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      John Stones’ hybrid role makes Manchester City star uniquely appealing Dream Team option

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      THERE’S a sense John Stones (£5m) could be a pivotal figure in Dream Team this coming season.The so-called Barnsley Beckenbauer’s stock has arguably never been as high as it is right now off the back of his significant contribution to Manchester City’s treble.
      Having made his name as a ball-playing centre-back, Stones excelled in a hybrid role at the back end of 2022/23 to make Pep Guardiola’s 3-2-4-1 formation as effective as possible.
      The 29-year-old’s performances against Real Madrid and Inter Milan when the stakes were highest in the Champions League were truly remarkable; he combined his defensive diligence with composed passing and immense press resistance reminiscent of Sergio Busquets.

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      Dream Team’s third-most popular defender at the time of writingCredit: DREAM TEAM
      It remains to be seen whether Stones will continue to play alongside Rodri (£4m) in defensive midfield when in possession but it would be a surprise if Guardiola abandoned the set-up that served him so well last term.
      The England international is categorised as a defender in Dream Team for 2023/24, meaning he will earn five points for every clean sheet to which he contributes at least 60 minutes of playing time.
      This is notable as out-and-out defensive midfielders do not benefit directly from clean sheets.
      However, Dream Team’s improved scoring system should mean more returns for the likes of Rodri, Declan Rice (£3.5m), Moises Caicedo (£2.5m) and company.
      Guardiola’s tactical innovation has given Stones a fresh dynamic in Dream TeamCredit: GETTY
      This season, players will earn one point for every two successful tackles – a metric traditionally dominated by combative midfielders.
      Plus, with bonus points determined by interceptions, pass completion rate, blocks and fouls won (among other stats) 2023/24 could be the season defensive midfielders are properly recognised in the world of Dream Team.
      And this is why Stones is such an intriguing figure, he may be able to enjoy the best of both worlds; a defender’s clean sheet privilege and the steady returns that should accompany busy midfield work.
      Naturally, he’ll start at a price befitting an asset with sky-high potential, only three defenders cost more than £5m prior to Gameweek 1: Ruben Dias (£5.5m), Kieran Trippier (£6m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£6m).
      So far, Stones’ lofty price tag isn’t deterring Dream Team gaffers at this stage as his ownership of 20.6% makes him the third-most popular defender.

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      Fulham ‘to hijack Lazio’s Callum Hudson-Odoi transfer’ but fans can’t believe the fee for Chelsea star once valued £70m

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      FULHAM have made a “verbal proposal” to sign Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, according to reports.The 22-year-old, who received three England caps in 2019, has stalled at Stamford Bridge in recent years.
      Callum Hudson-Odoi is being linked with a move away from Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      He spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, but registered just one goal in 21 games.
      As a result, his stock has fallen considerably – and with it his price tag.
      Back in 2020, Chelsea rejected a loan offer from Bayern Munich which included a £70MILLION option to buy.
      Now Fabrizio Romano is reporting Fulham have offered £4m for the attacker.
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      It comes amid interest elsewhere from Italian side Lazio and Saudi Arabia.
      Chelsea are not thought to be happy with the bid from their West London rivals.
      However, they are only believed to be holding out for £8m.
      And Fulham are said to be confident of securing a deal in the “next days”, with negotiations at an “advanced” stage.
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      But fans are in disbelief at just how much Hudson-Odoi’s value has fallen over three years.
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      Reacting on social media, one person said: “Mad to think Chelsea rejected a £70m from Bayern Munich just a few seasons ago.”
      Another added: “Can someone tell me what happen to Hudson-Odoi?😭😭😭”
      A third replied: “Four million is approximately free to me. Funny how Hudson-Odoi used to be Chelsea’s saviour some seasons ago.”
      And a fourth responded: “£8m for Hudson-Odoi?! That’s a bargain and a half. But the disrespect from Chelsea.”
      Hudson-Odoi, who joined the Blues as a young boy in 2007, has racked up 126 appearances and 16 goals for the first team, winning the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup.
      Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the middle of a mass exodus this summer.
      They have already axed high-profile stars such as N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      The likes of Conor Gallagher, Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku are also being linked with moves. More

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      Luton in breach of Premier League protocol as rivals fear matches could be CALLED OFF… but chiefs give them hall pass

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      LUTON have been granted permission to start their Premier League campaign WITHOUT the installation of undersoil heating.League rules state undersoil heating is required on the pitches of all 20 clubs.
      Luton are upgrading Kenilworth Road as they prepare for Premier League footballCredit: Reuters
      But, according to The Mail, an exception has been handed out to Luton as they prepare to return to top-flight football for the first time since 1992.
      Their first home game at the 10,000-capacity Kenilworth Road – which was scheduled for August 19 against Burnley – has already been postponed as the £10million upgrade to their stadium will not be ready in time.
      Luton are working away on developments to the Bobber Stand.
      But the lack of undersoil heating will leave other teams concerned about fixtures potentially being postponed.
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      The club are in talks with the Premier League about how to prevent serious weather conditions hampering their matches.
      When they were in the EFL, regulations stated undersoil heating OR frost covers were adequate ways of protecting the pitch.
      But this did not prevent them from postponing a clash with Milwall in December when their pitch froze over.
      Luton’s first game of the 2023/24 campaign comes away at Brighton on August 12.
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      They then take on Chelsea a fortnight later, before they are scheduled to host West Ham on September 1.
      This will be their final game before the international break.
      Rob Edwards’ side secured promotion to the Premier League after beating Coventry on penalties in the play-off final back in May. More

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      Man City’s lack of statement summer transfer signing and stars leaving gives Premier League rivals a glimmer of hope

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      AN icy chill whistled through football when Pep Guardiola declared that Erling Haaland is even better now than he was last year.If that’s true, then the other Premier League teams might as well pack up now and go home.
      Pep Guardiola’s Man City have had a quiet transfer window so farCredit: Getty
      But is it really possible for the remorseless Norwegian to improve on perfection?
      Can he realistically expect to score 52 goals again or was last season simply a case of all the stars aligning and everything falling into place for Manchester City’s blond bombshell?
      Of course Haaland will have benefited from his first year in English football and, as Guardiola points out, he’s also physically much fitter.
      But that doesn’t automatically mean he is going to exceed last season’s incredible accomplishments.
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      It hasn’t gone unnoticed among rival clubs desperately clutching at straws that Haaland only scored once in City’s final eight games of their all-conquering campaign.
      Perhaps he was just saving himself for the Champions League final after putting so much energy into after running opponents ragged all season.

      But maybe, just maybe, defenders were starting to find a way to nullify his threat and keep him at arm’s length.
      City fans will be praying that is not the case as their team sets out to win a sixth Premier League title in seven years.
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      But it has been a curious summer for Guardiola, with Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez gone, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte all considering their futures and only Mateo Kovacic signed so far.
      With five weeks of the transfer window remaining, there’s still plenty of time for that to change.
      But they have already lost out to Arsenal for Declan Rice, didn’t even compete with Real Madrid for Jude Bellingham and are now quibbling over the £85million asking price for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
      One of the oldest cliches in football is that the minute you stand still the world starts to move away from you.
      And it’s just beginning to look as if the European champions might be in danger of resting on their golden laurels.
      Of course there is so much ground for the other teams to make up that they can afford to take their foot off the gas a bit just to make things interesting.
      Is City’s motivation the same after winning every trophy on offer?Mark Irwin
      But that’s not the way Guardiola works. He’s a relentless perfectionist and there’s no way he’ll be happy to give any encouragement to Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United or Chelsea.
      He doesn’t have a complacent bone in his body but is the same true of the City’s owners who achieved their Holy Grail when they lifted the Champions League in June?
      This is Pep’s first summer that the club have not made at least one statement signing and even if they can get Gvardiol over the line it’s not going to electrify the fan base.
      So while no-one could ever accuse City of lacking ambition, is their motivation the same after winning every trophy on offer?
      They might be universally acknowledged as the best team in the world, but when you’ve reached the top the only way from there is down.
      And if that doesn’t guarantee that they now win the League, the Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Super Cup and World Club Cup, nothing will.
      PITCH BATTLE
      WATCHING all the pre-season games out here in the USA, the one thing that really stands out is how poor the pitches are.
      And considering they are going to be hosting the World Cup in three years’ time, that could become a real issue.
      The problem is that all of the big stadiums are owned by American football teams and they play on synthetic surfaces.
      So to accommodate the visiting ‘soccer’ teams from Europe, they lay down temporary grass pitches which don’t compare with the lush turf of Wembley or Old Trafford.
      The surface at the Metlife Stadium for Man Utd v Arsenal left a lot to be desiredCredit: The Mega Agency
      Ahead of the Manchester United v Arsenal game in New Jersey the other day, they were using a bloody great hosepipe to water the pitch because they don’t have undersoil sprinklers.
      And this was the Metlife Stadium, which will more than likely be staging the 2026 World Cup final.
      It was the same story when Arsenal played Barcelona at Stan Kroenke’s state of the art SoFi Stadium in LA, where the pitch had only been laid just the previous night after a convert by some country singer.
      Another case for Fifa of never mind the quality, look at the cash.
      DESERT STORMER
      AL-HILAL have sent out a message to the entire sporting world with their £259million bid for Kylian Mbappe.
      It comprises two words…and the second one is ‘off’.
      What they are doing is letting everyone know that no matter how much money the established aristocracy of the game might have, they can’t even begin to compete with the Saudis.
      It’s willy waving on a global scale because PSG would willingly have accepted £130m for Mbappe to prevent him from running down his contract and leaving as a free agent next year.
      Al-Hilal bid £269m for Kylian Mbappe just because they canCredit: AFP
      But Al-Hilal have offered twice the asking price simply because they can.
      It’s two fingers to everyone who sneers at the idea of football in the desert or questions their record on human rights
      Manchester United, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester City have all been powerless to stop key players packing their bags for Riyadh and now even Qatari owned PSG want to cash in on their neighbour’s extravagance.
      Premier League clubs are unhappy that Newcastle are about to flog Allan Saint-Maximin to another branch of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
      But with financial fair play now in tatters, that’s probably the least of their problems.
      THAT’S A S**T KIT
      IF you thought that Arsenal’s horrific away kit was the worst new strip you’d see this summer, think again.
      Because Manchester United have just released a green-and-white striped effort that is an absolute abomination.
      It’s almost as if the kit manufacturers are competing to see just how far they can push their luck and still convince supporters to part with their hard-earned cash.
      It’s an industry version of the emperor’s new clothes and the in-joke is on you.
      Manchester United’s new away kit is an absolute abominationCredit: Getty
      LOWER THE BAR
      REMEMBER when Barcelona were the biggest, most glamorous club in the world with every top player desperate to join them?
      Well things have got so bad at the Nou Camp these days that they have been reduced to signing former Southampton reject Oriol Romeu on a free transfer from Girona.
      But the real joke is that they have inserted a buy-out clause into his new contract and their asking price for the veteran midfielder is £347million.
      What do you think they’re smoking in Catalonia?
      Oriol Romeu (right) in action for Barcelona against Arsenal in the USACredit: Getty
      GROUNDLESS CLAIMS
      THE other day I received an email from some PR company or other to announce that Old Trafford had come top of a fans’ survey as the best ground in the Premier League.
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      Half an hour later a missive arrived from a different company claiming that Anfield had been named the finest stadium in the country according to supporters.
      Which of them was right? I don’t know and I don’t care because it’s all a load of made-up nonsense. More

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      Steve Bruce reveals ‘hardest thing I ever had to say’ before leaving Newcastle and shock name he tipped to replace him

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      STEVE BRUCE has revealed he told the Newcastle owners to get rid of him before parting company with the club.And he has also confirmed he named Steven Gerrard as a potential successor – along with Eddie Howe.
      Steve Bruce has revealed what he told the Newcastle owners after they arrivedCredit: Business of Sport podcast

      He has admitted it was a hugely difficult conversationCredit: Business of Sport podcast
      Bruce, 62, endured two torrid years in charge at St James’ Park where he managed a win percentage of just 27.4 from 84 league games.
      And Newcastle were 19th in the Premier League table when he left by mutual consent.
      He was dismissed less than a fortnight after the Saudi consortium had taken over the club from Mike Ashley.
      But he has now confirmed he instigated his own exit.
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      Speaking about his conversations with the Newcastle owners following their arrival, he told the Business of Sport podcast: “I had to say to them: ‘Look, you might have to take me out of the equation’.
      “It’s the hardest thing I ever had to say, but I realised it was for the best for the club because everything was euphoric around it. The only negative was me.
      “They even asked me, and I can say this on record, they even asked me who I would recommend.
      “I did recommend Eddie [Howe] and I did recommend, I hope Steven doesn’t mind, but I recommended Steve Gerrard too.
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      “But somebody like Eddie or Steven, young, take it on.
      “It was really, really difficult. And I’ve never done that before – it’s sort of giving up – but I realised it was best for the club.”
      He continued: “I thought I had to because we got beat by Tottenham after we scored early – we scored after 20 seconds or something. We got beat 3-2 off Spurs.
      “It was the word ‘give up’ – that’s the wrong word for me. I never wanted to give it up, but I realised that I had to and it was more beneficial to the club, that they needed to make a clean sweep and take the negativity out of the equation which was me.”
      Since the departure of Bruce, Newcastle have gone from strength to strength under Howe.
      And that culminated in them qualifying for the Champions League last season.
      Meanwhile, Bruce was appointed West Brom boss in February 2022 but lasted just eight months before being sacked. More

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      Game4Ukraine line-ups revealed with host of Chelsea and Arsenal legends, ex-Man Utd captain and Ballon d’Or winner

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      GAME4UKRAINE’S line-ups have been revealed – and there are some huge names involved in the charity match.Footballing legends and current pros will face off at Stamford Bridge on August 5 to raise money for the United24 initiative.
      Legendary manager Arsene Wenger is going to take charge of one of the teamsCredit: Getty
      Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola will be lacing his boots again for the gameCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Jack Wilshere is also taking part in the matchCredit: Getty
      Chelsea’s £88million man Mykhailo Mudryk will be getting some minutes tooCredit: Getty
      The game will see the Blue Team, managed by Chelsea Women’s boss Emma Hayes, face off against the Yellow Team, who will be overseen by Arsene Wenger.
      The Blue team will see former Chelsea stars like Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho and Gianfranco Zola play alongside current Chelsea man and Ukrainian international Mykhailo Mudryk.
      The Yellow Team will feature an array of ex-Arsenal heroes including Jack Wilshere, Jens Lehmann and Robert Pires.
      There will also be a whole host of other ex-pros from world football with Gerard Pique, Fabio Cannavaro, Luca Toni and Mark Noble some of the talent on show.
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      Former female pros will be taking part too including Carly Telford, Claire Rafferty and Katie Chapman.
      But it’s not just footballers – an array of different celebs will be stepping on to the pitch at Stamford Bridge to draw attention to the important cause.
      Radio DJ Roman Kemp, actor Mark Strong and comedian Russell Howard are just a few that will be trying their hand against the pros.
      Fans of the popular TV show Ted Lasso will have a keen eye on the game with Toheeb Jimoh and Phil Dunster swapping on-screen football for the real deal.
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      Jimoh is known for playing Sam Obisanya in the Apple TV series whilst Dunster plays the infamous Jamie Tartt.
      The Blue Team will be captained by Ukrainian legend Andriy Shevchenko whilst the Yellow team will see current Gunner Oleksandr Zinchenko wear the armband.
      The match will also have an extended half-time show with acts such as Tom Grennan, The Pretenders and Tom Walker performing.
      With such a huge array of big names, this is the list of confirmed players lining up in the match.
      Team Shevchenko (The Blue Team)
      Manager – Emma Hayes
      Players – Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Luca Toni, Dida, Jermain Defoe, Gianfranco Zola, Carlo Cudicini, Claude Makelele, William Gallas, Samuel Eto’o, Mykhailo Mudryk, Fabio Cannavaro, Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Oddo, Christian Panucci, Danny Drinkwater, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, Serginho, Russell Howard, James Arthur, Chelcee Grimes, Toheeb Jimoh, Claire Rafferty, Katie Chapman, Julio Cesar.
      Team Zinchenko (The Yellow Team)
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      Manager – Arsene Wenger
      Players – Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jens Lehmann, Joleon Lescott, Patrik Berger, Per Mertesacker, Robert Pires, John Arne Riise, David James, Antonio Valencia, Wes Morgan, Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna, Shota Arveladze, Charlie Adam, Mark Noble, Gael Clichy, Martin Skrtel, Yeven Konoplyanka, Gerard Pique, Yeven Levchenko, Oleh Luzhnyi, Phil Dunster, Roman Kemp, Mark Strong, Patrick Owomoyela, Darijo Srna, Gilberto Da Silva, Carly Telford.
      Current Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko will captain one of the sidesCredit: EPA
      Ted Lasso actor Phil Dunster will be taking part tooCredit: Getty
      Recently retired World Cup and four time Champions League winner Gerard Pique is going to get back out on the pitchCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League cult hero looks unrecognisable with greying beard in sweet snap with stunning Wag

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      A PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero now looks unrecognisable with a greying beard after sharing a sweet snap with his stunning Wag.The retired midfielder has swapped his clean shaven look for bushy facial hair over a decade after retiring.
      The Premier League cult hero now looks unrecognisableCredit: Instagram @bergerjarka
      He has swapped his long locks for a shorter trim and bushy beardCredit: Instagram @bergerjarka
      The ex-Liverpool star is loved up with his wife JaroslavaCredit: Instagram @patrikbergerofficial
      He has also ditched his shoulder-length brown locks but still retains an impressive head of hair.
      A former Czech Republic international, he made 229 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, Portsmouth and Aston Villa.
      His time at Anfield also included plenty of silverware, including the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
      Not guessed the player yet?
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      It is none other than Patrik Berger, who scored 38 Premier League goals as well as playing for both Borussia Dortmund and Sparta Prague.
      Berger had an iconic look during his playing career, with a long brown barnet and hair band making him instantly recognisable.
      In recent snaps with his partner Jaroslava, though, he has shown off a new look.
      He now has a bushy beard and a striking set of sleeve tattoos on each arm.
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      Jaroslava Berger is Patrik Berger’s stunning WAGCredit: Instagram @bergerjarka
      Jaroslava Berger’s Instagram feed is full of snaps from her travelsCredit: Instagram @bergerjarka
      Berger wished Jaroslava a happy birthday last month and the couple regularly share loved up snaps on social media.
      They have recently included a picture of Berger kissing her cheek and their travels around the Czech Republic.
      Since retiring aged 36 in 2010, Berger has become a keen golfer and often attends tournaments.
      He has also returned to Anfield to appear in charity matches for Liverpool legends teams.
      Patrik Berger became a cult hero during his time at LiverpoolCredit: Getty More

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      Fans demand Premier League bring in ‘insane’ technology as new camera angle shows stars ‘don’t get a second on the ball’

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      FANS are calling for the Premier League to start using a new camera angle after they got a taste of it in pre-season. Following the pre-season clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle in the Premier League Summer Series fans got a never-before-seen view of the game.
      Fans got to see a view on the pitch as Youri Tielemans had a camera attached to his chestCredit: Twitter @premierleague
      The footage showed an incredible insight into what it’s like to be on the playing surfaceCredit: Twitter @premierleague
      Fans were amazed by the quick-pace of the gameCredit: Twitter @premierleague
      The coverage featured a fascinating view from on the pitch after a camera was strapped to Youri Tielemans’ chest.
      Villa’s new signing was making his debut and did so whilst wearing a body camera.
      The footage that it recorded is incredible and it has given fans a new appreciation for how hard top level football is.
      The fast-paced intensity seemed to blow fans minds as they saw it first hand, with many taking to social media to make their thoughts known.
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      One fan wrote: “Omds you don’t even get a second on the ball.”
      Whilst another added: “So cool to see. Only pre-season but you get a feel for how quickly they’re closed down. Barely time to take a touch.”
      A third wrote: “This intensity is crazy. The amount of time you get on the ball too sheesh.”
      Other fans called for the Premier League to introduce the angle permanently.
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      One wrote: “bring this to all normal Prem games.”
      With another writing: “Get one of these on the referees in the normal season!”
      The game itself was thrilling enough as it ended in a 3-3 draw between the two sides.
      Both Villa and Newcastle will meet again on the opening weekend of the season at St James’ Park. More