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      ‘He played for us didn’t he?’ – Arne Slot hits back at Michael Owen’s claim that winning Prem’s not enough for Liverpool

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      ARNE SLOT has hit back at Michael Owen’s “strange” claim that winning the Premier League will leave a “bitter taste” for Liverpool.The Reds went into this weekend sitting 12 points above Arsenal with just eight matches remaining.Arne Slot is on the verge of guiding Liverpool to the titleCredit: RexMichael Owen recently interviewed Reds captain Virgil van DijkCredit: AlamyWhile sitting pretty in the Premier League, Liverpool have crashed out of all three cup competitions since January.The Reds were beaten by Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League – before losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle last month.During an interview with Virgil van Dijk, former Liverpool striker Owen suggested that his former club may be left with a “bitter taste” from only winning the Prem this season.Reds skipper Van Dijk immediately hit back, however, saying: “Well, I think we have to change that narrative a little bit.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”We’re fighting for the biggest prize of the season, we worked so hard for it, 20 teams are working so hard to be on top of the Premier League.”We have eight games to go, we know what’s at stake, we have to go for it, we have to fight, we have to enjoy the whole ride and then let’s see. Like I said, it’s still looking very special in my eyes.”I think what you said, at the start of the season, I think no one expected us to even try to fight on all four fronts, obviously we’re at the stage now where we’re still fighting for the biggest, and that’s the reality.”It’s still a possibility that this season will be very, very special.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKVan Dijk has been a pillar for the Reds this seasonCredit: RexAhead of Liverpool’s trip to Fulham tomorrow, Slot backed up his captain.The 46-year-old said: “Let me understand it right, Virgil was a bit frustrated because it came across as it’s not enough to ‘only’ win the Premier League?Liverpool boss Arne Slot left with sense of shock after Champions League penalty shoot-out exit against PSG “Michael (Owen) played for us, didn’t he? So he is aware of the fact that in 35 years we won the league once?”There is your answer. If you can win the league with this club then, phew, nothing else matters. If you do it 10 times in a row then I could understand that people say, ‘Oh but you only win the Premier League’.”At this club, you can compete for it and let alone win it, then it is a strange question to ask in my opinion.”If Virgil has this opinion as well then I agree with him. I follow the Dutch media a bit more than the media here and… no, let’s leave it!”I think the league is better than it ever was, the strength overall is getting better.”I think even Pep (Guardiola) said there will not be a team again as long as he lives that gets more than 100 points and wins the league four times in a row.”Read More on The SunSlot will still be without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez for tomorrow’s trip to Fulham.But Alisson and Conor Bradley have trained and could be in line to return. More

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      How Andre Onana went from skipping school and playing barefooted to overcoming double ban to play for Man Utd

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      BY the age of 11, Andre Onana had already made up his mind – school wasn’t for him and goalkeeping was.His journey has been tough. But his spirit has always been strong.Andre Onana skipped school, played barefooted and overcame two bans on his journey to Man UtdCredit: AFPHe was born in a tiny village in Cameroon and only had his eyes for football from a young ageCredit: GettyOnana has needed all that mental strength at Manchester United amid a period of ups and downs.His fortitude has been tested after his wife Melanie Kamayou was robbed of her £62,000 Hermes Birkin bag and a Rolex watch outside a Cheshire restaurant.The robbery is the latest challenge for Onana.It took the 29-year-old a while to settle into life at Old Trafford and he became a figure of ridicule due to several mistakes soon after he arrived in the summer of 2023.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDespite another tough season at United, Onana has looked more composed between the sticks and has an FA Cup medal to his name. Success at Wembley feels a world away from being born in the tiny village of Nkol Ngok, 84 miles away from Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.As a boy, Andre would skip school to go watch his elder brother Christian play football.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordHis parents tried to force him to focus in class, but his brother, a goalkeeper whose influence would eventually rub off and shape his future, says it was impossible to stop him from coming along with him.Most read in FootballHe told SunSport: “It’s so hard to stop Andre when he sets his sights on something.”When he was five, I remember once he wanted to come with me to training, then I was playing for a second division team.“So I tried to deceive him. I told him to get changed and, when he went in, I went to training. Can you believe he walked all the way by himself to the training park? “I was shocked when I saw him, and I tell you, this is like a 30-minute walk from where our home is. He was just relentless for that age.”Ruben Amorim admits he and Man Utd players ALL fighting for their jobs between now and the end of the seasonIf you’re born in a country like Cameroon, opportunities are limited.You need a combination of sheer grit, determination, and an unshakable mental capacity to even stand a chance. Onana had all that when he joined his first football club ASVP.Located in Yaounde, they would play barefooted and when the nail on his big toe was ripped off, he would tie a cloth round his toe and continue playing. Onana shone out in matches against clubs from other parts of Cameroon and there were attempts to get him to move upfield, but he enjoyed being a goalkeeper, denying goals instead of trying to create them.The first sign of the player who has graced European football came when Fundesport, a club owned by Cameroon and Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o, organised a nationwide tournament to pick the best young players. Christian explains: “This is where I started to see the future for him.”Andre was picked from Yaounde and others from other parts of the country by Fundesport, who had connections. And of course, it was owned by Eto’o, and he is like a god to us, so there was belief that if you played in his team, you could go to Europe.”Life has a way of connecting the dots. At Fundesport, Onana tasted just a small part of what professionalism was, they played in kits, he had gloves, and they would occasionally travel to Europe to play in tournaments.It was at one of those invitational events that Barcelona’s La Masia academy spotted him, and signed him up straight away. Andre Onana was brought to Europe by BarcelonaCredit: GettyHe was initially scouted by a team owned by Cameroon hero Samuel Eto’oCredit: APFor years, La Masia had signed Cameroonian players as they desperately tried to discover the next Eto’o.But try as they did, it just never happened, and Onana was the last Fundesport player to be signed by La Masia. Samuel Aroko, his junior coach at ASVP, told SunSport: “I remember when he got to Barcelona, it was like a party for everyone at ASVP. “We knew he was good, but we just never knew he would get to Spain as quickly as he did.“It’s credit to him what he’s made of his career, you can’t get there if you give up easily. “Historically, Cameroon has always had great goalkeepers, but the way he plays today is the same way he played back then, with his hands and feet and always looking to make a difference.”La Masia came with its own challenges. In his mind, he’d gotten to the holy grail. He was finally in Europe, he was going to be earning big-money and the weather was cooler than the constant baking heat in Cameroon. But all that would come crashing down when he found out that a Fifa ban on youth transfers meant he could not play for the club for 18 months.When he returned, he played in a junior Champions League game for Barcelona against Ajax and it opened a new chapter.His brother Christian said: “That is where Ajax saw him and said, ‘For the way we develop players, he is the main man’.”At Ajax, there was a plan. He was made the first-choice goalkeeper for the second team, but every now and then, he would come onto the bench for the first team. Their No1 Jasper Cillessen moved to Barcelona for £11.1m, but Ajax still felt Onana wasn’t ready for top-level football.They signed Tim Krul from Newcastle on loan, but he arrived with an injury that would need at least three weeks to heal. The former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was working at Ajax and before handing Onana his debut said: “I believe in you. I know you’re young, but don’t be scared. You are talented, you’ve got a chance here, take it.”As fate would have it, Onana’s first game ended in a 2-2 draw, his second game they won 2-1 and he saved a penalty, and his third game Ajax won again. You don’t fix what isn’t broken, so he kept his spot and Krul had to move elsewhere.But then another ban reared its head, threatening to destroy not only his career but his reputation at a time when he was a growing star in European football. He was an international at 20, a Europa League finalist at 21, a Champions League semi-finalist at 23, leader of a brilliant young Ajax team on course for the title. But his career seemed on the edge of collapse at 24.He had taken medication prescribed for his wife while feeling unwell and furosemide, a banned substance because it causes increased urine production and can be used to flush the system of other prohibited substances prior to doping, was found in his urine sample. After his ban, Onana said: “I’m just a number. They can’t deal with it case by case. I think they should, but there are rules, and the rules are the rules.“The doctors said [furosemide] is for water retention and doesn’t benefit you. They recognised it was a genuine mistake, but you’re responsible for everything in your body. If I buy a bottle of water that turns out to be contaminated, it’s my responsibility.”The Court of Arbitration for Sport would find “no significant fault” and reduce his ban from 12 months to nine.Christian revealed: “It was maybe the toughest I have ever seen him be.“There was genuine fear in his eyes, and he would be on the phone with family all day, but to be honest, his agents Miguel and Albert Botines were incredibly supportive.“They were more than psychologists, and they made sure Andre felt confident and counted down the time until he was back. They worked hard to take him to Inter Milan.”Onana caught the eye in the 2023 Champions League finalCredit: APAt Inter, he was met with Samir Handanovic, the veteran goalkeeper and club captain, but instead of competing, Onana took the role of a junior brother. He’d go to Handanovic for tips and the Slovenian instantly took to him.They shared the games until it became clear that the future was Onana. His presence in goal, his distribution, his footballing brain and his athleticism was on full show against Manchester City in the Champions League final.It was a performance many consider as one of the best goalkeeping displays in the history of the competition.That would end his one and only season at Inter before United made him the third most expensive goalkeeper in the world after agreeing a £47m deal.Things have not been easy for Onana since moving to the Premier League, there has been match-winning saves but also high-profile howlers.Read More on The SunHis future at United is said to be uncertain amid interest from Saudi Arabia.But if he stays in Manchester beyond the summer, there is no doubt he has the mental strength needed to help the club battle the tough times and get United back at the right end of the table.There has been ups and downs during his spell between the sticks for UnitedCredit: Getty More

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      ‘It’s pretty good for Tottenham!’ – Ange Postecoglou sends clear message to Daniel Levy amid sack fears

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has told Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to stop firing managers so often.The Aussie is in danger of becoming the THIRTEENTH permanent boss to be axed by Levy.Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has told chairman Daniel Levy to stop firing managers so oftenCredit: AlamyLevy has fired 12 permanent managers at TottenhamCredit: PAPostecoglou clashed with Tottenham fans at ChelseaCredit: RexSpurs supporters were furious with the team after the loss at ChelseaBut with Spurs on course for their worst finish in 17 years, Postecoglou said: “At some point, the club needs to stick to something. “I’ve almost lasted two years, it’s pretty good for Tottenham.“If I say it now it sounds self-serving, and defeats the purpose. But if you want to change the course of your events, you need to change materially a lot of things in terms of your outlook as a club.”Postecoglou’s comments echo those of predecessor Antonio Conte, who attacked the club’s “mentality” and claimed consistently firing managers will not change anything.Read More on FootballAnd asked why so often trophy-winning bosses come to Spurs and fail to replicate that success, Postecoglou replied: “I just don’t think it’s about the managers.“My perspective, while I’m in this chair, is to find a way to navigate where others have struggled.”Spurs, who have not won a trophy since 2008, are 14th in the Prem.And fuming fans chanted, “You don’t know what you’re doing” at the manager during Thursday’s defeat at Chelsea.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Aussie responded by cupping his ear at the away end when sub Pape Matar Sarr levelled — only for it to be ruled out.While his tone was far calmer, Postecoglou’s words were reminiscent of the fiery rant Conte produced in his final press conference as Tottenham boss in March 2023.’People like you will be happy’ – Postecoglou snaps at Sky Sports reporter in ‘generational meltdown’ after Chelsea lossPostecoglou added: “There’s never any sort of defending of the club or the club defending itself.“I hear plenty of people defending other clubs but with Tottenham wherever there’s a sore there’s a real pile-on to stick a finger in and then we accept our fate. The only voice you hear is me.”Postecoglou echoed former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte’s rantCredit: AFP More

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      Gvardiol is ‘Crossword King’ who bought his fisherman dad a house and is helping steer Man City through choppy waters

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S alarming slump over this season has been something of a puzzle.Some say the clues had been there for some time — but even the old master himself Pep Guardiola has struggled to solve it.Josko Gvardiol’s development has delighted Pep GuardiolaCredit: GettyOne thing the Etihad boss knows is the campaign would have been even more difficult without City’s ‘Crossword King’.Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol was given the nickname by veteran 39-year-old keeper Scott Carson as he has recently started doing word games.And this week Guardiola plucked out a good word to describe his versatile defender — calling him a ‘warrior’.With many of Pep’s backline going down injured, Gvardiol has started all but two of his team’s 30 Prem matches this season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe former RB Leipzig man has also proved himself to be a box-to-box defender — and is currently joint third in City’s top scorers in the league this term.Earlier this week, Guardiola said: “Josko has been like a warrior — all the time he is there.“I cannot imagine what would happen without him.“I’m grateful for his focus and that he is ready all the time.”Most read in FootballPEP’S STILL THE MAGIC MANBy MARTIN BLACKBURNJOSKO GVARDIOL insists Pep Guardiola is not losing his magic, despite his side’s worrying slide.Gvardiol has worked with the Manchester City  boss for two years but wishes they could have linked up earlier.The Croatian defender feels  Pep’s team talk before last Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final  win at Bournemouth showed why the ex-Barcelona chief is rated so highly.Former RB Leipzig man  Gvardiol, 23, said: “When I got back home from Bournemouth, I was thinking about the meeting we had before the game.“I said to myself ‘I’m  so unlucky I haven’t joined earlier’ — I mean that I didn’t have the opportunity to work with him earlier.“He said something that really changed my mind a little bit. I’m not going to tell you what it was.“But I wish that you could have the opportunity to sit with him and listen to his speech.“It was inspiring, yes, especially after the whole season.”BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKGuardiola will need his £77million man to stay focussed and ready if his team are to win the FA Cup and claim a Champions League spot over the next couple of months.So in the build-up to Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford,  Gvardiol will have his head buried in a newspaper from back home.Pep Guardiola talks about Kevin De Bruyne’s decision to leave Man City after 10 years Gvardiol said: “I just started doing crosswords a few days ago. So I got a new nickname from Scott Carson, it’s ‘Crossword King’.“I’ve been getting them from newspapers in Croatia.“Kristijan Jakic, who plays for Augsburg in Germany, is a friend of mine and when we were with the national team, one day I went to his room and I saw him doing a crossword.“I was like, ‘what are you doing’ but to be honest I am addicted now.“What I like to do is wake up, grab a coffee and do it for an hour or two.“Even yesterday on the plane, on Saturday, I went to Bournemouth — and on the way back as well.“I feel like we spend too much time on phones and things we should avoid, especially before the game, to stay focused, to stay in the game. And follow the match plan.”Hard work and focus runs in the Gvardiol family.His father Tihomir was a fisherman back in Croatia for many years. Even now, he still gets up in the early hours to sell seafood at Zagreb’s biggest market — with his octopus considered a speciality.Guardiola has lost none of his managerial mastery, says GvardiolCredit: RexWhen the Croatia international got his first pay cheque at RB Leipzig, he fulfilled a promise to buy a house with a garden for his parents back home.Gvardiol  said of his father: “He still works. He’s still doing it and I don’t know why to be honest — I’ve told him that many times.“He needs to wake up at 4am or 5am prepare everything, put the ice, everything has to be fresh.“But yeah, I think that’s just inside of him. He’s proud of the job, I guess.”Gvardiol Sr has lost one customer in recent years — with young Josko moving away and also getting a bit bored of eating up all the leftover fish.The  City centre-back said: “You know what the problem is? When I was younger we used to eat a lot of fish — every two or three days.“Obviously because he works with the fish. I wouldn’t say that I don’t like  it, but I’m a bit sick of it. You eat it every day.“But now when I go home I have it.  He likes to do octopus salad with some potatoes.”Gvardiol has compiled impressive stats this seasonTihomir was an amateur footballer himself and is full of advice for his boy.He will be watching the Manchester derby at home on television as he can get a better feel for it there.For a while the family wondered if Josko might fancy following in his father’s footsteps with a career as a fisherman — but it was clear when he ventured out  to sea the first time that this would  not happen.He said: “I went out just once. I wouldn’t recommend it to you guys. It’s too loud. I was young and I wanted to sleep in the cabin.“But the engine was too loud and the smell and everything, it is just chaos on the boat.”Chaotic is a good word to describe City’s season but Gvardiol has provided some stability in the choppy waters.Yet he almost decided to bail out of football altogether when the former Dinamo Zagreb player was a teenager — and focus on becoming a basketball player instead.“I said, ‘I’m going to wait one more year and see what will happen’. As you can see, I’m still a footballer.”Josko GvardiolHe recalled: “Back when I was 16 or 17 I had some problems with the manager. I wasn’t happy because I was on the bench most of the games.“At that time I was thinking, because I’m good at basketball as well, I wasn’t sure if I should continue with football or move to basketball.“It’s like that in our family, we love every sport. Not just football, but also handball.“My sister plays handball, my other sister plays volleyball.“At the end, I spoke to my father about it. He said that every year there is a new manager coming.Read More on The Sun“I said, ‘I’m going to wait one more year and see what will happen’. As you can see, I’m still a footballer.”Ahead of tomorrow’s trip across Manchester, City fans will be grateful for that. More

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      Baller League is an expensive gamble and might be a football circus act but if it entertains, it is no worse for that

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      THE NEWEST of football clones has popped up on our screens — with “baller” introduced to millions of people who, like me, had no idea such a sport had been invented.All of football’s components are there bar the size of the playing pitch and the number of players in a team.Baller League has seen the likes of Maya Jama and Alisha Lehmann getting involvedCredit: GettyKarren Brady claims Baller League might be an expensive gambleCredit: GettyKSI is among the celebrities behind the conceptCredit: AFPLove Island host Maya Jama is a taking charge of a Baller League teamCredit: GettyAs a professional game it certainly has possibilities. One of them is work for part-time footballers who, I believe, are being paid £400 a time for the programme showing weekly on Sky TV.Evidently, the objective is for baller to be shown when there is no professional action: summer, some evenings and afternoons.Every fair-sized city has a potential venue and I guess crowds of a thousand or so would make it viable.The Baller League — headlined by rapper KSI for the UK version — sees former Premier League stars, futsal players and celebrities face one another in 12 teams to win the league.Read More on FootballIt is featured every Monday until June 2 on indoor football pitches at London’s Copper Box Arena.Matches are in 15-minute halves and favour strong tacklers and skilled ball players, while teams are six-a-side with, in all, 12 players available.There are no corners — but it is vital the ball is kept in play or penalties will be awarded.Bafflingly, different rules are added in the last three minutes of each half while at another point it becomes three against three.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAs players of indoor or five-a-side football know — let alone of rugby sevens — repeated acceleration quickly becomes exhausting. In baller, emergency dashes are even demanded regularly of goalkeepers.The essence is speed and accuracy with plenty of goals, perhaps too many for the purist. The match I saw ended 7-3 and latterly scoring became too common.Fans joke Baller League is the ‘future’ as madcap footage of debut night emerges Over a long time, ingenious people have been inventing football games, from five-a-side to Subbuteo, street footie by children to underwater football, never mind a distant relation, American football.And then there is futsal, which claims 12 million players worldwide.In 2014, more than 56,000 turned up to watch a match between Brazil and Argentina in Brasilia.A baller bid for such popularity as a spectator sport would entail many millions of pounds of investment and club costs would initially be considerable.Baller League at least provides live rather than deadbeat action The weekly programmes on Mondays are shoot or bust for the future and could fall into the category of “don’t call me!”.But plenty of professional players, along with others who have passed skill tests, will earn those £400-a-time cheques.I don’t know how much John Terry, Ian Wright, Alan Shearer or Gary Lineker receive as managers but their names alone suggest seriousness of purpose.The whole enterprise is an expensive gamble in which generally third-rate or retired players must entertain viewers in a league of no importance.Read More on The SunThe same could be said of most TV competitions and baller at least has the virtue of providing live rather than deadbeat action.It might be a football circus act but if it entertains millions of people, it is no worse for that.Lehmann is helping Baller League attract a large audienceCredit: PAJohn Terry has linked up with the likes of Gary Lineker and Ian WrightCredit: PA More

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      Dean Huijsen warned dream Real Madrid transfer could turn into his worst nightmare with ‘pretty face’ not enough to play

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      DEAN HUIJSEN has been warned a dream move to Real Madrid could turn into his worst nightmare.The Bournemouth centre-back is high on the Santiago Bernabeu hitlist after an amazing debut season in England.Dean Huijsen was warned by former coach Juanito that a move to Real Madrid may turn into a nightmareCredit: RexHuijsen has taken the Premier League by storm with BournemouthCredit: RexThe Spanish giants are preparing to trigger the £50million release clause on a contract that runs to 2030.Yet the man who gave the Netherlands-born Spain defender his break believes joining Real would be a step backwards — because he would struggle to get a game.And the best big-picture decision would be for the 19-year-old to stick with the Cherries for now, as the queue of would-be suitors will only get bigger.Juan Gutierrez, 45, was on the coaching staff at Malaga when Huijsen arrived as a ten-year-old and was snapped up by Juventus — ironically ahead of Real — six years later in 2021.Read More on FootballGutierrez — known as Juanito — was blown away by the youngster’s leadership qualities then and has watched them grow every year since, even though he is still so young.But he thinks that would come to a grinding halt at the Bernabeu, as the European champions have always preferred tried-and-tested to potential.Juanito insisted: “Dean is going to be a leader no matter where he goes, so I hope whoever signs him they play him as a starter, and he’s not a project for the future. He is a player for now.”There are very few like that at his age, which is why I don’t know to what extent it would be a good option to sign for Real.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“No one can guarantee you’ll play because of your pretty face but if he leaves Bournemouth, it shouldn’t be to sit on the bench.“At Madrid, Eder Militao is 27 and Antonio Rudiger is in his second youth.Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen forced to deny being stoned after ‘weird’ question“Those two are untouchable and a recovered David Alaba would also be ahead of him.“Carlo Ancelotti is an incredible manager but not a coach for young players — so Dean would be fourth-choice centre-back. That’s the reality.“Barcelona is the opposite. They’re not afraid to use players from the academy but at Real the problem is the mentality of the club. Dean has to go to a place with a vision for the future, with guarantees he’ll play.“But maybe staying at Bournemouth with Andoni Iraola for another year is the best option.”It has been so far for Huijsen, who was capped by Spain in the recent Nations League break and is due to be in the Bournemouth side heading to West Ham on Saturday.Ramos and Van Dijk comparisonsJuanito is convinced those caps are the first of many for a player some liken to Sergio Ramos — but who he reckons could be as influential as Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.He added: “Maybe mentally, I can see little things similar to Ramos but on the pitch there is no comparison. Dean is more disciplined and, certainly at this age, more confident.“From the start he was a marvel. He’d listen to what you told him and absorb it incredibly well. He would recognise a mistake and the next day would improve.“Dean just doesn’t feel any pressure and has unlimited self-confidence.Read More on The Sun“If injuries are not a problem then, whoever signs him, he’ll be a cheap buy because he will be a dominant defender in world soccer for many years to come.“Wherever he goes, I could see him having the same impact Van Dijk has had on Liverpool’s history in recent seasons. The only team he’s not going to change is Real Madrid.” More

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      Gary Lineker explains why BBC need THREE presenters to replace him on MOTD and gives verdict on trio

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      GARY LINEKER suggested he is being replaced by THREE presenters on Match of the Day because it is such a “massive commitment”.Lineker, 64, will step down as host of MOTD after 26 years in May and will leave the Beeb altogether in 2026 after next season’s FA Cup and World Cup.Lineker will be replaced by three presenters on Match of the DayCredit: BBCMOTD2 host Mark Chapman is among the replacementsCredit: PALogan will be a regular on Saturday nights from now onCredit: PASky favourite Cates is making the switchCredit: PAThe legendary presenter will be replaced by a three-person presenting team consisting of Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, who will rotate from next term.The England great joked that he thinks it’s a compliment that so many people are needed to succeed him, but he admits this decision has nothing to do with his legacy.Instead, the Leicester icon believes this comes down to family reasons as the job would demand they all sacrifice a number of weekends that they could spend with their loved ones over the next few years.The former Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona hitman himself recently stated that he never really had Saturdays and Sundays off throughout his adult life.Read More on FootballSo the TV star claims that having all three available on a rotation basis would allow them to continue enjoying quality time with their families.And he is very much looking forward to watching the new team of “top presenters” doing a “great job”.Lineker told FourFourTwo: “That’s probably down to the fact it’s a massive commitment.“Those three have all got families, and if you’re saying someone is going to do it for the next 10 or 20 years, then your weekends are gone.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“That might be it, I don’t know. I didn’t get involved in any of that. I take it as a compliment that they’ve named three, but I suspect it’s not due to that.“I haven’t seen them yet to speak to them, but I will do – they’ll be fine and they’ll do a great job. I’ve known them all for years, they’re top presenters.’This is why I don’t talk to old people’ – Maya Jama bites back at Gary Lineker after he revealed relationship status“I’ll be watching, but probably on iPlayer… I don’t think I’ll be watching on Saturday. Maybe the odd time, if I’m in.”Lineker confirmed recently that he will no longer do TV after leaving the BBC and will instead focus on his podcasts. More

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      Arsenal files: Viktor Gyokeres leaning towards Gunners transfer as Sporting agree cut price new fee

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      ARSENAL have been left to regret not signing a striker this season.But they are determined not to make the same mistake this summer, with new chief Andrea Berta already working on deals and the club believe they are in an ideal position to snap up their main target.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a new striker this summerCredit: AFPSporting could sell Viktor Gyokeres for a cut-price fee in a major boost to chief Josh KroenkeCredit: GettySPORTING’S GYOKERES PLANTHERE is an inevitability around Viktor Gyokeres’ departure from Sporting Lisbon this summer as Arsenal and Manchester United keep tabs on the situation.The big Swede, 26, was eyeing a move during the past two windows, but a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting has seen him stay put during this season – instead focusing on delivering one last league title this term in a nail-biting finale with Benfica.As a thank you, Sporting are willing to let Gyokeres – who has 43 goals in 43 games in all competitions so far this term – leave for significantly less than his £85m release clause.Sporting are hoping to recoup between £55m and £70m, a welcome sum given their 24/25 financial reports showed a net transfer loss of around £15m.However, because of Sporting’s intense title race – level on points with Benfica with seven games remaining – SunSport understands the club are yet to pinpoint a first-choice replacement for Gyokeres.They have made use of the Brazilian market in the past to unearth bargain gems that can be sold for huge profit, but fans this time around are expecting a near like-for-like replacement to continue competing in the Champions League.In other words, major cash is expected to be splashed. That will not be easy when most of the best teams in Europe – including the Premier League – are on the look-out for a No.9.As a result, Sporting will be tough negotiators in any deal made this summer, which is why they are open to sparking a mega-money bidding war alongside the Saudis.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKSaudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah FC – where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is plying his trade these days – are ready to ruffle a few feathers in the battle for Gyokeres’ signature.Sporting will want the biggest up-front fee they can get – instead of several low-fee instalments – and Al Qadsiah are capable of offering just that, even if it means going above and beyond Gyokeres’ current value.Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka in heated confrontation with Bayer Leverkusen ultras after humiliating defeatViktor Gyokeres is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia as well as the Premier LeagueCredit: EPAThat is bad news for Arsenal and Man Utd, who were hoping to get a clean run at Gyokeres, yet may be forced to pay more than they would have initially planned.Both clubs believe they are perfectly positioned to convince the Swedish superstar.Gyokeres is believed to be leaning more towards the Gunners given their current form of competing for the Prem title and the Champions League, as well as boss Mikel Arteta’s record of improving players in the toughest division in world football.New sporting director Berta is also a huge fan of the player. The Italian’s first task in his new role will be to get a big deal over the line quickly to prove his worth to the Arsenal board and the fans.However, Gyokeres still has a soft spot for Ruben Amorim – his old boss at Sporting – and could be swayed regardless of United enduring one of the worst seasons in their history.Yet with the sort of eye-watering money Saudi teams can lob into the mix, Arteta and Amorim should be wary of putting all their eggs in one Gyokeres-shaped basket.BERTA IN, BUT WHO CAME CLOSE?ARSENAL are convinced that Berta is a game-changing recruit in their pursuit of major silverware.The 53-year-old began work in North London on Monday as the club’s new sporting director, taking the time to meet reporters ahead of Arteta’s midweek press conference at London Colney.He is a quiet, shy individual, but his reputation as one of the game’s best negotiators is evident following his 12-year stint at Atletico Madrid, with Arteta recently suggesting: “He’s got this personality, this charisma and this drive to win that is going to be very contagious.”Whether it is Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Leroy Sane or Nico Williams, this is set to be an exciting summer for Arsenal with Berta in the mix.But what of the others? Arsenal were in talks with a number of candidates in the wake of Edu’s resignation in November, and one that piqued their interest was Bayer Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rofles.Andrea Berta (left) was in the stands for the first time as Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 on TuesdayCredit: GettyThe ex-German international had many admirers on the Arsenal board, playing a major role in the building of a squad that saw Xabi Alonso’s side break Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga stranglehold, winning their first ever domestic title last season.However, Rofles, 43, who had brief roles as academy coach and sporting director at Leverkusen before taking his current position in July 2022, had no intention of leaving Germany.SunSport understands that Rofles is incredibly happy at Leverkusen and with the progress being made under Alonso domestically and in Europe.He has intentions of seeing out a contract that does not expire until June 2028.TOUTING CONCERNSTHE EMIRATES is preparing for one of its biggest nights since it was opened in 2006, welcoming Real Madrid in a blockbuster Champions League quarter final first leg on Tuesday.But with that comes security concerns, especially with the demand for tickets greater than any Arsenal game in recent memory, and the growing risk of ticket touts and illegal online third-party sales.The Gunners’ solution has been to crack down hard on anyone found guilty of it, especially for the visit of the Galacticos, threatening fines, bans and even police involvement.Arsenal will punish any fan caught selling tickets illegallyCredit: GettySo far this season, Arsenal have cancelled more than 31,000 accounts, including 27,603 memberships, attempting to obtain tickets in unauthorised ways.One Arsenal season ticket holder – speaking with agreed anonymity – told SunSport that while excited for the match, he is concerned about the severe delays that could be caused by ticket touts and those trying to enter the ground with fake tickets, stopping regular fans getting to their seats for kick-off.However, the club are confident this will be avoided on Tuesday night, citing their million-pound investment to address the issues, the move to digital ticketing helping identify suspicious behaviour early.And as is the case for every Emirates matchday, there will be undercover third-party operatives in and around the ground on the night of the game, aiming to stop in-person touting deals being done.KAI’S GARDEN PARTYONE Arsenal star first fell in love with football after using garden gnomes for target practice.Kai Havertz was born in the German spa town of Aachen, near the Netherlands and Belgium border, and from a young age would spend hours kicking a ball about in his garden with his grandfather.He would line garden gnomes up on the wall before practicing his accuracy by trying to hit them over one by one with the ball, and would not stop until they had all been wiped out.Kai Havertz learned his trade by playing around gnomes in his granddad’s gardenCredit: GettyFast-forward almost two decades and that practice has paid off, surpassing all expectations since arriving in North London in July 2023 with 29 goals in 85 appearances in all competitions so far.As he recovers from hamstring surgery that has him out until next season, perhaps he will go back to basics with some more ‘gnome-ball’. 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