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    Kai Havertz ‘on verge of shock Real Madrid transfer’ in ‘mega-deal’ from Chelsea after Karim Benzema exit

    KAI HAVERTZ is on the verge of signing for Real Madrid in a “mega-deal” from Chelsea, reports in Germany say. The LaLiga giants have lost star striker Karim Benzema, 35, whose Bernabeu exit was revealed by the club.
    Kai Havertz is linked with a move to Real MadridCredit: AFP
    And Chelsea’s Havertz emerged as a shock contender to replace the Frenchman, who leaves after 14 years in the Spanish capital.
    Now according to Bild, the Germany international can “quickly” become a Real player.
    It is claimed manager Carlo Ancelotti and President Florentino Perez are both admirers of the forward.
    And with Chelsea open to selling Havertz, 23, an agreement with Real is expected to follow.
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    The playmaker joined Chelsea in 2020 for a then-club record £75m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
    And despite scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final in his first season, he has lacked consistency.
    It leaves the Blues ready to sell Havertz after just three years in West London as they look to clear their squad out this summer.
    Real are also doing so, after ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard, 32, terminated his contract.
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    And Benzema’s exit shortly followed while the attacker is linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia.
    A statement read: “Real Madrid Football Club and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close.
    “Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.”
    Karim Benzema is leaving Real MadridCredit: AFP More

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    Fans have theory Eden Hazard ‘sacrificed himself’ by terminating Real Madrid contract for good of Chelsea

    CHELSEA fans have a theory that Eden Hazard “sacrificed himself” by leaving Real Madrid for the good of his former club. Hazard saw his Real contract terminated by mutual consent after a horror four seasons in the Spanish capital.
    Eden Hazard has left Real MadridCredit: Getty
    And the move comes with the LaLiga giants linked with Chelsea’s Kai Havertz.
    So some Blues fans reckon Hazard has paved the way for Havertz to be sold after Real cleared space in their squad.
    One said: “Hazard sacrificed himself so Chelsea could get rid of Havertz… club legend.”
    Another agreed: “Hazard sacrificed himself for the greater good. Proper Chels.”
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    One added: “Hazard sacrificed himself so Madrid had to sign Havertz. F*****g trooper man.”
    Another joked: “Hazard sacrificed his soul so we get rid of Havertz.”
    Hazard, 32, left Chelsea for Real in 2019 in a deal worth up to £150million.
    But the Belgian struggled for form and with injuries, scoring just seven goals in his 76 appearances.
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    And after suffering a strained relationship with manager Carlo Ancelotti the club and player parted ways.
    Havertz, 23, meanwhile, joined Chelsea in 2020 for a then-club record £75m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
    And despite scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final in his first season, the German has lacked consistency.
    It leaves Chelsea open to selling him in the summer, with Real leading the race for Havertz.
    Star striker Karim Benzema, 35, has left Madrid and is linked with a mega-money move to Saudi Arabia, leaving the side in search of a new No9.
    Kai Havertz is linked with a move to Real MadridCredit: AFP More

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    Chelsea ‘seal Mauricio Pochettino’s first transfer after triggering £52million release clause after beating PSG in race’

    CHELSEA will reportedly sign Manuel Ugarte after agreeing to pay his release clause.The Sporting Lisbon midfielder is rated as one of the best young midfielders in Europa after impressing with the Portuguese side.
    Chelsea have reportedly signed Mauricio Pochettino’s first player since becoming managerCredit: Reuters
    The Blues are believed to have paid the release clause for Manuel UgarteCredit: Getty
    The Blues have agreed to pay his £52 million release clause that will see him become Mauricio Pochettino’s first signing as manager, according to Portuguese outlet Record.
    The report claims that the Stamford Bridge side have beaten PSG to the midfielder’s signature.
    It goes as far as to say that the deal “is closed”, with Ugarte opting for a move to the Premier League over France.
    The outlet suggests that after two weeks of “intense” meetings, the chance to play against “top teams like Man City” is a dream for Ugarte.
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    However, it also claims that the deal is not done as details still need to be ironed out before the move is official.
    It would be hoped that Ugarte can provide more protection to the club’s defensive line that failed to impress last season
    The deal would be Chelsea’s first of the summer as they look to strengthen the squad after a disappointing season.
    The Blues finished the last Premier League campaign in the bottom half of the table and failed to go deep in any of the cups they competed for.
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    This was despite a £600m spend on talent by new owner Todd Boehly.
    The summer transfer window looks set to be a busy one for the Blues as they look to back Pochettino in the market.
    As well as incomings it is expected that there will be plenty of outgoings from Stamford Bridge.
    Mason Mount looked set for a move to Manchester United, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been linked with AC Milan.
    Trevoh Chalobah, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Édouard Mendy are all on the list that the club could cash in on. More

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    Eden Hazard’s £400k-a-week Real Madrid contract RIPPED UP with ex-Chelsea ace now a free agent after disastrous transfer

    EDEN HAZARD is now without a club after Real Madrid ripped up his £400,00-a-week contract.The Belgian was hoping to see out the final year of his lucrative deal in the Spanish capital.
    Eden Hazard is a free agent after having his Real Madrid deal ripped upCredit: Getty
    But Hazard is now set to depart Real after four injury-laden seasons in search of pastures new.
    A statement confirmed: “Real Madrid C. F. and Eden Hazard have reached an agreement by which the player is disassociated from the club as of June 30, 2023.
    “Eden Hazard has been part of our club for four seasons, in which he has won 8 titles: 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Leagues, 1 Copa del Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups.”Real Madrid wants to express its affection for Eden Hazard and wishes him and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage.”
    Hazard, 32, joined Real in 2018 for an initial £86million after winning the Europa League with Chelsea.
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    That figure eventually rose to a staggering £125m after further LaLiga and Champions League success at the Bernabeu.
    But numerous injuries meant Hazard was barely involved in those triumphs.
    He played 76 times in all competitions for Real – just 14 more games than he managed in his first single season at Chelsea.
    Indeed, Hazard featured only six times in the league this term.
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    And some reports suggest he could even retire from the game after a glittering career that peaked at Stamford Bridge.
    Hazard spent seven seasons at Chelsea, becoming a club icon and fan favourite with 110 goals in 352 games.
    He landed two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues and an FA Cup during his time in London.
    But Hazard decided to leave in 2018 for Real as he felt he had a better chance of winning the Champions League with them.
    The Belgian finally got his hands on the trophy in 2022, yet he would have won it a year earlier if he had stayed at Stamford Bridge.
    Before Chelsea, Hazard led Lille to Ligue 1 glory in 2011.
    He also won 126 caps for Belgium before retiring after their group stage exit at the Qatar World Cup.
    And should there be no takers for Hazard this summer, his time in club football could also be coming to an end. More

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    Mason Mount ‘rejected STAGGERING Chelsea offer’ before agreeing terms with Man Utd over transfer

    MASON MOUNT reportedly rejected contract offers of up to £200,000 A WEEK to stay at Chelsea.Despite the club’s best attempts to renew his deal, the midfielder looks set to leave the Blues this summer.
    Mason Mount reportedly rejected a massive contract offer from ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Mount, 24, has been at the club since academy level and currently earns a weekly wage of £75,000.
    His current contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire at the end of next season.
    And Manchester United have already agreed personal terms that would see him move to Old Trafford, according to The Guardian.
    The report claims the England international had hoped for more and relations with the club’s hierarchy have become strained.
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    The club and new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, are believed to have insisted that they wanted to keep hold of the midfielder.
    However, Man Utd are now looking to seal a deal that would complete the move for Mount.
    Boss Erik ten Hag is thought to be a fan of Mount’s pressing game and is keen to add more athleticism to his midfield options.
    Chelsea are looking to sell multiple stars this summer to make up for the £600million outlay on players over the last year.
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    An exit for Mount would relieve potential FFP issues the club could face with the Blues holding out for £70m plus add-ons.
    Although due to his contract running down, the Red Devils are hoping to pay between £50m and £60m and have made contact with the London club.
    If a deal cannot be agreed with United or another of Mount’s suitors, the Blues would look to get one last season out of him and try to persuade him to stay for longer in the meantime.
    Mount looked emotional at the end of Chelsea’s final match of the season last month as he waved goodbye to supporters. More

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    Inter Milan ‘desperate to sign Trevoh Chalobah in £25m transfer as Chelsea reject Brighton’s £30m bid for future star’

    INTER MILAN are desperate to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer, reports claim.The Serie A giants have prioritised signing a new centre-back this summer, with star man Milan Skriniar set to join Paris Saint-Germain.
    Inter Milan want to sign ChalobahCredit: Getty
    Chelsea have already rejected an offer from Brighton for ColwillCredit: Getty
    And according to The Evening Standard, Chalobah is at the top of Simone Inzaghi’s transfer wishlist.
    Chelsea value the 23-year-old at around £25million and Inter are said to be willing to match the club’s asking price ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
    Chalobah is reportedly determined to stay at Stamford Bridge despite his sporadic game time this season.
    The defender wants to fight for his spot under the management of new boss Mauricio Pochettino, who will officially take over on July 1.
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    The Blues could decide to cash-in on Chalobah this summer, with in-form Levi Colwill set to return from his loan at Brighton.
    Chelsea have already rejected a £30m bid from the Seagulls for the 20-year-old, indicating that he will likely play a part in Pochettino’s squad next season.
    Todd Boehly is understood to be willing to offer Colwill a long-term contract in a bid to keep him at the club for the foreseeable future.
    His current deal expires in 2026, but there is an option to extend if the defender makes a certain amount of appearances.
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    Chelsea are reportedly willing to let go of several fringe players this summer in order to free up space in the squad.
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are all expected to leave in the next few months. More

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    Tammy Abraham set to spark Premier League transfer scramble with Roma forced to sell ex-Chelsea ace to avoid rule breach

    ROMA are reportedly ready to sell Tammy Abraham to avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions.The Serie A side had hoped to win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League and claim the riches that would have followed.
    Tammy Abraham could reportedly be sold by Roma this summerCredit: Getty
    He has scored 36 goals in his two season in ItalyCredit: Getty
    However, defeat to Sevilla in a penalty shootout left the plans in tatters.
    And now Roma are set to spark a transfer scramble for Abraham by listing him on the transfer market, according to The Telegraph.
    The Italian outfit will accept a transfer for the “right price” in an attempt to “break-even” a rule that they had already broken and been fined for by Uefa.
    Roma signed Abraham, 25, for £34million from Chelsea in 2021, and the report claims that the club is optimistic about recouping a large portion of that fee.
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    The English striker has experience on the national stage with England as well as in the Premier League and the Championship.
    In his two years in Italy, he has managed to notch 36 goals.
    However, this season has been less fruitful for the striker, as he has only netted nine times in all competitions.
    Abraham will not be short of suitors from the Premier League as he proved to be quality striker at the level.
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    Clubs such as West Ham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham could all be on the hunt for a new striker this summer.
    And if Abraham is available for a reasonable fee for Premier League sides, it would seem an attractive option.
    Abraham has previously admitted that he is happy in Italy, as he said on Uefa.com: “I’ve become more confident and have learnt a lot about myself.
    “At Chelsea, I was known as ‘the academy player’, and I think coming here I’ve realised it’s time to bring out my personality and show the world what I can do.
    “It’s been an amazing experience learning about a different culture and seeing a different area of life.
    “It’s something I’ll treasure even more looking back when my career has finished.”
    If he is still happy to continue his career in Italy, then he could look for a club in Serie A, such as Inter Milan.
    The Italian giants are set to lose Romelu Lukaku once his loan spell expires while Edin Dzeko is approaching retirement and Abraham could be a smart move. More

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    Three ways Mason Mount could fit into Man Utd line-up as he ‘agrees personal terms’

    MANCHESTER UNITED could have three different options to deploy Mason Mount in their line-up next season as they close in on signing the England star.Mount has been strongly linked with a departure from Chelsea after refusing to extend his contract, which runs out next year.
    Mason Mount looks to be set to join Man Utd this summerCredit: Getty

    It emerged yesterday that he has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester United and the playmaker is now expected to join Erik ten Hag’s team this summer.
    The 24-year-old is determined to leave Chelsea and the club won’t stand in his way – although the West Londoners will try to secure as large a fee as possible in order to avoid losing him for free in 2024.

    Now excited United fans, who are still hoping that they can land No.1 transfer target Harry Kane from Tottenham to lead their attack, are wondering where Mount will fit into their side.
    As the attacker has shown in the past for both club and country, his versatility makes him an attractive option.
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    And that means that he will be able to fit into a number of positions.
    Mount could easily slot into a midfield three which would be the envy of most other Premier League clubs alongside Brazilian Casemiro and Portugal star Bruno Fernandes.
    That would certainly be a tantalising prospect for the Stretford End, especially if they can secure Kane’s signature and he lines up in front of them.
    Mount has also played in the No.10 role just behind the main striker, which may lead to him providing the ammunition for the likes of Kane or Marcus Rashford.
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    Even if the Spurs ace fails to make the move this term, Mount could then be deployed further forward.
    Rashford could perform the role as main striker, with Mount and Antony either side of him.
    United have also “held talks” over signing forwards Rasmus Hojland and Randal Kolo Muani if they can’t prise Kane away from Spurs.
    And they are also in the market for a new goalkeeper with Dean Henderson set to leave and doubts persisting over David De Gea’s form.
    The Red Devils are ready to pay Portuguese keeper Diogo Costa’s £65m release clause this summer, according to reports.
    Ten Hag warned long-term stopper De Gea this week that he won’t be guaranteed the No1 spot next season, even if he signs a new contract.
    Costa is the man earmarked to provide that competition for the Spaniard – or even replace him.
    And he may be lining-up in goal behind the rest of them once next season gets underway. More