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      Aaron Ramsdale vows to fight back against dressing room homophobia in support of brother as he says: ‘This ends now’

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      ARSENAL keeper Aaron Ramsdale has made a pledge to combat homophobia in football dressing rooms after opening up about his gay brother Oliver.The Gunners shot-stopper, 25, is the youngest of three boys – with eldest, Edward, working as a prison guard and middle brother, Oliver, performing in the West End.
      Aaron Ramsdale with brother Oliver after signing a new Arsenal contract in MayCredit: Instagram @oliverramsdale
      Ramsdale has praised his brother Oliver for his bravery as a gay manCredit: Instagram @oliverramsdale
      Ramsdale received a huge backlash when he made the move from Sheffield United to Arsenal in 2021 as many questioned why Mikel Arteta was signing the young Englishman.
      But he has thrived during his two season at the Emirates, proving people wrong with numerous superb displays.
      Yet despite the abuse he faced two years ago, Arsenal man Ramsdale insists his bravery is nothing compared with what his brother Oliver has had to face as a gay man.
      Speaking in the Players’ Tribune, he said: “Whenever people tell me it’s brave what I’ve done, pursuing this football dream, I just laugh. Oliver is the real superstar of the family. He’s the brave one.
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      “Three weeks before he was supposed to leave for uni in Bedford, he told my parents that he had a change of heart. He didn’t want to become a PE teacher. He wanted to chase his real dream and go to drama school. So he literally packed up everything and went to London to pursue a totally different life. 
      “But that’s not the bravest thing he’s done. That’s not why I admire him.
      “My brother is gay, and he’s lived his life in an open and authentic way since he went off to school. I’m so proud to say he’s my brother. I haven’t talked about it before, but with everything going on in football right now, I thought it was important to mention.
      “Oliver is a lot like me, in many ways. He’s a regular bloke. Loves football. Loves knocking about with his mates. Loves the Gunners. He’s proud of me, and I’m really proud of him. 
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      “Over the years, I’ve probably bit my tongue a few too many times — both in dressing rooms and on social media — whenever I hear homophobic comments or stupid things being said. And I think maybe my brother has done the same, thinking it would make my life easier. 
      “Well, all that ends today.”
      Ramsdale has a host of things he wants to achieve in football – namely to fill up his trophy cabinet.
      But above all else he also desperately wants the game to be inclusive for all.
      At the World Cup last year, England and six other European countries made a last-minute decision NOT to wear the OneLove armband – used as a symbol of support for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide.
      It came after Fifa warned of punishments if they wore it.
      There are no openly gay footballers in the Premier League, but Blackpool player Jake Daniels, 17, revealed he was gay in May last year after gaining the acceptance of teammates.
      And Ramsdale finished his Players’ Tribune piece by calling for the eradication of discrimination in football.
      He added: “For me, I obviously dream about winning the league and parading the trophy through North London, for sure. World Cup. Champions League. I’ve got all those dreams, but those are all football dreams. 
      “As a person, I have another dream. 
      “I want this game I love to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
      “I want my brother, Ollie — or anyone of any sexuality, race or religion — to come to games without having to fear abuse.
      “And when we lift a trophy at the Emirates Stadium, I want my brother there with me.
      “What could the trolls tell us then? Not a thing.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Love you, bro.
      “Aaron.” More

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      Tottenham ‘leading Chelsea and Arsenal in race to sign Bundesliga star Edmond Tapsoba’

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      TOTTENHAM are leading the way to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba, according to reports.Sports guru Patrick Berger claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is planning to put a £39m bid in for the 6ft 4in defender.
      Tottenham are prepared to make a new bid for Edmond TapsobaCredit: Getty
      Arsenal and Chelsea have also expressed their interest in the 24-year-old Burkina Faso international, but Tottenham’s new offer could put them off chasing him.
      The Bundesliga side however are expected to demand around £45m for Tapsoba, who has made over 100 appearances for the club.
      The Leverkusen ace, who joined from Vitória de Guimarães in 2020, has been labelled an “exceptional” defender after shining under Xabi Alonso
      However, there are questions marks over whether Postecoglou can convince Tapsoba to move to White Hart Lane.
      Read More Tottenham Hotspur
      So far the North London club has added Manor Solomon, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario this summer.
      But Postecoglou is still without a new centre-back and is close to finalising a deal with Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven.

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      Even with a deal closing in soon for Van de Ven, Spurs are still pushing to complete a transfer for Tapsoba.
      Postecoglou also has concerns at the other end of the pitch with Harry Kane’s move to Bayern seemingly edging closer, with the German giants expected to up their latest bid of £82m.
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      However, one journalist has begged the Bundesliga champions NOT to sign the England captain and called Kane a “30-year-old bone” in a scathing open letter in a newspaper.
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      Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven is close to signing with SpursCredit: Getty More

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      Dream Team 2023/24: Arsenal’s best players, bargain options and potential flops

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      DREAM TEAM managers are counting down the days until the new campaign gets underway.And to provide a helping hand, The Sun have taken a closer look at each of last season’s top teams in detail.
      Arsenal are on today’s menu as Mikel Arteta’s enthralling young side look to go one better in the Premier League, while also making their long-awaited return to the Champions League.
      Here, we’ve assembled their best players, bargain options and potential flops.

      CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

      Arsenal stars provided plentiful points last seasonCredit: DREAM TEAM
      BEST PLAYERS
      Where to start? Arsenal’s squad is stacked with creative talent and devastating attacking assets.
      As you would imagine, the Gunners are extremely popular among Dream Team managers given their opening league fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
      Bukayo Saka (£6m) is an absolute lock for many bosses, and has already amassed an ownership of 37.2% – it’s not difficult to see why.
      The winger would have finished the 2022/23 campaign with 263 points had the new scoring system been implemented last year.
      As things stand, he remains Arsenal’s designated penalty-taker and has proven himself almost immune to rotation under Arteta having featured in all 38 league matches last season.
      Gabriel Jesus (£5.5m) is a class act when fit but it’s been reported that the Brazilian will miss the first few weeks of the season through injury – so stay clear for now.
      Martin Odegaard (£5m) is proving to be a popular pick with an ownership of 22.9%, many gaffers are predicting another standout campaign.
      The 24-year-old scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances last season and as club captain he’s a nailed-on starter.
      Honourable mention must go to Gabriel (£4.5m) who would have produced over 200 points in the new scoring system last season – another outfield asset guaranteed nearly every minute.
      POTENTIAL BARGAINS
      Are gaffers sleeping on Leandro Trossard?Credit: GETTY
      Is Leandro Trossard (£3m) being overlooked by the fantasy community?
      The risks attached are obvious with plenty of competition in the pecking order but he has already shown his worth in north London since his January transfer.
      The Belgium international starred in the creative department in particular, providing ten assists in 22 appearances.
      He’s started three of Arsenal’s four pre-season friendlies and notched three goals and an assist – a sign of what’s to come?
      Only 4% of managers have taken the punt on Trossard at this stage.
      It’s fairly risky, but Kai Havertz (£3.5m) has the potential to deliver huge hauls for a fairly low outlay in an Arsenal shirt this season.
      The German clearly has an abundance of talent but failed to fulfil his billing in a disjoined Chelsea side when deployed in an unfamiliar centre-forward role.
      Now at the Emirates, Havertz could thrive in an attacking midfield role, where he’s scored 32 goals and provided 29 assists during his career.
      Early signs look good with the 24-year-old notching goals against Barcelona and MLS All-Stars in pre-season – one to monitor closely.
      POTENTIAL FLOPS
      Ben White has more competition this seasonCredit: GETTY
      It’s not necessarily easy to predict anyone flopping in this Arsenal side, especially given how rampant they were at times last season – but, a bigger squad causes selection question marks.
      Mikel Arteta now has an abundance of options in defence, and most are capable of playing in more than one position.
      New recruit Jurrien Timber (£3.5m) has played the majority of his career as a central defender, but can play in either full-back role and has done so during pre-season.
      It’s a similar story for versatile duo Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.5m) and Jakub Kiwior (£2.5m).
      That could leave Ben White (£4.5m) as a rotation risk.
      The England international was brilliant last season but it wouldn’t be a surprise if had to share his minutes with Timber and possibly even William Saliba (£3.5m).
      He still looks set for healthy season but there may be better options in his price range.

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      Premier League star, 33, faces trial over ‘speeding and failing to provide info to cops’

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      A PREMIER League star is facing a trial after being accused of speeding and failing to provide information to police. Junior Stanislas, 33, today pleaded not guilty to two driving offences, which were said to have occurred in December and January.
      Junior Stanislas has today appeared in court on two driving offencesCredit: Getty
      Stanislas played 179 games for Bournemouth, scoring 38 goals, and only left the club and became a free agent in recent weeks.
      The 33-year-old was first accused of driving five miles an hour over the speed limit in a Land Rover on the A35 in Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset on December 4, 2022.
      The village has a speed limit of 30mph.
      The Poole-based footballer is also accused of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle.
      Read more on sport
      This is said to have happened at Dorset Police’s headquarters in Winfrith Newburgh on January 1.
      Bridport News reported Stanislas today pleaded not guilty at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court.
      He is now due to appear for a full hearing on September 12. More

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      Fans say Enzo Fernandez ‘has no idea what he’s done’ as £107m star names favourite Chelsea chant

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      FANS joked Enzo Fernandez “has no idea what he’s done” after naming his favourite Chelsea chant. The Argentine World Cup winner became the Blues’ record signing in January after moving in a £107million deal from Benfica.
      Enzo Fernandez in pre-season for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Fernandez, 22, settled in amid a chaotic period at Chelsea, full of managerial switches and squad turmoil.
      The midfielder is already a fans’ favourite and named the chant he enjoys the most at Stamford Bridge.
      He told B/R Football: “The one I like the most is ‘Come on Chelsea, come on Chelsea’! I love that one, I like it.”
      There is a long standing joke Chelsea fans only have one chant, so Fernandez quickly walked into some hilarious responses.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      One said: “Enzo Fernandez has no idea what he’s done here and I’m all for it.
      “His second favourite has to be the classic “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelseaaaa.”
      Another added: “His second favourite chant… “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea… Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea…”
      One agreed: “Is this because that’s the only one they have maybe.”
      Most read in Football

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      Another commented: “I genuinely thought this was a p***take when I saw someone tweet it yesterday.”
      Fernandez prepares to play under new manager Mauricio Pochettino with their eyes on the Premier League prize.
      He said: “Now we have a new head coach, you have to say the expectations of us have changed.
      “Obviously when I arrived, everything was difficult, there were lots of changes going on and everything happened so fast for me. But now the expectations have changed.
      “We want to be an aggressive team, a team that attacks and defends well, that goes into every game to win it whoever we’re playing against and look to dominate every game we’re in.
      “And obviously we want to try to win the Premier League, that’s our goal this year.
      “As well as that, I think the cups in England start in January, but the main aim this year is to win the Premier League.”
      Chelsea fans in pre-season – Enzo likes one particular song of theirsCredit: Getty More

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      Rio Ferdinand tells TNT co-star Laura Woods ‘I didn’t like you’ as she says she ‘asked for him to be SACKED’

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      RIO FERDINAND and Laura Woods have paired up for the first time on TNT Sports.The duo are two of the faces of the broadcaster’s football coverage for the new season.
      Rio Ferdinand joked he ‘didn’t like’ Laura Woods before she joined TNT SportsCredit: YOUTUBE @TNTSports
      [embedded content]
      Following their rebrand from BT Sport, both Ferdinand and Woods have appeared in a video on TNT Sports’ YouTube channel.
      However, during the clip, the ex-England defender jokingly tells his new colleague “I didn’t like you”, before her move to TNT Sports.
      After being picked up by Ferdinand for a drive around London, Woods pokes fun at the Manchester United legend.
      “I worked as a runner before so I recognised the jobs people do,” she explained. “So then I watched yours and thought ‘you’ve got to get rid of Rio’.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      “Then I heard that you’re on a really lucrative long-term contract so they couldn’t get rid of you’.”
      Ferdinand cheekily replied: “Is this a trial then? Being a driver?”
      The pair continued to chat about their careers as Woods added: “The weirdest thing is, I’ve never worked with you.
      “I feel like I’ve worked with everyone in the world of sport, but I’ve never worked with you and now I’m crossing over.”
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      The former Manchester United star then admitted: “I actually didn’t like you, I’ve got to be honest.
      “I get very territorial with stuff. Normally you cross paths with people but I think I’ve seen you once or twice in passing, that’s it.”
      He was later asked if he gets a say in who TNT Sports hire, answering: “We don’t get a say, I’d love a say. I’d have picked you.”
      Ferdinand will continue as a pundit following the company’s rebrand, with Woods one of several presenters joining this summer.
      She will host live action from the Champions League this season, replacing Jake Humphreys in the role.
      TNT Sports’ Premier League coverage will get underway on August 12 as Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend.
      TNT Sports is the ultimate home for sports fans. You can stream TNT Sports on the discovery+ app and watch on all major TV platforms. This isn’t Just Sport, This is Everything. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk More

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      ‘Britain’s most beautiful Wag’ set for Saudi move as international star boyfriend links up with Steven Gerrard

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      JACK HENDRY has joined Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia – and his girlfriend could follow him out there. Hendry has joined from Club Bruges and prepares to play alongside former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
      Robyn Emma Keen is going out with Jack Hendry
      Robyn Emma Keen has been dubbed Britain’s most beautiful Wag
      The model and Jack HendryCredit: @robynemmakeen
      The defender is going out with model Robyn Emma Keen – dubbed Britain’s most beautiful Wag.
      Robyn followed Hendry to Belgium, when he swapped Celtic for Europe and she spent time with him in Venice with Venezia.
      She has worked with brands like Boohoo, Luxe To Kill, and Miss Pap as well as having 35,000 Instagram followers.
      Hendry had been linked with a transfer to Hamburg after spending last season on loan at Cremonese.
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      But Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq side beat them to the signing.
      Hendry tweeted: “Delighted to have signed for @ettifaq!!

      “An exciting new challenge, and hopefully we can bring success to this great club, looking forward to meeting everyone out there very soon!”
      Former Celtic forward Moussa Dembele has also joined Al-Ettifaq, but Henderson was by far Gerrard’s biggest signing.
      Most read in Football
      Henderson said in a statement: “Delighted to announce I’ve signed for Al-Ettifaq.
      “New challenge ahead, can’t wait to get going. Welcome to Saudi Arabia.”
      Henderson is believed to be on wages of almost £700,000-per-week.

      Steven Gerrard with Jordan HendersonCredit: Reuters More

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      Six players Man Utd could offload this summer to fund new transfers with Amrabat still wanted

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      MANCHESTER UNITED desperately need to offload players in order to secure their top targets this summer.The Red Devils have already parted ways with David De Gea, Anthony Elanga and Alex Telles permanently this summer.
      David De Gea departed the club after 12 years – and more will followCredit: Reuters
      But the big-money signings of Mason Mount and Andre Onana have left United with just £13million of their £120million summer budget.
      In order for Man United to comply with FFP rules and secure their top targets they will have to see out several players.
      Time is not on their side with just under a month left until the transfer window closes.
      Here we run through six players Manchester United could sell to raise funds.
      READ MORE MAN UTD
      Eric Bailly looks certain to leave United this summer after a failed loan spell in Marseille.
      Bailly returned to Manchester this summer but was left out of Erik Ten Hag’s pre-season squad.
      His time in England seems to be coming to an end with links to Al Nassr intensifying.
      Another who’s future is up in the air is Dean Henderson who spent last season at Nottingham Forest on loan.
      Most read in Football
      He was reportedly on his way back to Nottingham this season but talks have gone quiet as Forest target a new keeper.
      Arsenal have reportedly agreed terms with Brentford number one David Raya – while their number two Matt Turner is being linked to Forest which could affect Henderson’s move.

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      United would need to make room in their midfield if they want to sign their top target Sofyan Amrabat.
      Fred has been linked to Fulham and a few European clubs have shown interest but Galatasary looks the most likely destination.

      With a year left on his contract United will be hoping to cash in on the Brazilian midfielder to help fund new arrivals.
      Scott McTominay is another midfielder who could be shown the door before the end of this window.
      West Ham have shown interest in the Scotland international as they continue their pursuit to find a Declan Rice replacement.
      United have set their asking price at £40m for McTominay – he will bring in the most money compared to Fred and Donny van de Beek.
      Fred and Scott McTominay could make wayCredit: The Sun
      Brandon Williams and Donny van de Beek are unlikely to feature in Ten Hag’s plans this season.
      Williams made a five minute cameo in his one appearance for United last season – against Burnley in their fourth-round Carabao Cup tie.
      Van de Beek is another midfielder not getting regular game time and would benefit from a move away.
      Read More on The Sun
      According to Fabrizio Romano Real Sociedad are the only club to approach United for the Dutch international.
      The need to offload players is intensifying with a £75m deal for Atalanta forward Rasmus Holjand nearly over the line – the 20-year old will reportedly complete his medical today. More