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    Barcelona ‘ask LaLiga about Aubameyang transfer’ with Chelsea ace unable to join ANY other top European club

    PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG could be set for a return to Barcelona just five months after leaving.Spanish outlet Jijantes FC claims the Catalan club have asked La Liga about the salary they would be permitted to offer the Chelsea flop.
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s only chance of staying at the highest level if he leaves Chelsea this season is a move back to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    Aubameyang, 33, joined Chelsea from Barca in a £10m deal in summer.
    However, he has scored just once for the club and barely featured under boss Graham Potter.
    Aubameyang has also been linked with Atletico Madrid, but such a move will not be possible in this transfer window.
    Under Fifa rules, players are only allowed to play for two clubs per season.
    READ MORE ON CHELSEA
    The only exception to this rule is for players joining leagues with a different calendar (ie the MLS, which has a 2023 rather than 2022/23 season).
    As Aubameyang came on as a sub for Barcelona on the opening day, he is ruled out of a move to any other major European club.
    For the transfer to go through however, Barca must overcome their own financial crisis.
    The report from Jijantes says that Xavi’s team must get Franck Kessie and Memphis Depay off their books to even have a chance of completing the Aubameyang deal.
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    Journalist Fabrizio Romano added that while Barcelona “love” the idea of getting Aubameyang back, any deal will have to be a free transfer.
    The Gabon international and former Arsenal captain enjoyed a fruitful seven months at the Camp Nou in 2022, scoring 13 goals in 23 games.
    However, the marquee signing of Robert Lewandowski coupled with Barca’s financial problems meant all parties decided a move to Chelsea was for the best. More

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    Man Utd ‘make Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus top striker targets as Ten Hag eyes transfer early in summer window’

    MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly set their sights on Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus as striker targets for the summer transfer window.The Red Devils appear ready to sign Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season following Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious exit.
    Goncalo Ramos is a target for Man UtdCredit: AP
    Mohammed Kudus is also an optionCredit: Reuters
    Erik ten Hag is desperate to do summer business as soon as possibleCredit: PA
    But Man Utd will need a new permanent No9 at the end of this season with manager Erik ten Hag keen to do business early.
    The Manchester Evening News report that the club are already eyeing deals for Benfica’s Ramos and Kudus from Ajax.
    Both are reportedly more “attainable” than other options such as Tottenham captain Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Oshimen, who would command large fees.
    Ramos could be a natural replacement for Ronaldo – as he was for Portugal at the World Cup.
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    The 21-year-old netted a hat-trick against Switzerland in Qatar and is also enjoying a fine season for Benfica, scoring 15 times and assisting seven goals in 25 games.
    Ten Hag reportedly could also look to shop at his former club Ajax again in the summer, having already brought two of his old players, Lisandro Martinez and Antony, to Old Trafford.
    Left-footed Kudus is a versatile forward capable of playing anywhere in the attack and he has scored 10 goals in 21 games for the Amsterdam giants.
    The Ghanaian also found the net twice at the World Cup and is re-discovering top form after spending five months out injured last season.
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    The 22-year-old has been linked with a transfer to Tottenham.
    Money is tight at Man Utd this month after a huge £200million-plus summer outlay, meaning a loan deal for Weghorst is expected to be a stop-gap signing as they wait for summer funds.
    On the possible return of Memphis Depay, MEN suggest that Ten Hag would prefer a more marquee signing than the Barcelona man coming back on a free. More

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    Is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on TV? Kick-off time and team news ahead of huge Premier League London derby

    CHELSEA host Crystal Palace in Premier League action this weekend, with Graham Potter under pressure at Stamford Bridge.The Blues have been active in the transfer window so far, sealing the signing of Joao Felix on loan in the last week.
    Graham Potter is under pressure at ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Conor Gallagher scored the winner against his former club in the reverse fixtureCredit: AFP
    Benoit Badiashile, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana also joined Potter’s side as they look to add to their underperforming squad.
    Crystal Palace have also been on a poor run of form in recent weeks and the Eagles could be looking over their shoulder at a potential relegation battle if they cannot improve.
    When is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace?

    Chelsea face Crystal Palace on Sunday, January 15.
    The match is set to kick-off at at 2pm UK time.
    Stamford Bridge will play host to the London derby.

    Is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on TV and available for live streaming?

    Unfortunately, Chelsea vs Crystal Palace has not been chosen for television coverage in the UK.
    However, you can keep up to date with all the action from Stamford Bridge with our live blog here.
    Newcastle United vs Fulham is the chosen match for television coverage at 2pm, while Arsenal take on Tottenham live later in the day.

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    What is the latest team news?
    Chelsea’s latest signing Joao Felix is in contention to make his home debut after joining on loan from Atletico Madrid.
    Edouard Mendy is a doubt, having had surgery on a finger injury, while he will be joined on the sidelines by Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell and N’Golo Kante – who are all long-term absentees.
    Crystal Palace need to find their form if they wish to stay away from a relegation battleCredit: Getty
    Potter confirmed that Christian Pulisic will miss action for several months, while Raheem Sterling is also an injury doubt.
    For Palace, Sam Johnston, Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur all missed their FA Cup defeat to Southampton due to fitness issues and could be absent again.
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    Tyrick Mitchell will be back from suspension and is likely to start at left-back for the visitors.
    What are the latest odds?

    Chelsea to win – 8/13
    Draw – 14/5
    Crystal Palace win – 9/2

    Odds courtesy of Betfair and correct at time of publishing. More

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    Watford ‘hope to land Man Utd star Facundo Pellistri on loan transfer until end of season’ to help promotion push

    MANCHESTER UNITED winger Facundo Pellistri is reportedly being targeted by Championship side Watford.The Hornets are currently fourth in England’s second division as they aim to get themselves back into the Premier League.
    Watford are reportedly keen on taking Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri on loanCredit: AFP
    The Uruguayan has been a fringe player at Old Trafford and only made his debut at the club against Charlton in the Carabao Cup last night.
    Pellestri made his first appearance as a 84th-minute substitute and made a quick impact as he assisted Marcus Rashford for his second goal in the 3-0 win.
    The appearance was a long-awaited one for the 21-year-old as he has been at the club for two-and-a-half years following his 2020 move from Uruguayan side Penarol.
    During his time at United, he has been on loan twice, and could now be set for another spell away.
    READ MORE ON MAN UTD
    Watford are hoping to sign the prospect on loan in order to boost their promotion hopes, according to The Telegraph.
    However, the Hornet will face competition from other English clubs as well as teams from abroad for his signature.
    LaLiga side Valencia are believed to be one of the clubs interested, but want an option to buy him at the end of a loan deal, according to Sport Witness.
    Manager Slaven Bilic needs more depth in his side following a spate of injuries, including one to star attacker Joao Pedro.
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    The initial report has suggested that Pellestri’s agent has come to England to sort his future out before the end of the January transfer window.
    United boss Erik ten Hag has been impressed with the player and judging by his words, it would be surprising to see him let Pellestri leave on a permanent deal.
    He said: “I see a future in him and he is doing really well and we have to see what is the best.
    “He’s progressing, also against Everton (in the behind-closed-doors game) I was really happy with his performance, I was happy with his performance in the World Cup, his progress is really good.
    “He’s come on and had an effect so that’s the next step. I say well done, better, and keep going.” More

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    David Beckham’s son Romeo ‘slapped in FACE by referee’ on Brentford B debut and ‘taunted by opposition coach’

    ROMEO BECKHAM was slapped in the FACE by the referee and mocked by the opposition coach on his Brentford B debut.The 20-year-old played his first game for the Bees on Tuesday, lining up against ninth-tier team Erith and Belvedere.
    Romeo Beckham made his Brentford B debut in the London Senior Cup
    Amongst the 553 in attendance for the London FA Senior Cup game was father David, who watched on at Park View Road as Brentford ran out 3-2 winners.
    But it wasn’t a straightforward evening for the Inter Miami II loanee.
    He was firstly forced to wait until the second half before making his debut.
    With Brentford trailing 2-1, Beckham was introduced for the final 35 minutes with his substitution helping his side come from behind to claim a late victory.
    READ MORE ON BECKHAM
    And now The Athletic have revealed a few revelations from the game.
    Even before he got onto the pitch he was targeted by Erith and Belvedere boss Grant Duffy.
    Duffy sarcastically bowed in Beckham’s direction as he warmed up ahead of his first competitive appearance for four months.
    And then he was accidently caught in the face by the referee as he defended a throw-in.
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    This all came after Beckham hit the bar as his side desperately tried to get back into the game.
    Ultimately, despite his bumps and bruises, it was a successful senior debut in English football for Beckham after Brentford moved into round four of the competition. More

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    West Ham exploring transfer for Lorient striker Terem Moffi after being snubbed by Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri

    WEST HAM are exploring a move for Lorient striker Terem Moffi after being snubbed by Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri.David Moyes is hopeful of adding more attacking talent this month after a poor start to the season.
    West Ham are exploring a move for Lorient striker Terem MoffiCredit: AFP
    The Hammers revived long-term interest in En-Nesyri, but the Morocco international is not keen on a move to the London Stadium.
    Sevilla, who West Ham knocked out of the Europa League last season, are currently 17th in La Liga.
    En-Nesyri, 25, said: “I want to focus only on Sevilla.
    “It’s not a matter of money. I want to help the team in the worst moments.”
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    The striker’s decision has caused the Hammers to pursue other targets, with discussions over a move for Moffi being held.
    Prem rivals Southampton have already seen a bid of £10.6million, with a further £7.1million in add-ons, rejected by the Ligue 1 club.
    Lorient are holding out for around £25million, which could be a hurdle for the Hammers forking out almost £170million during the summer window.
    Only Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have scored more than Moffi’s ten goals in Ligue 1 this season.
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    West Ham are struggling to find form going forward this season, with summer signings Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta still to hit their stride.
    Meanwhile, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen are struggling to hit the heights of last season. More

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    Your football knowledge could win you a share of £25,000+ with Dream Team Survivor

    FOR some fans, it’s been a not-so-happy start to the new year – specifically those who follow Everton – but that could all change thanks to Dream Team Survivor.You have the chance to win a share of £25,000+ in our first Survivor game of 2023 that starts this Saturday (January 14th) at 3pm.
    For those who haven’t played Survivor before, it’s really very simple:
    – Pick a different Premier League team to win each week
    – If that team wins, you survive
    – If they lose or draw, you are out!
    – You can only pick each team once
    The best bit? You’re guaranteed a cash prize if you make just four correct picks, so enter now to get your name in the frame! 

    CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM SURVIVOR – YOU COULD WIN A SHARE OF £25,000+

    Play now!Credit: dream team
    To help you get to the promised land of round five, we’ve enlisted the help of one of our tipsters, Incognito Pro.
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    Here are his recommended picks for each round:
    Round 1 pick: Newcastle (vs Fulham)
    Newcastle are undefeated at home and have let in just five goals all season at St James Park.
    Round 2 pick: Man City (vs Wolves)
    A certain Norwegian frontman has almost double the number of goals than Wolves’ entire team!
    Round 3 pick: Man United (vs Crystal Palace)
    The Red Devils have the best home defensive record in the league, Palace have the fourth-worst xG (expected goals) away.
    Round 4 pick: Arsenal (vs Brentford)
    The Bees are considerably worse on the road while the Gunners’ confidence is sky high.
    That’s all you’d need to guarantee yourself a cash prize but the game doesn’t stop at Round 5 and you’ll need to keep going to outlast if you want to claim the jackpot.
    And we’ve got some more tricks and tools to help you do that…
    Tipsters
    Incognito Pro will be on hand every round with his pick to win, one potential pick, and a team to avoid.
    He’ll be joined by two other tipping titans, The Mailman and The Teacher, who will be sharing their nuggets of wisdom at every turn.
    Will you trust a tipster, or – in the words of Fleetwood Mac – go your own way?
    The Predictor
    Our Predictor engine has been known to predict a whopping 70% of fixtures correctly in some gameweeks, so it’s worth giving it a glance prior to making your picks.
    Here’s how it works:

    Finally, and just before you take on the masses, here’s why the thousands that have already played love our games:

    WIN BIG Players actually win in our games! We’ve handed out over £1 million in cash and the Prize Pool for our new game is £25k+ and growing!
    EASY TO PLAY In Survivor, just pick one team to win each week – simple!
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    BUY BACK Lose in week 1? No bother, because you can Buy Back in for week 2*. And with up to 3 entries available you’ll always be in the action!
    SHOW OFF Who doesn’t love flexing their football knowledge? Laugh at your mates as they crumble when Bournemouth cause a shock, all while you avoid the chaos.

    *Buy Back only available in week 2.
    Good Luck!

    CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM SURVIVOR – YOU COULD WIN A SHARE OF £25,000+

    ****************************
    You can register for Dream Team Games Survivor here.
    Entries for Survivor Game 4 close on Saturday 14 January at 3pm.
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    Competition rules and terms & conditions apply. Read more here.
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    Chelsea in injury crisis as Pulisic is ruled out for ‘a couple of months’ and no time frame on Sterling return

    CHRISTIAN PULISIC is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up another injury. Chelsea boss Graham Potter struck a pessimistic tone when talking about the American’s expected time out.
    Graham Potter confirmed Christian Pulisic will be sidelined for “a couple of months”Credit: Getty
    Raheem Sterling has still not been given a return dateCredit: Alamy
    When asked, Potter confirmed Pulisic will be out for “a couple of months, hopefully less.”
    It adds to an ever-growing list of injuries, with shocking figures revealing they have suffered 97 injuries since the start of last season – more than ANY other team in Europe.
    To make things even worse for Potter and Co, Raheem Sterling also picked up an injury of his own.
    However, Potter could not provide a time frame on when Sterling could return to action.
    READ MORE ON CHELSEA
    Both Sterling and Pulisic went off inside 20 minutes in the Premier League clash against Manchester City.
    This was compounded by an injury suffered by Mason Mount in training which ruled him out of the tie, though Mount returned in the 4-0 drubbing in the FA Cup.
    With the addition of Sterling and Pulisic to the treatment room, it now means Chelsea have EIGHT players out injured.
    Among them are a number of key stars for the club, including Reece James and N’Golo Kante.
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    And the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Armando Broja and Edouard Mendy would certainly improve Potter’s selection pool.
    Fortunately, Todd Boehly is not reluctant to splash the cash, with Chelsea announcing the signing of Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid earlier today.
    The Felix signing adds to David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos and Benoit Badiashile, while they have now also leapfrogged Tottenham in the race for right wing-back Pedro Porro. More