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      Mikel Arteta takes dig at old Arsenal regime and says he spotted key problem at ‘soulless’ club while at Man City

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      ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has taken a dig at the old regime – claiming he could see the club has become “soulless” while he was at Manchester City.The Spaniard nearly guided the Gunners to the title last season, only for them to lose out to Pep Guardiola’s side in the final weeks of the campaign.
      Mikel Arteta believed the club had become “soulless”Credit: Reuters
      Mikel Arteta assisted Pep Guardiola at Man CityCredit: Getty
      Arsenal led the race throughout but City clinched the Premier League on route to their Treble by five points.
      Arteta has been praised for turning the club around and Champions League football will be back at the Emirates for the first time in seven years next season.
      The 41-year-old previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Man City from 2016 to 2019 and he played for Arsenal from 2011 to 2016.
      He believes the club drifted away from its values before he took to the helm.
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      Arsenal had gone through three managers in 18 months with Arsene Wenger quitting before Unai Emery was axed for interim Freddie Ljungberg.
      And the club was in turmoil after six league finishes outside the top four.
      Arteta told Marca: “I was Pep’s assistant at City, we were playing Arsenal and I saw that the soul of the club had been lost.
      “There was no enjoyment, no feeling. 
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      “I knew there was the option of soon being in the other dugout and I knew we had to connect the team and the fans. 
      “It was very clear to me. I drew a tree and its roots, and I said that the problem was ours. 
      “We had to cure all that, and cure it with people who were involved. Without that, there would be no fun for the fans. 
      “Now I feel happy, we have a clear identity, there is unity and we are full of energy. 
      “That’s the greatest thing. From top to bottom, everyone is pushing in the same direction. We give the fans something to dream about and be proud of. And now, we have to win more.”
      Arteta has been heavily influenced by Guardiola and despite battling it out for the title, they remain friends.
      He said: “[Our relationship is] very good, three days ago I spoke to Pep.
      “But we are both focused on winning and are very competitive. When we are in the ring, we are very focused. 
      “But we are confident enough for that to happen and the next day to call each other and give him a hug. That’s never going to go away.”
      Arsenal will look to strengthen their squad and are keen on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
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      On potentially signing the German for £65million from Chelsea, he said: “Kai has already shown a lot, including winning a Champions League. He is a talented, versatile player and only 24-years-old.
      “Talent has a price and, at Arsenal, we are always interested in young players with experience.”
      Mikel Arteta has slammed the old Arsenal regimeCredit: EPA
      Arteta has led Arsenal back into the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand reveals the staggering fee he would cost in today’s transfer market

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand believes he would be worth a staggering £170million in today’s market.The 44-year-old won six Premier League titles and one Champions League during his time with the Red Devils.
      Rio Ferdinand believes he would be worth £170m in today’s marketCredit: Getty
      Ferdinand joined Man Utd for £30million in 2002Credit: PA:Press Association
      He formed a solid partnership with Nemanja Vidic and both were regarded as arguably the best in the world in the mid 2000s.
      Ferdinand believes he would cost a world-record fee for a centre-back if he was around these days.
      He told the Vibe with Five podcast: “£100m would be cheap for me in today’s market.
      “£170m, £400,000-a-week. That’s what I’ll be now.”
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      Fans were left divided by his opinion of himself, one said: “He cost United £30m 21 years ago, so I’d say he’s not a million miles away from his valuation.”
      Another added: “People underestimate how good this guy was. One of the first ball-playing defenders and the GOAT Premier League centre-back.”
      However, some disagreed: “Rio would be an average in today’s game. Every defender now is better than him on the ball, John Stones makes him look like Titus Bramble.”
      A second replied: “Hope he understands how the modern game has evolved, guy would struggle.”
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      Ferdinand began his career at West Ham before being signed by Leeds in 2000 for £18m, which was then a British transfer record.
      After just two seasons he was bought by United for £29.3million with add-ons seeing the figure rise to £33.3million.
      It made him the most expensive British signing and defender again for the second time.
      The £170m that Ferdinand thinks he would be worth today would mean only Neymar’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain for £198m in 2017 would be more pricey.
      The current Brit record is held by Jude Bellingham following his £115m switch to Real Madrid this summer. More

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      Leeds line up loan transfer for Man Utd starlet as Wilfried Gnonto replacement as forward seeks Premier League return

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      LEEDS have expressed an interest in signing Manchester United youngster Amad Diallo on loan, according to reports.The Whites were relegated from the Premier League last month and they are now at risk of losing several first team stars.
      Diallo could join Leeds on loanCredit: Getty
      Wilfried Gnonto is already being lined up for a return to the top level, with Everton considering a permanent transfer.
      And according to The Mirror, Leeds want to sign Diallo as his replacement.
      Although the Whites are yet to announce their new manager, club chiefs want to bring the 20-year-old to Elland Road on loan for the 2023-24 Championship campaign.
      Diallo spent last season on loan at Sunderland, where he became a fan favourite after scoring 14 goals in 42 appearances.
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      He is yet to establish himself as a regular first-team player at Man Utd, so Erik ten Hag will likely sanction another loan deal before the upcoming season starts.
      Leeds are also expected to lose Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, Crysencio Summerville and Robin Koch this summer.
      Adams is being targeted by Aston Villa, while Everton are keeping tabs on Summerville as well as Gnonto.
      Roma are interested in signing Kristensen on a permanent transfer.
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      And Koch is expected to leave – possibly on a free transfer – with Manchester United understood to be interested.
      The Red Devils reportedly held talks with the defender earlier this month. More

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      Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Kai Havertz transfer and own rule about targets as he reveals why he wants Chelsea ace

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      MIKEL ARTETA has defended Arsenal’s shock swoop for Kai Havertz – insisting the German is worth every penny.The Gunners are on the verge of completing a £65million deal for the Chelsea midfielder, who is being let go as part of the Blues’ bid to balance the books.
      Arsenal are on the verge of snapping up Kai Havertz from ChelseaCredit: GETTY
      Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has hailed the Germany international’s imminent arrivalCredit: PA
      Havertz’s imminent and pricey move to North London has shocked the Emirates faithful, but Arteta insists: “Talent comes at a price, and at Arsenal, we are always interested in youngsters with experience.
      “I repeat, I’m not talking about players from other clubs, but in the case of Kai he has already shown a lot, including in the Champions League.
      “He is a talented player, versatile and only 24 years old.”
      Arteta will be hoping the addition of Havertz will help Arsenal get over the Premier League finish line next season.
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      The North Londoners surrendered a nine-point lead to Treble winners Manchester City, dropping them during a disastrous three-week period in April.
      Arteta, 41, told: “It still hurts me deeply not having won the Premier after spending ten months fighting with City.
      “But that’s the sport. That said, what has been achieved with such a young team is worthwhile. That is clear to me too.
      “Those three draws in a row penalised us, and all the misfortunes that happened.
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      “There were three or four injuries to important players and from there, everything got complicated.
      “When we had the full team, we were consistent. As soon as problems came, we couldn’t be consistent.
      “And then our rival was the best team in the world, the best squad in the world, the best coach in the world.
      “We had no choice but to accept it and shake hands with the champion.”
      Arteta is confident of ending Arsenal’s 20-year wait for Prem glory, telling Marca: “That is our ambition.
      Mikel Arteta remains confident that Arsenal can win the Premier LeagueCredit: GETTY
      “We know the difficulty, it is the best league in the world and next season is going to be the most difficult league in history.
      “Why? Last year it already was. I’ve been here for 22 years and I’ve never seen a competitive level like that.
      “So much quality, so much organization, so many resources, such good coaches.
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      “And now [Mauricio] Pochettino and [Andoni] Iraola have arrived.
      “The level is that and to win the Premier you must be the best. That is why we have to strengthen.” More

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      Chelsea keeper Kepa makes decision on future amid Saudi transfer raids as Wag Andrea Martinez shares ‘beautiful’ pics

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      KEPA ARRIZABALAGA wants to stay at Chelsea and convince the fans he is their true Blue No1.The Spanish keeper, 28, thinks incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino can help him win over the supporters.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga is keen to stay put at Chelsea and win over the fans for goodCredit: Getty
      Kepa is big pals with Toni Jimenez who will be joining Pochettino as goalkeeper coach.
      The pair have started planning and believe Kepa can improve next season.
      Chelsea are selling fellow keeper Edouard Mendy, 31, to Saudi side Al-Alhi and have been linked with a move for Inter Milan’s Andre Onana.
      But Kepa must prove himself to a fifth manager since a £71.6million move to London five years ago.
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      Jimenez is part of Pochettino’s staff who will officially begin work on July 3.
      Kepa returns a few days later, having been recalled to Spain’s squad — even if he did not play in their Nations League triumph.
      Kepa has two years left on his contract and wants to stay, even though Chelsea’s owners are offloading a raft of players.
      During his time off, though, Kepa is relaxing in the sunshine with his fiancee Andrea Martinez.
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      The glamourous Wag took to Instagram to share snaps of the pair soaking up the rays on holiday.
      The loved-up couple also did a gym session together as the goalkeeper ensures he keeps up his fitness levels during the off-season.
      Fans adored the pics and flooded the comments with support for the engaged duo.
      One said: “Beautiful together.”
      Another wrote: “So sweet.”
      A third added: “Best couple, best goalkeeper.”
      Kepa and Andrea Martinez are enjoying a holiday following the long 2022-23 seasonCredit: Instagram @kepaarrizabalaga
      The couple are engaged to be married and fans loved the contentCredit: Instagram @kepaarrizabalaga More

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      Man City ready to hijack Arsenal’s £100m transfer bid for Declan Rice but need big promise from England ace first

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      MANCHESTER CITY reportedly want assurances from Declan Rice that he wants to join them.That is before they launch a £100million offer to hijack the West Ham star’s move to Arsenal.
      Declan Rice is valued at £100million by West HamCredit: Getty
      Man City want to sign him but want assurances that he wants the moveCredit: Rex
      It could leave Arsenal sweating over their transfer plansCredit: AP
      According to the Mirror, West Ham are confident they will receive the £100m valuation for their skipper from one club or the other.
      Arsenal have already seen two bids for Rice pushed back, with their latest offer worth £90m including add-ons.
      City are determined to land Rice, 24, after the departure of Ilkay Gundogan.
      However, if Rice has no genuine interest in joining the Etihad outfit, City will withdraw their interest.
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      Rice has been gearing up for a move to the Emirates for months and is said to prefer a move there.
      Indeed, Bayern Munich withdrew their interest in the England international after this revelation.
      The report adds Arsenal’s financial department are working hard on how to restructure the deal in order to best appease the Hammers’ demands.
      After their stunning Treble success and strong player sales, Man City are said to be armed with a £300million war chest.
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      With stars such as Ilkay Gundogan departing, along with reports linking Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte away from the club, City will be in need of reinforcements.
      They have already lasered in a deal for Mateo Kovacic.
      Meanwhile, Josko Gvardiol has been identified as Laporte’s successor.
      However, it will take a world record fee for a defender to prise him away from RB Leipzig.
      In Arsenal’s case, a deal for Kai Havertz appears to be close, while they have a clear shot at landing Ajax star Jurrien Timber in part of what could be a record-breaking £200m spree for the Gunners. More

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      ‘Devil Baby’ influencer who stalked Chelsea star Mason Mount after one-night stand breaks silence following conviction

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      A MODEL who branded herself ‘Devil Baby’ as she stalked Mason Mount after a one-night stand has spoken for the first time.Orla Melissa Sloan, 22, created 21 phone numbers and told the Chelsea star she wasn’t eating as she hounded him online.
      Orla Melissa Sloan branded herself ‘Devil Baby’ as she stalked Mason Mount after a one-night standCredit: orlamelissa
      Mason Mount was left terrified of obsessed SloanCredit: Getty
      Sloan said she was ‘stuck in her own world’ while stalking the three Prem stars
      She also targeted Ben Chilwell, 26, and Brighton’s Billy Gilmour, 21, in a relentless ‘kiss and troll’ crusade after meeting the Premier League trio at a house party.
      During her harassment campaign, Sloan created sinister collages of Chilwell and Mount, 24, with other women and demanded apologies from the players for ignoring her messages.
      And Gilmour was left taking sleeping pills, cutting ties with his family and having his security beefed up after she falsely claimed she was pregnant despite the pair never having sex.
      On Tuesday, Sloan – a former OnyFans model – was spared jail when she was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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      She was handed a 12-week sentence suspended for 18 months and told to pay the millionaire stars a total of £1,100 in compensation – £500 to Gilmore and £300 to Chilwell and Mount.
      But speaking for the first time since her sentence, Sloan says she regrets her behaviour but claims it was down to “loneliness”.
      She told The Mail on Sunday: “I didn’t see it coming. I was very stuck in my own world.
      “I didn’t meet many people. I was quite lonely and being on OnlyFans just made me more lonely.
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      “It’s only until it got to the point where I had to go to court, and potentially to prison, that I could see what I had done.”
      Sloan’s harassment exploded after she was invited to a party at England international Chilwell’s house after meeting him over social media.
      She slept with Chelsea team-mate Mount, who has 36 England caps, and the pair chatted “sporadically” for around six months until he cut things off.
      Sloan, from Exeter, Devon, then started stalking the 24-year-old and changed her number 21 times when he kept blocking her.
      She also sent him a screenshot of her paying £12.99 for a new number from Apple, saying: “I’m not buying food anymore so I can get more numbers.”
      ‘DEVIL BABY’
      And in the grips of obsession, she told him: “You must apologise or you will unlock a new character – Devil Baby. So let me apologise and make it right.”
      She told The Mail on Sunday the name was only meant to be “a joke”.
      Mount was left terrified that she would show up at the Chelsea training centre after she was unable to contact him.
      Speaking of her interactions with Mount, Sloan said she “thought it was going somewhere” but in reality there was no chance of a relationship.
      She also made an Instagram account with the username DevilBaby_10, which she used to create collages of Chilwell with other women.
      Gilmour was then bombarded with messages about Mount after the England star refused to message back.
      The stalker tagged his family and friends in the “completely fictitious” posts which ended in her claiming she was pregnant, despite the pair never having sex.
      Gilmour, who has been capped 16 times by Scotland, said her messages had a “huge impact” on his life following his switch from Chelsea to Brighton last September.
      He told the court: “I have not been able to sleep and have had to take sleeping tablets. It’s had a negative effect on my performance and professional life.”
      The court was told by Sloan’s mum, who describes herself on Facebook as a Reiki and Shamanic healer, that her daughter is “addicted” to social media.
      Following her trial, Sloan says she never intended to harm the three players but has learnt that online actions have real world consequences which she did not anticipate at the time.
      The influencer previously admitted one count of harassment, one of stalking and one count of stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress.
      The latter charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
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      Sloan admitted stalking Mount between June 19, 2022 to October 28 and Scots international Gilmour between September 10 2022, and October 28.
      She also pleaded guilty to harassing Chilwell between October 20 and 29. More

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      Everton striker wanted by Al-Hilal in stunning transfer as Saudi side look to link him up with THREE Premier League aces

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      AL-HILAL are eying a stunning swoop for Everton winger Demarai Gray, it’s been claimed.Saudi Pro League clubs are currently pillaging the Prem and offering stars extraordinary contracts to play their football in The Kingdom.
      Al-Hilal recently completed the signing of Ruben Neves from WolvesCredit: AP
      They have now set their sights on Everton forward Demarai GrayCredit: Getty
      Al-Hilal are no different having signed recently signed Ruben Neves from Wolves.
      And they’re plotting to make Gray their next signing, according to Sky Sports.
      They claim Al-Hilal chiefs will travel to London next week to meet with their Everton counterparts and try to entice them to part company with Gray.
      It’s claimed, however, they’ll face stiff competition for his services from THREE Premier League clubs.
      Gray, 26, has one year left on his contract and Goodison Park and a new deal looks unlikely at this moment in time.
      Gray’s signature isn’t the only one remaining on Al-Hilal’s summer wishlist.
      The Blue Waves are also hoping to secure the services of Manchester City and Chelsea aces Bernardo Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly.
      Al-Hilal are reportedly set to offer Silva a jaw-dropping £75m-a-year deal for him to up sticks from the Etihad.
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      Treble-winners City, however, are eager to retain the Portuguese’s services and have reportedly offered him a new lucrative deal at Eastlands.
      Al-Hilal may have some work to do to get their hands on Silva, but they’re seemingly closing in on Koulibaly.
      It’s understood they’re on the brink of finalising a £20million deal for the Senegal captain – who was spotted in Riyadh on Saturday.
      Al-Hilal’s swoop for Gray comes as a surprise as he only scored six goals and provided one assist in 36 appearances last season.
      The Jamaica international was far from happy with his campaign, admitting: “I need to keep improving and bring what I can to the club.
      Al-Hilal are also interested in signing Manchester City ace Bernardo SilvaCredit: GETTY
      The Blue Waves are on the bringing of snapping up Chelsea defender Kalidou KoulibalyCredit: GETTY
      “Obviously, the season is done now and I’ve got internationals to focus on.
      “But after that, I want to come back in the best shape possible.
      “That means mixing my qualities with what the manager requires from me.
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      “And hopefully, I can do that on a consistent basis.
      “Because being an attacker, you are expected to get goals and assists so I want to up my numbers.” More