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      David Marshall joining Derby in transfer from financially-crippled Wigan to get £12,000-a-week wages off bill

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      SCOTLAND goalkeeper David Marshall is signing for Derby County from crisis club Wigan Athletic. 
      Marshall, 35, will move to the Rams as number one and fill their problem position after being cleared to leave. 

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      David Marshall is set to join Derby County from WiganCredit: Rex Features
      Latics will get a small sum for Marshall.
      And they will also lose his £12,000-a-week wages that did not drop after relegation. 
      Marshall was in top form for Wigan in their ill-fated run-in.
      And he was keen to stay in the Championship for his international career. 

      Derby want his experience for their own promotion campaign.
      And he also comes within their budget. 
      West Brom also fancied Marshall but only saw him as second choice.

      And the opportunity of guaranteed game time with the Rams made them the more attractive option.

      Marshall began his career at Celtic before moving south of the border to Norwich in 2007 following a loan spell.
      He went on to spend seven years at Cardiff and a further three at Hull before joining Wigan last summer.

      David Marshall shows his goalkeeping skills as he joins in training at Wigan More

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      Ex-Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, 33, arrives at Stoke for medical ahead of free transfer after quitting Trabzonspor

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      JOHN OBI MIKEL was pictured arriving at Stoke for his medical on Monday.
      The former Chelsea midfielder, 33, is set to join the Potters on a free transfer after leaving Trabzonspor earlier this year.

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      Mikel is set to sign a one-year deal with Stoke after leaving TrabzonsporCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And a picture of the former Nigeria international was doing the rounds on social media as he headed to the club’s Clayton Wood training ground.
      He is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Championship club.
      Stoke fans already getting excited by his arrival.
      One said: “John Obi Mikel is a very shrewd bit of business imho.”

      Another wrote: “Iconic moment when John Obi Mikel signs.”
      And a third added: “In a year we’ve gone from signing Jordan Cousins to signing John Obi Mikel. Did I hear someone say glow up?”
      Reports over the weekend stated Mikel held talks with Michael O’Neill last week.
      In their meeting, the Potters boss convinced the ex-Chelsea man to spend another season in the Championship as they push for Premier League promotion.

      At one stage, Stoke were in a battle to avoid relegation to League One after an abysmal 2019/20 campaign.
      They ultimately finished the season in 15th place, eight points above the drop zone.

      Mikel spent 11 years at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the League Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League.
      He left in 2017 for two years in China before returning to have a short stint at Middlesbrough but spent last season with the Trabzonspor before quitting over coronavirus fears.
      Stoke have already secured the signings of Morgan Fox, James Chester and Steven Fletcher on free transfers as Michael O’Neill plots a major summer overhaul.

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      Mikel was part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League in 2012, one of eight major trophies he won with the BluesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      EFL wanted to RELEGATE Sheffield Wednesday – but bungled case to save Owls and send Charlton down instead

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      THE EFL wanted to relegate Sheffield Wednesday — but bungled their handling of the case.
      An explosive report by an independent disciplinary commission explains why the Owls escaped with a Financial Fair Play penalty that was suspended until next season.

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      Sheffield Wednesday survived at Charlton’s expenseCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It went against the EFL’s push for a full 12 points to be stripped from Wednesday for going £18million above their limit during a three-year period.
      Such a punishment would have put Wednesday in the Championship’s bottom three and saved Charlton from the drop.
      Instead the IDC panel let off the Owls because the EFL took too long to bring charges — as well as pursuing the wrong case first.
      The governing body initially wanted Wednesday officials to be sanctioned for their part in owner Dejphon Chansiri buying the Hillsborough stadium.

      That case was dismissed and by the time their focus turned to the FFP offence, it was too late for them to handle it quickly.
      The report said the penalty for the first breach should have been imposed before the end of the 2018-19 season. However, that would not have sent the club down in that campaign — so the EFL went after them in the season just ended.
      Football chiefs also revealed they planned to dock points from Derby if they are found guilty of a similar offence and apply that penalty next season too.
      INCONSISTENCY
      The inconsistency in the EFL’s punishments has also been hammered in the report, which will be published tomorrow.

      The commission felt the eventual Wednesday hearing was held so late, it would have been unfair to dock them points this season.
      It said: “If the penalty had been applied at a very much earlier stage, the club would have had the opportunity to improve its position by performance. Because of the delayed hearing it will have been deprived of that opportunity.
      “The evidence  indicates that the club resumed with a reduced squad as some players would not play beyond June 30, leading to an under-strength team.

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      Lee Bowyer’s side were relegated on the final dayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “This, in our view, is another factor to be borne in mind in assessing the fairness and proportionality of imposing the  deduction.”
      Wednesday will now start next season with the 12-point penalty. They can appeal after receiving the  findings.
      It will cause anger at Charlton, where they felt the Yorkshire club should have been relegated instead of them.

      Simon Jordan outlines his plan for a fairer future for the Premier League and EFL More

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      EFL wanted to RELEGATE Sheffield Wednesday – but bungled case saved the Owls at Charlton’s expense

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      THE EFL wanted to relegate Sheffield Wednesday — but bungled how they handled the case. An explosive report by an independent disciplinary commission explains why the Owls escaped with a Financial Fair Play penalty that was suspended to next season. It went against the EFL’s push for a full 12 points to be stripped from […] More

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      Preston lining up cut-price move for Charlton striker Macauley Bonne and could make opening £500k bid next week

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      PRESTON NORTH END are eyeing up a cut-price move for Charlton Athletic striker Macauley Bonne. Alex Neil’s side, who finished four points off the play-off places, could make an opening bid of £500,000 plus add-ons next week. Former Leyton Orient striker Bonne jumped three divisions last season but more than held his own in the […] More

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      Jack Butland available for just £8m transfer fee by Stoke… just years after ex-England star would have cost £30m

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      STOKE CITY have reportedly slashed their asking price for England keeper Jack Butland. Sky Sports claim the Potters are now prepared to accept around £8-10million for the 27-year-old because of the current climate. The Championship club were chasing triple that less than two years ago after Butland travelled with England to the 2018 World Cup. […] More

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      Liverpool in Ismaila Sarr transfer race as Watford demand £40m fee for winger to not make loss after relegation

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      LIVERPOOL are chasing Ismaila Sarr – but Watford are determined to hold out for more than £40million for the winger, according to reports.
      The Hornets spent a club-record £30m on the Senegal international, 22, last summer to bring him in from Rennes.

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      Liverpool may have to shell out as much as £40m to land Ismaila Sarr from WatfordCredit: Reuters
      But with their combination of managers unable to keep them in the Premier League, some of the bigger names are expected to be sold.
      However, as revealed by SunSport, the Vicarage Road outfit are desperate not to make a loss on Sarr – and will instead try and get a record fee if they do sell.
      One Merseyside club, Everton, paid £40m for Richarlison in 2018.
      And across Stanley Park, Liverpool may have to top that to land Sarr this summer.

      The report adds that Crystal Palace and Wolves are both interested in him as well – the former scouting him at Rennes but likely to be priced out of a deal.
      According to the Evening Standard, Liverpool are the favourites to sign the man who wrecked their hopes of going the whole Premier League season unbeaten with his man-of-the-match performance in the 3-0 win in February.
      Sarr, who still has four years left on his Watford contract, is thought to be open to the idea of a move to one of the Premier League big boys, with Anfield his preferred destination.

      And it is understood contact has already been made by the English champions.

      There, although unlikely to be a regular starter, he would be able to reunite with Sadio Mane after the Senegal pair came through at the same academy.
      However, in order to finance a transfer, the Reds would need to raise some funds and could do so through the sales of Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Grujic.

      Watch Liverpool star Mane looking out for ‘shy’ Sarr two months before Watford man scored two in shock 3-0 win More

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      PSG plot shock Josh King transfer but Bournemouth ace is also wanted by TEN Premier League clubs and four in Italy

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      JOSH KING is a shock target for Paris Saint-Germain.
      The Bournemouth striker is also wanted by ten Premier League clubs as well as four in Italy – including Rome rivals Lazio and Roma.

      PSG are lining up a shock raid on relegated Bournemouth for Josh King
      SunSport understands the Cherries, who were relegated to the Championship, do not want to sell the 28-year-old for less than £25million.

      King would prefer to stay in the Premier League but then his next aim will be to play Champions League football for a club on the continent.
      French champions PSG are in next season’s competition and a move to Paris would be appealing for the Norway forward.

      Newcastle, Everton and Brighton have registered their interest in King, who has one year left on his Bournemouth contract.

      King was close to a move to Manchester United in January but a £20million bid was rejected.
      Instead, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side snapped up Odion Ighalo on deadline day. More