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      Premier League into the final countdown with title, top four and relegation all in balance as final stretch starts

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      FOR Premier League clubs, the break is over… and just like that, we’ve reached the final push.There will be no more international interruptions, only a straight shot to triumph or tears, glory or grief.
      Arsenal and Man City are locked in a straight fight for the Premier League titleCredit: Getty
      It’s the master vs the apprentice as Guardiola looks to pip Arteta to the titleCredit: Getty
      For many teams there are just ten matches to go.
      And in a remarkable turn of events every, single Premier League club has something to play for.
      The race for the title, realistically, is down to two clubs.
      Manchester United were in the running for roughly a week and now it’s a straight fight between Arsenal and Manchester City.
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      And while the race for the title reaches its epic conclusion, the battle for the top four couldn’t be hotter.
      United and Tottenham currently occupy third and fourth – but Spurs have played TWO more games than fifth-placed Newcastle, with just a two-point cushion.
      Erratic Liverpool still harbour hopes of snatching a Champions League spot – just five points back from the Magpies.
      Brighton are level with the Reds on 42 points, but have a game in hand.
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      Brentford also have 42 points, but have played two more than the Seagulls – and one more than the Reds.
      Fulham are just three points further back, with Chelsea four off the pace – level with Aston Villa.
      That’s a lot of information, so let’s get down to brass tacks…
      Incredibly just 11 points separate 11th-placed Villa and fourth-placed Tottenham – with EVERY club in that range having at least on game in hand on Spurs.
      Simply put, the race for the European spots has NEVER been so open.
      So while nearly a dozen clubs fight for a spot in one of Europe’s three competitions, the remaining nine clubs are locked in a tight relegation fight.
      How the table looks at the moment
      Crystal Palace currently sit 12th on 27 points.
      Southampton are bottom as things stand on 23 points.
      Incredibly, just FOUR points separate the bottom nine teams.
      The push for Europe may be a close-run sprint to the finish line, but the race to avoid relegation is resembling something of a Royal Rumble.
      Palace, Wolves, Leeds, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Leicester, West Ham, Bournemouth and Saints are all scrapping for survival.
      All teams have endured the lowest of lows and brief spurts of good form.
      Now it’s all about who can do it consistently and grind out the key wins – or even draws – when it matters.
      Without further ado, let’s dive into our three separate races, starting with…
      THE TITLE RACE
      Arsenal vs Manchester City. The young story-of-the-season squad vs the seasoned veterans of title-winning.
      Let’s start from the beginning…
      The Gunners lead the race by eight points.
      Man City have a game in hand. Pep Guardiola’s men win that, and they cut that gap to just five points.
      Then, both teams will have ten matches left – or 30 points to play for, if you prefer.
      That is a lot of points still up for grabs and City are masters of the last-gasp, title-clinching goal.
      Think Sergio Aguero in 2011-12 or, much more recently, the Ilkay Gundogan-inspired, three-goals-in-five-minutes turnaround against Aston Villa last season.
      For Arsenal and comparatively novice boss Mikel Arteta – one of Pep’s blossoming graduates – this is uncharted territory.
      But they’ve fought through injury setbacks and apparent dips in form to STILL lead the race.
      Can they do it? Can they end that 19-year drought dating back to the Invincibles? Let’s check the two club’s run-ins…

      Both teams have some tough fixtures still to play.
      Both play Liverpool. Both play Chelsea. Both play high-flying Brighton.
      Both also face a handful of teams fighting for their Premier League status.
      And, of course, Arsenal and Man City will play each other in arguably the biggest six-pointer of the season.
      On April 26, the Gunners face the daunting trip up to the Etihad in a game that could all-but seal the title or spark a terminal collapse.
      City have already beaten Arsenal once this season in their 3-1 win at the Emirates in February.
      Arteta will hope his side have a nice cushion going into that match, just in case.
      After all, we all know how strongly City tend to end the season.
      THE RACE FOR EUROPE
      So this is where things get a little bit complicated.
      The top four will qualify for the Champions League group stage.
      Fifth place qualify for the Europa League group stage – along with the winners of the FA Cup.
      So if a club finishes in the top five AND wins the FA Cup, there will be a sixth place allocated to the next-highest-ranked Premier League team for the Europa League.
      And then there’s the winners of the Carabao Cup, who earn a spot in the Europa Conference League play-offs.
      Man Utd have already won the League Cup but are likely to finish in the European places which means ANOTHER spot should open up, potentially allowing for the top seven to qualify for continental football.
      Did you follow all that? Good, let’s crack on.
      Man Utd and Tottenham are currently in the top four but face a fight to stay thereCredit: Getty
      Liverpool and Newcastle are also in the scrap for a top-four spotCredit: Getty
      So let’s assume Arsenal and City have first and second wrapped up – that leaves two Champions League spots up for grabs.
      Currently, Man Utd and Spurs are in third and fourth – but as earlier touched upon, Tottenham have played one or two extra matches.
      Let’s assume each team wins their game(s) in hand…
      In that scenario, the North Londoners would drop to SIXTH – with Newcastle going four points above them and Brighton two points above them.
      Liverpool would also just be one point further back in seventh.
      Eighth and 11th are separated by just four points, too – with Chelsea hoping to launch a late charge from tenth.
      But Brighton, Fulham and Aston Villa will be hoping to force their way into the conversation.
      Simply put, it’s utter carnage between third and 11th, with nine teams fighting for five remaining spots.
      THE RELEGATION SCRAP
      This is less complicated. You all know the drill: Bottom three go down. Simple.
      Southampton, Bournemouth and West Ham currently sit in the dreaded drop zone.
      But a win for the Hammers in their game in hand would see them rocket from 18th to 12th.
      Just four points separate current 12-placed side Crystal Palace and last-placed Southampton.
      Between them, in descending order, are Wolves, Leeds, Everton, Forest, Leicester, West Ham and Bournemouth.
      Let’s be perfectly honest… ANY of those teams could go down at this stage.
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      Managers will be desperate for their veterans to step up and guide them to safety before a big summer reset.
      But three must go down. And the Premier League is anything but predictable…
      West Ham and Everton are two of the biggest clubs in the running to go downCredit: Getty More

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      Newcastle stars to give Man Utd a guard of honour for winning the Carabao Cup when they meet in huge Prem clash

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      NEWCASTLE are planning to give Manchester United a guard of honour tomorrow recognising their Carabao Cup triumph.February’s loss in the Wembley final means Toon fans are still without a domestic trophy since 1955.
      Newcastle fans took over Trafalgar Square as they descended upon London for February’s domestic cup finalCredit: Alamy
      That has not stopped Newcastle giving the green light to a grand gesture to the Red Devils when they visit St James’ Park.
      The idea was proposed by Toon supporters group Trophies Don’t Matter, which boasts Newcastle having the best fans in the world is more important than silverware.
      TDM spokesman Lipra Olof said: “It is only right we salute our friends from Manchester. They were deserved winners.
      “We had a lovely day at Wembley and took over Trafalgar Square before the match, which is the most important thing.”
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      Players will line up by the tunnel as their rivals walk out and boss Eddie Howe is to present Erik ten Hag with a plaque and flowers.
      The match is a key clash in the race for the Champions League spots with Newcastle in fifth, three points behind third-placed United. 
      The pair are scrapping for the spots alongside managerless Tottenham and overachievers Brighton and Brentford, who meet tomorrow.
      Just eight points separate the six sides as the season reaches its penultimate month.
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      United are looking for silverware in other competitions.
      The Red Devils face a Europa League quarter-final tie with Sevilla later this month as well as another trip to Wembley to take on Brighton in the FA Cup. More

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      Man Utd in Harry Kane blow after Daniel Levy ‘made vow following transfer exit he still regrets’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED face another obstacle to securing Harry Kane after Daniel Levy reportedly made a vow over his transfer policy. The future of the Tottenham striker is set to be one of the biggest stories of the summer as Spurs try to cling on to their greatest asset.
      It’s set to be a big summer for Daniel Levy (right) and Tottenham chiefsCredit: Getty
      Kane has been the Premier League’s most consistent striker over the last few yearsCredit: Getty
      But United, desperate for a forward, are expected to go all in for the 29-year-old goal machine.
      However the club could face an unexpected challenge to convince chairman Levy to sell up – and it all goes back to the actions of their rivals Manchester City.
      The Cityzens bought Kyle Walker from Spurs for £45m in 2017 with Levy, the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman, sanctioning the sale.
      But the Mail claim that Levy has “never forgiven himself” over the deal and has “vowed” to not make the same mistake again.
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      The report said he does not even intend on selling to either Manchester club ever again.
      This could pose a serious issue for United given their hot pursuit of Kane.
      Manchester United chiefs already had fears of their transfer hunt being turned into a “nightmare”, according to reports earlier this month.
      Levy is renowned for being a tough negotiator and it is believed he will seek around £100million for Kane.
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      This is despite the England captain’s contract having a little over a year left to run, meaning he could be secured for free next summer.
      Levy is also reported to employ a series of tactics when it comes to handling these high-profile transfers.
      The tactics include offering agents nothing but water and speaking in code to hide the names of transfer targets. More

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      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly faces multi-million pound ‘divorce bill’ & could take huge hits on stars like Lukaku & Pulisic

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      TODD BOEHLY faces a multi-million pound ‘divorce bill’ this summer as he bids to offload a raft of Chelsea players.The club’s policy of paying some of the highest wages in football will make it difficult to persuade stars to move on if it means taking a pay cut.
      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is facing an expensive ‘divorce bill’ in the summerCredit: Alamy
      Christian Pulisic has fallen down the pecking order at ChelseaCredit: AFP
      Callum Hudson-Odoi plays on loan at Bayer Leverkusen from ChelseaCredit: Reuters
      USA winger Christian Pulisic is tipped to go at the end of this season when he will have 12 months left on his £150,000-a-week deal.
      It is unlikely any interested clubs will match his £7.8million-a-year salary.
      That will pressure Blues chairman Boehly to pay Pulisic to go or take a lower transfer fee.
      It is the same situation with several other players. Callum Hudson-Odoi, on loan at Germans Bayer Leverkusen, has a year left on his contract and makes around £180,000 a week. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on £150,000 a week, is also about to enter the final year of his deal.
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      Moroccan Hakim Ziyech is under contract until 2025 but is surplus to requirements, as are his £120,000-a-week wages.
      First-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is another set to depart this summer and collects just under £200,000 a week.
      He has two years left on his deal and cost Chelsea a world-record fee for a goalkeeper at £71.6m.
      The biggest earner is striker Romelu Lukaku — on loan at Inter Milan — with two years left of a £325,000-a-week deal.
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      Those six unwanted players’ contracts add up to a staggering £58.5M a year in wages.
      Losses of £121m last year make it vital for Boehly to balance the books and keep the Financial Fair Play cops at bay.
      The huge wages are referred to as the “Chelsea premium” by club insiders.
      Chelsea have run up a bill  that could reach £606m, including add-ons and loan fees, on new players since Boehly led an American takeover last spring.
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      And boss Graham Potter now has a bloated 31-man squad, according to the club’s official website.
      Potter’s team resume domestic action against Aston Villa following the international break, with Reece James fit again after withdrawing from the England squad with hamstring issues.
      Midfielder Mason Mount is also ready but Raheem Sterling is being rested ahead of Tuesday’s game with Liverpool.
      Potter said: “It is a big squad, a deep squad, a squad with a lot, a lot of  players. It has been a challenge to manage them but it has not been a negative challenge from my perspective.”
      Chelsea will struggle to offload high earners like record transfer Romelu LukakuCredit: Getty
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek has struggled for minutes under Chelsea boss Graham PotterCredit: Alamy More

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      Inside Jack Grealish’s staggering fortune as Man City star’s full earnings are revealed

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      ENGLAND footballer Jack Grealish is on target to make a £100million fortune before the age of 30.The Manchester City midfielder recently signed the most lucrative boot sponsorship deal in Britain, teaming up with German sportswear giant Puma for a reputed £10million a year.
      Jack Grealish pictured with model girlfriend Sasha Attwood has amassed a huge fortuneCredit: instagram
      Jack signed a £10 million deal with high end fashion firm GucciCredit:
      And industry insiders claim 27-year-old Grealish could soon be earning close to £1million a week thanks to his exploits on and off the field and his huge following.
      Grealish became the most expensive footballer in British football history when he joined City from Aston Villa for a £100million fee and wages of £300,000 a week in 2021.
      He lifted the Premier League title with Pep Guardiola’s team in his first season and a host of lucrative endorsements have followed.
      The down-to-earth Brummie has signed a £10million deal with Gucci and a sponsorship contract with boohooMan estimated at being worth around £1million.
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      It is understood razor brand Gillette is also eyeing up Jack to join their stable of global sporting personalities.
      A source close to Grealish said: “The staff at City were stunned to learn how much the Puma deal is worth to Jack and are really chuffed for him.
      “We have joked he is now the million dollar man. We reckon he must already be pulling down close to £750,000 a week in wages and commercial stuff — the sky really is the limit for Jack now he is entering his peak years.”
      The Sun revealed last year how City’s tills were also ringing after they had signed Grealish.
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      Youngsters wearing his trademark headband and star-struck teenage girls are visiting City’s Etihad stadium in an attempt to get a glimpse of their idol.
      Our City source added: “Jack is a licence to print money.
      “He will earn £86million in wages over the lifetime of his City deal but all the commercial stuff puts him in another league from most footballers.”
      Grealish recently said of his £200,000-a-week Puma deal: “They are a brand that’s really caught my eye in the last few years.
      “Especially recently, the collabs they are doing with other brands — the people they have on board now in NBA, F1 and football — it’s really eye-catching and it was a no-brainer for me.”
      In November last year, we told how Jack had spent £6million on a seven-bedroom mansion within 20 acres of the Cheshire countryside.
      Jack’s girlfriend, Sasha Attwood, 27, has also bagged several lucrative sponsorship deals since moving to Manchester with her fella.
      Sasha, who started dating Jack while at school in Birmingham, has signed with Elite Model Management and has built up a huge online social media following.
      Jack recently signed the most lucrative boot sponsorship deal in Britain with PumaCredit:
      Jack made a £100 million transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021Credit: Getty
      The footballer also signed a six-figure deal with fashion brand boohooManCredit: BOOHOO
      Jack’s girlfriend Sasha has signed several big money modelling deals of her own
      The England World Cup star is described as a license to print moneyCredit: Getty More

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      Man City vs Liverpool: Pep Guardiola aims to close gap on cruising Arsenal but Reds have their own fight – stream, TV

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      IT may not be the oldest rivalry. It may not be the most local of derbies.But, make no mistake, Manchester City vs Liverpool is a contest which has blossomed in recent seasons.
      Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will rekindle their rivalry this weekend – but the vibe of the match will be different to recent seasonsCredit: AFP
      Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Anfield but a lot has happened since thenCredit: Reuters
      The two giants of English football have gone toe-to-toe in the Premier League for the last few years.
      And while City have landed more of the haymakers – including a dramatic, three-goal comeback win on the final day of last season to snatch the title from the Reds – Liverpool have got a few good jabs in.
      From 2018 onwards, it’s been between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp for the title. No exceptions.
      This year, for the first time in what seemed like a never-ending era of Premier League football, Liverpool no longer the top challengers.
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      But nor are Man City the main contenders for the title.
      In 2022-23, a young Arsenal squad guided by Pep’s protegee, Mikel Arteta, have stormed to an eight-point lead at the top of table.
      So for both clubs, this feels like uncharted territory.
      Liverpool are back to their glum, pre-Klopp days of desperately scrapping for the final Champions League qualification spot but stumbling their quest.
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      A big win reignites hope among the passionate Kop fan-base before a gutting defeat against a relegation candidate brings them crashing back down to earth.
      The fight for a European place is hotter than ever this season, with the top 11 all fighting for a maximum of seven places.
      Liverpool will, of course, hope to snatch a top-four spot but may be forced to settle for Europa League – or even Europa Conference League – action with the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton all flying high this term.
      And then there’s Chelsea, currently tenth but desperate to make a late charge.
      So for Klopp, every match is a cup final. Every match a must-win. They’re out of all domestic cups and the Champions League – the focus now is on top four.
      They’ve made a late charge before, in 2020-21, when Alisson scored a last-minute header against West Brom to keep their surge up the table alive in a season blighted by injuries to key players.
      So that’s their fight. But what about City?
      Liverpool most-recently lost their games against Real Madrid and BournemouthCredit: Reuters
      Man City are on a high after crushing wins in the Champions League and FA CupCredit: Getty
      Well, the master Guardiola has watched apprentice Arteta guide his youthful Gunners to an eight-point lead atop the table.
      Man City have a game in hand and also have a six-pointer showdown with Arsenal to look forward to.. the absolute epitome of must-win for them.
      Win their game in hand and beat the North Londoners and suddenly that gap is just two points, but they’re already relying on favours from Arsenal.
      The Gunners are a young squad in uncharted territory, relying on ex-City stars Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus for their title-winning know-how.
      Could Guardiola regret selling both last summer?
      But for now, Guardiola must focus on Liverpool… and City haven’t beaten the Reds in the Premier League since February 2021.
      They lost the game at Anfield 1-0 earlier this season. They also lost the season curtain-raiser – the Community Shield – 3-1 and were dumped out of last season’s FA Cup in a semi-final defeat at Wembley.
      They did get a morale-boosting 3-2 win in the Carabao Cup this term, but both sides will be much changed come Saturday at 12.30pm.
      On paper, City should be beating Liverpool. They’ve had a better season, with their key players firing and they’ve got home advantage… as well as scoring 13 goals in their last two matches.
      But as with any rivalry, form and predictions go out the window.
      Even though they harbour different ambitions this season, a loss for either team is terminal for their dreams.
      Who can handle the pressure?
      What is their form like?
      Man City: In a word: Rampant.
      City have won their last six games, including a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig and a 6-0 win over Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in the FA Cup.
      As always, Guardiola is ensuring his side finish the season strongly.
      Liverpool: Inconsistent, but largely quite poor.
      How can you beat Man Utd 7-0 and then lost 1-0 to Bournemouth? Somehow, the Reds found a way.
      Liverpool have also lost 5-2 and 1-0 to Real Madrid in their Champions League last 16 tie, while drawing with Crystal Palace.
      Erling Haaland and Phil Foden could both miss the game against LiverpoolCredit: Rex
      What is the team news?
      Man City: Pep Guardiola will be sweating over the fitness of goal-machine Erling Haaland who was forced to withdraw from his international duties with Norway following a groin injury.
      England star Phil Foden could be out for up to a month after undergoing appendicitis surgery.
      Liverpool: Cody Gakpo (virus) and Darwin Nunez (knock) will need to be assessed ahead of the huge trip to the Etihad while Thiago (groin) remains doubtful.
      Talented youngster Stefan Bajcetic is out for the season after sustaining a serious groin issue.
      But Jurgen Klopp could hand Luis Diaz his first run out since before the World Cup as the tricky winger has returned to full training.
      Who will be the star men?
      Man City: Erling Haaland.
      He’s scored eight goals in his last two matches, including FIVE against Leipzig.
      Haaland has 48 goals in 43 matches in all competitions for club and country this season.
      It’s March…

      Liverpool: Mohamed Salah.
      He’s not been at his red-hot best this season.
      But he’s still been incredibly good with 24 goals in all competitions – including the winner in the reverse fixture at Anfield.
      Liverpool will need him now more than ever if they are to grab a top-four spot.
      SunSport prediction
      Man City 2 Liverpool 2
      When is Man City vs Liverpool?

      Manchester City’s mouth-watering match against Liverpool will take place on Saturday, April 1.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 12:30pm UK time.
      Etihad Stadium in Manchester is the allocated arena for this game and it can host approximately 53,400 fans.
      Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 3-2 winners when the sides last met during a Carabao Cup tie in December.

      What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Manchester City vs Liverpool will be broadcast LIVE on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
      Coverage is set to commence from 11:30pm UK time – a whole hour before kick-off.
      Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live through the website or BT Sport app.
      Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the action including build up and fallout reaction.

      Read More on The Sun
      What are the odds?

      Man City to win 3/5
      Draw 3/1
      Liverpool to win 17/4

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication More

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      Premier League clubs spend record £318MILLION in agents’ fees with Man City splashing out more than double title rivals

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      PREM clubs splashed a staggering £318,219,426 on agents’ fees in the last year.The spending spree – from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023 – is a record amount in a 12-month period and is up £46m on last year.
      Here’s how much each Premier League club spent on agent fees
      Manchester City paid more on agency fees overal than they spent for Erling HaalandCredit: PA
      Chelsea rank behind Manchester City, who top the findingsCredit: Getty
      Champions Manchester City topped the charts with £51.6m – £200,000 more than they paid Borussia Dortmund for Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland last summer.
      Around £35m was paid to agents in the Haaland deal alone.
      Chelsea, who made 21 permanent signings under new American owner Todd Boehly, adding Denis Zakaria and Joao Felix on loan – were the next big spenders on £43.2m.
      Liverpool were third highest with £33.7m while Manchester United splashed out £24.7m.
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      Arsenal and Tottenham follow with £16.7m and £16.1m respectively.
      Nottingham Forest signed a whopping 30 players across both transfer windows but rank last as they spent £4.4m on agent fees.
      The figures, released by the FA today, include payments and transactions involving agents and intermediaries registered in England.
      It covers transfers and loans going in and out of the clubs as well updated contracts, new registrations and scholarship applications.
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      By comparison, the 24 Championship clubs spent just £36.3m – £8m down on the last accounts.
      Norwich were the leaders in the second tier with £4.4m, followed by Watford (£4.3m) and Burnley (£4.1m).
      In League One, the total amount was £5.7m, and £1.67m in League Two.
      Wrexham, who are owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, dwarfed every club in the National League with their fees of £163,737.
      Liverpool are third on the list after landing players like Darwin NunezCredit: Getty
      Manchester United rank fourth after signing stars like CasemiroCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal DO now have the cojones to win the title but it’s not Arteta or the players who’ve impressed me most

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      THERE is no doubt in my mind that Arsenal have the ‘cojones’ to win the Premier League title.Sure, Mikel Arteta’s players have shown balls of steel to open up  an eight-point lead at the top of the table.
      The Gunners not only have the collective spirit on the pitch, they possess the right stuff off it as they aim for their first title since 2004Credit: Getty
      Edu deserves huge praise, both for his work this season and also for backing Mikel Arteta when the manager was under pressure in 2020-21Credit: PA
      But it’s the actions of the club hierarchy which have impressed me more than anything.
      It’s well remembered — especially by Arsenal fans — that I once accused some of their players of lacking ‘cojones’ when my Watford team beat them during the latter part of Arsene Wenger’s reign.
      But when I look at Arsenal now I see a club which has been brave, which has had the courage of their own convictions  and are reaping the rewards.
      Two seasons ago, the Gunners looked as if they were heading into a relegation battle and most  people thought they were mad to stick with Arteta, and to keep believing in their long-term  projects.
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      Time and again, you hear about football clubs having ‘three-year plans’ and ‘five-year plans’.
      But time and again, they  suffer a bad six months and they rip up those plans and start from scratch.
      Not Arsenal under the ownership of the Kroenkes.
      Their sporting director Edu needs a huge amount of credit. He spoke out in Arteta’s favour in the club’s darkest hour during the 2020-21 season.
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      At Christmas, Arsenal were in the bottom six, having lost more than half of their matches and taken two points in seven games  — yet they stuck by their  manager, they believed in what he was working towards.
      Later that season,  there were mass protests against the Kroenkes, with former players signing up for rival consortiums attempting a takeover.
      It would have been easy for owner Stan Kroenke, and his son Josh, to walk away from the club. But they stuck at it.
      Arsenal have not spent obscene amounts on transfer fees and player contracts, either.
      They have cut the wage bill, getting rid of high earners such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, when plenty of supporters were opposed to those moves.
      And just this January, when they were about to sign Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, and Chelsea gazumped them with a huge  £88million deal,  Arsenal didn’t lose their nerve.
      They stuck to their budget, they signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton instead  and the Belgian is proving to be an excellent addition.
       Plenty of Arsenal’s players have shown strong-mindedness, too. Most obviously, Bukayo Saka, who has excelled since his penalty miss in the Euros final of 2021.
      Saka is not just a brilliant player but a humble, selfless individual who loves playing football and seems to me to be the ultimate footballing role model.
      But a couple of lower-profile players have seriously impressed me, too.
      Granit Xhaka was pretty much a hate figure among Arsenal fans a couple of years ago.
      He could have left, or the club could have bombed him out — but club and player showed ‘cojones’ again.
      The Swiss midfielder has been excellent this season.
      You have to lose to learn how to win. And since they blew fourth place last season, that’s what Arteta’s exciting young team have done.
      Then there’s Ben White, signed from Brighton for £50m primarily as a centre-half, he has reinvented himself as a right-back and has made himself first choice in front of a very good specialist in Takehiro Tomiyasu.
      Now Arsenal are ten games from glory, their run-in starting with Leeds at home on Saturday  and that’s a game I expect them to win by three or four.
      In fact, I expect Arsenal to win nine of their last ten — every one except for the visit to their only title rivals, Manchester City, on April 26.
      That includes next weekend’s trip to Liverpool. I know Arsenal  haven’t won at Anfield in the league for more than a decade and been well beaten on their last six such visits.
      But that was a different Liverpool and a very different Arsenal. Arteta’s side will feel they can really get at Jurgen Klopp’s back four.
      If they win there, the last doubters will surely be  convinced  this is Arsenal’s year.
      After facing City, Arsenal then host Chelsea and Brighton, either side of a visit to Newcastle — and that sequence of ­fixtures looks like the crunch for them.
      But I think they can open up an even bigger lead before they head to the Etihad.
      City are a brilliant side but they also have the Champions League and FA Cup to juggle with.
      And I don’t see Pep Guardiola’s team going on one of their epic  winning streaks,   which is what they would need to pip the Gunners to the title.
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      You have to lose to learn how to win. And since they blew fourth place by losing to Tottenham and Newcastle last season, that’s exactly what Arteta’s exciting young team have done.
      From the dressing room to the boardroom, Arsenal are certainly not lacking ‘cojones’ now. More