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      Tottenham ‘offered chance to sign ex-Man City star Leroy Sane with Bayern Munich star available on FREE transfer’

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      TOTTENHAM have been offered the chance to sign Leroy Sane on a free transfer, reports suggest.Sane, 29, is out of contract with Bayern Munich this summer after helping the club win the Bundesliga.Leroy Sane has been offered to Tottenham for free this summerCredit: GettyThe winger scored 13 goals in 45 games in all competitions this season.Tottenham’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United last week also secured them Champions League football for next season.This has made the north London club a more attractive destination for players this summer.And ex-Manchester City star Sane has been offered to Spurs for free, according to Sky Sports.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHaving joined the Bavarian outfit in 2020 from Man City, Sane will be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June.Sane has also been linked with a transfer to London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.German outlet BILD claim Sane asked his agent, Pini Zahavi, to speak to the three clubs over a potential move.Zahavi is said to be travelling to Munich for talks over his clients future this week.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKSane’s current salary sees him earn £8.3million base plus a £4.6m variable bonus.Bayern chiefs insist on not increasing that salary if Sane stays.Inside Tottenham’s wild Europa League open-top bus parade as 200,000 fans greet heroesAlthough the likes of sporting director, Max Eberl, are said to be happy to keep Sane on the books if he accepts the same or equivalent terms.One potential offer could see Sane’s base salary increased, with the variable being reduced accordingly.Turkish champions Galatasaray are also said to have tabled an offer of £8.3m a year to Sane.Bayern want his future resolved quickly with the new-look Club World Cup looming.Sane has played 220 games for the club since joining, scoring 61 goals and adding 55 assists.Spurs picked up former team-mate Mathys Tel on loan from the German club in January, although the 20-year-old managed just three goals in 20 appearances. More

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      Jamie Vardy tipped for shock Champions League move after leaving Leicester on free transfer

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      LEICESTER CITY legend Jamie Vardy has been tipped for a shock move to Newcastle.The 38-year-old announced last month that he would be leaving the King Power Stadium this summer.Jamie Vardy has been tipped to join NewcastleCredit: GettyHe said: “It’s something that I’ve thought about and spoken about with my family. I think it’s time. If you ask anyone, I’m not really an emotional guy.”Nothing like that ever comes across with me, but when you’ve been somewhere for so long, and it is time to say goodbye, you just never know what your personal reaction is going to be.”I’ve spent 13 unbelievable years at this club, with lots of success, and some downs, but the majority have all been highs.”It’s finally time to call it a day, which I’m devastated about it, but I think the timing it right.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLVardy made his final Leicester appearance on the penultimate day of the Premier League season at the King Power Stadium, 13 years to the day since he joined.It was his 500th outing in a Leicester shirt and he scored his 200th goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.The striker will now become a free agent when his contract expires next month.And Newcastle journalist Dan Murphy believes he could be a great addition to the Magpies.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSClub chiefs are not expected to spend big this summer due to PSR constraints, so Vardy could be the ideal addition.Eddie Howe will also be keen to strengthen the depth of his squad now that they are set to compete in the Champions League next term.Emotional Leicester fans say ‘delete this’ as club share pics of Jamie Vardy packing his things into a cardboard boxVardy scored nine Prem goals and provided four assists for Leicester this season.Since announcing his departure from the club, the former England international has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, Wolves and Wrexham.SunSport revealed last week that Valencia also want to sign him, with head coach Carlos Corberan a known admirer. More

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      ‘Not allowed to do much’ – Amorim gives bad news to Man Utd fans hoping for huge transfer window as he reveals plan

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      RUBEN AMORIM says cash-strapped Manchester United must operate with a smaller squad after failing to qualify for the Champions League.The Red Devils are ready to spend £100million on Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and Ipswich striker Liam Delap, despite finishing 15th in the Prem and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham.Ruben Amorim gave bad news to Manchester United fans hoping for a huge transfer windowMan Utd failed to qualify for Europe and that will have an effect on the transfer windowThat Bilbao defeat by Spurs last Wednesday means there will be no European football on offer at Old Trafford next season and will limit Amorim’s summer transfer activity.The United boss said: “It’s not going to change so much because we have the financial fair play rules.“We are not allowed to do much in this summer, even if we had Champions League, so we are prepared for that.”Despite the Euro exile next term, Amorim will try to improve a squad that arguably delivered the worst season at United since the club were relegated in 1974. Read More on Man UtdYet the latest manager given the seemingly impossible job of restoring the club to its Sir Alex Ferguson glory era claims that a year outside Europe’s elite might be a blessing in disguise.Amorim added: “I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform better, to prepare better for the games, to build that work that we need for the future.“Without Champions League, we don’t need a big squad, we can control the squad in a better way. Then we have a plan to bring some new players.“But our big plan is to improve the team we have, to improve our academy, because I think that is the future. It was the past, so can be the future.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSUnited’s golden eras were built on the Busby Babes and the Class of 92, which featured academy graduates such as Paul Scholes, David Beckham Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil. Amorim had a reputation at Braga and Sporting Lisbon for identifying young players with the qualities to thrive in the first team and giving them their chance.Roy Keane smirks live on TV before responding to Ruben Amorim’s claim that the ‘good days are coming’ for Man UtdBut the Portuguese head coach recognises the dangers of too much, too young, especially at a club like United.Amorim said: “One of the issues with youngsters is sometimes we push too much from the beginning.“You have social media, all this pressure around young kids.“I believe in all of them and you have surprises.“This is a massive club, that is a big question in our club, putting our young kids on the pedestal and that is an important thing to change because we need to control that.”Amorim did not want to name names but Kobbie Mainoo has gone from being the great midfield hope of United and England last season to a bit-part player in the latest disastrous campaign.Focused on next seasonThe United boss himself cannot wait to put the terrible start to his Old Trafford reign behind him and focus on the new campaign.But first he must steer the team through their post-season, money-spinning mini-tour of the Far East.Amorim, speaking ahead of the friendly against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur, said: “It was important to finish the season, we needed to close that chapter.“It’s not fully behind us. I will rest from that when we finish the tour.“I closed that chapter, I’m excited, I’m nervous, I want to work to the next season.“I don’t have that feeling to disconnect, I don’t need rest.“We have a lot to do during this summer, we have to prepare the team — but when you are Manchester United, people are going to expect us to be at the top.Read More on The Sun“But we have to understand the context. So I don’t want a team to think about a big target.“Just a small target is to win the first game and then we pass to the second game.” More

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      Chelsea files: Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer’s bonus woes and fans’ Conference League final travel chaos

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      ENZO MARESCA will not get a bonus if he wins Chelsea the Conference League tonight.The Blues boss is looking to cap Champions League qualification by lifting a European trophy in Poland – but it will not earn him any extra cash.Enzo Maresca will not get a bonus if Chelsea win the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyWhen Maresca agreed to take over at Stamford Bridge last summer, the bonuses included in his five-year deal showed the real ambitions at Chelsea.The Italian will only be rewarded personally for success in the Premier League and Champions League during his time in west London.While everyone at Chelsea will have wanted to win the Conference League this season – having started as clear favourites – a top five finish was far more important for the club’s long-term future.And Maresca has argued that he is ahead of schedule in delivering it, stating the owners wanted to qualify for Europe’s top competition within two years of his arrival from Leicester.Player bonuses, however, are negotiated on a season-by-season basis and the Blues squad are in for a reward if they triumph over Real Betis in Wroclaw.The size of the bonus for each player will depend on how many appearances have been made throughout the competition.So if Cole Palmer – who was not even in the squad for the group stage – starts against Betis he will still earn less than some of those fringe players who did all the hard work early on.Chelsea would become the first ever club to win all three of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League should they get past Manuel Pellegrini’s men.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPLAYING FOR KEEPSCHELSEA are confident they will not have to fight off West Ham for goalkeeping chief Ben Roberts this summer.Former Blues boss Graham Potter is making his mark in East London and has decided to move goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero on.Potter has already hired close pal Kyle Macaulay from his role at Stamford Bridge and appointed him as head of recruitment at the London Stadium.Roberts followed Potter from Brighton to Chelsea as one of his coaching staff but has since been given a role as global head of goalkeeping across both of BlueCo’s clubs.While West Ham are in the market for a new coach, there is no concern at Chelsea over losing Roberts this summer.Chelsea’s goalkeeping chief Ben RobertsCredit: Chelsea AN GUARD TODD BOEHLY has personally stamped on the fingers of any team trying to swoop for Andrey Santos in the summer transfer market, with PSG, Arsenal and Crystal Palace all reportedly keen. The Chelsea midfielder, who spent this season on loan at BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg, helped the French side secure Conference League football for next year with 10 goals and 3 assists in Ligue 1. The Stamford Bridge outfit picked up Santos for just £18m two years ago. Still, with Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez all looking to be starters for Enzo Maresca next season, the Brazilian has been linked with a big-money move away. Having watched him closely this season, and in person, that would be a big mistake.London rivals Arsenal and Champions League finalists PSG were two teams circling the midfielder, but Todd Boehly seems to have warned them away as he spoke at the Qatar Economic Forum last week. He said “We are laser-focused on the Club World Cup. We have some players that are joining us, [like] Andrey Santos. We are really excited about him and what he can add to the squad.”A personal name-dropping of the midfielder speaks volumes of the value he presents to the Blues, and he should expect to be a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans beyond the summer tournament.Andrey Santos is due to return to Chelsea next seasonCredit: GettyWHEN THERE’S A WILLLAMINE YAMAL has set the footballing world alight this season. A left-footed, right-wing Barcelona prodigy who just happened to be bathed by Lionel Messi in a kind of ‘footballing baptism’ and has already helped carry his side to a league title at the age of 17 – it’s easy to see why he’s viewed by many as the heir to Messi’s throne. Part of what made football so incredibly good for the past 20 years, was that we had an individual rivalry in Ronaldo vs Messi that provided constant debate and discussion as for who was the best in the world.Many thought that kind of rivalry that might be revived with Erling Haaland vs Kylian Mbappe, but it may actually be Lamine Yamal vs a Chelsea starlet waiting to explode – Estevao Willian. Both seem to have been crafted by the footballing gods in the mould of Lionel Messi, but idolise and bring all the flair and skill which Neymar did in his time at Barcelona. Estevao was signed for £28million by Chelsea last summer, with the move set to be finalised this summer ahead of a transition into the Blues’ first team next campaign. The wonderkid has played predominantly on the right in Brazil, but can also play through the middle and on the left – the kind of versatility Enzo Maresca will adore. Coincidentally nicknamed ‘Messinho’, he has broken all sorts of records set by Neymar in Brazil, and is more than ready to step up and take some pressure off of the shoulders of Cole Palmer. Be patient Chelsea fans, your Lamine Yamal awaits…Estevao Willian is a superstar in the makingCredit: AlamyMARESCA’S YOUNG GUNSAFTER Chelsea’s lineup vs Nottingham Forest was announced, it was official… The class of 24/25 became the youngest team in Premier League history. The average age of Enzo Maresca’s starting eleven’s over the course of the season was 24 years and 36 days – beating the previous record of Leeds United by 136 days.Inexperience has been richly discussed among Blues’ fans since Todd Boehly and his BlueCo consortium took control of the club, with the general consensus being that the team needs some sort of leadership outside of 27-year-old Tosin Adarabioyo, who has been nicknamed the ‘Uncle’ of the dressing room. It remains to be seen if BlueCo’s risky strategy of buying almost exclusively young talents will pay dividends in terms of trophies and on-pitch success, or if the Blues will splash some cash on an experienced defender and forward in a bid to bring a Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge – but if they don’t it may be a long wait until they see it. Chelsea’s class of 24/25 became the youngest team in Premier League historyCredit: GettyFIGHT OR FLIGHTMORE THAN 100 fans were set to board the 07:40am flight from Luton to Poznan this morning in the hope of arriving in Poland and exploring Wroclaw before Chelsea play the Conference League Final tomorrow. However, the WizzAir flight has left fans stranded in Luton with the flight has been delayed until 4pm UK time.A six-hour delay means that passengers will now arrive in Poznan around 7pm, before still needing to travel to Wroclaw where the final takes place – another 113 miles away. For fans who would’ve arrived at Luton airport around 5am, they now face a nightmare day of travel which could be as long as 17 hours. Not to mention fans will also face expenses such as missed trains, taxis, buses, late check-in fees, and paying ridiculous prices for airport meals with such a lengthy delay.It comes on the back of our story that hotels in Wroclaw have been finding crafty ways to suddenly and inexplicably increase their room rates for Chelsea fans who booked months ago in anticipation of their team reaching the final.Blues fans face travel chaos ahead of the Conference League finalCredit: GettyCUP FOR IT ENZO MARESCA will finally discover this weekend who he faces in the opening game of the new and expanded Club World Cup this summer.Club America play off against Los Angeles for the right to face Chelsea on June 16 in the first Group D fixture.The two teams have a chance to join the cream of Europe and South America after Club Leon were banned over multi-club ownership rules. They are stablemates with CF Pachuca and teams in the same groups cannot compete in the same tournament.The game takes place this Saturday – the same day as the Champions League Final – but Blues supporters can watch both with the CWC play off not starting until 7.30pm and that’s in California which is 3.30AM the following morning in London.Enzo Maresca discovers who he faces in the opening game of the Club World CupCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal ‘launch formal Viktor Gyokeres transfer offer’ with huge signing-on bonus and wages just eclipsing Tierney’s

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      ARSENAL have reportedly tabled a “formal offer” for Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker is high up on Mikel Arteta’s list of attacking targets this summer, which could be his most crucial yet. Arsenal are keen on signing Sweden hitman Viktor GyokeresCredit: GETTYThe Gunners have reportedly submitted a formal offer for Sporting Lisbon’s talismanic strikerCredit: SHUTTERSTOCKAnd the Spaniard has reportedly moved quickly to try to acquire the Sporting Lisbon striker’s services. Correio da Manha claim the north Londoners have tabled an offer in the region of “£62million” for the Sweden international. The Gunners are also said to have sent a contract offer to Gyokeres’ agent after meeting him at the women’s Champions League final last weekend. A five-year deal with an annual salary of £5.8m – which narrowly eclipses that received by outgoing Gunners defender Kieran Tierney – has reportedly been put on the table for Gyokeres. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSA massive £10m signing-on bonus is also said to be on the cards for the Swede should he move to the Emirates. Gyokeres, 26, was Sporting’s star man last season, scoring a whopping 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 appearances.His signing would provide Arsenal with some much-needed firepower, a lack of which saw their Premier League and Champions League challenges peter out last season.Arteta plans to splash the cash this summer in what he’s promised will be a “big” transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 season.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSViktor Gyokeres scored a whopping 54 goals in 54 appearances last seasonCredit: GETTYHe said: “It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it. “The way we planned the first five summers, they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives. Who is Sporting’s masked man Viktor Gyokeres “Because the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows was going to be different. “But now, when you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad. “But as well, we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step.” More

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      Gyokeres, Delap, Osimhen and Sesko: Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in transfer battle for world’s best strikers

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      AS the Premier League season comes to a close – the summer transfer sales open with strikers top of the shopping list.Champions Liverpool look to be in the market for a forward while Arsenal will feel that is the missing piece holding them back from a title charge.Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta will be in the market for a strikerCredit: GettyChelsea’s pursuit for a No9 never seems to end and once again they head into the summer looking for a reliable finisher. And Manchester United – who finished in an all-time low 15th in the Prem – are preparing for a complete squad overhaul. It will put every striker worth their salt in Europe on red alert with a big-money move awaiting any capable scorer. Viktor GyokeresThe 26-year-old Swede is one of the most in-demand forwards this summer – with the stats proving why. READ MORE IN football Gyokeres has notched 54 goals in 52 games, scoring 39 in just 33 league matches. Arsenal are leading the race for the 6ft 2in striker, who Sporting Lisbon rate at £60million, with talks progressing. United are also interested and Gyokeres was coached by Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim at Sporting.But Arsenal as well as Chelsea are in stronger positions having qualified for Champions League football. Most read in FootballViktor Gyokeres is a top target for ArsenalCredit: RexLiam Delap The son of Stoke legend Rory looks almost certain to leave Ipswich following the Tractor Boys’ relegation. And per his release clause, Delap is available for a cut-price deal of £30m with Chelsea and United rivalling for his signature. The 22-year-old ended the season with 12 goals – all in the league – and impressed with his physicality and tenacity. Both Chelsea and United have held talks with the player, but as revealed by SunSport the Blues are confident in landing the deal. Enzo Maresca worked with Delap at City’s academy and the striker knows Chelsea’s recruitment director Joe Shields.Liam Delap is wanted by Chelsea and UnitedCredit: AFPVictor OsimhenThe Nigerian was once the most sought-after striker in the world after making his name with Napoli and helping them win the Serie A. But by the summer of 2024, new manager Antonio Conte dropped Osimhen in favour of Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea were close to signing the forward but Osimhen’s wages proved a stumbling block – one which could not be resolved. So the 26-year-old joined Galatasaray on loan and helped them to the title with 25 league goals in 29 games, ending the season scoring 36 in 40. That kind of form would attract attention from Europe’s elite but Osimhen looks set for a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal. Victor Osimhen looks set to move to SaudiCredit: GettyBenjamin SeskoThe 6ft 5in Slovenian is a top target for Arsenal, who have Sesko and Gyokeres on their wishlist. Sesko has 21 goals in 45 games this season – scoring 13 in 33 league matches. Noted for his height, heading ability and strength, the 21-year-old is seen as a good suit for English football. As revealed by SunSport, Sesko is rated as high as £86m by RB Leipzig but an offer of £60m could be enough. Chelsea are also interested – but have seen Timo Werner and Christian Nkunku arrive from Leipzig and fail to live up to expectations. Meanwhile United have also been tracking Sesko but are believed to have other targets – including Delap – prioritised. Benjamin Sesko is linked with Chelsea, United and ArsenalCredit: GettyHugo EkitikeThe Frenchman, 22, joined Frankfurt permanently from PSG last summer after spending the season beforehand on loan with the German club. Ekitike scored 22 in 48 games this term, managing 15 in 33 league matches. He stands 6ft 3in and has attracted attention from Chelsea of late, having also been linked with United and Arsenal in the past. But Frankfurt are holding out for £83.9m – meaning the Blues would likely try to strike a compromise with the Bundesliga outfit. Although the likes of Gyokeres, Delap and Sesko are all believed to be higher on Chelsea’s wishlist. Hugo Ekitike is a target for ChelseaCredit: GettyJulian AlvarezThe Argentine won two Premier League titles and the Champions League with City before joining Atletico Madrid last summer. Alvarez has 29 goals in 54 games this season with 17 coming in his 37 league appearances. The 25-year-old appears settled in the Spanish capital but has emerged as a potential target for Arsenal and Liverpool. But reports in Spain say Alvarez is not so keen on a move back to England having found his feet with Atletico. Julian Alvarez has shone for Atletico Madrid after joining from CityCredit: ReutersMoise KeanThe Italian has Prem experience with Everton which was lodged between loan moves to PSG and Juventus. He joined Juve in 2023 and moved to Fiorentina a year later – scoring 25 goals in 44 games – 19 in 32 league matches this season. United are believed to have added the 25-year-old to their transfer shortlist. Read More on The SunAnd the forward could emerge as an alternate signing for United if they struggle to land their top targets amid a lack of European football. Arsenal and Newcastle have also been linked in the past. Moise Kean has found form with FiorentinaCredit: Getty More

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      How Tottenham will get MORE money than Arsenal for being in the Champions League next season

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      TOTTENHAM could earn more money than Arsenal in Europe next season after winning the Europa League.But Manchester City will be the Premier League’s biggest earners – netting a staggering £53million in the Champions League before kicking a ball.Tottenham are set to bank more money than Arsenal for reaching the Champions LeagueCredit: GettyThe Gunners finished second in the Prem for a third consecutive yearCredit: GettyNewcastle will earn the least of the five clubs going into the CL next termCredit: RexAnd Newcastle fans wondering where the club’s “£100m jackpot” can be spent might be disheartened to realise the Toon will get barely £25m up front from their fifth place finish.Despite finishing third in the Premier League behind Liverpool and Arsenal, the Etihad side will be the highest pre-season earners of the SIX top-flight sides in the Euro elite.But it’s one twist that will delight every Tottenham fan.Winning the Europa League to earn a shot at lifting the Uefa Super Cup in August means Spurs could end up guaranteed slightly MORE money than their bitter North London rivals.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLUnder the Uefa cash model brought in last season, all six Prem sides will earn a qualification “starting bonus” of £15.72m.But the division of the total £717m “value pillar”, based on European performances over the past five and 10 years and the value of the TV contracts in each nation, means a difference of close to £30m up front between City and Newcastle.TNT Sport pay £305m per season for live coverage of all but 17 of the 189 matches, with Amazon Prime screening the others – the first pick of Tuesday games – and highlights on the BBC.The combined value of those three deals is only exceeded by the £411m per year cable outfit Canal+ are playing for rights in France.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKCity, ranked second in the five-year coefficient table despite their early exit this season, earn the biggest share of the “European” part of the pot, worth £28.23m.They also take the third biggest slice of the “non-European” pot, based on the coefficient over the past 10 seasons and worth a further £9.18m, adding up to a total of £53.13mInside Tottenham’s wild Europa League open-top bus parade as 200,000 fans greet heroesPrem champions Liverpool are next among the English sides, picking up £51.64m before kicking a ball, while Chelsea, ahead of Arsenal in both coefficient tables, will earn £48.82m.Arsenal’s £47.86m makes them fourth among the English contingent.Spurs, who earned their passage by virtue of their exploits in Bilbao despite finishing 17th in the Prem, will earn £44.62m if Portuguese league runners-up Benfica fail to negotiate their two qualifying rounds, or £269,000 less if the Lisbon side do reach the league phase.But when the £3.38m guaranteed for reaching the Super Cup is added, that could take Tottenham to £48m, a fraction above the Arsenal windfall.By contrast, Newcastle’s relative lack of recent European history will see them add just £9.68m to their starting bonus, totalling £25.4m and some £28m less than City will pick up before the competition begins, even though they were TWELVE places ahead of Spurs in the Prem table.Tottenham ratings: Bissouma dominates Europa League final as occasion gets to UdogieBRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham’s hero as they finally ended their 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final.Despite being without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the clash in Bilbao, Spurs came up with a massive win against Manchester United.Johnson scored the goal as he helped bundle in from a corner in a tussle with Luke Shaw to send fans into dreamland.But Spurs also owe a huge thanks to Yves Bissouma who was totally dominant in midfield.At the other end, Destiny Udogie struggled to get up to the pace of the match as he was up against Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.Spurs had just three shots, only 27 per cent of the ball, and completed a mere 115 passes over 90 minutes.But it didn’t matter, as United never really looked like finding a leveller to take it to extra time.SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson gave his ratings for the Tottenham players…In August’s draw, City, Liverpool and Chelsea will be in the top seeding group, with Arsenal among the second set of nine clubs, Spurs in the third section and Newcastle in the final pool.All clubs meet two teams from each seeding group but cannot play a side from their own country in the league phase.The prize fund for performances in the competition remains the same as last season, with clubs able to earn a further maximum of £77.4m.Read More on The SunAfter the eight-game league phase, the team top of the table will collect £8.3m, in addition to £1.76m for every league stage win.Bonuses for knock-out progression will earn the eventual winners in the Budapest Final a further £55m. More

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      Marcus Rashford holding out for Champions League move with Man Utd desperate to sell to fund Amorim’s transfer overhaul

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      MARCUS RASHFORD is holding out for ­Champions League ­football next season — in a blow to Aston Villa and Manchester United.The forward’s loan at Villa Park has ended and he will not sign permanently after Sunday’s 2-0 loss at United saw them finish sixth in the table.Marcus Rashford wants to join a Champions League clubCredit: GettyMan Utd want to sell Rashford to fund Ruben Amorim’s transfer overhaulCredit: GettySunSport understands boss Unai Emery wanted him long-term after some impressive performances since signing in January.But Rashford, 27, who is on Barcelona’s radar, wants to join a club in Europe’s elite competition. And they are set to sign Wolves star Matheus Cunha, who will wear his old No 10 shirt.Rashford loved his time at Villa, recapturing his appetite for football after a nightmare end to his Old Trafford career.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe contributed four goals and five assists in 17 games and earned an England recall.But defeat at United saw them finish sixth, leaving their hopes of signing Rashford in tatters.Villa would also struggle to finance a deal, with the final-day loss costing around £50million after being forced to settle for a Europa League spot.United want to sell Rashford to help balance the books, allowing for a major overhaul of their squad and removal of his £350,000-a-week salary from their wage bill.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSRashford — who would cost around £40m — said farewell to Villa fans yesterday on Instagram.He said: “It is a special club and I appreciated the way Villa fans embraced me with open arms.Ruben Amorim vows ‘good days are coming’ after ‘disaster season’ as Man Utd flops give him daggers during public apology“It is a huge disappointment not to have made the Champions League which everyone worked so hard all season for but I know this club and team will come back stronger.”Wolves star Cunha, 25, has a £62.5million release clause and the Brazilian will sign a five-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.United are also keen on Ipswich striker Liam Delap, but he has the pick of several clubs.They have identified Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as a possible alternative. More