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      Man Utd’s Qatari takeover bid has raised ‘significant worries within PSG that Red Devils will be prioritised’

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      PSG are reportedly concerned that Manchester United would be prioritised should a Qatari bid for the club be successful.A Qatar-based consortium has launched a bid for the Old Trafford side as the Glazers look to sell the club.
      A Qatar-based consortium has launched a bid to buy Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
      This has caused concerns that Man Utd will be prioritised over PSGCredit: Getty
      The Glazers revealed in November that they were willing to listen to offers for either a stake in the Premier League giants or an outright purchase.
      A number of parties have expressed an interest in buying United, which could be purchased for a world-record price for a sports franchise at £4.5billion, or more.
      There has been questions over whether a deal would be banned due to Qatar already owning PSG.
      But the Daily Mail reported that a bid from the consortium would not be blocked by Uefa, meaning a major cash boost to United.
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      The report says that the bid has come from a separate entity to Qatar Sports Investments, which owns the Ligue 1 giants.
      PSG was taken over by QSI in 2011 and have gone on to become one of the heavyweights in European football.
      The French side have won eight of the last ten league titles and are consistently reaching the latter stages of the Champions League.
      But Qatar authorities insist a bid for the Premier League side will not affect PSG and that the French side will continue to receive funding.
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      But PSG reportedly fear the Qatar Investment Authority will divert money into United, given the French giants’ failure to win the Champions League so far despite heavy investment.
      Therefore, United could be prioritised should they become more successful.
      One source told L’Equipe: “If Qatar buys Manchester United, there is a chance that it will be less generous with PSG and that it will make it a Ligue 1 club and no longer a team cut out to win the Champions League.” More

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      Arsenal ‘the new Man City’ as Bernardo Silva piles praise on Mikel Arteta’s ‘very tough’ Premier League title rivals

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      ARSENAL are the new version of Manchester City’s Centurions, according to Bernardo Silva.The Gunners’ surprise title challenge has taken the Premier League by storm with a club-record 50 points by the mid-way point.
      Arsenal are still very much in the title race despite losing to Manchester CityCredit: Getty
      Bernardo Silva had his hands full with Bukayo Saka and is impressed by the GunnersCredit: Alamy
      But they suffered a major blow with Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat at home to City which saw the reigning champs leapfrog into top spot on goal difference.
      Four-time Etihad winner Silva, though, is full of admiration for this “great and very tough” Arsenal team that bears a strong resemblance to Pep Guardiola’s dominant Class of 2018.
      Silva, who worked with Emirates boss Mikel Arteta when he was Guardiola’s assistant, said: “Arsenal have a great team with a lot of energy.
      “We will fight until the end, knowing that we are going to fight against a very tough side that reminds me of us five years ago.
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      “They’re so young, they’re so good, their energy is so nice.
      “But we are here and want to win again. We know it’s not going to be easy but we will fight.
      “We have struggled this season to get to that winning run, winning three, four games and then losing one. It’s quite disappointing.
      “Hopefully we get to that run and finish this season in the best possible way.
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      “I think it is going to go up until the end.”
      Manchester City became the first away team to win at the Emirates in the Premier League since April.
      And Guardiola needed to rip up his “horrible” tactics at 1-1 to get the job done.
      As he did against Aston Villa, Silva started at left-back out of possession but struggled to cope with Bukayo Saka before being switched to right-wing when Manuel Akanji replaced Riyad Mahrez.
      The Portuguese star, 28, added on his new role: “I’m not going to lie, it’s very tough.
      “When you have play those positions you have to have a defender’s mentality.
      “You lose a little bit your offensive thinking and what you do with the ball. You are more focused on not making mistakes and defending well, occupying the spaces.
      “It’s been challenging but it’s been nice. It’s a good challenge. I love challenges.”
      Silva reserved special praise for team-mate Jack Grealish after his winner.
      BREATHING SPACE
      The £100million record signing now has two goals and four assists since returning from the World Cup and is starting to display his top quality for City.
      Silva said: “Jack is doing very very well, not just the goals and assists, the way he keeps the ball and helps us breathe.
      “In this game, for example, we could not keep the ball, but the way he manages to give us that breath. I am really happy for him because he is a great guy.”
      Kevin De Bruyne, who opened the scoring with a sublime finish then assisted Erling Haaland to seal the points, also hailed the former Villa captain and new rivals Arsenal.
      The Belgian said: “It’s never easy to come to our team but Jack’s been playing great this year.
      “People look at the stats all the time but he does very important things for us. We’re winning a lot of games and he’s a big part of that, playing almost every game.
      “We know he’s doing a really good job for us.
      “Arsenal are exceptional, a really good team. They play such good football and it is hard to play against them.
      “They merit being where they are and we had to come here and show something.
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      “Every year gets tougher because of the quality of the teams. Everyone does such good business and gets so much quality in.
      “Doing what we did in the last few years, every team we come up against wants to beat us.”
      Manchester City won the league with a record 100 points in 2017-18Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Kevin De Bruyne joined Silva in heaping praise on Jack GrealishCredit: Reuters More

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      Premier League cult hero Fernando Llorente, 37, retires from football as he reveals he will play new sport

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      PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Fernando Llorente has retired from football aged 37.Now the World Cup winner will try his hand at a new sport as he swaps the pitch for the court.
      Fernando Llorente has retired from football aged 37Credit: https://www.instagram.com/llorente_fer/?hl=en
      The former Tottenham man has been without a club since the end of last seasonCredit: Reuters
      Llorente has been without a club since leaving Spanish second-division side Eibar at the end of last season.
      And the striker called time on his football career as he revealed he wants to stay active by playing padel, the racket sport rising in popularity, especially in Spain.
      Llorente was asked on live TV: “Won’t we see you on the pitch again?”
      But the striker replied: “No, no. Now I have everything clear.
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      “I continue to keep fit by playing padel.”
      Llorente came through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao and spent eight successful years in the first team from 2005 to 2013 before joining Juventus on a free transfer.
      In two seasons with the Old Lady, he won two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and reach the Champions League final.
      He switched Turin for Sevilla in 2015, winning the Europa League, and then Swansea a year later, scoring 15 goals to help the Welsh club avoid relegation.
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      Llorente signed for Tottenham in 2017 and was largely used as a back-up for Harry Kane.
      However, he will always be remembered in North London for his controversial goal in the dramatic Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City in 2019.
      Llorente bundled in from a corner and that proved to be the winner as Tottenham progressed on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw on their way to reaching the final where he picked up his second runner-up medal.
      The Spaniard left Spurs at the end of that season and had stints with Napoli and Udinese back in Italy before returning to his homeland with Eibar.
      He ended his club career with 203 goals in 676 appearances and added seven in 24 senior caps for La Roja, for whom he was part of the successful squads at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
      Llorente scored the dramatic goal to beat Manchester City in the Champions LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The striker won the Europa League with SevillaCredit: PA:Press Association
      He was part of Spain’s teams that won the World Cup and Euro 2012Credit: EPA More

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      From top-tier defender last season to a 15-point flop today: Joel Matip’s Dream Team story

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      NO player personifies Liverpool’s decline from last season to the current campaign more than Joel Matip (£3.8m).The likeable Cameroonian centre-back finished 2021/22 with 236 points to his name, a tally bettered by only four defenders: Andy Robertson (£3.9m), Virgil van Dijk (£4.9m), Joao Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£4.8m).
      As the cheapest member of the Reds’ first-choice back four, he was among Dream Team’s most endearing gems.
      This term, however, it’s no exaggeration to say he’s been one of the most disappointing flops.
      Matip has incurred minus points in nine fixtures this seasonCredit: GETTY
      Matip contributed to a clean sheet in the Merseyside derby on Monday to bank five points but even that desperately-needed haul pushed his overall total up to just 15.
      The extensive list of defenders with more points to their name includes Jordan Zemura (£1.4m), Cedric Soares (£1.8m), Lyanco (£1.4m), Cheikhou Kouyate (£2.1m) and Jamaal Lascelles (£3m).
      This stark contrast between seasons is reflected not just in the 31-year-old’s Dream Team returns but in observations from fans and pundits alike.
      It could be argued that Matip actually outperformed Van Dijk last season but he’s looked terribly vulnerable this term and, with fitness issues throw in, has consequently been limited to just eight league starts (and 15 appearances in all competitions).
      He’s far from the only Anfield resident to suffer a significant drop-off, in fact Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) and Roberto Firmino (£3.7m) are the only individuals who have continued to provide the goods this season and the latter has been frustrated by injury setbacks.
      Form is temporary…Credit: GETTY
      Jurgen Klopp’s side would have have savoured their victory over neighbours Everton but the table remains grim reading for a side who hold both domestic cups, they’re ninth having won nine of their 21 league fixtures so far.
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      A thrashing away to Napoli aside, Liverpool’s performances in the Champions League have been more typical of recent years but another meeting with European specialists Real Madrid in the round of 16 represents a stern test.
      Naturally, Dream Team managers have ditched Matip in their droves and his ownership is now below 1%.
      Fingers crossed he regains his best form at some stage but for now, as an embodiment of Liverpool’s dip, gaffers should stay clear. More

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      Man Utd line up shock Mason Mount transfer as three of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals monitor his contract stand-off

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are considering a shock swoop for Chelsea star Mason Mount.According to ESPN reporter James Olley, United have joined Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the bidding war for Mount’s signature.
      Mason Mount has been linked with a sensational transfer to Man UtdCredit: EPA
      The Chelsea star has struggled for form this season.
      Consequently, he has failed to consolidate his strong form from the previous three seasons.
      Mount has scored just three times and added just two assists in the Premier League so far this season.
      The report suggests Mount could look to leave Stamford Bridge after a lack of progress on a new contract.
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      The 24-year-old is understood to be after a significant rise from his current wages of around £80,000 per week.
      Mount’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of next season.
      However, this economic factor has added to a further stumbling block of Mount not wanting to commit to the type of long-term contracts handed out by Chelsea in January.
      A number of January signings penned contract with deals which run for roughly eight years.
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      This massively offset the staggering fees paid via a process known as amortisation, but the risk factor lies in such long contracts with no guarantee of player success.
      Mount’s spot at the club is under threat after Todd Boehly reportedly flew to Paris for talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar.

      The Blues are already in line to sign Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, and could even make Joao Felix’s loan move from Atletico Madrid permanent in the summer. More

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      Former Man Utd striker makes transfer return to old club aged 36 after seven months in the wilderness

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      FORMER Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi is back in football after signing a deal with Serie B side SPAL.The Italian re-joins the club after his contract expired with the outfit back in July last year.
      Giuseppe Rossi has joined SPAL until the end of the seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Rossi was at Man United at the start of his careerCredit: Getty
      Rossi initially joined the Italian side in 2021 for the remainder of the season, during this spell he played 14 league games and scored three goals.
      Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the move on Twitter as he wrote: “Giuseppe Rossi is back. Italian striker has reached a full agreement with Serie B side SPAL until the end of the season.
      “Deal in place with president Joe Tacopina 🇮🇹🇺🇸🤝🏻.
      “Former Man Utd, Fiorentina, Villarreal striker has accepted the bid. Good luck Giuseppe Rossi22 🤙🏼.”
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      The 36-year-old spent part of his early career at the Red Devils after he was poached out of the Parma youth academy.
      Rossi only played five times in the Premier League, scoring one goal during his time with United.
      He did have a loan spell at Newcastle, but failed to score in his eleven league appearances for the club.
      The striker’s career has been hampered by continuous injuries, but he has always been a highly-rated player.
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      He enjoyed his best time as a player in LaLiga with Villarreal, where he scored 54 goals in 136 league games.
      Rossi returned to Italy in 2013 by joining Fiorentina.
      He then had spells at Levante, Celta Vigo and Genoa for a short stint in the United States with Real Salt Lake City.
      Before his move to the MLS, Rossi spent time with United in order to maintain his fitness while he was a free agent.
      The move comes just after Italian legend Daniele De Rossi was sacked as manager and replaced by Massimo Oddo.
      Rossi will join another well-known star Radja Nainggolan, the Belgian midfielder joined at the start of February. More

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      Marc Cucurella’s new home burgled leaving him suffering ‘tough time’ on pitch with inconsistent form

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      MARC Cucurella has become the latest Chelsea star to be burgled in a terrifying home raid – with his boss revealing he had been going through a “tough time”.The left-back, 24, was robbed shortly after moving to the Blues from Brighton in the summer.
      Marc Cucurella was targeted by burglarsCredit: Getty
      Blues boss Graham Potter has been backing his under-pressure star lately but admitted the player has been going through a “tough time” after the £62million move.
      Potter has vowed to support Spanish defender Cucurella on and off the pitch despite his criticism from fans over his disappointing performance.
      Cucurella was dropped for Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund and was booed by Chelsea fans when he came off the bench in the 71st minute.
      He has also endured a frustrating time forging a relationship with new playing partner Mykhailo Mudryk.
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      It is thought the unsettling effects of the burglary have had a big impact on Cucurella’s struggle to settle in at Stamford Bridge.
      He had already found it stressful trying to settle into life in London, struggling to find a home for him and his family.
      Cucurella is the third Chelsea footballer to be targeted after Reece James and Raheem Sterling also had their homes raided.
      Sterling was forced to race back from the World Cup in Qatar after burglars smashed into his home in December.
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      The star later re-joined the squad and two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.
      Prior to that Chelsea right back Reece James revealed he had been targeted by thieves who stole his football medals and his safe.
      James was not home at the time but referred to the culprits as “low life individuals”.
      The defender moved to Chelsea in the summerCredit: Rex More

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      Nottingham Forest beg Premier League to reinstate defender amid injury crisis – despite signing TWENTY-NINE players

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST have reportedly begged the Premier League to reinstate one of their defenders after being hit by an injury crisis.That’s despite signing a massive 29 players since last summer’s promotion.
      Nottingham Forest are desperate to reinstate a defender after being hit by injuriesCredit: Rex
      Steve Cooper suffered a huge blow in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Fulham, losing centre-backs Willy Boly and Scott McKenna to injury in the opening seven minutes.
      And he has just two replacements registered in Forest’s 25-man squad – skipper Joe Worrall and new arrival Felipe.
      The Telegraph claims the relegation battlers have now made an appeal to Prem chiefs to re-register axed defender Steve Cook.
      The 31-year-old played a big role in last season’s Championship campaign and made 12 league appearances this term before being dropped.
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      And Cook was left out of Forest’s 25-man squad in January after seeing a move to Luton fall through.
      But Cooper now wants the ace involved again as cover for Worrall and Felipe.
      Forest have sent an application to the league claiming they are in the grips of a defensive injury crisis.
      Cook is already a signed player and should therefore be allowed to be included in the registered group.
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      Forest are keen on getting Steve Cook back in their 25-man squadCredit: Alamy
      Forest apparently hope to hear a decision on Friday.
      That would allow Cook to be registered in time for Saturday’s crunch clash against Manchester City.
      But it remains to be seen if Forest’s appeal is successful, with Cooper bringing in 29 signings since the summer.
      Cook wasn’t the only first-teamer ditched from the 25-man squad, with Lewis O’Brien also a casualty after the arrival of fellow midfielder Danilo. More