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      Top 10 most expensive football transfers ever including TWO Todd Boehly signings, Mbappe to PSG and a Barcelona flop

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      £100MILLION transfers are the going currency rate for football stars – but who ranks in the Top 10 most expensive deals.Inflation, along with increasingly eye-watering TV deals, have driven fees up and up.
      Paul Pogba, 30, was let go by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012 to Juventus for £1.5mCredit: Reuters
      And you won’t stand a chance of scooping one of the game’s biggest names unless you have a nine-figure wadge to spend.
      Manchester United were the first giant to edge close to the £100m barrier way back in 2016, when they splashed £89m to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford.
      And that set the ball rolling, with transfer spends in elite league increasing every year.
      According to Fifa’s official figures last year, Premier League spent £1.6 BILLION on players with the up-and-coming Saudi Pro League coming runner-up with £701MILLION.
      £100million is the new benchmark for top talent. And even that’s not always enough.
      According to AS, Liverpool failed in their attempt to secure £100m Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle in the summer, after Chelsea gazumped them for Moises Caicedo.
      While Brentford have warned that even that incredible sum might not secure the services of Ivan Toney this winter.
      Here, SunSport takes a look at the most expensive football transfers – and not all have lived up to their massive price-tags…
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      10 – Declan Rice (£105m, 2023)
      Declan Rice is the second-most expensive English playerCredit: Getty
      Tipped to be Arsenal’s future captain, Declan Rice made the move from West Ham in a £105m last summer after skippering the Irons to Europa Conference League glory.
      Rice attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Manchester City.
      Former Stamford Bridge boss, Frank Lampard admitted he wanted to sign the Englishman to make him the Blues’ long-term captain.
      Ultimately, Rice made his own decision on his next steps, and that was to join Arsenal in a club record deal.
      Arsenal’s acquisition for the 24-year-old was not easy after facing strong competition from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
      City saw their £90m bid rejected as Arsenal gazumped them.
      9 – Antoine Griezmann (£108m, 2019)
      Antoine Griezmann is fourth in France’s all-time top goal scorers listCredit: AFP
      2018 World Cup-winner Antoine Griezmann left Atletico Madrid to link up with Lionel Messi and Barcelona for a huge £108million in 2019.
      The Spanish giants, included a buyout clause of a staggering £690m.
      Unfortunately, the Frenchman flopped after his big money move, scoring just 35 goals in 102 matches in 3 seasons for Barcelona.
      Remarkably, Griezmann has never won a LaLiga which was his expectation when he joined 27-time winners.
      In 2022, Griezmann, now 32, decided to re-join old boss Diego Simeone at Atletico and has immediately got back to his best, scoring 11 goals and registering 3 assists in this LaLiga campaign.
      And in January 2024, he become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, overtaking the legend Luis Aragones.
      8 – Enzo Fernandez (£110m, 2023)
      Enzo Fernandez broke British-record transfer when he joined Chelsea for £110m from BenficaCredit: Getty
      Enzo Fernandez’s remarkable performances in the 2022 World Cup saw his value astronomically rise, catching the eye of Chelsea owner, Todd Boehly.
      Fernandez, 22, was bought by Todd Boehly in a £106m deal, rising to £110m, after winning the Young Player Award at the World Cup which caused his astronomical value to rise.
      The 22-year-old had only played 29 games in Europe for Benfica since joining from River Plate.
      His time at Chelsea has been mixed so far, although he still has eight years of his nine-year contract left to prove himself.
      7 – Joao Felix (£112m, 2019)
      Joao Felix won the 2019 Golden Boy award at Atletico Madrid beating the likes of Erling Haaland and Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty
      Atletico Madrid spent their Griezmann cash on Portuguese prospect Joao Felix in a staggering £112m deal from Benfica.
      He had impressed in his first full campaign in the Primeira Liga, with the forward scoring 15 goals and registering 9 assists from 21 starts
      That prompted Atletico to make him the then-fifth most expensive player of all time.
      However, he never hit the heights at Atletico, and is currently with Barcelona after a failed loan at Chelsea.
      6 – Jude Bellingham (£115m, 2023)
      Birmingham City decided to retire Bellingham’s previous number which was 22Credit: Getty
      The hottest talent in world football made the move to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 for £115m.
      Bellingham was the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or Kopa Trophy in 2023.
      The Birmingham graduate made his official first-team debut at the age of 16, in their 0-3 defeat to Portsmouth in the EFL Carabao Cup.
      And his world-class talent was clear to see in his first few games.
      In 2020, Manchester United reportedly offered Birmingham City £30m for the then 16-year-old.
      Bellingham snubbed the move and made his decision to join Borussia Dortmund.
      Few years later he earned his massive move to Madrid, becoming the most expensive British player ever.
      The 20-year-old has taken his game to the next level with the star recording 17 goals and 5 assists in his 23 games for Real Madrid.
      And his is already the main man at the Bernabeu.
      5 – Moises Caicedo (£115m, 2023)
      Moises Caicedo has had a tough time adapting to life at Stamford BridgeCredit: Alamy
      Just when everyone thought Chelsea owner Todd Boehly couldn’t break the bank even more, he smashed the British transfer record.
      The Blues gazumped Liverpool to sign Brighton’s Moises Caicedo in a crazy £115m transfer after one of the sagas of the 2023 summer transfer window.
      The Seagulls had bought his for just £4m from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle two years earlier.
      He has had a tough time justifying his mega transfer fee at Stamford Bridge – and the jury is still out on that deal.
      4 – Ousmane Dembele (£138m, 2017)
      Ousmane Dembele has never lived up to his feeCredit: AFP
      Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund for an upfront fee on £96.8m – with the transfer potentially rising for a WHOPPING £135.5m.
      Unfortunately, the two-footed forward has since endured several injuries which has derailed his potential.
      He won three LaLiga titles with Barca… but never played a truly key role in the side.
      And now, still only 26, he finds himself back in his home country with Paris Saint-Germain – after joining for just over £40m in 2023.
      That represents a pretty substantial loss on the player for the now cash-strapped Catalans.
      3 – Philippe Coutinho (£145m, 2018)
      Philippe Coutinho flopped at Barcelona with the Brazilian recording 25 goals and 14 assists in 106 appearances.Credit: AFP
      Philippe Coutinho moved to Barca from Liverpool in 2018 for an incredible £145m, including hefty add-ons.
      Like Dembele, Coutinho never hit the heights at Barcelona despite his impressive spell with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
      Liverpool, on the other hand, spend the money on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, transforming themselves into perennial title challengers.
      Coutinho, now 31, now finds himself in Qatar with Al-Duhail, on loan from Aston Villa.
      He is tipped to end up in the USA.
      2 – Kylian Mbappe (£162m, 2018) 
      Kylian Mbappe is closing in on Olivier Giroud on France’s all-time top goalscorers listCredit: Getty
      Kylian Mbappe has almost certainly worth every penny of the £162million PSG spent on him from Ligue 1 rivals Monaco.
      Well, apart from his continued failure to win them the Champions League.
      He’s fired the French heavyweights to five Ligue 1 titles in six years and a bunch of cups. But the closest he got to European glory was a final loss to Bayern Munich in 2020.
      Add in a World Cup with France in 2018 and hat-trick in defeat to Argentina in final in 2022, and he’s cemented himself as without doubt one of the best players in the world.
      He is expected to leave in the summer of 2024, with Real Madrid his expected destination.
      1 – Neymar (£198m, 2017) 
      Neymar still holds the most expensive transfer of all time SEVEN years from the MEGA-DEALCredit: AFP
      Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona for an astonishing £198MILLION deal, which smashed the then-world record £89m United paid for Pogba.
      Brazilian forward reportedly felt he was in Lionel Messi’s shadow at Barcelona so he took it upon himself to move.
      Life at Paris saw Neymar record 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 games, but injuries affected the 31-year-old career.
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      Neymar, like Mbappe, thrived domestically with PSG but failed to get that elusive European glory.
      He ultimately left for a very lucrative switch to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, earning a mouthwatering £2.5m-A-WEEK. More

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      How Real Madrid could line up after Kylian Mbappe ‘agrees to join on free transfer next season’

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE is set to join Real Madrid in a stunning free transfer this summer.The Frenchman finally reached an agreement with Los Blancos last week following months of speculation, according to Foot Mercato.
      Kylian Mbappe is set to join Real Madrid this summerCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid have been pushing to sign Mbappe since his Monaco days.
      The La Liga giants came close to sealing a deal in 2022, but the 25-year-old penned a new two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain instead.
      However, Carlo Ancelotti will finally get his man in July.
      Mbappe is set to jump straight into the Italian’s starting line-up when he arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu, joining the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.
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      The World Cup winner regularly plays on the left wing for his national team, but he will likely move into the middle for Real Madrid to accommodate Vinicius and Rodrygo.
      Bellingham, who joined Los Blancos in a huge £115million transfer last summer, is set to keep his spot in midfield.
      The England international is currently leading the La Liga Golden Boot race with 13 goals in 17 games.
      Mbappe’s proposed partnership with Bellingham will likely strike fear into any defence in Europe.
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      How Real Madrid could line up with Mbappe
      Although they are yet to pen new deals with Real Madrid, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric could stay at the Santiago Bernabeu beyond the summer.
      Both players will be able to provide five-star service to Mbappe in attack.
      And with Thibaut Courtois set to return from an ACL injury ahead of the 2024-25 season, Los Blancos will still be defensively solid.
      David Alaba, who joined the club in 2021, is also set to return from his ACL injury in time for the new season.
      Alternatively, Ancelotti could bolster his squad even more by adding some extra summer signings to the mix.
      Real Madrid have expressed an interest in signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, but they face competition from PSG.
      Guimaraes could be a perfect replacement for either Kroos or Modric in midfield.
      Federico Valverde will also step up should either of the two players leave.
      An alternative line-up with Mbappe More

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      Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel gives brutal response as he’s quizzed over Eric Dier transfer from Spurs rumours

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      THOMAS TUCHEL gave a blunt response when asked about a potential Bayern Munich swoop for Eric Dier.The Bundesliga champions have been strongly linked with a move for the out of favour Tottenham defender.
      Thomas Tuchel answered a question about Tottenham star Eric DierCredit: Getty
      Dier has struggled for game time at Tottenham this seasonCredit: EPA
      Dier, 29, has agreed personal terms with Bayern over a January switch.
      Asked about the England international, former Chelsea boss Tuchel gave nothing away.
      Quizzed how Dier sounds, Tuchel joked: “English!”
      He then kept his cards close to his chest, adding: “Have you already asked the sporting director? There will be no comment from me.”
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      Fans online, rightly or wrongly, claimed that Tuchel’s comments suggested that he wasn’t that keen on signing Dier.
      One wrote: “So Bayern Munich signed Dier without the manager’s consent.”

      While a second commented: “Clearly not his signing.”
      Another added: “In other words, Eric Dier is the idea of the sporting director not Tuchel’s.”
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      Dier has been out of favour at Tottenham this season.
      He did not play a single minute under Ange Postecoglou’s until the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on November 6.
      The experienced defender has made four appearances in total this term, with his contract set to expire in June.
      Spurs have had to do without Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero for long stretches this season.
      While Ben Davies pulled up with an apparent hamstring issue during Spurs’ 1-0 FA Cup win over Burnley on Friday night.
      After the match, Postecoglou was asked if his side can afford to lose Dier given Davies’ knock.
      The Aussie gave a considered pause before answering: “Yes.”
      Dier has played 364 times for Spurs since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4million in 2014.
      He played regularly as the North Londoners contended for the Premier League title under Mauricio Pochettino, and featured in the 2019 Champions League final.
      The 49-cap star earned his place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad for Qatar, but has struggled for form since.
      Read more on The Sun
      Tottenham are trying to sign Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin, while Van de Ven has finally returned to fitness.
      Spurs have also bolstered their front line by agreeing a shock loan deal with RB Leipzig for former Chelsea forward Timo Werner.
      Timo Werner has agreed to join Tottenham on loanCredit: Getty More

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      BBC face two huge decisions over Gary Lineker replacement on Match of the Day and brand new football show

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      GARY LINEKER’S uncertain future is at the centre of two huge decisions facing the BBC over their football coverage.The Beeb will soon get a new director of sport – with an in-tray including who presents Match of the Day and a new Champions League show.
      Gary Lineker has suggested he won’t stay at MOTD much longerCredit: Handout
      Jermaine Jenas is rated as a prime contender to replace Lineker as well as for a role on the Beeb’s upcoming new Champions League programmeCredit: PA
      Ex-England striker Lineker, 63, has suggested his “time is nearly up” after 25 years fronting MOTD.
      And apart from the Saturday-night fans’ favourite show, the BBC must also assess their team for a fresh midweek programme after winning some Champions League rights from next season.
      Long-serving Barbara Slater is stepping down as the Beeb’s director of sport this spring.
      And The Times say whoever replaces her is expected to quickly address the MOTD situation.
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      There’s talk of former Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas switching from being a pundit to a more Lineker-like lead role.
      The One Show host will start presenting TNT Sports’ Formula E coverage later this year.
      But Jenas, 40, has admitted he’d be interested in succeeding Lineker.
      He told The Mirror last month: “If the opportunity was to arise it’s obviously something I’d have to think about.
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      “My commitment is fully with the jobs that I have. That’s hosting Formula E, the bits that I do on The One Show.
      “Any punditry work that I’m doing with TNT Sports and the BBC are huge commitments of mine and something that I love.”
      Spurs and Barcelona legend Lineker, who is the Beeb’s top earner on £1.35million a year, has yet to reveal his plans or exactly how long he plans to stay on MOTD.
      But Jenas has praised him as almost a mentor.
      He said: “The big thing with this is Gary’s brilliant.
      “Love Gary. I’ve learned so much from him over the course of my career and there’s still loads more to learn from him.”  More

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      Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey opponents ‘submit list of shirts they want after game’ with Premier League icon in big demand

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      REAL MADRID’S Copa del Rey opponents have submitted a list to highlight the players they want to swap shirts with at the end of the game.Los Blancos will take on fourth division Arandina away from home this evening.
      Midfield maestro Luka Modric proved to be the player most in demandCredit: Getty
      Marca obtained a list of the players the Arandina squad would like to swap shirts withCredit: MARCA
      Arandina have never been above the third tier of Spanish football in their 37-year-history.
      They’ll welcome 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid to a sold out Estadio El Montecillo in the round of 32.
      The club saw off Real Murcia before producing an upset against La Liga side Cadiz in the second round.
      Playing Real Madrid is something that many of these players have only dreamed of and as a result there is a clamour to get their hands on an opposition player’s shirt.
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      Jude Bellingham has been Madrid’s star man this season, scoring 17 goals in 22 games and yet he was not the most requested player of the Real Madrid XI.
      Three players wanted Belligham’s shirt, with two opting for Toni Kroos and Vinicius Jr.
      But 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric was the most requested shirt by far.
      Nine players listed the Croatian as the player they most want to swap shirts with.
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      Arandina’s goalkeeper Adri kept the goalkeeper union strong by requesting to swap shirts with Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      And forward Atomo said that Nacho Fernandez was top of his list so that he could gift the shirt to his sister.
      Arandina captain Jorge Gonzalez said: “In the locker room I proposed the idea of ​​trying to get as many shirts as possible because at the end of the day everyone is going to want the same shirt.
      “And I think the beauty of this match is having a memory. If Madrid can provide us with more t-shirts, welcome. More

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      I played with Real Madrid stars Gareth Bale and Luka Modric… but Barcelona legend is my greatest team-mate

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      IT’S not easy overlooking Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Brazil’s Ronaldo.But former Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes has done just that in picking his greatest ever team-mate.
      Real Madrid icons Luka Modric and Gareth Bale were among the superstars who keeper Heurelho Gomes played alongside at TottenhamCredit: Getty
      Ronaldinho is the best team-mate Gomes had with BrazilCredit: Getty
      Ex-Brazil, PSV, Spurs and Watford stopper Gomes found it tough to single out just one star as the bestCredit: Getty
      And the Brazilian admits he agonised before singling out Barcelona legend Ronaldinho.
      But it’s not meant as a snub to Real Madrid icons Bale and Modric.
      Gomes played behind the two at Spurs – but found it too tough to separate all the exciting talents he played with at club level.
      The ex-PSV and Watford stopper, 42, told talkSPORT: “I am unfair if I say just one.
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      “But to not be unfair with the others that I played with at club level I am going to say at international level – Ronaldinho.
      “Not a bad player, not a bad player!”
      Ronaldinho, 43, won the Ballon d’Or, LaLiga twice and the Champions League during his exhilarating spell at Barca from 2003-08.
      The mesmeric attacker also featured for PSG and AC Milan, as well as netting 33 times in 97 games for Brazil.
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      In contrast, former Barcelona and Real striker Ronaldo, 47, is a double Ballon d’Or winner, also lifting the World Cup in 2004 and 2002 on the way to 62 goals in 98 internationals.
      Meanwhile, 172-cap Croatian Modric is still playmaking for Real aged 38.
      The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has tasted LaLiga glory three times and Champions League success on five occasions since moving from Spurs to Spain 12 years ago.
      Welsh winger Bale, 34, shared all of Modric’s Real trophy joy but retired as a player last year after a short spell with Los Angeles FC. More

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      Jose Mourinho reveals he is getting new Netflix documentary and tells fans why they will think he is an ‘total idiot’

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      JOSE MOURINHO has revealed that he is the subject of a brand new Netflix documentary – but reckons fans will think he’s an ‘idiot’.The 60-year-old is one of the most decorated managers in football.
      Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is the subject of a new Netflix documentaryCredit: Getty
      With two Champions League titles, three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two Serie A titles and a La Liga title among his accolades, Mourinho has become a household name.
      And now fans will be given a look into his life beyond the dugout in a new Netflix documentary.
      Mourinho broke the news about his new series following Roma’s 2-1 Copa Italia win over Cremonese on Wednesday.
      But he admitted there will be one scene where viewers will think he is a “total idiot”.
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      He said: “I’ll give you some news, a documentary about me starts on Netflix, it’s a documentary about my career and it starts on Thursday.
      “There are things that will only be known there, they pay me well. I hadn’t signed with Roma yet, but I had given my word.
      “A club came along and wanted me to break my agreement with Roma, which hadn’t yet been signed, and I said no.
      “When the documentary comes out everyone will say I’m a total idiot.
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      “When Portugal arrived I immediately told the president about it.
      “When Saudi Arabia arrived I immediately told the president about it.
      “This is why I don’t think they talk to other coaches behind my back, for me it’s not like that because there is reciprocity.”
      Mourinho joined Roma in 2021 following a two-year stint with Tottenham.
      The Portugal-born boss has also managed Benfica, Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
      He is expected to take a job in Saudi Arabia when his Roma contract expires in June. More

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      Jadon Sancho ‘on verge of joining Champions League giants in loan transfer with Man Utd talks very advanced’

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      JADON SANCHO is in advanced talks to leave Manchester United on loan. The winger – who joined in 2021 for £73million from Borussia Dortmund – has been frozen out of the squad since September.
      Jadon Sancho could leave Man Utd on loanCredit: Getty
      Sancho’s exclusion followed a public row with Erik ten Hag, and after the winger refused to apologise he was banished from the side.
      It leaves United looking to offload the England star, and according to Sky Sports in Germany, Dortmund are in talks to re-sign Sancho.
      The two clubs are back in negotiations for a loan deal with Dortmund paying a fee and United helping to cover his £350,000-per-week wages.
      Sancho is believed to be pushing for a return to Germany, where made 137 appearances with 50 goals.
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      And he could be at Dortmund’s training base as early as this week.
      The 23-year-old has not played for United since August having been dropped for the 3-1 away loss at Arsenal.
      And Ten Hag spoke out to reveal Sancho was dropped due to performances in training.
      The ex-England international took to social media to defend himself and claimed he was being used as a “scapegoat”.
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      But after refusing to apologise to Ten Hag it has seen Sancho frozen out of the United setup.
      United had been struggling to find a buyer for the misfit due to his high wages and the club’s refusal to send him to a Premier League rival.
      But Dortmund’s newfound interest in Sancho offers both the club and team a lifeline. More