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      Leeds immediately accept FA charge after players celebrated Premier League promotion with pyrotechnics

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      LEEDS have accepted an FA charge after their players celebrated promotion by lighting flares on Derby’s pitch.
      A 3-1 win over the Rams in July marked Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s first game after they secured their rise to the Premier League.

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      Leeds lit blue and yellow flares to celebrate their promotionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      The newly-promoted club are not fighting the FA chargeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And the jubilant Leeds players lit flares on the Pride Park pitch following the final whistle.
      The celebrations have earned the Whites an FA charge, confirmed on Thursday.
      An FA statement read: “Leeds United FC has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20 following its EFL Championship fixture against Derby County FC on 19 July 2020.
      “It is alleged that the club failed to ensure its players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion as pyrotechnic devices were used following the conclusion of the fixture.

      “The club has until 3 September 2020 to provide a response.”
      However, the Yorkshire club spared no time in accepting responsibility.
      Leeds confirmed via the club website: “The club has accepted the charge.”
      For the first time since 2004, Elland Road will host Premier League football next season after Bielsa’s men won the Championship.

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      Leeds were charged with “failing to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion as pyrotechnic devices were used”Credit: Reuters

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      Pablo Hernandez, Jamie Shackleton and a Derby own goal secured the visitors a win before the celebrations beganCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The club attracted strong criticism for staging an open-top bus celebration after being crowned champions just days later.
      Despite strict coronavirus lockdown restrictions and telling fans to stay at home, Leeds brought out the Championship trophy to parade in front of those unable to watch their win over Charlton.
      Club officials claimed the celebration was deployed as a way of telling fans NOT to stay out.
      On Thursday, Leeds’ first top-flight opponents were confirmed, with a trip to champions Liverpool awaiting them on September 12.

      Leeds claim open-top bus celebrations were to help fans stay away from Elland Road after ploy totally backfires More

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      Watford reject Abdoulaye Doucoure transfer offer from Everton as Hornets hold out for £25m fee for midfielder

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      EVERTON have reportedly had a bid for Abdoulaye Doucoure rejected by Watford.
      The 27-year-old is seeking a new challenge after four seasons at Vicarage Road, with the player keen to play under Carlo Ancelotti.

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      Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure is a reported target for EvertonCredit: Reuters
      He is understood to also be attracting interest from Ligue 1 clubs, but his priority is to play in the Premier League as he dreams of winning a first cap for France.

      Former Rennes star Dourcoure played in 37 top-flight games this season – chipping in with four goals and two assists.
      But he failed to help the Hornets beat the drop to the Championship.
      According to the Evening Standard, Everton are desperate to snap him up, but have been knocked back in their bid to sign him.

      It has been claimed that Watford are willing to sell the ex-Granada loanee, but only if they receive a £25million offer.
      They state that Doucoure is keen to make the move to Goodison Park, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.
      French news outlet Telefoot via GFFN have revealed that the player has already agreed personal terms with Everton.

      A four-year deal is believed to be on the table, with the Merseyside outfit set to make a second bid imminently.

      Doucoure could replace Tom Davies at Everton, with the 22-year-old a £12m target for Newcastle.
      It is set to be a busy summer at Everton as Ancelotti looks to assemble a squad capable of qualifying for Europe.

      Jordan Pickford facing uncertain Everton future with Carlo Ancelotti not convinced he has future at club after huge mistakes More

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      Man Utd ‘seriously’ considering David Brooks transfer as Bournemouth star becomes latest Jadon Sancho alternative

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up Bournemouth star David Brooks as an alternative to Jadon Sancho, reports claim.
      The Red Devils have been linked with the Borussia Dortmund winger all year and made him their No1 summer target.

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      David Brooks is the latest attacker to be linked with Man UtdCredit: Alamy Live News
      But having missed Dortmund’s August 10 deadline to sew up a deal, the German side are playing hardball over their much-coveted asset.
      And with club chiefs Michael Zorc, Hans-Joachim Watzke and Sebastian Kehl having all ruled out any Sancho move, United appear to be looking elsewhere.
      According to Sport Witness, Brooks – who like Sancho came through Manchester City’s academy – is a “serious” target for the Red Devils.
      They also state that things could move very quickly, as it would be a much easier deal to complete than for Sancho.

      Brooks, 23, missed the majority of the 2019-20 season with a nasty ankle injury, but did manage to return for the final nine games – getting on the scoresheet against former club City.
      But it was the season before in which the Welsh international was really able to shine, scoring seven times and making a further five assists in his debut top-flight campaign.
      United are eager to sign another attacker, despite the exceptional performances of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.

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      While Brooks is a deal that could easily be done, the Red Devils have also been connected to other targets.

      Barcelona have squashed rumours of a move for Ousmane Dembele, although Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa have also been linked.
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also thought to be chasing another centre-back, with Kalidou Koulibaly and Issa Diop reportedly in the frame.

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he ‘can’t fault the boys’ despite slew of missed chances in Europa League quarter and semi-finals More

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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