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      Chelsea in Jude Bellingham transfer blow as Dortmund make 17-year-old wonderkid ‘untouchable’ in summer

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      BORUSSIA DORTMUND will not sell ‘untouchable’ Jude Bellingham this summer, according to reports.The English teenager has been linked with the likes of Chelsea, having impressed in his debut Bundesliga season.
      Jude Bellingham has made 41 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this seasonCredit: Getty
      But if Dortmund have their way, the former Birmingham City starlet will be going nowhere.
      Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims that Dortmund consider Bellingham, 17, ‘untouchable’ going into the summer window.
      And the Italian ‘expects’ the German giants to keep their wonderkid this summer.
      Bellingham burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old for boyhood club Birmingham last season, making 41 appearances in the Championship.
      His performances drew interest from Manchester United, with the Red Devils having been desperate to secure the midfielder’s signature.
      But Dortmund beat them in the race, shelling out an initial £25million for Bellingham’s services.
      Such was his impact at St Andrews, that Blues bizarrely retired his No22 shirt following his departure.
      He has hit the ground running in Germany, already tallying up 41 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.
      Bellingham, 17, recently scored against Manchester City in the Champions LeagueCredit: PA
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      And he recently impressed English football fans once again, when he scored a composed finish against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
      His talent has already drawn international recognition, winning two caps for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions.
      And his displays for Dortmund have put him in a fantastic position to make it into Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad this summer.
      Jude Bellingham has already won two England capsCredit: Getty
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      Jude Bellingham trains with England squad for the first time More

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      What is the 50+1 rule and will it be introduced in the Premier League? German football ownership system explained?

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      THE UK Government has ordered a fan-led, root and branch review of football governance following the European Super League debacle.And one proposal that could be looked at in the wake of the failed scheme is the German 50+1 fan ownership system.
      Bayern Munich and the majority of German clubs are subject to the 50+1 ruleCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      Here, SunSport takes a look at how it works and whether it could be introduced in England.
      What is 50+1?
      The 50+1 rule means that every club that wants to compete in the German Football League must be 50 per cent owned by the fans, with the fans having the casting vote on all initiatives.
      Football clubs are not allowed to play in the Bundesliga if a private company or individual has more than a 50 per cent stake.
      German clubs were historically non-for-profit members organisations with private ownership of any kind prohibited, but in 1998 50+1 was introduced as a way for clubs to secure some private funding.
      The Bundesliga claims this rule is responsible for keeping wages and debts at its club under control and ticket prices low.
      Bundesliga attendances are among the highest in Europe, with Borussia Dortmund recording the largest average attendance on the continent in 2016-17 and Bayern Munich the third largest.

      Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said of the system: “The German spectator traditionally has close ties with his club.
      “And if he gets the feeling that he’s no longer regarded as a fan but instead as a customer, we’ll have a problem.
      “The 50+1 rule does significantly more good than harm in Germany.
      “Most clubs won’t get a Roman Abramovich, who in the first place wants to see Chelsea winning.
      “Most of the investors want to earn money. And where do they get it from? The spectators.”

      Are all German clubs fan-owned?
      Though the 50+1 rule is a rigid one, there are a small number of exceptions.
      Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, who were formed by Volkswagen and Bayer pharmaceuticals respectively, are not subject to 50+1.
      Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hoff is also allowed to own his club outright after investing consistently in it for over 20 years, but he is greeted with hostility by supporters of the other Bundesliga clubs.
      A similar bid by Martin Kind to take full control of Hannover, however, was defeated due to fan opposition.
      Most controversial though, has been RB Leipzig, who found a way to comply with the letter of the law but not the spirit.
      In 2009, Red Bull purchased fifth tier SSV Markranstadt who, as a non-league club, did not have to follow 50+1.
      Once they were promoted to the league system, Leipzig allowed just 17 people to join the club as members, most of whom were employees or associates of Red Bull.
      Supporters can only join as non-voting members and even that membership is priced at a prohibitive one thousand euros per year.

      Will 50+1 be introduced in England?
      Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden has confirmed that the government is looking at 50+1 as a model for English football.
      He told talkSPORT: “Naturally we’ve got to learn the lessons from the crisis in football financing during the Covid crisis.
      “We need to put this on a more sustainable footing.
      “For example in the German leagues they have a different governance structure so it’s right we look at those things.
      “The PM was good, I had a meeting with him and fans on Tuesday and he said we had to do whatever it took and that includes legislation and if legislation is required we’ll do that.
      “But the immediate legislation we were preparing to pull together was to deal with this immediate threat from this outrageous [Super League] proposal.”
      Oliver Dowden has said the government will look at introducing the German systemCredit: Alamy
      And Boris Johnson has stated that a ‘root-and-branch investigation’ will be overseen by former sports minister Tracey Crouch to review English football’s governance and to ‘promote the role of fans in that governance’.
      It is not known how and whether the government would be able to strip Premier League owners of 50 per cent shares of their clubs if the initiative were to be brought in, however.
      And decision on football club ownership in England is likely to depend on the findings of Tracey Crouch’s review. More

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      Bundesliga stars like Erling Haaland, Sancho and Lewandowski confined to quarantine camps so season can finish on time

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      BUNDESLIGA stars including Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho and Robert Lewandowski will be confined to quarantine camps so the season can finish on time.A recent surge of Covid cases in teams has put pressure on the schedule so the German Football League has implemented the measures.
      Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho will have to enter quarantine training camps in MayCredit: Getty
      All Bundesliga sides – including Robert Lewandowski’s Bayern Munich – will have to abide by the measuresCredit: Reuters
      Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin and three second-division clubs have all had to postpone games this month after coronavirus outbreaks in their squads.
      And more cases could mean there’s no time to squeeze the games in before this summer’s Euros starts in June.
      Measures described as ‘quasi quarantine’ will begin from May 3 with players and staff allowed to spend time only at home or at club facilities.
      And from May 12, they’ll move into a quarantine training camp shut off from the outside world for the last two rounds of games.
      The Bundesliga is due to end on May 22 but more time is needed to hold promotion-relegation playoffs before teams release players for Euro 2020.
      Hertha had to postpone three games and cancel team training for two weeks after the virus spread through the squad, with coach Pal Dardai among those infected.
      That means a busy schedule for a team facing possible relegation.
      Elsewhere, deluded Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reckons no Premier League side will be able to afford Haaland if they don’t join the doomed Super League.
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      Perez is still desperately clinging to the remains of the money-grabbing scheme despite all six English clubs bailing on it already.
      And the Spaniard – whose interviews have taken on a distinctively ‘in denial’ feel since the Super League all-but collapsed – reckons no Prem side will have the cash to afford the star or Paris Saint-Germain ace Kylian Mbappe.
      He told El Larguero: “In general, there will not be big transfers this summer.
      “When money does not flow from the rich clubs to the poor clubs, everyone suffers.
      “It’s impossible to make signings like Mbappé and Haaland, in general, not just for Real Madrid, without the Super League.”
      And Perez also said Los Blancos would NOT be re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Cologne’s famous goat mascot Hennes VIII of 11 years is put down due to health reasons aged 14 More

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      Watch Jadon Sancho’s cheeky nut-meg in slow motion as Dortmund star returns from seven-week injury lay-off in style

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      JADON SANCHO was back with a bang last night for Borussia Dortmund to leave fans and opponents mesmerised.The 21-year-old had not featured for seven weeks since scoring the winner against Borussia Monchengladbach before later going off injured.
      Jadon Sancho made a stunning return for Dortmund last night in cheeky fashionCredit: BT Sport
      Union Berlin’s Christopher Trimmel was left bamboozled by the returning ace’s nutmegCredit: BT Sport

      That blow led to him missing both legs of Dortmund’s Champions League quarter final clash against former club Manchester City.
      But finally he was ready to return to action on Wednesday as his team welcomed Union Berlin to Signal Iduna Park.
      Sancho’s big comeback arrived in the 59th-minute with Dortmund already a goal to the good.
      Marco Reus had opened the scoring 27 minutes in.
      However, it was the Three Lions attacker who quickly stole the show as he pulled off a wonderful nutmeg on Christopher Trimmel.
      And the reaction of Trimmel’s team-mates was also priceless as they watched the magic from up close in disbelief.
      It was not just tricks that won Sancho praise.
      He went on to play a key role in Raphael Guerreiro’s late goal as well that secured the 2-0 win and the three points when launching a counter-attack.
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      The game also marked a significant milestone for the ace.
      It was Sancho’s 100th appearance in the German top-flight.
      He arrived at Dortmund from City in 2017 and remains to be linked with a Prem return, with his old club, Man United and Chelsea all believed to be keen on signing him.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Fans joke Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland won’t leave Dortmund after they hire ‘world’s sexiest athlete’ Alicia Schmidt to train them More

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      Premier League clubs will NOT be able to afford Haaland and Mbappe transfer fees without Euro Super League, claims Perez

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have no chance of signing Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland without money from the doomed European Super League.That is the view of deluded Real Madrid president Florentino Perez who is still desperately clinging to the remains of the money-grabbing scheme despite all six English clubs bailing on it already.
      Florentino Perez says Premier League clubs will not be able to afford Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe without the European Super LeagueCredit: Reuters
      PSG ace Kylian Mbappe is being heavily linked with a move away this summerCredit: Rex
      Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola has been touting him around Europe’s biggest clubsCredit: EPA
      Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with Borussia Dortmund ace Haaland.
      His agent, the controversial Mino Raiola, even embarked on a world tour to meet prospective clubs interested in the free-scoring sensation.
      And Mbappe has been linked with a Paris Saint-Germain exit too.
      The France international’s current contract with the Ligue 1 champions expires next summer and talks over a new deal have yet to bear fruit.

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      Manchester City have been mentioned as a potential destination with the club looking to replace legend Sergio Aguero at the end of the season.
      But Perez – whose interviews have taken on a distinctively ‘in denial’ feel since the Super League all-but collapsed – reckons no Prem side will have the cash to afford the stars.
      He told El Larguero: “In general, there will not be big transfers this summer.
      “When money does not flow from the rich clubs to the poor clubs, everyone suffers. It’s impossible to make signings like Mbappé and Haaland, in general, not just for Real Madrid, without the Super League.”
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      The desperate Spaniard also claimed fan protests against the Super League at many grounds – including Chelsea’s – were staged.
      Despite his attempt to scaremonger the Prem clubs into re-joining with the Haaland/ Mbappe rhetoric, Real are in serious financial trouble of their own.
      They are said to be close to £1billion in debt and would also likely struggle to cough up the cash for the pair.
      And Perez also said Los Blancos would NOT be re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo.
      He refused to confirm they would be extending club legend Sergio Ramos’ contract too – because he would not accept a pay cut.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Real Madrid chief Perez insists European Super League still alive More

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      English football could follow Germany’s fan-friendly 50+1 ownership model to avoid another European Super League crisis

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      GOVERNMENT officials are considering mandating English football to adopt the German model of majority fan ownership.Bundesliga teams must ensure at least a 51 per cent stake in the club is held by supporters – although there are exceptions.
      Borussia Dortmund are one example of a successful largely fan-owned clubCredit: Getty
      Premier League owners such as the Glazers have come in for sharp criticismCredit: PA
      The German FA (DFB) does not allow any side where more than 49 per cent is owned by private investors to compete, unless they can meet strict rules.
      For example, 75 per cent of Bayern Munich is owned by the supporters’ club and members vote on its president, with the remaining 25 per cent split between Audi, Adidas and Allianz.
      Any team owned by a single person or company was typically formed by that entity, such as car manufacturer Volkswagen, who founded top-flight club Wolfsburg in 1945.
      Should an investor hope to take majority control of a club, they need to have consistently invested for 20 years such as Hoffenheim chief Dietmar Hopp.
      Software magnate Hopp has nonetheless faced huge criticism from rival clubs for guiding the historically small club to European football.
      Introducing such a system to English football is being mooted following the European Super League debacle.
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      Clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United signed up to the doomed plot having failed to consult supporters or players.
      And UK Government culture secretary Oliver Dowden has refused to rule out implementing a fan ownership model.
      He told talkSPORT: “Naturally we’ve got to learn the lessons from the crisis in football financing during the Covid crisis.
      “We need to put this on a more sustainable footing.

      “For example in the German leagues they have a different governance structure so it’s right we look at those things.
      “The PM was good, I had a meeting with him and fans on Tuesday and he said we had to do whatever it took and that includes legislation and if legislation is required we’ll do that.
      “But the immediate legislation we were preparing to pull together was to deal with this immediate threat from this outrageous proposal.”
      Boris Johnson has stated that a ‘root-and-branch investigation’ will be overseen by former sports minister Tracey Crouch to review English football’s governance and to ‘promote the role of fans in that governance’.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      WHAT IS THE 50+1 OWNERSHIP MODEL?
      German football clubs are mandated to be at least 51 per cent-owned by supporters.
      Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are both largely fan-owned with minority shares held by private individuals or companies.
      Some clubs are privately owned, if they are founded by a company (Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig) or an individual invests in the team for more than 20 years (Hoffenheim).
      Benefits include a greater say on club affairs, cheaper tickets and more transparency, although there have been challenges to the rules.

      What happens now the European Super League has collapsed More

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      Cologne’s famous goat mascot Hennes VIII of 11 years is put down due to health reasons aged 14

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      FC COLOGNE have announced their iconic goat mascot has had to be put down.The legendary Hennes had been at every single home match for an 11-year period until 2019.
      FC Cologne have announced their legendary former goat mascot has died aged 14Credit: Getty
      Now he will be laid to rest after the Bundesliga side confirmed the sad news earlier.
      A tweet read: “We are going to miss you, Hennes VIII.
      “Our loveable goat, who was #effzeh mascot from 2008 until 2019, had to be put down due to health reasons.
      “He was 14 years old.
      “Rest in peace, Hennes!”
      Hennes VIII had carried on Cologne’s tradition of having a goat mascot at every home game since 1950.
      His replacement, Hennes IX, hit the headlines last summer.
      Cologne’s famous mascot was BANNED from their stadium for first time in 12 years due to new Bundesliga hygiene rules during the coronavirus pandemic.
      We are going to miss you, Hennes VIII.Our loveable goat, who was #effzeh mascot from 2008 until 2019, had to be put down due to health reasons. He was 14 years old.Rest in peace, Hennes! 😢 ❤ pic.twitter.com/3P77QkujGf— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) April 21, 2021

      Hennes the ninth – who was in his first season as club mascot – had eight predecessors since the club introduced goat mascots 70 years ago.
      But owing to new hygiene rules implemented by German Football League (DFL) chiefs, the goat was forced to stay away.
      He was transferred to and kept at Kolner Zoo while waiting for Bundesliga restrictions to be lifted.
      Cologne are nicknamed the Billy Goats and their club crest also includes a goat.
      The club have had a goat mascot ever since 1950, when they were gifted one by the circus.
      It picked up its name, Hennes, after staff decided to name it after then-coach Hennes Weisweller.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      What happens now the European Super League has collapsed More

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      David Alaba to join Real Madrid on five-year contract for free in summer from Bayern Munich in transfer blow to Chelsea

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      DAVID ALABA is set to sign a five-year contract at Real Madrid ahead of a summer free transfer, according to reports.The news will come as a blow to Chelsea who have been heavily linked with the Austrian for months.
      Real Madrid have agreed a five-year deal with Chelsea target David AlabaCredit: EPA
      Alaba, 28, revealed he will leave Bayern Munich after 13 years this summer when his contract expires.
      Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is determined to bring in another defender this summer and the experienced, versatile Alaba certainly fits the bill.
      The West Londoners have been heavily linked with a move for the Austria international, where he is looking to pocket £400,000-a-week in wages.
      But according to Sky, Alaba has rejected the chance to join the Blues and has put pen to paper on a Bernabeu contract until 2026.
      He is also said to have turned down an approach from Paris Saint-Germain, where the Ligue 1 giants were willing to meet his demands.
      It has been stated that Alaba – who can play as a centre-back, left-back or in midfield – has his heart set on a move to Spain.
      Real Madrid and Barcelona were both vying to secure his services, where it was reported in February that a verbal agreement had been reached with Los Blancos.
      Spanish media declared that Real offered Alaba a £17million bonus with Zinedine Zidane desperate to bring him to the Bernabeu.
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      Commenting on his future, Alaba declared he is leaving Bayern to seek a new challenge having been at the club since 2008.
      He said: “I have decided to do something new. It wasn’t an easy decision. I have not yet made the decision where to go.
      “I have personally decided to see something new, to look for a new challenge. That certainly took its time.”
      And he added: “It’s no secret that my agent is negotiating with other clubs.
      “I am looking for a new challenge to develop myself as a person on and off the pitch.
      “Where can I continue to play football successfully? That will certainly be important in my decision.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Wild fan celebrations outside Stamford Bridge as Chelsea pull out of the European Super League More