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      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wanted by Real Madrid in shock swoop with Carlo Ancelotti under pressure amid La Liga woes

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      REAL MADRID are considering a move to make Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta their next manager, according to reports.Current manager Carlo Ancelotti is said to be under pressure despite winning LaLiga and the Champions League last season.
      Real Madrid are interested in appointing Mikel ArtetaCredit: Alamy
      Real Madrid President Sergio Perez is said to have been left frustrated by some of Carlo Ancelotti’s recent decisionsCredit: AP
      His side trail league leaders Barcelona by nine points and suffered defeat to Xavi’s side in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg earlier this month.
      President Sergio Perez was believed to be angered by that result and he has reportedly been left frustrated by some of Ancelotti’s decisions in recent weeks.
      According to Spanish outlet Blanca Remontada, Perez is considering replacing the Italian.
      And he reportedly likes the look of Arteta, who has taken Arsenal to the top of the Premier League.
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      However the Spaniard is tied to the club until 2025 after penning a contract last summer.
      He appears to be loving life at The Emirates and will likely be keen to see through his project until he adds another trophy to his collection.
      After agreeing a new deal Arteta said: “I’m excited, grateful and really, really happy today.
      “When I spoke to Josh [Kroenke] he could see the club at the same point and he wanted to take the club the way I wanted to do it.
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      “So everything that he’s said, and that Stan [Kroenke] has said when I’ve been together with both of them, they’ve always delivered.
      “We want to take the club to the next level and to compete really with the top teams. In order to do that, we have to be playing in the Champions League.
      “We have to be able to evolve the team, improve our players, improve all departments, generate even more connection with our fans, improve the atmosphere at the Emirates, be able to recruit top, top talent and the best people for this club to drive this project to that level.” More

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      Eden Hazard ‘now Real Madrid’s most expensive transfer ever as add-on triggered with ex-Chelsea ace to see out contract’

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      EDEN HAZARD is now Real Madrid’s most expensive player ever after triggering add-ons to overtake Gareth Bale’s £86million move from Tottenham in 2013.The Belgian penned a five-year deal with Los Blancos when he joined from Chelsea in 2019.
      Eden Hazard has largely been limited to the bench this seasonCredit: Rex
      Madrid pledged to pay the Blues a similar fee for Hazard that they paid for Bale, with potential add-ons possibly taking the fee as high as £142m.
      Due to his underwhelming time at Santiago Bernabeu he has not hit all of the clauses.
      But as he intends to stay until the end of his contract, The Athletic revealed that his fee has comfortably surpassed the £86m paid for Bale.
      Hazard has not played for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in over two months.
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      And he hasn’t featured in a LaLiga match since September.
      Despite his lack of game time, Hazard reportedly made clear in meetings with the club last month that he intends to stay and honour his contract.
      The 126-cap star is the highest-paid player at Real Madrid, and has settled well in the Spanish capital.
      His son Leo, 10, has even joined the club’s academy.
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      The Belgian last played in a Copa del Rey tie back in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      Hazard wants to stay in Madrid, despite being upset by the club’s repeated attempts to sell him dating back two years.
      It’s claimed that he is a popular dressing room figure, although many of his team-mates don’t believe that he can contribute much on the pitch any longer – having been dogged by injuries in recent seasons.
      He has largely been available this term, but shunned by boss Ancelotti – with whom his relationship is believed to be strained.
      Hazard has been an unused substitute 18 times in LaLiga this term.
      His most recent appearance came on January 3, when he played 67 minutes against fourth-tier Cacereno in the Copa del Rey.
      He last played in LaLiga on September 11 in a 4-1 win over RCD Mallorca.
      In total he has made seven appearances this season, scoring once – in a Champions League victory over Celtic.
      He has played just 73 times in nearly four years since leaving Chelsea, scoring only seven times.
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      Asked about his No7 last week, Ancelotti said: “Hazard is fine. He is training and he wants to have minutes. He can have them in the next games.”
      Hazard has been an unused substitute in the two matches that have followed.
      Hazard, 32, reportedly doesn’t have a strong relationship with Carlo AncelottiCredit: AFP More

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      Man Utd in advanced talks with Diogo Dalot over new long-term contract amid Barcelona and Real Madrid transfer interest

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are in advanced talks with Diogo Dalot over a new long-term deal.The Portuguese right-back has been a consistent figure since the arrival of Erik ten Hag in the summer – starting 17 Premier League games and six Europa League outings.
      Diogo Dalot is in talks over extending his stay at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Signed by Jose Mourinho in 2018 from Porto for £19m, Dalot’s contract was initially set to run out this summer before United triggered a one-year extension before Christmas.
      And now, SunSport understands the Red Devils are keen to tie the 23-year-old down for several more years after impressing this campaign.
      United are also wary of interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are admirers of Dalot and are ready to pounce should an agreement on a new deal fall flat.
      His future at Old Trafford was not always as clear cut, spending the 2020/21 season on loan at AC Milan after falling out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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      But he now appears to be first choice at right-back in Ten Hag’s eyes, overtaking team-mate Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
      Dalot was chosen to start their 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory against Newcastle last month, and was only taken off at half time for Wan-Bissaka because he was on a booking and up against Allan Saint-Maximin.
      And speaking in January about his stay at United, Dalot explained: “We are in a position to say that we are negotiating and seeing how both parties will benefit.
      “But it is no secret that I am happy to be here, so we will see how things go. 
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      “I love this club and I love to play for this club. Progressively we are in a good direction as a team.
      “For me, this is the most important part and hopefully individually I can continue to help the team as I am doing.” More

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      Chelsea ‘looking to poach Frenkie de Jong transfer from under Man Utd’s noses in £70m summer swoop from Barcelona’

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      CHELSEA are hoping to poach Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong from under Manchester United’s noses, according to reports. The Blues are planning to launch a bid worth £70million to prize him away from the Nou Camp.
      Man Utd and Chelsea could be set to battle it out for Frenkie de JongCredit: Alamy
      De Jong, 25, wants to stay at Barca but could be forced out due to the club’s financial situation.
      Reports suggest that club president Joan Laporta and manager Xavi see selling the midfielder as one of the ways to solve their off-field problems.
      Barcelona may not be able to sign players this summer with LaLiga effectively putting a transfer ban on them until they can balance the books.
      The league’s chief Javier Tebas has publicly called for the club to reduce their spending and suggested they may have to make cuts of £178million.
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      He said: “They have to reduce their investment in players and we have encouraged them to sell players because for every amount they raise in sales they can spend 40 per cent of that.”
      Man Utd and Chelsea were both in the hunt for De Jong last summer.
      The Red Devils saw multiple bids fail in landing him and he the player expressed his desire to fight for his place at the club.
      United boss Erik ten Hag worked with De Jong at Ajax and he is again thought to be interested in going back in for him at the end of the season.
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      The Dutchman is keen to build his team around the midfield pairing of his compatriot and Casemiro.
      Meanwhile, Chelsea also had a £67.6m bid knocked back prior to the start of the season.
      And despite spending £106m on Enzo Fernandez in January, their interest in De Jong is not over. More

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      Jude Bellingham’s dad ‘holds transfer meeting in London hotel’ just hours before Dortmund’s crunch clash with Chelsea

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM’S father is allegedly holding talks with Real Madrid today over a stunning transfer move.Bellingham, 19, is one of the most in-demand teenagers in world football after his exploits at the World Cup and for Borussia Dortmund.
      Jude Bellingham is due to face Chelsea with Dortmund tonightCredit: PA
      The former Birmingham ace is back on these shores today for the second-leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
      Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been linked with the ex-Birmingham City academy player.
      We reported last month how Newcastle had now joined the transfer chase, while Real Madrid have also held a heavy interest in signing the teenage sensation.
      Los Blancos have been trying to work on a deal for some time with their chief scout Juni Calafat already “taking care of relations” with Bellingham’s father, Mark, who manages his son’s career.

      But there was a growing feeling that they “are becoming resigned to the fact that the financial muscle of the Premier League is almost unbeatable”.
      However, a fresh report has now claimed that talks are happening TODAY between the two camps.
      Foot Mercato say: “According to our information, a meeting is indeed underway between the father of the England international and Juni Calafat, director of international football for Real Madrid, and responsible for recruiting young players on a global scale.”
      The French publication added that the “meeting is at the Chelsea Harbor hotel in London” and that Madrid “will present its project for the playmaker” in it.
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      Los Blancos are allegedly preparing for the departure of midfield veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at the end of the season.
      And they appear to have clearly identified Bellingham as their top target.
      The Spanish champs can’t afford the reported £135m price-tag, having already committed to a £60m deal for 16-year-old Brazilian winger Endrick.
      But we previously reported how Real are instead plotting to bid a tasty £88m fee while also handing over Eduardo Camavinga in exchange. More

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      Eden Hazard to hold talks with Real Madrid over transfer exit with ex-Chelsea star set to leave after nightmare spell

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      EDEN HAZARD is set to hold talks with Real Madrid chiefs over his exit after his nightmare spell at the club. The Belgian arrived at the Bernabeu in 2019 from Chelsea in a deal up to £150m.
      Hazard’s dream move to the Spanish capital has not worked out for anyoneCredit: Getty
      But his dream move unravelled in spectacular fashion and Hazard has been dogged by regular injury issues, inconsistency and question marks hanging over his fitness.
      It appears the 32-year-old’s unhappy time at the club may be coming to a close as he prepares to sit down with club bosses to discuss his future.
      Hazard’s contract runs until the summer of 2024 but a premature exit could be on the cards.
      Fabrizio Romano reports: “Discussions will take place in the next weeks between Real Madrid and Eden Hazard’s camp — his last appearance in La Liga was on September 11.
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      “Feeling internally is for Hazard to leave the club in the summer, in case of good bid/opportunity.”
      Despite being one of the star players in the Premier League for Chelsea, he has failed to find anything close to the same level in Spain.
      He famously arrived at his first pre-season with Real Madrid having put on weight.
      And within weeks he would suffer the first of 18 different injuries that would leave him missing a number of games for the club.
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      In his first three full seasons at Madrid, Hazard has failed to appear in half of the 38 La Liga fixtures.
      During this campaign, he has only made three appearances.
      Even when he is on the pitch, the star has failed to reach his Chelsea heights and incredibly only seven goals in all competitions in nearly four years at the club.
      At Stamford Bridge, Hazard hit double figures in six of his seven seasons.
      The winger admitted to Marca last year that things had not gone to plan.
      He said: “I’m sorry. I’m trying, but … I’m sorry. I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn’t easy.
      “I’m not playing, I want to play more. I’m really sorry about what has happened.” More

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      Laporte ‘drops transfer bombshell as Man City star looks to join Barcelona’ even though he could be banned from playing

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      MAN CITY star Aymeric Laporte reportedly wants to leave the club for Barcelona.However, he could face a challenge to play for the LaLiga giants with the club unable to register new players.
      Aymeric Laporte reportedly wants to join BarcelonaCredit: Alamy
      Laporte wants more playing time after dropping down the pecking order at the Etihad, according to Mundo Deportivo.
      The report also suggests that his “priority” would be a move to Barcelona.
      The Man City defender would fit into the team as a natural left-sided centre back which is a position the club are lacking in.
      And the outlet says that the club are aware of his desire and that manager Xavi would be in favour of adding him to his squad.
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      However, a move could prove difficult due to the Catalonian side’s financial difficulties.
      The club have effectively been hit with a transfer ban this summer because of their inability to rein in costs.
      Barca have spent wildly in recent years and tried to balance the book by effectively mortgaging future TV and other incomes by selling off a stake in the club.
      LaLiga chief executive Javier Tebas, speakinging at the FT Business of Football summit in London, confirmed: “Barcelona doesn’t have any room in its budget to spend in the upcoming transfer window.
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      “Barcelona has been involved in questionable behaviour which has had an impact on LaLiga – and we are acting accordingly. We have ruled that they can no longer sign more players.
      “We have strict economic controls. At the end of each window, we tell all the clubs in LaLiga what they can spend.
      “They have to reduce their investment in players and we have encouraged them to sell players because for every amount they raise in sales they can spend 40 per cent of that.”
      This means that if he was to join Barcelona, the club would not be able to register him and he could find himself in footballing limbo.
      So, in that case, Laporte will have to make the decision whether to stay at Man City and wait for Barcelona to be able to sign him or aim for a different club to join. More

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      Fans in stitches as Sky Sports troll Gary Neville with old clip after Man Utd’s 7-0 drubbing at Liverpool

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      FANS have been left in stitches as Sky Sports trolled Gary Neville by posting an old clip after Manchester United’s 7-0 defeat to Liverpool. His former club capitulated in the second-half at Anfield and on commentary the pundit slammed the performance as “appalling”.
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      Gary Neville has been brutally trolled by Sky SportsCredit: Reuters
      The clip reminds Gary Neville of his bad time at ValenciaCredit: YouTube: Sky Sports Retro
      This is not the first time Neville has been on the receiving end of a hammering by seven goals.
      When he was manager of Valenica, they lost by the same scoreline to a Barcelona side containing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
      Sky Sports Retro YouTube channel gave him a timely reminder of the day, posting a video of him discussing the demolition on an old episode of Monday Night Football from years ago.
      In the clip, Neville is asked: “Gary, how does it feel to lose 7-0?”
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      He opens up on feeling helpless in the dugout while his team got ripped apart by Barca, calling the experience “terrible”.
      Fans found the timing of the upload hilarious, coming hours after Man Utd’s damaging loss to Liverpool on Sunday evening.
      One supporter said: “Kudos to the Sky Sports Retro team who went ‘don’t worry I have the perfect clip for today’.”
      Another joked: “Whoever runs this channel knew exactly what they were doing. You deserve a raise brother.”
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      A third reacted: “Whoever thought of this clip at Sky today is a legend.”
      More laughed: “There’s timing and then there’s this.”
      Soon after Neville’s 7-0 loss while in charge of Valenica, he was sacked, staying just 28 games and he was defeated 11 times.
      Neville called the experience “terrible” More