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      Man Utd ‘could go back in for Federico Chiesa transfer’ but face competition from Arsenal as Antony and Sancho struggle

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could end up in a transfer battle with Arsenal if they go back in for Juventus’ Federico Chiesa, according to reports.The Italian winger is on both of the Premier League clubs’ radar for the upcoming transfer window.
      Both Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in Juventus’ Federico ChiesaCredit: Getty
      Chiesa, 26, is a transfer target for the Red Devils and the Gunners, according to Calciomercato.
      Both sides are desperate to add depth in their wide areas in the January transfer window.
      Juventus’ No7 is “very ambitious” about a move to the Premier League and believes top-flight English football will enrich his career.
      Erik ten Hag’s struggling side has suffered immensely this term with Antony underwhelming and Jadon Sancho frozen out.
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      And Chiesa could be the missing piece to the Man Utd squad after scoring four goals and picking up one assist in ten league games this term.
      The report added the Italian international speaks very good English which makes him a strong candidate for Ten Hag.
      United have targeted the winger on several occasions, and in the summer Juventus wanted £90million for their star man.
      But even with the player now valued at £56m, this may be too steep for United.
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      Therefore, they are also considering a cheaper deal for Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa.
      Meanwhile, Arsenal have heavily depended on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in their wings.
      The Euro 2020 champ could assist Mikel Arteta to add more quality into his side and allow him to rotate with players.
      Chiesa built his reputation after helping his nation win the European Championship.
      After suffering from a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2022 his development was widely affected.
      But his impressive start in this year’s campaign has proved the Italian is starting to get back on his feet. More

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      Man Utd almost solved defensive woes four years ago with Premier League star now labelled ‘transfer of the season’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have endured their worst start to a season in six decades.The Red Devils are currently eighth in the Premier League despite spending an additional £170million during the summer transfer window.
      Man Utd have endured a poor start to the seasonCredit: Getty
      Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans are currently the club’s two starting centre-backsCredit: Getty
      They are also at risk of dropping out of the Champions League at the group stages.
      And to make matters worse, they crashed out of the Carabao Cup last week following a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle.
      United boss Erik ten Hag has spent around £407m in total since taking the helm at Old Trafford last summer, but he is yet to build a squad that can challenge for the league title.
      Arguably United’s weakest area right now is in defence, with £55m man Lisandro Martinez set for a long spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
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      Both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have also been absent for the majority of the season so far, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has just returned from a hamstring injury.
      Ten Hag is now putting all his faith in the likes of Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
      Raphael Varane, meanwhile, has been benched for the last three games for “tactical” reasons.
      But Man Utd’s defensive issues could have been dramatically reduced had they signed one of the Premier League’s most promising centre-backs four years ago.
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      Man Utd had the chance to sign Nathan Collins back in 2019Credit: Getty
      In 2019 the Red Devils were linked with then-18-year-old Stoke star Nathan Collins.
      However, a deal never came to fruition.
      Collins went on to join Burnley in 2021, where he spent one season before moving to Wolves.
      And in July he completed a club-record £23m transfer to Brentford, where he has since established himself as an important first team player.
      The Ireland international scored the winning goal to complete Brentford’s impressive comeback against West Ham on Saturday.
      And he has since received heaps of praise from both fans and his manager, Thomas Frank.
      Speaking after the match, Frank said: “There’s so much potential in Nathan.
      “He’s just started his career, more or less. I know he’s played Premier League football before, but at 22 you are not even close to your highest level.
      “He’s done well for us. Last week [the 2-0 win over Chelsea] was a good step in the right direction. I think today [there were] also a lot of important clearances on set pieces and then he finally scored. What a cross from Mathias Jensen and what a header.”
      Fans took to social media following the 3-2 win to laud the young defender, with one person writing: “Nathan Collins – what a signing.”
      Another added: “Nathan Collins was phenomenal today. MOTM.”
      A third fan wrote: “£23m for Nathan Collins looks more and more like a bargain with every game that goes by.”
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      While a fourth simply said: “Nathan Collins. F*****g mustard.”
      On top of his club career, Collins has made 17 senior appearances for the Republic of Ireland, scoring once.
      Collins scored the winning goal as Brentford beat West Ham 3-2 on SaturdayCredit: AP More

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      Ange reveals Shakespeare icon advice – while to boo or not to boo, that is the question for Spurs fans on Poch return

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      TO BOO or not to boo, that is the question for Spurs fans on Monday on Mauricio Pochettino’s return – while Ange Postecoglou has been getting tips from Shakespeare icon Sir Kenneth Branagh!Poch heads back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening in charge of arch-rivals Chelsea so could well be the villain of the piece for the home supporters.
      James Maddison has been one of Ange Postecoglou’s protagonists this seasonCredit: Rex
      It is set to be a night of high drama – six days after current Spurs chief Postecoglou enjoyed a trip to the theatre to see Sir Kenneth play King Lear.
      The Aussie revealed: “Sir Kenneth is a big Spurs fan and was kind enough to invite my wife and I to the theatre the other night.
      “We don’t get too many nights away from the kids and adult time so we enjoyed it.
      “I did have to swot up on King Lear. It wasn’t part of the curriculum at Prahran High (in Melbourne) where I grew up! I had to do some research.
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      “You always learn from life and the appreciation of seeing people excel at what they do is inspiring. You walk out of there thinking, ‘I don’t know how they do it’.
      “He was good after it. I caught up with him briefly, he was very kind with his time.
      “He was all over how it’s going and gave me some little bits of advice, which I’ll ignore like he’ll ignore my advice on acting!”
      Shakespearean icon Sir Kenneth Branagh is a huge Tottenham fan and invited Postecoglou to his production of King LearCredit: AFP
      Canonic play King Lear tells the tragic tale of an aged ruler driven mad thanks to an almighty bust-up with his daughters over inheritance.
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      Lear, played by Sir Kenneth who also directs the production currently on at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End, ends up insane, penniless and ultimately, in the ground.
      Asked by SunSport if he was hoping for a happier ending on Monday when his own side take to the stage against the Blues, Postecoglou replied: “There was a fair bit going on in that play, mate.
      “I definitely want a better ending than Sir Kenneth had, for sure!”
      Spurs have had plenty of satisfying conclusions this season, with last-gasp winners against Sheffield United and Liverpool.
      They have won eight of an unbeaten ten opening league games to the campaign, which has put them top of the league.
      Key to the success has been their smart recruitment which has seen the likes of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defender Micky van de Ven and midfielder James Maddison all shine instantly.
      It is in stark contrast to the slap-dash approach opponents Chelsea have taken in the transfer market in the Todd Boehly era, which has seen them splash more than a billion quid.
      Pochettino himself admitted last month mistakes had been made in bringing in too many new players in the summer, giving him a tall order to make it all gel.
      Asked about Spurs’ impressive hit rate so far with new signings, Postecoglou replied: “You know what they say, success has a million fathers, and failure is a bit of an orphan. So, when things go well…
      “Wherever I’ve been, I’ve made sure that I have the biggest say over recruitment. I don’t do all the work but I really think it’s an important part of my function and particularly when I first go into clubs.
      “When you first go into a club, there are two measures that people will always put up against you. One is the results, that tells its own tale. But as a manager, and I’ve certainly had that experience, you can’t always guarantee the results early on because you’re trying to build something and there’s going to be some ups and downs.
      “The other thing you get measured on is the people you bring in. Not necessarily the ones you inherited, because people will say they weren’t his choices if they’re not working out.
      “Everywhere I’ve been, the players I’ve recruited whether it was here, Celtic, Yokohama or my jobs in Australia, those first few players I’ve always put a lot of stock in that they have to be players who come in and have an impact straight away.
      “Because at least if the results aren’t there, then people will say OK, there’s something building here.
      “We needed a goalkeeper. I was so keen on getting Vic in after I spoke to him because I knew he would be the right type. It was the same with Van de Ven, it took a bit longer, but there was no one else.
      “The beauty of it is that the club worked hard to put a list of people together but I didn’t give them three choices, I gave them one because I knew they would work.
      “Madders was probably an easy one because he was already a fantastic player but I also saw that he could come in and make an impact for us straight away.”
      Monday night will be the first time Postecoglou has met Pochettino, who ran Spurs close twice in the title race and took the club to the Champions League final during his tenure between 2014-19.
      The Argentine risked his reputation with the Tottenham faithful when taking charge at Stamford Bridge in the summer, having won Ligue Un with Paris Saint-Germain in the interim.
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      Potecoglou added: “The impact he had at Southampton and at Spurs is unquestionable. He has taken on some pretty big challenges post Spurs as well which I’m all for.
      “I like managers who take on big challenges so (I have) great admiration and respect for his work.” More

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      David Moyes ‘lined up for shock new job with West Ham unlikely to extend 60-year-old’s contract’

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      WEST HAM manager David Moyes could land a new job at the end of the season, according to reports.The 60-year-old boss sees his deal expire at the Hammers in the summer.
      David Moyes’ deal at West Ham expires at the end of the seasonCredit: Alamy
      Moyes has been in charge of the club since 2019, guiding them to three back-to-back seasons in Europe after winning the Conference League last term.
      But reports suggest his future is now in doubt.
      There were behind-the-scenes disagreements with signings over the summer following the appointment of new director of football Tim Steidten.
      The issues have since been resolved but the Irons may decide that Moyes has taken the club as far as he can on the pitch.
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      He could instead be offered a role “upstairs”, claim The Mail.
      It is unclear what the position would consist of with Hammers legend Mark Noble also a club chief after his retirement in 2022.

      Meanwhile, UEFA are supposedly keen to offer Moyes a job.
      The former Everton and Manchester United boss could land a technical role at the governing body as they look to utilise his 25 years of experience as a gaffer.
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      West Ham currently sit 11th in the Premier League table and joint-top of their Europa League group.
      They are also still in the Carabao Cup after beating Arsenal and face Liverpool in the quarter-final. More

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      Jorginho REFUSED to shake Newcastle opponent’s hand as details emerge of Arsenal’s furious response to feisty defeat

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      JAMAAL LASCELLES blasted Jorginho  for being a bad loser after the Arsenal skipper refused to shake hands.And Newcastle condemned the sickening online racist abuse sent to Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock following Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Gunners.
      Newcastle star Jamal Lascelles claims Arsenal ace Jorginho refused to shake handsCredit: Getty
      Lascelles slammed Jorginho after the match that saw Newcastle winning 1-0Credit: Rex
      Toon captain Lascelles hammered Italian midfielder Jorginho for his “unacceptable” conduct at the end of the spiky clash.
      He said: “Jorginho didn’t want to shake hands after the game. Whatever happens on the pitch — handbags or whatever — you show sportsmanship and shake hands.
      “He didn’t do that, so I’m so glad we beat them. Players like that, I don’t think it’s acceptable.
      “A lot of them walked in at the end.
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      “I went up to shake Jorginho’s hand but he didn’t want to! I was  fuming, it’s not on.
      “I would never refuse to shake an opposition captain’s hand, no way.”
      Furious Arsenal suffered their first loss of the season following  Anthony Gordon’s controversial second-half winner.
      Asked if he thought Newcastle had recorded a statement win, defender Lascelles added: “Yeah and especially with how they go on as well.”
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      On his Instagram stories, Willock posted screenshots of the racial slurs he was sent, along with a photo of a ‘Show racism the red card’ banner at St James’ Park.
      After being told, “F*** u n*****”, the former Arsenal midfielder replied: “It’s a game of football mate no need for this.”
      A club statement read: “Newcastle  strongly condemns racist abuse sent to Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock.
      “There is no room for racism in football or society.
      “We will work with relevant authorities and social media platforms to identify those responsible so that they can be held to account.” More

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      Man Utd crisis is just around the corner, Ten Hag’s scattergun reign is like Unai Emery’s final days at Arsenal

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      SAVED in Fergie time, Erik ten Hag is now limping into Unai time as Manchester United get ready for the inevitable.Bruno Fernandes’ 91st-minute winner means the Old Trafford crisis talks are on hold.
      Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could be on his way outCredit: Rex
      But no one should be fooled into believing that this unconvincing victory means that a corner has been turned.
      They remain just one poor performance away from a crisis which could arrive as early as Wednesday night, when defeat in Copenhagen would leave their Champions League hopes seriously in the balance.
      And the longer the uncertainty drags on, the more it feels like Unai Emery’s ill-starred 18 months in charge at Arsenal.
      It was back in November 2019 when Arsenal reluctantly accepted that Emery had to go after he had lost the support of the players and  the fans.
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      The Spaniard had made a dozen new signings at vast expense but there was no sense of direction or purpose about what he was trying to achieve.
      He alienated the dressing room when he tried to play the disciplinarian hard man and it soon became apparent his players  stopped believing in him.
      Sound familiar?
      Ten Hag has been backed to the tune of £400million in the transfer market but it has been a scattergun spending spree and none of the new signings have had a significant impact.
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      And as much as the players spoke of fighting spirit and backing the manager after Saturday’s mid-table victory at Fulham, they were fooling no one.
      The starting line-up was the weakest United team many of the away fans could remember.
      Antony, Ten Hag’s £85.5m biggest signing, was a liability once again, constantly surrendering cheap possession and showing a complete lack of discipline before being hauled off midway through the second half.
      Christian Eriksen looked like a player whose legs have gone and was totally unsuited to a holding midfield role.
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      Ten Hag’s is starting to look like Unai Emery in his last days at ArsenalCredit: Getty
      And Rasmus Hojlund cut an isolated and frustrated figure all alone up front as he battled in vain for his first Prem goal.
      Even Fernandes’ stoppage-time winner owed more to luck and Fulham’s defensive deficiencies than any scintillating attacking play by United, with the ball ricocheting three times off Facundo Pellistri before dropping into the United captain’s path.
      And that would have been academic but for Andre Onana’s double save from Harry Wilson and Joao Palhinha.
      The jury is still out on United’s £43.8m keeper but  he is putting himself on the line in his manager’s hour of need.
      Onana said: “Maybe those saves were important but what mattered most was the goal from Bruno, because that is what gave us this victory.
      “The clean sheet gives us a lot of confidence but sometimes you don’t concede a goal and still only draw. The result was all that mattered.
      Ten Hag still has support but could suffer another major setbackCredit: Rex
      “But the clean sheet showed how hard we are working because we had to defend and suffer together and I am very happy with the way we fought for this win.”
      It brought some much-needed breathing space for Ten Hag.
      His supporters — and there are still plenty of those — claim he just needs time.
      They point to the job Mikel Arteta is doing for Arsenal after being given the benefit of the doubt when initial results were not great.
      But Arteta survived because it was clear to see what he was trying to achieve and his signings were a significant improvement on what had gone before.
      None of that is currently the case with Ten Hag. No one can argue with the Dutchman’s record at Ajax.
      But it is  not happening for him at United and after 18 months  it is difficult to see how he turns things around.
      So sooner or later someone has to grasp the nettle and call time on a talented coach in the wrong place at the wrong time.
      HOW THEY LINED UP
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       FULHAM: Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson, Iwobi (Jimenez 89), Palhinha, Wilson (Cairney 90), Pereira (Decordova-Reid 81), Willian (Lukic 76), Muniz (Vinicius 76).
       MAN UTD: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Evans, Dalot, McTominay, Eriksen (Mount 79), Antony (Pellistri 63), Fernandes, Garnacho (Varane 90), Hojlund (Martial 79). More

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      Toilet roof at Premier League stadium collapses leaving gaping hole and smashed plaster all over floor

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      LUTON TOWN surrendered a point to Liverpool as the Reds hit a late smash-and-grab on Sunday.But the Hatters also have a plumbing problem on their hands.
      A toilet roof at Luton’s stadium collapsed during the draw with LiverpoolCredit: https://twitter.com/thomgibbs
      There was a gaping hole in the men’s toilet at Kenilworth RoadCredit: https://twitter.com/thomgibbs
      That’s because part of a toilet roof at Kenilworth Road COLLAPSED, leaving a gaping hole and smashed plaster all over the floor.
      Luton were left heartbroken after taking an 80th minute lead through Tahith Chong.
      Luis Diaz climbed off the bench despite his father’s hostage ordeal to head home a 95th minute equaliser for Liverpool.
      And the result means Luton are still kicking it around the relegation zone with just six points from 10 games.
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      However, the newly-promoted side have another problem to plug first.
      Incredible pictures taken by Telegraph journalist Thom Gibbs during the Liverpool match showed that the roof of a men’s toilet in the main stand had collapsed.
      A large hole could be seen in the ceiling, with heaps of plaster covering both the floor and the urinals.
      Kenilworth Road was first built and opened in 1905 after Luton left their previous home at Dunstable Road.
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      The 11,500-seater arena is famously sandwiched between residential houses, making it the most unique stadium in the country.
      Luton redeveloped Kenilworth Road at a cost of £10million earlier this year, making it media-ready for their first-ever Premier League campaign.
      However, the club plans on moving into a new stadium in the heart of Luton.
      Power Court is set to hold an initial 19,500 fans when it is opened in the future, with the potential to expand by another 4,000.
      The Hatters hope to begin work at the start of 2024 and aim to also build 1,200 new homes, as well as restaurants and bars in a new town quarter.
      The main stand bog showered the floor with broken plasterCredit: https://twitter.com/thomgibbs
      Luton have been at Kenilworth Road since 1905Credit: https://twitter.com/thomgibbs More

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      Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly reveals the biggest reason for Blues’ struggles saying they’ve ‘FORGOTTEN’ key issue

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      MARCEL DESAILLY reckons former club Chelsea are struggling to impress for one key reason.The Blues sit 13th in the Premier League table with just three wins in 10 games under Mauricio Pochettino.
      Marcel Desailly has pinpointed one key problem holding Chelsea back this seasonCredit: AFP
      Things get even harder for the Argentine when he returns to Tottenham on Monday, with his old side unbeaten and top of the table.
      Chelsea have spent £1billion since Todd Boehly replaced Roman Abramovich in 2022.
      Yet despite an incredible turnover of players during the summer, the London outfit are still struggling to gel.
      Chelsea have turned their attention to expensive youngsters, handing out massive eight-year contracts to build a team for the future.
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      But former captain Desailly reckons the Blues have made a major mistake in neglecting experience.
      The ex-defender joined Chelsea from AC Milan after leading France to World Cup glory in 1998.
      Desailly etched his name in the Stamford Bridge history books with FA Cup and Super Cup glory.
      He was 30 years old when he moved to London, and left naysayers eating humble pie as he clocked up 222 appearances in six seasons.
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      Desailly believes Chelsea’s new kids lack the know-how to play football at the highest level.
      He reckons it will take years to foster a winning mentality due to the profile of recent signings.
      But Desailly notes the youngsters Chelsea have snapped up are all showing world-class potential.
      And with a bit of patience, things could click together to create an almighty side.
      Desailly explained to Get French Football News: “It’s very hard to criticise.
      “The only thing I’d say is that it is an error of communication. They are carried away by the potential that each player they’ve bought has.
      “They’ve forgotten about one element, knowing that to play football at the highest level…
      “To attain what we call in French ‘la culture de la gagne’, the winning mentality, you need experience.
      “Nascent talent is never enough to presume immediate performance.
      “And thats the only thing where I’d say they’ve made a mistake, where they keep thinking with Pochettino ‘no, this year we’ll be title challengers with the team we have’.
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      “Right from the start of the season you could see they can’t be title challengers.
      “But they have put together players of great potential and have positioned themselves in terms of business, because if they didn’t buy the players now for a little above value, they wouldn’t have been able to buy them later.”
      Desailly reckons Mauricio Pochettino does not have enough experienced players in his squadCredit: Getty More