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      Chelsea new boy Thiago Silva insists ‘I didn’t come to dine out in London, I came to win’ despite debut horror show

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      THIAGO SILVA insists he came to Chelsea to win, not just to dine out in London.
      The Brazilian centre-back had a nightmare start to his Blues career with a shaky display against West Brom.

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      Thiago Silva says he joined Chelsea to win, not just to be a tourist in LondonCredit: Instagram @thiagosilva

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      Silva had a nightmare Blues debut and was at fault for one of the Baggies’ goalsCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

      Silva, 36, was at fault for Callum Robinson’s second goal as the Baggies went 3-0 up in the first half on his debut.
      But the former Paris-Saint Germain star has leaped to his own defence claiming he is not just here as a tourist.
      Speaking before Tuesday’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to Tottenham, he told Chelsea’s official programme: “I’m not here just to go through the motions, or just for the experience, I’m here to win.
      “I want everyone to be very clear about that: I’m going to give my all to make sure that Chelsea win.

      “I didn’t come here to dine out in London or visit the tourist sites. I came to play football, to work, and that’s what I’m preparing for.
      “I’m certain, with the group of players we’ve got and a coach who’s a natural leader, that we’ll be in the fight for every piece of silverware going this year.”
      Despite the rocky start, Silva is calm about the future and added: “I’m totally relaxed about the contract and whether Chelsea will want to renew it or not, I don’t know.
      “If I haven’t met expectations or contributed then we’ll sit down and talk about that. But I’m not worried at all.

      “I will do my best possible and really contribute to this team, this new project. I’ve accepted this new challenge, it’s going to be really good for me.
      “Everyone knows that my ambition is to play in the World Cup in two years’ time when I’ll be 38. That’s a great responsibility.”
      Chelsea eventually drew 3-3 at the Hawthorns and despite his new man’s iffy start, Frank Lampard still has faith in Silva and is optimistic about the effect he will have on the squad.

      He said: “We have seen that leadership already and people are going to want to talk about the second goal and that’s fair play and that’s the nature of being the top player that he has been all his career.
      “But at the same time, we saw how he is, his leadership and his qualities and we are going to see more of that.”
      Silva’s nightmare was brought to an end when he was replaced in the 73rd minute.
      Lampard also said Silva’s inability to speak English will not hold him back.

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      Houssem Aouar closes in on Arsenal transfer as Lyon sign Lucas Paqueta from AC Milan to replace midfielder

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      ARSENAL have received a boost in their pursuit of Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to reports.
      The Gunners had a £32million bid for the 22-year-old knocked back last Friday but talks are ongoing to find an agreement with the French club.

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      Arsenal are closing in on the transfer of Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar

      French newspaper L’Equipe report Lyon have found a replacement for Aouar in AC Milan midfielder Lucas Paqueta, which could mean the former’s move to north London is edging closer.
      Paqueta will sign a five-year deal with Les Gones within the next few days after Milan accepted an £18m bid for the Brazilian.
      Milan will also be due a percentage of any sell-on fee.
      Lyon had a loan offer for the player which included a £15m option to buy rejected last week.

      Paqueta joined Milan for a reported £32m fee from Flamengo in January 2019 and made a bright start to life in Italy, earning a place in the Brazil squad for last year’s Copa America.
      But the 23-year-old has seen his playing time dry up considerably since the arrival of Stefano Pioli at the San Siro, and registered just one assist in 24 appearances last season.
      The news will be of huge encouragement to Arsenal as they look to land Aouar before the transfer window closes on October 5.
      The Frenchman has been identified as Mikel Arteta’s top target for the centre of his midfield but the Gunners have so far struggled to meet Lyon’s asking price.

      Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists are still demanding £54m for their homegrown star.

      However, the signing of Paqueta, coupled with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, could see Lyon accept a bid around the £45m mark.
      L’Equipe claim Lyon need to make £91m in player sales before the end of the window but are only about halfway to that target.
      Arsenal have been desperately trying to offload players to raise funds for another Aouar bid, with Lucas Torreira and Sokratis looking the most likely players to follow Emiliano Martinez out the exit door.

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      Lucas Paqueta is heading to Lyon as Aouar’s replacement

      Houssem Aouar could be on his way to the Premier League with Arsenal favourites to land him More

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      Watch compilation of Neymar’s ‘filthy’ skills on PSG return vs Reims.. but Tuchel moans he was too DEFENSIVE

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      NEYMAR dazzled fans with his outrageous box of tricks as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Reims 2-0 on Sunday evening.
      The Brazilian was back in action after serving his two-match suspension following a red card against Marseille in Le Classique a fortnight ago.

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      Neymar was in the mood as he weaved through Reims defendersCredit: AFP or licensors

      And while Neymar, 28, didn’t get himself on the scoresheet for the Ligue 1 champions, he wowed fans watching at home – as well as those in the stadium as France welcomes supporters back to arenas.
      He showed off his full armoury, bamboozling opposition defenders with dips, feints, stepovers and all the trickery that has made him such a fascinating player to watch down the years.
      However, for some cynics, the ex-Barcelona star’s tendency to exaggerate contact when fouled by brutish opposition was the bigger talking point.
      One wrote: “Neymar summarised in 20 seconds. Great bit of skill and then fakes injury. Would have been perfect he rolled on the floor 5 times”.

      And another spoilsport agreed: “Not even a great bit of skill, a pointless bit of skill that didn’t actually get anywhere. So it still summaries Neymar perfectly!”
      A third even went as far as to call him: “Everything that’s wrong with modern football”.
      While fans aren’t convinced by Neymar’s pained expressions, boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed that his star man may in fact be injured yet again.
      And the German, 47, also bizarrely claimed that his No10 was ‘too defensive’.

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      Tuchel revealed that Neymar may be injuredCredit: Reuters

      He said: “I thought it was a hit, but maybe not. I don’t know yet, I need to speak with the doctors.
      “He did too much defensively in the first half. I wanted him to play like a ten, but he played as an eight.
      “That didn’t stop him from having a great game. In general, we had a good first half. We created a lot of chances, but we missed too many. 
      “We have to kill the game after 20 minutes. It must be three or 4-0. I’m not happy with the second half. It was not serious enough, aggressive and intense.”

      It was too long, that’s clear. He had to score again
      Thomas Tuchel on Icardi’s goal drought

      Mauro Icardi’s brace secured a 2-0 victory for PSG, ending his goal drought stretching back to February in the process.
      And while Tuchel was pleased, the ex-Dortmund coach didn’t exactly sing Icardi’s praises.
      He continued: “It was too long, that’s clear. He had to score again. He had worked well this week and deserved to start again.
      “For a number nine it’s important to score, and it’s a good thing that he scored the decisive two goals even though it was possible to do better because he too had great chances.”

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      Lyon supremo Aulas reckons Arsenal can’t afford Houssem Aouar transfer fee after coronavirus nightmare

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      LYON president Jean-Michel Aulas doubts Arsenal can afford midfielder Houssem Aouar’s price tag.
      The Lyon star was reportedly the subject of a £32million offer from the Gunners on Thursday, but last season’s Champions League semi-finalists want closer to £54m for the France under-21 international.

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      Lyon want £54million for Arsenal target Houssem Aouar

      Aulas, who is known to drive a hard bargain, believes Arsenal will be unable to meet his asking price for Aouar due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
      Aulas told French outlet Le Progres: “Financially, Arsenal are like everyone else.
      “And Houssem could say to himself that the best thing would be to stay with us.
      “From the start I said that we would not lose the three players announced every day in the newspapers [Aouar, Moussa Dembele and Memphis Depay].”

      Negotiations between Arsenal and Lyon are understood to be ongoing.
      Personal terms with Aouar are not thought to be an issue, with a five-year deal in place for the 22-year-old who is keen on a move to the Emirates.
      Earlier this month, Lyon sporting director Juninho revealed the club rejected an exchange proposal for Aouar which would have seen Arsenal send Matteo Guendouzi in the other direction.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made signing a midfielder his No1 priority for the remainder of the transfer window, with Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey also under consideration.

      Arsenal have been busy trying to offload fringe players to raise funds for Aouar.
      Lucas Torreira, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are among the names the north London outfit are hopeful of selling.
      The Gunners also raised £20million through the sale of second-choice keeper Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa.

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      Marquinhos defends PSG team-mate Neymar in Sakai race row, saying: ‘He’s never uttered racist insults’

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      MARQUINHOS has jumped to the defence of Neymar amid claims he made a racist remark to Marseille player Hiroki Sakai.
      The Brazilian striker was one of five players to be sent off when a brawl kicked off after Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 defeat.

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      Paris-Saint Germain star Neymar was sent off for his part in the brawl Credit: Icon Sport – Getty

      Neymar received a two-match ban for punching Marseille star Alvaro Gonzalez.
      According to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE, Neymar called Japanese ace Sakai a “Chinese s***”.
      The radio station reports that Marseille “have evidence” that Neymar said it before his scrap with Gonzalez.
      But PSG star Marquinhos has insisted his team-mate is NOT racist.

      During an interview in Le Parisien-Today, he said: “”I know Neymar, he is someone who has never uttered racist insults.
      “It’s hard to say, because I wasn’t in the field or nearby, and I didn’t see the footage.
      “But for someone who knows Neymar well, he’s never played with lyrics like these, and I think he didn’t. ”
      Neymar accused Gonzalez of calling him a “monkey son of a b****” during the clash.

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      Marquinhos has defended his team-mate amid the race rowCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

      But he has since been accused of calling his rival a “f*****g q***r.”
      All five of the stars involved in the brawl were hit with match bans.
      PSG defender Layvin Kurzawa received a six-match ban.
      Leandro Paredes received the same punishment as Neymar, who has one additional game suspended on top.
      Marseille forward Dario Benedetto, whose challenge sparked the wild scenes, has been given a one-game ban while team-mate Jordan Amavi will miss the next three.

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