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      Why winning the Carabao Cup could be the worst thing Pochettino does at Chelsea, thanks to little known rule

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO knows his Chelsea future could rest on this month’s Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool – if he lasts that long.But the Blues hierarchy might privately wonder if a Wembley win could end up causing the club MORE financial problems than defeat against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
      Mauricio Pochettino is fighting to keep his Chelsea jobCredit: Getty
      Todd Boehly faces financial woes at ChelseaCredit: Rex
      Victory on February 25 would earn Pochettino his first piece of silverware in English football after his spate of near-misses at Spurs.
      It would also ensure that the Blues would be back in Europe next season – but only in the Conference League.
      And that is where the money men inside Stamford Bridge could well be starting to get more than slightly concerned.
      Financial analysts including former Manchester City executive Stefan Borsson have already predicted that Chelsea will have to sell players in the six week gap between the end of the season and the close of the football financial year on June 30 to avoid breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
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      Those regulations give clubs leeway to make “allowable losses” of £105m over three seasons.
      The latest figures from accountants Deloitte estimated Chelsea’s annual wage bill at £350m, while their current “amortisation costs” of transfers is believed to be in the realm of £180m-plus heading into next year.
      Chelsea are already likely to earn at least £17m less in Prem TV money than they had envisaged.
      A top six place would be worth around £157m compared to the £140m if they remain in their current 11th position.
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      Then you can factor in two years of missing out of at least £75m in Champions League revenue.
      But more of a concern is that qualifying for Europe would mean Chelsea having to meet Uefa’s far MORE stringent financial rules – or face significant penalties.
      ‘All bets are off’ at ‘madhouse’ Chelsea says Sun Sport’s Andy Dillon following defeat against Wolves
      Under Uefa rules, introduced this season, clubs competing in any competition next term will be restricted to spending a maximum 80 per cent of their revenues on wages and transfers.
      Chelsea’s income is likely to fall to below £450m this season and next, with the Conference League worth no more than a maximum £15m if a team wins every game.
      Assuming that £450m income figure, Chelsea will not be allowed to spend more than £360m – which, given their current wage-bill, leaves just £10m to play with.
      In addition, Uefa’s FFP regulations, which will be a two year calculation next season, will only allow losses of £34m across 2023 and 2024, with calculation now done on a calendar year basis.

      It makes the prospect of Chelsea embarking on another huge summer spending spree, whoever is the manager, far less likely.
      Because the Blues regime amortised the transfer fees of the majority of their recruits over the past 18 months across up to eight seasons, they are carrying huge costs.
      Those sums still hanging over each player must be taken off the profits for any sales – so Chelsea would, for example, have to agree a deal of £38m for Marc Cucarella, £50m for injury-prone Wesley Fofana or £39m for unwanted Romelu Lukaku to avoid LOSING money of the departures.
      The “profit” point for both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez is around £88m.
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      Prem rules are already forcing all clubs, including Chelsea, to rethink their approaches.
      But, bizarre as it sounds, getting into the Conference League might become a major nightmare – and effectively scotch their hopes of a summer of statement signings. More

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      Man City make transfer decision on Erling Haaland with star striker yet to agree terms on new contract with champions

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      PEP GUARDIOLA says Manchester City love Erling Haaland so much they want him to stay for a DECADE.The Norwegian striker’s return after two months out with a foot injury has brought fresh reports linking him with Real Madrid.
      Interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid has been talked up but Pep Guardiola says Man City hope to keep Erling Haaland for a ‘long time’Credit: Getty
      Talks over a new deal with the Treble winners have yet to result in anything official.
      And in Spain it is said Haaland, 23, does not like living in Manchester.
      But boss Guardiola said: “What do you think, we don’t want Erling to stay here for one decade? Honestly. Yes, we want him to stay for a long time in this club. We are in love with him.
      “First, it’s an honour the important clubs want our players but in the end the players decide.
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      “But,   of  course,  we want to keep our best players. We need good players.”
      Haaland was born in Leeds while his dad Alfie was playing for the Whites.
      Despite the reports from Spain, Haaland gave an interview to City last week in which he spoke about how settled he feels in Manchester.
      Asked what he liked most about life in the North West, he said: “I’m a football guy, for me it’s easy for my family to come over, right over the sea, really close.
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      “I like the vibes, the positivity from the fans when I meet them. The banter. Also, the English people in general.
      “I love to joke like them — we are similar in Norway, we like the banter.“People see us on the streets, United fans, we joke with each other.”
      Haaland banged in a record 52 goals in all competitions last term — his debut season for City.
      He added: “The first season for me, it was the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup.
      “We came back to pre-season and it was like, ‘Are we back already?’
      “It’s taken a couple of months to digest it.
      “I want to recreate some of the things we did last season.”
      City hope Haaland will be be on fire again after returning from injuryCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea’s team ‘looks like it has been developed by an algorithm’ blasts club legend who slams Boehly’s recruitment

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      CHELSEA hero Pat Nevin launched a blistering attack on Todd Boehly’s £1billion Stamford Bridge revolution and said the team looks like it has “been developed by an algorithm”.Former winger Nevin, 60, fears the club he loves is in danger of collapsing and warns failure to qualify for the Champions League next season could lead to serious Financial Fair Play repercussions.
      Todd Boehly has forked out obscene amounts of money since taking charge of ChelseaCredit: ALAMY
      The spending spree hasn’t translated to success on the pitchCredit: ALAMY
      Former Blues midfielder has slammed the club’s transfer policy in the Boehly eraCredit: GETTY
      The Blues are languishing in tenth in the Prem — a massive 20 points behind leaders Liverpool following Wednesday’s 4-1 drubbing at Anfield.
      That is despite the club’s American owner Boehly splashing out a staggering £1bn on new players since his £4.25bntakeover in May 2022, which ended disgraced Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s 19-year reign.
      Nevin said: “Chelsea is almost unrecognisable from the club it was two years ago.
      “Not just personnel but the club’s whole outlook.
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      “The age of players, lack of really big stars, the atmosphere in the stadium, everything.
      “You don’t bring a bunch of young people into the Premier League who don’t have the experience.
      “It was madness — even if you spend £1bn it doesn’t matter.
      “Do they look close to being in the top four? No!
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      Mauricio Pochettino’s troops are currently languishing in tenth placeCredit: Rex
      “They look like a team that’s been developed by an algorithm.
      “It’s a case of, ‘That bit’s good, that bit’s good, that bit’s good’ — but the collective doesn’t work.
      “The left-back doesn’t work well with the left winger, or that one won’t work well with that one.
      “Midfielder Cole Palmer is the exception and he can work with anyone.
      “It’s a great experiment. You buy all these young players but they’re never going to do well for the first two years.”
      Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has steered them into a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool later this month.
      But former Scotland star Nevin, who became a firm fans’ favourite at Stamford Bridge during his spell with the Blues between 1983-88, believes their performances are nowhere near good enough for a club that were Champions League winners and World Club champions just three years ago.
      Chelsea were linked with a January swoop for former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema — even though he is now 36 years old and at Saudi side Al-Ittihad.
      BBC pundit Nevin added: “There was talk about bringing in Benzema, which is diametrically the opposite of what the plan is!
      “So if you did that you’d be entitled to say, ‘What happened to the plan?’
      Chelsea have been linked with a shock move for former Real Madrid man Karim BenzemaCredit: GETTY
      “You can’t bulls**t people and say it’s great and it’s just about there.
      “It’s like a cure for cancer — it will be here in five years. And in five years, saying, ‘It’ll be here in five years!’
      “Chelsea need to finish in the top four next season because of how the finances work.
      “My background is in accounts and economics. I’ve also run Motherwell before. So that side of the business intrigues me.
      “Chelsea didn’t fall foul of FFP this time. But I watched Everton fall foul of that after they were going to be the next big thing.
      “They are another of my former clubs and I hope that doesn’t happen again.
      “Because if you spend that much and you don’t get Champions League football and you amortise over seven or eight years and it doesn’t work.
      “You need that £80million to £100m of Champions League cash every season for it to work.
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      “That’s why by next year they need to be in the top four.
      “And — right now — I don’t know if they will be.” More

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      Cole and Crouch pick Chelsea and Liverpool combined XI from stars they played with but fans fume at shock omission

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      JOE COLE and Peter Crouch named their combined Chelsea and Liverpool team – but fans were left fuming. The former England team-mates are on punditry duty for TNT Sports at Anfield.

      And they were tasked with putting together the ultimate combined XI from stars they played with.
      Blues icon Petr Cech was picked over Pepe Reina but the back four was split down the middle.
      Ashley Cole and John Terry – who played with both Crouch and Cole for England – were picked with Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan.
      And it was the inclusion of centre-half Carragher and right-back Finnan that outraged fans.
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      It meant the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic were all snubbed.
      One fan said: “Carragher and Finnan??? Carvalho left out for Carra.”
      Another fumed: “Finnan? Really? Paulo Ferreira was so far clear.”
      One slammed: “Finnan over Ivanovic and Carragher over Carvalho?! What sort of rubbish is this.”
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      Cech, Carvalho and Ferreira were part of the Chelsea defence that famously only conceded 15 goals in their 2004/05 Premier League winning season.
      But Carragher and Finnan also lifted the Champions League the same year.
      In midfield, it is no surprise Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard featured with Claude Makelele named in the holding position.
      Luis Suarez managed to fit in the same forward line as Didier Drogba by being deployed on the left.
      And Arjen Robben was placed on the right, which would enable him to cut in on his left foot.
      Jose Mourinho, under whom Cole won two Premier League titles, was picked as manager.
      And Xabi Alonso was preferred as assistant coach instead of in the starting XI.
      The Liverpool legend, boss of Bayer Leverkuson, is now the front runner to succeed Jurgen Klopp next season after the German announced he will leave in the summer. More

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      Nottingham Forest star Scott McKenna seals shock transfer to Champions League side

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST defender Scott McKenna has joined Copenhagen on a six-month loan.The 27-year-old was reportedly banished from first team training in December due to a dispute over his contract.
      Scott McKenna has joined Copenhagen on loanCredit: Getty
      He returned to the bench when Forest faced Brentford earlier this month, but has since been limited to just 18 minutes of game time.
      And with the centre-back already a long way down the pecking order at the City Ground, Forest officials have sanctioned a loan move.
      McKenna will now spend the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign with Copenhagen.
      Forest confirmed his departure on social media earlier today with a short statement.
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      It read: “Scott McKenna has joined FC Copenhagen on loan for the remainder of the season.
      “The Scotland international has featured six times for The Reds in all competitions this term. The 27-year-old now heads to Denmark for the rest of the campaign, with Copenhagen currently sat third in the Danish Superliga.
      “We wish Scott all the best for his time in Denmark.”
      Upon his arrival at Copenhagen, the Scotland international said: “I see it as a really good opportunity for me.
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      “FC Copenhagen is an internationally recognised club, which always plays for the titles and which has shown itself fantastically internationally.
      “I’m really looking forward to meeting the team and coming to the training camp, which is a perfect starting point for me in terms of quickly getting into the group, and I will do my utmost for the championship to end in Copenhagen again.”
      Copenhagen face Manchester City in the Champions League round-of-16. More

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      Man City goalscoring sensation who scored on debut after being Pep’s ballboy offered January loan transfer

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      MICAH HAMILTON has reportedly been offered a loan move away from Manchester City.The winger made the headlines after he scored on his debut for the Citizens.
      Micah Hamilton has reportedly got interest from the ChampionshipCredit: Alamy
      He was a ballboy at the Etihad in 2017Credit: TNT Sports

      Hamilton, 20, scored his side’s third goal in the Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade in December.
      The moment came six years after he was seen listening to manager Pep Guardiola as a ballboy on the touchline during a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.
      The moment went viral at the time and it re-emerged after his debut strike.
      Guardiola called over the then 13-year-old during the match to tell him to speed up when giving the ball back.
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      Despite scoring in Europe’s premier competition, Hamilton has not played for the senior side since.
      Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that he could leave the Etihad this month.
      The report suggests that the attacker has interest from three Championship sides, including Watford.
      It is said that the Hornets have made an approach to sign Hamilton on loan.
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      However, it has been added that Manchester City are keen on keeping the youngsters.
      It could be the case that the view from the reigning Premier League and European champions is that Hamilton could develop further with the first team than on loan.
      Watford are currently 10th in the Championship, just three points behind 6th-placed Coventry.
      Hamilton, who is currently the captain of City’s under-21 side, has been with the club for 12 years. More

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      Champions League giants launch shock £15million transfer bid for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke

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      ITALIAN giants Lazio have entered the race for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke and made a fresh £15 million bid last night.Sunderland knocked back a similar bid from West Ham last week and are determined to keep hold of the former Leeds junior who joined Spurs in a £10million deal five years ago before his ‘undisclosed’ move to the North East.
      Lazio are pushing to sign Jack Clarke from SunderlandCredit: Getty
      Clarke, 23, has attracted interest throughout his second full season at the Stadium of Light from West Ham, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Brentford and last summer Sunderland turned down four bids from Burnley.
      Spurs have a 25 per cent sell-on clause which could affect Sunderland’s valuation of one of their crown jewels but the prospect of Champions League football with Lazio, who are scheduled to meet Bayern Munich in the round of 16 next month, is bound to interest Clarke.
      The York-born winger, who has scored 13 goals in 29 Championship games this season, has been in talks over a contract extension since the summer but the Wearside club have so far failed to secure his signature.
      Last week sporting director Kristjaan Speakman insisted Clarke, outstanding in yesterday’s 3-1 win over Stoke, would not be sold in this transfer window.
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      He is currently concentrating on bringing in four players before Wednesday’s deadline including Manchester United forward Amad Diallo, who was such a huge hit on Wearside last season.
      Speakman said: “I get the news about selling players but our ambition is to retain our best players, develop them, go higher in the league.
      “I get the nervousness around selling players but there are players we all love and our ambition is to retain them and keep developing.”
      Sunderland midfielder Alex Pritchard is expected to leave the club this month.
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      The 30-year-old refused to play for the Black Cats against Stoke yesterday and instead demanded a move away.
      An official statement from the club read: “On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s match day squad.
      “The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment at this moment in time.” More

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      Jurgen Klopp next job odds: Germany national team most likely after Liverpool departure, Dortmund 15/2

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      THE German national side looks most likely to be Jurgen Klopp’s next job once he steps away from Liverpool.The 56-year-old shocked the footballing world when revealing this season would be his last at Anfield as he plans to step down from the role in the summer.
      Where will Jurgen Klopp go next?Betfair odds

      Germany national team 1/9
      Dortmund 15/2
      Real Madrid 11/1
      Barcelona 14/1
      England national team 16/1
      Bayern Munich 50/1
      Man Utd 200/1

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      Klopp admitted he was simply running out of energy, having given everything to the role since his appointment in 2015.
      Speaking back in 2020, he revealed when he did leave Liverpool that he’d take a year away from the game, only returning if he felt he missed football during that time.
      While Liverpool begin their search for a replacement, this announcement is sure to spike the interest of other chairmen across the footballing world, who now know he’ll be available come the summer.
      Taking into account what he’s said, bookmakers Betfair have a pretty clear idea of where Klopp will be heading next, making the German national team as short as 1/9 to be his next role.
      That move might work as preference for Klopp, taking him away from the 24/7 nature of club football.
      It’s a role he’s regularly been linked with and certainly would seem a likely target of his.
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      A return to Dortmund – where he enjoyed great success before leaving for Merseyside – is next in the betting at 15/2.
      Dortmund won two Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals and finished runners-up in the 2012/13 Champions League.
      Real Madrid (11/1) and Barcelona (14/1) come next, with Xavi under increased pressure at the Catalan side.
      Reports in Spain also already linked Klopp with Barcelona following his announcement earlier.
      At bigger odds come the England national team (16/1), Bayern Munich (50/1) and Manchester United at a huge – but probably not huge enough – 200/1.
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