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      Chelsea 2 Man City 1: Blues win Women’s League Cup and first step of possible quadruple after late own-goal drama

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      MAYRA RAMIREZ gave Chelsea lift off in their quadruple trophy chase with Manchester City consigned to League Cup heartbreak on Saturday.A devastating own-goal for Yui Hasegawa saw City’s fightback crumble with the Blues taking first blood in the two sides first of four showdown clashes. Chelsea beat Man City in the League Cup final in DerbyCredit: GettyChelsea took the first step towards their quadruple dreamCredit: PAMayra Ramirez set Chelsea on their way to winning the League CupCredit: ReutersIt was the Blues first trophy under manager Sonia Bompastor and ends a run of three final defeats on the bounceCredit: PAThe return of Nick Cushing to Man City could not prevent the Blues winning the gameCredit: GettyAfter Chelsea’s win today, the two sides play each other again on Wednesday for the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie before they play in the WSL next weekend and then the second leg of their European clash four days later.Ramirez’s close-range finish, courtesy of Lauren James’ class assist, helped the London giants end a run of three straight League Cup final losses in a row.The clash played in front of a Pride Park crowd of 14,187 – far smaller than the record 21,000-strong crowd at last year’s decider – saw the WSL leaders lift their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor.It also dealt a fresh blow to City’s hopes of winning silverware this season, five days after their shock sacking of Gareth Taylor.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea came under significant pressure early on from a Man City side playing in their first final and first game since Taylor’s departure. The Cityzens, who are currently off the pace in this term’s title race were hoping for a new manager bounce following the return of Nick Cushing. The Chester-born head coach was the first and last person to guide the WSL giants to a top-flight title. However, with City currently 12 points off the league leading opponents the chances of winning that prize look very slim. Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut one of their best hopes of a trophy this term came today.For periods of the first half they had Chelsea under the cosh, dominating possession. Watch Ireland captain Katie McCabe star in hilarious Adidas ad ahead of new WSL season with ArsenalBut for all their retention of the ball City found themselves behind when Ramirez broke the deadlock early on. A Man City corner swiftly turned into a Chelsea counter with James’ deft through ball finding Ramirez who fired home after keeper Ayaka Yamashita’s initial save. Last ditch defending from the Blues kept City at bay as they cranked up the pressure. This included winger Sandy Baltimore charging the ball down after Khadija Shaw’s attempted first-half shot.And skipper Millie Bright was among the other aces throwing their bodies in the way of shots and crosses, with the defender spotted stuffing tissue up a bloody nose.But City were eventually rewarded for their efforts with Aoba Fujino firing in their leveller in the 64th minute after Shaw distracted Chelsea’s backline. READ MORE SUN STORIESBut in a cruel twist of fate their fight back was thwarted after Hasegawa’s attempted hooked clearance dropped into the net behind keeper Yamashita. The City midfielder and her team-mates will hope for better fortunes when the two sides meet on Wednesday in the Champions League quarters first leg. Millie Bright put in a Player of the Match performance at Pride ParkCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Thought it was the end’ – New MOTD host Gabby Logan reveals how she thought career was over before landing new BBC job

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      GABBY LOGAN has revealed that she nearly quit TV presenting in 2006.The popular presenter, 51, was confirmed as one of three new Match of the Day hosts earlier this year.Gabby Logan is one of the BBC’s top presentersCredit: AlamyLogan will rotate with Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman on Match of the Day next seasonCredit: PALogan’s career is going from strength to strength, as she also presents coverage of the Six Nations for the Beeb as well as Champions League football on Amazon Prime Video.Things could have been very different for the BBC stalwart, however, as she considered quitting the industry following a scathing comment from her former boss at ITV.Logan covered the 2006 World Cup for the broadcaster and had been due to present coverage of England games as well as several big knockout matches.Reliving that summer while appearing on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, Logan admitted: “I think I had a rough ride in my early thirties in my career, and I can’t believe that’s nearly 20 years ago.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”At the time, I thought it was going to be the end of my career.”Logan, who left ITV for the BBC later in 2006, then added: “When I was leaving ITV and given another chance by the BBC… because even in my early 30s, I felt I’d already had this really long career and I’d done loads of great stuff.”I’d been at Sky to start off with and went to ITV and did loads of brilliant things.”But I kind of felt I was maybe going to have to shift and do something completely different, because I had a boss that wasn’t really into me and wanted to slightly demote me. He took me off a World Cup in 2006.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSLogan previously presented for ITVCredit: PA:Press AssociationThe popular presenter worked on London 2012 with the BeebCredit: HandoutOpening up further on what happened, she continued: “My kids were a year old and I was flying off to Germany, leaving my babies behind, going to the World Cup.”In the middle of the World Cup, he kind of sidelined me, and I came home with my tail between my legs.’New MOTD host’ Gabby Logan’s live TV interview with Liverpool boss Arne Slot ends awkwardly “I was due to do so many knockout games and he said, ‘oh, just don’t come back’ basically. Go home and don’t come back because I was due to go home for a few days.”In between the end of the group stages and the knockout stages, there’s always a couple of days off and I was going to go home because it was only Germany and the kids were a year old.”The setback even caused Logan to consider her entire future in the industry.She admitted: “I remember being at home – we were doing up a house at the time, so we were renting a house in Barnes. It was a lovely day, it was gorgeous and the river was looking beautiful and the sky was blue.I was really contemplating what to do nextGabby Logan”I just remember walking around the garden thinking ‘oh gosh, I love doing up houses, I’m just going to shift and go into property because that’s what my mum does’.”I was maybe 33 at the time and I thought maybe my law degree wasn’t out of date and I could upgrade and go to bar school. I was really contemplating what to do next.”Since joining the BBC, Logan has never looked back.Having previously covered for Lineker on Match of the Day, she will now present the programme regularly in rotation with Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman.Logan also presented at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris, having worked on several major football tournaments, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the London Marathon.READ MORE SUN STORIESOn moving to the BBC, she reflected: “There was a lot of that to deal with, and I think it definitely fortified me.”Once I got that second chance, as I saw it at the time – somewhere that I’d always hoped I might work because of the BBC having the long history with doing the Olympics and various other things that I really wanted to work on – I felt really grateful, and also that I was going to not let this opportunity go.”Logan presents coverage of the Champions League on Amazon Prime VideoCredit: Getty More

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      ‘I wouldn’t have tolerated them’ – Jim Ratcliffe reveals who he blames for shambolic state of Man Utd in scathing attack

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has taken aim at Manchester United’s previous custodians – and claims they made a “complete cock-up” of running the club.The 72-year-old completed his partial takeover at Old Trafford last February. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has opened up on past mistakes at Old TraffordCredit: PAFormer CEO Ed Woodward comes in for criticism from the Ineos chiefCredit: AFPRichard Arnold took over from Woodward but lasted just two years at Old TraffordCredit: AFPUnited are currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League following another horror season.Boss Ruben Amorim has been unable to improve results since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November.Ratcliffe last week revealed the club, who have struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure 12 years ago, was close to going bust “by Christmas this year” if he hadn’t injected £300million.The 72-year-old Ineos chief claims he would step away if fans “abuse” him in a similar manner to the Glazers, who now stay clear of Old Trafford.READ MORE ON MAN UTDAnd he has now spoken out on who he believes is to blame for United’s current state, taking aim at former CEO’s Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold.Ratcliffe told The Times: “I mean, I wouldn’t have tolerated Ed Woodward, or Richard Arnold. “Richard was a rugby man, he didn’t even understand football. Ed didn’t have the credentials to manage the club. “He was a merchant banker, an accountant. He wasn’t the chief executive.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRatcliffe claims past management teams weren’t “into the details” and “left the football side alone”.He continued:” The way I look at it is that you had two management teams at Manchester United for the past 12 years who did a poor job because the owners weren’t like, say, Steve Parish [Crystal Palace] and Daniel Levy [Tottenham Hotspur].Man Utd confirm Old Trafford decision with club set to build £2bn 100,000-seater ‘Wembley of the North’ “They weren’t really into the details. Those two know what’s going on. “They’re there every day and the management at their clubs are on a short leash.”The management of Manchester United have been given a huge amount of rope. “The owners just managed the club and left the football side alone and they’ve made a lot of very poor decisions over 12 years, stupid things. “They made a complete cock-up of it, shocking really. They couldn’t see where they were headed.”Man Utd player ratingsCAPTAIN Fantastic rescued Manchester United once again – scoring a hat-trick as the Red Devils overcame an early scare to beat Real Sociedad and advance in the Europa League.He was the coolest man inside Old Trafford twice as he slotted home penalties either side of half-time to put his side in control against the Spaniards.Joshua Zirkzee was another who impressed as Manchester United secured a tie against Lyon in the quarter-finals.But it wasn’t all positive.Rasmus Hojlund drew a blank yet again. That’s now 21 games and no goals – the equivalent of over THIRTY HOURS without the £72m striker hitting the net.Check out our full Man Utd player ratings.United fans protested against the ownership ahead of last week’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.But Ratcliffe claims he won’t stick around if he receives the same level of “abuse” aimed at the Glazer family. He added: “If it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this. “They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. “They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick.”We bought in and I haven’t seen them since.”And he insisted the Glazers were not at fault for United’s current woes.He said: “To be fair to the Glazers, they’re really good on the commercial side.”The people who advise me say the fans don’t want to hear it. So I’ve got to be cautious.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I get a lot of criticism if I support the Glazers, but the fact is they’re really decent people.”They’re East Coast, you know — that old East Coast America, they’re very polite, they’re very civilized, they’re the nicest people on the planet.” More

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      ‘I’m getting all the bloody stick’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe threatens to walk out of Man Utd if he’s abused like Glazer family

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has indicated he’ll walk away from Manchester United – if he gets as much stick as the Glazers.The Ineos chief, 72, took over at Old Trafford in February last year and pledged to take United to the “top of world football”.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has indicated he could walk away from Man Utd if fan abuse becomes too much to attend gamesCredit: PAA section of United fans have protested against the Glazer family for almost a decadeCredit: GettyRatcliffe claims the Glazers no longer attend Old Trafford due to the vitriolCredit: AFPRatcliffe has been forced to cut costs since completing his £1.03billion takeover. Fans have been critical of the 72-year-old’s brutal balancing of the books, which included a swathe of redundancies, increased ticket prices and the removal of Sir Alex Ferguson as a club ambassador.Ratcliffe has defended the cuts and last week claimed the club would have “run out of money by Christmas” if he hadn’t stepped in. He also outlined a positive future for the Red Devils after unveiling a stunning new £2bn, 100,000-seater stadium. READ MORE ON MAN UTDSupporters protested against the ownership ahead of the recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.And Ratcliffe admits being in the storm of fan unease hasn’t been easy.He told The Times: “It can be unpleasant. And I’ve probably failed on the having fun front. I mean, I can put up with it for a while.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMost read in Football”I don’t mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we’re having to make at the moment.”Ratcliffe claims if the abuse became too much that he couldn’t attend games, he’d walk away.Sir Jim Ratcliffe explains his plans for the new Man Utd Stadium He continued: “So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this. “They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick.“We bought in and I haven’t seen them since.”At the moment, I don’t have security, I don’t have to walk around like that. “But it would defeat the object, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn’t be fun.”Ratcliffe also refused to criticize the Glazers, who have held a stake in United since 2005.Man Utd player ratingsCAPTAIN Fantastic rescued Manchester United once again – scoring a hat-trick as the Red Devils overcame an early scare to beat Real Sociedad and advance in the Europa League.He was the coolest man inside Old Trafford twice as he slotted home penalties either side of half-time to put his side in control against the Spaniards.Joshua Zirkzee was another who impressed as Manchester United secured a tie against Lyon in the quarter-finals.But it wasn’t all positive.Rasmus Hojlund drew a blank yet again. That’s now 21 games and no goals – the equivalent of over THIRTY HOURS without the £72m striker hitting the net.Check out our full Man Utd player ratings.He added: “To be fair to the Glazers, they’re really good on the commercial side.”The people who advise me say the fans don’t want to hear it. So I’ve got to be cautious.”I get a lot of criticism if I support the Glazers, but the fact is they’re really decent people.”They’re East Coast, you know — that old East Coast America, they’re very polite, they’re very civilized, they’re the nicest people on the planet.”Ratcliffe pulled no punches last week as he took aim at United’s flops, branding some “overpaid” and “not good enough”.Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid.”But for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.READ MORE SUN STORIES”There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer.”We definitely need Bruno Fernandes, he’s a fantastic footballer.” More

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      Premier League LIVE SCORE: Man City take LEAD vs Brighton via Haaland, plus four more games in Saturday’s action

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      MANCHESTER City’s enticing encounter with Brighton headlines the Premier League’s Saturday action as the two fight for respective European places.Pep Guardiola’s side have already lost nine games this season – the most in five seasons and face a tense race for the lucrative Champions League spots. Whilst their south coast visitors have won their last six games in all competitions as Fabian Hürzeler looks to guide the club back to Europe in his debut season. Elsewhere, David Moyes welcomes former employers West Ham and the fight at the top-table extends to the evening game as Brentford travel to Bournemouth, plus Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Southampton and Wolves all in action. Kick-off: 3pm GMT/5.30pm GMTTV channel: Games are not televised/Sky Sports Bournemouth XI: to follow… Brentford XI: to follow… GOOOOALLLLLBrighton have levelled things up again!Copy linkCopied47′ – Saints 0 Wolves 2It’s Larsen at the double for Wolves!The striker gets through on goal and fires a clean shot past Ramsdale.It’s a well-taken effort and one that sends the Wolves fans wild!Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedGOOOOOALLLLLLSouthampton are sinking without a trace as Wolves go two up!Copy linkCopiedPEEEEEEEPWe are underway again in all four games!Copy linkCopiedEverton 0 West Ham 0It started off fairly innocuously. But both sides have had several chances and will feel aggrieved not to be ahead.Bowen’s brilliant volley almost went in before Pickford saved Everton.As for the hosts themselves, they will still be raging after seeing what appeared to be a nailed-on penalty get overruled by the pitchside monitor.Copy linkCopiedMan City 2 Brighton 1From SunSport’s Martin Blackburn:“Omar Marmoush is rapidly establishing himself as a crowd favourite at the Etihad – and the Egyptian forward further endeared himself to them with a super strike to restore City’s lead.“He took a pass from Ilkay Gundogan and thumped home a 20 yarder. Earlier Haaland chalked up his 100th goal involvement in the Prem with an early penalty – also won by Marmoush.“But Pervis Estupinan cancelled it out with a clever free-kick. Expect more goals in this Champions League shoot-out.”Copy linkCopiedIpswich 0 Forest 3From SunSport’s Dan King:“’That’s why you’re going down’ and ‘You’re going down with the Leicester’ – the Forest fans are spot on.“Three bits of poor defending and three bits of typically ruthless Forest finishing, and Ipswich are staring another defeat, and a return to the Championship, in the face.“Nikola Milenkovic grabbed the first after Town did not deal with the second phase after a corner.“Anthony Elanga broke like lightning to score the second soon afterwards.“And Elanga latched on to a Milenkovic punt to race past the Ipswich defence to make it three. Game over.”Copy linkCopiedSaints 0 Wolves 1From SunSport’s Jack Rosser:“This game is there for the taking if either side decide to turn up.“Wolves are ahead thanks to a dreadful lapse at the back from Southampton but have hardly offered much.“Some energy and intent from either side and they could gain an advantage quite easily.”Copy linkCopiedHalf timeLatest scores:Man City 2 Brighton 1Southampton 0 Wolves 1Everton 0 West Ham 0Ipswich 0 Nottingham Forest 3Copy linkCopiedEverton 0 West Ham 0Controversy here.Everton wanted a penalty after Beto appeared to be fouled by Mavropanos.VAR recommended a video review of the incident.But the referee was not having it and denied Everton the spot-kick.Copy linkCopiedSaints 0 Wolves 1From SunSport’s Jack Rosser:“Just over half an hour in and Southampton fans are turning on manager Ivan Juric.“Southampton have been flat since conceding a terrible goal despite their strong start.“Fans at St. Mary’s are now venting at Juric, chanting ‘get a striker on the pitch’ after he opted to start without one for the second game in a row.”Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopied42′ – Ipswich 0 Forest 3It’s Elanga again!This time the winger runs through onto a long ball from Milenkovic.Ipswich again fail to deal with it.And Elanga buries it to put Forest out of sight.Copy linkCopiedGOOOOALLLLLForest are clear here! It’s three!Copy linkCopied39′ – Man City 2 Brighton 1Pep Guardiola won’t want to let this one slip…City go back in front and it’s January signing Marmoush who delivers.The ace is played in by Ilkay Gundogan and fires a sumptuous shot into the net.Copy linkCopiedGOOOOOOALLLLLLMan City are back ahead!Copy linkCopied37′ – Ipswich 0 Forest 2It’s bad news for Ipswich as Forest have DOUBLED their lead!Anthony Elanga is the scorer and the hosts have a lot of thinking to do at half-time.Copy linkCopiedGOOOALLLLLIt’s a quickfire double for Forest!Copy linkCopied35′ – Ipswich 0 Forest 1Milenkovic has put Forest ahead!Ipswich fail to clear a corner and the defender fires home!Copy linkCopiedGOOOALLLLLForest are ahead at Ipswich!Copy linkCopiedEverton 0 West Ham 0Jarred Bowen goes close for the Hammers!He kicks the ball in the air before launching a volley at goal.And Pickford is forced to tip over the bar to keep the shot out.Copy linkCopiedMan City 1 Brighton 1 – Yellow cardCarlos Baleba is in the book for Brighton now.The midfielder went in recklessly on Jeremy Doku.And he is now walking a tightrope.Copy linkCopiedMan City 1 Brighton 1From SunSport’s Martin Blackburn:”Just when you think they are getting back to their old selves, City shoot themselves in the foot. “It’s the story of their season. Erling Haaland put the champs ahead from the spot but they gifted the Seagulls a way back in with a cheap free-kick which Pervis Estupinan shaped past a motionless Stefan Ortega. “Surely the keeper should have done better.Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedEverton 0 West Ham 0Neither side bathing themselves in glory here.But it’s Everton who have looked more likely to make something happen.The Toffees have already had five shots at goal, with two of them on target.And Potter’s men need to step things up if they want the win today.Copy linkCopiedIpswich 0 Forest 0From SunSport’s Dan King:“Neither goalkeeper has made a proper save yet. Early on, the Nottingham Forest were hinting that Thomas Tuchel may not have picked a proper squad.”’England’s No 10’ was the chant in praise of Morgan Gibbs-White, whose omission was among the curiosities in Tuchel’s selection decisions.“Elliot Anderson’s shot has just hit Chris Wood, which sums up this game for chances so far.”Copy linkCopied21′ – Brighton 1 Man City 1City’s lead didn’t last long!Pervis Estupinan has curled in a glorious free-kick to level things up.Game on!Copy linkCopied More

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      ‘The chances are there’ – Alexander Isak lifts lid on Newcastle Utd transfer talks as he prepares for Carabao Cup final

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      ALEXANDER ISAK has revealed he won’t speak to Newcastle about a new deal until at least the summer.The Swede has been busy preparing for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup final and the chance to lift the Magpies’ first major silverware since 1969.Alexander Isak has said he won’t talk to Newcastle about a new contract until the summerCredit: RexIsak, 25, has three years remaining on his current deal, so there is no immediate rush to sign a new one.However, his high-level performances for the Toon have given rise to plenty of suitors who could be willing to pay top dollar.A new deal on improved terms would allow Newcastle to get a greater return on their prize asset.Isak was coy when asked about a new contract, admitting that discussions have not yet been held.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “Yeah, yeah. I think I’ve said, I’m not really thinking about the summer. “But yeah, that’ll probably be a talking point once the season is finished. “We will really see, because no talks have been held yet.”Any decision on his future may well come down to ambitions, with the likes of Arsenal and tomorrows opponent, Liverpool both reported to be interested.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBut Isak insists he is not concerned about the club matching his ambitions.He said: “I mean, that’s why I came here.Inside Newcastle’s £3BILLION new stadium plans with St James’ Park project to rival Old Trafford”As I have said many times, I don’t really look too much or think too much about my future. “I have said I am happy here and we are contenders for titles, which is what you want to win as a football player. “We have been to one final and now we are in another one, so the chances are there.”Isak is Newcastle’s top scorer this season with 22 goals in all competitions, while he has netted 57 goals in 99 appearances for the club.He added: “This club can achieve great things. I think we should really look at it one season at a time, and this season we can achieve winning a trophy, which would be amazing for everyone.”About my future, it’s nothing really I think about. I’ve said many times during a season, just focus on the job, and now is probably the worst time to think about anything else. “So, all of our focus is just on Sunday and yeah, doing good and hopefully bringing the trophy back to Newcastle.” More

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      Arsenal ‘in talks with Nico Williams’ agent’ over bargain £48m move for Atletico Bilbao star but face war with Bayern

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      ARSENAL have contacted Nico Williams’ representatives about a bargain summer transfer, according to reports.The Gunners are hoping to significantly bolster their attack ahead of next season.Nico Williams is in red-hot demand ahead of this summerCredit: ReutersWilliams, 22, has excelled in LaLiga with Athletic Bilbao and was among Spain’s star players as they won Euro 2024 last year.According to Bild reporter Christian Falk, Arsenal have opened dialogue with Williams’ management team over a potential summer move.The winger has a release clause in his contract, understood to stand somewhere between £48million and £67m.Arsenal will face significant competition for Williams’ signature.Falk adds that Bayern Munich are also keen on securing the Spanish wide man.While in January it was reported that Chelsea and Liverpool are admirers of Williams’ talent.The Pamplona-born star has played 23 times in LaLiga this term.Williams has scored four league goals and laid on a further five during the 2024-25 campaign.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe homegrown Athletic Bilbao star penned his most recent contract with the Basque side in December 2023.Williams’ deal runs until 2027, although the release clause offers him a way out.Nico Williams reveals which Ghanian and former Premier League cult-hero footballer he looks up tooArsenal have recently had to contend with injuries to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.Mikel Merino has had to fill in as a forward, while on-loan Raheem Sterling has struggled for form in the Premier League. More

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      New Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda dropped huge hint he would choose Stamford Bridge over Man Utd move with cheeky cele

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      GEOVANY Quenda dropped a huge hint he would snub Manchester United for Chelsea. Ruben Amorim’s reported target Quenda, 17, hit Cole Palmer’s ‘cold’ celebration months before his Blues deal went public. New Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda did Cole Palmer’s ‘cold’ celebration in JanuaryAmorim handed Sporting’s Quenda his Portuguese top-flight debut in August 2024 during his time at Sporting, starting in a 3-1 win over Rio Ave. The right wing-back made a great first impression and he quickly became a key player for Sporting.He had been expected to join Man Utd, given his links to Amorim and the fact he’d be considered a perfect fit on the right of his old boss’ preferred 3-4-3 formation.But Quenda’s move to Stamford Bridge went under the radar.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSHowever, the teenager – who earned a Portugal call-up this week – arguably showed early signs that favoured a move to Chelsea.He hit Palmer’s famous ‘ice cold’ celebration after scoring his penalty in Sporting’s penalty shootout defeat to Benfica in the Portuguese League Cup.When Quenda beat Anatoliy Trubin from 12-yards, he paid tribute to Palmer by rubbing his hands over his arms to mimic shivering.Palmer first did it last December during Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Luton Town.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSChelsea have been working on this move for two to three months and believe they have beaten Man Utd to his signature.The Blues agreed a fee of £42million for Quenda, and he will join the Portuguese club in the summer in a seven-year deal.Why Gakpo v Isak will decide Liverpool v Newcastle Carabao Cup Final | Experts’ bets – Weekend WagerChelsea’s willingness to let Quenda stay at Sporting for 2025-26 played a role in them securing the transfer ahead of their rivals, who both wanted him to join this summer.But the Manchester Evening News has since debunked the theories that he chose West London over Old Trafford.The Red Devils never submitted a bid for Quenda before Chelsea agreed to sign the winger.Desire Doue also mimicked Palmer’s celebration when Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League this week. More