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    Chelsea ‘fail in Rafael Leao transfer bid after offering £69m plus players’ as AC Milan demand £130m release clause fee

    CHELSEA have reportedly failed in their pursuit of AC Milan star Rafael Leao.The 23-year-old winger is considered one of the hottest talents in Serie A after helping the Rossoneri to the title last season.
    Chelsea are claimed to have failed in their pursuit of Rafael LeaoCredit: Getty
    His stunning form in 2021-22, which saw him score 14 goals and provide 12 assists in 42 games, led to interest from Chelsea.
    The Blues offered £69million for his services in recent talks with the Italian club, according to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles.
    The Serie A side are also claimed to have rejected Chelsea’s proposal to include players in exchange for Leao.
    AC technical director Paulo Maldini is believed to have blocked the club from selling their prized asset.
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    The legendary Italian defender is holding out for Leao’s £130m release clause.
    Talks between the two clubs are thought to have been ongoing.
    But the Blues have failed in their latest bid for the winger, and a move before tonight’s 11pm deadline now looks unlikely.
    New owner Todd Boehly has already splashed out over £250m on Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka, Gabriel Slonina and Marc Cucurella.
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    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also set to join from Barcelona before tonight’s 11pm deadline for another £12m, with Marcos Alonso set to go the other way.
    Elsewhere Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez has gone on strike in a bid to push through a £43m move to Stamford Bridge.
    So while the Blues are set to be active in the transfer market right up until the deadline, Boehly appears to have failed in his pursuit of Leao. More

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    Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo could be handed transfer deadline day lifeline by AC Milan – but move hinges on Chelsea

    CRISTIANO RONALDO could make a deadline day move to AC Milan, according to reports.The striker, 37, has been linked with several clubs over the last few weeks but Manchester United are yet to receive an offer for the superstar.
    Cristiano Ronaldo could make a last-minute move on deadline dayCredit: PA
    AC Milan could swoop for Ronaldo if Rafael Leao is sold to ChelseaCredit: Getty
    That could change in the final hours of the window if Milan need to sign a forward.
    And with the Italians in talks to sell Rafael Leao to Chelsea, it is possible the Serie A champions will sign Ronaldo as his replacement, according to the Manchester Evening News.
    Chelsea are pushing to sign Leao, 23, but he is currently valued at £126m despite scoring only 28 goals in 119 games for the Italian side.
    That figure includes a £13.9million fine Leao has been ordered to pay Sporting Lisbon after cancelling his contract with the Portuguese club in 2018 to join Lille.
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    Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has also tried to reignite a possible move to Stamford Bridge for his client in recent days.
    Mendes held talks with Chelsea chiefs in an attempt to revive a deal but the West Londoners look set to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang instead.
    Despite the rumours United boss Erik ten Hag believes CR7 is happy to stay at Old Trafford.
    Ronaldo told the club he wanted to leave in order to play Champions League football but Ten Hag says the Portuguese is now on board.
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    Asked if he had met with Ron, Ten Hag said: “Several times, yes. We are all on one page.
    “From the start we said we planned with him.
    “We are happy with him, he’s happy to be here and we want to make the season a success together.” More

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    Justin Kluivert’s Fulham loan transfer ‘COLLAPSES after Roma star is denied work permit by the FA’ due to Brexit rules

    FULHAM’S move for Justin Kluivert has reportedly collapsed after the Roma star was denied a work permit due to Brexit.Di Marzio claims a loan transfer is totally off after the ex-Ajax winger was blocked from playing in England by the FA.
    Justin Kluivert has been denied a work permit to join Fulham due to Brexit rulesCredit: Getty
    Fulham agreed personal terms with Kluivert this month after new signing Manor Solomon picked up a major injury.
    After initial resistance from Roma, the Cottagers finally struck an agreement last week to bring Kluivert, 23, to the Premier League.
    However, the Times claims Brexit rules ended the Dutch ace’s hopes of cracking England’s top flight.
    It’s reckoned Kluivert, who spent last term on loan at Nice, was due to undergo a medical on Wednesday before discovering there was no chance of the move happening.
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    A new points system is in place for work permits after free movement of labour from the EU ended.
    Kluivert’s last season at Roma was during the 2020/21 campaign, when he made just two appearances before joining RB Leipzig on loan.

    And it means he was not given enough points to claim a UK work permit post-Brexit.
    Roma are said to be livid regarding the situation, as Kluivert had his heart set on Fulham and rejected other offers which came in.
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    It means the son of Holland legend Patrick has just one day remaining to sort an exit or find himself warming the bench in Italy.
    As for Fulham, they are hoping to confirm a hat-trick of signings before the market closes.
    The Cottagers remain locked in talks with Lyon over a £13million deal for playmaker Houssem Aouar.
    Marco Silva is also eyeing a move for PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa.
    Finally, ex-Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian is set to join for free after leaving Corinthians. More

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    Former Chelsea forgotten man Jeremie Boga set for Premier League return as Leicester open transfer talks

    FORMER Chelsea starlet Jeremie Boga is reportedly set for a Premier League return with Leicester.The Ivorian winger, 25, currently plies his trade with Italian outfit Atalanta.
    Leicester are lining up a move for ex-Chelsea winger Jeremie BogaCredit: Getty
    But Fabrizio Romano claims Boga is on the brink of a second shot at England’s top flight as Leicester prepare a bid for deadline day.
    Boga came up through Chelsea’s Cobham academy after moving to London from Marseille in 2009.
    His time at Stamford Bridge saw the versatile attacker enjoy loans at Rennes, Granada and Birmingham.
    But he only ever made one Premier League appearance for Chelsea before being sold to Sassuolo in 2018.
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    Boga found his feet with the Serie A side, sparking talk of a return to the Blues in 2020.
    Everton were also linked with a massive £35million switch.
    But Boga instead stayed put at Sassulo until securing a loan move to Atalanta in January.
    The deal was made permanent for around £20m this summer.
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    And Chelsea received a tasty chunk of the proceeds after including a sell-on fee in his move to Sassuolo.
    However, Atalanta are now open to parting ways with Boga just months after signing him.
    And Leicester are looking to pounce after pocketing £70m from Wesley Fofana’s move to Chelsea.
    Boga would bring pace and power to Leicester’s frontline.
    And he would certainly be welcomed warmly by fans, who are yet to see one single outfield signing pass through the doors at the King Power Stadium. More

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    Juventus legend Pavel Nedved dances with three scantily-clad women at an nightclub in viral video before 50th birthday

    PAVEL NEDVED has been filmed revelling at a nightclub with three scantily-clad women with the Juventus legend even cupping one of their breasts.The Juventus legend and current club director, who turns 50 on Tuesday, was seen dancing with a trio of girls in a video doing the rounds on social media.

    Pavel Nedved has been filmed enjoying himself in a nightclub with three womenCredit: AFP
    Juventus legend Nedved is currently the club’s vice-chairman – a role he has been in since 2015Credit: Reuters
    In footage shared by Twitter user @stefanovillani, the 2003 Ballon d’Or winner was partying intimately with the group – all of whom were wearing bras.
    Playful scenes showed the former Czech Republic international dancing in a line with the women as they sang along to a song.
    Nedved was caught on camera with his hands on one of the women’s breasts – much to the amusement of the group and a male friend.
    The three-time Serie A champion was married to wife Ivana for 25 years before they called time on their relationship in 2019.
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    Football fans were loving the video, as one quipped: “If anything, I think I like Nedved more now.”
    Another said: “Don’t see anything wrong with the Nedved video! A man enjoying his life, could also be early birthday celebrations since he turns 50 tomorrow!”
    A third added: “Well he always had a great touch.”
    This Twitter user joked: “Pavel teach me to live.”
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    Another cheekily commented: “He always knew how to play well in the middle of the attack.”
    Meanwhile one simply stated: “Proper legend.”
    Nevded retired from football following the 2008-09 season having scored 65 goals in 327 matches in all competitions for Juve.
    He was voted into the Turin outfit’s boardroom the following year, before being named as their vice-chairman in 2015. More

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    Arsenal legend Thierry Henry joins Cesc Fabregas in becoming part owner of Serie B minnows Como

    ARSENAL icon Thierry Henry has become a part-owner of Serie B side Como.The Frenchman, 45, was announced as a minority stakeholder of the ambitious Lombardy outfit on Monday.
    Thierry Henry with Como president Dennis Wise after investing in the Italian minnowsCredit: EPA
    Cesc Fabregas signed for the Serie B side this summerCredit: Getty
    Upon his arrival in Italy, he said: “I have been waiting to get involved in a project like Como for a long time.
    “A club with ambition but most importantly one that holds the same values as me – that the club and its local community both need to thrive.
    “For me, a football club is nothing without its local community. Yet so many times you see commercial objectives overtake and break that special connection and the heart of the club is lost.
    “When I spoke to the team here and they told me about the community initiatives already in place and the ambition to ensure that as the club prospers so does the community, I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me.”
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    Como are owned by the Indonesian Djarum Group.
    The organisation purchased the club four years ago after the previous owners went bankrupt.

    In a bid to help the club push for a spot in Serie A by 2025, chiefs brought in former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise as chief executive.
    Como’s ambitious nature has attracted interest from all over Europe.
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    Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas joined in a free transfer from Monaco earlier this month.
    He signed a two-year deal upon his arrival after being convinced by management staff.
    Como have also signed Patrick Cutrone from Wolves this summer. More

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    Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in shock Tiemoue Bakayoko transfer race with AC Milan wanting to offload ex-Chelsea flop

    CHELSEA flop Tiemoue Bakayoko is reportedly being lined up for a shock transfer by both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.The revelation comes as AC Milan, who currently have the Frenchman on loan, want to let go of the midfielder by cutting his two-year loan transfer in half.
    Tiemoue Bakayoko is still at AC Milan on loan but may soon return to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
    And, while Bakayoko has no future at Chelsea, he may be given a second chance in the Premier League.
    According to Calcio Mercato, both Forest and Newcastle want to sign him, while Serie A side AC Monza are also interested.
    Milan directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara want to offload the midfielder in order to lighten their wage bill with the Frenchman – who Chelsea paid £40million for in 2017 – not playing a single minute yet this season.
    Newcastle are looking for an addition to their midfield, after missing out on Lucas Paqueta with the Brazilian set to join West Ham in a deal worth around £51m.
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    Forest meanwhile, continue to create disbelief as they plunder the transfer market for players – with 18 coming through the door at the City Ground so far.
    Earlier on Monday Forest announced Renan Lodi from Atletico Madrid as their 18th signing of the summer.

    Bakayoko joined Chelsea from Monaco in 2017 as the direct replacement for Nemanja Matic but was shipped out to AC Milan on loan just one year later.
    In the two following years Bakayoko was shipped out on loan to Monaco and Napoli before re-joining AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.
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    The 28-year-old has scored just three goals and assisted three times for The Blues.
    Another midfielder who has endured a similarly tough situation at Stamford Bridge was Ross Barkley, but now the Englishman could reignite his career after he was released by Chelsea earlier today. More

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    Chelsea star Ethan Ampadu set to join Serie A minnows Spezia on season-long loan transfer with £12.75m buy option

    CHELSEA defender Ethan Ampadu is set to join Serie A side Spezia Calcio on a season-long loan, according to reports.Ampadu, 21, joined Chelsea from Exeter City in 2017 but has since failed to establish himself as a first-team regular.
    Ampadu is set to join Spezia on loanCredit: Getty
    He spent the last three seasons out on loan to RB Leipzig, Sheffield United and Venezia respectively.
    And he is now expected to be sent out once again before the transfer window slams shut next week.
    According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Ampadu is set for a return to Italy where he will spend this season on loan at Spezia.
    The defender will travel out to complete his medical and sign the contract early next week.
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    The deal will keep him at the club until June 2023, but there is an option to buy clause worth £12.75million included.
    Ampadu has made just 12 senior appearances for Chelsea over the past five years.
    But, he is set to fall further down the pecking order when Wesley Fofana joins from Leicester.
    The Frenchman has already completed his medical and Chelsea are expected to confirm the huge £75m signing next week.
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    Fofana will remain at Stamford Bridge until June 2028 after signing a six-year deal.
    He will join new boys Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly in Thomas Tuchel’s defensive set-up. More