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      Everton ‘monitoring 17-year-old Morecambe wonderkid Connor Pye with view to transfer after impressing scouts’

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      EVERTON are rumoured to be eyeing Morecambe starlet Connor Pye with the player being touted as the next Andy Robertson.Football Insider claims Toffees scouts have been highly impressed by the 17-year-old’s efforts at left-back for the League One side. 
      Rafa Benitez’s Everton scouts are thought to admire Connor Pye’s performances for MorecambeCredit: Craig Thomas/News Images
      The teenager, who joined the Shrimps from Wigan as an Under-16 prospect in 2020, is reported to have won plaudits for his performances in the EFL trophy contest. 
      And the defender was named Man of the Match in Morecambe’s clash with Hartlepool in the contest although his side lost 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 finish in normal time. 
      Pye’s rampaging and energetic playing style has seen him likened to Liverpool ace Robertson.
      And the player, regarded as a leading figure within the Shrimps youth team, is claimed to regularly be training with the club’s first team as well as featuring on the bench for league games. 
      It is claimed a host of Premier League and Championship sides are interested in the full-back. 
      The Toffees, who host Watford in the top-flight next, are thought to be keen to line up a new left-back following the summer departure of Thierry Small.

      The highly sought after Solihull-born defender ended his two-year scholarship deal with Everton to agree to a three-year deal with Southampton. 
      Football Insider reports the Toffees had turned down a £1.5million offer from the Saints for Small in October. 
      It is thought the Goodison Park giants were after £5million in compensation for the starlet. 
      Reports claim the Toffees are only likely to have around £9million to splash in the January transfer window. 
      And it is suggested transfer chiefs are looking to focus on temporary deals and bargain buys in the market. 
      It is believed Pye, whose team face Cheltenham away in the third tier, fits this criteria. 

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      Thierry Small’s departure for Southampton has led the Toffees to scour the market for a new left-backCredit: Getty
      Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin shows what he is made of on the training pitch More

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      Robbie Brady joins fifth club of his career after Burnley release as Bournemouth snap-up winger on free transfer

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      BOURNEMOUTH have signed former Burnley winger Robbie Brady on a free transfer.The Republic of Ireland star, 29, has been without a club since leaving the Clarets in May.
      We’re delighted to confirm the signing of Republic of Ireland international, Robbie Brady 📝— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) October 18, 2021

      Brady has 57 caps for the Republic of IrelandCredit: PA
      The Cherries club website says he has now joined up with their squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stoke.
      The club has signed Brady until the end of the season with an option to extend his contract.
      Brady told Bournemouth TV he turned down other offers from British-based clubs and abroad to join Scott Parker’s Championship leaders.
      He said: “I think for where I am at now and wanting to get back to playing football this is a better opportunity than most to come and play.
      “And from watching the manager and seeing the style of football he plays I think that will suit me and I hope I can help the club going forward.”
      Brady joined Burnley from Norwich in February 2017 for a then club-record fee of £13million.

      But his Clarets career was limited to 21 starts after he suffered a serious knee injury in a match against Leicester ten months later.
      Brady, who can also play at left-back, cut his teeth in Manchester United’s Academy before a move to Hull in 2013.
      He scored a memorable winner for his country against Italy in the group stages of Euro 2016.
      Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said: “To be able to sign a player of Robbie’s experience and calibre on a free transfer is a coup.”
      Bournemouth star David Brooks diagnosed with cancer and wants to ‘make a full recovery and be back playing’ More

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      Bournemouth stars pay emotional tribute to David Brooks after his cancer diagnosis during win at Bristol City

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      BOURNEMOUTH’S stars paid an emotional tribute to David Brooks during Saturday’s win at Bristol City.The Welsh midfielder, 24, announced on Wednesday he had been diagnosed with cancer.
      Jamal Lowe held up a ‘Brooks 7′ shirt after scoring at Bristol CityCredit: Getty
      Bournemouth and Wales star David Brooks was diagnosed with cancer this weekCredit: Rex
      And in their first game since the shock news, the Cherries players remembered their stricken team-mate.
      Scott Parker’s men came out for the warm-up at Ashton Gate wearing black t-shirts with a message printed on the front and Brooks’ No7 on the back.
      The tops said: “Together as one, stay strong Brooksy.”
      Then when Jamal Lowe opened the scoring on 21 minutes, the team celebrated by gathering together and holding up a ‘Brooks 7’ green away shirt.
      Bournemouth tweeted a picture of the moment, which Brooks shared with love heart and cherry emojis.
      All four stands at the home of the Robins applauded the touching gesture.

      And fans from both teams continued to show their support with chants and banners having previously risen as one on the seventh minute to honour the 21-cap Dragon.
      Jordan Zemura added a second on the stroke of half-time as it finished 2-0 with the Cherries top of the Championship table.
      Goalscorer Lowe, who initially could not find the shirt, said: “That was arranged before the game, it was just trying to find it. It took me a while to find the shirt!
      “But we found it and obviously everyone’s thoughts and prayers are with Brooksy now.
      “Obviously everyone is in contact with him wishing him well, but at the same time we have got to respect his privacy, he’s obviously going through a tough time but he knows he’s got people around him.
      “It has been a tough week but to bring some positivity to the club at the minute is great, all the fans that turned up today were very vocal, outsung the home support.
      “To be fair I think on the seventh minute as well so fair play to the Bristol City fans.
      That performance was for BrooksyScott Parker
      “I think Brooksy deserves that to be fair and the Bristol fans did it well so good shout to them.
      “Ordinarily they might have booed celebrating in front of them but you can’t boo that can you?”
      Parker added: “No matter what team you support or colours you wear football has a knack of uniting people in difficult moments.
      “Big respect to Brooksy from the Bristol City fans and that was nice, that performance was for him and I know it’s cliché but he’s a loved and liked boy in this team and in that performance today the boys showed exactly what he means to us as a team.
      “Again, like I say, you score against an opposition team and that was touching really to clap and cheer that. We’re right behind Brooksy.”
      Brooks was told he had stage two Hodgkin Lymphoma but vowed to make a full recovery.
      The former Manchester City youngster underwent tests after complaining of fatigue while training with his country last Tuesday before pulling out of the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Estonia.
      And he praised the Wales medical team’s swift action which led to the quick detection of the illness.
      Players warmed up for the match in special t-shirtsCredit: Getty
      The Cherries supporters made their love for Brooks knownCredit: Getty
      Both sets of fans applauded the Welshman in the seventh minuteCredit: Getty
      One fan made a special placard for BrooksCredit: Getty
      Bournemouth star David Brooks diagnosed with cancer and wants to ‘make a full recovery and be back playing’ More

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      ‘Our community and Millwall have lots in common’ – meet Lions’ LGBT team breaking down barriers in English football

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      THERE are some new men at the New Den.And Millwall’s first LGBT team became so popular they have had to set up a second.
      Striker John Goodyear and general manager Paul Loding have opened up about Millwall Romans’ positive impactCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Millwall Romans, the club’s LGBT side, turn out in the London Unity LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Millwall Romans play in the London Unity League and striker John Goodyear said: “There are similarities between the LGBT community and Millwall. We are both often persecuted unfairly by outsiders.
      “And while the club’s fans sing No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care, we are more Some People Don’t Like Us, They Don’t Understand.
      “But we are hoping, with Millwall’s help, we can break down barriers and more people from the LGBT community can enjoy football.”
      The Romans were formed as the London Romans in 2006 and played in north London before being incorporated by Millwall’s Community Trust and moving south of the river last year.
      General manager Paul Loding said: “When I spoke with Sean Daly of the Millwall Community Trust, he told us he wanted the Romans to feel part of the Millwall family — and we really do.
      “Before we came here we were flatlining, just an average Sunday league team playing on crappy pitches which cost a lot of money.

      “Within a year we have now two teams playing on a Sunday, on a better home pitch with better facilities.
      “One of our players even took part in Millwall’s official kit launch in the summer.”
      The Lions have kitted out the Romans in official club kit and tracksuits.
      Bisexual Goodyear said: “It’s strange walking to training and matches and having people driving past shout out at us ‘Millwall’.
      “Builders and workmen who possibly wouldn’t back an LGBT team are now shouting out their support to us, even if they might not know it.”
      Romans drew 1-1 with neighbours Charlton in a league clash two weeks ago.
      Loding said: “I think if you came along to our matches you wouldn’t  necessarily be able to see they were two LGBT teams.
      We don’t give out any homophobic abuse — although you will still hear plenty of people being called ‘w*****s’, ‘p****s’ and ‘d***headsPaul Loding
      “The football is as aggressive as you will see in any park in the country on a Sunday morning and so is the language.
      “We just don’t give out any homophobic abuse — although you will still hear plenty of people being called ‘w*****s’, ‘p****s’ and ‘d***heads’.”
      While the Unity League is thriving, the English professional game is still awaiting its first openly gay player.
      Sadly, Loding, 38, believes that is something which is still a decade off happening — after the torment he went through when coming out to his family and friends.
      He said: “I met my now-husband Gareth when I was 21 but I grew up in a very straight world.
      “It took me three years to come out to friends individually and I hid him from my parents until I was 28. I told them he was a girl named Gemma.
      “The players all take the mick now because my mum, bless her, kept asking when she was going to meet her and at Christmas she would send Gareth gifts of bras and knickers sets.
      Millwall Romans were incorporated by the Lions’ Community trust last yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “We are laughing about it now. At the time it was enormous pressure.
      “Coming out is a very personal thing. While I am old enough now to ignore any homophobic abuse, a negative remark when you are younger could set you back years.
      “A player coming out in the Premier League or EFL would be good for the LGBT community and for football but I don’t think the game is ready for it yet.
      “It would be too big a thing for a gay player to run out on an away team and take stick from home fans because he would get so much abuse.
      “There are gay players in the game but they haven’t come out because they know it would be so much to take on. Probably too much at this moment in time.
      “It will be the natural progression but I don’t see it happening for another ten years.”
      Benik Afobe signs for Millwall as ex-Arsenal starlet makes 15TH transfer of career More

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      Bournemouth star David Brooks, 24, diagnosed with cancer and wants to ‘make a full recovery and be back playing’

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      BOURNEMOUTH midfielder David Brooks, 24, has been diagnosed with cancer, the club have confirmed.The Wales international was examined last week after which it was confirmed he has Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma.
      David Brooks joined Bournemouth in 2018Credit: PA
      The Cherries confirmed Brooks will undergo treatment next week after an ‘initial positive prognosis’.
      The 24-year-old released a statement via club website in which he thanked fans for their support and vowed to return to football.
      He said: “This is a very difficult message for me to write.
      “I have been diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma and will begin a course of treatment next week.
      “Although this has come as a shock to myself and my family, the prognosis is a positive one and I am confident that I will make a full recovery and be back playing as soon as possible.
      “I’d like to show my appreciation to the doctors, nurses, consultants and staff who have been treating me for their professionalism, warmth and understanding during this period.

      “I want to thank everyone at the Football Association of Wales because without the swift attention of their medical team we may not have detected the illness.
      “I’d also like to say thank you to AFC Bournemouth for all their support and assistance this past week.
      “Although I appreciate that there will be media attention and interest, I would like to ask that my privacy is respected in the coming months and I will share updates on my progress when I am able to do so.
      “In the meantime, thank you to everyone for their messages of support – it means so much and will continue to do so in the months ahead.
      “I look forward to seeing you all again and playing the sport I love very soon.”
      Brooks has made nine appearances for the Cherries in the Championship so far this season.
      Born in Warrington to a Welsh mother, he has won 21 Wales caps since his international debut back in November 2017.
      Asmir Begovic shows off his goalkeeping skills at Bournemouth training More

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      Wayne Rooney’s Derby and EFL at war over 12-point administration deduction as TWO parties line up £25m takeover bid

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      WAYNE ROONEY’S Derby County and the EFL are at war in a fight over a 12-point penalty for going into administration.The Rams are lodging an appeal against the fixed amount that is normally handed out for the ‘offence’ of taking this drastic financial step.
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby have been deducted 12 points for going into administrationCredit: Rex
      Owner Mel Morris says the financial troubles Derby find themselves in are due to the Covid pandemicCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The defence will centre on former owner Mel Morris’ claim their troubles were caused by Covid hitting their gate money.
      And now the EFL are demanding that Derby show them their books for the last SIX YEARS to see if they have a case.
      The appeal, which will cost the administrators around £300,000 in legal fees, will rock football as Derby bid to get the amount of points deducted reduced to six — HALF the standard penalty.
      Only a year ago Wigan tried the same argument, and lost out, with the ‘automatic’ 12 points taken off and costing them relegation.
      If Derby are successful it could allow other clubs to go down the route of administration for Covid reasons if they are only to be hit with six points off their totals.
      Championship Derby are also facing a penalty from the EFL for Financial Fair Play breaches.

      They are likely to lose nine points with a further three suspended.
      County hope there is a chance of survival if their appeal is successful and the admin penalty plus the FFP charges mean they ‘only’ lose 15 points.
      The news comes as TWO leading football figures are in the race to take over at Derby.
      The chance to rescue the Rams from administration in a deal worth around a basic £25million is catching the attention of a few with connections to rival clubs.
      Former Ipswich owner Marcus Evans has shown a firm interest.
      Multi-millionaire Evans sold Town after 14 years in charge and has the cash to do the deal — with feelers already being put out.
      Evans would have no problem passing the EFL tests after his lengthy spell at the Tractor Boys.
      Burton chief executive Jez Moxey is being strongly linked with a big consortium including local and American cash.
      Moxey has previous experience at Wolves too and could be tempted to change club if the group put in the biggest bid.
      There is also interest from a British businessman based abroad who has previous sports clubs and financial groups in America and Switzerland.

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      American-based Scot William Binnie’s two sons and their Carlisle Capital are also serious players.
      The administrators hope to do a deal for the club AND include the stadium.
      Morris would need to accept an offer at a reasonable price on top of the sale of the club. More

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      Ex-Crystal Palace star Bakary Sako on verge of free transfer to secret Championship club having not played in 15 MONTHS

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      BAKARY SAKO is looking to make a comeback in England — with a Championship team set to bring in the experienced forward this week.Former Crystal Palace and Wolves striker Sako is a free agent after a spell in Cyprus and has been in contact with clubs about a return.
      Former Crystal Palace star Bakary Sako has not played since featuring for Cypriot side Pafos last yearCredit: Getty
      The destination of the France-born attacker, 33, is being kept secret but the interested outfit want to see him train before deciding on a deal.
      Sako has not played for more than a year since he left Cypriot side Pafos in 2020.
      He enjoyed two spells with Palace, the first of which came between 2015 and 2018 when he joined from Wolves.
      Sako played 50 times and scored eight goals before leaving for West Brom.
      He only spent four months at The Hawthorns before returning to Palace in 2019.
      He then featured another four times for Palace before leaving for Cyprus.

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      But after just six games for Pafos he became a free agent in 2020 and has been unable to find a club ever since.
      Meanwhile, Palace playmaker Ebere Eze is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an Achilles injury.
      There were initial fears the 23-year-old would be out until the new year after sustaining the problem in training at the back end of last season.
      But he is back running and doing ball work already – as he revealed himself in an online clip on Tuesday to the delight of fans. More

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      Jack Wilshere spotted in Arsenal coat with pals as he watches Under-23s against Bournemouth

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      JACK WILSHERE was spotted in an Arsenal coat as he watched the Gunners’ Under-23s against Bournemouth.The former Arsenal star has been a free agent since leaving the Cherries at the end of last season and headed back to his old club to watch the youth teams.
      Jack Wilshere sported an Arsenal coat as he watched their Under-23s play BournemouthCredit: Getty
      Wilshere has been a free agent since leaving the Vitality at the end of last seasonCredit: Getty
      He was in attendance at the Vitality to watch the 1-1 draw in the Premier League cup on Wednesday night.
      Ex-England midfielder Wilshere was offered the chance to train with the Gunners by boss Mikel Arteta last month.
      He has spent time in Italy this summer training at Serie B side Como in order to build up his fitness.
      But due to the minnows being unable to register players from outside the European Union, Wilshere was not able to be signed by the Italian outfit.
      When quizzed about whether the ex-England international could train with them, Arteta said: “He’s someone that I know, that I shared a dressing room with.

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      “He’s so loved around the club with every person here. Our doors are always open.”
      Wilshere, who was released by Bournemouth after spending the second half of last season in the Championship, told the ITV Football Show: “Listen, you never know.
      “I’m an Arsenal man.
      “I’ve not spoken to anyone or anything but that would be the dream.
      “I’m not stupid to know that there’s probably no chance of it happening but I’m an Arsenal man, I love the club and want to see the club do well.”
      ‘INSIDE INFORMATION’
      Former Gunner David Hillier, 51, said on the Highbury Squad Podcast: “I have got inside information on this.
      “I am a lucky man, so I am actually playing golf on Friday with a guy who does all his security systems at his house and he is very friendly with him.
      “He was telling me about him. They are good friends, anyway, from back in the day.
      “He said to me that he is just training at the club to try to get another club. There’s no offer of pay-as-play. He hasn’t even spoken to anyone at the club.
      “He is happy to take a Championship club and just get back into football. He just wants to play. He wants to get fit.”
      Wilshere was Arsenal’s youngest ever debutant at 16.
      But after his breakthrough under Arsene Wenger he was unfortunately ravaged by injury.
      He enjoyed a loan spell at Bournemouth during the 2016-17 campaign and went on to feature 40 times for the North London side the next season.
      However, Unai Emery’s arrival signalled the end of his time at the Emirates and he departed for West Ham in 2018 but was allowed to leave the Hammers a year ago after playing 16 times in the top-flight for them.
      He was most recently linked with a move to Newcastle… in Australia.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates

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