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      Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Zinchenko ‘called Mudryk EVERY DAY to try and convince him to sign before Chelsea transfer’

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      MYKHAILO MUDRYK was alleged to have been called every day by Mikel Arteta and defender Oleksandr Zinchenko in order to convince him to move to Arsenal.The Ukrainian winger, however, joined London rivals Chelsea in an £88million deal.
      Arsenal missed out on signing Mykhailo MudrykCredit: Getty
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Oleksandr Zinchenko reportedly tried calling Mudryk to convince him to join the clubCredit: Getty
      It had been expected that the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk man would join the Gunners, until the Blues hijacked the deal.
      Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin has since claimed that Arsenal had tried to convince Mudryk to join long before they contacted the club.
      He told The Athletic: “Arsenal contacted the player almost one-and-a-half months before they contacted us.
      “Can you imagine, for example, to have Mikel Arteta, Oleksandr Zinchenko and the sporting director calling you?
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      “To have Arsenal calling you almost every day, every two days, every three days?
      “You can want or not want the move, but you follow this kind of reception and contacts.”
      Mudryk did seem like his heart was set on a move to Arsenal as he regularly posted hints about a move on his social media.
      However, he opted for Chelsea and was unveiled to the crowd at Stamford Bridge while draped in a Ukrainian flag.
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      Arsenal have now moved on to other transfer targets as they look to strengthen their forward line for the remainder of the season.
      One target the club is in talks for is Brighton’s Leandro Trossard.
      The Belgian winger has fallen out of favour at the Amex Stadium and has been a long-term target of the Gunners. More

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      Tottenham ‘will consider Mauricio Pochettino ahead of ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’ if Antonio Conte leaves

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      TOTTENHAM will prioritise former boss Mauricio Pochettino over Thomas Tuchel if manager Antonio Conte leaves, reports suggest.Conte’s deal with Spurs runs out in June and his future remains up in the air as he has yet to show signs he will pen a new deal.
      Tottenham will prioritise Mauricio Pochettino over Thomas Tuchel if Antonio Conte leavesCredit: Reuters
      Former Chelsea boss Tuchel is among Tottenham’s candidatesCredit: AFP
      And the North Londoners have no option but to explore potential replacements.
      Thomas Tuchel is an obvious candidate as he is still a free agent after being sacked by Chelsea in September.
      According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, however, Tuchel is not the priority for the club’s hierarchy.
      In fact, Tottenham will consider other candidates including Pochettino ahead of the German tactician if they need a new manager.
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      Jacobs tweeted: “Told Thomas Tuchel is not Tottenham’s priority if Antonio Conte departs.
      “There will be other candidates, including Mauricio Pochettino, ahead of Tuchel for consideration should Conte exit.”
      Pochettino, who is also a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last year, earned plenty of recognition during his five-year stint at Tottenham.
      The Argentine head coach led Spurs to four top-four finishes in the Premier League.
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      The ex-PSG boss also took the North Londoners to the 2019 Champions League Final where they lost to Liverpool.
      But Pochettino was sacked just a few months after the final following a run of poor results. More

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      Aston Villa and Everton in Moussa Dembele transfer battle with Lyon’s outcast striker available on cut-price deal

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      ASTON VILLA and Everton are reportedly battling it out for the signature of Lyon’s Moussa Dembele. According to Foot Mercato the two Premier League sides are hoping they can attract the Frenchman after seeing him fall out of favour across the Channel.
      Moussa Dembele has made 159 appearances for Lyon, scoring 69 goals, but has found himself out of the team
      Dembele, 26, has only managed two goals in the Ligue 1 this season so far and has not been able to live up to his previous heights.
      The former Celtic man – who has long been linked with Manchester United – is available for a cut-price free with his contract set to expire in the summer.
      Everton are struggling for goals this season and have had long-standing injury issues with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who himself has only scored once this season in the league.
      Dembele would offer a different attacking option for Frank Lampard’s side who are languishing in the relegation zone.
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      Meanwhile, Aston Villa are in talks to sell Danny Ings to West Ham for around £15million.
      Unai Emery’s side did secure the signing of Colombian teen Jhon Duran this week.
      But Dembele would represent a ready-made replacement for Ings as the Villans look to continue to progress under the former Villarreal boss.
      Villa are rumoured to prefer a free transfer for the Lyon forward in the summer when is contract expires, but may have to change their opinion in light of Everton’s interest.
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      Lyon are said to be open to allowing Dembele to move away from the club in a transfer.
      The 26-year-old had a loan spell with Atletico Madrid in 2021, but failed to impress, making only seven appearances and failing to score.
      Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is currently the starting forward for Lyon, taking Dembele’s place, and has impressed on his return to the French outfit with 11 goals in 19 league appearances this season. More

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      I was on Chelsea’s books but had to retire aged 28 due to heart condition… that’s when alcohol became ‘my crutch’

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      FORMER Chelsea academy prospect Fraser Franks has opened up about his “traumatic experience” with alcoholism after being forced to retire from football.The Hammersmith-born defender was released by the Blues in 2007 and went on to play for the likes of Wimbledon, Luton and Stevenage.
      Fraser Franks was forced to retire from football due to a heart conditionCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Franks has revealed he battled alcoholism following his forced retirementCredit: Huw Evans Picture Agency
      Then in 2019, while at Newport County, his professional career was brought to an abrupt end after he was diagnosed with a heart problem.
      At the age of just 28, Franks was given no choice but to hang up his boots.
      And in an interview with Sky Sports, he admits he used alcohol as a means of dealing with the heartbreak.
      Franks said: “Retiring was a bit of a traumatic experience. From the age of nine, my world revolved around a match day and performing on the football pitch. It was a shock and I just didn’t know how to deal with it.
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      “I didn’t know what I was going to do going forward and my wife was just about to give birth for the first time.
      “I was worried, I was anxious and I couldn’t sleep; I couldn’t switch off that nagging, chatterbox voice in my head.
      “I’d never drunk at home before, but one day, I realised I didn’t have training the next day, so I could have a couple of beers. And I got into that sort of pattern.
      “When I had a couple of beers, I felt that voice switched off a little bit more. I thought if I had two or three beers that would make me sleep better, I wouldn’t worry as much, I wouldn’t be as anxious.
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      “It became a bit of a medication. Eventually those two or three beers ended up being six or seven, getting drunk, doing things I regret, being sneaky and taking me away from the person that I wanted to be, but it was all because I was trying to escape my feelings and I couldn’t.”
      He continued: “I was just in a cycle of drinking, feeling ashamed, feeling terrible and drinking again.”
      In a column for Alcohol Change UK, Franks describes the relationship he had with alcohol as a “crutch”.
      He eventually broke down to his mum and wife, confessing he had been hiding the amount he was drinking.
      And reflecting on that time, he feels he was probably in a “depressive state”.
      But on August 1 this year, Franks will celebrate one year of sobriety.
      And he has revealed that Sporting Chance, a mental health charity founded by Arsenal legend Tony Adams, played a part in getting him sober.
      He told Sky Sports: “I either had to continue pressing that self-destruct button and do what I was doing – which was going to damage me – or take charge and stop drinking alcohol.
      “It took me a couple of goes. I would try it, last about two weeks and then give in. I got the help and support I needed; I spoke to the PFA and they appointed me a counsellor with Sporting Chance.
      “I tried counselling when I first retired. I said I wanted a man who understood football and they gave me this guy who I didn’t get on with, so I thought counselling was not for me.
      “Then I tried it again with the alcohol and they gave me a woman in her 60s that used to drink quite a lot and I thought she was brilliant.
      “She just changed my perception on counselling and I had someone that I could unload to. She had some really good advice in those early stages of stopping drinking.”
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      Franks is now committed to educating people about the impacts of alcohol.
      But he insists he wants people to make their own minds up about their level of consumption.
      Contact the Samaritans
      If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at anytime.
      Or email https://www.samaritans.org/ More

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      Nottingham Forest line up double transfer swoop for Newcastle’s Chris Wood and Croatia World Cup hero Dominik Livakovic

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST are looking to bring in both Chris Wood and Dominik Livakovic to reinforce injury-hit squad. Steve Cooper’s side are reportedly trying to make additions both upfront and in goal in their bid to push further away from the relegation zone.
      Chris Wood is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Newcastle in the league this season
      Dominik Livakovic played every minute of every game for Croatia in the World Cup
      The Forest boss is currently without Taiwo Awoiniyi and Dean Henderson due to injury and is desperate to replace them to maintain their recent upsurge in form.
      The Athletic report that the club are close to sealing a loan move for Newcastle striker Wood who has fallen out of favour at St James’ Park behind Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak.
      The 31-year-old New Zealand international is said to be likely to join on an initial loan with an option for Forest to sign the forward permanently.
      Wood’s time at Newcastle has been short and uninspiring having managed just five goals in 39 appearances since a £25million move from Burnley a year ago.
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      Meanwhile Manchester United loanee Henderson picked up a thigh injury in the 2-0 victory over Leicester at the weekend and Forest fear it could keep him out for a while.
      Henderson’s switch from United expires in the summer and, with David De Gea yet to sign a new contract at Old Trafford, Forest may struggle to get him permanently.
      And, according to Germanijak, Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Livakovic is viewed as a perfect replacement.
      The Croatian international stunned with his performances in the World Cup and helped his country finish third in the tournament.
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      The 28-year-old is reportedly available for a transfer fee of around £8million and Forest are said to be leading the race for his signature.
      Back-up goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is expected to start for Forest in their clash against Bournemouth at the weekend, who by contrast has a terrible World Cup after his red card against Iran. More

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      People are only just realising what Casemiro’s real name is with Man Utd star going by different one

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      FOOTBALL fans are just realising a little-known fact about Manchester United star Casemiro.Everyone knows the Brazil international is a beast in midfield after his stunning nine-year stint at Real Madrid and dazzling displays at Old Trafford this season.
      There is a little well-known fact about Manchester United star CasemiroCredit: Getty
      Manchester United star Casemiro is actually called Carlos Henrique CasimiroCredit: Getty
      But very few are aware that the midfielder’s name is in fact NOT Casemiro.
      It’s actually, Carlos Henrique Casimiro but the 30-year-old has been going by a modified version of his surname.
      The Brazilian has previously addressed that issue and explained why his name is misspelled.
      It all started during his youth years in Brazil when he played a fantastic game for Sao Paulo and people kept mispronouncing him.
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      Casemiro said: “Very few people know my name is Casimiro, because my mother’s surname is spelt with an ‘i’, not an ‘e’: Casimiro.
      “When I played in Brazil, there was a game in Sao Paulo when people incorrectly named me Casemiro.
      “I played very well that game and I decided that people should keep calling me Casemiro, with the ‘e’. It has not changed since.”
      Casemiro joined United last summer following a £70million deal with Real.
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      There was initial scepticism due to his age and large transfer fee but the midfielder proved his doubters wrong very quickly.
      Casemiro has been a rock in the middle of the park and has already amassed two goals and three assists in 16 Premier League appearances to help put United in the title hunt. More

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      ‘They’re so far behind on EVERYTHING’ – Jesse Lingard slams Man Utd in explosive tell-all interview

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      JESSE LINGARD slammed Manchester United for falling behind their rivals in the standard of their facilities and on social media.Lingard left Old Trafford last summer after 11 years at the club, joining Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis.
      Jesse Lingard took aim at Manchester United in explosive tell-all interviewCredit: Youtube – Diary of a CEO
      The midfielder criticised the lack of progress made at UnitedCredit: Getty
      And he has not held back from criticising the club in a tell-all interview on The Diary of a CEO Podcast.
      Lingard discussed several topics and slammed the lack of structure and control at the club, which he blamed on the Glazers.

      He said: “There was no control, no structure, people doing what they want – it was like a free-for-all.
      “We don’t know [who’s calling the shots]. And of course now they want to sell the club. We were just behind on a lot of things. Players didn’t really take a view.

      ‘You want that modern things, you want the things that are popping off at the time but we don’t know who calls the shots on the training ground and that sort of thing. Flash training ground, best facilities, no-one talking in the press about the team.’
      “They’re so behind on everything.
      “You see [Manchester] City’s facilities, Tottenham’s facilities… people are miles ahead. Even the social side of things.
      “I went to them in 2017 about YouTube and doing content – I just wanted them to get up to date with everything and the new things that are happening.
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      “You have to be relevant and stay relevant.”
      Lingard also took aim at the club for their handling of the collapse of his proposed loan move to Newcastle last January.
      The midfielder was on the verge of joining the Magpies before United pulled the plug at the last minute.
      Lingard explained: “I wanted to go on loan in January, because I wasn’t playing – again – and Newcastle was on the cards. The deal was done and everything, but obviously the United squad wasn’t big enough.
      “So, they let a couple of players go out on loan, but when it came to me, John Murtough rang and said ‘No, you’re not going on loan.’
      “I was like, ‘Well, he’s gone on loan – let me go and enjoy my football as I’m not playing here. What do you want, days off?’ and I said ‘No, I just want to go and play football.’
      “So, then they stopped the loan – I was p***ed – and when he said ‘Did I want days off’, so I messaged him and said ‘I am going to take two days off now, just because you said that’.
      “Then they put out ‘Jesse’s asked for two days off in the media,’ I was like ‘what?’ I went on Twitter straight away and put the facts out there.” More

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      Trossard vs Mudryk: How cut-price Brighton star compares to Chelsea’s mega-money signing as Arsenal close in on transfer

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      ARSENAL are hoping to sign Mykhailo Mudryk alternative Leandro Trossard in a cut-price deal from Brighton.The Gunners missed out on the Ukraine wonderkid with London rivals Chelsea securing his signature.
      Arsenal are negotiating for TrossardCredit: Getty
      Chelsea snatched Mudryk away from ArsenalCredit: PA
      Chelsea forked out upwards of £88million on the electric winger, who has penned an eight-and-a-half year deal.
      Wantaway Brighton star Trossard, 28, is seen as a possible alternative to Mudryk, with Mikel Arteta’s men leading the Premier League after 18 games played.
      The Belgium international is out of favour on the South Coast amid a public spat with manager Roberto De Zerbi.
      Italian De Zerbi criticised Trossard, whose deal expires in the summer, for his attitude.
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      Discussions with Arsenal remain ongoing, but are at an advanced stage, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
      But how does Trossard compare to Mudryk?
      Well, since the start of the 2021 season, Trossard has played 27 more games than the 22-year-old.
      Trossard has also played 2,593 minutes more than the Chelsea new boy.
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      Mudryk’s stats are better per 90
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      The experienced Prem winger has netted 15 times in those 50 appearances, averaging 0.3 goals per 90.
      On top of his 15 strikes, Trossard registered five assists, which works out at 0.1.

      Mudryk, meanwhile, has just nine goals in the Ukrainian league, but per 90 has proved to be more productive at 0.39.
      The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk ace registered 13 assists in 23 games, working out at 0.56 per 90.
      Combined, Mudryk has 0.95 goals/assists per 90, compared to Trossard’s 0.4.
      While the stats don’t lie, it’s worth noting Trossard has been operating in a far tougher league during that time.
      But Mudryk’s stats are among the reasons why new manager Graham Potter is excited to work with him.
      Following the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, the Chelsea boss said on his new signing: “You’re never surprised in the transfer window because things happen sometimes like you don’t expect.
      “He (Mudryk) is a young player with a big future.
      “He’s exciting, one-versus-one, can threaten the goal. I think our supporters already like him.
      “I’m the head coach and as you know, I’ve had enough to worry about and what is right for the club.
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      “If I’m here for the length of his contract, I’ll be happy.”
      Meanwhile, Arsenal fans are divided over the potential arrival of Trossard. More