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      How Man Utd could line up next season with David De Gea AXED and replaced by Prem ace and new star-studded attack

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      ERIK TEN HAG could name a much-changed Man United side next season with another summer transfer window under his belt.The Dutch manager is likely to be backed again after impressing in his first season in charge of the club.
      Erik ten Hag is set to be back this summer in the transfer windowCredit: PA
      Harry Kane is a top target for Man UnitedCredit: Getty
      The club may also need a replacement for David de GeaCredit: Getty
      Brentford’s David Raya could be a target for the clubCredit: Reuters
      How Man United could line up after the summer transfer window
      Ten Hag, 53, has led the club to a Carabao Cup victory and has his side still competing for a Champions League spot as well as in the FA Cup and Europa League.
      In the build-up to the next transfer window, the Red Devils have been heavily tipped to make a move for England top scorer Harry Kane.
      The Spurs star, 29, is believed to be at the top of the club’s wishlist as they look to sign a top-class No.9.
      Kane’s deal at Tottenham expires at the end of next season and United are hopeful that they can pick him up for £80million.
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      Kane would fit into the club’s style and would be in familiar surroundings with England internationals Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire already at there.
      Another striker option for Ten Hag is Napoli’s leading goalscorer Victor Osimhen.
      The striker, 24, has excelled in Serie A this season and has consistently been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
      The club could also have to sign a replacement for goalkeeper David de Gea.
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      The Spanish stopper, 32, could leave the club this summer and Brentford’s David Raya, 27, has been tipped as a potential replacement.
      The Bees star has already rejected two contract offers to stay at the London side and is expected to be sold.
      While Man United have also been rumoured to have an interest in Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 23, who is one of the highest-rated goalkeepers in Europe this season.
      Ten Hag is also reportedly on the lookout for a new midfielder that would be able to replace Marcel Sabitzer and Barcelona’s Gavi could be a decent option.
      Gavi could leave Barcelona on a free transfer this seasonCredit: Getty
      Declan Rice has also been linked with a move to Man UnitedCredit: PA
      An alternative look with other transfer targets
      The midfielder looks set to leave on a free transfer after LaLiga rejected his registration on a first-team contract due to the financial woes at the club.
      Man United have also been consistently linked with West Ham captain Decland Rice.
      The England international looks set to leave the Hammers this season, although the Red Devils will have to challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for his signature.
      Ten Hag is also desperate to sign a new right-back to upgrade on his options of Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
      Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong have both been reportedly looked at by the club. More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who battled leukaemia and fought for my life for 13 months – now I’m bashing rivals in MMA

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      FORMER Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme won the fight of his life when he battled back from leukaemia.Now, the ex-Molineux star is flooring his opponents as a Mixed Martial Arts champion – and has even enjoyed some success in Europe.
      Former Premier League star Carl Ikeme has swapped goalkeeper gloves for MMA glovesCredit: RAW Grappling Championship/Youtube
      The former stopper played over 200 games for WolvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 36-year-old was always handy with his fists when he was clearing crosses from his penalty area, clocking up more than 200 appearances as Wolves’ No1.
      But his career was cruelly cut short when he was 32 after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2017 and the popular goalie was forced to retire from the game a year later.
      Ikeme spent 13 months undergoing gruelling treatment before docs told him he was in complete remission.
      But with his football career over, the former Wolves hero swapped his goalie gloves for fingerless MMA gloves after building up his fitness participating in the Brazilian martial art of jiu-jitsu.
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      And Ikeme soon proved he is every bit as handy in a cage or ring as he was in a penalty box by becoming British open age champion.
      The former goalie has also enjoyed success in Europe after picking up a bronze medal at the MMA European Championships.
      Ikeme told local Wolverhampton paper the Express & Star: “I was just filling up my car at a petrol station near home and saw a sign for Gracie Barra, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Sutton Coldfield.
      “I had always wanted to try that discipline, so I signed up for a taster session.
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      “I was in really good shape at the time, it was around when I had done the 100-mile Velo cycle ride for charity.
      “But I went along to the class, and I remember being absolutely gassed after a three-minute round.
      “My legs were cramping, my back was in bits, and I suddenly realised that you don’t really know anything about fighting until you actually do it!”
      Ikeme made his martial arts debut last year, beating fellow Brit Fuad Ahmed 4-0 in the first Raw Grappling World Championship at the IndigoO2 Arena in London, in a contest streamed on YouTube.
      The former shot-stopper, who won ten international caps for Nigeria, confessed: “Competition really wasn’t in my mind at the start.
      “I just wanted to learn a new art. I found it all a really humbling experience to be honest.
      “It’s about realising that nothing else matters when you are on the mat as it’s just two people concentrating on trying to get the better out of each other.”
      Ikeme was forced to retire in 2018 aged 32 following his battle with leukaemiaCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Barcelona look to sign three players for FREE this summer as they plan transfer raid on Chelsea and Man City

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      BARCELONA are reportedly looking to sign three players for free this summer.That’s despite running into financial troubles again.
      Barcelona are looking to make three free signings this summerCredit: Rex
      Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set for a Nou Camp returnCredit: AFP
      Barcelona were forced to activate several club levers last summer in order to fund a mega spending spree for the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
      But their troubles have not gone away, with whizkid Gavi now stripped of his contract and squad number due to a negative financial balance.
      Despite the setback, Mundo Deportivo says Barcelona are still looking to press ahead with more free transfers after snapping up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie last summer.
      Top of their list is Athletic Bilbao and Spain centre-back Inigo Martinez, who could arrive as a replacement for Eric Garcia.
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      The defender also has offers from Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Napoli.
      But he is desperate to join Barcelona and will happily wait for as long as it takes to make a move happen.
      Next on Barca’s list is Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      He only left the Nou Camp last summer in order to be reunited with Thomas Tuchel.
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      But the German was replaced with Graham Potter, who ended up axing Aubameyang from his Champions League squad.
      And the Gabon star is now set to be released from his Blues deal at the end of the season.
      The final freebie Barca want is Ilkay Gundogan.
      He is out of contract at Man City this summer, and an extension does not appear to be forthcoming.
      Pep Guardiola wants to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and could sacrifice Gundogan to free up space in his squad.
      That would allow Barca to make a swoop for the Germany star, who can play holding or central midfield.
      And Gundogan could replace Sergio Busquets, who has been tipped for move to the MLS.
      Ilkay Gundogan looks set to leave Man City this summerCredit: Alamy
      Inigo Martinez has already made it clear he wants to swap Bilbao for BarcaCredit: Getty More

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      Marcelo Bielsa in talks to become international team manager 13 months after Leeds sacking

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      MARCELO BIELSA is in talks to become an international manager, according to reports. The former Leeds boss has been out of work since being sacked by the club in February 2022.
      Marcelo Bielsa is set to take over as Uruguay head coachCredit: Reuters
      But the 67-year-old now looks set to return to management on the international stage.
      According to TyC Sports, Bielsa is “very close” to becoming the new head coach for the Uruguay national team.
      The report indicates Bielsa has been one of their main managerial targets since sacking previous boss Diego Carlos, who saw Uruguay crash out of the World Cup at the group stage.
      The Argentine’s contract will run until the end of the 2026 South American World Cup qualifiers, with an option to extend further should they qualify.
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      Bielsa has previous experience in the hot seat for a national team, having previously coached Argentina and Chile.
      Uruguay drew with Japan 1-1 and beat South Korea 2-1 in recent friendlies under interim coach Marcelo Broli.
      In January Bielsa was touted as Frank Lampard’s successor at Everton.
      However, the Toffees turned to Sean Dyche instead as it was revealed Bielsa had some peculiar demands to take over, including coaching the Under-21s for the first six months.
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      When Bielsa left Leeds the club were facing relegation, but under successor Jesse Marsch they managed to clinch safety.
      However, things did not fare much better for the American, with the Whites being dragged into another relegation scrap and Marsch’s dismissal 12 months on from Bielsa.
      Former Watford boss Javi Gracia is currently in charge at Elland Road.
      The Spaniard has won two matches out of four in the Premier League. More

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      Arsenal ‘now frontrunners for next Erling Haaland’ as Mikel Arteta targets superstar striker to fight Jesus for top spot

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      ARSENAL are allegedly in pole position to sign Rasmus Hojlund this summer.The 20-year-old has enjoyed an incredible international break with five goals in two matches for Denmark.
      Arsenal are reportedly leading the chase to sign Danish wonderkid Rasmus HojlundCredit: Reuters
      He has scored seven goals in his debut campaign for Atalanta, following a £15m summer move from Austria’s Sturm Graz, with many comparing him to Manchester City’s Norwegian hotshot Erling Haaland.
      Now a clutch of Europe’s big guns are beginning to circle for the ace, including Manchester United and Juventus.
      However, Italian outlet Calciomercato have declared that Arsenal are the frontrunners to sign Hojlund.
      And they claim that any potential deal will cost around £30m – double the fee Serie A side Atalanta forked out for him just a few months ago.
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      It follows on from reports yesterday that Arsenal are scouting five strikers ahead of the summer, with Hojlund one of them.
      The Gunners are currently eight points clear at the top of the table ahead of rivals Manchester City as they close in on a first title since 2004.
      That is despite Mikel Arteta’s side suffering a number of problems in attack this term.
      Gabriel Jesus has only just returned following a four-month absence due to injury.
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      Eddie Nketiah led the line for most of his absence, but the 23-year-old has found himself replaced in recent weeks with winger Leondro Trossard being deployed as a false nine.
      Arteta is determined not to be left short of options again and has made a new striker a top priority to challenge Jesus.
      Arsenal have been scouting “a more physical” forward with five players being watched to add an “extra dimension” to their attack.
      We reported how Juventus are “preparing for life” without 6ft 3in star Dusan Vlahovic, who the Gunners have tracked long-term.
      Vlahovic, 23, joined Juventus from Fiorentina back in January 2022 after snubbing the chance to move to the Premier League with Arsenal.
      The Serb has scored eleven this term but has struggled for goals over recent weeks for his club although Arteta is still a fan.
      England internationals Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Everton, 26, and Roma’s Tammy Abraham, 25, also both “fit the mould” of what he is looking for.
      The North London team have been linked with both previously and this fresh update says they are still being scouted.
      They are also in the transfer chase for Napoli’s Nigerian goal machine Victor Osimhen but face stiff competition from Man United and a host of other clubs for his signature. More

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      I was taken to Pizza Express by Roy Keane who tried to persuade me to sign for Sunderland but I knew we would not get on

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      MIDO once deep panned Roy Keane after revealing all about the meal that persuaded him never to play for the Manchester United legend.No amount of dough would have persuaded the Egypt striker to sign after the then-Sunderland manager invited him to Pizza Express in 2006 for what he thought would be a friendly “come and join us” chat.
      Mido was taken for lunch at Pizza Express by Roy Keane but the pair didn’t exactly hit it off
      Mido, who was with Spurs at the time, said Keane “didn’t talk much” – and he would “end up fighting” with the former Republic of Ireland legend if he played under him.
      Ex-Ajax and Marseille star Mido told talkSPORT how he couldn’t wait to dessert his less-than-topping dining experience with Keane.
      So instead he left Tottenham for a three-year spell with Sunderland’s North East rivals Middlesbrough.
      The now 40-year-old said: “My agent Mino Raiola said, ‘Mido, Roy Keane wants to have lunch with you and show you the training ground’.
      “So I went to Newcastle airport. He came to pick me up in his Range Rover, we went to Sunderland and he took me to lunch to Pizza Express.
      “I was very surprised that he didn’t talk to me much.
      “Normally you get a player for lunch, you try to talk to him and try to convince him to sign for your club, but he didn’t talk much, he was just very quiet.
      “I knew straight away that me and him, we could not work together, we would end up fighting. He was talking to me and looking at the ceiling.
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      “I knew straight away that it would not work.”
      Ultimately, Keane’s managerial career crumbled – after two-year spells with Sunderland and Ipswich.
      Mido has grabbed a slice of the managerial action himself – with four Egyptian clubs before taking over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wehda Club in December 2018.
      He was most recently in charge Egyptian side El Makkasa, but was sacked in 2020 after just six months in charge. More

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      Man Utd, City, Chelsea and Liverpool in major Jude Bellingham transfer boost as Real Madrid set £88m limit

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      REAL MADRID have reportedly set a limit on how much they will pay for Jude Bellingham.And the news comes as a boost to Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, who are all linked with a swoop for the teenage sensation.
      Jude Bellingham is a summer transfer target for Europe’s top clubsCredit: Rex
      Spanish newspaper AS claim Real Madrid have set a limit on how much they will pay for BellinghamCredit: AS
      Spanish newspaper AS claim Real Madrid will not fork out more than £88million for Bellingham.
      The La Liga giants are adamant that they will not overpay for the 19-year-old.
      It’s thought Real hope to persuade Bellingham to snub a Premier League move and tempt him to the Bernabeu thanks to the club’s “legendary history”.
      But Real are refusing to enter a bidding war for Bellingham – on both the transfer fee and his salary.
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      The club know any potential fee is in the same sort of ballpark as what they would have to pay for a striker.
      Karim Benzema is 35-years-old and Real know buying a new goalscorer in the near future will not be cheap, meaning they do not want to overpay for Bellingham.
      Liverpool and City are reported to be the two front runners for his signature.
      Borussia Dortmund are also hopeful of keeping Bellingham for another season, and reportedly plan on offering him a contract extension with a mammoth pay rise and release clause for 2024.
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      However, Real Madrid are hopeful of reaching an agreement with Borussia Dortmund if Bellingham opts to join them.
      AS report the two clubs have an “excellent” relationship, and negotiations would not prove to be much of a problem.
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke are said to be good friends.
      Although Real appear prepared to miss out on Bellingham if a bidding war drives his price up past £88m. More

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      Man Utd fans fume at ‘utterly insane’ ticket prices for friendly against Wrexham in America this summer

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans are furious with the ticket prices announced for the pre-season friendly against Wrexham.United will face the non-league side owned by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in San Diego on July 26 as part of the Premier League giants’ pre-season tour of America.
      Manchester United will face Wrexham during their pre-season the USCredit: Getty
      Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced the gameCredit: Reuters
      United fans are enraged with the ticket prices for the friendly with Wrexham
      But fans will have to cough up some heavy bucks to watch what is likely to be the Red Devils’ academy and fringe players take on the League Two hopefuls at the Snapdragon Stadium.
      The “utterly insane” prices led to a furious reaction by fans with the cheapest ticket costing a whopping $224 (£182).
      One fan tweeted: “Utterly insane.”
      Another commented: “The ticket prices are ridiculous.”
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      A third posted: “Man Utd ticket prices for friendly are absurd.”
      And one angry supporter added: “Wrexham vs #ManchesterUnited tickets prices are wild. Ticketmaster be bugging.”
      And in a nod to the cost of living crisis, another irate fan posted: “$300/ticket for nose bleeds after fees!!! What a joke, family of four can’t enjoy anything anymore.”
      The two clubs announced the friendly in a hilarious video showing Reynolds and McElhenney having an awkward conversation with legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson via Skype.
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      The two actors were so intimidated they actually ended the call thinking Ferguson was playing mind games without realising they were on mute the whole time.
      It was, of course, pure theatre for the talented actors.
      Wrexham will be hoping to be back in the EFL by the time they face the Manchester giants as they are currently jostling with Notts County in the National League.
      United, though, are currently not focused on that friendly as they will be challenging for the FA Cup as well as Europa League, while looking to seal at least third place in the Premier League. More