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      Man Utd to dump Anthony Martial as Ten Hag and board lose all patience after star’s latest sulk

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are dumping Anthony Martial after running out of patience.The Frenchman went straight down the tunnel when he was hooked in the 57th minute of Saturday’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth.
      Erik ten Hag has already had to deal with dressing room drama during a busy first year at Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
      Anthony Martial signed for the club all the way back in 2015 but has failed to set the world alightCredit: Getty
      It was another underwhelming performance from the forward, who has just eight goals in 27 appearances this season. Old Trafford’s hierarchy now want him out — and boss Erik ten Hag agrees.
      Martial’s tap-in for the opener in the 2-0 win against Wolves ten days ago was his only goal in the last ten games.
      It is his body language and lack of movement which has frustrated fans.
      There were also raised eyebrows amongst staff recently when the 27-year-old chose to wear gloves while playing at Old Trafford on an otherwise mild day.
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      Martial was just 19 when he joined the club from Monaco for £36million in 2015, then a record fee for a teenager.
      With add ons the fee had potential to rise to £58million.
      He had a good first season netting 17 times and in 2019-20 he scored a career best 23.
      But since then he has only hit 16 goals across the last three seasons and is constantly in and out the treatment room.
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      Last season he was farmed out on loan to Sevilla who were happy to send him back after scoring just once in 12 appearances.
      Ten Hag has constantly defended him even claiming the team is better when he plays.
      On Saturday the Dutchman did not publicly rebuke Martial for going down the tunnel after blanking the boss saying that he later returned to the bench.
      But it was not a good look.
      With one year left on the player’s contract and United in desperate need for someone to help out Marcus Rashford on the goals front they will listen to any offers.
      United’s main summer transfer target remains Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane who they are still confident of landing in a £100million deal. More

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      Man City ready to meet Gundogan’s new deal demands after being sparked into action by Arsenal transfer interest

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      MANCHESTER CITY aim to keep Ilkay Gundogan out of Arsenal’s clutches by getting him to agree on a new deal.Gunners manager Mikel Arteta wants a reunion with the  Etihad skipper who he worked with when he was Pep Guardiola’s No 2 up until 2019.
      Manchester City are planning to offer Ilkay Gundogan a new contractCredit: Getty
      He had been linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: AP
      The German’s City contract expires at the end of the season and early talks failed to find an agreement.
      Barcelona indicated they were willing to offer him a two-year deal and Gundogan was holding out for a similar offer from his current club.
      The stand-off alerted Arsenal, who ran the champions close in the title race, to the possibility they could bring him to the Emirates for free this summer.
      However, there is now optimism that a compromise can be reached which will see him extend his seven-year stay at the Etihad.
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      The deal proposed by City is believed to be structured differently to the one he has been offered at the Nou Camp but is closer to what he was looking for.
      And if he does stay, it would be a timely boost for Guardiola who has regularly stated wants the German – his first signing at City back in 2016 – to stay.
      Gundogan scored twice in each of his last two league starts – against Leeds and Everton – to put them on the brink of a third straight title.
      He lifted the trophy at the weekend despite not getting on against Chelsea – and is now hoping to get his hands on two more before the season finishes.
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      The feeling is Guardiola would have thrown his captain on for a few minutes at the end to say his goodbyes if he had thought it was going to be his Etihad farewell.
      His situation has taken on increasing importance with summer target Jude Bellingham expected to join Real Madrid rather than the English champs.
      Guardiola is looking to strengthen his midfield this summer with Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic one name under consideration along with Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga.
      Brighton’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is also a player the Etihad chief admires – although he is expected to join Liverpool.
      Meanwhile, City remain in talks with teen defender Rico Lewis over a new deal – but are yet to finalise terms.
      The 18-year-old full-back showed his versatility and quality again during the 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday and has been praised by Guardiola for his contribution to the title success. More

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      Southampton to appoint Russell Martin as club win race for manager dubbed ‘next Brendan Rodgers’

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      RUSSELL MARTIN will take over as Southampton boss this summer.The Swansea gaffer has verbally agreed terms with the relegated Saints, who are overhauling things on and off the pitch following a dismal season.
      Russell Martin first took charge as a manager in 2019 at MK DonsCredit: Getty
      Southampton are now negotiating compensation with the Championship outfit and the fee is set to be well under £1million.
      Martin, 37, who has led Swansea to 15th and tenth-placed finishes on a limited budget in his two seasons in Wales, is expected to bring his backroom staff with him.
      Ruben Selles, Saints’ third manager this season, will leave following Sunday’s game with Liverpool.
      The Saints ownership see Martin’s possession-based style as key to bouncing straight back into the Premier League.
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      His style of play and position as Swansea boss has seen him draw comparisons to Brendan Rodgers.
      Former Norwich defender Martin is not the only change on the south coast, with owners Sport Republic announcing a board reshuffle.
      Chief executive officer Martin Semmens has left after falling out with Sport Republic and the director of football Rasmus Ankersen.
      Jason Wilcox is set to arrive from champions Manchester City as technical director and has already had a hand in  Martin’s appointment.
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      Saints also announced that Andy Young, previously chief financial officer of City Football Group, will join as an independent director.
      And Darren Mowbray, the brother of Sunderland boss Tony, is their new head of recruitment.
      Southampton were relegated after defeat to Fulham earlier this month. More

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      Troy Deeney, 34, released by Birmingham as star falls victim to 13-player end-of-season cull

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      TROY DEENEY has been released by Birmingham City.The former Premier League star is one of 13 players to be released by the Championship side.
      Troy Deeney has been released by Birmingham CityCredit: Reuters
      The 34-year-old lifelong Blues fan and SunSport columnist signed from Watford two years ago and scored 11 goals in 54 Championship appearances for his boyhood heroes.
      Other senior players who have been told they can leave include former captain Harlee Dean, Jordan Graham, defenders Kevin Long, George Friend and French left-back Maxime Colin.
      Blues boss John Eustace has also lost five loan players who have returned to their parent clubs as new owner Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management clear the decks of some of their highest earners.
      City suffered losses of £24.8million in their last financial figures and an estimated £12million for the first six months of the current one.
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      Some of Blues’ released stars could renegotiate new deals according to club sources.
      Krystian Bielik, Hannibal, Reda Khadra, Dion Sanderson, Auston Trusty have all also left the club following the end of their loans.
      Prior to Deeney’s arrival at Birmingham, he spent 11 years at Watford.
      He became a club legend at Vicarage Road as he scored 140 goals in 419 games for the club.
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      Deeney was able to help the club earn promotion to the Premier League in 2015.
      He also made one of the most memorable moments in Championship history by scoring an iconic playoff semi-final goal against Leicester City in 2013. More

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      Nottingham Forest want quick Dean Henderson transfer and could pay Man Utd goalie’s full £110,000-a-week wages

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST are ready to start their summer rebuild and want Manchester United’s £30million-rated goalie Dean Henderson to join them on a permanent deal.The 26-year-old England international impressed on loan last season until he suffered a thigh injury in January which required surgery.
      Nottingham Forest want to sign Dean Henderson on a permanent deal this summerCredit: Getty
      Keylor Navas is expected to return to PSG this summerCredit: Getty
      Forest moved swiftly to bring in Paris St Germain’s experienced back-up Keylor Navas, who became a cult figure with fans as he helped Forest avoid the drop.
      However, the former Real Madrid star will return to Paris this summer and Forest boss Steve Cooper wants Henderson installed as his permanent No.1 so he can hit the ground running when he returns to full fitness.
      The ‘keeper still has two years left on his United contract but he appeared to burn his bridges when he described his parent club’s treatment of him as ‘criminal,’ shortly after joining Forest.
      He is keen to establish himself as a first-choice so he can push Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope for the England No.1 shirt at next year’s European Championships in Germany.
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      Although he earns £110,000 a week at United, Forest are prepared to invest in players who can provide the spine of their team for years to come and Henderson fits the bill.
      Cooper is keen to avoid the summer signing stampede which was unavoidable last season after Forest were promoted through the play-offs.
      He also wants to secure a permanent deal for Atletico Madrid’s £25million-rated left-back Ronan Lodi.
      The left-back has been a regular at the City Ground this season and has put in some brilliant performances to help the club beat the drop.
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      Meanwhile, Serge Aurier’s extension clause has kicked in automatically now Forest’s Premier survival has been confirmed.
      The former Spurs star joined the club in September as a free agent following his release from LaLiga side Villarreal.
      He has played 22 times in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal. More

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      Jack Grealish gets title-winning trim as fans worry star will adopt ‘Cristiano Ronaldo noodle hair’

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      JACK GREALISH was compared with two ex-Manchester United hair-does after the City star had a title-winning trim.Most cuttingly, one fan compared the midfielder’s snip to Cristiano Ronaldo “noodle” style blond streaks.
      Man City playmaker Jack Grealish’s sees his frosted tips unveiledCredit: Instagram @astarbarbers

      Former Man Utd, Real Madrid and Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now with Al-Nassr, has experimented with ‘noodle’ cuts’ in the pastCredit: AFP
      And another labelled the England ace “the David Beckham of Wish”.
      But most observers were were more generous as a clip of Grealish having frosted tips added to his slicked back undercut was posted by a stylist. 
      Pep Guardiola’s men overturned Arsenal’s eight-point lead to win their third Premier League crown in a row with three games to spare.
      And in the first of those matches City rested their big names yet still beat Chelsea 1-0 amid an Etihad title party on Sunday.
      READ MORE ON JACK GREALISH
      So fans were delighted to see Grealish, 27, relaxing during downtime.
      He was shown texting during his haircut – before whipping off a hairdresser’s cape covering his body to reveal he was wearing just shorts.
      But one viewer referenced Ronaldo’s notorious noodle style, which the 38-year-old has dabbled with over the past two decades.
      It’s a rare occasion when Grealish might not be flattered to win comparisons with the legendary five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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      And the day after team-mate Erling Haaland turned the air blue by dropping the F-bomb on Grealish during a live TV interview, the ex-Aston Villa skipper turned streaks of his hair light ala the Portugal striker.
      He didn’t go the full way, however, as one fan noted: “Thought he gonna transform into Ronaldo noodle hair.”
      Another poster wrote: “Champions haircut for my guy @jackgrealish fully deserved.”
      Similar compliments included: “He’s always got great hair” … “King” … and “very nice”.
      And one fan said: “With a matte product finish and without the hair band jacks hair looks so hot.”
      But another observer spotted Grealish was slouching over his phone.
      She wrote: “He really needs to show some respect, get off his phone and sit up straight.”
      But surely after such an incredible season – and with a club Treble still possible – Grealish should be cut some slack.
      Jack Grealish was reprimanded by one fan for using his phoneCredit: Instagram @astarbarbers More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo shows off £750,000 watch as £3.3m-a-week Al-Nassr star spends some of his £363m wealth

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has showed off his ridiculously expensive watch – but it still only cost the Al-Nassr ace a tiny portion of his huge wealth. The 38-year-old became the highest earning sportsperson in the world when he made his high-profile switch to Saudi Arabia at the end of last year.
      Ronaldo’s stunning watch is from the Caviar Flying Tourbillon collection from Jacob & CoCredit: Instagram/Ronaldo
      A lifetime of playing football at the highest level has given Ronaldo a luxurious lifestyleCredit: Instagram/Ronaldo
      He makes an estimated £173m a year from his wages and commercial activities at Al-Nassr.
      It is safe to say Ronaldo is making use of his spare change as he showed off a beautiful watch on Instagram.
      The star poses in a stylish polo shirt and grips a white mug on his Instagram story.
      But eyes were quickly drawn to the object on his wrist – a £750,000-valued watch from Jacob & Co.
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      The dazzling device immediately draws attention with its blue colour scheme and majestic design.
      It would have cost Ronaldo a pretty penny but the forward has more than enough in the bank after more than a decade of being one of the planet’s biggest sporting stars.
      He is the most popular athlete online with a combined 855million social media followers and makes an estimated £3.3m-a-week.
      And all of that attention brings commercial opportunities which props up his already huge wage packets.
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      The move to Al Nassr helped Ronaldo pip his old rival Lionel Messi to the top of Forbes 50 best-paid athletes list.
      The former Manchester United superstar leapt from third in last year’s list to top after sealing his eye-wateringly lucrative move.
      Kylian Mbappe follows his PSG team-mate Messi in third place, ahead of basketball legend LeBron James.
      Boxing star Canelo Alvarez follows in fifth before the golf pair of Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.
      NBA stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant came 8th and 10th, sandwiching tennis great Roger Federer. More

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      Graeme Souness incredibly admits he was wrong after controversial opinion about Man Utd star

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      GRAEME SOUNESS has admitted that he was wrong about Lisandro Martinez.The retired pundit suggested that the Argentine, 25, would be too small for the Premier League when he joined Manchester United last summer.
      Lisandro Martinez was heavily criticised when he first signed for Manchester UnitedCredit: Alamy
      Graeme Souness has now admitted that the defender is important for the Red DevilsCredit: Alamy
      Souness, 70, claimed Martinez was “vertically challenged” and that he would often find himself to be in a “mismatch” against the Premier League’s physical strikers.
      He also argued that the former Ajax star was not “good enough on the ball” and that he would get found out.
      He was not alone in his observations as many suggested that he would struggle.
      Martinez has managed to prove his doubters wrong and become one of United’s most important players.
      READ MORE ON GRAEME SOUNESS
      Souness has now suggested that the defender has been a big miss for the Red Devils since his injury against Sevilla in the Europa League.
      Souness wrote in his MailOnline column: “United are the ones who have to keep their nerve in these all-important two weeks.
      “I ascribe some of their fall-off in form to the absence of Lisandro Martinez.
      “They’ve have won only three of their six league matches since he was injured at Sevilla.
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      “I thought Martinez would get found out in the Premier League because of his physique.
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      “I still believe that will be an issue for him going forward – but he is one who leads from the front for United and has a big influence on those around him.”
      Martinez has played 45 times for the club this season and formed a brilliant partnership with Raphael Varane.
      Souness has recently retired from punditry and has announced his next move in his life.
      The Liverpool legend will swim the English channel for the charity DEBRA which supports people living with skin disorder Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – also known as Butterfly Skin.
      Explaining his decision to embark on the incredible challenge, Souness told BBC Breakfast: “It’s the most horrendous disease.
      “If you’re inflicted by it you must wake up every morning and say why me? It’s a desperate situation.” More