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    Aston Villa finally get new shirts from Castore after stars were left ‘looking like they’d come out of a bath’

    ASTON VILLA have finally received new shirts from kit manufacturers Castore after complaints from both the men’s and women’s team.Villa’s sportswear designers came under fire earlier this season when players protested that the jerseys were becoming too heavy with sweat.
    Aston Villa received new kits from Castore after complaints from the men’s and women’s teamsCredit: Getty
    Aston Villa players complained the shirts became too heavy and wetCredit: Rex
    The shirts would turn too wet and clung onto the stars’ bodies, which caused an intense feeling of discomfort as well as fear that would affect performances on the pitch.
    The “wet look” issue would be obvious during the summer, when the shirts became much darker and sweaty but that sign became less evident during the current winter months.
    In September the designers promised to “address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect” as even fans complained the players looked like they “just came out of the bath”.
    According to The Telegraph, however, Castore have delivered a newer and more improved version of their design.
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    The manufacturers are hopeful they have solved the problem but have yet to explain the technical details over the changes that have been made.
    Villa players have yet to test the new shirts but regardless of the outcome the club and Castore will cut short their “multi-year” partnership, which was announced in 2022, at the end of the season.
    However, the two parties have been working very amicably and continue to do so.
    The men’s team didn’t wear the new shirts during their stunning victories against Manchester City and Arsenal.
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    And Unai Emery’s men are also not expected to do so in their next two fixtures against Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League and Brentford in the Premier League.
    But the new shirts could make their first appearance later if the club is happy with the updated version.
    Castore feel the problem was sparked by an imbalance related to the BK8 sponsorship logo emblazoned across the shirts, but still accepted full responsibility.
    That didn’t affect the men’s performance as they are in flying form this season by climbing up to third place in the Premier League table thanks to a record 15 consecutive home wins.
    However, the same doesn’t apply for the women’s team who are 10th in the WSL table after losing seven of their nine league matches. More

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    Chelsea’s five-man transfer wishlist includes Osimhen and Toney but club will be forced to rip up wage structure

    CHELSEA have a five-man striker wishlist that includes Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, according to reports.But it is believed the club would have to rip up their wage structure to land a big-name forward.
    Chelsea may have to smash their wage structure to land Ivan ToneyCredit: PA
    Victor Osimhen could also prove an expensive outlayCredit: Reuters
    Nicolas Jackson was signed in the summer but has struggled with just six goals in 15 league games.
    Chelsea’s poor form from last season has continued under Mauricio Pochettino, who is keen to add more firepower up-front.
    The Blues are 12th in the Premier League and already 14 points off the top four, and failing to qualify for the Champions League means they may have to increase their salary offer to land the targets they want.
    Chelsea have a long-term interest in Napoli striker Osimhen while Toney is another player they are monitoring.
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    But a club source revealed to The Telegraph that both players would only be arriving for big money.
    They said: “Chelsea are not going to qualify for Europe next season the way they’ve been going, so they would have to offer either Osimhen or Toney really big money. That’s not something they’ve been doing this year.”
    The Blues have installed a policy of signing young players on relatively low wages – but on extremely long contracts.
    However that is not something that would appeal to Toney, 27, and Osimhen, 24, who have already established themselves as top talents.
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    In addition, there would be a huge transfer fee involved.
    Brentford are keen to hold onto Toney who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.
    So Chelsea might have to bid around £100million to sign the Bees star, with Napoli likely to demand similar for Osimhen.
    If the Blues are priced out of a move they could focus their attention on Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokores, who has scored 15 goals in 18 games since his summer move from Coventry.
    The Guardian report Chelsea have been scouting the Swede so could launch a move for him when the transfer window re-opens.
    While Todd Boehly could also fund a move for Copenhagen striker Roony Bardghji or Club Brugge teenager Antonio Nusa, according to the Evening Standard.
    Sporting Lisbon Viktor Gyokeres could be a cheaper alternativeCredit: Reuters More

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    Injured Man Utd star returns to training in huge boost to Erik ten Hag as fans say ‘our season starts now’

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans were buzzing to see a particular star back in training after a long-term injury.Lisandro Martinez was pictured ‘back on the grass’ yesterday as he continues to ramp up his recovery from foot surgery.
    Martinez returned to warm up with the rest of the team before breaking off for individual trainingCredit: Getty
    Martinez last played for United in September during the side’s 3-2 defeat to today’s opponent Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
    He then underwent surgery for a foot issue which had plagued him since last season.
    He was seen going through drills with a fitness coach as he continues his rehabilitation.
    A club statement on Martinez’s injury said: “Martinez was briefly seen with the group as they emerged out on to the pitches, before going off to conduct some individual work as part of his injury rehabilitation.”
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    He also took to his Instagram to post a picture of his training session and wrote: “A day closer” as his caption.
    There is currently no fixed date on Martinez’s return to the first-team with United reluctant to rush him back too quickly.
    With videos of him training circulating on X, one fan said: “Can’t wait to have him back.”
    While another added: “Can’t wait to have the butcher back.”
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    While a third said: “Our season starts now.”
    Tonight’s must-win game against Bayern will obviously come too soon for the defender.
    United need to beat Bayern at Old Trafford to have any chance of maintaining European football this season.
    Victory would guarantee them a place in the Europa League by coming third in the group.
    But to stay in the Champions League, they would need to win AND for Copenhagen and Galatasaray to draw in their group A clash.
    Erik ten Hag is coming under severe pressure following his side’s 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Bournemouth on the weekend. More

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    Premier League club will host biggest crowd in more than half a CENTURY for monster clash against Man Utd

    LIVERPOOL are set to face Manchester United in front of the biggest Anfield crowd in over half a century this weekend.The stadium’s capacity will increase to around 57,000 if Liverpool City Council grant a safety certificate following tonight’s test event.
    The Anfield Road stand is set to be partially opened ahead of Sunday’s match against Man UtdCredit: Getty
    The full stand is set to open in January, it will increase Anfield’s capacity to 61,000Credit: Getty
    The test event will see the upper tier of the redeveloped Anfield Road Stand partially opened ahead of Sunday’s match.
    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is set to attend.
    Should everything go as planned, the Reds will record their biggest league crowd at Anfield since April 1973, when 56,202 watched Bill Shankly’s side draw 0-0 with Leicester in the old First Division.
    The current record crowd at Anfield is 58,757, set in December 1949.
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    The £80million stadium redevelopment was initially scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2023-24 season, but it has been severely impacted by delays.
    The upper tier is now expected to be fully operational by the end of January.
    It will boost Anfield’s capacity from 54,000 to 61,000.
    Around 7,000 fans are set to attend tonight’s test event, with Klopp in line to host a Q&A for season ticket holders.
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    Liverpool’s vice president of stadium operations Paul Cuttill said: “We’ll ask them to use the toilets, use the concessions, and we will simulate a fire evacuation.
    “We’ll get inspected by the city council to make sure we’ve achieved everything that we need to do to prove the stand is safe.”
    Man Utd suffered a 7-0 defeat to Liverpool when they last travelled to Anfield in March. More

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    How ‘Cristiano Ronaldo money’ blocked Man Utd from signing Harry Kane before Bayern transfer

    MANCHESTER UNITED failed to sign Harry Kane last summer because he would have cost them “Cristiano Ronaldo money”.United had been keeping tabs on Kane for almost 10 years as he set the world alight at Tottenham and became record goalscorer for the club as well as England.
    Manchester United tried to sign Bayern Munich star Harry Kane in the summerCredit: Getty
    Man Utd didn’t sign Kane because he would have cost as much as Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty
    According to The Mail, the Red Devils tried to finally get their star man in the summer when the striker had only one year left on his Spurs deal and was adamant he wouldn’t extend this time around.
    The North Londoners’ chairman Daniel Levy was under immense pressure by owner Joe Lewis to sell the 30-year-old in order to avoid losing the club’s greatest asset for free the year after.
    However, Levy, who is well known for being an immensely tough negotiator, was not at all keen on letting the England captain going to a Premier League rival, even though the player wanted United.
    Therefore, United would definitely have had to splash a staggering amount to seal a deal with the Tottenham bigwig.
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    However, the Manchester giants would also have to spend a staggering amount on the forward’s wages.
    Kane would have cost Erik ten Hag’s side a total amount similar to Ronaldo during the Al-Nassr superstar’s second stint at Old Trafford.
    It’s understood that the Tottenham legend’s salary at Bayern Munich is in the neighbourhood of £500,000 per week, including signing-on fee and bonuses.
    Therefore, United would have found themselves back at the same situation they were in when Ronaldo returned in 2021.
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    The Red Devils would be dealing with an expensive contract of a player in his thirties that wouldn’t have much resale value at the end of his deal.
    That led to United backing off and Kane ultimately moving to Bayern after a £104million deal with Tottenham.
    And the centre-forward has already amassed a staggering total of 22 goals and seven assists in 19 appearances with the German champions. More

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    Man Utd blow as two first-team stars missing from training before crucial Bayern Munich clash in Champions League

    MANCHESTER UNITED pair Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial missed training ahead of their crucial Champions League clash.The Red Devils are set to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in their last chance to remain in Europe this season.
    Two of Manchester United’s forwards missed training at CarringtonCredit: PA
    Anthony Martial missed training due to illness on MondayCredit: Getty
    Marcus Rashford was also ill and missed training ahead of Man Utd’s clash against Bayern MunichCredit: EPA
    Martial started the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, while Rashford came on as a 79th-minute substitute.
    But due to illness, the two forwards missed the training session at Carrington on Monday, as football writer Simon Peach reported.
    The Red Devils must be fit and in full force when they face Bayern Munich as a win is a must if they are to stand any chance of advancing to the knockout stages.
    Erik ten Hag is hopeful his side will redeem themselves from their 4-3 defeat to Bayern earlier in the campaign.
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    He said: “There were stages in the game where we played very good.
    “It was end-to-end for a long time in that game but also we suffered some mistakes that were absolutely avoidable.
    “One thing for sure against Bayern Munich you have to play your best because they have a very good team and very good individual players.
    “But as I say, Chelsea also amazing players, we dominate them and I think we can do it against Bayern as well.”
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    Man United won in the week against Chelsea, thanks to two goals from Scott McTominay.
    Rashford started the game on the bench after being dropped by Erik ten Hag.
    The 26-year-old then missed Man United’s training session on Friday through illness.
    But overall this term Rashford has struggled for form this season despite being the club’s top scorer last campaign.
    The forward has only scored two goals in the Premier League in his 14 appearances.
    Meanwhile, Martial has fallen down the ranks at United and is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season as a free agent if he is not sold in January.
    The Frenchman has been unable to find the back of the net this term as well scoring just once in 13 Premier League appearances. More

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    Everton ready to recall forgotten man from disastrous loan spell with three clubs chasing January transfer

    EVERTON want to recall Mason Holgate from his loan spell at Southampton due to a lack of game time.Holgate, 27, has made just five appearances for the Saints since his season-long move in August.
    Everton want to recall Mason HolgateCredit: Getty
    The talented Toffees defender made his last outing – only his second start – in a man-of-the-match display against West Brom last month.
    But SunSport understands Everton want the versatile star, who can play in defence or midfield, to be playing more regularly.
    And the Merseysiders could terminate his stay on the south coast and allow him to find a new club in January.
    Championship duo Middlesbrough and Watford as well as Scottish giants Rangers are waiting in the wings should Everton boss Sean Dyche call him back.
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    Ex-England Under-21 centre-back Holgate, who has a contract at Goodison Park until the summer of 2025, has played just 289 minutes of first-team action for Southampton.
    Saints boss Russell Martin, whose side are fourth in the Championship, has lined up Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the heart of his defence.
    Everton currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, four points above the relegation zone.
    The Toffees were hit with a 10-point deduction last month for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
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    They immediately fell to 19th in the table, but have since registered three consecutive wins.
    Dyche’s side cruised to a 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday. More

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    Man Utd legend Roy Keane says Christmas is for children and refuses to buy anyone anything

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Roy Keane has channelled his inner Ebenezer Scrooge ahead of Christmas.However, Keane is in no mood to be part of any sort of Christmas Carroll this year.
    Manchester United legend Roy Keane refuses to buy Christmas giftsCredit: Youtube @TheOverlap
    Keane insists Christmas gifts is only ‘for children’Credit: Youtube @TheOverlap
    That is because the Sky Sports pundit refuses to buy anyone a present as he insists this tradition is “for children”.
    The legendary midfielder admitted his family does come together for some turkey on December 25.
    But the Republic of Ireland great is adamant gifts are out of the question as they are nothing but “stress”.
    The 52-year-old joined fellow pundits Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher as well as Ian Wright and left them in stitches as he let his inner Grinch come out.
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    Keane said on Stick to Football: “No, no I won’t be buying anyone anything.
    “I just think it’s for children. Of course I do [eat turkey on Christmas Day].
    “We celebrate it, of course. But we don’t go stressing each other out buying each other presents. It’s stress.”
    Neville, Wright and Carragher tried to spread some Christmas cheers but famous hardman Keane would have none of it.
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    Fans then took to social media as they laughed their socks off and joined in on all the banter – some of them even backed the United great.
    One fan commented: “If this man said the earth was flat then flat the earth is. No more to say. F*****g love Roy.”
    Another wrote: “Can we get t-shirts that say “Roy is my spirit animal’?”
    A third said: “Roy Keane is the Grinch.”
    This one said: “Irish Larry David.”
    And that one stated: “The realest.” More