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      Chelsea had £50MILLION bid rejected for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia just weeks after starlet’s £14m transfer from Man City

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      MANCHESTER CITY were told they may have a decision to make over their £40million buy-back option on Romeo Lavia – just weeks after selling him for £14 million.The champions allowed the Belgian midfield ace to join today’s opponents Southampton in early July, once their swoop for Kalvin Phillips was agreed.
      Chelsea failed with a bid for Romeo Lavia just weeks after he joined SouthamptonCredit: Getty
      However he was very highly-regarded by Pep Guardiola and staff at the Etihad.
      Therefore they secured an option to buy him back if any bids were accepted from elsewhere.
      Lavia made an outstanding start at St Mary’s, attracting the attention of Chelsea.
      And the Blues made a staggering £50million offer – £40million up front plus £10million in add ons – before August’s transfer deadline.

      City were put on alert that they may have to exercise their option or risk losing him.
      But Southampton turned the offer down as they were desperate to count on the starlet this season.
      Lavia is now injured and misses the return to his former club today but Guardiola said: “Romeo started amazingly at Southampton but unfortunately had the injury.
      “It was an option to keep him here but a good offer from Southampton arrived for him and his development.
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      “However we have an option in the future just in case.
      “It’s a huge opportunity to play already at this age in the PL. It’s massive.”
      Lavia was one of four City starlets to join Saints this summer – with Gavin Bazunu, Sam Edozie and Juan Larios also making the move. More

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      Real Madrid move in on Jude Bellingham and are confident of beating Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea to £87m transfer

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      REAL MADRID are poised to pip the Prem big guns to land Jude Bellingham for £87million next summer.The Spanish giants have made their opening moves in the race to sign the Borussia Dortmund star, despite the Prem sides having monitored him since his Birmingham days.
      Real Madrid are confident of sealing a deal for Jude Bellingham ahead of his Prem suitorsCredit: Getty
      Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and champions Manchester City are all eyeing the 19-year-old.
      But Madrid believe they are in pole position to persuade Dortmund to agree a deal ahead of a move at the end of the season.
      The Bernabeu hierarchy see Bellingham’s arrival completing the overhaul of their midfield engine room.
      Real, who sold Brazilian Casemiro to Manchester United in August, know that time is running out for Luka Modric, 37, and 32-year-old Toni Kroos.
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      But having already recruited French duo Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, Madrid think England ace Bellingham would be the perfect third piece in that central jigsaw.
      Madrid have leaked their determination and interest to the big Spanish sports newspapers, with Marca splashing a picture of Bellingham on their front page yesterday.
      It was the clearest sign that Real are pushing hard and the club is briefing that conversations between the two clubs have now started.
      But that will be a body-blow for the Prem sides who have been equally keen to bring Bellingham back to England after seeing the box-to-box livewire live up to all his billing in the Bundesliga.
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      Bellingham, who quit Brum for Dortmund in 2020, is expected to be in England’s starting XI at next month’s World Cup, where his profile could go even higher.
      His latest man-of-the-match masterclass, with a superb run and finish in Dortmund’s 4-1 Champions League win at Sevilla on Wednesday, was further evidence of why he is so highly prized.
      While Dortmund kept him last summer by putting a £115m valuation on his back, it is anticipated that they will be more likely to accept a lower offer next year.
      But Real’s early move means the Prem sides will have to blow any Real bid out of the water to have a chance of persuading Bellingham that his future lies in England and not LaLiga.
      Bellingham will be the centre of an almighty transfer tussle next summerCredit: Getty More

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      Aubameyang ‘already in talks to join PSG in shock transfer just four weeks after joining Chelsea’

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      PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG is reportedly in talks to join Paris Saint-Germain… just weeks after signing for Chelsea.The 33-year-old striker swapped Barcelona for the Blues in a deal worth £10million last month.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could reportedly leave Chelsea next summerCredit: Getty
      But Chelsea have already held discussions with PSG about potentially moving him on in the summer, according to Foot Mercato.
      The Blues aren’t claimed to be eager on keeping Aubameyang past this season, despite the striker netting twice in his last two games.
      New owner Todd Boehly targeted younger players over the summer window, with Aubameyang brought in at the last minute by ex-boss Thomas Tuchel.
      And despite Auba signing a two-year deal, with the option for a third, the Blues could let him leave at the end of the campaign.
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      The ex-Arsenal skipper only joined Barcelona in the winter, before being shipped off to Chelsea just six months later.
      But the Blues could now be similarly as ruthless as Boehly targets younger talents.
      For Aubameyang, a reunion with PSG boss Christophe Galtier is on the cards.
      Galtier managed Aubameyang during his two-year spell at French club Saint-Etienne.
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      Aubameyang established himself as one of Europe’s top strikers at Saint-Etienne, which earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
      The striker has netted twice in four games since joining Chelsea.
      After firing a blank in his opening two games, Aubameyang has shown signs that he is settling by finding the back of the net in his last two outings. More

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      Chelsea vs Man Utd fixture kick-off time FINALLY confirmed but Red Devils forced to slash away fan allocation

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      CHELSEA and Manchester United’s Premier League match has finally been scheduled for 5.30pm on October 22. But due to policing issues, United have had to cut their away ticketing allocation from 2,994 to 2,370.
      Chelsea vs Man Utd has been scheduled for 5.30pm on October 22Credit: Getty
      A statement read: “In recent days we have been in consultation with the Premier League and Chelsea FC after the Metropolitan Police proposed a reduction in our away allocation due to policing concerns.
      “The police initially sought to cut our allocation from 2,994 to 1,500. We have strongly opposed any reduction and worked with Chelsea to present a range of mitigations to the local Safety Advisory Group, which we believe could have allowed the game to proceed safely with our full allocation of fans.
      “Unfortunately, the police have continued to insist on a reduction. However, we have succeeded in increasing the allocation to 2,370.
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      “While we are very disappointed by this outcome and believe it is unjustified, it is clear it is a final decision.
      “We are now urgently considering options for how to manage the removal of 624 tickets from the original allocation which had already been agreed with Chelsea and sold.
      “We will send further communications to supporters on Monday, outlining our approach. In the meantime, we strongly advise against booking travel. 
      “Everyone at Manchester United shares the inevitable disappointment and frustration about both the reduced allocation, and the long delay in confirming arrangements for this game.
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      “Over recent years, we have made significant progress in protecting away ticket allocations for our fans and we can assure you that we will continue to fight for this in future.”
      According to The Athletic, the game was originally scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at 4.30pm.
      But the match had to be moved due to Chelsea’s Champions League tie on the following Tuesday.
      It was moved by a day but faced difficulty scheduling it as it was selected for a Sky Sports broadcast slot.
      So it will now be played at 5.30pm, leading to the Metropolitan Police proposing a reduction in the number of away fans.
      The sides could not be separated in the league last season, following a pair of 1-1 draws.
      Now both sides have new managers, Graham Potter at Chelsea and Erik ten Hag with United.
      The Blues are currently one point above Ten Hag’s side, with Arsenal league leaders, one point above champions City.
      Graham Potter with his Chelsea playersCredit: Salvio Calabrese/UK Sports Pics
      Erik ten Hag consoles Man Utd playersCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      Chelsea star N’Golo Kante always ignores team mates when they urge him to upgrade £10k Mini Cooper

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      CHELSEA star N’Golo Kante refuses to upgrade his humble Mini Cooper despite all the pressure he gets from team-mates.That is according to Kante’s former colleague Antonio Rudiger, who left Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid last summer.
      Chelsea star N’Golo Kante is considered as one of the humblest players in the worldCredit: Focus Images
      Chelsea star N’Golo Kante has been driving the same Mini Cooper since his Leicester daysCredit: iCelebTV
      Rudiger penned a goodbye letter to fans when he left for Madrid and included an anecdotal story of his time with the star midfielder.
      The France international is considered as one of the humblest players in the world, and his modesty shows by the fact he still drives a Mini Cooper when so many footballers prefer more expensive brands.
      The 31-year-old Chelsea star has been driving that Mini since signing with Leicester in 2015 and it only cost him just north of £10,000.
      The Germany international revealed that he repeatedly advised Kante to upgrade and although he always responded politely he constantly refused to abide as the vehicle has a special meaning.
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      Rudiger told The Players’ Tribune: “Everything with NG [Kante] is authentic. Even the Mini Cooper — people laugh about it, but there is a real story behind it.
      “It was a dream for NG to make it to the Premier League, coming from where he came from, and the Mini was the first car that he bought when he got to England. So for him, it is not just a car. It has a deep meaning.
      “Of course, the boys always joke with him about it, but I am telling you — this man is so polite that he just tells you what you want to hear.
      “Someone will say, ‘NG, you know what car is really cool? A Mercedes, bro. I can see you whippin’ a black Mercedes’.
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      “And NG will just look at them genuinely and say, ‘Yes, O.K. We will think about it. Thank you, that’s a good idea’.
      “But he’s just playing with you!!! At the end of the day, you know that you’re going to be seeing that Mini at the training ground for the next 10 years.” More

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      Chelsea and Man City ‘favourites’ to land Jude Bellingham despite Real Madrid holding ‘advanced talks’ over Dortmund ace

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      MANCHESTER CITY and Chelsea are the “favourites” to sign Jude Bellingham next summer, according to reports. But that is despite Real Madrid already “negotiating a contract” over a mega £88million transfer for the teenager.
      Jude Bellingham could make a £88m transfer next summer – with Chelsea and Manchester City in pole positionCredit: Getty
      Marca report talks are already taking place between Bellingham and Real MadridCredit: Marca
      The Borussia Dortmund and England sensation, 19, has dazzled for club and country since moving to Germany in 2020.
      Bellingham became the youngest Bundesliga captain ever this week and followed that up by breaking two Champions League records with his double against Sevilla.
      And with the midfielder set to start for the Three Lions at the World Cup, clubs are keen to get a deal done before he stars on the global stage.
      According to Bild in Germany, Graham Potter and Pep Guardiola are in pole position to add Bellingham to their squads – ahead of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
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      And that would make Erling Haaland ever happier because the goal-machine striker wants to be reunited with Bellingham at the Etihad after their time together in Germany.
      But according to Marca, the initial conversations between Real and Bellingham’s representatives are underway to discuss the specific numbers of Bellingham’s contract – a year after the first talks between the two camps.
      The report adds Real Madrid chiefs are “increasingly convinced” they will secure a deal.
      The Spanish champions and their English rivals are understood to have the financial ability to pay Dortmund up to £88m for Bellingham.
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      Real Madrid have snapped up two of Europe’s best young central midfielders in the last two summers in Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
      But they are desperate to complete a stunning hat-trick by adding Bellingham to their ranks in a complete overhaul from the Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro era at the Bernabeu.
      Los Blancos chiefs are hopeful the trio of youngsters could form a successful partnership for the next decade.
      But Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City are still confident of securing Bellingham, leaving Manchester United and Liverpool way back in the race.
      The English rivals have all been circling for the former Birmingham City academy talent.
      But SunSport columnist Troy Deeney urged the rising star to snub the Premier League and become a Real Madrid legend instead. More

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      Inside Diego Costa’s explosive Chelsea exit, from blazing row with Conte to Abramovich secretly intervening

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      DIEGO COSTA returns to Chelsea on Saturday for the first time since his controversial exit in 2017 and can expect a warm welcome.The striker will make his Stamford Bridge comeback as a Wolves player after joining them last month.
      Diego Costa’s time at Chelsea ended in brutal fashion under Antonio ConteCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The striker returns to Stamford Bridge with Wolves on Saturday for the first timeCredit: Getty
      The Brazilian-bruiser, who represented Spain at international level, turns 34 on Friday.
      But everyone involved with Chelsea knows that despite his advancing years he will be a handful come kick-off in the Premier League clash.
      He enjoyed a successful three season stint at Chelsea after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2014.
      He scored 52 goals in 89 Premier League matches for the Blues, winning the title twice and the Carabao Cup during that period.
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      Costa became an instant fan favourite under Jose Mourinho, but once Antonio Conte took the helm things started to turn sour.
      The Telegraph have reported that former owner Roman Abramovich intervened to stop the star from leaving the club before he eventually went on strike
      The Russian oligarch feared Costa’s exit would derail their 2017 title-winning season – which was the last time the club were champions.
      Costa’s head was turned in that January by a big-money move to the Far East – leading to a huge row between him and his then manager Conte.
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      The Italian coach subsequently dropped him from a 3-0 win at Leicester City and told him to train alone after allegedly screaming at him: “Go to China.”
      But this fresh report claims that Abramovich “acted fast” by “calling a meeting between himself, Conte, former director Marina Granovskaia and former technical director Michael Emenalo” as he issued the order that Costa would not be sold.
      He advised everyone in attendance to “find a way of seeing the season out with him and to revisit the situation” at the end of the campaign.
      And it was a good thing that the now ousted Russian did step in as the forward returned to action to finish the season with 20 goals and title glory.
      However, as we reported that June, Conte then took it upon himself to end the fan favourite’s time at the Blues via text message.
      The now-Tottenham manager, who was sacked by Chelsea 12 months later, sent a brutal 27-word message that read: “Hi Diego, I hope you are well. Thanks for the seasono [sic] we spent together. Good luck for the next year but you are not in my plan.”
      That led to Costa going on strike and returning to South America.
      He refused to return to Chelsea but regularly posted updates from Brazil onto his social media accounts.
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      Eventually, a deal was struck for Costa to leave Chelsea to rejoin Atletico Madrid that September.
      The bitter exit meant he never got the opportunity to bid farewell to the Blues faithful that worshipped him – but this weekend he finally gets the chance five years after his explosive departure. More

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      Hakim Ziyech urged to QUIT Chelsea and end ‘shameful’ spell by Marco van Basten as he slams Blues

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      DUTCH legend Marco van Basten has urged Hakim Ziyech to quit Chelsea in January.Former Ajax winger Ziyech has struggled for game time since his £40million arrival in 2020.
      Marco van Basten has advised Hakim Ziyech to leave Chelsea in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has struggled for opportunities this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Morocco international has had just 350 minutes of action for the Blues this season, scoring one goal.
      New boss Graham Potter gave Ziyech a nine-minute cameo appearance in his first game in charge against Red Bull Salzburg.
      The 29-year-old has since been an unused sub in the wins at Crystal Palace and against AC Milan.
      Ex-Netherlands, Ajax and Milan striker Van Basten has now called on Ziyech to join a club where he gets to play every week.
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      The Euro 1988 winner also criticised Chelsea for stockpiling top players.
      Van Basten, 59, told Ziggo Sport: “Someone like Ziyech would get to play all the time at another club, and the fans could enjoy watching him.
      “It is sad and a shame that someone of his calibre gets to play so seldom.  Ziyech is a terrific player.
      “We want to watch him.  It’s players like him that make us want to switch on our televisions and go to matches.
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      “It is unfortunate for all of football that he remains on the bench.  It’s not good when these sorts of players don’t get any game time.
      “A rule needs to come in that limits clubs to a certain number of players.
      “Chelsea have far too many, and that makes football less interesting.  
      “There are teams now that have 35 [first-team] players, and five or six of them never get a game.
      “Those players ought to be able to shine for other clubs.”
      Van Basten has managed the Dutch national side as well as Ajax, Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar.
      He won a host of prizes as a player, including two European Cups, three Dutch titles and three Serie A crowns.
      Ziyech is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2025. More