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      Meet the Copa Libertadores wonderkid who is most bought star on FM24 and in ‘advanced transfer talks’ with Man City

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      BOCA JUNIORS wonderkid Valentin Barco will have all eyes on him at the Copa Libertadores Final, while Manchester City keep tabs on the rising star.The biggest match of the season in Latin America takes place tonight at the Maracana and Barco is set to compete for Boca against Fluminense.
      All eyes will be on Boca Juniors wonderkid Valentin Barco at the Copa Libertadores finalCredit: Getty
      Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to sign Barco next yearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The promising prospect joined the Argentinian giants in 2014 at the tender age of 10 years old and was called up to the senior squad two years ago.
      The 19-year-old already counts a total of 30 appearances under his belt and also picked up a goal as well as three assists along the way.
      The versatile left-back, who can also play in midfield and attack down that flank, is also the the most purchased player on FM24, which was pre-released last month.
      And video-game art could emulate life soon as the Argentina Under-20 international’s contract with Boca runs out next year in December and reports in Argentina suggest he want to move to Europe.
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      Barco has already attracted interest from the likes of City, Liverpool as well as Chelsea, who will only need to cough up a mere £8.7million for his signature.
      According to Diario Sport, it is the Treble winners who are “very advanced” for the signing of the versatile star.
      In fact, reports suggest City manager Pep Guardiola is “enchanted” with him and wants to sign him next summer.
      And Guardiola looks set to offer him the exact same opportunity he has given to fellow Argentine youngster Julian Alvarez.
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      That means the Spanish tactician would refuse to loan him out and give him plenty of chances to make his starting line-up.
      Liverpool will have eyes on the Copa Libertadores Final as well as they will also be keeping tabs on Fluminense midfielder Andre.
      According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea also see Barco as a top replacement for Marc Cucurella.
      Brighton tried to sign him in the summer as well before he opted to stay in Buenos Aires. More

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      Arsenal and Chelsea target Ivan Toney ‘tells Brentford he wants January transfer’… but boss Frank wants him ‘FOREVER’

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      BRENTFORD star Ivan Toney has told Brentford he wants to leave, according to reports.The 27-year-old is currently serving an eight-month ban from football for betting breaches.
      Thomas Frank wants Ivan Toney to stay foreverCredit: Getty
      Toney can play again from January 17 but his days with the Bees could be numbered.
      Reports claim that the striker is open to leaving the club in the winter window.
      Both Arsenal and Chelsea have supposedly held talks with the player’s representatives.
      He also recently changed agents, hinting at a possible move.
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      Meanwhile, Brentford are determined to hold onto their star man and could demand over £80million for his services.
      Manager Thomas Frank addressed speculation prior to their game against West Ham today.
      He said: “I want him to stay. Ivan is happy to stay.
      “He is happy at the club. What happens in the future is impossible to guess about.
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      “He’s a top player, one of our most important players, if not the most important last year.
      “Any player that can score 20-plus goals in the Premier League are very, very important.
      “Ivan’s skillset in terms of finishing abilities with his left and right, heading and his composure in those moments and his link-up play and his presence, character, is a very good package.
      “It’s not up to me to put a price tag on him, it’s down to the club.
      “But I’m happy with him, I hope he plays here forever and I’m the coach.” More

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      I won a Premier League title with Michael Ballack at Chelsea but he always used to forget to put on underwear

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      FORMER Chelsea star Jon Obi Mikel has lifted the lid on some of his team-mates’ antics during his stint in a legendary Chelsea team.Mikel spent 11 years at Chelsea and played under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti – winning a clean sweep of club trophies available to him including the Champions League and Premier League.
      Jon Obi Mikel and Michael Ballack were part of a potent midfield duo at ChelseaCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Mikel and his co-host laughed at Ballack’s messy habitsCredit: The Obi One Podcast
      Terry joked that Ballack’s pants should have been binned
      He played 372 times for the club before going on to play in China, Turkey and Kuwait and calling time on his career last year.
      The former Nigeria international is now running his own podcast, named The Obi One Podcast where he regales tales from his time in the game.
      In his most recent episode, he had fellow Chelsea legend John Terry on as guest as the two reminisced about that trophy-laden Chelsea team.
      But top of the pile was a story of how Michael Ballack would leave his pants strewn around the dressing room.
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      Ballack made 166 appearances for the Blues between 2006 and 2010 after impressive stints at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
      The pair reminisced, however, about how the former midfielder would always leave his underwear lying around after getting changed.
      Mikel told the Obi One Podcast: “I just remember a funny story about him when he used to come in the dressing room and get changed.
      “Bally was a special character but when he walked in, he is a tall, huge guy, and he’s got a presence about him.
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      Mikel and Terry won two Premier Leagues together at ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      They were not impressed by Ballack’s changing room habitsCredit: Getty
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      “Like JT, Frank (Lampard), Didier (Drogba) – all of those guys are imposing and Ballack used to walk in jamming and sometimes he would say a lot and sometimes he wouldn’t and just f*** off straight to his locker and get changed. But every time, he would forget his underwear. His underwear was always on the floor, just by his locker.”
      Mikel insisted that Ballack would do this “all the time” and continued: “He would take off his clothes, his trousers and close his locker but his pants were on the floor. He would just leave it there and walk off so every time we came in Michael Ballack’s underwear would be on the floor.”
      John Terry replied amid fits of laughter that they should have binned the underwear in order to keep up the “good standards” the club had at the time. More

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      Paul Merson’s bold Tottenham vs Chelsea claim leaves Sky Sports panel stunned ahead of huge Premier League clash

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      ARSENAL legend Paul Merson would be “shocked” if Premier League leaders Tottenham BEAT struggling Chelsea.Spurs and the Blues face off in the Premier League on Monday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      Paul Merson left the Sky Sports panel stunned with a controversial predictionCredit: Sky Sports
      The North Londoners have been flying high this season and are top of the table thanks to a ten-match unbeaten streak, which has seen them win a staggering eight times along the way.
      The West Londoners, on the other hand, have been struggling significantly with only three wins out of ten league matches, of which they have lost four.
      That has seen Mauricio Pochettino’s side left languishing in 11th place.
      However, Merson still doesn’t believe Tottenham can beat Chelsea next week.
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      During his latest Sky Sports appearance, the pundit stated Ange Postecoglou’s side will “have a go” and that will suit the visitors as it will allow them to find space for the counter-attack.
      Merson told the panel: “Chelsea fans would rather play them teams [who come at them].
      “Teams that come to Chelsea and sit back, it’s a struggle. I go and watch myself. Ten behind the ball.
      “I am more confident about going to Tottenham on Monday than playing Brentford at home. I am.
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      “Because I know Tottenham will have a go – I am going Monday. I would be shocked if Chelsea lose, I would be shocked.”
      Merson left the panel stunned with his controversial take of the upcoming clash.
      Jamie Mackie replied: “You would be shocked if they lost?”
      And Glenn Murray started to laugh as he added: “Against top of the league?”
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      Arsenal legend Merson would be “shocked” if Tottenham beat Chelsea
      Danny Mills joined the conversation as he said: “I think you are on your own, Merse.”
      However, that didn’t daunt Merson as he doubled down on his bold analysis, insisting Tottenham are set for a different kind of pressure.
      Merson explained: “This is the first time after a very, very long time, believe me, that Tottenham fans will be turning up expected to beat Chelsea.
      “For the first time in a long time and they should. But it’s a different pressure now. They have to have a go.” More

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      Arsenal and Chelsea told how much it will cost to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney in January transfer window

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      BRENTFORD rate Arsenal and Chelsea target Ivan Toney at £100milion.And the Bees aim to keep the England striker until at least the summer.
      Ivan Toney could be chased by a string of top clubs in JanuaryCredit: Reuters
      Toney’s eight-month ban for betting offences ends on January 16 – just as he enters the last 18 months of his contract.
      Sky Sports say the Bees value the once-capped star in the same bracket as Europe’s elite hitman because of his goalscoring consistency.
      And that might be a blow to his host of admirers – mainly Prem rivals.
      The title-chasing Gunners and Maurcio Pochettino’s Blues are both seeking a natural scorer.
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      But it’s thought Brentford’s “bigger” London rivals are weighing up bids for Toney of “only” around £50m-£60m.
      The ex-Peterborough ace has reportedly hinted he’s keen to move.
      However, one consideration might be his hopes of making the Three Lions’ squad for Euro 2024.
      Brentford will surely offer him regular football, whereas he would have to decide if a fresh start at a new club would be a risk or a bonus.
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      Bayern Munich paid Tottenham £104m for England skipper Harry Kane, 30, in the summer.
      And Three Lions’ midfielder Declan Rice, 24, joined Arsenal from West Ham for £105m.
      So it’s understandable that even in pre-season Bees boss Thomas Frank said of Toney: “£100m plus?… What would you pay for a striker that guarantees you 20-plus goals? 
      “And this is 20 goals for a mid-table club. What can he do in a bigger club?” More

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      Todd Boehly splashed £1BN and sacked two bosses… but Mauricio Pochettino urges frustrated fans to ‘trust the process’

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO says Chelsea must learn from their mistakes as he battles to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.And the head coach does not want “blame” or “division” at the club right now.
      Todd Boehly has overseen a turbulent time at ChelseaCredit: Rex
      Mauricio Pochettino wants fans to keep faithCredit: Getty
      Chelsea, who face Blackburn in the Carabao Cup, have spent more than £1billion on players since new chairman Todd Boehly took over last year.
      Boss Pochettino is determined to shape a team to win the Premier League but the Blues have been accused of paying over the odds and wasting money.
      Chelsea were also forced to ditch a large number of stars in the summer to comply with Financial Fair Play spending rules.
      Eyebrows were raised when they splashed £35million on Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly and up to £62m on Marc Cucurella.
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      Left-back Cucurella is steadily improving but Koulibaly has already gone and is now with Saudi side Al-Hilal. Boehly has also sacked two bosses in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
      Pochettino said: “The important thing is to trust the ideas, the judgment and analysis of why ­certain things have not happened.
      “To help the organisation to be better and to improve and not to make the same mistakes again.
      “The most important thing is to learn from the mistakes.
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      “When things go against you, you have to try to resist them and try to survive. You have to be quiet and be strong.
      “And not to lose your balance, because it is easy to blame or say something that is going to affect other people and lead to division in the club.”
      Boehly has also had to unravel the mess he inherited, with one-time club record signing Romelu Lukaku, who cost £97.5m but is now on his second loan in Italy.
      Pochettino is struggling with a lengthy injury list, too, with defender Wesley Fofana out for the season following knee surgery and highly-rated forward Christopher Nkunku sidelined until December.
      At least captain Reece James returns in the fourth-round tie at home to Championship Blackburn, his first start since the opening game of the season against Liverpool on August 13.
      Pochettino said: “Those are the circumstances that we are living in now and we need to be responsible about that and be strong in our judgments, because it is us that are going to be judged.” More

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      Chelsea handed major injury boost as Mauricio Pochettino confirms return of ‘cursed’ star & reveals why another is in LA

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      CHELSEA boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Reece James will return from injury and start against Blackburn Rovers.The Blues take on Blackburn on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup’s Round of 16 as Pochettino looks to win the trophy amid a poor Premier League campaign.
      Reece James will start for Chelsea against Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao CupCredit: Reuters
      Chelsea ace Ben Chilwell was sent to Los Angeles for a change of sceneryCredit: Getty
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is set for a major injury boostCredit: Getty
      The West Londoners have slumped to 11th place in the Prem but are hoping their fortunes will change with James set to start for the first time since the season opener against Liverpool in August.
      The Chelsea captain recently overcame a hamstring injury and made two cameos off the bench against Arsenal, where he played six minutes, and Brentford, where he got 23 minutes, this month.
      Pochettino said: “I can confirm he [James] is going to start. The captain is ready.
      “It’s good for the team, it’s good for him to start from the beginning. We can see after, checking always how he is performing.”
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      This also poses as a major boost that could relieve Chelsea from the so-called “Reece James curse” as the England international has not won a Premier League game in 2023.
      If Pochettino’s side beat Blackburn then that won’t break the 23-year-old’s hoodoo, but it could lead to the “curse” being finally lifted on Monday at Tottenham.
      The Argentine tactician also confirmed Ben Chilwell is undergoing rehab on a hamstring injury in Los Angeles.
      Chilwell was sent to LA to change scenery amid his prolonged rehabilitation.
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      Pochettino added: “The plan was to change the scenario for him. That happens in different clubs.
      “When it’s a long period of recovery, sometimes we change the scenarios for them.
      “Twelve hours here every day, it’s a fantastic training ground, but sometimes the player needs to change the atmosphere and the scenario to keep their recovery in a good way.
      “It’s still difficult to know when he will be back.” More

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      ‘Croatian Messi’ once chased by Chelsea and Liverpool joins minnows on free transfer after being axed by Jose Mourinho

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      THE ‘Croatian Messi’ has joined a third-tier team in his hometown after his axe by Jose Mourinho’s Roma.Ante Coric, 26, was expected to become one of football’s top talents after bursting on to the scene as a youngster.
      Ante Coric was dubbed the ‘Croatian Messi’ but was released by Roma this summerCredit: Silvia Lore/NurPhoto
      He was wanted by the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in England while Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also keen.
      The Zagreb-born midfielder spent four years as an academy star at Red Bull Salzburg before returning to Croatia to join Dinamo Zagreb.
      There, he was named in Gazzetta Dello Sport’s 2017 ’30 Best Under-20 Players in Europe’ and won four league titles, leading to his Lionel Messi comparisons.
      And he was even part of the final 23-man Croatia squad at Euro 2016.
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      But in 2018, Roma won the race to sign him, paying £5.2million to land the rising star on a five-year deal.
      However, Coric struggled to make the step up and managed just three first-team appearances.
      The playmaker then went on loans to Almeria, VVV-Venlo, Olimpija Ljubljana and Zurich.
      And he was left unemployed in the summer when his Roma contract expired with no extension offered by Mourinho’s Serie A giants.
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      But now the four-cap senior Croatia international has found a new club.
      Coric put pen to paper with Kustosija, who play in Croatia’s Druga NL third tier.
      The Zagreb-based outfit currently sit seventh in the table and play at a stadium with a capacity of just 2,550 – a far cry from Roma’s iconic 70,000-seater Stadio Olimpico.
      Coric made a name for himself at Dinamo Zagreb as a youngsterCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      One of his three Roma appearances was in the Champions League against compatriot Luka ModricCredit: AFP or licensors More