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      If I hadn’t been a footballer I’d have been a pilot and played a totally different sport – now I’m chasing the title

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      LENA PETERMANN may have been reaching heights of a different kind rather than fuelling Leicester’s rise had her football career not taken off.The forward, 29, admits becoming a pilot could have been on the cards had she not followed her sporting dreams during her childhood in Germany.
      Lena Petermann has hit the ground running for Leicester scoring two goals in three WSL gamesCredit: Getty
      Petermann and her team-mates hope to continue their unbeaten run when they host Manchester City at the King Power this eveningCredit: Getty
      Petermann, whose Leicester side are second in the league, said: “I always wanted to be a pilot but that’s changed completely!  
      “I also played table tennis and I was quite good at it.
      “If football hadn’t worked out (for me) I probably would have stuck to table tennis and maybe become a pilot.
      “It was about the age of 14 that I was also playing table tennis, but I couldn’t do both (table tennis and football) anymore. 

      “I then had to make a decision and it was quite easy for me that I would stick to football.
      “That’s because by then I also started to play for a regional team so I was one hundred per cent sure that I am going follow football.”
      It was a decision that paid off for Petermann who began her senior playing career with German side Hamburg at the age of 15.
      Following three seasons there she would spend 2013 playing US women’s college football netting eight goals in 21 appearances for Florida University’s UCF Nights team.  
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      Spells at SC Freiburg, Turbine Potsdam and Montpellier, preceded a July Foxes move for the forward who scored 25 goals in 48 appearances for the French side. 
      Two goals in three WSL games – including a bullet header against Bristol – has seen her become the top scorer so far this term for Willie Kirk’s side.
      His team will face one of their toughest side who host league leaders Man City at the King Power this evening
      Petermann  added: “I really enjoy this club and the feeling of it. 
      “It was really easy for me to get into (being with) the team.
      “After a couple of weeks, it felt like I’ve been in this team for quite a long time.
      “My teammates made it so easy for me and the staff too. How they’ve treated me made it really easy for me to settle in. 
      “I think you can see it now with my first performances that I feel good here.”
      Since its inception in 2011 the WSL has seen scores of top talents from Germany make moves to the division including Chelsea trio Ann-Katrin Berger, Melanie Leupolz and Sjoeke Nusken.
      Aside from Petermann, Foxes goalkeeper Janina Leitzig and Brighton forward Pauline Bremer are among those who sealed permanent switches  
      This summer saw the duo transfer from Bayern Munich and two-time Champions League winners Wolfsburg. 
      Petermann said: “This is one of the best. It is the best I think. It has a lot of qualities and that’s why it’s so interesting for foreigners as well. 
      Goalkeeper Janina Leitzig is among Leicester’s summer signings who have impressed for the clubCredit: Getty
      “I think the German league is also at a good level but at some point it didn’t develop so much more than here in England. 
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      “This is why I think some German players want to do this move.
      “They want to perform at the best levels and this is definitely here in this league.” More

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      Match of the Day fans could see Gary Lineker in just his pants again as he makes promise to Richards and Shearer

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      GARY LINEKER has made a promise that he will present Match of The Day in his pants again – on one condition.The presenter famously presented the show back in his underwear in 2016 after Leicester City won the league.
      Lineker presented in his undies in 2016Credit: handout
      Lineker said he’d do it again on one conditionCredit: BBC
      Lineker made the promise to do the show in just his undies if his hometown club won the league earlier that season – when Leicester started off as 5000/1 outsiders to take the title.
      The Foxes ended up winning the league that year by a whopping 10 points ahead of their closest title rivals, Arsenal.
      Lineker was speaking about the feat on his Match of The day podcast alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
      The trio began by talking about how good Leicester were that season with Alan Shearer saying: “They were deadly that season, weren’t they?”
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      Lineker then said “I mean Jamie Vardy, that run he had…”
      Richards then interjected by saying: “Is that when you came out presenting Match of the Day with your pants on?”
      After Lineker explained that he did so after Leicester won the league, Richards asked if he would be doing it anytime soon if Leicester got promoted.
      Lineker then made the vague promise: “If Leicester won the league again, I’ll do it.”
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      But with Lineker vaguely saying won the league, Shearer wondered if he meant the Championship title and said: “Even The Championship?”
      Which led to Lineker reiterating that the promise only applied to if Leicester pulled off the miracle of winning the Premier League again.
      A disappointed Richards said: “They’re not going to win the Premier League again are they?”

      And Lineker quipped back: “Micah, do you want to see me in my pants in my sixties?”
      Leicester have made a blistering start to the Championship season under Pep’s former assistant Enzo Maresca.
      The club have 10 wins from their opening 11 and already have a 10 point lead on Ipswich, who sit in third outside of the promotion places.
      So it looks like if Lineker was to make the promise apply to The Championship, it’s highly likely that viewers would see him in his undies again. More

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      Gary Lineker reveals his bold recommendation for Leicester manager’s role but board rejected it as a ‘step too far’

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      GARY LINEKER has revealed that he recommended Emma Hayes to Leicester City’s board in the summer to become their new boss.The Foxes parted ways with Dean Smith after they were relegated from the Premier League in May after his brief stint in charge.
      Gary Lineker has revealed who he recommended for the Leicester job in the summer
      He suggested that the Foxes appoint Chelsea Women’s boss Emma HayesCredit: Getty
      They are now looking to make an immediate return to the top-flight with Enzo Maresca at the helm after he left Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City.
      However, former Leicester striker and England legend Lineker has now admitted that he made his own suggestion to the club’s board to be manager before the Italian’s arrival.
      And he also revealed the feedback that he received, telling The Rest is Football podcast: “I don’t know whether I told you before but in the summer, when Leicester were looking for a new manager I actually got in touch with the club with a little idea I had – which was for them to go for Emma Hayes from Chelsea.
      “She’s great, absolutely legitimate but imagine being the first major football club to have a woman as a coach.
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      “It would have brought massive amounts of publicity, particularly at a time when the club had gone down into the Championship.
      “You’d have sold all your season tickets. It’s not a stunt at all although it is in a way because it would be a massive PR opportunity.
      “They did come back to me and say it’s probably a step too far at this stage.”
      Hayes, 46, has guided Chelsea to six WSL title and was also named The Best Fifa football coach in 2021.
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      She has previously been linked with both the Norwich City and AFC Wimbledon jobs and has even admitted her desire to coach in the men’s game.
      Hayes said: “All coaches aspire to be at the best level they can get to, and I’m no different.
      “If it happened for me that the next opportunity was in the men’s game, then I’d welcome that.
      “But I also think there needs to be more female coaches at the top end of the women’s game before more are entering into the men’s game.”
      The legendary boss and popular pundit is not the only woman to be linked with a blockbuster and game-changing switch into the men’s game.
      England Women’s boss Sarina Wiegman, who led the Lionesses to Euro success last year and the World Cup final last month, is being considered as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate. More

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      Leicester’s forgotten man offered transfer escape route after 17 months in exile amid furious fallout with manager

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      AEK ATHENS are ready to offer Jannik Vestergaard an escape route from his Leicester City hell.Brendan Rodgers paid Southampton £15million for the Danish international in the summer of 2021 after Wesley Fofana suffered a serious knee injury in a pre-season match against Villarreal.
      Jannik Vestergaard has been offered an escape route from LeicesterCredit: PA
      He has had a torrid time since joining in 2021Credit: Getty
      But the giant defender flopped with the Foxes and soon fell out of favour with Rodgers who only gave him 10 Premier League appearances before dropping him. 
      Vestergaard made a rare appearance for 45 minutes of Leicester’s 1-0 pre-season win at Northampton yesterday, in Enzo Maresca’s first official game in charge.
      SunSport understands AEK have made contact with the Foxes over a potential move, although the Greeks valuation of Vestergaard at around £4m fell well short of Leicester’s valuation.
      Maresca kept his cards close to his chest when asked about Vestergaard’s future and said: “At this moment Jannik is in the same situation as all of my players. 
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      “He is our player, he is training with us, that’s it, we will see what happens in the future.”
      However the Italian boss has already signed 19-year-old centre-half Callum Doyle, who he worked with at Manchester City, on a season-long-loan. 
      Vestergaard’s Leicester career crashed and burned when his relationship with Rodgers turned toxic in March after the defender turned down offers to join from Fulham and Hertha Berlin.
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      The Dane then gave an unauthorised interview to a Danish publication, claiming he couldn’t understand why he had been frozen out of the Foxes’ first team.
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      That incensed Rodgers who insisted he had been crystal clear about Vestergaard’s situation.
      The Northern Irishman even questioned whether the Dane had a twin brother who had been standing in for him during those meetings.
      Rodgers banished the defender from first team training and Vestergaard did not play one minute of Premier League football last season.
      His last Prem appearance was against West Ham in February, 2022.
      Now AEK hope to land him for a cut-price fee with incentives now Leicester are in the Championship with a new manager who wants to build his own squad.
      The Foxes want to recoup as much of the £15million they invested in the defender but, with one year left on his contract, they may have to settle for around £5million.
      Even that could prove too costly for AEK who would struggle to meet Vestergaard’s £60,000-a-week wages unless Leicester pick up some of that financial burden. More

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      Tottenham CONFIRM £45m James Maddison transfer but darts-themed unveiling clip has fans fearing worst

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      TOTTENHAM have hit the bullseye by confirming the transfer of darts-mad James Maddison on a five-year deal from Leicester.The North Londoners agreed a deal with the Leicester playmaker, 26, for £45million.
      James Maddison has completed his £45m move to TottenhamCredit: Getty
      Maddison put pen to paper on the big-money contractCredit: Getty
      The unveiling video showed the playmaker playing darts
      Tottenham announced the signing with a not-so-cryptic tweet.
      The short video posted showed a Spurs shirt hanging up in the dressing room before a so-called mystery person picked up three darts from a towel.
      Maddison is a huge darts fan and has regularly been spotted at Ally Pally for the PDC World Championships.
      But the video did not explicitly mention Maddison, prompting some witty replies from some fans.
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      One said: “Don’t tell me we’ve signed Eric Bristow to play left-sided centre-back.”
      Another joked: “Let’s hope we haven’t signed Micheal van Gerwen.”
      And a third added: “Raymond van Barneveld is fully Coys.”
      But the official confirmation followed shortly after at 9pm, with Tottenham tweeting: “Welcome, @Madders10!” with the full video of a smiling Maddison landing a bullseye on the darts board before posing for the camera.
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      Maddison – who was forced to delete old tweets slamming Spurs – spent five years at the King Power, scoring 55 goals in 203 games, and leaves as a three-cap senior England international as well as an FA Cup and Community Shield winner.
      However, following Leicester’s shock relegation, it was a matter of when, not if, he left the East Midlands club to return to the Premier League.
      Leicester were keen to wrap up a deal sooner rather than later in order to reinvest the money as part of their major squad overhaul – with Conor Coady and Harry Winks set to join Enzo Maresca’s side in the Championship.
      The Foxes initially wanted to hold out for £60m and hoped a bidding war between Tottenham and Newcastle would bump up the price.
      However, SunSport revealed the Toon’s interest had cooled – paving the way for Spurs to seal the deal.
      Maddison follows Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario through the door at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.
      Dejan Kulusevski has also made his loan deal permanent for £26m while Pedro Porro will do the same for £39m this week.
      Maddison put pen to paper on the big-money contractCredit: Getty
      He regularly celebrates by pretending to throw a dartCredit: Getty
      The video initially showed a not-so-mystery person picking up dartsCredit: Twitter
      The England international seemingly hit the bullseye with his shotCredit: Twitter
      The playmaker loves a trip to Ally Pally for the PDC World ChampionshipsCredit: Getty More

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      Tottenham receive huge boost in £40m James Maddison transfer race as Newcastle cool interest

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      TOTTENHAM have received a boost in their pursuit of James Maddison after Newcastle cooled their interest in the England star.But Spurs are prioritising strengthening other positions first with central defence a key area of focus for now.
      James Maddison could be lining up with Harry Kane for Tottenham and EnglandCredit: Getty
      Maddison, 26, is set to leave relegated Leicester this summer.
      The Foxes were hoping for £50million for their prize asset but with one year remaining on his deal, may well have to settle for closer to the £40m mark.
      Spurs and Newcastle were leading the race but SunSport understands the Magpies, who are closing in on the £55m signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, have gone quiet on the deal.
      A move to St James’ Park cannot be completely ruled out but it leaves Tottenham as front-runners to move for versatile midfielder Maddison, who netted ten goals and grabbed nine assists in the Premier League last term.
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      Yet first the North Londoners want to address other areas, and after a season where they conceded a whopping 63 league goals, a new centre-back or two are first on the menu.
      In their sights are Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, 25, who made 29 appearances for the Cottagers this term but has only one year left on his contract.
      Spurs are also weighing up a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Burkina Faso ace Edmond Tapsoba, 24.
      England defender Marc Guehi, 22, remains a target but Crystal Palace are after a fee of around £50m.
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      New boss Ange Postecoglou is in need of new faces not just from a quality perspective but also numerically.
      Davinson Sanchez is set to leave the club while loanee Clement Lenglet has already gone back to Barcelona.
      Though there remains a possibility the French international, 28, who made 35 appearances for Spurs this term, could be re-signed permanently on a cut-price deal if a fee can be agreed.
      Tottenham will be looking to trim their squad with no European football next season and a number of loanees returning to an already well-stocked roster.
      But Postecoglou will likely want to assess the likes of Gio Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele, farmed out to Villarreal and Napoli respectively last term, before deciding on their futures.
      Spurs are close to their second signing of the summer in the form of Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Serie A side Empoli.
      Reports from the stopper’s homeland have suggested Vicario could even undergo a medical at Spurs on Sunday.
      Loanee Dejan Kulusevski has already been signed permanently from Juventus for £25.7m, to be paid over six years.
      ROD’S RETURN
      Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is targeting a return to action in “two or three months” as he continues his recovery from a serious injury.
      The Uruguayan, one of Spurs’ best players this term, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 4-1 defeat at Leicester in February.
      He has taken a club physio with him to his home country where he has enjoyed time with his family. 
      But the midfielder will head back to Spurs next week where he plans to stay to continue his recovery and speak to new boss Ange Postecoglou for the first time.
      Bentancur, 25, told ESPN: “It’s a long injury, one of the most difficult in football, but the truth is that I’m having such a good time with my family.
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      “I train the same every day, I do double shifts two or three times a week. I brought the club’s physiotherapist to Uruguay, we continue working and my knee is doing very well. 
      “I didn’t set a return date, but I hope in two or three months to be at least gaining a few minutes again.”
      Tottenham also identified Marc Guehi as a transfer targetCredit: Getty
      Rodrigo Bentancur injured his ACL against Leicester in FebruaryCredit: Reuters More

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      Maddison and Barnes set for immediate Premier League return as Spurs and Newcastle battle for BOTH in summer transfers

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      TOTTENHAM are battling Newcastle for both James Maddison AND Harvey Barnes.Both midfielders are set to leave Leicester following Sunday’s relegation.
      James Maddison is wanted by Spurs and NewcastleCredit: Getty
      Harvey Barnes will likely leave Leicester this summerCredit: Getty
      And while other clubs are also in the hunt for the pair, SunSport understands it is Spurs and the Toon who are pushing hardest.
      Both are expected to command fees of around £40million, with England star Maddison out of contract at the end of next season.
      Though the Foxes would hope any kind of bidding war would drive up the price further.
      Leicester would prefer quicker sales so they can put any cash raised towards rebuilding their squad to take on the Championship next term.
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      The 2016 Premier League champions are in need of a refresh, though it is believed they will look to build around the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Boubakary Soumare next term.
      Hamza Choudhury, who spent this season on loan at Watford, will also come back into the mix.

      Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu are leaving on free transfers when their contracts expire at the end of next month.
      Maddison has been a long-term target for both Newcastle and Tottenham, with the former having a bid rejected last summer.
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      The 26-year-old had a stellar season despite his club’s demise, scoring ten goals and grabbing nine assists in the Premier League. He also earned an England recall.
      Barnes, 25, hit double figures in the league with 13 strikes.
      Newcastle are mindful of FFP rules despite their Saudi oil rich reserves, though they have the added advantage of qualifying for the Champions League.
      Spurs failed to qualify for Europe at all, finishing eighth, and have no permanent manager or director of football in post.
      Cristian Stellini, who was assistant to Antonio Conte before taking over himself on an interim basis when Conte left in March, only to be axed himself a month later, spoke glowingly of Maddison in February.
      The Italian, 48, said: “We like Maddison as a player. 
      “He is an important player in this league, a player with an important type of skill, like his delivery, his cross, his right foot is a very important foot so he shoots, he crosses, he takes the set-pieces.
      “When you feel how important this type of skill is, for sure you like this type of player. He’s a player with talent.” More

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      Five Leicester stars who could be flogged in summer transfer overhaul including trio on radar of Champions League clubs

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      LEICESTER could sell a number of big stars following relegation from the Premier League.The Foxes reportedly have a top ten Prem budget and a squad assembled for hundreds of millions of pounds.
      Champions League clubs are circling around some of Leicester’s biggest starsCredit: Getty
      But with income set to fall dramatically in the Championship Leicester will likely have to sell their prized assets after reporting losses of £92million last year.
      Many will want to leave in search of top-flight football with defender Caglar Soyuncu one of several likely to leave when their contracts expire in June – the Turk is believed to have agreed to join Atletico Madrid.
      A handful of stars are wanted by Champions League teams with the club set for a squad overhaul this summer.
      SunSport takes a look at five big names who could be off when the transfer window opens.
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      James Maddison
      The England international is destined to leave and he is likely to join a Champions League club.
      Newcastle made bids for Maddison, 26, in January and last summer but saw a £40m offer knocked back.
      The Magpies are believed to have made the midfielder their number one transfer target this summer with sporting director Dan Ashworth keen.
      And Leicester may be resigned to losing him with former manager Brendan Rodgers admitting Maddison needs to play at the highest level.
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      Newcastle have made James Maddison their number on transfer targetCredit: Getty
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      Youri Tielemans
      Tielemans, 26, is certain to leave when his contract expires at the end of next month.
      He rejected fresh terms last year when he was being pursued by Manchester United.
      The Belgian was linked to the Red Devils again in January but Arsenal now appear to be leading the race for his signature.
      It is claimed the Gunners have held talks with the midfielder’s representatives, though Newcastle and Liverpool are also said to be monitoring his situation.
      Youri Tielemans is set to leave on a free transferCredit: Getty
      Harvey Barnes
      The winger is another Leicester star attracting attention from Newcastle and is likely to follow Maddison and Tielemans out of the exit door.
      Tottenham and Aston Villa are reportedly “watching developments closely” too with Leicester demanding £60m for the 25-year-old.
      He still has two years remaining on his contract but the Foxes may look to cash in while they can to put towards a squad rebuild this summer.
      Leicester have set an asking price of £60million for Harvey BarnesCredit: Getty
      Wilfred Ndidi
      Ndidi, 26, is another Leicester star whose form has dropped dramatically over the last 12 months.
      But he has been linked to the likes of Real Madrid, PSG and United in the past so is likely to court interest once again.
      He also has just one year remaining on his contract so there could be an opportunity for a club to strike a bargain.
      Wilfred Ndidi has been linked to some top clubs in the pastCredit: Getty
      Ricardo Pereira
      The right-back was superb for Leicester before his cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for 10 months.
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      Pereira once had Barcelona, Tottenham and PSG vying for his signature but at 29-years-old a move back to his native Portugal may be more likely.
      Injury has reduced his game time in recent seasons so he may be keen to move on to revitalise his career.
      Ricardo Pereira could be ready for a fresh challengeCredit: Getty More