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      Kim Min-jae’s agent pours cold water on Man Utd transfer and says ‘there’s been no contact’ amid reports deal was AGREED

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S pursuit of Napoli centre back Kim Min-Jae is not close, according to the player’s agent.The South Korean international, 26, has shone brightly in Napoli’s defence, helping them to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
      Napoli’s star man Kim Min-jae is a long-term target for Man UtdCredit: Rex
      The Italian giants only signed Kim a season ago from Turkish side Fenerbahce in a deal worth just £15million.
      That would leave them counting a healthy profit, with the defender set to be sold for between £42m and £53m.
      According to the agent, the Red Devils have been “interested in Kim since he was in China”.
      However, Kim’s party have not received a concrete contract offer and are in no rush to conclude a deal.
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      Earlier this week, it was claimed United had submitted a colossal proposal to the star.
      Kim has made 43 appearances for Napoli in all competitions this season, scoring and assisting twice and would be a welcome addition to the United backline.
      Erik ten Hag’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League with a drastically worse goal difference than Newcastle in third and Liverpool in fifth.
      Napoli on the other hand, boast the best goal difference in the Serie A standings – a whopping +16 above the rest of the league.
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      Napoli could be in line to sell many stars this summer with Europe’s elite hounding £115m-rated Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
      Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and midfielder Piotr Zielinski are also rumoured to be targets of top clubs in the Premier League off the back of Napoli’s impressive season.
      Arsenal will be hoping the deal can still go through as they could be in-line for a pay-day with former defender Konstantinos Mavropanos linked with a move to Naples to replace Kim.
      Arsenal have a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the Greek defender’s contract which could land the Gunners a multi-million pound windfall should he move to Italy. More

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      Liverpool confirm FOUR stars will leave in summer transfer window after playing nearly a THOUSAND times combined

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      LIVERPOOL have announced that Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all leave the club this summer.The Reds quartet have played nearly 1,000 times combined during their respective Anfield careers.
      Roberto Firmino is a fan favourite at AnfieldCredit: EPA
      James Milner is set to leave the Reds after eight yearsCredit: AFP
      In a statement posted to their official website, Liverpool gushed over their contributions to the club.
      It concluded: “With the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday being the Reds’ final home fixture of the campaign, special acknowledgements will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow across the club’s digital platforms after the end of the season as we wish Roberto, Naby, James, Alex and their families the very best for the future.
      “All four players will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution they have made.”
      Firmino, 31, will leave Anfield a cult hero, having made 360 appearances for the Reds.
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      The Brazilian joined under Brendan Rodgers in 2015, going on to score 109 times for the club while helping them to the Premier League title, Champions League, an FA Cup and League Cup.
      While no move has yet been confirmed, Firmino has been linked with a switch to Barcelona.
      Milner, meanwhile, has played 330 time for the Reds since joining on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2015.
      The 37-year-old is expected to join Brighton this summer.
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      Keita arrived as a much heralded £48million signing from RB Leipzig in 2018.
      He struggled to ever hit the heights at Anfield and has endured an injury-plagued final campaign at Liverpool – playing just 13 times in all competitions.
      Despite his lack of action, the 28-year-old has attracted interest from former club RB Leipzig, as well as Borussia Dortmund.
      Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, has become something of a forgotten man at Liverpool.
      The former Arsenal ace has suffered terrible bad luck with injuries down the years – managing just 146 Reds appearances in six years.
      Despite his injury woes, Oxlade-Chamberlain was linked with Brighton, Aston Vill and Newcastle earlier this year.
      Naby Keita is set to leave Anfield this summerCredit: Alamy
      Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered with plenty of injury issues since joining the RedsCredit: AP More

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      Ivan Toney breaks his silence after being hit with eight-month ban over betting shame

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      IVAN TONEY has broken his silence after news broke of his eight-month ban.The Brentford striker, 27, was slapped with the hefty suspension after admitting 232 charges and fined £50,000 for breaching FA betting rules.
      Ivan Toney took to social media following news of his FA banCredit: AP
      And the immediate ban will see him ruled out of action until January 2024 – and unable to even train until mid-September.
      The forward, who made his England debut this year, took to social media on Wednesday evening to have his say.
      Toney said: “Today I have received notification of my eight-month ban from football following a hearing before an FA Regulatory Commission that took place yesterday.
      “I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next eight months.
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      “The written reasons for the Commission’s decision have not yet been published, so I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time.
      “I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season.”
      Brentford added that they will “review” the written reasons before “considering our next steps”.
      The decision wrecks Toney’s year, just two months after he made his Three Lions bow as a late replacement for skipper Harry Kane in the Euro 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine.
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      Toney, 27, the third-highest scorer in the Prem this season, with 20 goals and only below Erling Haaland and Kane in the goal charts, was a certainty to be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for next month’s qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
      Now, though, he is ineligible for selection and will not be allowed to play for his country until March.
      Toney’s charges related to a four-year period between February 2017 and January 2021 when the striker was playing for Scunthorpe and Wigan – on loan from Newcastle – and subsequently Peterborough and the Bees.
      There was never a suggestion that he placed wagers on any matches in which he was involved.
      Toney appeared before an independent FA disciplinary commission yesterday in an attempt to argue down his looming ban – which will surely rule him out of a big-money summer switch.
      Chelsea had been linked with a summer swoop for Brentford’s talisman, who currently earns around £20,000 per week.
      He will begin serving his suspension for Saturday’s clash with Tottenham, and will also be absent for the final day match-up with Manchester City.
      And Arsenal fans fumed the suspension came in just ahead of the game against City – even though the title race may well already be over by the final game of the season. More

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      Ivan Toney also banned from TRAINING as details of eight-month suspension are revealed

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      IVAN TONEY will NOT be allowed to train for four months.The Brentford striker, 27, was hit with an eight-month ban from all football-related activity with immediate effect following his 232 betting breaches.
      Ivan Toney has been banned for eight months with immediate effectCredit: Getty
      That means he can not represent the Bees or England until January 2024.
      But the FA statement also confirmed he cannot even take part in training until September in a further blow.
      That means Toney will miss the rest of this season and cannot join his team-mates for pre-season or even any sessions once the new Premier League season gets underway.
      But he will be permitted to get back involved at training from September 17 – four months before he is allowed to play in any competitive action again.
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      The FA said: “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
      “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
      “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.
      “The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.”
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      A brief Brentford comment said: “Ivan was charged with breaches of FA rule E8 and had a personal hearing earlier this week.
      “Brentford FC is currently awaiting the publication of the written reasons of the independent Regulatory Commission. We will review them before considering our next steps.”
      The decision wrecks Toney’s year, just two months after he made his England bow as a late replacement for skipper Harry Kane in the Euro 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine.
      Toney, 27, the third-highest scorer in the Prem this season, with 20 goals and only below Erling Haaland and Kane in the goal charts, was a certainty to be named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for next month’s qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
      Now, though, he is ineligible for selection and will not be allowed to play for his country until March.
      Toney’s charges related to a four-year period between February 2017 and January 2021 when the striker was playing for Scunthorpe and Wigan – on loan from Newcastle – and subsequently Peterborough and the Bees.
      There was never a suggestion that he placed wagers on any matches in which he was involved.
      Toney appeared before an independent FA disciplinary commission yesterday in an attempt to argue down his looming ban – which will surely rule him out of a big-money summer switch.
      Chelsea had been linked with a summer swoop for Brentford’s talisman, who currently earns around £20,000 per week.
      Read More on The Sun
      He will begin serving his suspension for Saturday’s clash with Tottenham, and will also be absent for the final day match-up with Manchester City.
      And Arsenal fans fumed the suspension came in just ahead of the game against City – even though the title race may well already be over by the final game of the season.
      Toney made his England against Ukraine earlier this yearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      Lionel Messi leads 20-man Saudi transfer shortlist to grow game, including Kante, Modric and two Liverpool legends

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      LIONEL MESSI reportedly leads a 20-man shortlist of big name players that Saudi Arabian clubs are targeting. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in January at Al-Nassr has seemingly lit the touch paper for a huge influx of Europe’s finest talent.
      Lionel Messi has been strongly linked to Saudi Arabia after his brilliant season with PSGCredit: Getty
      N’Golo Kante is out of contract at the end of the season and could be in for a big money deal if he were to leave Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      And with Messi set to leave PSG in the summer, there are hopes that he may be the latest global superstar to leave the continent behind.
      According to CBS’ Ben Jacobs, the 35-year-old is not short of admirers in the middle east.
      Rich clubs are chasing Messi as they look to renew his iconic, generation-defining rivalry with Ronaldo.
      The pair went head-to-head over a number of years in La Liga when they were the undisputed best players in the world.
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      But it is not just the Argentine World Cup winner who Saudi clubs are looking to take.
      Jacobs also reports that the legendary Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino could both be heading away from Europe.
      Mane’s move to Bayern Munich has been largely unsuccessful with his lowest point coming when he was involved in a physical altercation with his own teammate last month.
      It is now being widely reported the 31-year-old will be on his way this summer.
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      Meanwhile, Firmino has announced that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season and will certainly be looking for a new club after eight years on Merseyside.
      Other famous names could also make headline-making transfers to Saudi.
      Sergio Busquets could be on his way after announcing that he would be departing Barcelona after 15 years.
      While N’Golo Kante, who has endured an injury hit season at Chelsea, is also being linked away.
      The Frenchman’s contract expires at the end of the season.
      Luka Modric is also believed to be among the major names who may follow Ronaldo’s steps, with the 37-year-old also out of contract at the end of June.
      Jacobs adds that the Saudi Arabian government could play a big role in deciding who ends up well.
      He writes: “Once funding is in place they pitch a club, or series of clubs, to the player.
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      “This means in order to grow the league players can be dispersed across many clubs. It’s the same with Lionel Messi.
      “We often hear of an Al-Hilal offer, and that is the most likely and talked about destination. But with player buy-in Messi could be pitched to Al-Nassr, to play alongside Ronaldo.”
      Firmino could be in line for his final Liverpool home game on Saturday against Aston VillaCredit: Getty
      Mane’s move to Bayern Munich has not gone entirely to planCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal fans outraged by Ivan Toney ban as they all say the same thing after he is suspended for eight months

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      ARSENAL fans are outraged after Ivan Toney was handed an eight-month ban by the FA.Brentford striker Toney was charged with 262 breaches of FA rules outlawing betting on games across two batches of allegations in November and December.
      Ivan Toney has been banned for six months after breaching betting rulesCredit: Getty
      Toney, 27, admitted his guilt in February but it has taken months for the FA to dish out his punishment.
      And Arsenal fans are questioning the timing of the ban, which means he will be unavailable for Brentford’s clash against Gunners title rivals Manchester City.
      Some supporters have also criticised the Premier League for failing to take action against City despite the club being charged with 115 breaches of financial rules.
      One fan wrote in reaction to Toney’s ban: “Ivan Toney getting suspend for upcoming Man City game? Well scripted.”
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      Another added: “I know City have won the league, but MAD how Toney’s ban comes in just before they play City & nothing yet on the multi-year long 100+ FFP charges.”
      A third said: “Not that it matters now, but it would have been pretty unfair if Arsenal needed a result from Brentford against City and Toney suddenly was suspended for the final few games.”
      And another commented: “It’s a good thing we bowed out of this title race two games early cause my head would’ve been on the moon at City facing a Toney-less Brentford on the last day.”
      One fan wrote: “I know it doesn’t matter at all anymore but they really did suspend Toney before the City game. 🤣”
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      City travel to Brentford for their last game of the season but could already have the title wrapped up by then.
      Defeat for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday would see Pep Guardiola’s side claim a fifth Prem trophy in six years.
      Failing that a win over Chelsea will see City finish as champions once again. More

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      Why is Ivan Toney banned?

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      IVAN TONEY has been hit with a huge ban from football.And the suspension will include international games too so the Brentford striker is out for any England call-ups.
      Ivan Toney has been banned from footballCredit: PA
      On the pitch, Toney has enjoyed another successful season for Bees, scoring 20 Premier League goals despite the threat of a long ban looming over him.
      Toney, 27, appeared before an independent FA disciplinary commission on May 17 in an attempt to argue down the ban.
      Why is Ivan Toney banned?
      Ivan Toney has been banned for eight months for breaching football betting rules.
      Toney pleaded guilty to many of the 262 gambling charges issued by the FA last year, but denied others.
      The ban has now started and includes the summer months so Toney is out until January, 2024.
      The suspension also includes England call-ups so he is banned from international football.
      Toney made his England debut two months ago.
      An FA statement read: “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
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      “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.” More

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      Ivan Toney banned for EIGHT MONTHS for breaching FA betting rules and is out of England games and will miss rest of year

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      IVAN TONEY has been banned from football for EIGHT months for his gambling shame.Brentford and England striker Toney has played with the threat of a lengthy suspension hanging over him since he was charged with 232 breaches of FA regulations in November and a further 30 the following month.
      Ivan Toney earned his England debut earlier this seasonCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The 27-year-old will miss Brentford’s final two matches of this seasonCredit: EPA
      And despite bleating about “leaks” in the process as it emerged he had admitted to a number of charges in March, Toney, 27, now faces the full consequences of his actions.
      In a statement, the FA also confirmed that Toney had been fined £50,000 for his offences.
      It read: “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
      “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
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      “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.
      “The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.”
      Toney appeared before an independent FA disciplinary commission yesterday in an attempt to argue down his looming ban – which will surely rule him out of a big-money summer switch.
      Chelsea had been linked with a summer swoop for Brentford’s talisman.
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      He will begin serving his suspension for Saturday’s clash with Tottenham, and will also be absent for the final day match-up with Manchester City.
      Toney will continue to serve his ban over the fallow summer months, with a view to returning to action in January.
      There was never a suggestion that Toney placed wagers on any matches in which he was involved.
      Toney has been in red-hot form this season, bagging 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.
      His performances for the Bees earned him an England debut in the 2-0 win over Ukraine in March.
      He will now be ruled out of the Three Lions’ remaining Euro 2024 qualifiers, starting with next month’s matches against Malta and North Macedonia.
      England star Kieran Trippier was penalised for breaking FA betting rules after telling a friend to “lump on” ahead of his transfer from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
      Trippier did not directly place a bet but following an investigation he was banned from football activity for ten weeks and fined £70,000.
      In 2016 Joey Barton was found to be in breach of the betting rules after placing 1,260 bets over a period of ten years.
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      The following April he was banned for 18 months, effectively ending his career as he retired instead of deciding to appeal his punishment.
      Former England striker Daniel Sturridge was banned for four months and fined £150,000 in January 2018 after being found guilty of passing on information relating to his transfer. More