Spurs when we were in the Carabao Cup final in 2015 and we lost that.“There are always a lot of ‘what-ifs’ in your life and your career.“And if I had got a trophy that early on, then who knows what would have happened.Most read in FootballDier is bowing out of Bayern on a huge highCredit: GettyBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK“But it doesn’t matter now, I’ve got it. It’s been an amazing year. Being in an environment where you learn how to win and what it takes to do it, does help.“There’s an aspect of relief that you’ve finally done it.Thomas Muller has Bayern Munich fans howling with risque funeral joke in retirement speech on pitch“It’s a huge weight off my shoulders in that sense but obviously it is not about me or any individual, it’s a huge collective effort.”Dier followed Kane from Spurs in January 2024, initially on loan before signing a one-year deal.So has it felt sweeter to finally win silverware with his buddy?He said: “Yes, for me to win it with Harry is incredibly special.“We’ve played together since we were 20 and in the England national teams before that.“We were together when we officially won it the other night and that was a special moment for us.”Dier received a presentation ahead of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach before the club paid tribute to legend Thomas Muller, who is leaving Bayern after 25 years at the club.Bayern did offer Dier a one-year extension but he has chosen to move to Monaco, where he has agreed a two-year deal.Dier, who started his career with Sporting Lisbon before spending a decade at Spurs, said: “We had good conversations with the club but just couldn’t find an agreement so then I started to look at what  I thought would be the best  opportunity for myself.Monaco really, really wanted me and I appreciated that. They made all the effort.Eric Dier“Now I’m very excited.  You don’t have regrets but when you’re in one place for a long time, you don’t realise the big world out there.“Football is very big in lots of different countries and you can learn a lot just by moving around and into different cultures, different types of football, different leagues —  so I think it’ll  do me good.“Monaco really, really wanted me and I appreciated that.“They made all the effort for me to go there so I’m talking about it but I don’t think it’s official yet!”Dier has 49 England caps but his last appearance was against Senegal at the 2022 World Cup.Asked if he could feature under  new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, he said: “I hope so. I think I’m playing my best football.”Meanwhile, like Kane, Dier will be rooting for Tottenham in  the Europa League final against Manchester United on May 21.Read More on The SunHe added: “It will be incredible and  I still know a lot of the players and so much of the staff.“So I’d be incredibly happy for them to win and for the club.” More

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      German footballer Tim Lemperle rushed to hospital after being ‘assaulted’ and out of crucial Bundesliga promotion clash

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      GERMAN football star Tim Lemperle was rushed to hospital after sustaining injures to his face during an assault on a night out.Koln star Lemperle will likely miss Sunday’s huge promotion final against Kaiserslautern for a place in the Bundesliga next season.Tim Lemperle was rushed to hospital after being assaulted on a night outCredit: RexLemperle reportedly suffered a broken nose and a gash on his face on Sunday evening, according to German outlet Bild.The report claims that the striker was out with friends in a borough of Cologne.A fight broke out in a boathouse bar near the bank of the River Rhine with another group, before things settled down.But Lemperle and his pals were allegedly attacked while leaving the venue later at 9pm local time.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe 23-year-old former Frankfurt star was taken to a local hospital where he stayed overnight until Monday morning.Koln boss Friedhelm Funkel hasn’t had any contact with Lemperle, who was forced to miss training on Monday afternoon.Funkel said: “I know he was physically assaulted on Sunday. He sustained facial injuries. “The likelihood of him playing on Sunday is slim. It can’t be completely dismissed, but it is slim. I can’t say anything more about it.”Most read in FootballThe police are investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses.Lemperle has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 24 second division appearances this season.And he was nailed on starter for the final, after having been named in the starting XI in 22 out of 24 league games this term.FC Koln finished second in Bundesliga 2, behind Hamburg who were automatically promoted to end a seven-year absence from the German top flight.Lemperle’s team-mates take on Kaiserslautern, who finished just inside the playoff places in sixth, in the final. More

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      Thomas Muller has Bayern Munich fans howling with risque funeral joke in farewell speech on pitch

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      THOMAS MULLER left Bayern Munich fans howling with laughter after delivering a cheeky funeral joke during his on-pitch farewell speech.The 35-year-old is leaving his boyhood club after 17 glittering seasons.Thomas Muller told a cheeky joke as he bid farewell to Bayern MunichCredit: DAZNHarry Kane used the occasion to celebrate his first-ever career trophyCredit: GettyMuller has won 13 titles and two Champions Leagues during his 750 appearances for the club.And he played his last-ever home match in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Gladbach, with wild celebrations seeing Harry Kane soaked in beer after landing a first career trophy.Muller then cut an emotional figure on the field as he bid farewell to Bayern fans.But the Allianz Arena crowd was left doubled over after a rib-tickling joke from Muller during his final speech.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe World Cup winner said: “I’ve got another joke ready. Bear with me. Humour is very individual. “I was looking for a joke, a joke to say goodbye, but I couldn’t find an appropriate one that I liked. “Then I looked for something spicier about funerals. Father is dying at home. The three children are standing at his bedside.“Suddenly, the smell of his favourite cake wafts from the kitchen, where the mother is baking it.Most read in BundesligaBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS“Then he says, ‘Son, please bring me one last piece of my favourite cake. That would be my last wish’.“Then he comes back from the kitchen without the cake. The father says, ‘What’s going on?’Harry Kane finally gets his hands on first career trophy as Bayern Munich win Bundesliga in style“(The son says) ‘Well, mum said it’s for after the funeral’.”Fans all said the same thing as they reacted with delight to the gag.One said: “Never change Thomas.”Another declared: “That’s so dry, I love it.”One noted: “Haha wtf he’s insane.”Another added: “Please become a pundit.”Following Muller’s speech, it was party time again on the pitch.Kane led the way as he finally clinched his first piece of silverware.Read More on The SunThe England captain was all smiles as he posed with the Bundesliga trophy.And Kane toasted the occasion with plenty of beer – before a ton of it was dunked over his head.Kane led the title party celebrations afterwardsCredit: GettyThe striker toasted the occasion with plenty of beerCredit: GettyTeammates then poured drinks over the England captain’s headCredit: Getty More

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      Shock pics show horror aftermath of Bundesliga pitch invasion that left 25 in hospital and fan fighting for their life

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      SHOCKING pictures have showed the state of Hamburg’s pitch after a wild pitch invasion left 25 people in hospital and one fan fighting for their life.The German giants finally sealed promotion to back to the Bundesliga at the seventh attempts after beating Ulm 6-1 on Saturday.Hamburg’s pitch is in a state of ruinCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThousands of fans descended after winning promotion to the BundesligaCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe grass has been badly cut up in some areasCredit: Shutterstock EditorialSome fans got their hands on a souvenirCredit: Shutterstock EditorialFans got carried away with the celebrations after the 6-1 win over UlmCredit: GettyHamburg are back in the top flight after a seven-year absenceCredit: GettyFans got carried away after their final home match of the season and thousands descended on to the pitch. Dramatic footage from the Volksparkstadion stadium shows supporters jumping from the stands, toppling advertising boards and sprinting across the pitch.Wild scenes erupted as some climbed onto the players, while others raced toward the dugouts and attempted to enter the dressing rooms before being stopped by police.The result from all the footfall is clear to see, with the grass cut up and badly damaged all over the pitch.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLClumps of turf were taken out and held by fans, keen to take a souvenir from a memorable match.Several fans were injured when jumping onto the pitch, while some were hurt in scuffles.A total of 25 supporters taken to hospital, where one is recovering from life-threatening injuries.A total of 44 people received on-site medical treatment.Most read in FootballAround 65 firefighters and emergency personnel – backed by a dozen ambulances – swarmed the stadium to deal with the fallout.The Hamburg fire department confirmed they initiated a full-scale emergency response at the scene, as scenes of joy turned to panic.Bradford clash SUSPENDED with club seconds from promotion as fans storm pitch BEFORE full-timeHamburg’s victory capped a dramatic end to their seven-year stay in Germany’s second division.It comes after Harry Kane got drenched in beer during a live TV interview after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.The England captain, 31, celebrated on the Allianz Arena pitch with wife Kate and kids Ivy, Vivienne and Louis as he finally got his hands on his first trophy.Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title six days earlier without kicking a ball as Bayer Leverkusen drew with Freiburg.  More

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      Shock moment fans storm pitch in huge invasion with 25 rushed to hospital as club wins promotion to Germany’s Bundesliga

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      THIS is the shocking moment football fans stormed the pitch in a huge invasion — with at least 25 people rushed to hospital after Hamburg sealed their promotion to the Bundesliga.Dramatic footage from the Volksparkstadion stadium shows fans jumping from the stands, toppling advertising boards and sprinting across the pitch.Hamburg fans invade the pitch as they celebrate their promotion to the BundesligaCredit: ReutersFans swarmed the pitch after the crucial winCredit: EPAFanatics also ripped the net after their club finally returned to the German football leagueCredit: GettyAt least 25 people were injured and rushed to hospital amid the chaosCredit: APWild scenes erupted as some climbed onto the players, while others raced toward the dugouts and attempted to enter the dressing rooms before being stopped by police.A major rescue operation was launched after jubilant HSV supporters stormed the field following a thumping 6-1 win over SSV Ulm, which secured their promotion on the penultimate matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga.In total, one person was left with life-threatening injuries, 19 were seriously hurt, and five suffered minor injuries, according to Berliner Tageszeitung.A fire department spokesperson said several fans had been injured after leaping from the stands, while others were hurt in scuffles amid the chaos.Read more on the BundesligaA total of 44 people received on-site medical treatment.Around 65 firefighters and emergency personnel – backed by a dozen ambulances – swarmed the stadium to deal with the fallout.The Hamburg Fire department confirmed they initiated a full-scale emergency response at the scene, as scenes of joy turned to panic.Harry Kane finally gets his hands on first career trophy as Bayern Munich win Bundesliga in styleHSV’s victory capped a dramatic end to their seven-year stay in Germany’s second division. Most read in BundesligaIt also marked the end of six failed attempts to return to the top flight.But the celebrations stretched city resources thin.Emergency services were already stretched due to the 836th Hafengeburtstag festival and a concert by pop star Roland Kaiser nearby at the Barclays Arena, BlueWin reports.It comes after Harry Kane got drenched in beer during a live TV interview after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.The England captain, 31, celebrated on the Allianz Arena pitch with wife Kate and kids Ivy, Vivienne and Louis as he finally got his hands on his first trophy.Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title six days earlier without kicking a ball as Bayer Leverkusen drew with Freiburg. One person was left with life-threatening injuries, 19 were seriously hurt, and five suffered minor injuriesCredit: ReutersA fan celebrates the team’s promotion to the Bundesliga, while sitting on the crossbarCredit: GettySome fans even ripped up the pitch to celebrate the major featCredit: GettyKane celebrated with his team-mates in a posh Munich restaurant before murdering ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ in karaoke.Speaking after the game, a beaming Kane was delighted his much-publicised wait for a trophy was finally over.He said: “It feels amazing. It’s been a long time coming, a lot of hard work throughout the season, and I’m just proud.”Look, it doesn’t change the player that I am. It doesn’t change how hard I work.”Of course, it’s been one of the only things that has been missing from my resume.”But hopefully it’s the first of many with this great club and with this great team as well.”Read More on The SunHe added: “I’m proud of the boys and my family. My wife and kids are here. It’s just a great feeling.”I’m looking forward to enjoying the next week.”Some fans attempted to enter the dressing rooms before being stopped by policeCredit: EPA More

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      Man Utd ready to SLASH Jadon Sancho asking price with Bundesliga side keen after Chelsea snub permanent transfer

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      JADON SANCHO could get an escape route back to the Bundesliga – if he is willing to take a wage drop and cut-price pay-off.Sancho is facing a red-faced return to Manchester United, as Chelsea want to back out of the obligation to buy agreed when he joined them on a season-long loan last summer.Chelsea are not willing to buy Jadon Sancho from Manchester UnitedBayer Leverkusen are keeping tabs on Sancho ahead of the summer transfer windowJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordBayer Leverkusen are keen to offer him the lifeline of a third spell in Germany and sources say United would do business for little more than £20million.But Sancho’s chances of a move also rest on him taking a hefty drop from his £250,000-a-week Old Trafford salary.While Leverkusen, who are losing boss Xabi Alonso at the end of the season, could afford the fee, his present wages are way beyond them.That leaves Sancho facing the prospect of twiddling his thumbs for the remaining 12 months of his contract…or accepting his wages must be slashed to get out of Manchester.Read More on Man UtdChelsea’s change of heart means they must pay £5m to return him to Old Trafford, which covers the chunk of his salary United have been paying this season.But they may try to use that to negotiate a pay-off with Sancho, who has no future under Ruben Amorim, even though he was already at Stamford Bridge when he arrived.The one-time England winger cost United £73m when they signed him from Borussia Dortmund four years ago.He made a six-month return to Dortmund last season, after a bitter feud with former manager Erik ten Hag, and played a key role in their reaching the Champions League final.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBut although BVB would like to take him back on a permanent basis – and remain Sancho’s preferred club – Leverkusen’s stronger financial position makes them favourites.The winger introduced himself on the global stage during his first stint at Dortmund where he spent four years before his move to United in 2021.Casemiro STAYING at Man Utd? Amorim’s Shock U-Turn Explained!The forward amassed a total of 53 goals and 67 assists in 158 appearances with the German giants.Chelsea ratings vs Djurgarden as Dewsbury-Hall makes most of rare start but Sancho should have done betterCHELSEA coasted their way into the Conference League final thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half finish.Enzo Maresca’s men had done the difficult work last week with a thumping first-leg win.But Dewsbury-Hall gave the home fans something to cheer about with a smart finish.Tyrique George fed the midfielder, who cut inside Djurgarden defender Miro Tenho before slotting home.From there, Chelsea were going through the motions – and no wonder given how poor their Swedish visitors were.Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the Chelsea stars… More