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      Sam Allardyce reveals he was almost Man City manager with deal ‘done and dusted’ for Bolton legend to become boss

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      SAM ALLARDYCE has claimed that he had a deal “done and dusted” to become Manchester City manager instead of Sven-Goran Eriksson.Big Sam made his name in management with Bolton Wanderers.
      Sam Allarcyce claims he was set to take charge of Man City in 2007Credit: Getty
      He was in charge of the Trotters from 1999 to 2007 and led them from the Championship to the Uefa Cup while bringing in a host of star names such as Jay-Jay Okacha and Nicholas Anelka.
      However, the summer he left the club for a short and ill-fated spell at Newcastle could have ended up very differently according to the 68-year-old.
      Speaking to William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ No Tippy Tappy Football, a series in which Allardyce and host Natalie Pike discuss the big stories surrounding the 2022/23 Premier League and beyond, he said: “I was going to be the Manchester City manager when Stuart [Pearce] left in 2007.
      “That was a deal that was done and dusted which was going to happen with John Wardle and David Makin, the owners of JD Sports.
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      “I think that they wanted me to come and help rebuild the club because they’d seen what I had done at Bolton.
       “I’d left Bolton and was ready to go into the job and of course the day before it was due there was a phone call from either John or Dave to say ‘I’m very sorry Sam but we’ve sold the club and they want Sven-Goran Eriksson.’

      “That was a disappointment but I ended up at Newcastle, so it looked like it was going in the right way at Man City and that changed unfortunately for me when the ownership changed, but Mike Ashley took over from Freddie Shepherd at Newcastle who chose me as manager.”
      Allardyce went on to manage Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland before landing the England job – only to be infamously sacked after just one game in charge. 
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      Big Sam then saved Crystal Palace from the drop before replacing Ronald Koeman in the Everton dug-out back in 2017/18 with the Blues deep in a relegation fight.
      He spent just six months there but he guided them away from danger and to an eighth place finish.
      Allardyce then ended up at West Brom midway through the 2020/21 campaign and was tasked with a similar job, but he was unable to stop the Baggies from sliding into the Championship which led to his departure and he has not managed since. More

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      US investors Elliott Management ready to back Glazers at Man Utd and pay for £2bn Old Trafford upgrades in blow to fans

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      US investors Elliott Management are ready to finance £2BILLION worth of Old Trafford upgrades amid fears the Glazers could stay at the club.Red Devils chiefs, the Glazer family, opened the door to a sale back in November.
      The Glazers are interested in selling or offloading shares in Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Qatar’s Shiekh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have made offers to purchase the Premier League giants.
      But while both parties await a response from Raine Group – the merchant bankers dealing with the sale on behalf of Man Utd – an offer to finance the upgrade of Old Trafford has arisen from American investors Elliott Management.
      It is understood the improvements to the stadium could cost as much as £2bn.
      Bidders are hoping to hear back from Raine Group in the next few days regarding the next steps in the process.
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      The Qatari offer was for a complete takeover of the club, while Ratcliffe’s bid was for a majority stake.
      Both bids were initially lodged at £4.5billion.
      SunSport understands that the Glazers are asking for around £6bn for a wholesale takeover.
      Man Utd fans are keen to see the back of their current owners as they continue to protest their presence.
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      The Glazers’ continued involvement could mean a mass exodus of players in the summer in order to raise funds for new arrivals.
      As many as seven United stars could reportedly be shipped out in order to finance transfers as Erik ten Hag looks to build on an impressive first season in charge.
      United have already won the Carabao Cup and are still in three other competitions.

      They face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday, before the start of their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Betis next week.
      And they are also in with an outside chance of winning the Premier League title as they sit eight points adrift of table toppers Arsenal. More

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      Which teams have the most favourable fixtures throughout March? Dream Team gaffers take note…

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      MARCH brings a promise of spring and, more importantly, a fresh batch of Dream Team transfers.Gaffers will be able to make changes to their XIs from Friday morning if they so wish and, as always, it’s best to consider the month ahead as a whole when determining a strategy.
      With that in mind, let’s run through the fixtures for each of the top ten Premier League teams.
      The schedule is subject to change, of course, but this exercise should paint a relatively clear picture of the coming weeks.
      Please note we have not included fixtures taking place this evening (March 1st) as lock out currently applies to all players.
      Arsenal’s ‘Starboy’ has 128 points to his name
      ARSENAL

      Bournemouth (h)
      Sporting CP (a)
      Fulham (a)
      Sporting CP (h)
      Crystal Palace (h)

      The Gunners recommence their Europa League campaign this month and two legs against one of Portuguese football’s so-called ‘big three’ means they’re busier than most teams.
      Craven Cottage isn’t an easy place to go this season but home fixtures against the Cherries and the Eagles look very friendly on current form.
      Backers of Bukayo Saka (£4.8m), Martin Odegaard (£3.4m) and company will be hopeful of bountiful returns.
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      MANCHESTER CITY

      Newcastle (h)
      Crystal Palace (a)
      RB Leipzig (h)
      FA Cup quarter-final

      Pep Guardiola’s side are likely to be favourites in their FA Cup quarter-final no matter who they draw but at one end of the scale there’s Man United and at the other there’s Blackburn.
      Saturday’s early kick-off at the Etihad promises to be competitive but it’s worth noting that Newcastle’s otherwise sturdy defence conceded three to City at St James’ Park earlier in the season.
      A shock elimination from the Champions League would change the outlook considerably but the smart money is on Erling Haaland (£8.9m) and his merry men to progress to the last eight.
      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Erik ten Hag has dramatically improved Man UnitedCredit: GETTY

      Liverpool (a)
      Real Betis (h)
      Southampton (h)
      Real Betis (a)

      If the newly-crowned Carabao Cup champions get past West Ham in the FA Cup this evening then they’ll have five fixtures to fulfil before the end of March.
      The Red Devils boast more Dream Team centurions (seven) than any other team at present so there’s every reason to back Erik ten Hag’s side right now, both in attack and defence.
      Real Betis are currently fifth in La Liga but they’ve conceded a fair few goals of late so the in-form pair of Marcus Rashford (£6.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6.1m) may cash in.
      TOTTENHAM

      Wolves (a)
      AC Milan (h)
      Nottingham Forest (h)
      Southampton (a)

      The north Londoners can book themselves into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a win over Sheffield United tonight.
      Elsewhere, their Premier League fixtures are relatively favourable – all three opponents have relegation concerns.
      Spurs are 1-0 down on aggregate against Milan and the Italian giants have enjoyed an upturn in form recently so the second leg could be a tense affair.
      NEWCASTLE
      Nick Pope has served his suspensionCredit: GETTY

      Man City (a)
      Wolves (h)
      Nottingham Forest (a)

      Just the three fixtures scheduled for the Magpies this month currently and given that one of those is a trip to the Etihad it could be a lean few weeks for their assets.
      Kieran Trippier’s (£6.5m) owners are unlikely to ditch a player averaging 6.2 points-per-game, rightly so, but it may be the case that replacements are needed elsewhere.
      Saying that, it wouldn’t be a massive surprise if Newcastle kept their sheets clean against Wolves and Forest.
      FULHAM

      Brentford (a)
      Arsenal (h)
      FA Cup quarter-final

      Marco Silva will be hoping for a favourable FA Cup draw to ease what could otherwise be a testing little run.
      The Cottagers have performed above expectations this season but a trip to their west London rivals followed by a meeting with the league leaders looks rough on paper.
      LIVERPOOL
      A daunting trip to Madrid awaits

      Man United (h)
      Bournemouth (a)
      Real Madrid (a)

      It’s hard to know where the Reds are at right now.
      In February they followed two solid wins against Everton and Newcastle with a spectacular capitulation at the hands of Real Madrid at Anfield – fans won’t be overly optimistic of getting anything from the Bernabeu having lost the first leg 5-2.
      On current form, Man United will fancy their chances of registering a comfortable victory over their rivals on enemy soil this weekend.
      BRIGHTON

      West Ham (h)
      Leeds (a)
      Crystal Palace (h)
      FA Cup quarter-final

      It’s three bottom-half opponents for the Seagulls before their FA Cup quarter-final which has to be considered a favourable set.
      It’s the midfielders who have generally bagged the points for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in recent months: Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m), Solly March (£3.4m), Pascal Gross (£2.8m) and Alexis Mac Allister (£2.9m).
      BRENTFORD
      Ivan Toney’s availability is uncertainCredit: GETTY

      Fulham (h)
      Everton (a)
      Southampton (a)
      Leicester (h)

      The Bees are eleven games unbeaten in the Premier League and if they get past Fulham on Monday night they will fancy their chances of extending their streak until April.
      It remains to be seen what punishment will be handed down to Ivan Toney (£5.8m) after the striker submitted a guilty plea for multiple betting charges.
      The 26-year-old is by far and away Brentford’s top scorer this season both in terms of goals and Dream Team points.
      CHELSEA

      Leeds (h)
      Borussia Dortmund (h)
      Leicester (a)
      Everton (h)

      Graham Potter is under severe pressure having won just one of his last eleven fixtures.
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      And the English tactician will have to go without Thiago Silva (£6m), arguably the Blues’ best player this season, for approximately six weeks after an assessment of the Brazilian’s knee injury.
      Failure to attain positive results against bottom-half opponents this month would surely prompt the club’s hierarchy to evaluate Potter’s viability. More

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      Mykhailo Mudryk given unwanted nickname by fans after £89m Chelsea star’s disastrous start

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      MYKHAILO MUDRYK has already been given an unwanted nickname by fans.The £89million man has endured a disastrous start to life at Chelsea.
      Mykhailo Mudryk already has a cruel new nickname from fansCredit: Rex
      Mudryk, 22, was snapped up from Shakhhtar Donetsk in January after appearing to be on the verge of joining Arsenal.
      The Ukraine international made an instant impact with a lively debut cameo against Liverpool.
      But he’s since followed that up with five dud appearances, including one from the bench in Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham.
      Mudryk is yet to score or assist for the Blues in his six games.
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      And some fans are already dubbing him “007” — but it’s not a compliment.
      It refers to a new big-money signing who is yet to bag either a goal or assist in his first seven matches.
      Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo came close this season, finally scoring at the seventh time of asking, in the Merseyside derby with Everton.
      And Mudryk can avoid it sticking if he makes an impact at Leeds this weekend.
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      But he is not even guaranteed to start at Elland Road as Graham Potter continues to rotate his squad of misfits.
      And some cheeky fans are already enjoying Mudryk’s new role on the Chelsea bench.
      One said: “We’re getting closer to 007.”
      Another joked: “They bench Mudryk so he doesn’t catch that ’007’ heat.”

      One declared: “Mudryk on for us to get closer to 007.”
      Another added: “One more game until Mudryk becomes 007, we will be there.”
      Paul Merson certainly believes Mudryk has been a major disappointment for Chelsea.
      He said: “They brought Mykhailo Mudryk for £89m and, bar a cameo of 20 minutes, he’s shown nothing. I mean nothing.
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      “You wouldn’t expect to need time to settle in at that price.
      “The forward-thinking players are no better than the ones they’ve already got so what’s the point?” More

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      How Arsenal could line up as Mikel Arteta plans huge summer transfer overhaul with four major ins and SIX huge outs

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      DESPITE their table-topping performance so far this campaign, Arsenal could still line up very differently by the time next season starts. According to The Times, Arsenal’s impending Champions League qualification could spark a spending spree which could see four major players brought in.
      Mikel Arteta is set to overhaul his squad in the summerCredit: Getty
      Declan Rice is one of their top targetsCredit: Getty
      How Arsenal could line up next season
      However, departures will also be needed to help fund these signings.
      The report suggests as many as six players could be off in the summer.
      Among the incoming players, Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo have been extensively linked to the Emirates.
      Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his midfield to fight on multiple fronts and provide injury cover.
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      Full-back is another area Arteta wants to address, with Ivan Fresneda and Denzel Dumfries both linked.
      Other targets include Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Victor Osimhen, though they will only go after the former if they fail to sign Rice or Caicedo.
      A possible line up next season could see Osimhen leading the line while Rice and Caicedo marshal the midfield with Inter Milan star Dumfries patrolling the right flank.
      Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka is set to be the highest profile player to fall victim to the squad overhaul.
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      Granit Xhaka is set to be a casualty of the new arrivalsCredit: Getty
      Kieran Tierney’s limited minutes could see him on the chopping block too, with a £25m price reportedly being set.
      A decision is also set to be made on Emile Smith Rowe, who has struggled with injuries.
      On loan stars Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Folarin Balogun are all set to leave to help fund the summer spree.

      If Arsenal don’t land Rice or Caicdeo, Milinkovic-Savic could partner Thomas Partey while Fresneda comes in at right-back.
      Meanwhile, the versatile Takehiro Tomiyasu could become the team’s second choice left-back, while Ben White can cover for William Saliba at right centre-back.
      Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus could return up top too.
      An alternative look at how Arsenal could line up More

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      Real Madrid make Jude Bellingham and Josko Gvardiol top two transfer targets as Spaniards plan raid for young stars

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      REAL MADRID have reportedly made Jude Bellingham and Josko Gvardiol their top summer transfer targets.Bellingham, 19, is one of the most in-demand teenagers in world football after his exploits at the World Cup and for Borussia Dortmund.
      Jude Bellingham is one of two top transfer targets for Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Croatian star Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig is the otherCredit: Getty
      Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been linked with the ex-Birmingham City midfield ace.
      We reported last month how Newcastle had now joined the transfer chase, while Real Madrid have also held a heavy interest in signing the teenage sensation.
      Los Blancos have been trying to work on a deal for some time with their chief scout Juni Calafat already “taking care of relations” with Bellingham’s father, Mark, who manages his son’s career.
      But there was a growing feeling that they “are becoming resigned to the fact that the financial muscle of the Premier League is almost unbeatable”.
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      However, after famously missing out on Kylian Mbappe last summer, the England international has been made one Madrid’s “main targets” for the next transfer window.
      That is according to Spanish publication Sport, who also claim that fellow World Cup star Gvardiol is the other.
      Chelsea have targeted the Croatian defender for several months and tried to sign him in January.
      But after Gvardiol scored for RB Leipzig against Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16 last week his manager Marco Rose issued a hands off warning.
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      The ace is under contract until 2027 – but that does not appear to be deterring Madrid.
      Los Blancos are allegedly preparing for the departure of midfield veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at the end of the season along with defender Nacho Fernandez.
      And they look set to go all-out to bring in the young duo to bolster their ranks and replace them. More

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      Man Utd’s permanent transfer stance on Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer revealed as pair battle for futures

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’s understated January transfer business saw Wout Wegorst and Marcel Sabitzer join the club on loan.Weghorst, 30, has started all 12 games he has been available for, while Sabitzer, 28, has started United’s last three Premier League matches.
      Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer joined Manchester United on loan in JanuaryCredit: AP
      The pair helped Manchester United to Carabao Cup glory against NewcastleCredit: Getty
      Dutch striker Weghorst was signed following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, while an injury to Christian Eriksen saw the Red Devils swoop to bring in Sabitzer from Bayern Munich.
      Both played in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final triumph over Newcastle – Weghorst from the start and Sabitzer a 69th minute replacement for Fred.
      However, United do not have an option or obligation to buy either player when their loan deals expire at the end of the campaign.
      But boss Erik ten Hag has claimed it’s “too soon” to decide whether the Red Devils will pursue a permanent move for either Weghorst or Sabitzer.
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      When asked if he wanted to keep them in the squad, Ten Hag said: ”I think it is much too quick [to decide]. [It is] much too soon to talk about that.
      “First, we are in this season and that is where the focus has to be.
      “No distractions for what is coming next season. Only the season we are in.
      “We are in the right position at this moment, this is the position we want to be as we are now competing in three leagues [competitions].”
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      After winning the Carabao Cup at the weekend, Ten Hag has set his sights on more glory in his debut campaign as Old Trafford boss.
      United are still fighting in both the Europa League and the FA Cup.
      An FA Cup fifth round meeting with West Ham awaits on Wednesday evening, with a Europa League Round of 16 clash with Real Betis also coming up later this month.
      Elsewhere the Red Devils are currently third in the Premier League, eight points off leaders Arsenal, with a late title charge potentially on the cards. More

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      Seven Man Utd stars facing axe by Erik ten Hag this summer to help fund transfer spending spree if Glazers stay

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      MANCHESTER UNITED could reportedly sell SEVEN players in the summer if the Glazers stay and force Erik ten Hag to raise funds.The Red Devils’ ownership situation remains unclear amid months of speculation.
      Harry Maguire is struggling for game time at Old TraffordCredit: PA
      Anthony Martial has dropped down the pecking order at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      The Glazers opened the door to selling the club earlier this season and have attracted interest from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
      However, there is still a fear among some Man Utd fans that their despised bosses will decide to stick around.
      If that does happen, Ten Hag will likely be made to offload players in order to fund any new deals.
      And The Mirror are reporting that as many as seven stars face the chop at Old Trafford.
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      Harry Maguire
      Harry Maguire, 29, has started just five Premier League games this season as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez continue to build a strong partnership.
      And while Ten Hag has reassured him he is a big part of his plans, United could still sell as he would command a substantial fee.
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka has proven his worth over the past few months following a poor start to life under Ten Hag.
      But he could still demand a hefty price tag in the window. And with Diogo Dalot a long-term option at right-back, United may see him as expendable come the end of the season.
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      Brandon Williams
      Brandon Williams has returned from last season’s loan spell at Norwich and been outcast by Ten Hag.
      The 22-year-old has earned just one appearance this season – a five-minute outing in the Carabao Cup.
      Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are firmly ahead of him in the pecking order of left-backs, so he is an almost certain departure.

      Donny van de Beek
      Donny van de Beek has endured a torrid time since arriving from Ajax in 2020.
      And a reunion with former coach Ten Hag has done nothing to reignite his form in Manchester.
      He made just four starts for United before being ruled out with a knee injury and that could cruelly signal the end of his spell at the club.
      Anthony Martial
      Anthony Martial seemed to be a favoured forward option for Ten Hag at the start of the season.
      But continual injury issues have left him unable to establish a lengthy run in the team.
      Six goals in 14 appearances is not a bad return, but his inability to remain fit could mean United show him the exit door at the end of the campaign as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
      Alex Telles
      Alex Telles was sent out on loan to Sevilla following the arrival of Malacia in the summer.
      But he has missed the last two months due to a knee injury and been unable to showcase his capabilities as a result.
      With his contract up in 2024, expect him to be sold this summer.
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      Eric Bailly
      Eric Bailly has made just 20 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
      He is on a season-long loan at Marseille, but is not expected to return to Old Trafford and compete for a first-team place. More