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      Ex-Arsenal duo Mustafi and Kolasinac ‘lead player revolt’ as Schalke set record with FIFTH different boss this season

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      SCHALKE’S shambolic season will reach a new low next week, as they hunt a record FIFTH manager of the campaign.
      The boss search will recommence after ex-Arsenal duo Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi reportedly led a player revolt against Christian Gross.

      Shkodran Mustafi has been unable to improve Schalke’s leaky defenceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sead Kolasinac hasn’t had a good time back at SchalkeCredit: EPA

      The former Spurs manager, Schalke boss No4 of this season, had only been in charge since December 27.
      But the Swiss managed only one win in 11 games at the helm, losing his final match 5-1 at Stuttgart on Saturday.
      He now joins David Wagner, Manuel Baum and Huub Stevens on the Schalke scrapheap.
      The Gelsenkirchen side will now the set a record as first club in Bundesliga history to have five managers in just one season.

      Hamburg and Hertha Berlin had both previously also gone through four.
      According to Bild, Kolasinac, Mustafi and veteran Klaas-Jan Huntelaar led a ‘player revolt’ against Gross.
      Among their bones of contention were reportedly Gross’ tendency to confuse players’ names and his tone while addressing the club’s stars.
      They also questioned his training methods and tactical nous.

      Christian Gross was axed after 11 games in chargeCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Club chief Jens Buchta announced the decisionCredit: AFP or licensors
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      Schalke’s shambolic season has seen them win just one of their 23 league games – while drawing six and losing the other 16.
      That win did come under Gross, 66, a surprise 4-0 victory over Hoffenheim in early January, but it didn’t spark a run.
      Defender Ozan Kabak left for Liverpool while the arrivals of Mustafi and Kolasinac haven’t sparked an improvement at the back.
      As for Huntelaar, the 37-year-old has played just ten minutes since re-joining last month.
      The Dutchman is struggling with muscle injuries.
      In addition to Gross, Schalke also sacked assistant Rainer Widmayer – as well as squad manager Sascha Riether and head of performance Werner Leuthard.

      Sascha Riether, left, has also been axedCredit: AFP or licensors

      Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been unable to make an impact on the pitch since returning to SchalkeCredit: Reuters
      Academy coach Peter Knabel has taken interim charge.
      Club chief Jens Buchta said: “The decisions made today became inevitable after the disappointing results against Dortmund and Stuttgart.
      “We must not beat around the bush, the sporting situation is obvious. That’s why we must think ahead to the new season with every personnel decision we take now.”
      According to ESPN, the club’s ultras had visited the team hotel prior to their 4-0 derby defeat to Borussia Dortmund last weekend.
      Rock bottom of the table, Schalke are nine points behind Arminia Bielefeld in the relegation play-off place, and Hertha Berlin in 15th.

      Ex-Huddersfield boss David Wagner started the season in chargeCredit: EPA
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Chelsea transfer target David Alaba demands to be played in midfield at next club as well as £400k-a-week wages

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      CHELSEA target David Alaba wants to be played in midfield at his next club, according to reports.
      The versatile Austrian will be out of contract in the summer, and has already confirmed that he will be leaving Bayern Munich for pastures new.

      David Alaba predominantly plays at centre-back for BayernCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      His next destination hasn’t yet been decided – but Alaba has reportedly made one key factor in his decision clear.
      According to Le Parisien, the 28-year-old is determined to finally be allowed to play in midfield.
      Alaba believes that this is his best position, despite having hardly been selected to play there for Bayern.
      Of his 418 appearances for the German champions, just 39 have been in the middle of the park.

      It’s a different story for his country, however, with 46 of his 78 international appearances having come in his preferred position.
      Alaba has most often played at left-back for Bayern, having played there 243 times.
      But centre-back is currently seen as his most suitable home by boss Hansi Flick – with Alphonso Davies now the preferred left full-back.
      As well as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are said to be interested in the Bayern superstar.

      Alaba will become the highest-paid PL player if he joins Chelsea on a free this summer
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      In order to get their man, however, it seems that they will have to fork out a huge salary.
      Alaba is reportedly after a whopping £400,000-a-week at his next club.
      This would make him the highest paid player in the Premier League, with current top earner David de Gea pocketing £375k-a-week.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann ‘interested in Tottenham job’ if Jose Mourinho is sacked

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      RB LEIPZIG boss Julian Nagelsmann is interested in the Tottenham job if Jose Mourinho is sacked, according to reports.
      The German. 33, has been heavily linked with the North Londoners and previously admitted he likes the idea of moving to the Premier League.

      Julian Nagelsmann wants to be considered for the Tottenham job if it becomes availableCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jose Mourinho is having a turbulent season at SpursCredit: EPA

      Spurs are having a rollercoaster campaign with Mourinho’s side ninth after 24 games having lost to bitter rivals West Ham last time out in the league.
      There is no suggestion the North Londoners are considering sacking Mourinho.
      But Nagelsmann would be keen to be considered for the role if it did become available, according to Bild.
      His Leipzig contract doesn’t expire until 2023 but he revealed earlier this month he would love to move to England and be a success like German counterpart Jurgen Klopp.

      He said: “The Premier League is a very interesting league and I can imagine it could be a big aim to be a big manager in the Premier League one day like Jurgen, who is very successful.
      “It could be a step in the future. You know, in football it’s not that easy to plan ‘how long will you be a manager in Leipzig? When will you go to the Premier League?’.
      “I could imagine going to the Premier League.
      “I could imagine staying as a manager in the Bundesliga for my whole career. It’s cool to be a manager in my own country, I love it.

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      “Then perhaps in the future we can meet face-to-face in the Premier League, who knows.”
      Leipzig chief Markus Krosche recently admitted there has been interest in their baby-faced coach but he urged Nagelsmann to see his contract out before considering a move away.
      He told Bild: “When you do a good job, you arouse desire.
      “But Julian feels comfortable because he has everything he needs here.
      “The team is developing great. That’s why I see no reason for him to switch, especially since he has a valid contract with us.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Chelsea and Man City leading Erling Haaland transfer race this summer with Dortmund demanding £150m for striker

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      CHELSEA and Manchester City are the frontrunners for Erling Haaland’s signature this summer, according to reports.
      The Borussia Dortmund hotshot has hit 27 goals in 25 games this season, including a recent scissor kick spectacular against Schalke.

      Erling Haaland is set to be a hot property in the summer marketCredit: AFP or licensors

      A fee of around £150million is said to be required to prise the Norwegian from the Bundesliga club.
      In 2022, a release clause worth £75m will activate but Europe’s top clubs may not wait for such a reduction.
      According to Eurosport, Chelsea want to make a statement in the market to highlight their title ambitions under Thomas Tuchel.
      The Blues are described as confident of their chances of signing Haaland, having made contact with senior figures in his camp.

      A hefty £260m transfer kitty is reportedly being readied for Tuchel to produce the club’s first serious challenge since Antonio Conte won the Premier League in 2017.
      Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie have also been linked, with Haaland increasingly seen as the priority target.
      Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are named as the main challenger for the 20-year-old striker.
      Sergio Aguero could leave the Etihad in the next 18 months, or sooner if the 32-year-old fails to earn a new contract.

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      Real Madrid and Manchester United are two other clubs touted for a Haaland bid.
      If a move for Kylian Mbappe fails, the LaLiga giants could turn to the Borussia star to revamp their frontline.
      While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to sign his old Molde prodigy before he joined Dortmund, with a defender reportedly United’s priority when the market re-opens.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Man Utd told Erling Haaland transfer will cost £150m by Dortmund this summer – more than DOUBLE his 2022 release clause

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly been told that they can sign Erling Haaland this summer, but only for £150million.
      The Norwegian striker is among the hottest property in European football, having scored 43 goals in 43 games since joining Borussia Dortmund 13 months ago.

      Erling Haaland has scored 43 goals in 43 games for Borussia DortmundCredit: AFP or licensors

      Haaland, 20, possesses a £65million release clause in his contract, which will become active in 2022.
      A number of clubs, including United, Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in getting a deal done sooner – but it’ll cost them dearly.
      According to the Star, Dortmund are braced for interest but will hold out for £150m this summer – more than double his future release clause.
      Asked yesterday about Haaland, who he managed at Molde, Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to rule out a move.

      He said: “When you have had kids and players through as a coach, you follow them and I keep in touch with Erling, it’s great to see the player he has become.
      “I know he will work to improve all the time. He is a Dortmund player, we wish him well there and let’s see what life will bring later on.”
      Asked if any deal was now dead or could be revived Solskjaer said: “You know I can’t speak about Erling, he’s with Borussia Dortmund.
      “It’s disrespectful to talk about it apart from I know him and speak to him.”

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer worked with Haaland at MoldeCredit: Instagram @erling.haaland
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      Ole then added: “Who wasn’t interested in him a year ago? Everybody would say you take the best players in the world and Erling is a top player.”
      Speaking to the BBC, agent Mino Raiola believes that there are TEN clubs that could buy Haaland – with four of them being from the Premier League.
      He said: “It’s obvious there are only a maximum of ten clubs that can afford to buy him.
      “We can fill in four of those clubs – and four of those clubs are in England. You can call them and say ‘would you be interested?’
      “There is not a sporting director or trainer in the world that would say he would be not be interested.
      “It’s like saying: ‘Is there a Formula 1 team who would not be interested in having Lewis Hamilton?'”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      England suffer huge snub as Jamal Musiala ‘picks Germany over Southgate’s side as 17-year-old impresses at Bayern’

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      ENGLAND have lost out in the battle for Jamal Musiala, according to reports in Germany.
      The winger, 17, was born in Stuttgart but spent much of his childhood in England, playing for Chelsea’s academy.

      Jamal Musiala is set for a call-up to the Germany national team after impressing for Bayern MunichCredit: Reuters

      The winger last appeared for England Under-21s in NovemberCredit: Reuters

      With both the Three Lions and Die Mannschaft keen on him committing to their national set-ups, he previously won caps with the youth teams of both.
      Most recently, he turned out for England Under-21s and scored in November’s 5-0 rout of Albania.
      However, an elevation to the senior Germany side is on the cards ahead of next month’s internationals.
      Bild report on Musiala picking Joachim Low over Gareth Southgate following lengthy talks.

      Germany national team chief Oliver Bierhoff held discussions with the teenager and his family in recent weeks, with his father a British-Nigerian and mother a German.
      Former striker Bierhoff told Bild: “We had a very good and open conversation, now let’s wait and see how the boy decides from the heart which country he plays for.
      “We clearly showed him what we think of him and that we are convinced that he can and will become a national player, but that is a very personal decision.”
      Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to put Musiala on a £100,000-a-week long-term contract as reward for his spectacular form.

      Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been linked with the player, who left West London for Bavaria in 2019.
      Three Lions boss Southgate has also held talks with Musiala, who appeared to have become the youngest English goalscorer in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
      A ferocious finish past Lazio helped Bayern to a 4-1 win in their last-16 first leg.
      Germany face Iceland, Romania and North Macedonia in March to kick off their World Cup qualification campaign.
      Former Mannschaft midfielder Michael Ballack said earlier this month that Musiala should pick the country he most wants to play for.
      The 44-year-old said: “This case is a little bit of a political thing.
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      “Of course, he is a very talented and promising player who is not completely ready to play for the national team but they want to make him play for Germany.
      “I don’t want to judge this from the distance. It’s basically important that the player wants to play for Germany.
      “Talks about this should be held and he has to tell his point of view. He is still very young, so these talks are very important.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

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      Arsenal outcast Matteo Guendouzi is going through ‘football puberty’ according to Hertha Berlin boss Pal Dardai

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      MATTEO GUENDOUZI is going through ‘football puberty’, according to his Hertha Berlin manager.
      The Arsenal midfielder, 21, was shipped out to the Bundesliga outfit on loan for the season following a series of fall-outs and misdemeanours during his two years at the Emirates.

      Matteo Guendouzi has hit football ‘puberty’ and is learning to grow up as a playerCredit: Reuters

      But his new boss Pal Dardai is confident he is growing up and maturing as a footballer while recognising his naughty streak.
      Dardai told Bild: “It’s like puberty for him, he’s kind of a rebel.
      “He has to work and learn like an animal.”
      Guendouzi recovered from Covid-19 at the beginning of the season to become an integral member of the team under former boss Bruno Labbadia.

      He has featured in every Bundesliga game since making his debut in November – even chipping in with a couple of goals.
      But he let himself and the team down on Sunday, gifting RB Leipzig a second goal to kill off the game 20 minutes from time.
      Guendouzi dallied on the ball in his own penalty area and, under pressure from an attacker, threw himself to the ground in an attempt to win a free-kick.
      But the referee was unmoved and Nordi Mukiele thumped it in.

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      Dardai recognised it is an area he needs to work on immediately and added: “In training, I always stop these kind of duels because you can’t fall to the ground like this. And, afterwards, he’s mad.”
      The France Under-21 international has not featured for Arsenal since the fateful defeat away at Brighton on June 20.
      He scrapped with compatriot Neal Maupay on the pitch and bragged to the Seagulls players over his £40,000-a-week wages.
      Before that, Guendouzi was in hot water with Arteta during a mid-season training camp in Dubai where he reportedly got into incidents with club staff, Sokratis and Edu.
      And, as revealed by SunSport, the ex-Lorient man is on course to be sold as part of the continued Emirates clear out this summer.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Pal Dardai is desperate to get the best out of the French midfielderCredit: AFP

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      Man Utd pulled the plug on Thiago transfer as David Moyes didn’t know enough about him and then signed Fellaini

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      MANCHESTER UNITED were close to signing Bayern Munich star Thiago in 2013 but David Moyes vetoed it.
      Instead the Scot signed Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini on deadline day.

      David Moyes vetoed Man Utd’s signing of Thiago in 2013

      The Scot instead signed Marouane Fellaini from Everton

      Thiago ended up signing for Bayern where he has since won seven Bundesliga titles and a Champions League.
      Whereas Fellaini only managed an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Europa League title with United.
      Sir Alex Ferguson had set up a £17million deal to sign Thiago, 29, from Barcelona before his retirement, according to ESPN.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      But once he had left Old Trafford the decision fell to his replacement – and now West Ham manager – Moyes.
      Thiago was said to be keen on a Nou Camp exit in order to play first-team football.
      But Moyes reportedly shut the move down because he did not know enough about the Spanish international.
      The Scot had been told by United chiefs they were planning a mega move that summer – with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo being mentioned.

      And as a result he held off on giving the Thiago deal the green light.

      United reportedly attempted to sign Thiago’s Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas instead but that move also fell through.
      So having missed out on several targets, Moyes was forced to raid his old club and sign Fellaini on the last day of the summer transfer window.
      Thiago made a belated move to the Premier League last summer, joining Liverpool in a £25million deal.

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