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      Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to send Calvin Ramsay on loan next season after £6.5m transfer from Aberdeen

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      JURGEN Klopp will send Liverpool rookie Calvin Ramsay out on loan next season.The Scottish right-back, 19, joined the Reds in a £6.5million move from Aberdeen last June.
      Ramsay is expected to leave Liverpool on loan next seasonCredit: Getty
      The 19-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the season in FebruaryCredit: Getty
      He made just two senior appearances before his season was cut short earlier this year due to a knee injury.
      And Klopp wants him to get back to regular action as soon as possible.
      The Liverpool boss is eager to send Ramsay out on loan next season so that he gains more first team experience.
      When speaking about the teenager in February, Klopp said: “We cannot play catch-up all the time with him because he is a great talent, a real talent, who had the most unlucky start possible.
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      “But in the end when he finishes his career at 36 or 37 or whatever, if he can say then, ‘The most difficult year of my career was the first’, or the second in his case maybe, that’s absolutely OK because all the others were better and we did the right things in the first two.
      “So, that’s what we try to do now with him.”
      The Liverpool boss recently revealed that he has already put plans in place for the 2023-24 campaign.
      During his press conference on Friday, he admitted that the club used the international break to hold “positive talks” with several players.
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      He said: “It was good. I couldn’t plan training sessions as we didn’t know who was here, so yes (I did use it as time to get prepared for next season).
      “Player side, positive. There are talks, but no decisions. We are busy as you can imagine.” More

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      I’m an Arsenal and England star but I try not to think about title race as I’m desperate to avoid SECOND relegation

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      AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES is trying to shut out thoughts of his Arsenal mates being on a title charge.He and Southampton have a battle to win at the other end of the table — and he is confident they can do it.
      Ainsley Maitland-Niles is focused on Southampton’s survival battleCredit: Getty
      Maitland-Niles, on a season-long stay at St Mary’s, is keeping in touch with fellow graduates of Arsenal’s academy like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
      He said: “We don’t speak about what is happening at each other’s teams.
      “It’s more like, ‘Hi, are you good? Hope you’re well and I’ll see you soon’.
      “I’m just staying focused because I’m   trying to help the team and get us out of this relegation battle.”
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      Maitland-Niles has tasted the pain of the drop while on loan before, two years ago with West Brom.
      An FA Cup winner with the Gunners in the Covid-disrupted 2019-20 season, he won five England caps in the first half of the next campaign before going on loan to the struggling Baggies.
      And in a cruel twist, West Brom’s fate was sealed by a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, with Premier League rules preventing the utility man from playing against his parent club.
      Maitland-Niles, 25, said: “It was strange. You just have to sit there and try to rally the boys before the game and during the training sessions.
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      “It was a difficult situation. It’s always hard when you are at the bottom.
      “You just have to have self-belief as a team. There’s always talent in the room.
      “As long as the man next to you is willing to fight with you, you should be fine.”
      When asked why he is confident there will be a different outcome for rock-bottom Saints, Maitland-Niles said: “The positive energy coming from the manager Ruben [Selles], through the changing room, then from player to player.
      “The mood is really good. Players are fresh back from internationals, the vibe is high, the spirits are high.
      “Training sessions are looking absolutely amazing right now.
      “We don’t even look as if we are worried about anything. That’s a good sign.”
      And ahead of today’s crunch clash at drop rivals West Ham, Maitland-Niles gives much of the credit to Selles, Saints’ third boss of the season after the sackings of Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones.
      He sees similarities between Selles and his fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal boss.
      Maitland-Niles added: “The way he lives and breathes football and looks at the game is second to none, like Arteta.
      “Maybe that’s the Spanish mentality, the love of football they have.
      “He’s a very straightforward person. He tells you what he wants and needs.
      “From day one, he said, ‘This is the way we are going to move forward. This is what I want everyone to do’.
      “Everyone has jumped on board and is happy to do ten times what he is asking for. You can see that in recent performances.”
      Not least the 3-3 draw against Spurs before the international break.
      A lot of teams, especially one in Southampton’s situation, would have thrown in the towel after going 3-1 behind with barely 15 minutes to go.
      Ruben Selles has praised captain James Ward-ProwseCredit: Getty
      He is key the club’s battle for survivalCredit: Getty
      But Selles’ side equalised through a stoppage-time penalty by James Ward-Prowse, awarded for a foul on Maitland-Niles.
      He said: “The captain has showed what he’s capable of multiple times this season. It was fantastic.
      “He is absolutely amazing. He’s a warrior, he’s a soldier, he’s Southampton through and through.
      “He’s what you would want from every player on the pitch.
      “He gives 100 per cent, he works very hard in training, he’s a stand-up guy. He’s perfect.
      “It almost felt like a win in the stadium. It has brought a lot of confidence.”
      Southampton still have it all to prove —  but at least they have time to prove it.
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      Yet it remains a big ask for the Saints to stay up, whose squad is the second youngest in the Prem behind Arsenal.
      Maitland-Niles said: “The experienced heads are now coming together with the youth and talent that we have — and I’m sure we will be all right in the end.” More

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      Barcelona want Man City ace Gundogan on free transfer after failing to land £60m Bernardo Silva

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      BARCELONA will switch their sights to a summer raid for Ilkay Gundogan after giving up on trying to land Bernardo Silva.The Spanish league leaders are long-term admirers of Bernardo, and hoped to land the Manchester City midfielder in the next window.
      Barcelona are planning a swoop for Ilkay Gundogan this summer on a free transferCredit: Getty
      But Barca have accepted that they will be unable to meet a likely asking price of around £60 million, and have quickly turned their attention to Gundogan.
      The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.
      And the German has promised City he will make a decision on his plans shortly.
      Gundogan is happy in Manchester, but although City would also like him to stay, it is understood they are only offering a one-year deal.
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      And Barca have already let the player’s representatives know they are keen to take him to the Nou Camp on a contract double the length.
      Gundogan grabbed his fifth goal of the season in City’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.
      The star has played nearly 300 games for the Cityzens since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
      He was the first signing of the Pep Guardiola era.
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      Gundogan was elected as club captain for the current campaign by his City team-mates after Fernandinho left.
      He has won four Premier League titles, four League Cups and the FA Cup during his time at the Etihad. More

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      I don’t bet or drink but I gambled on people and I lost it all – bankruptcy is like being on Death Row says Prem legend

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      CRAIG BELLAMY has likened his journey toward bankruptcy to “being on death row” after opening up on his troubles.The Welsh Prem legend earned fortunes playing for the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and West Ham during his decorated career.
      Craig Bellamy is now assistant manager at BurnleyCredit: Getty
      The Welshman played for Liverpool during his successful careerCredit: PA:Press Association
      But a series of bad investments, including his property company CBD Developments, racked up huge debts.
      After officially being declared bankrupt, Bellamy, now assistant manager to former City team-mate Vincent Kompany at Burnley, has opened up to the Mail about his battle.
      He said: “I have been living the last five or six years on Death Row, just waiting for someone to put me out.
      “I have been waiting for the cell door to open and someone to say: ‘Today’s the day’. It’s like the feeling of not being able to look forward to anything.
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      “All the money I’ve earned, I can’t get a mortgage. Financially, I have no future. The hurt of that. I can’t own anything. Everything’s gone.
      “My life has been on hold. I’m not a tax dodger but I have been very naive and the HMRC have been pursuing me for unpaid tax for some time.
      “Everything I have had has been taken from me. If you get the wrong people advising you, it all haemorrhages, it all dwindles. It has got to the point where bankruptcy is a relief. It means I can just live again.”
      Many former footballers have struggled with addiction beyond their playing careers – but that hasn’t been the case for Bellamy.
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      Bellamy, now 43, also played for Manchester CityCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      He added: “I know some people will probably think I have squandered all my money on drinking or gambling or drugs. I haven’t. I can go quiet where you won’t hear from me but I won’t be down the pub.
      “I have never touched drugs since I was a young kid. I don’t gamble. I have never gambled. It doesn’t make any sense to me. But I have gambled on people unfortunately.”
      A former adviser of Bellamy’s was investigated by cops when issues were raised regarding the way 43-year-old’s finances had been handled.
      No one was ever charged as it was deemed “not in the public interest – and Bellamy now wants to warn today’s young footballers about the potential pitfalls of trusting the wrong people.
      He continued: “I want this to be a warning to other players. Check everything, make sure the people advising you are regulated. If they are not regulated, it’s the Wild West.”
      Amid his financial struggled Bellamy has admirably gotten his coaching career up and running – and has played his part in Burnley’s outstanding first season under pal Kompany.
      Top of the table Clarets have 84 points after 38 games, having lost just TWICE in a league known for its unpredictability.
      Their remarkable campaign has seen Kompany emerge as a contender for the Tottenham job – with Bellamy surely likely to join the Belgian in North London if he does make the switch.
      Bellamy works with former Man City pal Vincent Kompany at Turf MoorCredit: Rex More

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      Rodri was lucky to avoid red card in Man City clash, but ref was consistent and Liverpool could face Arsenal-style rap

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      FORMER Premier League referee Mark Halsey says Rodri “can count himself lucky” not to have been sent-off against Liverpool.Manchester City romped to a 4-1 victory over the Reds at the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime – despite falling behind.
      Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey writes exclusively for Sun SportCredit: PA
      Man City’s Rodri was lucky to escape a second yellow card against LiverpoolCredit: Reuters
      Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool into the lead on 17 minutes but Julian Alvarez levelled seconds before half-time.
      But it was one-way traffic after the restart as quickfire goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan gave them the advantage.
      Man of the Match Jack Grealish then capped off his superb performance grabbed a fourth with 16 minutes remaining.
      However, many felt that City midfielder Rodri was fortunate to escape getting his marching orders while it was still goalless.
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      The Spanish international was booked for a cynical challenge on Diogo Jota, and then just seconds later he pulled back Cody Gakpo with both arms.
      Liverpool’s players surrounded referee Simon Hooper, but the official only gave the City man a talking to as he escaped further punishment.
      Now ex-Prem whistler Halsey exclusively gives his verdict on the incident to Sun Sport:
      Rodri can count himself lucky Simon Hooper chose to referee the game in a lenient way because on another day his first half challenge on Cody Gakpo could have resulted in him getting a second yellow card for denying a promising attack.
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      There were a few players who could have received yellow cards but the referee was consistent in the way he dealt with careless challenges.
      Fabinho got away with a couple of early challenges and Trent Alexander-Arnold might also have been booked on another day.
      It will be interesting to see if Liverpool get charged with failing to control their players immediately after the Rodri incident
      The players surrounded the referee and that’s not something we want to see.
      Arsenal and Man City were hit with fines for failing to control their players after their heated Premier League encounter in February.
      The FA’s charge came after both sets of players surrounded the referee at multiple times during the game.
      And the Independent Regulatory Commission fined the clubs with Arsenal having to take a bigger punishment due to previous incidents.
      Man City have been fined £75,000 after admitting the players did not behave in an orderly fashion in the 42nd and 64th minutes of the game.
      Arsenal were fined £65,000 after admitting they failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion in the 56th minute.
      Read More on The Sun
      An independent appeal board has added an additional £20,000 fine for a suspended charge after the club also drew the FA’s ire for their behaviour during an FA Cup game at Oxford.
      It’s been a repeated issue for Arsenal with the players’ behaviour against Newcastle in January also seeing the club charged.
      Liverpool players surround referee Simon Hooper and appeal for a second Rodri yellow cardCredit: Getty More

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      Leicester want Harry Maguire loan transfer as they look to bring in Man Utd ace to shore up shambolic defence

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      HARRY MAGUIRE  is wanted back ‘home’ at Leicester — with a loan move on the cards next season.The Manchester United centre-back faces limited game time in the run-in both at home and abroad after returning to Old Trafford from England duty.
      Man Utd’s England defender Harry Maguire is being targeted by old club Leicester as well as other Premier League rivalsCredit: Getty
      Now Brendan Rodgers is keen to take him back to the Foxes, where he was a massive hero.
      Leicester will always be a lure for Maguire, 30, who left with the club’s blessing — with both sides making the exit one of the most dignified going.
      Rodgers thinks he would be a huge capture and can sort out a defence that still leaks goals alarmingly  — the main reason they fear the drop.
      The Leicester boss has looked at other targets like Odilon Kossounou at Bayer Leverkusen but an eye-catching loan for the United star would top that.
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      Maguire has also been linked with top-six clubs and there could be bids for the defender in the next window.
      However, a loan deal may work for all parties, although United would look for a full salary to ease any financial pain for them.
      Maguire will need to be playing at the best level he can next season in the build-up to  Euro 2024 for England.
      He played two full games as the Three Lions launched their qualifying campaign last week with a 2-1 win in Italy and 2-0 Wembley success over Ukraine.
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      And Maguire has also defended his club form – having not lost a match he’s started a 1-0 home loss to Real Sociedad in the Europa League on September 8.
      He said: “Obviously this season, I haven’t played as much as I’d like but, for my club, I feel like my form’s been good this year.
      “I know people obviously look at me not playing but when I’ve played I think in my last eight or nine starts for Manchester United we have won.
      “I can’t remember losing a game for Manchester United, it must be the third week of the season. So my influence is still there.” More

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      Arsenal joined by Brighton in transfer race for £30m-rated Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu

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      BRIGHTON have joined the hunt for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu.Arsenal and Leicester are among the Premier League clubs to have been tracking the Turkey star, 22, for some time.
      Much-wanted Orkun Kokcu is now being monitored by at least three Prem clubsCredit: Getty
      But Brighton’s interest in the £30million-rated Feyenoord captain comes amid ongoing speculation about the future of star midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.
      World Cup winner Mac Allister and Ecuador international Caicedo are on the shopping lists of big clubs in England and Europe.
      Both Mac Allister and Caicedo have signed new contracts this season, until 2025 and 2026 respectively, with the club holding the option for another year in both cases.
      Brighton have no need or desire to sell either player, but their determination will be tested this summer by clubs able to pay big fees and offer the players massive pay rises.
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      Kokcu has led Feyenoord to the top of the Dutch league and into the quarter finals of the Europa League.
      He has scored 12 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions this season.
      The Dutch-born star represented Holland at youth level but switched allegiance to Turkey and has 20 full caps.
      It’s also been claimed that Tottenham and Sevilla are keen on him.
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      And Feyenoord chief Dick Advocaat believes Kokcu has the flexibility plus technique to do a job for any club.
      the former Sunderands and Rangers manager said: “I think he fits in everywhere.” More

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      Erik ten Hag set for bumper £12m new deal REGARDLESS of who owner is, with Dutchman set to stay at Man Utd until 2028

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      ERIK TEN HAG is set for a £12 million jackpot when he signs a new five-year deal this summer.Manchester United will reward the Dutchman for a brilliant first season in charge by handing him a fresh contract until 2028.
      Erik ten Hag is set to get a £3m-a-year pay riseCredit: AP
      Ten Hag, 53, would also get a £3m-a-year pay hike – and the uncertainty over United’s ownership will NOT affect the offer.
      He has indicated that he is keen on the three-year extension to the deal he signed when he arrived from Ajax last summer.
      United appointed him on a shorter term contract than previous managers, after having their fingers burned in the past with hefty pay-offs.
      Yet Ten Hag has created a huge impression in just over half a season.
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      Sir Alex Ferguson is also said to be a huge admirer.
      He has already established United in the top four and won the Carabao Cup.
      They are favourites to win the Europa League and face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals.
      Ten Hag had talks with Old Trafford executives recently about summer business.
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      And he was given firm assurances from the Glazers he will be backed, regardless of who owns the club.
      Talks on his contract will step up once the season has finished.
      However, neither side expects any problems. More