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      Ryan Giggs’ son Zach, 16, looks set for Man Utd transfer exit but could be making Premier League debut next season

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      THE son of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs looks set to leave the club. Zach, 16, is nearing a move to Sheffield United and therefore could be part of a Premier League squad next season.
      Zach Giggs is close to joining Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty
      Zach is the son of Man Utd hero Ryan GiggsCredit: AFP
      The Blades are in the hunt for promotion and sit in second place in the Championship.
      Giggs has been part of the United academy since 2019, hoping to emulate his father at the club.
      He has played for the Under-18s side, but his hopes of landing a professional deal at United have been dampened.
      The left-back is on trial at Bramall Lane, but his move could be prevented by an EFL transfer embargo.
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      Sheffield United face the ban due to not meeting repayments on signings made.
      This also impacts the club’s academy, meaning that Giggs would not be able to sign a senior deal.
      A scholarship contract would potentially work but complications could arise if Man United demand funds for the player.
      On the possibility of Giggs joining the club, Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “There’s nothing I can say on it, but I know he’s [Giggs] in.
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      “It would be Del [Derek Geary, academy manager] making a decision on that.
      “We had a meeting last week talking about the scholars and the lads who are going to stay on and be a first-year pro. 
      “It’s important to be involved in it but I want them to back their decision.
      “It wouldn’t be independent but if someone has been working with a player for four weeks and wants to put their name to them then brilliant, I’ll back them.
      “I don’t know Zach’s situation [with Man Utd]. I am not privy to it at all, we can’t sign players.
      “We have had lads in who we want to sign, but we can’t sign them, and we have lost some and they have gone elsewhere or they are on trial elsewhere now.
      “If we get it lifted we can start recruiting again. It’s still the same in the academy if you are a pro. If someone is coming in as a pro we can’t sign them, it all depends on the type of contract.” More

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      Meet Isabel Haugseng Johansen, Man City star Erling Haaland’s rarely-seen girlfriend who is also a footballer

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      ERLING HAALAND has enjoyed a sensational debut season in the Premier League – on track to break the record for most goals in a season on his first attempt.But the Manchester City ace, 22, has also had a bit of success off the pitch.
      Erling Haaland is dating Isabel Haugseng Johansen – but who is the beauty?
      Erling and Isabel are believed to have started dating when he was at Dortmund
      The lovebirds met during their days at Bryne, with Isabel also a footballer
      Erling Haaland most-recently went shopping with Isabel during a trip to London to celebrate signing a £20m deal with NikeCredit: Getty
      Haaland was spotted in London’s West End earlier this week with girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen.
      The pair are rarely spotted together – but there’s a good reason for that.
      Isabel, 19, is a footballer herself.
      In fact, that’s how the lovebirds met.
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      Haaland joined local team Bryne when he was just five years old.
      He would go on to spend over a decade at the Norwegian side before being snapped up Molde.
      Leeds-born Haaland went on to sign for RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Man City after an explosive start to life in the senior game.
      But it was at Bryne that Haaland met Isabel – who also works part-time at a fashion store.
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      The pair grew up together at the club’s academy and it’s believed they began dating during his time at Dortmund.
      A source told The Sun: “[Their relationship] seems to be pretty serious.
      “Isabel has travelled to Germany and England to see Erling and now she’s been with him [on holiday].
      “Isabel is well known for her beauty in Bryne. They’ve always known each other.”
      An insider added: “Erling has the world at his feet — and women queuing up to be his partner.
      “But he’s a very sensible lad and it makes perfect sense he’s with a girl from his home town who he’s known for years.
      “He needs to be able to trust the people in his life and just concentrate on football.”
      The couple enjoyed a warm getaway during the World Cup break as they headed to Haaland’s villa in sunny Marbella – with Norway not qualifying for Qatar.
      They were also spotted at fancy Manchester restaurant The Ivy on New Year’s Eve.
      Most-recently, Erling and Isabel celebrating the Man City ace’s new £20million contract with Nike with a shopping trip on Oxford Street.
      Haaland had been without a boot deal since his old contract expired in January.

      Puma and adidas had been keen to pinch the Norwegian ace and long-term Real Madrid target.
      But Haaland opted for the deal with America-based Nike, joining team-mates Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane. More

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      Man Utd fans in hysterics after Bruno Fernandes repeatedly kicks David de Gea with goalkeeper injured after wondersave

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans were in stitches after watching Bruno Fernandes kick David de Gea while the goalkeeper was down injured.The United No1 required treatment after producing a magnificent save in the 1-0 win over Brentford.

      Bruno Fernandes cheekily kicked David de Gea as he received treatmentCredit: TIK TOK
      As the physios rushed over to De Gea they were joined by the captain on the night, Fernandes.
      But instead of checking on the welfare of his team-mate, the Portugal international began to kick De Gea as he lay on the ground.
      Footage emerged of the incident on social media and many fans found Fernandes’ behaviour hilarious.
      One fan reacted saying: “Watching it on telly last night I thought I had imagined it! 🙈 Only Bruno! 🤣🤣🤣”
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      Another added: “Lol he said ‘what a save mate but get up’.”
      A third said: “Don’t mind Bruno, just kicking De Gea 😂”
      And another commented: “Bruno is such a good friend😂”
      De Gea recently rejected the offer of a new contract from United as he was reportedly unwilling to take a pay-cut.
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      The Spaniard’s deal is up in the summer and the Red Devils have prepared for his potential exit by targeting Brentford shot-stopper David Raya.
      But the Bees star is also attracting attention from Tottenham and LaLiga clubs, so a transfer could prove tricky. More

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      Will Erling Haaland play for Man City against Southampton? Latest injury updates

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      MANCHESTER CITY have received some positive news ahead of Erling Haaland’s return from injury. Haaland, who has so far scored an incredible 42 goals in 37 games, was forced to look on from the stands as his team-mates thrashed Liverpool last weekend.
      Haaland missed City’s clash with Liverpool at the Etihad due to groin injuryCredit: AFP
      The superstar striker was forced to celebrate from the standsCredit: Getty
      The 22-year-old goal machine picked up a groin injury during City’s 6-0 thumping of Burnley in the FA Cup.
      Despite his replacement Julian Alvarez’s great performance against the Reds, City fans are keen to see Haaland back in the squad.
      And according to The Mirror, the prolific striker has returned to Manchester City training and is expected to be fit to face the Saints on Saturday.
      This comes as a huge boost for City, and they look to close the eight-point gap on leaders Arsenal.

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      “Erling is getting better,” said manager Pep Guardiola, following Saturday’s win over bitter rivals Liverpool.
      “On Friday he felt a little bit better compared to the previous two days. It’s five days to Southampton, so hopefully he can still help us like he has all season.”
      Which competitions are Manchester City and Erling Haaland still involved in?
      Pep Guardiola’s men were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton this year, but are still in the hunt for three major trophies heading into the final stage of the season.
      City will want to ensure that their star man can get some minutes under his belt before a difficult run of fixtures.
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      These include a tricky two-legged tie against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United.
      Arsenal then visit the Etihad in a potential title decider on April 26.
      The £51.4 million star is also targeting personal glory in his pursuit of the Castrol Golden Boot and three Premier League records.
      He is the Premier League’s top goal scorer this season, with 28 goals. Six ahead of Harry Kane. More

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      How Chelsea could line up under Antonio Conte with Lukaku back in fold, Hudson-Odoi at wing-back and key Milan man

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      ANTONIO CONTE is being considered by Chelsea chiefs for a shock Stamford Bridge reunion.The Italian is the last boss to have won the Premier League with the Blues back in 2017.
      Antonio Conte won the Premier League title during his first Chelsea stintCredit: Getty

      He was sacked the following year, however, after a moody title defence that saw his team come fifth.
      Conte, 53, is currently a free agent after being sacked by Tottenham during the international break.
      The Independent claim that initial contact has been made between Conte and Chelsea via intermediaries.
      And the two parties could even meet next week should initial talks go well – with Frank Lampard set to take the job on a caretaker basis, which would allow Conte time to rejuvenate until the end of the season.
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      Conte enjoyed initial success at Stamford Bridge by using his trademark 3-4-3 formation.
      And should he land the gig once again, Conte would retain the three at the back system that the Blues have largely used since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment in January 2021.
      Chelsea will have a decision to make between the sticks this summer, with one of Kepa Arrizabalaga or Edouard Mendy likely to leave.
      Conte may favour the latter as a more reliable option.
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      Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga are vying for the No1 position at ChelseaCredit: AFP
      He could look to use Reece James in a right centre-back role, although his former stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta may even return to the fold.
      The experience of former Serie A stars Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva is likely to appeal to Conte, despite Wesley Fofana’s obvious quality – while Benoit Badiashile appears perfectly suited to the left centre-back role.
      Callum Hudson-Odoi could return to the fold at right wing-back, despite a slightly disappointing year on loan at Bayer Leverkusen.
      It could be awkward for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, however, after he recently joked during an appearance on talkSPORT that Conte is the person he’d least like to get stuck in a lift with.
      Ben Chilwell would likely be preferred to Marc Cucurella at left wing-back – while the talented Ian Maatsen could return from his mightily impressive loan spell at Burnley.
      Conte’s former favourite N’Golo Kante would be a key man in midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez, should he pen a new deal as expected.
      Conte would likely be thrilled to reunite with N’Golo KanteCredit: PA:Press Association
      Callum Hudson-Odoi has spent this season on loan at Bayer LeverkusenCredit: Getty
      The Blues could then look to splash out big on Rafael Leao this summer after the Portuguese sensation’s brilliant season at AC Milan.
      Where this would leave the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling remains to be seen.
      Mason Mount could leave this summer, with Manchester United and Liverpool keen.
      This could open up a spot as Conte’s right forward for Kai Havertz, who could play off forgotten man Romelu Lukaku.

      The Belgian has endured an underwhelming Inter Milan return this term, scoring just three goals in 16 Serie A appearances.
      But he is a favourite of Conte’s, and his former Inter boss could be just the man to rejuvenate his career.

      Conte got the best out of Romelu Lukaku during their time together at Inter MilanCredit: Reuters More

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      Inside Man City’s wages with £375k-a-week Erling Haaland second behind captain Kevin De Bruyne as highest-earner

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      ERLING HAALAND might be best goalscorer in English football but he is still only Manchester City’s second highest earner.The Norwegian forward has taken the league by storm since his £51million summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

      Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are City’s top two earnersCredit: Rex
      City beat off interest from all of Europe’s elite clubs to secure Haaland’s signature on a five-year, £375,000-a-week contract.
      The 22-year-old has instantly begun repaying them, scoring 42 goals in his first 37 competitive matches for Pep Guardiola’s side.
      Only Kevin De Bruyne earns more than Haaland at the Etihad.
      The City skipper penned a four-year £400,000-a-week deal in April 2021, as per Spotrac.
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      De Bruyne, 31, is the Prem’s highest earning player – having previously only been behind axed Manchester United misfit Cristiano Ronaldo – who pocketed £500k prior to his Old Trafford departure.
      Third on the list is £100m signing Jack Grealish.
      The England international signed a £300,000-a-week deal when he left boyhood club Aston Villa for City in 2021.
      Grealish’s fellow Three Lions ace John Stones, as well as Joao Cancelo, are next, with the defenders reportedly pocketing £250,000 a week each. Although Cancelo’s wages are currently being partly paid at Bayern Munich, who he joined on loan in January.
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      Phil Foden is next on £225,000 a week, having finally penned a new deal last October.
      Midfielder Rodri takes home £220,000 a week, while summer signing Manuel Akanji is reportedly on £180,000 after his switch from Dortmund.
      Ruben Dias signed a six-year deal on £180,000 a week in August 2021.
      Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker reportedly pocket £160,000 a week each.
      While summer recruit Kalvin Phillips is claimed to be earning £150,000 a week at Eastlands, with Bernardo Silva pocketing the same amount.
      Last season’s final day title hero Ilkay Gundogan is on a £140,000-a-week deal – with Aymeric Laporte on £120,000.
      No1 goalkeeper Ederson reportedly makes £100,000 a week – with his deputy Stefan Ortega on £55,000.
      Nathan Ake signed a £92,308 weekly deal after his switch from Bournemouth.

      Promising World Cup-winning forward Julian Alvarez joined on a £50,000 weekly deal – with veteran reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson on £30,000.
      Academy graduate Cole Palmer is on £20,000 a-week
      Jack Grealish and John Stones are among City’s highest earnersCredit: The Times More

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      Ex-Chelsea stars who left West London and became world class, like Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Declan Rice

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      EVERY time Kevin De Bruyne or Mohamed Salah put in a Man of the Match performance, Chelsea fans are hit with a pinch of ‘what might have been’.Unfortunately for Blues supporters, those two are now undisputed world superstars.
      De Bruyne has evolved into arguably the best midfielder on the planet since leaving ChelseaCredit: AFP
      Nathan Ake stars for Man City and HollandCredit: Getty
      But, before they reached their current elite level, they were once allowed to leave Stamford Bridge as underplayed, underachieving youngsters.
      And they’re not the only two either.
      We’ve taken a look at SIX players who could have been starring in West London, if they had not failed to make the grade at Chelsea before going on to become superstars elsewhere.
      It’s enough to make you weep… if you’re a Blues fan that is.
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      NATHAN AKE
      THE Dutch defender joined Chelsea’s youth ranks from Feyenoord in 2011, before moving to the senior squad a year later.
      But Ake made just seven appearances for the Blues in the Premier League and was loaned out to Reading, Watford and Bournemouth.
      Ake eventually found a permanent home on the south coast and became a star for the Cherries.
      Bournemouth fought hard to keep Ake for three years – in which he played over 100 times in the Premier League.
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      But with Manchester United and City both knocking, the Cherries eventually cashed in to the tune of £40m following their relegation in the summer.
      Now at the Etihad, Ake has helped Guardiola’s City to two Premier League title wins.
      KEVIN DE BRUYNE
      NOW quite possibly the best midfielder on the planet, it’s barely-believable De Bruyne was a Chelsea misfit.
      Having signed from Belgian side Genk in 2011-12, the now-Manchester City star played just two Premier League games for the Blues.
      On the periphery of the first-team squad, De Bruyne was loaned to Werder Bremen, before being sold to Wolfsburg for just £16.7m.
      There, De Bruyne’s class shone through and his career took off, joining City for £55million in 2015.
      The pass-master has won three Premier League trophies at City in easily the club’s greatest era.
      MOHAMED SALAH
      SALAH joined Chelsea from Basel in 2014 – but played just 13 times in the league, scoring twice.
      In 2015 and 2016, the Egyptian was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma – before joining the latter permanently, in a deal worth around £11m.
      After just one season in the Italian capital, Liverpool were surprise suitors, bringing Salah back to the Premier League in a deal worth £36.7m.
      In his first season at the Reds, Salah broke the Premier League record for most goals in a 38-game season.
      In his second campaign, he won the Champions League.
      And in his third, Salah inspired Liverpool to Premier League success.
      Salah is now easily ranked as one of the world’s best forwards – and will always be the one who got away from Chelsea.
      Salah has gone from strength to strength since leaving ChelseaCredit: AFP
      DECLAN RICE
      THE England international and his family were all huge Blues and he must have thought he was well on his way of achieving his childhood dream of playing for them when he was signed to their academy.
      But the midfielder was released by Chelsea aged 14 back in 2013.
      The determined star was not to be deterred, and after a successful trial, he was quickly snapped up by West Ham.
      Rice has not looked back since and has progressed through the ranks in East London and broke into their first-team at the end of the 2016-17 season.
      He is now the stand-out performer for the Hammers on an almost weekly basis, and one of the first names on the team sheet for England.
      Those displays caught the eye of several big boys, including Arsenal and Manchester United, but it is Chelsea who desperately want him to return.
      Declan Rice was released by Chelsea aged 14 but is now a star at West HamCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      NEMANJA MATIC
      SIGNED from now-defunct Slovak side Kosice in 2009, Matic was tipped to become an attacking midfield superstar at the Blues.
      The Serbian midfielder had played just twice in the Premier League and was loaned out to Vitesse in Holland.
      But after two years – and a switch to a more defensive role – Matic was sold to Benfica as part of the 2011 deal that saw David Luiz arrive at Stamford Bridge.
      But after starring at Benfica, Chelsea splashed out £21m – nearly 20 times what they initially bought him for – to re-sign him in 2014.
      Matic would later join Man Utd in 2017 but has now reunited with Jose Mourinho at Roma.
      Nemanja Matic left and rejoined Chelsea for nearly 20 times the original feeCredit: Getty
      TARIQ LAMPTEY
      THE full-back is another one that got away after his departure from Chelsea in 2020.
      He joined their academy aged just eight and won a host of honours alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham and Reece James on their rise through the youth ranks.
      Tariq Lamptey has suggested that he moved away from Chelsea in order to take his career to the next level.  The 22-year-old is a product of the Blues youth development system, having joined the club when he was just 8-years-old.
      Lamptey was promoted to the Blues first-team in 2019 after the arrival of Lampard in the dug-out.
      But he failed to receive as much game time as some of his other fellow academy graduates, making just one Premier League appearance for the club last season. 
      Brighton came in for Lamptey and Chelsea were happy to do business and cash-in on the youngster for £4m on deadline day.
      But since then he has blossomed for the Seagulls with a series of stunning displays, leading to speculation he could even be on the verge of a senior international call-up.
      Arsenal were linked with a swoop for the starlet, who Chelsea failed to include a buy-back option as part of his exit, but he committed his future to Brighton last year by penning a new long-term contract.

      Explaining his decision to quit Chelsea, he said: “I had to look at where I would get the most football and how I could take my game to the next level.
      “I sat down with the coaches, family members and agents and thought about what’s best for me. It was a really tough decision.”
      Tariq Lamptey has blossomed at Brighton since his Chelsea exitCredit: Getty More

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      I’m a Romany gypsy footballer who scored against Ronaldo’s Man Utd – but my new life is miles away from winning games

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      A ROMANY gypsy footballer who scored a stunning winner against Ronaldo’s Manchester United has revealed his VERY different life after the beautiful game.Not many can say they put one over on a Red Devils team packed full of legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, but this ex-striker did just that.
      The former striker knocked the dominant Manchester United team out of the League Cup in 2006Credit: Getty
      Freddy Eastwood scored the free kick stunner that sent Southend through to the quarter finalsCredit: Getty
      The 2006/7 United team won the Premier League and included eight players who made that season’s PFA Team of the Year, but they failed to defend the League Cup after a stunning fourth round loss to Southend.
      The man responsible for that loss was Freddy Eastwood, who scored an incredible free-kick winner to dump the most dominant team in the country out of the competition.
      Proud Romany man Freddy, who was raised on a travellers site, revealed to The Athletic that he walked away from the beautiful game nine years ago and embarked on a new journey running his own building firm near London.
      The now 39-year-old explained: “I enjoy it because I’m my own boss.
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      “I can work my own hours, even though there are a lot of hours involved.
      “Football is a completely different ball game. If you’re five minutes late, you’ll get a fine.”
      However, he still has fond memories of his playing days, which saw him score 49 goals in 111 appearances for Southend, on top of stints with Coventry, West Ham and Wolverhampton, between 2002 and 2014.
      Freddy recalled: “I always thought I was a big-game player, like when I scored against Manchester United and in the Millennium Stadium, when we beat Lincoln to get promoted.
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      “And the next season we went to Swansea needing a point to get promoted to the Championship with two games to go. We were 1-0 down, I scored, we went 2-1 down and I scored again. We got a point and got promoted.
      “On the way home the gaffer got crates and crates of beer and we celebrated all the way home from Swansea. That was brilliant.”
      Despite the shocking upset, he added that the goal against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men wasn’t actually the best of his career.
      He explained: “Everybody always asks me what was my favourite goal or favourite memory and they think I’ll say Manchester United.
      “That was great but it wasn’t in a final or anything like that. I look at the Millennium Stadium and that Swansea game as bigger moments, because we actually won something.”
      Now 39, he runs his own building firm near LondonCredit: The Athletic More