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      Jude Bellingham’s preference for next season threatens to deal blow to Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool’s transfer plans

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM’S reported transfer preference is set to deal a big blow to the summer plans of England’s financial heavyweights. The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all big fans of the 19-year-old and are eager to try and secure his signature.
      Jude Bellingham’s preferred club next season will come as a blow to the likes of Man Utd and ChelseaCredit: Getty
      However, these plans are set to be thwarted due to Bellingham’s own preference of destination next season.
      According to The Times, Bellingham would prefer to STAY in Germany with Borussia Dortmund until 2024.
      The reason derives from Bellingham’s fear of pushing for a move which may not be “absolutely right” for him.
      Liverpool had been the widely reported frontrunners to land Bellingham in the summer.
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      However, the Reds pulled out of the race to sign him after bulking at Dortmund’s £130million asking price.
      The fee is in the budget of some other interested clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
      The Times report also suggests there was no real indication from Bellingham that he preferred Anfield to elsewhere despite his father, Mark, being a Liverpool fan.
      Dortmund would like to keep Bellingham for another season before they are forced into a decision with his contract expiring in 2025.
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      But they are said to be planning a new contract for Bellingham that would see his salary rise by a whopping 150 per cent to £13m a year.
      This deal would also include a release clause of £131m. More

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      Luis Enrique was ‘prepared to take over at Chelsea IMMEDIATELY’ and was ‘disappointed’ when Lampard given job by Boehly

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      LUIS ENRIQUE was prepared to join Chelsea IMMEDIATELY and left disappointed when Frank Lampard took interim charge, reports say.Blues boss Todd Boehly and his board including co-owner Behdad Eghbali sacked Graham Potter at the start of April.
      Luis Enrique remains linked with the Chelsea jobCredit: Reuters
      Former Barcelona and Spain manager Enrique emerged as an early frontrunner to take charge.
      He held a video call with Chelsea chiefs just days after Potter’s sacking and then flew into London for face-to-face talks.
      According to Spanish outlet AS, it left Enrique ready to go and motivated by the club’s Champions League challenge against Real Madrid.
      But Chelsea opted to hire Blues legend and ex-manager Lampard in a caretaker role as they looked to explore their options further.
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      It is claimed a number of candidates were unwilling to take over the crisis club mid-season with form and morale low.
      But that was not the case for Enrique, who has been out of work since leaving Spain following their last 16 World Cup elimination.
      Chelsea are still in the process of carefully choosing Potter’s successor, with German Julian Nagelsmann also in the mix.
      Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern Munich in March due to off-field issues and replaced by Thomas Tuchel, who Boehly fired last September.
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      The young coach – who won the Bundesliga last season – is also expected to have a personal interview with Chelsea.
      It comes after Lampard suffered his third consecutive loss since re-joining the club he leads as all-time scorer.
      Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Brighton, which follows from defeat to Wolves and Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final.
      The Blues welcome the LaLiga champions to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday trailing by two goals.
      Frank Lampard has lost his opening three games back in charge with ChelseaCredit: Rex More

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      Vincent Kompany wants former Liverpool star to be his first signing after sealing Premier League promotion with Burnley

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      BURNLEY will check on Rangers contract rebel Ryan Kent before his contract runs out.The former Liverpool kid looks set to head back to English football in the summer and Vincent Kompany’s men are taking an interest.
      Ryan Kent is wanted by BurnleyCredit: Willie Vass
      Vincent Kompany wants to add fresh faces after being promoted from the ChampionshipCredit: Getty
      Kent, 26, would have to fight for a place in the Clarets side in the Premier League as Kompany already has Moroccan magician Anass Zaroury in that position.
      But Kent is a top free agent and the chance to play at the top level would appeal to him after missing out on a move to Leeds a couple of times.
      Winger Kent has appeared 29 times in the Scottish Premiership this season.
      He has contributed 10 assists and added three goals to his tally.
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      Kent was also a crucial part of Steven Gerrard’s Gers side which won the league in 2021, contributing to 17 goals in 33 games that campaign.
      The Englishman came through Liverpool’s youth ranks but made just one appearances in the senior team after five loan moves.
      He eventually sealed a permanent transfer up to the Ibrox Stadium in 2019.
      However, despite Burnley’s interest, Rangers fans believe Nottingham Forest could be his next destination instead.
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      This is due to the departure of Sporting Director Ross Wilson, who joined the Prem relegation battlers after four years in Glasgow.
      It has also led them to believe fellow free agent Alfredo Morelos will follow suit and head to the City Ground. More

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      Gavi holds talks over Chelsea transfer but desperate Barcelona boss Xavi warns ‘I don’t think he would be happy’

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      BARCELONA boss Xavi has warned Gavi the grass is not always greener amid reports linking him with a transfer to Chelsea. Gavi was rewarded with his first contract at the Nou Camp which would keep him at Barcelona until 2026.
      Gavi could leave Barcelona as a free agent this summerCredit: AP
      But Xavi has warned the grass is not always greenerCredit: Getty
      But the Catalan giants have been forced to remove him from their registration of first team players due to their ongoing financial issues.
      Consequently, the teenager may now leave as a free agent in the summer.
      Chelsea have reportedly been in talks with Gavi’s representatives over a potential deal, with one report suggesting Todd Boehly is willing to make him one of the Premier League’s highest earners.
      However, Xavi is desperate to keep the 2022 Kopa Trophy winner and he has questioned whether a move away from Barcelona would be right for him.
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      When asked about Gavi leaving, he said: “I don’t think Gavi would be happy at another club.
      “He has everything here. He is 18 years old. He’s a key player of our team.
      “For me, he’s a footballer that is outstanding.
      “I don’t know what he’ll decide but I think his future is here at the club.”
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      Gavi has featured 40 times in all competitions for Barcelona this season, including 27 times in La Liga.
      He also starred at the World Cup and became the youngest goalscorer at the tournament for Spain with his effort against Costa Rica. More

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      Former Premier League star plays for Sunday League team aged 43 alongside Jude Bellingham’s dad

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      FORMER Premier League star Stiliyan Petrov has revealed his football retirement was quite short-lived. This is because he joined Jude Bellingham’s dad in playing for a Sunday League team less than 18 months after his retirement due to his acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
      Stiliyan Petrov played over 200 times for Aston VillaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Former Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder Petrov, now 43, lifted the lid on why he opted to return to the sport despite only retiring shortly before.
      He told FourFourTwo: “I loved it.
      “I joined Wychall Wanderers when they were in the second tier of the Over-35s.
      “We went up to the top level and bossed it for three years in a row.
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      “The boys weren’t happy with me because I put rules in place: we’d meet up for breakfast in the morning and I’d tell them not to drink the night before!”
      The Bulgarian then revealed the “formidable” cast of characters he played alongside at the club.
      He added: “We had a formidable side and great characters: Maik Taylor, David Busst, Mark Bellingham – Jude’s dad.
      “It was all about the love of football.”
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      Petrov himself made over 450 appearances for Villa and Celtic before retiring in 2013.
      And his team-mates at Wychall were no slouches either.
      Taylor was a former goalkeeper for Northern Ireland, Fulham and Birmingham.
      Former Coventry star Busst managed the side, having earned his UEFA coaching badges.
      And Bellingham netted over 700 career goals to make him one of the highest scorers in the history of non-professional football in England. More

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      Inside Jesse Lingard’s tough season at Nottingham Forest from his attitude behind the scenes to why he snubbed West Ham

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      JESSE LINGARD is running out of time to prove he was more than a poster boy signing for the new Nottingham Forest.When Lingard became the 11th of 21 players recruited in Forest’s trolley dash last summer, it was hailed as a massive coup.
      Jesse Lingard arrived at Nottingham Forest on a big-money one-year deal
      The move has not worked out quite as planned for the midfielderCredit: PA
      Not least by Miltiadis Marinakis — son of club owner Evangelos — whose personal relationship with Lingard was crucial to Forest beating West Ham and other clubs to the signature of the former England star.
      A source said: “Signing someone like Jesse Lingard made people think Forest were serious. That they weren’t just coming up to the Premier League to go back down, like another Norwich.
      “Him coming in probably helped them sign other players like Morgan Gibbs-White.
      “But for whatever reasons it hasn’t worked out for Lingard or for Forest.”
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      Lingard joined on a free after his contract at Manchester United expired — his one-year deal sees him paid £115,000 a week but he has not pulled up any trees at Forest.
      Steve Cooper’s team are back in the bottom three after 30 Premier League games and their big-name acquisition is yet to produce a single goal or assist.
      Injuries have been a factor, the most significant coming on his return to Old Trafford two days after Christmas.
      It was Lingard’s 11th start in the first 16 league matches but he came off with a hamstring problem as Forest lost 3-0.
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      He made his comeback as a substitute in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, also against United, only to feel an Achilles niggle in the warm-up ahead of the second leg.
      Lingard has had issues off the pitch too — he is due to stand trial in July after denying he provided false details when his Range Rover was flashed by a speed camera on the A56 near Old Trafford in August last year.
      Perhaps both Lingard and Forest were unrealistic when the deal was done.
      It was always going to be physically tough to go from starting two Premier League games for United last season to playing regularly, especially for someone who turned 30 in December.
      But despite doubts about his ability to train hard enough to regain the necessary fitness, Lingard is a popular figure at Forest.
      While the attitude of other signings has been questioned, he is hailed for his backroom contribution at least.
      A source said: “He is no ‘Billy-big-time,’ he enjoys a bit of banter and he is always cheerful.
      “You never see him down in the dumps, which is unusual for any player who has spent a lot of time out with injuries.
      A fully-fit Lingard is a big asset… perhaps he can be Steve Cooper’s supersubGarry Birtles
      “Whenever a new signing arrives at Forest, he makes a fuss of them and goes out of his way to make them feel welcome.
      “He is generous with his time and is genuinely a really likeable, popular member of the squad.”
      The fact remains Lingard has played just 58 minutes of football since pulling out of that Carabao Cup second leg with United on February 1.
      Cooper gave him a chance to prove himself against Spurs on March 11, only to take him off at half-time as they lost 3-1.
      Any impact Lingard makes against United today is likely to be from the bench.
      But Forest legend Garry Birtles, who made the opposite journey from the City Ground to Old Trafford in 1980, believes Lingard could yet make his mark. He said: “I really feel for Jesse.
      “I had nine months out at United when I required a spinal fusion operation which obviously had a huge impact on my time at Old Trafford.
      “I know what he’s going through. I’m not sure how fit he is but a fully-fit Lingard going into the end of the season would be a big asset.
      “He is only 30 and he has the ability to make things happen but perhaps he has to do that from the bench.
      “I used to play against a guy called David Fairclough at Liverpool who used to come on and destroy teams.
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      “They called him ‘Supersub’, so perhaps Jesse can be Steve Cooper’s supersub who can come on for 15-20 minutes and make an impact at a critical time in the season.”
      FOREST (likely): Navas, Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Toffolo, Freuler, Mangala, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Johnson, Awoniyi
      Lingard is a bubbly character around the training groundCredit: Getty
      He has struggled with injuries this seasonCredit: EPA
      Lingard left United when his contract expiredCredit: PA More

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      Chelsea fans fear ‘managerless’ Blues are ‘actually finished’ as they question Lampard after Kepa clip goes viral

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      CHELSEA fans fear their “managerless” side are “actually finished” after a clip of Kepa Arrizabalaga went viral.Interim boss Frank Lampard yesterday suffered his third defeat out of three since replacing Graham Potter until the end of the season.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga resorted to giving out instructions as Chelsea were outplayed by Brighton
      Raheem Sterling also joined in during the impromptu team meetingCredit: Premier League
      The Blues were comprehensively outplayed by Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
      Conor Gallagher’s deflected strike gave the hosts an undeserved lead but Danny Welbeck’s header and a stunner from Julio Enciso secured a 2-1 win for the Seagulls, who completed the double over Chelsea.
      And a video from the 27th minute had many supporters concerned about the lack of leadership and tactics under Lampard.
      As Brighton defender Joel Veltman received treatment for an injury, skipper Arrizabalaga called together his team-mates.
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      And the goalkeeper, the only Chelsea player to walk away from any credit yesterday, appears to be giving out some instructions to Trevoh Chalobah, Denis Zakaria and Wesley Fofana.
      Fellow senior star Raheem Sterling heads over to join in the conversation and add his input.
      Christian Pulisic also arrives on the scene while Benoit Badiashile stands nearby but does not get involved.
      The mini team meeting on the pitch failed to have the desired effect though as Chelsea, leading at the time, succumbed to their 12th Premier League defeat of the season.
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      And fans on Twitter could barely believe what they were seeing.
      One said: “Nah we might actually be finished our players are giving themselves tactics.”
      Another wrote: “We are managerless.”
      A third added: “This ridiculous and it’s a shame on the manager.”
      Another typed: “You know its bad when Kepa is giving out the tactics.”
      And a final user commented: “Kepa Arrizabalaga as a player/Manager until the end of the season, who says no?”
      Brighton fans taunted temporary boss Lampard and his predecessor Potter, who left the Amex for Stamford Bridge in September.
      The jubilant away supporters labelled the temporary Blues boss as a “s*** Graham Potter” and chanted: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”
      Tensions appeared to boil over for co-owner Todd Boehly as he remonstrated and seemingly argued with frustrated supporters.
      A group of disgruntled fans leaned over the barrier from the tier above and made their feelings known to Boehly.
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      The American billionaire is on to his third manager of the season and has spent more than £600million on signings since buying the club from Roman Abramovich for £4.25billion last May.
      Chelsea look set to be without European football next term, too, as they sit 11th in the table and need to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final.
      Frank Lampard’s nightmare return to Chelsea continued with a third straight defeatCredit: AP More

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      Arsenal shelve contract talks with Mikel Arteta until end of season as PSG wait in the wings to swoop

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      ARSENAL have put contract talks with boss Mikel Arteta on hold to avoid any distractions from the title race.Paris Saint-Germain, set to change manager again this summer, are among the big European clubs monitoring Arteta.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, pictured with Gabriel, still hasn’t extended his contractCredit: Getty
      Frenchman Christophe Galtier is expected to be ousted by PSG over the summerCredit: Getty
      He has just over two years left on his £8.3million-a-year Gunners deal which he signed before the end of last season.
      And the Spaniard, 41, said: “Now is the appropriate time to focus on winning as many games as we can to try to achieve what we want.”
      If Arsenal win their first Premier League title for 19 years, Arteta’s stock will be higher than ever.
      And at least two of his former clubs are among those watching his progress.
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      PSG, where he spent a season on loan early in his career, are set to part company with Christophe Galtier after another Champions League flop.
      While both Manchester City and Barcelona have a longer-term interest in Arteta.
      Arsenal are understood to be calm about Arteta’s contract situation.
      The board gave him a pay rise of more than £3m a year when they tied him down to a new deal last May.
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      At the time the club was involved in a battle for Champions League qualification which they ultimately lost to North London rivals Tottenham.
      The Gunners go to West Ham tomorrow three points clear at the top from champions City.
      But centre-back William Saliba could be out injured for a few weeks. More