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    We live in the shadow of Stamford Bridge… we’re being made homeless in £80m Chelsea FC deal – we’re disgusted

    VETERANS have slammed the sale of their homes to Chelsea FC’s home Stamford Bridge.Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, have said they’ll refuse to leave when given their marching orders.

    Veterans live in the shadow of Stamford BridgeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, previously said they’d refuse to leave if given their marching ordersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he would refuse to leaveCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Now, the sale of their homes to the football club has been confirmed.
    The Premier League giants have purchased the majority of a 1.2 acre site next to Stamford Bridge from the Stoll Foundation.
    One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he was “deeply disappointed” by the move.
    He added: “It’s a huge shame. There’s too much emphasis on the money they’ll gain and not enough on the homes they’re losing.
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    “They’ve made dozens of veterans homeless. It’s not good enough.”
    He previously told how veterans would refuse to leave their homes after the sale.
    He added: “We have to look into what we can do to fight back against this decision. We’re not sure making that many veterans homeless in the short term will really help in the long-term.”
    The military pensioners are furious over a deal that has seen Chelsea purchase the 1.2-acre area of land for £80m.
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    It comes amid its £2billion planned expansion.
    But it means the 100 veterans and war widows living inside the 1915 block will have to be rehoused – something many are fighting.
    Veteran Sean Kennedy, 51, has lived in his flat since 2013.
    He added: “It’s disappointing but not unexpected this has happened. The charity’s quality of care has never been very strong.
    “Now I have to find somewhere else to live and I’m overwhelmed. I’m too stressed to fight back, there’s nothing I can do.
    “It’s not surprising, we live next to Chelsea FC. They have the power and the money to do this.”
    Most of the tenants are over the age of 60, with some claiming they won’t be able to physically manage moving out.
    Alan Parmenter, 67, who served in the army between 1971 and 2004, is “absolutely disgusted” by the plans.
    He previously said: “We’ve done nothing wrong. There’s a lady across the way who is 94. It’ll kill them.
    “I can’t physically move out. The lift doesn’t work. I’m not going to be able to move anything.”
    He added that he just wants “a peaceful life” and is too old to move.
    Colin Tiso, 57, suffers such severe PTSD from his time fighting in the first Gulf War he can’t leave his one-bed flat.
    He added: ” Because of my PTSD I struggle to leave my flat and I’m getting treatment for that. My anxiety is overwhelming. Whenever I get the newsletters with information about the plans I completely shut down. For me as an army veteran I’m scared. 
    “Leaving the flat terrifies me. If I can’t leave the flat then moving is going to be traumatic.”
    Another tenant, Neil Ingram, 62, said it felt “like a tsunami coming our way”.
    He added that the £7,800 the tenants will get in statutory home loss payment is “not a lot of money”.
    He added: “I’m concerned. It feels like a tsunami coming our way. It’s not a lot of money but some people are happy with that.”
    Mark McFadden, who spent 17 years in the army, said residents “don’t know when we’re leaving” and “don’t know where to go”.
    The Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation, set up to support veterans returning from the First World War, provides ex-service men and women, and their spouses, with a home.
    The Fulham mansions is the original site Sir Oswald, a successful theatre magnate, donated to house veterans in 1916.
    Since then the charity has expanded to sites in Acton, Hounslow, Chiswick and Aldershot, Surrey.
    The charity, which listed its “comprehensive income” at £597,000 in 2022, now claims it doesn’t have enough funds to refurbish the Fulham site “to necessary Government housing standards”.
    It would cost “a minimum of £10million, funds the charity simply does not currently have”, according to consultation documentation.
    It added: “The overall thermal efficiency and insulation of properties in Fulham is often very poor, many tenants complain of their homes being cold and say they are unable to afford their heating bills.”
    Meanwhile, Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accounts.
    Three other members of staff at the charity earn between £60,000 and £70,000.
    The club has promised not to take possession of it until 2025 at the earliest.
    Stoll Chief Executive, Will Campbell-Wroe, says: “The veterans are the heart of this organisation and we continue, as we have always done, to act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries. The Chelsea FC ownership group’s offer enables us to limit uncertainty for residents and offer support over a longer period of time.
    “The site at Fulham is just not fit for purpose for the long term and while this is a difficult time for our residents, it is something we must do, to enable us to support veterans now and in the future.
    “We are enhancing our robust support programme for our residents during this process and our commitment to them will continue to be at the forefront of all we do at Stoll.” 
    Residents will not have to leave their homes straight away; the offer includes a leaseback period, meaning that the land would be temporarily given back to Stoll after completion of the sale, according to the charity.
    This will allow the charity to support residents to move to alternative, suitable accommodation, it said.
    Stoll’s Board of Trustees expects completion to take place in early 2024. 
    The Sun revealed previously that the Blues have committed to a massive redevelopment of their current home that ended fears they would relocate to a new stadium.
    American owner Boehly, who bought the Premier League outfit last year for £4.25billion, made promises to the stadium freeholder to expand the ground rather than move the club to a new location.
    Now Chelsea want to build a new 60,000-capacity ground to keep up with their rivals commercially with the new owners hoping for a staged rebuild of the Bridge, with the stands replaced and upgraded one by one.
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    Chelsea FC refused to comment when approached by Sun Online.
    Sean Kennedy, 51, moved into the block of flats in 2013. He’s a Royal Air Force veteran after three years of service in the 1990sCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accountsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Arsenal star Kai Havertz lands lucrative new contract despite early-season struggles after summer transfer from Chelsea

    KAI HAVERTZ has put pen to paper on a mammoth new contract, but it’s not what Arsenal fans think…Havertz joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea in the summer following a £65million deal.
    Arsenal ace Kai Havertz has signed a lucrative contract with PUMACredit: Getty
    Havertz has struggled at Arsenal after his summer move from ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Havertz will be the face of the FUTURE boot for the coming years
    The versatile playmaker has since struggled at the Emirates with only one goal and one assist in 12 appearances across all competitions.
    However, that hasn’t stopped the Germany international from boosting his earnings.
    The 24-year-old has just signed a lucrative contract with PUMA, who confirmed a long-term partnership with the player.
    Havertz will be the face of the company following three successful years at Chelsea, whom he helped win the Champions League in 2021 thanks to his winner in the final against Manchester City.
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    The German will be wearing the brand’s FUTURE boot every time he steps inside the pitch for Arsenal and Germany.
    Havertz said: “Growing up in Germany PUMA has always been an iconic brand with some of the greatest players ever wearing their products.
    “PUMA has always been an innovative brand when it comes to football boots and the way they work with athletes.
    “When I met with the team and discussed plans for the future, I knew this was the right fit for me.
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    “They understand athletes and really want to be collaborate with their players; it really is a family atmosphere.
    “Wearing the FUTURE boot is the perfect fit for my game and is a boot I was eager to move into, there is no other boot like it.
    “PUMA are not only excelling as a brand on the pitch but are making huge waves in other areas of sport and fashion.
    “We are working on some exciting projects, and I am looking forward to what the future holds.” More

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    Man City ready to treble wages of wonderkid who they rate so highly they were happy to sell Cole Palmer to Chelsea

    MANCHESTER CITY are set to treble promising academy graduate Oscar Bobb’s salary.According to The Mirror, Bobb will put pen to paper on a new long-term deal that will tie him up to the Etihad until 2029.
    Manchester City academy graduate Oscar Bobb is set to treble his wagesCredit: Getty
    Bobb was one of the reasons why Man City agreed to sell Cole Palmer to ChelseaCredit: Rex
    The 20-year-old has three years left on his £12,000-a-week contract with City.
    But his salary will rise to £36,000 per week following his promotion into Pep Guardiola’s first team.
    Guardiola rates the winger very highly and is confident he can follow in the footsteps of other academy successes, such as Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.
    In fact, the Norway international’s development convinced the Spanish tactician he can afford to offload Cole Palmer to Chelsea in the summer.
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    Bobb has already made five appearances for the Treble winners this season.
    One of them saw the Norwegian starting against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
    And despite City’s early exit, Guardiola sang Bobb’s praises after his first ever start for the team.
    He said: “Oscar was more than brilliant in all parts, offence and defence.
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    “He’s played as a number 10, as a striker, as a winger. We know in the pockets in the middle he moves really well.
    “His intensity is good, he works without the ball.”
    Bobb also made his senior international debut with Norway this month as he played in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Cyprus and Spain. More

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    Chelsea fans divided as academy product ‘too good to stay on the bench’ set for January transfer exit

    CHELSEA fans are divided over the decision to offload Trevoh Chalobah in the January window.The centre-back has supposedly been deemed surplus to requirements after failing to secure a transfer away over the summer.
    Trevoh Chalobah faces an uncertain future at ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Chalobah is currently out injured with a hamstring issue and is unlikely to feature much when he returns to fitness.
    Chelsea already have Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill as other centre-back options.
    He would become the fifth Chelsea youth team product to leave the club, with Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all departing.
    Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports the Blues are set to renew the collapsed discussions with Bayern Munich.
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    The German giants could reportedly go back in with another loan offer in January.
    And Chelsea fans are split on the news.
    One fan said: “He’s too good to stay on the bench.”
    A second wrote: “He’s a good player, sad to watch him leave but who wants to be plan B anyways.”
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    But another wrote: ” I feel bad for him to be honest. Terrible decision.”
    One more added: “This is sad to see. Chalobah is promising youngster.”
    Bayern were initially put off by the £50m price tag in the summer window, but are open to re-enter negotiations.
    Ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is in charge of the Bundesliga champions and is a huge fan of Chalobah, having handed him his debut at his boyhood club. More

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    Forgotten Chelsea flop who was compared to Makelele started just once… then ended up in German FOURTH tier

    A FORGOTTEN Chelsea star who was compared to Claude Makelele ended up in the fourth tier of German football… after playing just once for the Blues.Carlos Luciano da Silva, better known simply as Mineiro, was seen as one of the world’s hottest talents when he was snapped up by Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2008.
    Mineiro started just one game for ChelseaCredit: Getty
    He was compared to the likes of Claude Makelele, Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel when unveiled by Luiz Felipe ScolariCredit: Getty
    Luiz Felipe Scolari had very high hopes for Mineiro when he signedCredit: AFP
    The midfielder had played for Guarani, Ponte Preta, Sao Caetano and Sao Paulo and earned his place in the Brazil Serie A team of the year before making the move to Europe.
    It was Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin who first took the risk on Mineiro, and it’s fair to say he shone in his 38 appearances for the club.
    By the time he joined Chelsea, his tough tackling and cool distribution was drawing comparisons with legendary Stamford Bridge midfielder Claude Makelele.
    He had even earned 24 caps for Brazil, such was the hope around his prodigious talent.
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    Scolari said after signing him: “[Mineiro is] good positionally, a very good marker.
    “He is a man that works for the other players and he is also a good man outside of the pitch.”
    He is a player that I need because I lost Michael Essien for six months. I have one midfielder like him, Mikel [Jon Obi].”
    But Mineiro’s time in West London turned into a total nightmare.
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    He played just twice for Chelsea in total, one League Cup start and a late sub appearance in the Premier League, as he failed to adapt to life in West London.
    After just one season with the Blues, he would go back to the Bundesliga to join Schalke.
    But he NEVER regained his old form.
    In the end Mineiro dropped three tiers to join fourth division German side TuS Koblenz.
    He scored a single goal for Koblenz in his 30 appearances before calling time on his career in 2012.
    Since then, Mineiro has been coaching young players in Melbourne, Australia alongside former Manchester United winger Jesper Olsen. More

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    Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk brutally responds to fan who asked for selfie before taunting him with Arsenal jibe

    MYKHAILO MUDRYK had a brutal response to an Arsenal fan who trolled him seconds after asking for a selfie.Despite failing to hit the ground running for Chelsea, the Ukraine international is still a popular figure among young footie fans.
    Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk brutally responds to fan who asked for selfie before taunting him with Arsenal jibe
    The Chelsea star hit back at the Ukrainian Gooner as he
    One such fan recently managed to nab the winger for a snap – after which he decided to troll him.
    The Gunners fan said to the winger: “North London is red.”
    A perplexed Mudryk, who was on Arsenal’s wishlist before his £88.5million move to Stamford Bridge, couldn’t quite believe the jibe.
    He replied: “Why [are] you asking for a photo then?”
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    Footage of the exchange went viral, prompting a received a slew of comments on social media platform X.
    One viewer said: “You shouldn’t be asking for a photo if London is red.”
    Another said: “Don’t mess with Mudryk.”
    And another said: “That’s a good reply. “Why ask for the photo then?”
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    One remarked: “Man with a savage response.”
    Another chimed in: “I love this guy.”
    One Chelsea fan said: “We’ve got a fighter in him.”
    Another of the Stamford Bridge faithful said: “Good response Mykhailo!
    “Time to smoke them next Saturday.”
    Mudryk has struggled to adapt to the rigorous demands of the Premier League since his January move from Shakhtar Donetsk.
    The 22-year-old has only found the back of the net ONCE in 25 appearances, in which he’s only provided two assists.
    Mudryk and Chelsea team-mates will be back in action on October 21, welcoming London rivals Arsenal to Stamford Bridge.
    Mykhailo Mudryk has one goal to his name in 25 appearances for ChelseaCredit: REX More

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    Chelsea’s Cole Palmer reveals struggles with London life and WASHING MACHINES and why he chose Chelsea over Man City

    THE bright lights of London have left Mancunian native Cole Palmer dazed – not to mention his attempts at working a washing machine.But the 21-year-old has lofty ambitions for himself as Chelsea’s latest English poster boy, and believes his last-gasp move from Manchester City has already been vindicated.
    Cole Palmer scored his first Premier League goal in a 4-1 win over Burnley for ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Palmer helped England’s U21s to Euros glory over Spain in the summerCredit: Getty
    Palmer will lead the England U21s out as captain at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground tonight ahead of their Euros qualifier against Serbia.
    It comes just three months after starring for Lee Carsley’s side in a dramatic U21 Euros final win over Spain out in Georgia, followed by a Deadline Day £42.5m departure from his beloved, boyhood City in search of regular first team football.
    As a result, Carsley believes Palmer has developed a much more serious side on the pitch because he is now an “asset and commodity”.
    But as he sits and chats in the bowels of England’s HQ at St George’s Park, it is clear that off the pitch, Palmer still has some more growing up to do.
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    Asked about joining Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues, Palmer explained: “I was in a hotel for a couple of weeks and then I moved and got my own place.
    “It is new and difficult. I don’t know how do to do most things on my own so I’m learning.“Cooking, finding my way around London and even using a washing machine. Mum was doing my washing at home.
    “Dad came down the first couple of days to get stuff ready for the apartment but they’re still in Manchester. [Chelsea] have sorted me a cook.
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    “London is different to Manchester, in terms of how big it is, and off the pitch doing stuff on my own, it’s difficult.”
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    That boyish uncertainty vanishes as he begins to speak of what he expects to accomplish at Chelsea, regardless of the outside misconceptions, lack of experience in the squad and a poor start to the Premier League campaign that sees them 11th with three wins from eight.
    Poch has started Palmer in Chelsea’s last three games in all competitions and has been rewarded for his trust with two assists and a goal from his young star – the latter from the penalty spot against Burnley in the Prem.
    Palmer said: “[Starting so well] has surprised me a bit but I know my own abilities. I knew if I hit the ground running I’d have a chance and make an impact. That’s why I went there. “I always had that mindset at City but it’s a lot more difficult. I want to take penalties. I’ve got the confidence to, but City have Erling Haaland, many players. 
    Palmer left City for Chelsea to earn more first team opportunitiesCredit: Getty
    “The opportunity that Chelsea offered me in terms of the project was good. There’s more responsibility but that’s why you play and get bought for big money.”He added: “We want to win trophies. Most people are going to give you criticism no matter what you do any way, but don’t get me wrong, we do need to win more games.
    “They just see the outside point of view, but everyone is so young to the project, we just need to get Chelsea back to where they were. We have to go out with no fear.” More

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    Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle in transfer battle for England wonderkid dubbed ‘the next Jadon Sancho’

    ARSENAL, Chelsea and Newcastle are all in the hunt for Borussia Dortmund’s English star Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, according to reports.The winger, 19, broke through into the German side’s first team towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign having left Manchester City in 2020.
    Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is beginning to make a name for himself at Borussia DortmundCredit: EPA
    Since then, he has racked up 29 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
    He recently extended his contract with Dortmund until 2028, so a move seems unlikely in the near-future.
    But according to Bild, several Premier League clubs are interested in the young sensation.
    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is understood to be a “big fan” of the forward, with the Gunners seeing “huge potential” in him.
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    However, Chelsea and Newcastle are also monitoring his situation.
    Dortmund are said to have TRIPLED Bynoe-Gittens’ salary when agreeing his new deal.

    He was previously believed to be on around £860,000 per year, but that has now increased to roughly £2.6million.
    He has been likened to Manchester United man Jadon Sancho – who also made his name at Dortmund.
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    Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho both excelled at DortmundCredit: Getty
    The English winger, 23, contributed 50 goals and 54 assists in 137 games for the club.
    He then moved to Old Trafford in 2021 – a switch that is yet to work out.
    Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham also rose to superstardom at Dortmund, before securing a move to the Bernabeu and establishing himself as one of the best players in world football. More