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      Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou snaps ‘don’t question my integrity’ and brutally responds to Eric Dier transfer question

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      TOTTENHAM manager Ange Postecoglou was in no mood to be questioned about Eric Dier’s absence from the Spurs squad yesterday.The defender wasn’t named on the Spurs bench for their 1-0 FA Cup third round victory over Burnley amid rumours that he has agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich.
      Postecoglou did not respond kindly to being asked about Eric DierCredit: Reuters
      But Postecoglou insisted that Dier’s absence was because of injury and not due to a transfer and gave short shrift to any reporter that suggested otherwise.
      The Aussie was asked if Eric Dier was injured in a post-match press conference and replied: “Yeah he’s injured.”
      When asked about the nature of the injury he said: “He just pulled up sore in training yesterday.”
      Postecoglou was then asked if there was any truth in Dier’s link with joining Bayern Munich to which he replied: “Separate issue mate but don’t question my integrity. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured.
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      “Didn’t train yesterday. Ask him. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured. Got nothing to do with anything else.”
      The reporter then dared to ask again whether there was any truth in the links with Bayern to which he said: “I got no idea. I’ve got no interest.
      “But when you ask me whether he’s injured… He’s injured, like I did not make that up. If he wasn’t injured I’d say he’s not selected, it’s easy for me to say.
      “Now in terms of anything else that’s happening? Not on my radar, not that I’ve heard of and if there is something I’m sure I’ll hear of it.”
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      Dier has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Bayern, with Spurs standing to receive around £4million for the defender.
      It is now up to Bayern to decide whether they will pursue Dier or other defenders.
      Ange was then asked if he can afford to let Dier go given Ben Davies picked up an injury in the game against Burnley.
      He simply replied: “Yes.”
      Spurs are still negotiating with Genoa over the signing of centre-back Radu Dragusin, who would replace Dier in the squad.
      And they are in advanced talks to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, with the former Chelsea striker expected to finalise a deal to join the club tomorrow. More

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      Ivan Toney bags stunning hat-trick in Brentford clash just days before Premier League return as fans say ‘king is back’

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      IVAN TONEY bagged a hat-trick for Brentford B as they ran out 5-1 winners in a training ground friendly over Southampton Under-23s earlier today.The striker, 27, is nearing a return from his eight-month betting ban.
      Ivan Toney was in action for Brentford BCredit: Brentford FC
      The England international is nearing a return to first team actionCredit: Brentford FC
      The striker took on Southampton’s Under-23sCredit: Brentford FC
      Toney marked his return by bagging a hat-trickCredit: Brentford FC
      Toney’s ban is set to end on January 16, meaning that he will be eligible for the Bees’ next Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on January 20.
      The forward has been back in training since September and has now taken part in an 11-aside match.
      He took just four minutes to mark his return with a goal, converting Kyreece Lisbie’s near-post cross.
      Saints levelled shortly after, but Toney restored the Bees’ lead by heading home Ethan Brierley’s free-kick.
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      The England international completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes when he turned home another Brierley cross.
      Toney then showed off his creative prowess, teeing up Iwan Morgan as the Bees made it 4-1.
      Last season’s Brentford top scorer was withdrawn 15 minutes from time, being replaced by Ashley Hay, who also got on the scoresheet to make it five.
      Romeo Beckham was also used from the bench, nearly grabbing an assist late on.
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      SunSport revealed last month that Brentford are “desperate” to hold on to talisman Toney.
      And Bees boss Thomas Frank recently warned Arsenal off £100million-rated Toney.
      He said: “As far as I know Ivan is a Brentford player. I want to keep him and I’m looking forward to him playing with us.”
      Quizzed on whether he is desperate to keep hold of his star striker, Frank added: “I really would like to. I’m a head coach.
      “Desperate is a big word. I want to have my best players with me at all times. From my perspective, I don’t want to sell him.
      “That’s because I think he’s fantastic. I’m enjoying him every day.
      “Having him back will be like signing an unbelievably good Premier League striker. He’s looking forward to finally contributing to the team.
      “I see the same determination and willpower from him to want to train well and be ready to play.
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      “Maybe a tiny bit more in terms of a comeback and wanting to be at his best.”
      Toney is contracted to Brentford until the end of next season and has also attracted interest from Tottenham and Chelsea.
      Thomas Frank is eager to keep star striker ToneyCredit: PA More

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      Jordan Henderson ‘wants shock Premier League return’ just six months after Saudi transfer… and it’ll cost him millions

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      JORDAN HENDERSON wants to return to the Premier League just six months after his move to Saudi Arabia.However, an early exit from Al-Ettifaq would cost the former Liverpool captain millions.
      Jordan Henderson wants a shock return to the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
      The Daily Mail report Henderson, 33, is eager to complete a shock switch back to England.
      SunSport revealed in October that some players wanted to come home after regretting their transfers.
      Ex-Reds skipper Henderson is now believed to be amongst those players after struggling to settle since his £12million move.
      A return from Saudi Arabia would come at a cost for Henderson, though, as he faces losing millions of pounds in tax and lost wages.
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      His reported £700,000-per-week wages are only tax free if he honours the first two years of his contract, the report adds.
      Saudi Arabia’s 20 per cent income tax rate would therefore leave Henderson with a tax bill of around £7million if he returned home.
      A comeback would boost his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, though.
      He has been included in all three squads since his move, but was booed during the October friendly against Australia.
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      Henderson has yet to score in 19 appearances for Al-Ettifaq this season, instead providing five assists.
      The Saudi Pro League side are currently on a woeful run of form, winning just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions.
      Manager Steven Gerrard is under mounting pressure as a result, with his side currently eighth in the table.
      Meanwhile, his assistant Ian Foster resigned this week to take the vacant Plymouth job.
      Henderson joined Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the summerCredit: Reuters More

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      Liverpool ace banned from FA Cup clash after picking up two yellow cards last JULY with Reds facing selection crisis

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      OWEN BECK will miss out on the chance to play for Liverpool in tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal because the left-back is suspended.Reds boss Jurgen Klopp recalled the 21-year-old Welshman from a season-long loan at Dundee because of an injury crisis to first-choice left-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.
      Owen Beck might miss his best opportunity to stake a claim in the Liverpool sideCredit: AFP
      But Beck is unavailable for the Emirates clash as he is serving a one-match ban which relates to his time in Scotland.
      Beck picked up yellow cards in the Scottish League Cup matches against Bonnyrigg Rose and Inverness Caledonian Thistle last July. 
      Dundee finished second in Group E and failed to qualify for the knockout phase of the competition.
      The Football Association have confirmed that the full-back has an unserved one-match ban from Scotland which applies to his next first-team competitive game.
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      That means Beck will have to wait for his chance to feature for Klopp’s Liverpool this month. 
      Beck impressed at Dundee, playing 20 times and scoring twice while he also received a Wales senior call-up from Robert Page for the friendly against Gibraltar in October.
      Klopp was asked about Beck’s recall on Friday and he said: “He made big steps. Now the situation here is clear – we lost two of our left-backs so it makes a sense to bring back a boy we like who is available to us.”
      Versatile defender Joe Gomez has stepped into the left-back position for Liverpool in the meantime and is expected to start there against Arsenal tomorrow.
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      Meanwhile, Tsimikas has hinted at returning to the field earlier than expected.
      The full-back is recovering from a broken collarbone after colliding with Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
      Despite an initial time frame of two to three months being put on his injury, he posted an Instagram of him in training with the caption “Not long now!”.
      Robertson meanwhile is likely to miss the rest of the month, with Klopp saying on the injury: “For sure, I think the full January he will be [out]. He has to get closer and closer.” More

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      Man Utd players ‘lose belief’ in Erik ten Hag with dressing room divided over under-fire Old Trafford boss

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S dressing room is reportedly divided over manager Erik ten Hag.Multiple players are understood to have “lost belief” in the under-fire Dutchman this season.
      Some members of Erik ten Hag’s squad have ‘lost belief’ in himCredit: Getty
      Ten Hag is under mounting pressure at Old Trafford after a disappointing December saw the club knocked out of Europe.
      United were also beaten five times in the month for the first time since 1933 to end the year nine points off the top four.
      The Athletic report that many players have now lost belief and confidence in Ten Hag, according to club sources.
      However, not all United players feel the same, with the squad divided between those behind the manager and those who are not.
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      The report adds that comments claiming “he’s lost the dressing room” are inaccurate.
      Ten Hag still has 18 months left on his deal at Old Trafford and ended the club’s trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup last season.
      United finished bottom of their Champions League group this term, though, and have already lost nine times in the league to leave them eighth in the table.
      New club shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with Ten Hag this week after the club announced his deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.
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      The United boss revealed he is “on the same page” as the British billionaire after their crunch talks.
      However, Ratcliffe has been linked with a move for former Chelsea boss Graham Potter to replace Ten Hag in recent weeks.
      Ten Hag will hope to kickstart his bid for an FA Cup run when his side visit League One Wigan on Monday, before returning to league action against Tottenham next weekend.
      Ten Hag met with Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this weekCredit: Getty More

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      Forgotten Tottenham flop Steven Bergwijn handed Premier League lifeline as talks held over transfer return

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      WEST HAM are weighing up a move for Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn.The Hammers are in need of some attacking reinforcements this month with Lucas Paqueta injured and Mohamed Kudus away with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
      West Ham are eyeing a move for Ajax winger Steven BergwijnCredit: Getty
      Bergwijn – who spent two-and-a-half years with Tottenham between January 2020 and July 2022 before returning to Holland – is desperate for a switch back to the Premier League.
      And SunSport understands there have been some preliminary talks between the East Londoners and the Dutchman’s representatives.
      However, any move remains a long way off with lots of moving pieces.
      A January transfer to the London Stadium will be heavily dependent on outgoings first to raise funds having spent big in the summer.
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      Having sold Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m, David Moyes – alongside technical director Tim Steidten – brought in Kudus, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Konstantinos Mavropanos for a total of around £117.5m.
      SunSport also understands that Ajax are unlikely to sanction a loan with an obligation to buy owing to the fact Bergwijn, 26, is the club captain.
      Bergwijn made 83 appearances for Spurs, scoring eight goals.
      West Ham have already shipped out one player this month – versatile defender Thilo Kehrer on loan to French giants Monaco for the rest of the season with a view to making it permanent this summer.
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      Alongside Kudus, centre back Nayef Aguerd is also away at AFCON with Morocco – a player who has been linked with a departure to Saudi Arabia and Italy in recent weeks.
      The tournament, which is being held in the Ivory Coast, will run from January 13 to February 11. More

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      Chelsea line up January transfer for £20m Athletic Bilbao defender Aitor Paredes with Blues’ star centre-back set to go

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      CHELSEA are looking to bring Athletic Bilbao defender Aitor Paredes in to strengthen their backline this month.Blues defenders have struggled for both form and fitness this year with both Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah missing the entirety of the season so far with injury.
      Paredes scored in his last game for Athletic ClubCredit: EPA
      Benoit Badiashile is also out with muscle fatigue with the Blues struggling for clean sheets.
      Chelsea have already seen a deal for Benfica’s 20-year-old centre-back Antonio Silva fail but have wasted no time in turning their attentions to Paredes instead.
      SunSport understand that Chelsea have sent a scout to watch Paredes, 23, seven times this season, including in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Sevilla, where he scored the second goal of the game.
      Paredes is a product of Athletic Club’s academy and has become a stalwart at the heart of the side’s defence.
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      The Basque club are currently fourth in LaLiga and on course for a spot in the Champions League next season.
      Chelsea value Paredes’ ability to pass the ball out from the back alongside his strong athletic profile.
      The player is known for both his strength and recovery pace and looks set to earn a call-up to the Spanish national team for the upcoming Euros.
      SunSport understands Chelsea have asked Athletic Club’s board to set a price but they have so far been reluctant to do so.
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      A look at Paredes’ stats this seasonCredit: The Sun
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      The defender is contracted at the club until 2025 and could be available for around £20million.
      Paredes has already been approached by Real Madrid this month, with Inter Milan also showing an interest.
      Chelsea could be forced to move quickly for Paredes with two of their defenders being linked with a move away from the Bridge.
      Thiago Silva, 39, has been linked with a free transfer back to his old club Fluminense, where he started his career.
      And Trevoh Chalobah could reunite with old manager Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, who are also trying to sign Tottenham’s Eric Dier. More

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      Man Utd to insert shock clause into Jadon Sancho loan transfer deal with Borussia Dortmund after Jim Ratcliffe steps in

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will not include an option to buy in Jadon Sancho’s loan move to Borussia Dortmund, according to reports.The winger is set to end his Old Trafford exile by rejoining his former club on a six-month loan deal.
      Jadon Sancho is set to leave Man Utd on loan this monthCredit: Getty
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe accepts that Sancho’s value is lowCredit: AFP
      Sancho, 23, has been frozen out at Old Trafford since falling out with boss Erik ten Hag in September.
      Ten Hag, 53, criticised Sancho’s training levels after dropping him for a trip to Arsenal, subsequently banishing him from the first team when the England international refuted his claims.
      Sancho has since trained with the reserves, even being banned from the first team canteen after refusing to apologise.
      This week it emerged that the United outcast is on the verge of rejoining Dortmund on loan, with BVB paying just £3.4million to cover the deal and a portion of Sancho’s wages, which are said to be around £300,000-a-week.
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      The Bundesliga club received £73m for Sancho back in 2021.
      According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Man Utd do not want to include an option to buy in the loan deal.
      He adds that new partial owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe accepts that Sancho’s value is not high at the moment, and do not want to allow the opportunity for Dortmund to get him back on the cheap.
      His future will instead be decided in June, when he will have two years remaining on his United contract.
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      Sancho has played 82 times for the Red Devils, scoring 12 goals and laying on six assists.
      He featured in their first three matches of this season from the bench, prior to his falling out with Ten Hag.
      The winger excelled during his previous stint in the Bundesliga.
      He played 137 times for BVB, scoring 50 goals and laying on 64 assists.
      Sancho netted twice in the final as Dortmund won the DFB Pokal in 2021, starring alongside Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.
      Sancho, 23, excelled during his previous spell at Dortmund alongside Erling Haaland and Jude BellinghamCredit: AFP More