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      Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma ‘wanted in life-changing transfer’ after ‘seducing’ Champions League giants

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      BRIGHTON star Kaoru Mitoma’s stunning performances have earned him interest from one of Europe’s biggest clubs.Mitoma burst on to the scene last season with seven goals and six assists in 33 appearances in the Premier League.
      Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma has been targeted by BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Barcelona may bid for Mitoma in the summer with his Brighton deal running out in 2025Credit: Alamy
      The winger is kicking it up a notch this term with three goals and four assists in 11 matches across all competitions.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have been “seduced” by the 26-year-old’s exploits with the Seagulls.
      In fact, Barca’s scouts and staff are most amazed with the Japan international out of all of their other transfer targets.
      Mitoma has won the Blaugrana over thanks to the way he breaks defences from the left wing.
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      And Barcelona manager Xavi lacks firepower on that side of the field with full-back Alejandro Balde having to do the heavy lifting in LaLiga and the Champions League.
      The Spanish tactician has plenty of choices for the right wing with the likes of Raphinha , Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal available.
      But the Spanish champions are confident Mitoma is their answer for the left.
      However, a move in January is highly unlikely as the Japanese star’s contract runs out in 2025.
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      But a summer bid is very possible, especially if Mitoma doesn’t pen fresh terms with Brighton.
      That would force Roberto De Zerbi’s side to discuss a deal as they would lose him for free the year after.
      Nevertheless, Brighton are notoriously tough negotiators, who recently sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a Premier League record £115million fee. More

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      Forgotten Champions League and World Cup winner linked with transfer to West Ham’s Europa League rivals

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      JEROME BOATENG has been offered to West Ham’s Europa League opponents Olympiacos.Boateng has been a free agent ever since leaving Lyon in June and is currently training with Bayern Munich’s Under-23 side.
      Bayern Munich legend Jerome Boateng has been offered to OlympiacosCredit: Getty
      Champions League and World Cup winner Boateng was also offered to RomaCredit: Getty
      Bayern refused to offer the centre-back a new contract and Boateng is still without a club.
      According to Sport24, the ex-Germany international’s agent has contacted Olympiacos looking to see if a deal could take place.
      The Greek giants, who are owned by Nottingham Forest supremo Evangelos Marinakis, are expected to look for a new centre-back in the January transfer window.
      However, the Piraeus outfit are not actively searching right now as they are focused on the Greek Superleague and the Europa League, where they will face West Ham.
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      The Hammers will take on Marinakis’ club on October 26 in Greece before their return fixture on November 9 at the London Stadium.
      Olympiacos sporting director Antonio Cordon and manager Diego Martinez might opt for a different solution as they want a defender that can immediately hit the ground running.
      Boateng only played eight times for Lyon last term and hasn’t competed in a single competitive match this season.
      According to Calciomercato, the 35-year-old has also been offered to Roma but manager Jose Mourinho is not keen.
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      Mourinho is not eager to sign the Champions League and World Cup winner due to his advanced age, lack of fitness and contract demands.
      Boateng enjoyed tremendous success with Bayern where he registered a total of 10 goals and 25 assists in 363 appearances.
      The German also won nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions League trophies with the Bavarians as well as the 2014 World Cup with Germany. More

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      Unemployed former Arsenal ace linked with major transfer to Manchester United’s Champions League rivals

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      A FORMER Arsenal ace could be on the verge of a spectacular return to football with Bayern Munich.Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been without a club since his contract with Olympiacos ran out in June.
      Bayern Munich are considering ex-Arsenal ace Sokratis PapastathopoulosCredit: Reuters
      According to Bild, however, Bayern are considering Sokratis to re-inforce their defence amid an ongoing injury crisis.
      The German champions’ starting centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano have both been sidelined.
      De Ligt is dealing with a knee problem while Upamecano suffered a hamstring injury against Freiburg on Sunday.
      And manager Thomas Tuchel could turn to Sokratis with whom he has a very good relationship.
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      Tuchel and the centre-back worked together at Borussia Dortmund, where the player made 198 appearances during his five-year stint at the club before his move to Arsenal in 2018.
      However, Bayern might wait until the end of the international break to fully assess De Ligt and Upamecano’s fitness.
      The Bavarians will then decide whether to go after another central defender in the January transfer window.
      But the ex-Chelsea boss will want both players available on December 12 when Bayern visit Old Trafford for their return fixture against Manchester United in the Champions League.
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      This comes after Tuchel’s side decided against reinstating Jerome Boateng to the squad.
      Boateng has been training with the reserves ever since his departure from Lyon in June.
      Sokratis, though, has had other offers as he was also approached by Real Betis.
      The Spaniards wanted the 35-year-old to move to the Benito Villamarin and replace the injured Marc Bartra.
      According to transfer insider Matteo Moretto, however, negotiations between the two parties fell through.
      Sokratis spent three years at Arsenal where he registered six goals and two assists in 69 appearances.
      The ex-Greece international also won the FA Cup in 2020 before his move to Olympiacos a year later.
      Former Arsenal ace Sokratis is a free agent and was linked with Real BetisCredit: The Sun More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘faces being sentenced to 99 lashes for ADULTERY next time he goes to Iran’

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      MEDIA in Iran are reporting that Cristiano Ronaldo could face 99 lashes for adultery next time he steps foot in the country.The reports, from Mundo Deportivo, come after the former Manchester United forward received a hero’s welcome in the country when Al Nassr played Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
      Ronaldo is said to have been sentenced to 99 lashes for hugging a painter to say thank you for her gift to himCredit: Instagram @fatemehamami
      Ronaldo has dated partner Georgina Rodriguez since 2016Credit: Instagram
      As part of Ronaldo’s welcome to the country he was showered with gifts from adoring fans, including customised Persian rugs and paintings of the footballer.
      And it is the paintings he received from artist Fatima Hamimi that has landed him in trouble with some of the country’s zealous legislators.
      Hamimi, an artist based in Persepolis, is 85 per cent paralysed and uses a wheelchair for mobility.
      She does not have the use of her hands and instead paints using her feet.
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      To thank Hamimi for his gift, Ronaldo allegedly exchanged a hug with the painter and kissed her on the cheek.
      This angered a group of religiously strict lawyers in Iran because under Iranian law, touching a woman when in a relationship is a form of adultery.
      Ronaldo has been with model Georgina Rodriguez since 2016 and they have two children together, Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda.
      Rodriguez is also mother to his three other children, eldest child Cristiano Jnr, and twins Eva and Mateo, who were born via surrogate.
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      The couple have two children together and Georgina is the mother to Ronaldo’s three other childrenCredit: georginagio/instagram
      Rodriguez has said in the past that her and Cristiano are ‘married in the eyes of god’Credit: Instagram @georginagio
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      Rodriguez and the kids followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al-Nassr, in a deal which was confirmed on New Year’s Eve last year.
      Mundo Deportivo report that Iranian TV station Sharq Emroz say that a sentence has already been handed down to Ronaldo and he will be subjected to 99 lashes for adultery next time he enters the country.
      But according to Marca, the sentence will be quashed if Ronaldo “shows remorse” for his actions.
      Ronaldo will not have to travel to Iran again for the group stage of the Champions League but it is possible they could draw an Iranian team in the knockout rounds and therefore cause complications for the forward.
      SunSport have reached out to Ronaldo’s representatives for comment. More

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      Man City plan transfer for Champions League veteran out of contract next summer and will pay him £13m a year

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      MANCHESTER CITY are allegedly looking to bring a serial Champions League winner to the club – and pay them £13million-a-year to sign.Pep Guardiola’s side won Europe’s big one for the first time last season as they completed a stunning Treble.
      Man City are set to launch a move for Real Madrid’s Toni KroosCredit: Getty
      He then bolstered his squad this summer with the arrivals of Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic.
      Now a fresh report has emerged linking him with a move to bring in another star with a lot more experience at the end of the campaign.
      Spanish outlet Defensa Central are claiming that Real Madrid’s veteran midfielder Toni Kroos is currently on the radar of City.
      And they state that the German international’s wages could be doubled should he head to the Etihad once his contract expires at the Bernabeu.
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      Kroos, 33, arrived at Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014 and has gone on to lift almost every honour available during his time there.
      He has won the Champions League five times, including once with Bayern, LaLiga three plus the Fifa Club World Cup on four occasions.
      The playmaker’s current deal is due to expire in June 2024 and he will be able to negotiate with teams from abroad in January over a potential pre-contract agreement.
      He snubbed proposals from both Saudi Arabia and the MLS last summer to pen a 12-month extension but now it seems that it is City leading the chase for his signature.
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      Kroos has previously stated that he would like to retire at Madrid but this fresh update claims that City’s offer may be too good to refuse.
      Kroos currently earns around £6.8m-a-season with Los Blancos – but the Cityzens are allegedly ready to give him around £13m per campaign on a two-year deal.

      When quizzed on his future previously this term, he said: “What I have always said and is something that has not changed, is that I will not move clubs.
      “I will always stay here, I will retire here, the only thing I don’t know is when.”
      However, his playing time has been stunted under Carlo Ancelotti so far this season with Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham all being preferred. More

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      West Ham star Tomas Soucek ‘lined up for free transfer’ by Champions League giants as Hammers face dilemma

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      WEST HAM star Tomas Soucek is being lined up by Italian giants Inter Milan ahead of a possible free transfer at the end of the season, according to reports in Italy.The Czech midfielder’s contract expires in June 2024 but West Ham do have an option to extend it by another year.
      Soucek has undergone a positive start to the seasonCredit: Rex
      Corriere dello Sport report that West Ham will not activate the clause should Soucek make it clear that he wants to leave and that could see him join Inter on a free.
      The Milan club have been active in the free agency market in recent years, bringing in Marcus Thuram, Davy Klaasen and Juan Cuadrado as free agents this summer.
      In the past they have also brought in the likes of Hakan Calhanoglu, Andre Onana and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
      Inter manager Simone Inzaghi is keen to add some steel to the Inter midfield and Soucek fits the bill as a player that can not only provide solidity but score goals too.
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      The Czech Republic international has four goals and one assist in his 10 games for West Ham so far this season in all competitions.
      The midfielder has also scored in The Hammers’ last two games against Sheffield United and Newcastle.
      Soucek has undergone a revival this season after The Hammers lost Declan Rice to Arsenal in a £100million deal.
      The absence of Rice has allowed Soucek to get forward again and return a similar amount of goals as he last did in the 2020/21 season.
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      Since joining West Ham in January 2020, Soucek has made 165 appearances for West Ham, scoring 26 goals and becoming a fans’ favourite at The London Stadium.
      Inter have won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup in Inzaghi’s two seasons in charge – as well as reaching last year’s Champions League final which they lost to Manchester City.
      Their quest for their first Scudetto since Antonio Conte led them to victory in 2021 got off to the perfect start, with the club winning their opening five games.
      But they have won just one of their three games since then and go into the international break off the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Bologna. More

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      Meet Marialuisa Jacobelli, the Kim Kardashian lookalike sports presenter who was given World Cup winner’s shirt

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      MARIALUISA JACOBELLI has become a huge hit as sports presenter – but could wouldn’t do bad as a Kim Kardashian lookalike.The Italian journalist has caught the eye this season with fans swooning over her resemblance to the queen of reality TV.
      Marialuisa Jacobelli shares a striking resemblance to Kim KardashianCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      She has been compared to reality star Kardashian in the pastCredit: Getty
      The Italian is a journalist and TV presenterCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Marialuisa is best known for her presenting work on Sportmediaset in her native Italy.
      However, she also regularly stuns her 3.4million Instagram followers with snaps from her life and career.
      When she is not sharing content from her presenting work and visits to stadiums, Marialuisa can be seen relaxing on the beach in a bikini.
      Her recent travels have seen her share posts from trips to Monaco, Rome and Milan.
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      She was on presenting duties last week, though, as she provided coverage from Inter Milan’s Champions League win over Benfica.
      The 31-year-old uploaded several snaps from the San Siro after the match as she stunned pitchside in a skintight black top and bejewelled jeans.
      Her long black hair enhanced her resemblance to Kardashian, with fans flooding the comments section.
      One follower commented: “Looking more beautiful than ever.”
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      She was given Benjamin Pavard’s shirt after Inter Milan’s win over BenficaCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Marialuisa was recently gifted a World Cup winner’s shirtCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Marialuisa has 3.4million Instagram followersCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Another added: “Such a beautiful woman.”
      A third fan also wrote: “You are the best of the best.”
      Meanwhile, one more simply said: “Wow! Wow! Wow!”
      Marialuisa was also gifted Benjamin Pavard’s shirt after the match by the World Cup winner.
      Pavard was caught on camera pointing to the presenter and throwing her his match worn jersey as he headed down the tunnel.
      She could be seen smiling and holding the shirt up to the camera after catching it.
      The French defender played six of his country’s matches as they won the World Cup in Russia in 2018, scoring the goal of the tournament in the round of 16 against Argentina.
      He joined Inter from Bayern Munich this summer and has since made six appearances across all competitions.

      The 31-year-old presenter is best known for her work with SportmediasetCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Marialuisa presents coverage of the Champions League on Italian TVCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_
      Her recent travels have seen her visit Monaco, Rome and MilanCredit: Instagram @marialuisajacobelli_ More

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      Man Utd fan rushed to hospital with horror injuries and ‘lucky to be alive’ after rival ‘attacks him over tattoo’

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      A MANCHESTER UNITED fan has been left with horror injuries after being attacked during a family holiday in Turkey.Kian Hoey, 19, was punched in Marmaris after going for drinks with friends.
      Kian Hoey was rushed to hospital with horror injuries after being attacked in TurkeyCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      The Manchester United fan has said he is ‘lucky to be alive’Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      The nuclear power plant security worker had been at a bar on October 3 to watch United’s Champions League defeat to Galatasaray.
      Kian, who was not wearing a United shirt. then walked home with his pals along the marina.
      It was then that he and his friends were approached by a group of seven men and started to speak about the match.
      He says that one of the men spotted his United tattoo before he was approached from behind and punched.
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      The punch was so hard that Kian broke his jaw on both sides and suffered cracked teeth.
      Photos from after the attack show Kian in hospital on October 5 after undergoing five-and-a-half-hour surgery to fix his jaw.
      His jaw will now be wired shut for a month whilst it heals.
      Meanwhile, his friends suffered cuts and bruises in the attack.
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      Kian believes he was attacked due to his United tattooCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      Kian was taken to hospital after a hotel doctor checked him overCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      The 19-year-old was left with a broken jaw on both sides and shattered teethCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      Kian, from Egremont, Cumbria, said: “In the moment I was more shocked than anything when I could feel my jaw was broken.
      “The group attacked me and my two best mates when we were walking home from the bar.
      “There was no provocation for the attack as none of us had Manchester United shirts on but they must’ve overheard us talking about the game and understood that we were fans.
      “I remember talking to them about the game and even saying ‘it was a good game you were the better side’ but as we were walking away we were attacked from behind.
      “I believe I’m lucky I didn’t go down from the punch or I wouldn’t be here right now.
      “With the tattoo being on my calf I feel like when I was walking away they saw it and got a better understanding that I was definitely a Manchester United fan.
      “I feel quite good now, it’s a few days after [the attack] and I’ve come to terms with what happened.”
      Following the attack, Kian was found by his mum in his hotel room after texting her what had happened.
      Kian underwent five-and-a-half-hour surgery in hospitalCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      The nuclear power plant security worker will have his jaw wired shut for four weeks to allow it to healCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      He was covered in blood, with the hotel doctor checking him over before sending the teenager to hospital.
      Brenda Hoey explained: “When I received that text saying they had been jumped I felt physically sick.
      “When we saw him in the hotel room after the attack there was blood all over him, on the bedsheets and all over the towels in the bathroom. The attack has scared him, it could have been a lot worse.
      “I could have been coming home without a son and when I got the text message [about the jumping] I thought the worst. If he had fallen to the ground it could have killed him.”
      Kian spent four days in hospital before being discharged on October 9.
      He finally flew home from Turkey on Wednesday with his dad.
      The attack has been reported to local police, with an investigation into the incident being opened.
      Kian’s insurance has paid out £4,200 to cover the cost of his hospital bills and operation.
      Kian was not wearing a United shirt at the time of the attackCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      His father stayed with him in Turkey and the pair flew home on WednesdayCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      Kian’s insurance has paid out £4,200 to cover his hospital bills and operationCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
      However, a GoFundMe page has also been launched to cover the flights home and other costs.
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      A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “We are in contact with the local authorities about a British man who was hospitalised in Turkey.”
      The Turkish Police have yet to provide a comment on the attack. More