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    Fans say ‘this can’t be a thing?’ as Golden AGENT award is given to rep at centre of Chelsea and Liverpool transfer war

    FOOTBALL fans are baffled after after it was announced Ali Barat will receive the Golden Agent Award for brokering Moises Caicedo’s £115million move to Chelsea.Barat, owner of the company EPIC Sports who also represent Blues forward Nicolas Jackson, represented Caicedo as he sought a way out of Brighton in the summer.
    Ali Barat was announced as the winner of the Golden Agent Award
    He has been given the honour for brokering Moises Caicedo’s move to ChelseaCredit: X
    It initially looked as though he was going to join Liverpool after the Seagulls agreed a £111m fee for the midfielder, 22, in the summer.
    But he then opted against joining the Anfield outfit, before Barat helped get a £115m deal over the line with Chelsea.
    Barat will receive the Golden Agent Award in Turin on Monday at a ceremony that will also see Jude Bellingham claim the Golden Boy honour.
    Reacting to being named the winning agent, Barat said: “I am proud and honored to receive the Golden Agent award 2023, representing this fantastic team.
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    “On behalf of Epic Sports, I would like to thank Tuttosport, in particular Massimo Franchi and the whole organization of the Golden Boy Awards, for rewarding our passion, commitment and results.
    “I can’t wait to share our excitement and gratitude with all of you. See you in Turin!”
    But football fans have trashed the idea of an agent receiving such an honour.
    And they took to social media to air their strong views.
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    Caicedo joined Chelsea in the summer in a deal worth £115millionCredit: Getty
    One said: “Is this a real award ? I mean how hard can it be maybe a few phone calls and getting Chelsea to part with £100m?”
    Another added: “Getting an award for sending his player to a complete mess 😂🤦🏻‍♂️.”
    A third replied: “That can’t seriously be a thing, can it?”
    While a fourth responded: “Next awards given for worst VAR decisions 😄😁.”
    Caicedo has made 14 appearances for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
    He is yet to register a goal contribution, but has started seven of the Blues’ last eight Premier League matches. More

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    Arsenal and Liverpool ‘exploring’ stunning Kylian Mbappe transfer with PSG star available for free in summer

    ARSENAL and Liverpool are both exploring the possibility of signing Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.The 24-year-old’s current contract with Paris Saint-Germain is set to expire in June, meaning he will become a free agent if he decides against renewing.
    Arsenal and Liverpool are considering the possibility of signing Kylian MbappeCredit: Getty
    Mbappe can start negotiating terms with other clubs from January 1, with several European sides already understood to be interested.
    And according to the Daily Record, Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool are among his potential suitors.
    Both clubs are said to be “exploring the financial and sporting parameters involved” in signing the Frenchman.
    Mikel Arteta is eager to bring a new striker to the Emirates Stadium as he looks to guide Arsenal to their first league title in 20 years.
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    The Gunners have already been linked with a move for Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen ahead of the January transfer window.
    Meanwhile, Liverpool are long-term admirers of Mbappe, with Jurgen Klopp a known fan.
    Real Madrid have also held an interest in him for several years.
    Los Blancos came close to signing him in the summer of 2022, but he shocked the world by penning a two-year extension with PSG instead.
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    Mbappe has scored 14 goals in 12 Ligue 1 games so far this season
    The forward turned down a world-record offer from Al-Hilal this summer after the Saudi Pro League side had a £259million bid accepted.
    Mbappe was subsequently sent to train with PSG’s “undesirables” – a group of senior players that were transfer listed by the club prior to deadline day.
    However, he made a quick return to the first team and has since scored 17 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions this season. More

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    Al-Ittihad come up with new strategy to finally sign Mo Salah as they target another former Liverpool man

    AL-ITTIHAD have hatched a cunning plan to finally prise Mo Salah from Liverpool’s clutches, it’s been claimed.The Saudi Pro League giants tried to sign the talismanic winger from the Merseysiders days before the transfer window closed in September.
    Al-Ittihad are still hot on the heels of Mo SalahCredit: EPA
    The Saudi Pro League side hope signing former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward will aid their bid to sign the EgyptianCredit: ALAMY
    They were unsuccessful in their bid to land the Egypt international, whose contract at Anfield is set to expire in June 2025.
    Al-Ittihad are understood to be plotting a second swoop for the 31-year-old, who they hope to get their hands on with the help of a former Kop man.
    According to The Daily Mail, they hope to recruit Liverpool’s former sports director Julian Ward – who stunned the Merseysiders by leaving Anfield in the summer.
    Ward played a pivotal role in bringing the likes of Alexis Mac Allister to Merseyside but left his role a matter of months after succeeding Michael Edwards.
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    And Al-Ittihad are hopeful he can work his magic and help them land Salah – their prime summer target.
    Liverpool rebuffed a jaw-dropping £200million offer for Salah – who has scored 12 goals and bagged five assists so far this season – in September.
    Kop chief Jurgen Klopp was adamant no amount of money would tempt the club to part company with the forward, who he insists is happy at Anfield.
    The German said in November: “Mo is here, Mo never came to me and wanted to go. I didn’t think a second about it, to be honest, should we [sell] or not, or whatever.
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    Liverpool rejected a stunning £200million bid for Mohamed Salah in the summerCredit: REX
    “So, yes, he’s here.
    “He feels extremely well, you can see that he enjoys the team a lot.
    “[He] played 105 minutes [against Forest] and then he played as a No. 9 [against Bournemouth], enjoyed that as well.
    “Yes, good shape, on the pitch, goalscoring-wise, everybody can see that; off the pitch, he’s in even better shape, I would say.
    “He’s really positive.
    He enjoys the company of the boys and sees that there is a lot of potential, and wants to maximise that by getting something out of it.
    “But the other stuff, we never thought about it, and I hope I don’t have to.”
    Salah and his Liverpool team-mates will be back in action on Thursday, hosting Austrian side Lask at Anfield in their fifth Europa League Group E match of the season. More

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    How Darwin Nunez cost Liverpool extra £8.5m after Man City clash that saw heated row with Pep Guardiola

    LIVERPOOL will have to dish out a further £8.5million to Benfica for Darwin Nunez after his heated row with Pep Guardiola.The Uruguayan, 24, was part of the Reds side that secured a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday in the Premier League.
    Liverpool owe Benfica a further payment after Darwin Nunez’s appearance against Man CityCredit: Alamy
    The Reds forward was involved in a heated row with Pep Guardiola on SaturdayCredit: Sky Sports
    However, seconds after the final whistle was blown at the Etihad, a furious Nunez, 24, was spotted being held back by Jurgen Klopp following an altercation with Guardiola, 52.
    Nunez and Guardiola had initially shaken hands, but then the Liverpool forward appeared to have a few words for the Spaniard.
    Reds boss Klopp was quick to pull his man away from the heated exchange while a perplexed Guardiola responded in an animated manner as the pair continued to trade words in a fiery scene.
    City’s manager was in no mood to talk about the incident afterwards, replying simply “nothing” when asked what happened.
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    Now the dust has settled on the argument, Liverpool are set to be handed another multi-million pound bill from Benfica for Nunez.
    The Anfield giants splashed out a club-record £85m for the South American back in June 2022.
    Nunez has endured a mixed spell so far on Merseyside, scoring 22 times and producing ten assists in 50 appearances.
    But his most recent outing against City has now triggered another clause that was part of the package that brought him to Liverpool.
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    The Daily Express states that the Reds need to pay Benfica £8.5m after he hit the 60-game mark for the club.
    Liverpool allegedly only paid £64m up front to the Portuguese team with the remaining £21m coming in add-ons.
    They had to pay a further £4.3m after his tenth appearance and now they have a further bill following his latest milestone.
    It is understood that the next add-on for Nunez will depend on the individual and collective performance of the team throughout the remainder of his £120,000-a-week six-year deal until 2028. More

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    Liverpool could let wonderkid leave on January loan transfer with Championship side leading chase

    YOUNG Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah will be on Preston’s wanted list if he goes out on loan.Quansah, 20, made his Kop debut against Newcastle in August.
    Jarell Quansah is on the radar of PrestonCredit: Getty
    He has played nine matches so far with four starts coming in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
    And he may be allowed out in January to gain more experience.
    North End boss Ryan Lowe has watched the centre-back and is already on good terms with the Anfield chiefs after taking Calvin Ramsay on loan in the summer.
    The Scottish right-back is yet to make his debut due to a knee issue but did make the subs bench yesterday in Preston’s 2-1 loss to Cardiff.
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    Meanwhile, Quansah has also been checked out by Leicester, who are in the market for a defender.
    The Foxes are top of the Championship and the new signing could boost their squad as they aim for the title.
    Quansah has come through the ranks at Liverpool after joining the club aged five.
    He spent last season out on loan with Bristol Rovers in League One.
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    The wonderkid has also been capped three times by the England Under-21s.
    Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on Quansah and admitted he has been pleasantly surprised by how good he has been this season.
    His manager when at Bristol Rovers, Joey Barton said: “He has an enormous future in front of him.” More

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    Man City 1 Liverpool 1: Trent Alexander-Arnold equaliser sees Citizens drop points on title rivals after Haaland opener

    TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD frustrated Manchester City and their fans with a late equaliser.Moments after opening goalscorer Erling Haaland had gone close to doubling City’s lead, Alexander-Arnold swept home a Mo Salah pass to level the score.
    Liverpool rescued a point against Manchester CityCredit: AP
    Erling Haaland netted the opening goalCredit: Reuters
    Trent Alexander-Arnold netted an equaliser in the second halfCredit: Reuters

    The England star ran provocatively over to the City supporters and put his finger to his lips.
    They responded with fury and boss Pep Guardiola will also be annoyed not to have seen off their title rivals.
    Until that moment, it looked like Erling Haaland’s record-breaking strike was going to decide the game.
    The Norwegian’s 50th Premier League goal in his 48th appearance made him the quickest to that landmark, beating Andrew Cole’s record by a massive 17 games.
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    There was less between the two teams and Haaland’s was on course to be the difference.
    While fellow No 9 Darwin Nunez failed to turn some decent first-half openings into goals, City’s netfinder general made the most of his only opportunity.
    His goal was a case of third-time unlucky for Liverpool as they created their own problems with sloppiness at the back.
    After a dull opening, Alisson made things interesting by clearing straight to Phil Foden but the City star’s shot was straight back at the goalkeeper.
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    The Reds had done nothing going forward until suddenly Nunez had two chances in a minute. Ederson did well to tip over the header from Salah’s cross, but the Uruguayan should have done better when played in by Dominik Szoboszlai, finding himself crowded out after delaying his shot.
    But City were having the better of it.
    Curtis Jones put Alisson under pressure with a backpass and Haaland almost capitalised, before Jeremy Doku beat Alexander-Arnold only for the Reds to smuggle the cross behind.
    And then Alisson was punished for another poor bit of distribution, although he was badly let down by his defence as well.
    It was his 50th in the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
    Nathan Ake collected Alisson’s sliced kick out of his hands and beat Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold way too easily before playing in Haaland.
    Joel Matip was caught on his heels and although the Liverpool ‘keeper got a hand on Haaland’s shot, he could not keep it out.
    City looked comfortable, except when Manuel Akanji’s pass was picked off by Szoboszlai. But after the Hungarian found Nunez, the striker could find only the side netting.
    City almost extended their lead before the break, but Alisson got down brilliantly to keep out Foden’s effort. Ederson did the same to stop Salah’s cross that was dummied by Szoboszlai.
    The defender was wearing new boots for the matchCredit: AP
    Liverpool came out for the second half with more zip and intent.
    Alexander-Arnold got forward more in the opening minutes than he had in the first 45.
    But the first chance fell to Julian Alvarez as City found themselves with a man over on the break. Doku picked out the World Cup winner with a cross but he sent his shot well over the bar.
    Diogo Jota picked up a knock that led to him being replaced by Luis Diaz, while Ryan Gravenberch replaced Jones.
    A look at the match stats
    Haaland spooned a half chance over the bar but the game was now end to end and the visitors sensed there was still plenty in it for them.
    Ruben Dias diverted a dangerous Szoboszlai cross behind for the latest in a series of Liverpool corners.
    Dias had the ball in the net himself only for referee Chris Kavanagh to signal a soft-looking foul on Alisson by Akanji.
    Nunez had another sight of goal, but Ederson saved easily enough at his near post before Haaland sent a header over the Liverpool bar.
    Liverpool player’s average positions against Man City
    Where Man City players were on average against Liverpool
    The Norwegian went closer when he diverted a Doku cross goalwards from close range, but Alisson blocked.
    And seconds later his team was level.
    There seemed little danger when Salah retrieved a crossfield pass by Diaz. But he laid it into Alexander-Arnold’s path and one touch and one shot later, it was arrowing into the far corner of Ederson’s net.
    City were given hope of a winner when eight minutes of added time were announced.
    But a blocked shot by Bernardo Silva was as close as they came until Haaland’s glancing header from an Alvarez corner drifted agonisingly wide. More

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    Liverpool SHOULDN’T offer Mo Salah a new contract – they need to let him go to Saudi Arabia, claims club legend

    LIVERPOOL have been urged not to offer Mo Salah a new contract.That’s as clubs in Saudi Arabia line up mega-money bids for the superstar forward.
    Mo Salah should NOT be handed a new Liverpool deal, says a club legendCredit: Rex
    Salah, 31, is a certified Liverpool legend after winning every club trophy available at Anfield.
    The hitman has scored 198 goals in 321 games under Jurgen Klopp.
    And he’s still going strong in his golden years, having netted 12 times already this season.
    However, Salah’s future remains in doubt following a huge offer from Al-Ittihad in September.
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    The Saudi giants launched a world-record £215million to poach Liverpool’s star player on deadline day.
    The Reds held firm, having handed Salah a new £400,000-a-week contract in 2022.
    But with the Egyptian’s deal up in 2025, boss Klopp has a big decision to make.
    He could insist on another new deal for Salah, who is still doing the business on the right side of his attack.
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    Mark Lawrenson reckons Liverpool should sell Salah to Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA
    However, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson reckons this would be a mistake.
    He feels Salah’s career is only going downwards ahead of his 32nd birthday in June.
    And Lawrenson has urged Liverpool to cash in while they can so they can fund a new squad rebuild.
    He told Paddy Power: “I don’t think Liverpool should offer Salah a new contract, they should let him go and take the money.
    “You can understand him going to Saudi Arabia because of his nationality. I imagine that when he signed his last contract, given everything happening with the Saudi league, he would have known.
    “I’m sure the club would be happy to say ‘thanks for your service to the club, we’ll get £100m and you get plenty of money and good luck’.
    “I think the plus side of this is that Liverpool will be looking around in the market already for a replacement.
    “They’ll have a shortlist of strikers noted down but they do have four already, which is good for when Salah leaves, they have back up.
    “I wouldn’t be surprised if the manager and the player have already had a conversation about it. Klopp would be asking for him to give everything until the end of the season and then he can go.
    “Salah will already be on silly money so it makes no sense for him to try and get more money from Liverpool, because when you get past the age of 30, you don’t play as many games and then the club wouldn’t be getting bang for their buck.” More

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    Fulham ‘ahead of Man Utd and Liverpool in Brazil wonderkid race as Marco Silva targets huge double transfer’

    MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool have suffered a blow in their battle to sign Brazil star Andre Trindade, according to reports.SunSport exclusively revealed that Fulham were desperate to beat their Premier League rivals to the signing of the Fluminense  midfielder.
    Andre Trindade could join Fulham in JanuaryCredit: Getty
    The Cottagers are in the market for a playmaker amid interest in Joao Palhinha, who nearly joined Bayern Munich in the summer.
    And The Standard are now reporting that Fulham are leading the chase for Andre.
    He has emerged as one of the best talents in South America and has three Brazil caps to his name.
    The 22-year-old has been on the radar of Liverpool for some time and they tried to sign him in January.
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    But Fluminense refused to sell during their Copa Libertadores campaign.
    And it proved to be a wise decision, with the Brazilians going on to win the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
    Now, with the domestic campaign ending next month, they are open to selling the player.
    Club president Mario Bittencort even has an agreement with the him that he could leave in January.
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    They are set to demand a fee of £30million for Andre.
    Fulham reportedly moved ahead of Man Utd and Liverpool after chief Alistair Mackintosh flew to Brazil for face-to-face talks last week.
    He was there as Fluminense beat Boca Juniors in the final of the Copa Libertadores too.
    Fulham are also potentially in for a new striker after losing Aleksandar Mitrovic prior to the start of the season.
    Marco Silva will supposedly be backed in the transfer market after penning a new contract at the club and he is keen on Wolfsburg ace Jonas Wind.
    The 24-year-old Dane has interest from many sides and has nine goals in 13 games this season.
    Jonas Wind is attracting interest from several sidesCredit: Getty More