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      Kylian Mbappe set to FORFEIT more than Jude Bellingham’s eye-watering wages to seal Real Madrid transfer

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE will accept a huge pay cut to join Real Madrid, according to reports.The Frenchman is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
      Kylian Mbappe is set to leave PSG at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Mbappe has set his wage demands highCredit: Getty
      Several clubs have already expressed an interest in signing him on a free transfer, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool.
      However, Mbappe is reportedly “leaning towards” joining Real Madrid.
      Los Blancos have been pushing to sign the 25-year-old since his Monaco days.
      Mbappe came close to making the move in 2022, but shocked the football world by announcing a two-year extension with PSG instead.
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      He caused a stir among the PSG camp last summer after refusing to sign a new contract.
      The Parisians subsequently accepted a huge £259million offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for him, but Mbappe rejected the move.
      He was axed from the squad for a brief period and sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of players not wanted by the club.
      However, he made a return at the start of the Ligue 1 campaign and has since scored 31 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions.
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      Mbappe has scored 20 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games this season
      Real Madrid have already proposed a deal to Mbappe ahead of the summer, but his representatives have reportedly been left unimpressed.
      The Frenchman is set to receive a total of £62m plus bonuses from PSG for the 2023-24 campaign, but Real Madrid are unable to match that.
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      According to Spanish outlet AS, the La Liga giants are hoping to pay Mbappe less than his £42.8m – around £827,000-a-week – starting point.
      However, he is still set to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing Jude Bellingham by a significant margin.
      The England international currently rakes in around £220,000-a-week – £11.4m-a-year – at the Santiago Bernabeu, much less that what Mbappe is demanding.
      In fact, the difference between the two players’ weekly wages would be around £358,000, roughly £138,000 MORE than Bellingham’s standard weekly earnings.
      Mbappe reportedly also wants several bonuses added into his contract.
      The World Cup winner joined PSG in a £154m transfer from Monaco in 2018 and has since scored 243 goals and provided 105 assists in 290 appearances.
      Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has since scored 20 goals in 29 appearancesCredit: Getty More

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      Thomas Tuchel’s brutal seven-word assessment of Bayern Munich flops revealed with ex-Chelsea boss tipped for sack

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      THOMAS TUCHEL gave a harsh statement to his players after Bayern Munich’s miserable Champions League defeat against Lazio.To add to the pressure on the boss Bayern Munich have now slipped five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and it looks likely their 11-year reign at the top of the table will dribble to an end.
      Thomas Tuchel gave a brutal seven-word statement to his playersCredit: Rex
      Bayern Munich lost 1-0 against Lazio in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions LeagueCredit: Alamy
      After the recent 1-0 defeat at Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Tuchel had some explaining to do about Bayern’s recent performances.
      And on Wednesday the Bayern boss caused some upset in the dressing with his explosive statement to his players.
      He blasted, “You’re not as good as I thought”, according to Sky presenter Riccardo Basile.
      But the fire really began for the German after his side failed to secure three points against Leverkusen who thrashed Tuchel’s side 3-0 last weekend.
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      The former Chelsea boss only joined the German giants 11 months ago and his contract is not due to expire until 2025.
      But according to The Times his future is hanging by a thread.
      Things cannot get worse for Bayern in the Bundesliga and they must make a comeback against Lazio in the second leg of their tie, otherwise a mid-season boot might be on the way.
      Hansi Flick, the only coach ever to be sacked from the German national team, is rumoured as a potential caretaker manager.
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      But it is Xabi Alonso they want and they are allegedly hoping the Spaniard will jump ship from their main Bundesliga rivals.
      Alonso played for Bayern between 2014 and 2017, and the German giants are likely hoping this might swing the odds in their favour.
      Harry Kane reacts to Bayern Munich’s shock Champions League defeat
      However, Alonso, 42, now going 31 games unbeaten has made him a popular candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and now Manchester City are even in the equation.
      So it’s hardly surprising that the out-of-form Bayern Munich have joined the race to get their hands on Europe’s hottest ticket. More

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      Bayern Munich ‘increasingly likely to SACK Thomas Tuchel as they join Liverpool in race to land Xabi Alonso’

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      THOMAS TUCHEL looks increasingly likely to get the boot as Bayern Munich join Liverpool in the race to land Xabi Alonso.Bayern Munich have now slipped five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and it looks likely their 11 year reign at the top of the table will dribble to an end.
      Xabi Alonso has been rumoured to jump ship to Bayer Leverkusen’s biggest rivalsCredit: Rex
      Thomas Tuchel’s future at Bayern Munich hangs in the balanceCredit: Rex
      Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League – coming only four days after Leverkusen thrashed them 3-0 in the Bundesliga – spelled doom for Tuchel.
      The former Chelsea boss only joined the German giants 11 months ago and his contract is not due to expire until 2025.
      But according to The Times his future is hanging by a thread.
      If things get any worse for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, or if they fail to make a comeback against Lazio in the second leg of their tie, then a mid season sacking might be afoot.
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      Hansi Flick, the only coach ever to be sacked from the German national team, is rumoured as a potential caretaker manager.
      But it is Alonso they really want and they are allegedly hoping the Spaniard will jump ship from their main Bundesliga rivals.
      The Spaniard, 42, has already been touted to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and now Manchester City are even in the equation.
      So it’s hardly surprising that the out of form Bayern Munich have joined the race to get their hands on Europe’s hottest ticket.
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      Alonso played for Bayern between 2014 and 2017, and the German giants are likely hoping this might swing the odds in their favour.
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      Speaking after the Lazio fiasco in Rome, the Bayern Munich sporting director, Christoph Freund, said: “Of course Tuchel is struggling with the situation, which is very difficult for all of us.
      “We are all in the same boat.
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      “It is not easy, but we will get out of this together.
      “That is our goal.”
      Things are not going so well elsewhere in the Bayern Munich ranks.
      Harry Kane’s recent fall from glory has led fans to believe the striker has a ‘trophy curse’, as England’s record goalscorer just can’t seem to get his hands on any silverware.
      In an exciting twist, Tuchel has now been linked with Barca, who previously shortlisted him after Ronald Koeman’s exit in 2021. More

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      Harry Kane awarded Bild’s lowest rating after he ‘totally signed off’ during ‘catastrophe’ performance for Bayern Munich

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      GERMAN newspaper Bild went in two-footed on Harry Kane and his Bayern Munich team-mates after their defeat at Lazio.The Bundesliga giants slipped to a 1-0 first-leg Champions League last-16 loss last night with Dayot Upamecano getting sent-off in the second half.
      Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich were beaten at Lazio in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex

      Bayern had 17 attempts at goal, with Kane having four of them, but neither he nor Thomas Tuchel’s team could get one on target.
      The England captain struggled to assert himself in the match.
      And his performance was slammed by the German media as he received the lowest-mark possible.
      Describing his display, Bild wrote: “Missed a mega chance after seven minutes, but after that he couldn’t connect with Bayern’s attacking attempts at all.
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      “Totally signed off in the second half.”
      The only other colleague to get such a low rating was Upamecano.
      Meanwhile, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane and boss Thomas Tuchel all got a rating of 5, which is the second-lowest.
      It was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and playmaker Jamal Musiala who shared the highest ratings, but even that was only a 3.
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      Kane told TNT Sports post-match yesterday: “Really tough week. In the first half, we started well and had clear chances, one for myself. In these games, they’re big moments.
      “The second half was disappointing. We came out with less energy and less confidence. We got punished. Once you go down to 10 men it’s always difficult.
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      “We have to find it among ourselves. We’re still in the race for the Bundesliga and still in this tie. We have to keep fighting.
      “We’re in a difficult spell. We have to fight. We have to turn it around. We have big games and big things to fight for. We’re not out of it, we will never give up. We just need to turn it around. One game or spark can turn it around.’”  More

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      CBS Sports presenter branded ‘supermodel’ as she stuns on live TV for return of Champions League

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      CBS SPORTS presenter Poppy Miller wowed footie fans this week during her Champions League broadcasting duties.The former college soccer star joined the network in 2020 and has become an integral part of the American broadcaster’s coverage of European football.
      Brit Poppy Miller heads up CBS Sports’ European footie coverageCredit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      The former college footie star joined CBS in 2020Credit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      Poppy regularly stuns during Champions League broadcastsCredit: INSTAGRAM@POPPYMILLER3
      Miller was back on our screens on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the return of Europe’s elite club competition.
      And she blew viewers and her social media followers away with her latest get-up.
      Miller shared a series of photos – including one of her posing in from of the Champions League logo in a black dress – from her latest broadcast with her near 16,000 followers on Wednesday night.
      Her accompanying caption read: “Oh hi @championsleague. So happy you’re back.”
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      Miller’s followers were quick to comment, with one saying: “You’re too beautiful!”
      Another said: “Welcome back.”
      And another said: “Beauty.”
      One remarked: “Beautiful queen.”
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      Poppy Miller regularly updates her followers with the ongoings in her lifeCredit: Instagram / poppymiller3
      Another chimed in: “Supermodel.”
      Miller hails from Nottingham but found herself stateside in 2013 when she began studying at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort.
      Meet Katie Mox, the stunning CBS Sports reporter who is stealing show on and off screen including ‘beautiful’ outfits
      She graduated with a communications degree in 2017, which paved the way for her to join the media team at USLC’s Charleston Battery.
      In 2019, Miller joined Major League Soccer’s reporting team before upping sticks to ESPN to work as an SEC Network host and commentator. More

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      Mark Bosnich’s punditry colleague reveals ex-Man Utd ace hospitalised over heart scare as fan rally round former keeper

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      MARK BOSNICH’S punditry colleague revealed how the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper was hospitalised over a heart scare.Fans have rallied around the Australian football great who was rushed to hospital on Wednesday after complaining of chest pains to his co-workers.
      Mark Bosnich was hospitalised over a heart scare on WednesdayCredit: X formerly Twitter / @TheRealBozza
      Fans shared their support for Bosnich who was forced to pull out of Champions League punditry dutyCredit: Getty
      Bosnich used to be a goalkeeper at Man UtdCredit: Rex
      Bosnich, 52, was forced to pull out of Champions League punditry duty after posting a selfie of himself from his hospital bed.
      The star did look in good spirits as he had his thumb up saying he will return to duty Friday.
      Stan Sport’s Max Rushden and Craig Foster spoke about the scary situation before the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad on Thursday morning.
      Rushden said: “For those of you who don’t know, he had chest pains, he’s had a stent put in.
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      “We miss you buddy. I hope you’re well and feeling OK.”
      The pair said Bosnich became distressed while exercising at work on Wednesday.
      Rushden continued: “He was making a lot of noise and he said ‘I’m going to get it checked out.’
      “He did, he’s OK, he’s back tomorrow but we are sending you our love Boz, it is very quiet without you.”
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      Foster said “Bozza” immediately seeking help was the right thing to do.
      The TV pundit added: “If you’re not sure about anything, health-wise, get checked.
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      “Men are useless at talking about it and doing anything about it.
      “The sooner you find anything is wrong, the better it is. That is our message and that is Mark’s message too.”
      Bosnich won the Premier League title with United in 2000 and is regarded as a football cult hero due to his success on and off the pitch.
      After hanging up his gloves in 2009, the former Socceroo is now a regular on Australian television as a pundit for football.
      Fans showed their support for the ex-Aston Villa keeper including former boxing champion George Kambosos Jr wishing him a “Speedy recovery.” More

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      Fans just realising the only trophy Harry Kane could lift this season looks exactly like the Arsenal badge

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      HARRY KANE’S chances of winning a maiden trophy took another huge dent last night.The England captain, 30, joined Bayern Munich in a £104million deal last August in a bid to break his duck.
      Harry Kane was in Champions League action for Bayern Munich last nightCredit: Alamy
      The 30-year-old cut a dejected figure at the end of his side’s 1-0 defeat to LazioCredit: Getty
      Kane made his debut from the bench in the German Supercup on the day he signed, but couldn’t prevent his new side from losing 3-0 to RB Leipzig.
      He was then rested for both of Bayern’s DFB Pokal matches, with Thomas Tuchel’s men shockingly crashing out at the hands of third-tier Saarbrucken.
      Last Saturday the reigning champions fell five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen after losing 3-0 to Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten side.
      Kane and Co kicked off their Champions League knockout campaign against Lazio in the Italian capital last night.
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      They were left with much work to do in the second leg by Maurizio Sarri’s men after losing 1-0 courtesy of Ciro Immobile’s penalty after Dayot Upamecano was sent off.
      While Kane’s chances of winning a first team trophy have been left hanging in the balance, the striker is likely to collect another individual accolade.
      He has been on fire in Germany, scoring 24 goals in just 21 Bundesliga appearances.
      The former Tottenham star is seven goals clear of second-placed Serhou Guirassy and looks to set to add another golden boot to the three he won in the Premier League and one at the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
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      Kane has tormented Arsenal down the years, scoring 14 goals against the Gunners.
      So their fans have been enjoying his trophy struggles extending to Germany.
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      Some eagle-eyed observers have noticed that the Bundesliga’s top scorer trophy appears to resemble a cannon much like the Arsenal badge, to Gunners fans’ glee.
      One wrote on social media: “So, Harry Kane could finish this season as the Bundesliga’s top scorer, but still without a championship trophy to his name…
      “And the funniest part – Have you seen what the award for being top scorer in Germany actually looks like?”
      While a second gushed: “That’s absolutely amazing!”
      Another added: “This is brilliant.”
      Robert Lewandowski clutches the Bundesliga’s top scorer trophyCredit: AFP
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also among those to have won the accoladeCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Kane remains determined to achieve his season goals despite a testing week.
      Speaking to TNT Sports after last night’s game, he said: “Really tough week. I thought the game today in the first half we started well.
      We have to find more energy, confidenceHarry Kane
      “We had some clear chances. One myself, Jamal (Musiala) had one, Josh (Kimmich) had one from the edge of the box.
      “And in these games they’re big moments and we weren’t able to take it in the first half.
      “But the second half was disappointing. We came out with less energy, less confidence. Too many balls given away and ultimately we got punished.
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      “Once you go down to ten men it’s always difficult to find a way back into the game but I think for us now we have to find it amongst ourselves. We have to find more energy, confidence.
      “We’re still in the race for the Bundesliga, still in this tie and they come to our stadium in a few weeks so we have to keep fighting and look forward and try to turn our momentum around.” More

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      Fans convinced Harry Kane’s ‘trophy curse is real’ as Bayern Munich fall to shock Champions League defeat

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      HARRY KANE is on course to go trophyless again after Ciro Immobile heaped more misery on ten-man Bayern Munich after Dayot Upamecano was sent.Immobile’s ice-cool spotkick on 69 minutes to made it four Champions League goals for the Italia striker. 
      Harry Kane saw Bayern Munich lose 1-0 to LazioCredit: Rex
      Kane is facing down another trophyless seasonCredit: Rex
      The game changed when Dayot Upamecano was sent off for this challengeCredit: AFP
      Upamecano was subsequently given his marching ordersCredit: Reuters
      Ciro Immobile converted from the spotCredit: Getty

      The penalty was awarded after France centre-back Upamecano lunged in wildly and landed on Gustav Isaksen’s ankle in the box. 
      Thomas Tuchel is clearly feeling the heat, with cameras catching the ex-Chelsea boss with his head in his hands at the Stadio Olimpico. 
      Kane joined the club from Tottenham in a club-record deal in the summer, setting his sights on a first-major trophy. 
      But it feels like after eight months at the club he has already turned them into the toothless North Londoners. 
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      Before he arrived at Bayern they had won the Bundesliga 11-years on the spin before but are in second place in the table, five points behind Bayer Leverkusen. 
      Kane saw also Bayern lose the DFL Supercup at the start of the season before crashing out of the DFB-Pokal in the second round in November.
      And a bleak performance for Tuchel’s side, who failed to have a shot on target in the first-half of the Champions League for the first time this season, has left fans convinced Kane is “cursed”.
      The last time that happened was against Manchester City last April.
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      It was also the first time they have lost the first leg of a Champions League last-16 game for the first time in 11 seasons.
      Reacting on social media, one fan said: “Harry Kane trophy curse real.”
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      A second said: “Kane trophy curse is actually real.”
      Another said: “Harry Kane came to win trophies at Bayern Munich but right now the trophy wants to win him.”
      A fourth added: “I blame Kane. He is jinxed, the man can’t win a trophy.”
      The two best chances of the opening half were thanks to ex-Spurs striker Kane with a close-range shot he would have normally gobbled up. 
      Later on Jamal Musiala fired over the bar after latching onto the end of a pretty passing sequence. 
      Tuchel cut an animated figure on the touchline and no doubt gave his players a tongue-lashing at the break. 
      But it was Lazio who emerged from the restart with a fire in their bellies. 
      They should have been ahead when a lofted ball floated from Luis Alberto to Isaksen who was one on one with Manuel Neuer. 
      Here’s how the two teams fared
      Bayern dominated most of the game but failed to land any punches
      Kane dropped very deep to try and get involved in play
      Kane had a limited impact on the game
      He had the time to gather his footing but his shot was saved by an outstretched leg from the German shot-stopper 
      Kane headed over from 14 yards out, but in fairness to him the cross was looping high in the first place. 
      Things went from bad to worse for Bayern when Upamecano’s moment of madness sent him packing before Lazio broke the deadlock. 
      Tuchel hauled off Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller for forwards Mathys Tel and Eric Maxim Choup-Moting but they didn’t inject any more oomph into Bayern. 
      Kane blasted a free-kick at Lazio’s wall and that summed up the visitors’ frustrations for the night.
      Speaking after the game, Kane told TNT Sports: “It’s been a really tough week.
      “We started well. We had clear chances, myself, Jamaal had one, Josh had one, but in these games they are big moments and we weren’t able to take them.
      “The second half was disappointing, we came out with less energy and confidence and we gave too many balls away.
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      “Ultimately we got punished. Once you go down to ten men, it’s always difficult to find a way back into the game. We need to find more energy and confidence among ourselves.
      “We’re still in the race for the Bundesliga and still in this tie when they come to our stadium in a few weeks. We have to keep fighting and turn the momentum around.” More