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      Premier League legend immortalised in ‘shambolic’ waxwork sculpture leaving fans lost for words

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      A PREMIER LEAGUE legend was immortalised in “shambolic” waxwork – leaving fans lost for words. Several sports stars have been sculptured over the years for the likes of Madame Tussauds.This waxwork of a Prem legend left fans horrifiedCredit: Reddit u/No-Philosopher5239Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham are among those with celebrated wax figures. But sometimes, they do not always go to plan. Ronaldo infamously had a disastrous statue unveiled during his time with Real Madrid. But perhaps this waxwork of Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney in Gdansk tops the lot. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe model Rooney – wearing a red and black Adidas tracksuit – bares little resemblance to the former England captain. Fans were left in bemusement as one said: “This isn’t just bad. Bad is too good of a word to explain this. “Tragic is getting closer to the mark. Horrific might be better yet. But I think I’m going to go with shambolic. “Yes, shambolic is a good word for this.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnother added: “I love bad waxworks.”One joked: “That is sensational.”Rooney, 38, won the Champions League and five Prem titles with United and retired from playing in 2021. He has since moved into management and has taken charge of Championship Plymouth Argyle ahead of the new season. Wayne Rooney reveals gruelling weight loss technique he would do after turning up at Man Utd pre-season 7lbs too heavy More

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      Fans say ‘pray for Man Utd and Chelsea’ as West Ham agree deal for Todibo in latest incredible summer transfer

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      WEST HAM are set to sign Jean-Clair Todibo – after Manchester United were BLOCKED from signing the Nice star. Todibo was linked with a move to United earlier in the window but it was ruled out by Uefa due to Ineos’ control over both teams.West Ham are set to sign Jean-Clair TodiboCredit: AFPSir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are the majority owners of the French club, but have now also taken control of United’s football operation.Uefa had to run the rule on the clubs after both qualified for the Europa League, with fears over a potential breach of multi-club rules.So United looked elsewhere in the market and signed Leny Yoro from Lille for £52million. Meanwhile, West Ham and Juventus battled it out for Todibo. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd according to The Athletic, the Hammers won the race after agreeing a season-long loan with the option to buy. Personal terms have also been struck with a medical now set. Todibo emerged as a prime target for West Ham with the futures of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma uncertain.Zouma is now close to completing a move to Shabab Al-Ahli.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTodibo first joined Nice on loan from Barcelona in January 2021 and made the move permanent later that year. He has since made 119 appearances, scoring one goal while emerging as a top defensive talent in Europe.Todibo will be West Ham’s sixth signing of the summer. Niclas Fullkrug, Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme have all come in for big money – leaving fans in awe. One said: “West Ham are moving mad, pray for Chelsea and Manchester United.”Another added: “West Ham are having a ridiculously good summer.”Jean-Clair Todibo shows his talents at Nice More

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      Former Chelsea star ‘speechless’ at ‘huge problem’ Enzo Maresca has inherited days before new Premier League season

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      WILLIAM GALLAS has highlighted the “huge problem” Enzo Maresca has inherited ahead of the new Premier League season. Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino when the Argentine left the club after just a single season. Enzo Maresca during Chelsea’s pre-season tourCredit: GettyWilliam Gallas is shocked by Chelsea’s transfer businessCredit: GettyThe West Londoners have added seven signings to their squad this summer for just under £100million. But of those, only defender Tosin Adarabioyo and midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are above 22. Chelsea are also closing in on adding 20-year-old striker Samu Omorodion in a £34.5million deal from Atletico Madrid. Boyhood Blue Conor Gallagher is set to go the other way in a separate £34m move – leaving ex-Chelsea star Gallas stunned. READ MORE ON CHELSEAHe told Lord Ping: “The players are too young and it’s a huge problem, but the problem isn’t down to the players, the problem is whoever is bringing them in.”It’s the owner who is putting his hand into his pocket but others are giving him the information, they’ve spent too much on the wrong players and now they are looking at goalkeepers.”It’s a huge mess at Chelsea, a huge mess.” Chelsea have also agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Mike Penders, 19, from Genk after bringing in Filip Jorgensen, 22, earlier in the window.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThat adds to Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga in the goalkeeping department – again to Gallas’ bemusement. The centre-back, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, said: “I’m speechless.”What can I say about Chelsea signing another goalkeeper, why are they doing it? What for? Why do they think they need another goalkeeper?”Enzo Maresca’s tactical overhaul at Chelsea More

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      Jamie Carragher fears Chelsea’s £40m star signing could backfire this season as he backs Enzo Maresca for axe

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      CHELSEA may not have the same Cole Palmer from last season under new manager Enzo Maresca, according to Jamie Carragher.Palmer, 22, dragged the Blues to sixth place and a European spot almost single-handedly last term following his £42.5million switch from Manchester City in 2023.Jamie Carragher warned Chelsea they may struggle this coming seasonCredit: RexCarragher worries Chelsea star Cole Palmer won’t perform the same way he did last seasonCredit: PACarragher worries Palmer will struggle under new Chelsea boss Enzo MarescaCredit: GettyThe playmaker amassed a staggering total of 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances during his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.However, Carragher fears Pochettino’s shock dismissal may have a negative effect on the England international’s performances this coming season.The Liverpool legend criticised the Chelsea hierarchy for the handling of the club ever since their arrival two years ago as they turned the team from Premier League challengers to serious strugglers.The Sky Sports pundit isn’t convinced Maresca is the right man for the dugout after witnessing a turbulent pre-season campaign and believes he will struggle to get the best out of Palmer.Read More on ChelseaIn fact, the ex-England international doesn’t expect the Italian tactician to last a full season at Chelsea.Carragher told The Overlap: “What people forget in this era of Pep [Guardiola] and [Jurgen] Klopp is that Chelsea were so close to breaking in. “They beat Man City in a Champions League final and then lost to finals on penalties to Liverpool.”Thomas Tuchel could take on Klopp and Pep in one-off games. Then this new ownership comes in and it’s just been a disaster in terms of where they find themselves now.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”They’ve brought in all these new players but it’s only Cole Palmer who looks a tasty player. “My worry for Chelsea is that Pochettino deserves a lot of credit for how Palmer performed last season.Cole Palmer hits gym less than 48 hours after Euro 2024 final heartache as Chelsea star gets straight back to work”No one expected that, not even Pep, otherwise he wouldn’t have sold him. “So they might not have that Cole Palmer this season. I’m sure they will because I think he’s fantastic but a new manager has come in so it’s different.”The way Chelsea’s pre-season has gone… They’ve got Man City first game of the season… I’ll be surprised if Maresca is still the manager come the end of the season, very surprised.”Meet Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo MarescaENZO MARESCA is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi. More

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      Soccer AM star reveals plans to bring show back in new format as he opens up on ‘crazy’ moments behind the scenes

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      SOCCER AM is one of Britain’s most loved football programmes.The show ran from 1994 to 2023 on Sky Sports and became a cultural phenomenon.Soccer AM finally came off the air last yearCredit: AlamyRocket was one of the key figures behind the show’s successCredit: Sky Sports / Soccer AMJames Long – better known as Rocket – spent 19 years on it and was the brains behind Skill School, as well as producing Crossbar Challenge.And he wants to relive the glory days with a new show called Soccer PM, which stands for Soccer Programme Memories.He told talkSPORT: “The show’s been off air for a whole season now. And I think a lot of fans, especially myself, missed it. “I left when Helen [Chamberlain, a former presenter] left. So that was about seven years ago.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“But I just feel like there’s a void in our lives on a Saturday morning. Without seeing either Helen, Tim [Lovejoy], Max [Rushden], Fenners [John Fendley], [Jimmy] Bullard, whoever it was that presented the show. Now it’s gone.”This show is very much a look back at the glory days of Soccer AM and what people loved about it. “So the plan is to interview old Soccer AM crew members, presenters, guests, regular guests that were on the show, maybe chat to some old Soccerettes that have gone on to be CEOs of companies or fans of the week that have got a funny story to tell about their time on the show.”So it’s just a trip down memory lane, a bit of nostalgia and ultimately a bit of fun.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRocket shared some of his experiences of life behind the cameras on Soccer AM.He added: “Back in the day, the show was four hours long when it first started. I was a Soccer AM Soccerette TWICE – it was great fun for models like me but I have a different view of it now”I went in as a 15-year-old on work experience and some of the things that you’d see, just going on behind the scenes… because you’d have up-and-coming bands, bringing in groupies, you’d have fans of the week, just getting dressed naked in the corridor, Scottish fans with their kilts, and you’re just like, what is going on? This is just mad.“But it was great. It was what made the show what it was. “The excitement, the buzz, and everyone was excited to be on TV. And I just want to try and tap into the people that were involved.”Rocket went out on the road filming with players – an area where Soccer AM was ahead of its time.Can you name the famous fathers?He remembered: “I once got chased out of Luton by the players because we were filming the Crossbar Challenge and one of the players came up to me and went, ‘Rocket, we’re going to debag you after this’.”But the Skill School was different because that was my concept and that ran for about six years and managed to get in clubs where Jordan Henderson was an academy member at Sunderland. READ MORE SUN STORIES”And then you had Raheem Sterling. We had Tyrone Mings and I used to love rocking up to the academies because all the boys would be buzzing.“I loved doing those. I loved getting into academies and football clubs and I think that’s what we want to try and do a little bit of as well.” More

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      Best Premier League XI of all time revealed by ChatGPT but fans are left divided as they ask ‘is AI drunk?’

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      THE best Premier League team of all time has been decided by Chat GPT – but some controversial picks have left many fans fuming.No current player makes the cut, while eight-time winners Manchester City have ZERO representatives.ChatGPT’s all-time Premier League XIGary Neville was picked ahead of Kyle WalkerWayne Rooney did not get the nodCredit: GettyChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, chose six former Manchester United stars and went with a 4-3-3 formation.But that has presented a problem in midfield as Roy Keane, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are included.History proves that Paul Scholes is grouped alongside the former Chelsea star and the Liverpool icon as the three best midfielders ever.Eyebrows were raised for Gerrard’s inclusion over Scholes, with one fan saying: “You simply cannot be in the starting XI if you didn’t win the Premier League.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThere is also the question of where Kevin De Bruyne fits into this – who was omitted entirely.And fans were quick to pick up on his absence, as one stated: “Where’s De Bruyne? He’s the greatest ever Premier League central attacking midfielder.”There is also a controversial pick in defence with Gary Neville selected instead of six-time Prem winner Kyle Walker.In fact, zero Man City players are represented – though Lampard did spend one season at The Etihad towards the end of his career.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSDe Bruyne is the greatest player in arguably the greatest Premier League squad – Pep Guardiola’s Manchester CityCredit: PARio Ferdinand is partnered with John Terry in central defence, whose one-time Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole features at left-back.Peter Schmeichel is chosen between the sticks with another United icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, playing right-wing.Best ten new Premier League kits for next seasonMany fans highlighted the need for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah – who has 157 goals in 263 appearances – to be included.One wrote: “Salah over Ronaldo. He’s played his prime years in England.”While a second X user hilariously added: “AI is drunk”, before another said: “Your ChatGPT isn’t functioning properly.”Meanwhile, record 13-time Premier League winner Ryan Giggs starts on the left.On this, a fan wrote: “There’s no all time Premier League XI without Wayne Rooney.”Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer missed out, with Thierry Henry fronting the line.READ MORE SUN STORIESPatrick Vieira and Eden Hazard can also consider themselves unlucky not to make the cut.There was also a lot of competition for places in attack as Rooney, Dennis Bergkamp and Sergio Aguero just missed out.Ronaldo was included in the Premier League XICredit: News Group Newspapers LtdFrank Lampard also got the nodCredit: Getty More

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      Enzo Fernandez set to be controversially handed key leadership role at Chelsea weeks after racism storm

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      ENZO FERNANDEZ is set to be named one of Chelsea’s vice-captains.It opens up the possibility that Fernandez could captain Chelsea for their first game of the season with Reece James suspended, although another vice-captain could take the armband.Enzo Maresca wants Enzo Fernandez in his leadership groupCredit: GettyThe playmaker has apologised to his team-matesCredit: GettyThe move comes weeks after Fernandez filmed himself and some of his Argentina team-mates singing a racist song following their Copa America victory.Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana described the clip, which references some French players’ African heritage, as being “uninhibited racism.”Fernandez apologised to his Blues team-mates when he returned to the squad and Fofana later said the incident was “finished.”The Argentine playmaker was handed the armband by James during Wednesday’s defeat to Real Madrid.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: “He’s one of the important players.”To be honest, I think when we [substituted] Reece, he gave the armband to Enzo and this shows how Enzo is respected inside the squad. I think it’s quite clear.”James is suspended for the first three games of the season, which means Fernandez could lead the Blues out when they take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on August 18.Chelsea have concluded their investigation, resulting in Fernandez donating to an anti-discrimination charity which the club will match.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBoss Maresca said: “We all feel very comfortable, very good, as Enzo is back. He had a chat with all of us just to clarify there were no bad intentions and the lads all accepted that.“Since yesterday’s session, everything was like before in terms of they were all together, all speaking, all laughing. Normal situation.”Enzo Maresca’s tactical overhaul at ChelseaAsked about the meeting, Maresca added: “It was between me, Enzo, and a few players to just clarify the situation.“There is nothing more to add. There is not any mystery behind it. We all make mistakes. We have to be good to apologise as sometimes we struggle even to apologise. Enzo apologised already four or five times.“They all accepted it. Everyone is speaking with each other, everyone is laughing.“This is exactly what I expected because I knew there was never any bad intentions and they are all good people. But all of us, sometimes we make mistakes.Meet Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo MarescaENZO MARESCA is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi.“The meeting was between Enzo, some team-mates, Wes Fofana was there.“They spoke with each other. It is normal sometimes that the first reaction is not always good when they argue, the first interaction is not good.“But thinking about it a little bit, day after day, you can understand there was not any bad intention.” More

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      Mikel Arteta secretly hired team of PICKPOCKETS to nick Arsenal stars’ phones and teach them a lesson

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      MIKEL ARTETA used a unique method to teach his players a lesson.The Arsenal boss took inspiration from Oliver Twist during a dinner with his squad.Mikel Arteta had a unique method for teaching his Arsenal players an important lessonCredit: GettyArteta hired professional pickpockets to pinch valuable items at a team dinnerCredit: GettyMartin Odegaard and Co were left frantically patting their pockets in search of missing valuable items.However, it was the work of their own Artful Dodger instead of a group of petty criminals.Arteta had secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets for a dinner with his players.Unknown to the squad, the sleight-of-hand artists were tasked with going around the tables at the event.READ MORE ON ARSENALThey then pinched valuable items including phones and wallets from the Arsenal stars.At the end of the meal, Arteta stood up in front of the group to ask them to empty their pockets.Several players were left shocked to find they were missing their belongings.Arteta used the event to teach his squad the importance of being ready, alert and prepared at all times.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt was all part of an approach to rebuild the club, changing the atmosphere both within the squad and the stadium.The Spaniard has also swapped volume for intensity in training and brought in the club dog Win.’They took it away from us… next year we’ll be even more determined’, says Arteta after Arsenal title heartbreakArteta used the event to teach his squad to be ready, alert and prepared at all timesCredit: EPAAs a result, he has over seen Arsenal’s transformation into title challengers since his appointment in December 2019.He followed an FA Cup triumph in 2020 with a return to the Champions League in 2023.Arsenal also achieved a second successive runners-up finish behind Manchester City last season, having not placed as high since 2016.The Gunners, who made the last eight of the Champions League last term, have also seen steady year-on-year progress in their league finishes.Arteta is now preparing for his fifth full season in charge and hoping his players can pick City’s pocket and snatch the Premier League title.Arsenal have a tricky start to the season More