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    Juventus striker ‘offers himself to Real Madrid’ in last-gasp transfer in blow to Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea hopes

    JUVENTUS star Dusan Vlahovic wants a move to Real Madrid amid interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.Vlahovic has been enduring a rough campaign with Juve, who have been slapped with a 15-point deduction that dropped them to 13th place in the Serie A table.
    Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic has asked his agent to seal a move to Real MadridCredit: Getty
    Vlahovic prefers Real Madrid over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    The Bianconeri were accused of inflating transfer fees in dealings with other Italian clubs over three seasons to create millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes.
    According to Defensa Central, the striker wants out and instructed his agent to put together a move to Real, who targeted him last year.

    They say the Serbia international asked his representative to offer himself to Los Blancos on deadline day.
    However the 23-year-old’s camp will push for a summer deal.
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    Vlahovic has been linked with a big Premier League switch as United, Arsenal and Chelsea continue to keep tabs.
    The Red Devils are still looking for a centre-forward to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, following the temporary signing on Wout Weghorst.
    Chelsea also still need someone to spearhead the attack after loaning Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan last summer.
    And Arsenal will be without star attacker Gabriel Jesus possibly until March.
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    Vlahovic turned a lot of heads during his four-year stint at Fiorentina as he amassed a total of 49 goals and eight assists in 108 appearances.
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    The Serbian has struggled to set the world alight ever since his move to Juventus last year.
    But the ex-Partizan star has still registered 16 goals and four assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. More

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    Liverpool injury blow as star set to miss Merseyside derby and is even doubt for Real Madrid clash in Champions League

    LIVERPOOL have dealt a major injury blow with Ibrahima Konate set for a spell on the sidelines.The defender suffered a hamstring injury in the Reds’ FA Cup defeat at Brighton on Sunday and could now miss a crucial part of the season.
    Ibrahima Konate is facing a spell on the sidelinesCredit: Getty
    Konate completed the full 90 minutes on the South Coast, but a scan has since revealed the full extent of the damage.
    And the Daily Mail claim that the France international could now be ruled out for around two to three weeks.
    As a result, he’s expected to sit out the Premier League games against Wolves, Everton and the trip to Newcastle on 18 February.
    And Konate could also be forced to miss the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie with Real Madrid four days later.
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    It continues what’s been a frustrating second year at Anfield for Konate after he was forced to sit out the first six weeks of the season with a knee injury.
    And he’s made just 10 appearances in all competitions.
    It’s another massive setback for Jurgen Klopp, who’s already without Virgil van Dijk after he sustained a knee problem earlier this month and is in a race against time to be fit to face the holders.
    Klopp therefore has just two centre-backs available in Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
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    While key players like Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are also out injured.
    Liverpool are back in action at Wolves on Saturday. More

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    PSG ‘try to open talks with Real Madrid to sign three-time Champions League winner’ but face Premier League competition

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are trying to open talks to sign Marco Asensio, according to reports. The French giants want to bolster their squad before the transfer window closes tonight.
    Marco Asensio is struggling for game time at Real Madrid and is wanted by PSGCredit: Alamy
    Asensio, 27, is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season, meaning he will become a free agent in the summer unless a new contract is signed.
    But according to Spanish outlet Relevo, PSG are willing to stump up the cash to get a deal over the line for the three-time Champions League winner this month.
    They want to steal a march on clubs in the Premier League – including Arsenal and Manchester United – Serie A and even arch-rivals Barcelona with a last-ditch swoop.
    However, Real Madrid are refusing to even enter negotiations with PSG and have no intention of selling the attacker they signed from Mallorca in 2014.
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    Los Blancos instead want to renew Asensio’s contract with Carlo Ancelotti insisting the 35-cap Spanish playmaker is a key member of his squad.
    Asensio has made 24 Real Madrid appearances this season – but just six of those have come as a starter.
    Real have a crunch few weeks coming up with the Club World Cup, Liverpool in the Champions League, a Madrid derby against Atletico and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final.
    But with the player not getting the game time he wants, he’s reportedly asked agent Jorge Mendes to address the issue with the Real Madrid board – who will not budge on their stance.
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    Contract negotiations for Asensio did start over the World Cup break but are yet to yield an agreement.
    Now talks are said to have stalled, leaving Asensio uncertain over his future.
    PSG are also set to land Hakim Ziyech on loan from Chelsea.
    The Morocco World Cup star has dropped even further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following the arrivals of Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix. More

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    Real Madrid draw Barcelona in huge Copa del Rey semi-final El Clasico… but you probably won’t be able to watch it

    REAL MADRID and Barcelona are set to square off in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.The two rivals drew each other after Los Blancos eliminated Atletico Madrid and Barca knocked out Real Sociedad in the quarter-finals.
    Real Madrid and Barcelona will face each other in the Copa del Rey semi-finalsCredit: Getty
    British fans won’t get to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the Copa del ReyCredit: EPA
    That sets up an exciting El Clasico between the two sworn enemies amid an intense LaLiga battle – with Los Blancos only five points behind Xavi’s leaders.
    But British fans may not be able to watch it as no TV channel on these shores has bought the rights to the Copa del Rey.
    That is why no one got to see the exciting Madrid derby, in which Real equalised in the final few minutes and turned the game on its head during extra-time with a 3-1 win.
    This comes as a major surprise considering that Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and Viaplay combined cost more than £1,000 per year.
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    The two rivals have faced off twice already this season and are scheduled to meet once more in LaLiga.
    Real beat Barcelona 3-1 in the league back in October at the Santiago Bernabeu.
    Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde and Rodrygo led Carlo Ancelotti’s side to a comfortable victory with Ferran Torres scoring a consolation goal.
    But the Blaugrana returned the favour with the same score three weeks ago in the Spanish Super Cup final.
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    Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri sealed the win for Barcelona with Benzema putting the Madrid giants on the scoreboard in Saudi Arabia.
    The two rivals’ upcoming cup clashes will take place on February 28 in Madrid and April 4 at the Nou Camp. More

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    Liverpool, Man City and Real Madrid transfer blow with ‘Dortmund to offer Jude Bellingham club-record contract’

    BORUSSIA DORTMUND are reportedly planning a deal to make Jude Bellingham the highest-paid player at the club.The 19-year-old sensation is the subject of transfer interest from the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United.
    Borussia Dortmund are reportedly planning on offering Jude Bellingham a bumper new contractCredit: Getty
    But the German club are still holding out hope that he could stay.
    Writing for Caught Offside, Bild reporter Christian Falk has claimed Dortmund are planning contract talks with Bellingham in March.
    They reportedly want to make the teenager the top earner at the club.
    It’s claimed they are willing to offer him a new deal worth a mammoth £13million-a-year.
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    That works out at £250,000-a-week.
    Marco Reus is out of contract at Dortmund at the end of the season, so the club can afford to give Bellingham a wage hike.
    However, the Bundesliga side are also open to exit talks this summer when Bellingham will enter the final two years of his current deal.
    The report claims Dortmund are yet to receive any official proposals for Bellingham, but there is plenty of interest in his signature.
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    SunSport exclusively revealed last weekend that Bellingham is set to turn down a new Dortmund contract.
    That is set to kickstart the auction for the former Birmingham City man.
    Earlier this week Sky in Germany claimed Liverpool are the current favourites for his signature.
    Bellingham is Jurgen Klopp’s No1 transfer target as he looks to overhaul an ageing midfield.
    But Real Madrid are also keen, as are both Manchester clubs. More

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    Man Utd transfer blow as Barcelona prepare shock raid on arch-rivals Real Madrid for star Asensio

    MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Marco Asensio with Barcelona keen on the winger.Asensio has been linked with a Premier League move over the last few years.
    Barcelona have contacted Marco Asensio over a free contract moveCredit: Getty
    Liverpool and Arsenal have been credited with an interest in the Real Madrid star but United were reportedly considering a summer move.
    Asensio, 27, is out of contract in the summer and Barcelona have made contact with him, according to Sport.
    Asensio is now represented by superagent Jorge Mendes, who has a close relationship with Barca president Joan Laporta.
    But Real are keen to keep Asensio and have opened negotiations for a new deal.
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    However, an agreement is yet to be reached between the two parties with Asensio demanding a higher salary than Los Blancos are willing to pay.
    That could open the door to United, who are able to approach Asensio on a pre-contract basis.
    And the Red Devils are one of a few clubs who would be able to afford Asensio’s reported £120,000-a-week salary.
    Asensio joined Real Madrid from Mallorca for around £3.5million in 2014.
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    He has contributed 52 goals and 27 assists in 250 appearances for the club.
    And his trophy cabinet since arriving at the Bernabeu includes three LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues. More

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    Liverpool now favourites in Jude Bellingham transfer race ahead of Real Madrid and Man City as Dortmund talks hot up

    LIVERPOOL are reportedly the favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham.The 19-year-old England starlet is one of the most sought-after names on the planet after a stellar World Cup.
    Jude Bellingham is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summerCredit: Getty
    Bellingham has previously been linked with Liverpool, as well as the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City.
    And it’s the Reds who are currently favourites to sign the midfielder, according to Sky in Germany.
    Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp is claimed to be “pushing” to sign Bellingham in the summer.
    The former Birmingham City man is Klopp’s No1 transfer target as he looks to overhaul an ageing midfield.
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    But Sky say Real Madrid and City are also targeting the teenager.
    However, Liverpool are claimed to be leading the race for his signature.
    Klopp is not reported to have spoken to Bellingham personally about joining the club, but the boss has spoken to Anfield transfer chiefs about signing the midfielder.
    SunSport exclusively revealed at the weekend that Bellingham is set to turn down a new Dortmund contract.
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    That will kickstart the auction for the highly sought after England international.
    Sky Germany claim Bellingham does not have a release clause in his Dortmund contract.
    As a result, the German club are set to demand between £88million and £132m for his signature.

    The Bundesliga outfit want to keep hold of their superstar midfielder for another season.
    Bellingham has netted 10 times in 23 games in all competitions for Dortmund this season, including a wondergoal in his first game back after the World Cup. More

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    Arsenal facing battle with Real Madrid in Declan Rice transfer… but West Ham star ‘has already given Gunners his word’

    REAL MADRID are reportedly interested in signing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.But Arsenal are still understood to be the frontrunners to sign the England international, with the 24-year-old having already “given his word” to the Gunners.
    Declan Rice is set to leave West Ham at the end of the seasonCredit: Alamy
    Rice will enter the final year of his contract this summer amid interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
    Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the way in their pursuit of the Hammers captain – who is valued at £80million.
    Man Utd have also been linked with him despite signing Casemiro in the summer.
    El Nacional are reporting that the player has told Arsenal he will join them at the end of the season.
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    That is despite Real Madrid president Florentino Perez being a long-time admirer of the midfielder.
    The Los Blancos chief considered a bid for Rice in the past, but ultimately decided against doing so as the England man was deemed not for sale.

    Now he is expected to leave in the summer given both his contract situation and the fact that West Ham are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
    However, it has been claimed that Real Madrid will not try to sign Rice while Carlo Ancelotti is still manager.
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    And with no sign of the Italian’s imminent departure, the Spanish giants are expected to take a backseat for the time being.
    Rice has played more than 200 games for West Ham, contributing 11 goals and 12 assists.
    He has also already racked up 39 caps for England, scoring twice.
    He is known to have been a boyhood Chelsea fan, with his goof friend Mason Mount also already at the club.
    But Arsenal’s recent interest has thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to his future. More