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      Five clubs Jordan Henderson could transfer to in January as England star tells team-mates Saudi move was huge mistake

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      JORDAN HENDERSON wants to seal a January transfer after telling former team-mates his move to Saudi Arabia has been a mistake.The former Liverpool captain, 33, left Anfield to join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the summer.
      Jordan Henderson could leave Al-Ettifaq after admitting the move was a mistakeCredit: Alamy
      He was all smiles when he signed for Steven Gerrard’s side in July 2023Credit: Reuters
      But it has not worked out as planned with Henderson yet to score and his side on a nightmare run of poor form.
      Now SunSport understands he has had enough and is ready to head back to Europe.
      Leaving before honouring two years of his £700,000-a-week contract would trigger a major tax bill worth around £3.5million.
      However, it could see the midfielder bolster his chances of featuring at Euro 2024.
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      But where could Henderson go if he did make the shock early exit?
      RETURN TO LIVERPOOL
      Henderson spent 12 years at Anfield, racking up 492 appearances for the Reds.
      He inherited the captain’s armband from Gerrard and lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.
      Jurgen Klopp brought in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch in a midfield overhaul – but some extra trophy-winning experience could be vital as Liverpool chase another league title this term.
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      The England international is the only Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League trophyCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      NEWCASTLE
      Newcastle have the local bragging rights after winning the Tyne-Wear FA Cup clash – and they could have even more if ex-Sunderland boy Henderson joins them.
      Newcastle are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the connections to the Saudi Pro League would ease negotiations – especially after Premier League clubs voted to allow transfers between clubs with the same owners.
      Eddie Howe’s squad has been decimated by injuries and a holding midfielder is high on the wish list anyway, with Kalvin Phillips also a target.
      Henderson started out at boyhood club Sunderland, joining aged eightCredit: AP:Associated Press
      CHELSEA
      Chelsea have splashed the cash – more than £1billion to be precise – since Todd Boehly took over at Stamford Bridge in 2022.
      And yet despite the big-money arrivals of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu, an experienced head in the middle of the park could be a sensible addition.
      Henderson would certainly provide that and linking up with a host of Three Lions stars could help catch Gareth Southgate’s eye.
      He could line up in midfield with Enzo Fernandez at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      CELTIC
      Henderson was at Liverpool throughout Brendan Rodgers’ tenure as Kop boss from 2012 to 2015.
      And the Northern Irishman may well be keen for a reunion to add a top-quality midfielder into his Celtic team.
      The lower overall quality of the league compared to the Premier League would also work in Henderson’s favour because he turns 34 at the end of the season.
      Brendan Rodgers managed the midfielder at AnfieldCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      MOVE TO GERMANY
      SunSport understands an unnamed German club are also monitoring Henderson’s situation with particular interest.
      Read more on The Sun
      With Bayer Leverkusen the surprise leaders and Bayern Munich, Stuttgart and RB Leipzig all chasing, the Bundesliga is wide open going into the second half of the season.
      Henderson proved he is willing to move abroad when he went to Saudi and the chance to test himself in another of Europe’s top five leagues could be appealing.
      Could Henderson line up with Harry Kane at Bayern Munich?Credit: Alamy More

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      Ex-Arsenal star wins prestigious Bundesliga award amid stunning season as Gunners fans say ‘why did we let him go?’

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      GRANIT XHAKA has won a prestigious Bundesliga award as he continues his fine form for Bayer Leverkusen.The Swiss midfielder joined the German side in the summer for £21.5million.
      Granit Xhaka has been named the Bundesliga’s best defensive/central midfielder so far this seasonCredit: Getty
      However, his performances this term have left Arsenal fans wondering why the club let him go.
      Xhaka won two FA Cups and served as club captain during seven years with the Gunners.
      He is now a key part of Xabi Alonso’s side, which currently sit top of the Bundesliga and remain unbeaten this season.
      The 31-year-old has also been named the Bundesliga’s best defensive/central midfielder so far this season by Kicker.
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      He was ranked first in their winter midfield rankings after being placed in the “international class” alongside team-mate Exequiel Palacios.
      Reacting to the news, one fan commented: “Still in shock Arsenal let him go.”
      Another added: “I miss him.”
      A third supporter also wrote: “Underrated part of Arsenal’s run last year.”
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      Meanwhile, one more joked: “Keeping Kane from winning a trophy. Arsenal through and through.”
      Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich are currently four points behind Leverkusen in second place.
      Alonso has guided his team to an unbeaten start in the league, cup and Europe, with Xhaka starting every Bundesliga match so far this term.
      Across all competitions, he has made 23 appearances to help power his side to the top of the table. More

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      Eric Dier agrees stunning deal to join Bayern Munich as Spurs outcast closes in on transfer reunion with Harry Kane

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      ERIC DIER has agreed a stunning switch to Bayern Munich, it’s been claimed.The England defender and midfielder has fallen further down the Tottenham pecking order since Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as manager.
      Eric Dier has fallen further down to the Tottenham pecking order since Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as managerCredit: Reuters
      The England defender and midfielder will be a free agent in the summerCredit: Rex
      Dier, 29, has reportedly agreed a deal to join Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      Dier, 29, began assessing his options once it became clear he wasn’t part of the Aussie’s plans at the club.
      And the midfielder has agreed a deal in principle to join German giants Bayern, according to reports.
      The Times claim the England international has “reached an agreement in principle” with the Bavarians after initial talks.
      Dier is free to speak to the Bundesliga big boys as his contract with Spurs expires at the end of the season.
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      Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel has identified the versatile Dier as a target to bolster his defence, although the former Sporting Lisbon ace is one of four potential options.
      And it’s claimed Bayern believe they have the “green light” to press on with a move for the out-of-favour Spurs star.
      Despite Dier seemingly being surplus to requirements, it’s not known whether or not Spurs would be willing to part ways with him.
      Postecoglu, however, has previously hinted that his future lay away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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      A move to Bayern Munich will see Eric Dier reunited with Harry KaneCredit: EPA
      That came in the form of a refusal to confirm whether or not he was part of his plans last October.
      The former Celtic chief said: “I haven’t had any chats with Eric. He’s training and he’s making himself available.
      “With all these guys, if they feel the need to discuss their future I’m more than happy to do that.
      “But I’m not going to go out and seek it unless I see there’s an issue.”
      Should Spurs agree to sell Dier to Bayern, the move will see the ace reunited with former long-time club team-mate Harry Kane.
      Kane swapped North London for Munich last August in a move blockbuster move worth £82million.
      England skipper Kane has been nothing short of prolific since joining the German champions.
      The 30-year-old has scored a whopping 25 goals in 22 appearances for Tuchel’s troop, breaking the Bundesliga record for the fewest games to find of the back of the net 20 times in the process.
      THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…
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      Bayern Munich ‘target shock Trevoh Chalobah transfer with Chelsea willing to sell to raise money and avoid FFP breach’

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      BAYERN MUNICH are eyeing a shock swoop for Trevoh Chalobah, it’s been claimed.The defender has been one of the shining lights in what has been a difficult few years for Chelsea.
      Trevoh Chalobah has impressed since returning to ChelseaCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      Despite the Blues’ defensive woes, Chalobah has impressed since returning from a season-long loan with Lorient.
      And according to reports, his displays over the past season-and-half have caught the eye of German giants Bayern Munich.
      That’s according to The Daily Mail, who claim the Bundesliga big boys are seeking to sign the 24-year-old on an initial loan deal.
      It’s also said that Chelsea are willing to part ways with their academy product to help balance their books and not be in breach of Financial Fair Play regulations.
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      It’s understood the West Londoners are also looking to cash in on Chalobah’s fellow academy graduate Conor Gallagher to avoid an FFP infringement.
      Chalobah was on course to join Bayern on loan last September but pulled the plug on the deal by vowing to fight for his place in the Blues’ starting line-up.
      Manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “If an offer appears, it is because another part of the club accepted it to move or they were trying to find a solution or the player wanted to leave.
      ” You cannot only blame the club, if an offer appears for Jesus [Perez, my assistant], it is because Jesus was open to receiving the offer, no?
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      “Come on, we need to also be clever. Did you receive an offer, Jesus [laughs]?!
      “No, but it is always easy to blame the club and blame the club. In the same way, maybe the player was thinking in pre-season or before the season to move in one direction.
      “If after that didn’t happen, then I am fair with the player. I will give them a chance to perform and play here.
      “Maybe the player decides to stay after but that’s the business. That is not, ‘Oh, the club accepted the offer’ or ‘The player wanted to move’.
      “Come on, it is the business that we know very well.
      “The players that are here if they deserve will have the opportunities to play but they need to be better than the others in their position.”
      Chelsea will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Preston North End to Stamford Bridge for their FA Cup third-round clash.
      Chelsea are contemplating selling Trevoh Chalobah to balance their booksCredit: The Times More

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      Former Man City star ‘set for shock Premier League return’ to rivals after starring in Bundesliga

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      KO ITAKURA is reportedly set for a Premier League return with Liverpool and Tottenham reportedly interested in the Borussia Monchengladbach star.The former Manchester City centre-back has caught the attention of the Premier League again after his impressive spell in the Bundesliga.
      Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko ItakuraCredit: Getty
      Itakura joined Monchengladbach for £4million during the summer of 2022 after helping former side Schalke get promoted to the Bundesliga.
      The Japanese star has since made 34 appearances for Monchengladbach.
      And in August last year, the 26-year-old won the club’s Player of the Month award.
      But according to reporter Fabrizio Romano Itakura is “one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB.”
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      The transfer guru added that Liverpool “have sent their scouts multiple times to follow Itakura’s performances”.
      And Ange Postecoglou is “monitoring” the defender who he also eyed up while managing at his former club Celtic.
      The ex-City star, who never played for Pep Guardiola’s side, is still tied to the German club until 2026.
      And Romano confirmed his “release clause is NOT valid in January.”
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      Itakura is currently valued at £13million according to Transfermarkt.
      In January 2019, he joined City but was immediately loaned to Eredivisie club Groningen until the summer of 2021 before heading to then tier two side Schalke.
      The 21-cap Japan international can play both in centre-back and defensive midfielder positions which could suit Jurgen Klopp as Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic are out with injuries.
      Postecoglou’s side need defensive reinforcement after losing Cristian Romero to a hamstring injury on Christmas Eve to add to Spurs’ injury crisis. More

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      Donny van de Beek joins Eintracht Frankfurt on loan transfer – and he could have played final game for Man Utd

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      DONNY VAN DE BEEK has left Manchester United on loan.And he could have played his final game for the Red Devils.
      Donny van de Beek has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the rest of the seasonCredit: INSTAGRAM @eintrachtfrankfurt
      The Dutchman will wear the No25 for the Bundesliga sideCredit: INSTAGRAM @eintrachtfrankfurt
      Van de Beek, 26, completed his loan to Eintracht Frankhurt within the first 12 hours of the January transfer window.
      And the Bundesliga side have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
      It is understood that fee would be around £9.5million – with add-ons potentially seeing it rise to £12m.
      And that would be around a £30m loss for United on the midfielder who joined from Ajax for £40m in 2020.
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      Van de Beek chose to wear the No25 shirt at the Deutsche Bank Park.
      And as he lines up alongside World Cup hero Mario Gotze, he will be hoping he can help his new side qualify for the Champions League.
      Eintracht Frankfurt currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga table, nine points off fourth-placed RB Leipzig.
      Van de Beek featured just twice for United in the first half of this campaign.
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      He got 19 minutes in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in September and then two minutes in the Premier League against the same opponents four days later.
      Despite working with Ten Hag at Ajax as they reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, the manager left him out of all six matchday squads for the 2023 group stages as United finished bottom and crashed out.
      Overall, Van de Beek has managed two goals in 62 Red Devils appearances across four seasons at Old Trafford.
      And his lack of game time or form means he has not added to his 19 Netherlands international caps since 2021.

      A strong loan spell at Eintracht, though, could see him work his way back into Ronald Koeman’s squad ahead of Euro 2024 – as the Dutch face France, Austria and a play-off winner in Group D.
      It could also see the German club keen to wrap up Van de Beek by triggering the option to buy him in the summer.
      He will be going into the final year of his Red Devils contract next season and therefore United will surely be looking to offload him.
      Manchester United fans have been warned not to expect too much more action in January – with Jadon Sancho possibly on his way out but no big-money incomings are likely.
      The midfielder completed his switch just hours after the transfer window openedCredit: Twitter @Eintracht
      Strong form could see a permanent deal done in the summerCredit: INSTAGRAM @eintrachtfrankfurt
      Van de Beek made just two appearances for the Red DevilsCredit: PA More

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      Forgotten ex-Prem ace who joined Bayern in ‘weirdest transfer ever’ ended up in non-league after injury wrecked dream

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      HARRY KANE is the Englishman taking Bayern Munich by storm this season.Twelve years ago, however, it was Dale Jennings trying to make his way as a Brit in Bavaria.
      Dale Jennings burst onto the scene at Tranmere RoversCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The former Liverpool schoolboy earned a shock move to Bayern MunichCredit: Rex
      Having been let go by Liverpool as a schoolboy, Jennings joined League One Tranmere.
      He burst onto the scene at Prenton Park as a 17-year-old but as impressive as his displays were, even he couldn’t have envisaged what was to come next.
      After scoring six goals in 29 appearances from the wing, Jennings attracted interest from German giants Bayern.
      He jumped at the opportunity, but a major hurdle quickly became apparent after he completed what was later described as the “weirdest transfer ever”.
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      Jennings went on to reveal that he failed his medical due to a hernia injury, but his team managed to talk them around.
      Years later he told the Leg It Podcast: “I had a hernia on my groin, I was out for three months [after joining Bayern] and then did my other side. Then, I did the ligaments in my ankles. It was a bit of a nightmare of a first year.”
      On his medical, he added: “I failed it and they didn’t want to sign me. My agent, he did well, he asked them: ‘You’re the best medical staff in the world, and you’re failing him over a hernia?’ They said, we can look after him, and they put it through.’”
      After initial struggles with injuries he settled into Bayern’s second team, but never managed to break into their senior side.
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      The closest he came was featuring in a friendly against SpVgg Unterhaching alongside the likes of David Alaba and Rafinha.
      In 2013, two seasons into his three-year deal, Jennings decided to call time on his unlikely Bayern dream and come home.
      He made a transfer similarly unusual to his previous one, swapping Bayern for Barnsley.
      Upon making the move, he told the BBC: “I was a bit gutted not to break into the first team but I learned a lot from my time at Bayern.
      “I was only 18 going over there, and it took me six to eight months to get used to it. It’s a very good level, the German style of playing is perhaps the best at the moment.”
      On his reasons for leaving, Jennings added: “It’s such a massive club it’s very hard to break through. With a year left I thought it was best to move on.
      “I was feeling a bit homesick and to be fair they said what mattered most was my happiness.”
      In his first season at Oakwell, the Tykes were relegated from the Championship, sending Jennings back to League One, three years on from leaving Tranmere.
      ‘FOOTBALL BECAME IRRELEVANT THEN’
      He later briefly returned to the second tier with MK Dons, but only featured twice before football understandably took a back seat as his young daughter Mila twice suffered from cancer.
      “Football became irrelevant then,” he told The Athletic.
      “We went through these horrible two years. She fought that [leukaemia] and got the all-clear and then two months later she was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour in her kidney.
      “It was nothing to do with leukaemia – a different type of cancer altogether. By the age of six she’d had cancer twice.
      “She has had chemo, radiotherapy and the tumour removed. It’s unbelievable what she’s been through for a little kid.”
      In 2018, following brave Mila’s battle, Jennings returned to football in non-league with Runcorn Town.
      Who are these famous footballers?
      He went on to have stints with Ramsbottom United and Prescot Cables, as well as a spell in Wales with Prestatyn Town.
      Read more on The Sun
      Many have spoken of Jennings’ failure to break through at Bayern, but things could have gone differently.
      He claims to have had a “decent career” despite his setbacks, and he’s probably right.
      Jennings returned to England with BarnsleyCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
      The winger later played in non-leagueCredit: Getty More

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      Munich hotel name Harry Kane as SECOND-best guest behind very famous face – as manager reveals his room service diet

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      HARRY KANE has been named a top hotel’s dream guest – and second only to the late Queen.But the resort revealed the England captain regularly prepares for Bayern Munich duty by tucking into baked beans and bacon for brekkie.
      Harry Kane has been living in a hotel in Germany since leaving England in the summerCredit: Instagram @harrykane
      The Mandarin Oriental Hotel has hosted Kane during his first few months in MunichCredit: Alamy
      The dining room is decked out with impressive decor fit for the England captainCredit: Getty
      Tottenham legend Kane moved into Munich’s luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel when joining Bayern in August.
      The striker and his family occupied a vast £3,500-a-night suite.
      Kane, 30, has recently moved into a lavish mansion previously owned by ex-Bayern star Lucas Hernandez.
      He publicly thanked the hotel’s staff for looking after him on social media.
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      Mandarin general manager Dominik Rainer has now hailed the Londoner, who hit 25 goals in his first 22 games for Bayern.
      “Harry Kane definitely belongs among our top five guests,” Rainer declared. “Just behind the late Queen Elizabeth II.
      “I can say with certainty that he was one of the most beloved long-stay guests that we have ever had.
      “He definitely used to order typically English bacon and baked beans for breakfast, time and time again.
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      The hotel offers a wonderful view on the balconyCredit: Getty
      Kane thanked the staff at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel after moving outCredit: Getty
      “In the evenings he would have sushi and sashimi as a rule.
      “He mostly used to eat in his room when he was by himself in Munich.
      “But when his family came to visit him, they would always go to the hotel’s restaurant.
      “The Kanes didn’t hold themselves aloof. On the contrary, they were very open and approachable.
      “Harry never made special requests. He was one of the most down-to-earth guests we have ever had.
      “When his wife Katie and family came to visit, we built some wigwams in their room for the children to play in.
      “From time to time we let them have exclusive use of the pool on the roof terrace.
      “But Harry never uttered a single extravagant wish for himself.”
      Kane posted a picture on Instagram of himself with a Bayern shirt alongside around 25 hotel employees.
      He wrote: “A massive thank you to the hotel staff who have made me feel at home since moving to Munich.
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      “It’s been a huge part of being able to settle in so well.
      “Thomas Muller was worried my room was getting too small, so time to check out and into a place of my own with my family.” More