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    I nearly joined Man City because of Oasis… I thought I’d get to meet Liam and Noel Gallagher, says Italy legend

    AN ITALY legend almost joined Manchester City because of his love for Oasis.The midfielder once revealed he was almost swayed by the prospect of meeting Liam and Noel Gallagher.Daniele De Rossi almost joined Manchester City in 2012 because of OasisCredit: Getty – ContributorThe Italy legend was nearly swayed by the prospect of meeting Liam and Noel GallagherCredit: EPAHowever, he ultimately opted against a move to the Etihad Stadium.The player in question is former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, who was considering a move to City back in 2012.De Rossi had hoped signing for the club would allow him to meet the Gallagher brothers.Both huge City fans, they have often been spotted in the crowd at matches.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNoel was even seen performing the ‘Poznan’ in the away end at Fulham last season.Discussing his love for the band, De Rossi told Roma’s club website in 2016: “They’re the band from my teenage years. I grew up listening to them and I know all their songs off by heart.”I liked those guys, they were real characters. They weren’t always conventional or very easily approachable but I really liked the stereotype they represented – rock stars off their heads.”On potentially joining City, he added: “There was a lot of talk about me moving to Manchester City a few years ago but I’ve never wanted to leave Rome.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”What excited me the most about that prospect, however, was the fact that I could have met the Gallagher brothers.”De Rossi ultimately stayed at Roma for another seven years before joining Boca Juniors.Liam and Noel Gallagher reveal UK tour dates for huge Oasis reunion shows – and when tickets go on saleHe went on to retire from professional football after just six months in Argentina.During his legendary spell with the Giallorossi, the 41-year-old made 616 appearances and scored 63 goals.He also won the Italian Cup twice before returning as manager in January of this year.Oasis are also making a return in 2025 after confirming the dates for their UK and Ireland tour on Tuesday.The rock group are set to play four gigs at Wembley Stadium as part of a blockbuster reunion next summer.Shows have also been announced in Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.Who are these famous footballers? More

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    Inside Sandro Tonali’s exile, from sampling wine in Newcastle to girlfriend leaving Tyneside as he prepares for return

    NEWCASTLE star Sandro Tonali’s wait to get back on the pitch is nearly over.The Italian was slapped with a ten-month ban following an investigation into betting breaches.Sandro Tonali is ready to make his Newcastle comebackCredit: PAThe midfielder has visited a factory while being bannedCredit: XTonali’s girlfriend Juliette Pastore has been by his side in Newcastle – but she has now returned to ItalyCredit: Instagram @juliette_pastoreJuliette has enjoyed dog walks in Gosforth with the playerCredit: Instagram @juliette_pastoreHis punishment came just three months and 12 appearances after joining Newcastle from AC Milan for £55million.Tonali’s ban saw him miss Euro 2024 and become something of a forgotten man at St James’ Park.But Newcastle have stood by the 24-year-old and, alongside his rehab, have helped shape him into a reborn star raring to go.Tonali is available for the Carabao Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night and he could make his first appearance since October 25, 2023.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt’s been a difficult period for the player as he battled an addiction and tried to settle into a new country without football at the same time.Support from friends, family and club chiefs have all been vital, with his personal manager Andrea Romeo a key part of the midfielder’s rejuvenation. He has been a father figure to Tonali and he lives just up the road from him in Newcastle.They cook, eat, play Monopoly and even spend time with Romeo’s kids together.Most read in FootballTonali has opted to stay in Newcastle during his ban to help him settle into life in the north of England.His girlfriend Juliette Pastore has lived with him, with the couple enjoying dog walks in Gosforth, as well as coastal towns Tynemouth and Bamburgh.Sandro Tonali returns to Newcastle training after serving ten-month ban for illegal bettingBut the model and clothes designer has now returned to Italy to allow him to fully focus on his Toon comeback.Tonali only returned to see his family in Italy around Christmas and then went on holiday to Dubai after club staff noticed he was beginning to struggle as the ban took its toll.He has instead lived the life of luxury in Newcastle, dining in several high-end restaurants and he has been regularly spotted sipping wine and coffee at his favourite cafe around midday.A more Italian level of sophistication rather than going to Wetherspoons as he did just weeks after joining. As part of his rehab, Tonali spoke to students in his homeland, saying: “Hiding behind the barriers of a problem is never the solution. You have to talk about it, instead. Get help. “My true wealth is not the millionaire contracts, but being surrounded by people who love me and continue to show it to me every day.”Tonali has also visited a factory in the north-east and posed for photos with fans while dressed in a hi-vis jacket.His humble nature has seen him become a hit in the dressing room and he is reportedly close pals with Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron.Sandro Tonali is a popular member of the squadCredit: AFPReports claim there is a “cheeky” side to him and he has a “big heart”.He has been at all the team’s social events and after arriving in Newcastle speaking very little English – he is now much more confident with the language.Plus, he has cheered on the club from being FaceTimed by Romeo in the away end to watching the Magpies’ Under-19s face AC Milan from the stands in December.On the pitch, Tonali has been using his time away from the Premier League to improve as a player.Coaches have been teaching him the Eddie Howe style and trained him up in individual sessions for much of last season.The Telegraph report that insiders say: “He is not as flamboyant as Bruno, but he is every bit as good, just as effective. He will bring calmness, as well as high energy. He will use the ball so intelligently.”Shooting has been an area they have looked to improve and he now supposedly boasts the most powerful shot in the squad.Extra gym sessions have also helped him bulk up and improve on his fitness.There has been mental health support given to him by club psychologist Dr Ian Mitchell, who has assisted Tonali with “tackling his demons” and keeping his eyes focused on the goal of pulling on his No8 shirt again.Meetings with Italian professor Gabriele Sani, who diagnosed him with his addiction, have also taken place.Meanwhile, Howe has protected him publicly, saying: “I see the person. I see the human. I see the pain and distress. “He is devastated. That’s why my thoughts are always with the player and making sure we look after him.”And ahead of his comeback, Howe said: “He will definitely be in the squad, he is fit, he just hasn’t had the game time. “He has done everything else. He has worked incredibly hard to be on top of his fitness. READ MORE SUN STORIES”I imagine a range of emotions, a lot of excitement, when you have a long time out, you have a long time to analyse and reflect. “Now it is just back to doing what he loves. It will be an incredible release for him. I want Sandro to come back and enjoy his football.” More

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    Three ways Man Utd could line up including with all five summer transfers and new formation after Manuel Ugarte deal

    MANCHESTER UNITED could switch to a new formation this season once they complete the signing of Manuel Ugarte.Erik ten Hag is closing in on his fifth summer recruit after a £51million deal was agreed with Paris Saint-Germain.Manuel Ugarte is set to complete a £51million move from Paris Saint-GermainCredit: GettyErik ten Hag could start all five summer signings, including defender Matthijs de LigtCredit: GettyUgarte will join Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in joining the Red Devils this summer.His arrival bolsters Ten Hag’s midfield and even opens the door to a possible system change in order to play all five signings.Here is how United could line-up once they sign Ugarte.Likely best line-upTen Hag was forced to contend with countless injury woes last season and will be hoping to avoid a repeat this season.READ MORE ON MAN UTDWith his best players fully fit, he will likely stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with Ugarte partnering Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.Meanwhile, Zirkzee would lead the line, allowing Bruno Fernandes to revert back to his more familiar attacking midfield role.The club captain has featured in a more advanced position for the first two matches this term.Elsewhere, De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez form a new centre-back partnership, with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw either side.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAll five signingsWith his addition of two centre-backs this summer, a formation change may be needed for Ten Hag to get all five of his signings in the same team.A switch to a three-man defence would allow for De Ligt and Yoro to feature, with Martinez still keeping his place.Check out the stats for the £59m midfielder Man Utd have agreed personal terms withMazraoui and Shaw would also appear as wing-backs in the new look system.Further forward, Zirkzee would likely be part of a two-player frontline with Rasmus Hojlund his expected partner.In midfield, Ugarte, Mainoo and Fernandes could start in an array of combinations.4-2-3-1 alternativeSticking with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, Ten Hag has options with the depth he has added this summer.United’s transfer business is expected to help the club better deal with an injury issues without drastically losing talent in the side.In an alternative line-up, Mazraoui is able to come in at right-back for Dalot.READ MORE SUN STORIESGarnacho is also capable of moving to the left to incorporate Amad Diallo after his impressive start to the campaign.Hojlund, now with the No9 shirt, could even earn a starting role ahead of Zirkzee this season. More

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    Premier League transfers: Every completed deal in 2024 summer window with deadline day approaching

    PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have spent over £1bn during the summer window so far as many sides look to finalise their squads for the hectic season ahead.SunSport has a complete list of every team’s ins and outs, with the window slamming shut on Friday night.Pedro Neto is one of Chelsea’s twelve summer signings so farCredit: GettyPremier League transfers: Every completed deal in 2024 summer windowHere is a list of every Prem club’s summer business so far (as of August 27):Fees include potential add-onsArsenalInREAD MORE IN FOOTBALLLucas Nygaard – Nordsjaelland, freeDavid Raya – Brentford, £27mTommy Setford – Ajax, £850,000Riccardo Calafiori – Bologna, £42mMost read in FootballOutKarl Hein – Real Valladolid, loanEmile Smith Rowe – Fulham, £34mMika Biereth – Sturm Graz, £4mOmari Benjamin – Everton, freeLuis Brown – West Ham, freeCatalin Cirjan – Dinamo Bucharest, freeNoah Cooper – Stoke, freeAmario Cozier-Duberry – Brighton, freeOvie Ejeheri – FC Midtjylland, freeTaylor Foran – Bromley, freeArthur Okonkwo – Wrexham, freeKamarni Ryan – Burnley, freeRuell Walters – Luton, freeMaura Bandeira – ReleasedHenry Davies – ReleasedMohamed Elneny – Al Jazira, freeHubert Graczyk – ReleasedJames Hillson – ReleasedHenry Jeffcot – ReleasedTyreece John-Jules – ReleasedAlex Kirk – ReleasedJames Lannin-Sweet – ReleasedCedric Soares – ReleasedKido Taylor-Hart – ReleasedJack Henry-Francis – Sligo Rovers, loanNuno Tavares – Lazio, loanAlbert Sambi Lokonga – Sevilla, loanChido Obi-Martin – ReleasedBrooke Norton-Cuffy – Genoa, £3.5mCharles Sagoe Jr – Shrewsbury, loanCharlie Patino – Deportivo La Coruna, undisclosedAston VillaInEthan Amundsen-Day – Copenhagen, undisclosedCameron Archer – Sheffield United, £14mRoss Barkley – Luton, undisclosedEnzo Barrenechea – Juventus, undisclosedLewis Dobbin – Everton, £10mSamuel Iling-Junior – Juventus, undisclosedOmar Khedr – ZED, undisclosedIan Maatsen – Chelsea, £37.5mAmadou Onana – Everton, £50mJaden Philogene – Hull City, £18mMax Jenner – West Brom, freeOutTim Iroegbunam – Everton, £9mOmari Kellyman – Chelsea, £19mDouglas Luiz – Juventus, £21mMoussa Diaby – Al Ittihad, undisclosedSebastian Revan – Wrexham, undisclosedMorgan Sanson – Nice, £3.4mVijami Sinisalo – Celtic, £1mCalum Chambers – Cardiff, freeJack McDowell – QPR, freeDylan Mitchell – Swindon, freeTaylor-Jay Hart – ReleasedChisom Afoka – ReleasedFrankie Ealing – ReleasedAbube Onuchukwu – ReleasedAaron O’Reilly – ReleasedEdward Rowe – ReleasedPhilippe Coutinho – Vasco de Gama, loanFilip Marschall – Crewe, loanTommi O’Reilly – Shrewsbury, loanLouie Barry – Stockport, loanBenjamin Chrisene – Norwich, undisclosedBenicio Baker-Boaitey – Port Vale, loanKaine Kesler-Hayden – Preston, loanJosh Feeney – Shrewsbury, loanLewis Dobbin – West Brom, loanLino Sousa – Bristol Rovers, loanCameron Archer – Southampton, £15mAlex Moreno – Nottingham Forest, loanBournemouthInDaniel Jebbison – Sheffield United, £1.5mAlex Paulsen – Wellington Phoenix, £2mLuis Sinisterra – Leeds, £20mEnes Unal – Getafe, £14mKoby Mottoh – Portsmouth, freeDean Huijsen – Juventus, £15.2mJulian Araujo – Barcelona, £8mEvanilson – Porto, £40mOutDominic Solanke – Tottenham, £65mKieffer Moore – Sheffield United, undisclosedJack Wadham – Sutton, freeLloyd Kelly – Newcastle, freeJamal Lowe – Sheffield Wednesday, freeNoah Crisp – ReleasedOllie Eagle – ReleasedRyan Fredericks – ReleasedBen Greenwood – ReleasedJack Holman – ReleasedBaylin Johnson – ReleasedEmiliano Marcondes – ReleasedFerdinand Okoh – ReleasedCameron Plain – ReleasedEuan Pollock – ReleasedDarren Randolph – ReleasedHarry Redknapp Jr – ReleasedMichael Dacosta Gonzalez – Crawley, loanCharlie Osborne – Hartberg, loanJoe Rothwell – Leeds, loanDan Adu-Addei – Carlisle, loanBrentfordInIgor Thiago – Club Brugge, £30mBenjamin Fredrick-Simoiben, undisclosedJulian Eyestone – Duke Blue Devils, freeFabio Carvalho – Liverpool, £27.5mSepp van den Berg – Liverpool, £25mOutDavid Raya – Arsenal, £27mDaniel Oyegoke – Hearts, undisclosedShandon Baptiste – Luton, freeThomas Strakosha – AEK Athens, freeAngel Waruih – Eastleigh, freeSaman Ghoddos – ReleasedCharlie Goode – Stevenage, freeVincent Angelini – ReleasedCharlie Farr – ReleasedByron Wilson – ReleasedNathan Young-Coombes – ReleasedErion Zabeli – ReleasedEllery Balcombe – St Mirren, loanMichael Olakigbe – Wigan, loanTristan Crama – Exeter, loanFinley Stevens – St Pauli, undisclosedBrightonInYankuba Minteh – Brighton, £25mIbrahim Osman – Nordsjaelland, £16mMats Wieffer – Feyenoord, £25mMalick Yalcouye – IFK Gothenburg, £6mAmario Cozier-Duberry – Arsenal, freeBrajan Gruda – Mainz, £25mGeorginio Rutter – Leeds United, £40mMatt O’Riley – Celtic, undisclosedOutValentin Barco – Sevilla, loanPascal Gross – Borussia Dortmund, £10mDeniz Undav – Stuttgart, undisclosedKacper Kozlowski – Gaziantep, undisclosedLeigh Kavanagh – Bohemians, freeAdam Lallana – Southampton, freeBrody Peart – Wycombe, freeSteven Alzate – ReleasedJaydon Fuller – ReleasedJack Hinchy – Notts County, freeTommy Reid – ReleasedBailey Smith – ReleasedJames Beadle – Sheffield Wednesday, loanBen Jackson – Livingston, loanKjell Scherpen – Sturm Graz, loanTom McGill – MK Dons, loanMarc Leonard – Birmingham City, £500,000Jack Hinchy – Notts County, freeBenicio Baker-Boaitey – Port Vale, loanFacundo Buonanotte – Leicester, loanLuca Barrington – Grimsby, loanIbrahim Osman – Feyenoord, loanKamari Doyle – Exeter, loanAndrew Moran – Stoke, loanSamy Chouchane – Northampton, loanAbdallah Sima – Brest, loanChelseaInKiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Leicester, £30mMarc Guiu – Barcelona, £5mOmari Kellyman – Aston Villa, £19mTosin – Fulham, freePedro Neto – Wolves, £54mRenato Veiga – FC Basel, £12mCaleb Wiley – Atlanta United, undisclosedEstevao Willian – Palmeiras, £29.1mFilip Jorgensen – Villarreal, £20.7mAaron Anselmino – Boca Juniors, £15.6mJoao Felix – Atletico Madrid, £46.3mMike Penders – KRC Genk, £17mOutConor Gallagher – Atletico Madrid, £36mAlfie Gilchrist – Sheffield United, loanChinoso Chibueze – Stoke, undisclosedJamie Cumming – Oxford, undisclosedMichael Golding – Leicester, undisclosedLewis Hall – Newcastle, £28mOmari Hutchinson – Ipswich, £18mIan Maatsen – Aston Villa, £37.5mCharlie Webster-Burton, undisclosedHakim Ziyech – Galatasary, undisclosedDion Rankine – Wigan, freeThiago Silva – Fluminense, freeJosh Brooking – ReleasedNoah Hay – ReleasedTed Curd – Hampton & Richmond, loanTeddy Sharman-Lowe – Doncaster, loanDylan Williams – Burton, loanAndrey Santos – Strasbourg, loanMalang Sarr – Lens, freeEddie Beach – Crawley, loanGabriel Slonina – Barnsley, loanAaron Anselmino – Boca Juniors, loanDiego Moreira – Strasbourg, undisclosedLesley Ugochukwu – Southampton, loanBashir Humphreys – Burnley, loanLeo Castledine – Shrewsbury, loanCrystal PalaceInChadi Riad – Barcelona, £14mDaichi Kamada – Lazio, freeJemiah Umolu – West Ham, freeIsmaila Sarr – Marseille, £11mOutJoachim Andersen – Fulham, £30mMichael Olise – Bayern Munich, £50.8mKofi Balmer – Motherwell, freeScott Banks – St Pauli, freeLeon Elliott – Ipswich, freeJohn-Kymani Gordon – Colchester, freeKelvin Agho – ReleasedNathan Ferguson – ReleasedGiulio Marroni – ReleasedJairo Riedewald – ReleasedJames Tomkins – ReleasedNoah Watson – ReleasedVonnte Williams – ReleasedOwen Goodman – AFC Wimbledon, loanJoe Whitworth – Exeter, loanDavid Ozoh – Derby, loanTayo Adaramola – Stockport, loanMalcolm Ebiowei – Oxford United, loanMalachi Boateng – Hearts, undisclosedJesurun Rak-Sakyi – Sheffield United, loanKillian Phillips – St Mirren, loanJordan Ayew – Leicester, £7.5mEvertonInOmari Benjamin – Arsenal, freeJack Harrison – Leeds, loanTim Iroegbunam – Aston Villa, £9mIliman Ndiaye – Marseille, £20mJesper Lindstrom – Napoli, loanJake O’Brien – Lyon, £17mAsmir Begovic – QPR, freeOutLewis Dobbin – Aston Villa, £10mBen Godfrey – Atalanta, £10.2mAmadou Onana – Aston Villa, £50mJack Barrett – Blackburn, freeDylan Graham – Larne, freeMackenzie Hunt – Fleetwood, freeKatia Kouyate – Barrow, freeAndy Lonergan – Wigan, freeLewis Warrington – Leyton Orient, freeDele – ReleasedAndre Gomes – ReleasedSebastian Jensen – ReleasedKyle John – ReleasedEd Jones – ReleasedDaniel Maher – ReleasedMatthew Mallon – ReleasedTyler Onyango – Stockport, loanFulhamInRyan Sessegnon – Tottenham, freeEmile Smith Rowe – Arsenal, £34mJorge Cuenca – Villarreal, undisclosedSander Berge – Burnley, £25mJoachim Andersen – Crystal Palace, £30mOutTim Ream – Charlotte FC, undisclosedJoao Palhinha – Bayern Munich, £47.4mBobby Decordova-Reid – Leicester, freeTyrese Francois – Wigan, freeGeorge Okkas – Rio Ave, freeTosin – Chelsea, freeGeorge Wickens – Lincoln, undisclosedMarek Rodak – ReleasedTerence Kongolo – ReleasedLuciano D’Auria-Henry – ReleasedCaelan Avenell – ReleasedMa’Kel Bogle-Campbell – ReleasedMontague Conway – ReleasedMatt Dibley-Dias – Northampton, loanDevan Tanton – Chesterfield, loanLuke Harris – Birmingham, loanOlly Sanderson – Bradford, loanKieron Bowie – Hibernian, undisclosedHarvey Araujo – Chesterfield, loanIpswichInDara O’Shea – Burnley, £15mLiam Delap – Man City, £20mOmari Hutchinson – Chelsea, £18mJacob Greaves – Hull, £15mDarragh McCann – Glentoran, undisclosedArijanet Muric – Burnley, £15mLeon Elliott – Crystal Palace, freeBen Johnson – West Ham, freeConor Townsend – West Brom, £500kSammie Szmodics – Blackburn, £10mKalvin Phillips – Man City, loanJens Cajuste – Ipswich, loanJack Clarke – Sunderland, £18mOutGassan Ahadme – Charlton, £1mIdris El Mizouni – Oxford, £400,000Silva Mexes – Manchester United, compensationDanny Cullum – Sudbury, freeNick Hayes – Barnet, freeVaclav Hladky – Burnley, freeKayden Jackson – Derby, freeJack Manly – Leiston, freeSeth O’Neill – Ipswich Wanderers, freeCameron Stewart – Coleraine, freeDominic Ball – ReleasedPanutche Camara – ReleasedSone Aluko – RetiredCorrie Ndaba – Kilmarnock, undisclosedElkan Baggott – Blackpool, loanCameron Humphreys – Wycombe, loanLeicesterInAbdul Fatawu – Sporting, £17mMichael Golding – Chelsea, undisclosedCaleb Okoli – Atalanta, undisclosedBobby Decordova-Reid – Fulham, freeFacundo Buonanotte – Brighton, loanOliver Skipp – Tottenham, £25mJordan Ayew – Crystal Palace, £7.5mOutKiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Chelsea, £30mLewis Brunt – Wrexham, undisclosedShane Flynn – Waterford, freeMarc Albrighton – ReleasedPaul Appiah – ReleasedArlo Doherty – ReleasedIestyn Hughes – ReleasedKelechi Iheanacho – ReleasedJack Lewis – ReleasedTawanda Maswanhise – ReleasedDenis Praet – ReleasedSilko Thomas – Wigan, loanHarry Souttar – Sheffield United, loanLiverpoolInNoneOutAnderson Arroyo – Burgos, undisclosedAdrian – Real Betis, freeMelkamu Frauendorf – Hannover, freeNathan Giblin – AFC Liverpool, freeFrancis Gyimah – Stoke, freeLuke Hewitson – Fleetwood, freeZac Jagielka – Hull, freeAdam Lewis – Morecambe, freeJoel Matip – ReleasedMateusz Musialowski – ReleasedNiall Osborne – ReleasedCody Pennington – ReleasedMatteo Ritaccio – ReleasedCalvin Ramsay – Wigan, loanThiago Alcantara – RetiredLuke Chambers – Wigan, loanLewis Koumas – Stoke, loanFabio Carvalho – Brentford, £27.5mBilly Koumetio – Dundee, undisclosedLuca Stephenson – Dundee United, loanRhys Williams – Morecambe, loanBobby Clark – RB Salzburg, £10mSepp van den Berg – Brentford, £25mHarvey Blair – Portsmouth, undisclosedManchester CityInSavio – Troyes, £33.6mIlkay Gundogan – Barcelona, freeOutJulian Alvarez – Atletico Madrid, £82mLiam Delap – Ipswich, £20mTommy Doyle – Wolves, £4.3mLewis Fiorini – Stockport, undisclosedSergio Gomez – Real Sociedad, undisclosedTaylor Harwood-Bellis – Southampton, £20mJosh Adam – ReleasedJamal Baptiste – ReleasedYan Couto – Borussia Dortmund, loanCallum Doyle – Norwich, loanAlex Robertson – Man City, undisclosedMicah Hamilton – Middlesbrough, £3.7mFinley Burns – Hull, loanKian Breckin – Crewe, loanLuke Mbete – Northampton, loanMahamadou Susoho – Peterborough, loanKalvin Phillips – Ipswich, loanMaximo Perrone – Como, loanKayky – Sparta Rotterdam, loanManchester UnitedInLeny Yoro – Lille, £58.9mJoshua Zirkzee – Bologna, £36.5mMatthijs de Ligt – Bayern Munich, £42.7mNoussair Mazraoui – Bayern Munich, £17.1mOutAlvaro Fernandez – Benfica, £5.1mMason Greenwood – Marseille, £26.6mWilly Kambwala – Villarreal, £9.6mDonny van de Beek – Girona, £7.6mOmari Forson – Monza, freeCharlie McNeill – Sheffield Wednesday, freeMarcus Lawrence – ReleasedAnthony Martial – ReleasedKie Plumley – ReleasedShola Shoretire – PAOK, freeRaphael Varane – ReleasedBrandon Williams – ReleasedTom Huddlestone – RetiredJoe Hugill – Wigan, loanAaron Wan-Bissaka – West Ham, £15mRadek Vitek – FC Blau Weiss Linz, loanFacundo Pellistri – Panathinaikos, £6.8mWill Fish – Cardiff, £2mNewcastleInLewis Hall – Chelsea, £28mMiodrag Pivas – FK Jedinstvo Ub, undisclosedOdysseas Vlachodimos – Nottingham Forest, undisclosedLloyd Kelly – Bournemouth, freeJohn Ruddy – Birmingham, freeWilliam Osula – Sheffield United, £15mOutElliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest, £35mYankuba Minteh – Brighton, £30mKyle Crossley – South Shields, freeJude Smith – Carlisle, freeDylan Stephenson – Dagenham & Redbridge, freeKelland Watts – Cambridge, freeMatthew Bondswell – ReleasedWill Brown – ReleasedLucas De Bolle – ReleasedAmadou Diallo – ReleasedPaul Dummett – ReleasedJordan Hackett – ReleasedJeff Hendrick – ReleasedLoris Karius – ReleasedShaun Mavididi – ReleasedCarter Milmore – ReleasedMichael Ndiweni – ReleasedMatt Ritchie – Portsmouth, freeTaylor Ross – ReleasedRodrigo Vilca – ReleasedNottingham ForestInElliot Anderson – Newcastle, £35mEric da Silva Moreiro – St Pauli, £1.3mNikola Milenkovic – Fiorentina, £12mCarlos Miguel – Corinthians, undisclosedMarko Stamenic – Red Star Belgrade, undisclosedShea Cahill – Brisbane Roar, freeJota Silva – Vitoria Guimaraes, £10.1mRamon Sosa – Talleres de Cordoba, undisclosedAlex Moreno – Aston Villa, loanDavid Carmo – Porto, undisclosedOutRemo Freuler – Bolgona, £3.4mOrel Mangala – Lyon, £20mMoussa Niakhate – Lyon, £27mBrandon Aguilera – Rio Ave, undisclosedJulian Larsson – Burton, undisclosedOdysseas Vlachodimos – Newcastle, undisclosedHenry Lister – Hearts, freeKevin Adueni – ReleasedHarry Arter – ReleasedFelipe – ReleasedTony Gbopo – ReleasedWayne Hennessey – ReleasedEthan Hull – ReleasedAteef Konate – ReleasedCheikhou Kouyate – ReleasedLoic Mbe Soh – ReleasedScott McKenna – ReleasedElijah Morgan – ReleasedTheo Robinson – ReleasedEsapa Osong – Rotherham, loanJonathan Panzo – Rio Ave, loanMarko Stamenic – Olympiakos, loanLewis O’Brien – Los Angeles FC, loanOmar Richards – Rio Ave, loanJoe Worrall – Burnley, undisclosedDavid Carmo – Olympiakos, loanSouthamptonInFlynn Downes – West Ham, £18mRonnie Edwards – Peterborough, £6mTaylor Harwood-Bellis – Manchester City, £20mYukinari Sugawara – AZ Alkmaar, £5mBen Brereton Diaz – Villarreal, £6.5mRento Takaoka – Nissho Gakuen High School, undisclosedNathan Wood – Swansea, £3mAdam Lallana – Brighton, freeBrook Myers – Charlton, freeKhiani Shombe – Lewisham Borough, freeCharlie Taylor – Burnley, freeWellington – Sao Paulo, free (joining in January)Juan – Sao Paulo, free (joining in January)Kuryu Matsuki – FC Tokyo, undisclosedCameron Archer – Aston Villa, £15mLesley Ugochukwu – Chelsea, loanMateus Fernandes – Sporting, £12.8mOutKuryu Matsuki – Goztepe, loanDuje Caleta-Car – Lyon, undisclosedLyanco – Atletico Mineiro, £4mRomain Perraud – Real Betis, £3mChe Adams – Torino, freeMatt Carson – Torquay, freeLuke Pearce – Cardiff, freeStuart Armstrong – ReleasedDynel Simeu – ReleasedJake Vokins – ReleasedZach Awe – Accrington, loanLewis Payne – Cheltenham, loanOllie Wright – Yeovil, loanNico Lawrence – MK Dons, loanCameron Bragg – Crawley, loanDom Ballard – Blackpool, loanDiamond Edwards – Port Vale, undisclosedSekou Mara – Strasbourg, £10mMateusz Lis – Goztepe, undisclosedTottenhamInLucas Bergvall – Djurgarden, £8.5mGeorge Feeney – Glentoran, undisclosedArchie Gray – Leeds, undisclosedTimo Werner – RB Leipzig, loanMin-Hyuk Yang – Gangwon FC, undisclosedDominic Solanke – Bournemouth, £65mWilson Odobert – Burnley, undisclosedOutEmerson Royal – AC Milan, £12.8mEric Dier – Bayern Munich, £3mTroy Parrott – AZ Alkmaar, £6.7mJoe Rodon – Leeds, undisclosedKieran Morgan – QPR, freeIvan Perisic – Hajduk Split, freeJaphet Tanganga – Millwall, freeBilly Heaps – ReleasedTanguy Ndombele – ReleasedCharlie Sayers – ReleasedRyan Sessegnon – Fulham, freeHan Willhoft-King – ReleasedMatthew Craig – Barnsley, loanPierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Marseille, loanBryan Gil – Girona, loanAlejo Veliz – Espanyol, loanDane Scarlett – Oxford, loanJamie Donley – Leyton Orient, loanOliver Skipp – Leicester, £25mAshley Phillips – Stoke, loanWest HamInLuis Guilherme – Palmeiras, £25mMax Kilman – Wolves, £40mWes Foderingham – Sheffield United, freeCrysencio Summerville – Leeds, undisclosedNiclas Fullkrug – Borussia Dortmund, £27.5mGuido Rodriguez – Real Betis, freeJean-Clair Todibo – Nice, loanAaron Wan-Bissaka – Man Utd, £15mMohamadou Kante – Paris FC, undisclosedOutSaid Benrahma – Lyon, £13mFlynn Downes – Southampton, £18mThilo Kehrer – Monaco, £9.5mNathan Trott – Copenhagen, £1.5mJoseph Anang – St Patrick’s, freeDan Chesters – Salford, freeBen Johnson – Ipswich, freeJacob Knightbridge – Oxford, freeJemiah Umolu – Crystal Palace, freeSebastian Boothe – ReleasedKeenan Forson – ReleasedLiam Jones – ReleasedDivin Mubama – ReleasedAngelo Ogbonna – ReleasedBlaise Uwandji – ReleasedMichael Forbes – Bristol Rovers, loanKrisztian Hegyi – Motherwell, loanLevi Laing – Cheltenham Town, loanCallum Marshall – Huddersfield, loanPatrick Kelly – Doncaster, loanGeorge Earthy – Bristol City, loanMohamadou Kante – Paris FC, loanFreddie Potts – Portsmouth, loanGideon Kodua – Wycombe, loanWolvesInTommy Doyle – Man City, £4.3mRodrigo Gomes – Braga, £12.7mPedro Lima – Sport Recife, £8.45mArthur Nasta – Larkhall Athletic, undisclosedJorgen Strand Larsen – Celta Vigo, loanOutMax Kilman – West Ham, £40mPedro Neto – Chelsea, £54mOliver Tipton – Solihull Moors, undisclosedBendeguz Bolla – Rapid Vienna, freeMuhamed Diomande – West Brom, freeDom Plank – Hearts, freeLouie Moulden – releasedJoe Young – releasedMarvin Kaleta – Motherwell, loanHugo Bueno – Feyenoord, loanKi-Jana Hoever – Auxerre, loanTawanda Chirewa – Derby, loanWhen does the 2024 summer transfer window close for Premier League clubs?The summer window opened on Friday, June 14 – 26 days after the final matchday of the Premier League season and the same day as the start of Euro 2024.For clubs in the English leagues, the window will close on Friday, August 30 at 11pm BST – exactly 11 weeks after it opened.READ MORE SUN STORIESLast summer, the window shut at 11pm on September 1, meaning this year it will close two days earlier than 2023.No players signed after noon on deadline day will be eligible to play that weekend’s Premier League fixtures. 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    Raheem Sterling ‘open to controversial Man Utd transfer’ despite playing for three rivals as he seeks Chelsea exit

    RAHEEM STERLING is reportedly open to joining Manchester United before the transfer window closes.The forward is expected to leave Chelsea this week after falling out of favour under new boss Enzo Maresca.Raheem Sterling is reportedly open to joining Manchester United from ChelseaCredit: ReutersChelsea have been linked with a swap deal involving Jadon Sancho signing from UnitedCredit: RexSterling has not featured for the Blues this season and has been training away from the first-team squad.United are amongst a host of Premier League sides to be linked with a move for the 29-year-old.According to the Daily Mail, Sterling would not rule out joining the Red Devils, despite spells with Liverpool and Manchester City.Chelsea are open to including him in a deal for Jadon Sancho, who is also set to leave United.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHowever, it is unknown whether a swap deal will be possible before Friday’s transfer deadline.Sterling’s £325,000 wages are seen as a potential stumbling block, whilst Sancho’s £300,000 weekly income does not fit into Chelsea’s wage structure.Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are also understood to be interested in a late move for Sterling.Meanwhile, Arsenal have been linked with the winger, who will not put in a transfer request to force through a move.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHaving joined Chelsea in 2022, he still has three years left on his deal in West London.Sterling has previously played for United’s fierce rivals City and Liverpool, where he came through the academy after signing from QPR.Enzo Maresca comments on the futures of Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling at Chelsea and comments on player contract lengthsHe went on to make 129 appearances for the Reds before leaving for City in 2015.During seven years at the Etihad Stadium, he won 12 trophies including four league titles.Sterling has yet to score in 26 matches against United, though.Chelsea would also face competition for Sancho’s signature as United look to sell him this week.Italian giants Juventus have also been strongly linked with a move but are only open to a loan deal for the 24-year-old.Sancho spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. More

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    Jamie Carragher reveals Liverpool ‘thought they had’ Cristiano Ronaldo hours before he sealed first Man Utd transfer

    JAMIE CARRAGHER has revealed Liverpool thought they had Cristiano Ronaldo hours before he joined Manchester United 21 years ago.The Portuguese was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for £12million at the age of 18 in August 2003.Jamie Carragher faced Cristiano Ronaldo on several occasionsCredit: 2005 Getty ImagesCarragher understands Liverpool were close to securing Ronaldo’s signatureCredit: Sky SportsHe would go on to become one of the club’s all-time great players, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and Ballon d’Or during a sensational six years at Old Trafford.Ronaldo, 39, later returned for a second stint in 2021 and spent just over one year back at Man Utd before leaving for Saudi Arabia.Yet Liverpool icon Carragher, 46, who faced Ronaldo on numerous occasions during his first spell in the Premier League, claims the Merseyside club believed they had the forward before the move to Man Utd was announced.Speaking on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, he said: “When he actually signed for United I think we were in for him.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”That was when Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson – Phil Thompson tells the story that he thought we had him. “He was speaking to the agent and before you know it, it breaks on Sky Sports News ‘Ronaldo’s gone to United’ – and I think of what we lacked probably in the best teams I played in at Liverpool.”I think we had world-class or great players in every position over a 10-year period, but I don’t think we ever had a world-class wide player. “Listen, we had the best in John Barnes, late eighties, but I think if you got through the nineties, I don’t think we ever had a player of that ilk.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSCristiano Ronaldo’s first Man Utd spellAppearances: 292Goals: 118Trophies: Premier League x3, FA Cup, League Cup x2, Champions League, Club World CupIndividual honours: Ballon d’Or, Fifa Player of the Year, Champions League top scorer, Premier League Player of the Season x2, FIFPRO World 11 x3, Fifa Puskas AwardCarragher was critical of Ronaldo’s return to Man Utd when he came back for a second stint under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Ronaldo subsequently ignored him live on air during a Sky Sports Super Sunday as he caught up with former team-mates Gary Neville and Roy Keane.Arne Slot savages Jamie Carragher with six-word put down in brutal moment on live TV after Liverpool winCarragher later responded: “I get a custard pie for getting it right on Ronaldo from day one!”The custard pie for him from ETH [Erik ten Hag] shows the manager thinks the same!”Maybe the ex-Man Utd legends (sycophants!) will now agree with me.” More

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    John Obi Mikel bites back at Nicolas Jackson after Chelsea forward’s explosive rant at Blues cult hero

    JOHN OBI MIKEL has fired back at Nicolas Jackson after the Chelsea star’s foul-mouthed blast at him.The Blues icon was on the receiving end of an outburst by Jackson following Sunday’s 6-2 win at Wolves.John Obi Mikel has responded to Nicolas Jackson’s X-rated tiradeCredit: North News and PicturesJackson blasted Mikel after scoring in Chelsea’s 6-2 win at WolvesCredit: PAJackson let rip at Mikel after scoring the opener at Molineux.He wrote on Instagram: “@Mikel_john_obi shut your mouth. Don’t talk s***, we are killing ourselves for Africa.”Jackson had been responding to Mikel’s criticism of his struggles against Man City the week before.But the Nigerian reckons he will be happy to take more heat from Jackson – if the Senegal striker bags more goals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said:  “I really like the guy as a football player. I like him. There’s something there as a football player.“I haven’t said that he’s a bad player at all. I’ve just said that his finishing qualities, it’s not there yet. “He’s a young boy and all I’ve said is that he needs a more experienced striker to come into the football club to help him, to help him improve, to help him get better.“We all can see the shift he puts in week in, week out. So for me, I would like to see my African brother like he said do well in the Premier League, come to Chelsea, a big club, a massive club where we’ve had one of the greatest strikers in Didier Drogba from Africa, Ivory Coast did really well.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSChelsea release new pink and black ‘punk-inspired’ third kit for 2024-25… but fans all reckon ‘Nike tick is drunk’“I’d like to see him do well as well in the club. If he plays well I will praise him. If there is something to be said about him, where he needs to improve, I will definitely say it. “If he scores every week and tells me to shut up, I’ll take that. You know what I mean?”Mikel had earlier called Jackson ‘not a top striker’.He said at the time: “You need a striker who knows how to hit a ball back in the back of the net and that’s what we don’t have.”I know I talk so much about him and sometimes I sound like I disrespect him. I don’t disrespect him.”I think at Chelsea Football Club we need a top striker who can get us a goal.”A bit like [Haaland], 91 goals [for City] that’s absolutely unbelievable.”Former midfielder Mikel spent over a decade at Chelsea, playing 372 games between 2006 and 2017.READ MORE SUN STORIESMikel also won plenty of trophies including two titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.He has been critical of Todd Boehly’s policy of buying younger players rather than proven Premier League stars.Chelsea ratings vs Wolves: Madueke and Palmer on fire as Blues run riot… but Mudryk has shockerNONI MADUEKE bagged himself a second-half hat-trick courtesy of Cole Palmer as Chelsea fired to a 6-2 victory away at Wolves.Palmer’s three assists and first half strike capped off a wonderful afternoon for the England ace and a game that at times resembled a basketball match.Here’s how SunSports’ Katherine Walsh rated the Blues stars…Robert Sanchez – 7/10Solid display. Held firm and kept Wolves at bay in the first half.Brilliant long ball distribution cross-pitch to Jackson who assisted Palmer’s goal and Chelsea’s second.Malo Gusto – 5Out of position for Matheus Cunha’s 26th minute equaliser and didn’t get forward enough.Failed to have an influence on the game after a quieter second 45 minutes from Wolves.Wesley Fofana – 6Had his back to goal for Wolves’ second equaliser before half-time.The ball had been guided in by a free-kick and Jorgen Strand-Larsen cleverly guided it home with his right foot.Levi Colwill – 6Not a particularly noticeable performance from the 21-year-old in a positive or negative sense.Suppose it was a solid showing but was also caught ball watching for Cunha’s goal.Pulled Cucurella away from the third brawl of the match.Marc Cucurella – 6Worked hard and found himself centre of multiple fights with Wolves players throughout the 90.Solid as ever, needing to be alert with Wolves lethal in the first half.Moises Caicedo – 6Quiet afternoon for the midfielder. Didn’t do much right or wrong.Enzo Fernandez – 7Often in the right place at the right time after clearing two Wolves’ attempts from inside the box.Battled to win the ball for Madueke’s third goal and frequently recovered possession for the visitors.Cole Palmer – 9A brilliant goal and THREE assists finished off a sensational performance from the No10 position.Somehow managed to outshine hat-trick scorer Madueke after providing all of his goals. His own notch came against the run of play just after receiving a yellow.Picked up the ball 20 yards from goal after a long Sanchez kick and lobbed Wolves keeper Jose Sa just when the visitors were hanging on.Mykhailo Mudryk – 4Enzo Marseca said he needed time and coaching to get his Chelsea career on track. But failed to make an impact against Wolves.Didn’t notice him being shipped off at half-time for former Wolves star Pedro Neto.Noni Madueke – 9The star man scored THREE in the second half after bagging against Servette on Thursday.Chelsea’s best player in the first half. The young winger has bundles of ability and energy.Looked lively and won several free-kicks in promising positions.Worth a note that he silenced the home fans who were heavily booing him throughout after his social media comments earlier today.Nicolas Jackson – 8Opened the scoring with a post header inside two minutes.But let himself down with silly antics while arguing with Cunha twice.Most non-penalty goals for Chelsea in the Premier League since the start of last season: 15.And assisted Palmer’s brilliant goal and Chelsea’s second.SUBSPedro Neto 7Put a shift in after coming on at half-time on his first return to the Molineux.Bagged himself an assist in the 80th minute.Joao Felix – 7Scored on his Chelsea 2023/24 debut after joining from Atletico Madrid for £42.6m.Combined with other new signing Neto for the goal.Christopher Nkunku – N/ARenato Veiga – N/AKiernan Dewsbury-Hall – N/A More

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    Premier League teams need to copy Sam Allardyce’s blueprint for success instead of following Pep Guardiola’s lead

    THE greatest trick Pep Guardiola ever pulled was convincing the world you had to play out from the back.Anything else, and you are a Keyser Soze, murdering the beautiful game with the usual suspects queuing up to criticise.Premier League managers should follow Sam Allardyce’s blueprint for successCredit: PAPep Guardiola’s style of football has earned trophies and plaudits at Manchester CityCredit: GettyThe thing is, Manchester City are brilliant at it and Guardiola has the players to do it.City are not only the best at doing it but also at pressing and winning the ball back when the opposition tries to replicate it.Witness Saturday when Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric tried to turn into Franz Beckenbauer and had the ball wrestled off him by Savinho for Kevin De Bruyne to score.Southampton lost at Newcastle on  the opening day when stopper Alex McCarthy passed straight to Alexander Isak as the Saints tried to build a move from the back.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAll promoted clubs seem to be intent on sticking to their principles.Daniel Farke took Norwich up and went to Liverpool on the opening day of the 2019-20 season and earned huge praise for their short passing game — they lost 4-1.It seems to be you are not tactically astute enough as a player or manager if you try anything a bit more direct.But what is ‘playing football the right way’. Sir Alex Ferguson always praised teams for coming to Old Trafford and playing ‘the right way’ having just stuffed them by four or five goals.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOver a coffee with former Nottingham Forest boss Frank Clark one Monday I bemoaned the spectacle of a match the night before exclaiming that football is an entertainment industry.“It’s not,” he said. “It’s something people go to watch to see their team win.”Meet the new Wags of the Premier League season, from a Belgian interior designer to a Portuguese modelAllardyce adapted to the Premier League after promotion with BoltonCredit: ReutersAnd he’s right, if your team win do you really worry about how it is done.Back in Nottingham I got to know Sam Allardyce the then-Notts County manager and went on to witness the incredible years he had at Bolton — and they were incredible.No manager has taken an unfancied club into the Premier League and established them in the way Allardyce did with Wanderers.First of all, he got them up, then he kept them up, and then he plotted a course that saw his side finish eighth, sixth, eighth, and seventh between 2003 and 2007.They have never been close to that incredible time since. He created an atmosphere off the pitch with everyone pulling for each other and enjoying the whole experience.He played using the strength and pace of his team.He got Kevin Davies to build himself up over one summer to become the perfect targetman.But it was never hit-and-hope as his detractors would say. Davies, in  particular, was brilliant at winning the ball and bringing others into play high up the field.Most importantly, defending would be no-nonsense.Several top-flight managers have tried to imitate Guardiola’s approachCredit: GettyThere was quality in his teams too and he made sure that big-name  players who came were not just playing out their careers.Players like  Jay-Jay Okocha, Gary Speed, Ivan Campo and Youri Djorkaeff  were a joy to watch still.And yet he was derided, not least by the likes of Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez, when he beat them. Wenger used to hate playing Bolton.Allardyce’s attention to detail and knowledge of players and the game were incredible. During his brief time in America, he soaked up sports science and was one of the first to use it to its full extent in the Premier League.That attention was never more apparent than on a late night after the pub and a game of Kerplunk between about seven of us back at my house.He won and revealed afterwards his tactic of a way to hold the straws lightly to test the weight of the marbles on them.From the sidelines Allardyce pulled the strings.Rather than follow Guardiola, some clubs who come up or struggle to stay up could do worse than look at Allardyce’s blueprint for success.CITY DID SCINTILLATE WITH SVENSAD NEWS at the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet as I did when he was manager at Manchester City.It was just for a season, 2007-08, but what a season.He won both Manchester derbies, had the club top after three games and in the top three throughout October and November — before things slid and City ended up ninth.The final embarrassing 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough came when the players knew the boss was on his way out.But some of the football was scintillating that season, with brilliant  players like Elano, and he did not deserve the axe from then chairman Thaksin Shinawatra.Former City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died aged 76Credit: AFPI’M REALLY LYCRA-ING CYCLISTSTHERE is a large group of cycling nuts who go to my local bar in Burnage.It’s a non-TV bar but often a laptop will be on showing the latest Tour de Wherever.READ MORE SUN STORIESI have no idea what is going on and only recently learned that “Peloton” is not actually a competitor who always finishes in the middle of a race.But having been walking like John Wayne since my first spin class, I  will never criticise the people involved in this sport again. 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