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    Mbappe to sign for Real Madrid for FREE, Chelsea continue defender search, Erling Haaland UPDATES – latest news

    CHELSEA failed to bring in Sevilla’s Jules Kounde before the transfer window slammed shut but will be looking to make moves for a defender in January. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe also failed to get his dream move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish club set to sign him on a free in a pre-contract agreement in the new year.
    Real reportedly offered PSG close to £170m for the French forward’s signature, but the Parisian club failed to budge.
    And clubs all over Europe will now cast their minds onto Erling Haaland, who looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund next summer.
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    ALL HAIL MICHAIL
    Michail Antonio has scored the most goals in the Premier League so far (4).
    Aston Villa newboy Danny Ings has only managed to score two.

    PJANIC ATTACK
    Miralem Pjanic has unleashed a scathing attack on Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman after leaving the club to join Besiktas on loan.
    The midfielder endured a horrible spell at the Nou Camp, making just six starts after joining from Juventus last summer.

    Pjanic told Marca: “There was a point that I was playing less, things were getting complicated.
    “And when I played it was difficult physically and mentally to be well, because it was killing my confidence, because I had no communication with [Koeman].
    “It was very strange, because a coach is the one who says who plays and who doesn’t, but there are different ways to do things.
    “I am a player who can accept everything but I would always like to be told things face to face. Not as if nothing happened and I was 15 years old.”
    HAMMER BLOW
    Jesse Lingard turned down a permanent move to West Ham to stay and fight for his Manchester United future.
    Credit: Getty
    The England man enjoyed a stunning loan spell with the Hammers last season that thrust him back into contention for the Euro 2020 squad.
    After making the provisional squad, he failed to make the final cut. But Lingard did however feature off the bench in England’s victory in Hungary.
    Now, 90min.com is reporting that Lingard ‘made it clear to the club that he did not want to return to the London Stadium’.
    The 28-year-old apparently ‘communicated to joint chairman David Sullivan personally’ with his intentions.
    NA YOU’RE TALKING
    Arsenal transfer target Andre Onana has rejected a new contract offer from Ajax and will leave for free next summer, reports say.
    And reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan are in advanced talks over a potential four-year deal.
    Credit: AP
    According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, Onana has decided to leave Ajax next summer for free.
    The keeper has rejected a contract extension and cash-strapped Inter have decided to make the first move for the goalkeeper, offering the Cameroonian international a four-year contract.
    Onana, however, hasn’t played a competitive game or trained with Ajax or Cameroon since the start of the year due to being banned for a doping violation.
    LOW POINT
    Nabil Fekir admits his failed move to Liverpool in the summer of 2018 was a ‘dark moment’ in his career.
    Credit: Rex
    The France international – who at the time was plying his trade in his homeland – was on course to swap Lyon for Merseyside after Liverpool agreed a £50million deal for the midfielder.
    But the deal ended up collapsing, which paved the way for Fekir to join Real Betis 12 months later for a mere £17m.
    Fekir told The Times: “It was a dark moment. I saw plenty of things which weren’t true.
    “It was said the knee stopped me going to Liverpool but that wasn’t true.”
    REAL DEAL
    Real Madrid remain the standout favourites to sign Kylian Mbappe.
    That’s according to bookmakers Betfair, who’ve priced Carlo Ancelotti’s side at 1/5 to clinch his signature.
    Credit: Getty
    Real Madrid were frustrated in their pursuit of Mbappe this summer but are expected to agree a contract with the forward with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
    PSG now risk losing Mbappe on a free transfer unless they can convince the player to sign fresh terms in Paris.
    The World Cup winner has scored 135 goals in 175 games for PSG and has won three Ligue 1 titles since his arrival from Monaco.
    WORK OF ART
    Arsenal technical director Edu has defended the club’s £150million-plus summer spending spree.
    The Gunners splashed the cash on six players, though the North Londoners’ business has been criticised with fans and pundits unsure whether the squad has been strengthened.
    Credit: Reuters
    Asked by Sky Sports if he can understand fans being ‘underwhelmed’, he said: “Yes, I understand the reason because firstly, they have not seen the team playing together yet.
    “That’s one of the reasons but I think we have to see the wider context than just to see the money around it. We signed six players who are under 23, which means a lot in terms of our planning.”
    ERLI MOVE
    Paris Saint-Germain will move to sign Erling Haaland if Kylian Mbappe leaves the Parc des Princes next summer according to reports.
    France international Mbappe told the PSG brass last month that he wants to join Real Madrid.
    Credit: Rex
    PSG rejected £130m and £200million bids from Real for the World Cup winner, who they risk losing on a free transfer at the end of the season.
    And the Parisians have reportedly identified Borussia Dortmund hitman Haaland as a replacement for the 22-year-old.
    RETURN TRIP
    A reminder that Manchester United still want Kieran Trippier and will reportedly make an improved offer in January.
    United are believed to have seen an initial £18million bid for the defender rejected by Atletico Madrid this summer as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
    Trippier could be heading back to England in the next transfer window after a successful spell with the Spanish champions.
    Credit: Getty
    Mundo Deportivo claims the Red Devils will go back in for the England right-back at the start of next year.
    Atleti will again, however, demand Trippier’s release clause of £34m in paid in full.
    A-DAM GOOD DEAL
    WOLVES want to make Adama Traore their highest paid player with a new eye-watering £120,000-a-week deal.
    Credit: AFP
    The Spain winger, 25, is set to be offered a fresh four-year contract – worth a whopping £25million and more than double his current terms – to keep him out of the clutches of Premier League rivals.
    Traore, who has spent more than a year of contract wrangling at Molineux, was the subject of two summer bids from Spurs including a £30m offer.
    Wolves value Traore at £50m but are willing to give the speedster more wages than Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves.
    RICE HUNGRY FOR EXIT
    Declan Rice is reportedly eyeing up a move away from West Ham next year in a £100million deal.
    The English midfielder, 22, was linked with a switch away from the London Stadium this summer as Chelsea and Manchester United chase him.
    Credit: Reuters
    SunSport exclusively revealed in July how West Ham planned to offer a bumper new deal.
    But the midfielder is only prepared to consider an offer if it includes a release clause.
    TRANSFER LATEST
    Manchester United could come back in for Arsenal target Kieran Trippier in January, while Wolves have offered Adama Traore a HUGE deal to stay.
    Atletico Madrid want £30million for 30-year-old England right-back Trippier – way above what it’s thought United have offered so far.
    Meanwhile, Old Trafford midfielder Jesse Lingard is said to have told West Ham he did not want a move in the last transfer window. 
    Wolves are fighting to keep speedster Traore after rejecting two deadline-day bids from Spurs.
    SunSport exclusively revealed yesterday the wideman can sign a new four-year Molineux deal worth £120,000 a week. 
    And Traore’s Spain team-mate Pau Torres says he turned down Spurs this summer to stay at boyhood club Villarreal.
     Inter Milan have been linked with a January move for Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.
    And Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof insists he is happy to play LESS following Raphael Varane’s arrival – as he is more interested in team success.
    CRISTIANO BACK TO WIN SILVERWARE
    Cristiano Ronaldo has already issued a rallying call to his new Manchester United team-mates and told them ‘I’m here to win’.
    The five times Ballon d’Or winner has made clear that he wants to bag another Premier League title, to the delight of the squad.

    Ronaldo, 36, landed in Manchester on Thursday and is expected to train at Carrington for the first time on Wednesday once he completes a five-day quarantine period.
    But prior to joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, he has already sent his expectations via Portuguese compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
    A source said: “The players are so excited about the arrival of Ronaldo. They have been given this huge boost, and they feel very confident.
    “The players and coaching staff now believe they have the best squad in the league and can win the Premier League this season.
    “Ronaldo has also spoken to Bruno Fernandes and told him to tell the other players that they need to win it this year.
    “They need to work hard and start to believe in themselves. The players have not stopped talking about Ronaldo since he signed and they can’t wait to train and play alongside.”
    WENGER BACKS WORLD CUP EVERY 2 YEARS
    Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ramping up the push for a World Cup every TWO YEARS.
    And Wenger has drafted a plan to see ALL tournament qualifiers players in a single elongated window every October.

    Frenchman Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, has been a strong advocate of world chief Gianni Infantino’s new masterplan.
    That will see the World Cup becoming a biannual tournament, effectively from the 2026 event, due to be staged in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
    Wenger has embarked on a series of interviews across Europe, with the latest coming in L’Equipe.
    The 71-year-old said: “The principle would be a grouping of qualifiers every year and, at the end of the season, a major competition, World Cup or continental championship.
    “Between the two qualifying windows, the player would stay in his club all year.
    “There must be less of a mix in the calendar between periods of club and international football, and therefore fewer trans-continental trips for the players, for example.”
    WOLVES’ RECORD OFFER TO KEEP ADAMA
    EXCLUSIVE: Wolves are set to offer Adama Traore a £25million golden carrot to sign a new four-year-deal worth a hefty £120,000 a week, writes GRAEME BRYCE.
    After more than a year of contract wrangling, the long-standing deal Wolves offered Traore last October remains unsigned as the Spaniard stubbornly refuses to commit his long-term future to the club.
    Now, after rejecting two deadline-day bids from Tottenham – including a £30 million bid to re-unite Traore with his former boss Nuno EspIrito Santo – Wolves are set to dramatically raise the stakes.

    They are willing to make the 25-year-old speedster the highest paid player at Molineux, ahead of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, to keep their £50million-rated asset out of the clutches of their Premier League rivals.
    And they will step up talks with Traore over the next few weeks, once he returns from Spain’s upcoming world cup ties against Georgia and Kosovo over a double-your-money-deal.
    Traore currently earns around £55,000-a-week but Wolves are willing to more than double it, rather than watch their attacking asset’s value decrease as his current deal runs down.
    The powerhouse forward has entered the final two years of the five-year-contract he signed when he arrived from Middlesbrough in a then club-record £18million move in August 2018. 
    Wolves’ failure to make any deadline day signings – despite head coach Bruno Lage’s pleas for three or four ‘top quality,’ additions – went down badly with frustrated Wolves fans.
    RON’S ‘STILL IMPROVING AS A FINISHER’
    Manchester United legend Denis Irwin claims Cristiano Ronaldo is still “getting better” as a goalscorer – aged 36.
    Former Republic of Ireland full-back Irwin agrees the returning superstar has changed his game in recent years, having been more of a dashing wideman than central forward in his first United spell of 2003-9.
    But he told Sky Sports of last season’s to Serie A marksman: “He is a fantastic goalscorer, he always has been and he always will be, and he is getting better and better in that respect.
    Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    “People might question him because he is 36 but he has really looked after himself, you can tell that. 
    “I know Mother Nature catches up with you, I know the Premier League is the most physical league in the world for me, it is 90 minutes of pace, and he is not the same type of player he was going back to when he first joined United, in the first part of his career.
    “But he will certainly score goals in the Premier League this season and I think the United fans are excited about him coming over. 
    “We remember he gave six great years, he went from being a boy to a man and he has gone on to do great things at Real Madrid and Juventus, with different techniques and different qualities in each league.”
    YES – BUT WHO’S THE BETTER PLAYER?
    Arsenal’s £50million summer signing Ben White could prove better value in central defence than new £42m Manchester United recruit Raphael Varane over the next four years at least according to the tweet below.
    But no financial predictions can replace the basic question: Which of them is and will be the ‘better’ player?
    That’s without even considering other issues, such as how they gel with team-mates and tactics, plus their facts and figures ON the pitch.

    French World Cup winner Varane, 27, has the greater pedigree after ten years with Real Madrid.
    But White, twice capped by England, is four years younger.
    Gunners’ fans, though, will want to know if has the stature, mentally as well as physically, to help Mikel Arteta’s men recover from opening with three straight Prem defeats – including conceding nine goals.
    Let’s discuss this again in 2025…!
    RONDON: RAFA CHANGED ME
    New Everton striker Salomon Rondon has hailed Rafa Benitez for “changing my mentality” in the 31-year-old’s two previous spells under the Spaniard.
    The former West Brom star told evertontv: “Rafa changed the vision I have of football because the team is the most important thing for a club and the players. 
    Credit: Getty
    “His management of the team is special because, in some games, you have to do extra work, or work really hard to get the points. 
    “He showed to the players, you can go to the limits.
    “I enjoy playing for Rafa a lot because he is the manager who changed my mentality and how I see the game, what he needs from me to help the team and my team-mates.”
    CELTIC COULD FORM THE THE KYLE HIGH CLUB
    Celtic are looking up in the world with reported interest in Britain’s tallest footballer – Solihull Moors’ 6ft 9ins striker Kyle Hudlin.
    It surely wouldn’t take a sky high bid to land the 21-year-old, although he only joined his National League side on a two-year deal from Sunday football in October 2020.

    NINTCHDBPICT000673426050-1Credit: Getty
    Football Insider suggest Celtic scout Andy Thorne has watched Hudlin this season.
    And back in January SunSport reported just how ambitious he is after an incredible rise over the past year.
    He said then: “I am enjoying life at Solihull right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have aspirations in England and in the Champions League.
    “I don’t want to run before I can walk and I understand how high the jump is to that level, but I want to make that jump.
    “If all goes well I will be playing in the EFL soon.”
    PAU REBUFFED SPURS
    Spain centre-back Pau Torres says he rejected Tottenham this summer to stay at boyhood club Villarreal.
    The LaLiga club reportedly accepted a £43million bid from Spurs for the 24-year-old.
    And 14-cap Torres said: “I was told there was interest in me from another club, which was Tottenham.
    “However, I was very clear in what I wanted to do. I took the decision [to stay at Villarreal] calmly.”
    “It was the best decision for me and what I wanted to do; staying with my boyhood club and with an exciting season ahead with big goals and big challenges to achieve.”
    Credit: Getty
    UTD ‘BACK IN FOR ARSENAL TARGET TRIPPIER’
    Manchester United are tipped to re-open their hunt for Arsenal target Kieran Tripper in January.
    United bid £18m for Atletico Madrid’s England right-back shortly before the transfer window shut on Tuesday, Sport1 journalist Patrick Berger claimed.
    And Arsenal too were understood to have monitored the 30-year-old over the summer.
    Credit: Getty
    Now Mundo Deportivo say ‘Manchester United are expected to return to the fray’ when the January transfer window re-opens.”
    LINGARD ‘WANTED TO STAY AT UTD’
    Jesse Lingard made it clear to West Ham he’d prefer to fight for his place at Manchester United, 90min claim.
    The England midfielder, 28, was reportedly wanted by the Hammers in August following his loan success there last season.
    Credit: Getty
    CLUBS QUEUE FOR CITY WHIZKID DELAP
    Championship clubs are queuing up for Manchester City whizkid Liam Delap.
    That’s according to Football League World, who suggest Middlesbrough, Millwall and Stoke fancy a January move for the striker, 18.
    Credit: Getty
    RON IS ED OVER HEELS AT RECLAMING NO7 SHIRT
    Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked Edinson Cavani for the “incredible gesture” that allowed him to reclaim the Manchester United No7 shirt.
    Credit: AFP or licensors
    The Premier League let Cavani take outgoing Dan James’ No21 top – with incoming old boy Ronaldo restored to 7.
    The Portugal superstar, 36, said: “I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again. 
    “So I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi (Cavani) for this incredible gesture.”
    UTD TO NAB ARSENAL WHIZKID
    Manchester United are tipped to sign one of the country’s top defensive prospects after he left Arsenal.
    Harrison Parker, 15, had “all the top clubs in England chasing him” – according to Rising Ballers.

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    F1 Dutch Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: Stream, TV channel as Verstappen goes for pole infront of raucous crowd

    MAX VERSTAPPEN is on home turf as the F1 Driver’s Championship drama continues at the Dutch GP.Lewis Hamilton remains just three points ahead in the standings going into a crucial qualifying session today, where the racers will compete for pole.
    But Kimi Raikkonen will not be appearing this weekend after testing positive for Covid-19.

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    VERSTAPPEN GETS POLE – BUT ONLY JUST
    Hamilton is just 0.038 seconds behind the Red Bull man. Super close but Verstappen is on pole.
    Hamilton will start second. Bottas in third. Gasly in fourth.
    It is going to be an exciting start and some 72 laps tomorrow!

    FINAL RUNS FOR GRID PLACES
    Can anyone beat Max?

    VERSTAPPEN TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE -THEN GOES EVEN QUICKER
    He is into the 1:08s as he sets the benchmark. Two belting laps from the Red Bull man while Hamilton’s best crack is only good enough for third.
    Six minutes still to run in this session and it is Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton.

    Q3 IS GO – AFTER A SHORT DELAY THE TOP 10 SHOOT OUT IS UNDERWAY
    Verstappen vrs Hamilton. This could be a tasty one. All been advantage Verstappen.
    However, he is on his own in this session, as his teammate Sergio Perez is out. Hamilton, however, can rely on Bottas to give him some help.
    THIS TRACK IS CERATINLY PROVING TRICKY
    Plenty of red flags over the two days so far. And still time for more drama. Q3 set to start in five minutes.

    SESSION ENDED – LATIFI’S CRASH BRINGS AN EARLY END TO THE SESSION THAT WILL NOT BE RESTARTED
    It means that Tsunoda, Latifi, Norris, Stroll and Russell are all eliminated.

    RED FLAG – LATIFI CRASHES OUT
    This time is it Russell’s teammate, Nicholas Latifi who crashes. That’s a hefty slam into the barrier at Turn 8. He is OK, but winded.

    GREEN LIGHT – FINAL FEW MINUTES
    This is going to be a hectic end to Q2.
    3 MINUTES AND 54 SECONDS REMAINING
    It means that Williams can quickly patch up Russell’s car and get him out for another crack of reaching the top 10.
    RED FLAG – GEORGE RUSSELL HAS A SPIN AND IS IN THE BARRIER
    He’s OK, has the car going again and is heading back to the pitlane. He pushed it too hard on the final corner and lost control.
    That’s a shame as he was going along nicely on that lap.

    VERSTAPPEN TOPS P2
    Hamilton and Bottas cannot better his time as it stands. Giovinazzi in P4, Russell in fifth.

    MAZEPIN COULD BE IN HOT WATER
    Not that it will help out Vettel, who is out in Q1.

    LANDO NORRIS SCRAPES IN BUT PEREZ IS OUT
    That is a blow to Red Bull as Perez is eliminated at the first hurdle. He is down in 16th place.
    That is simply not good enough from the Mexican or indeed Red Bull.
    Vettel is also out after nearly getting taken out but the Haas of Nikita Mazepin.
    Stewards will be looking at that incident after the session. However, it means that Norris is into Q2 – but only just.

    RUSSELL IS ON A FLYER
    He goes fifth quickest in a Williams. Following on from his excellent result at Spa, the Brit delivers another performance that underlines just why he’s being picked to replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes next season.
    SAINZ IS OUT
    The Ferrari man is out on track. That is a cracking re-build by his Ferrari team. He is out on track with a little under seven minutes remaining of Q1.
    THERE IS A BIG ROAR FROM THE GRANDSTANDS AS VERSTAPPEN GOES P1
    The Red Bull man is the quickest again around his home track and looks safely into Q2.
    Hamilton is right behind him, just 0.147 seconds off his lap time.

    GREEN LIGHT – QUALIFYING IS GO
    Q1 is underway in Zandvoort. I expect this session to be fairly stop start, so an early lap could be key.

    PLENTY AT STAKE
    It is all to play for in the championship but it is not just about the individual drivers.
    The team standings are also tightly packed and Mercedes hold a narrow lead over Red Bull heading into the Dutch GP.

    RACE AGAINST TIME FOR SAINZ
    Ferrari are still repairing his car following his accident in FP3. He is ready, should it be fixed in time.

    HAMILTON LOVING TRACK
    Lewis Hamilton appears to be a big fan of this weekend’s Dutch circuit and will be looking for a big performance this afternoon.
    Wow what a circuit and what a crowd! Had to stop due to a loss of power. We will work through this and hope for a better day tomorrow. Thank you #teamlh for all the incredible support and also to the Dutch Orange fans for making the atmosphere electric today and for welcoming me. pic.twitter.com/ZdzgOmDIUJ— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) September 3, 2021

    VERSTAPPEN FOCUSED
    Max Verstappen topped final practice and appears to have his eye on the prize as he chases pole position at the Dutch GP.

    MAX TOPS THE LOT – VERSTAPPEN LEADS FINAL PRACTICE
    Home advantage? It doesn’t matter. The Red Bull man heads into qualifying top of the pile.
    Over half a second quicker than Valtteri Bottas and almost 0.8 seconds on Lewis Hamilton.
    That’s huge. He’s also been cleared of any penalty for the confusion over the red light overtake on Lance Stroll from FP2.

    SCHUMACHER SKIRTS ACROSS THE GRAVEL
    He goes in too fast into the corner, loses control and runs across the gravel. He manages to keep moving but that will be a blow to his confidence.
    WOW VERSTAPPEN HAS JUST GONE TOP OF THE TIME SHEETS
    But what is even more impressive is that he set a time of 1:09.623 a full 0.556 seconds quicker than Bottas and 0.794 faster than Hamilton.
    He says over the radio: “That last sector won’t get any better than that!”
    He’s not wrong. That was a sensational lap.

    FERNANDO ALONSO ROLLING BACK THE YEARS
    The two-time world champion is in P1 in final practice.

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    Chelsea continue defender search, Kylian Mbappe to sign for Real Madrid or FREE, Erling Haaland UPDATES – latest news

    CHELSEA failed to bring in Sevilla’s Jules Kounde before the transfer window slammed shut but will be looking to make moves for a defender in January. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe also failed to get his dream move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish club set to sign him on a free in a pre-contract agreement in the new year.
    Real reportedly offered PSG close to £170m for the French forward’s signature, but the Parisian club failed to budge.
    And clubs all over Europe will now cast their minds onto Erling Haaland, who looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund next summer.
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    YES – BUT WHO’S THE BETTER PLAYER?
    Arsenal’s £50million summer signing Ben White could prove better value in central defence than new £42m Manchester United recruit Raphael Varane over the next four years at least according to the tweet below.
    But no financial predictions can replace the basic question: Which of them is and will be the ‘better’ player?
    That’s without even considering other issues, such as how they gel with team-mates and tactics, plus their facts and figures ON the pitch.

    French World Cup winner Varane, 27, has the greater pedigree after ten years with Real Madrid.
    But White, twice capped by England, is four years younger.
    Gunners’ fans, though, will want to know if has the stature, mentally as well as physically, to help Mikel Arteta’s men recover from opening with three straight Prem defeats – including conceding nine goals.
    Let’s discuss this again in 2025…!
    MUSTAFI JOY AT LEVANTE DEAL
    Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi claims he was instantly impressed with Levante as he joined the Spaniards following his release from Schalke.
    The 20-cap Germany star, 29, held talks with Torino last month but the Serie A club chose not to pursue a deal.
    Credit: AFP
    Instead LaLiga club Levante have handed the ex-Valencia ace an 18-month contract.
    Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.
    “We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
    SAUL FOLLOWS HAZARD AND SALAH
    New Chelsea loanee Saul Niguez has been given the number 17 shirt following Eden Hazard and Mo Salah.
    The midfielder, 26, was a deadline recruit from Atletico Madrid for the season.

    But Chelsea also have the option to make the move permanent if the Spain star impresses.
    Legend Hazard was initally given the number 17 before proving his value to the club – he was later given No10 and stuck with that until he left.
    Mo Salah has also worn No17 for Chelsea but with less success compared to Hazard, as has fellow winger Pedro.
    Most recently, Mateo Kovacic represented 17 but switched to number eight this season, highlighting his growing importance under Thomas Tuchel.
    LINDLEOF FINE WITH BIT-PART UTD ROLE
    Victor Lindelof will likely lose his spot in Manchester United’s first team following the arrival of mega-star Raphael Varane.
    But the Swede has no issues with Varane replacing him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s back-four, and even welcomed the ex-Real Madrid ace’s arrival.
    Because Lindelof, who started United’s first two Premier League games this season, feels Varane will help him and the United squad get better.

    And that’s what is supposed to be at a club like United, Lindelof claimed.
    Speaking to Afton Bladet, the 27-year-old said: “I think it’s really good. I play in one of the biggest clubs in the world, so of course you want good players.
    “There will always be a situation of competition. I see it as a positive that we have an influx of good players joining the club.
    “It will help us to develop further, and for myself I see no issue with that.
    “Sometimes I won’t play games, but for me that’s alright.”
    BERND OUT TO INTER?
    Inter Milan are eyeing Arsenal No1 Bernd Leno, reports say. 
    According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
    Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
    SUB PLOT
    Victor Lindelof will likely lose his spot in Manchester United’s first team following the arrival of mega-star Raphael Varane, writes JUSTIN LAWRENCE.
    But the Swede has no issues with Varane replacing him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s back-four, and even welcomed the ex-Real Madrid ace’s arrival.
    Because Lindelof, who started United’s first two Premier League games this season, feels Varane will help him and the United squad get better.
    And that’s what is supposed to be at a club like United’s, Lindelof claimed.
    Speaking to Afton Bladet, the 27-year-old said: “I think it’s really good. I play in one of the biggest clubs in the world, so of course you want good players.
    “There will always be a situation of competition. I see it as a positive that we have an influx of good players joining the club.
    “It will help us to develop further, and for myself I see no issue with that.
    “Sometimes I won’t play games, but for me that’s alright.”

    TORREIRA SPEAKS
    Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has broken his silence on why he left Arsenal to head to Fiorentina on loan.
    And the midfielder simply says it’s because he feels ‘good’ in Italy, where he played before he joined the Gunners.
    He said: “I wanted to go back to Italy, where I felt good.
    “For me the most important thing is to play. 
    “It’s true that we have been talking about Fiorentina for many years, I want to make the most of this experience now that I’m here.”
    BLUES EYE KOULIBALY
    Chelsea may turn their attention towards Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly after missing out on Jules Kounde.
    According to Football.London, the European champions Chelsea will now turn to Koulibaly after failing to sign France international Kounde.
    The Blues failed to meet Kounde’s £68million price tag, meaning they missed out on their top target.
    But boss Thomas Tuchel remains keen to bring in a defender.
    And Koulibaly – who has previously been linked with Man Utd – appears to be that target.
    CRIS CROSS
    It’s been a long and thrilling summer, but the transfer window has come to an end, writes ASIF NORAT.
    Manchester United were one of the busiest teams, as they made four new signings and offloaded seven players.
    For once, there were signs going into the transfer market that the club had clearly identified which areas they were looking to address and strengthen.
    Because of the proactive planning from the board, it resulted with the business being done with ease and no panic buys on deadline day. 
    With the Glazers and the key members at Old Trafford deciding to act like a big club once and for all, they have left United’s supporters with a very satisfied summer and no room for complaints. 
    HEATH JOINS ARSENAL
    Arsenal Women have announced the signing of USA international Tobin Heath.
    The 33-year-old has an incredible record.
    Boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Tobin’s record speaks for itself. 
    “She’s an incredibly talented player who will bring so much experience to our squad. 
    “This is an exciting time for the club, and I’m delighted we could secure Tobin’s signing as we prepare to kick off the new season at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.”
    INTER PLOT LENO SWOOP
    Inter Milan are plotting a transfer swoop for Arsenal first team goalkeeper Bernd Leno, reports say. 
    According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
    Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
    BISS IS IT
    Yves Bissouma is being chased by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

    MUST WIN
    Arsenal flop Shkodran Mustafi has got his career back on track after joining Spanish outfit Levante, writes CHISANGA MALATA.
    The Germany international had been without a club following the expiration of his short-term contract with Schalke at the end of the 2020/21 season.
    The centre-back was in talks to join Italian outfit Torino last month, although the Serie A side opted not to take a punt on the 29-year-old.
    Levante promptly swooped and have subsequently handed the defender an 18-month contract at the Estadio Ciudad.
    An excerpt of a club statement read: “Levante UD has reached an agreement with Shkodran Mustafi (04/17/1992, Bad Hersfeld, Germany) for the incorporation of the footballer to the ranks of the Levantine team until June 2023, with the option of one more season.”
    An elated Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.”
    He later added: “We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
    LUC AT THAT
    Lukaku and Ronaldo look set to join he golden boot race this season.
    The pair went head-to-head last term in the Serie A, but the legendary CR7 edged it.

    RICE RELEASE CLAUSE
    Declan Rice wants a release clause in any new contract he signs with West Ham, according to reports.
    90min are reporting that the 22-year-old wants a release clause inserted due to the interest he is attracting.
    The England international has been attracted interested from Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.
    But the Hammers have put a £100million price tag on him as a deterrent. 
    A release clause in any new contract for Rice – whose contract expires in 2024 – could serve both parties well.
    A sizeable but attainable release clause on a long-term deal would guarantee the Hammers a sizeable fee, similar to Jack Grealish’s deal to City.
    OL NO
    RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo has agreed personal terms over a five-year contract at Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo.
    The 23-year-old Spain international is interested in a move to the Catalan giants.
    But he needs to convince Leipzig to negotiate with Barca over a potential transfer, which won’t be cheap.
    HAA LA LAND
    Super agent Mino Raiola reportedly demanded wages of £825,000-a-WEEK for Erling Haaland this summer – as well as £34m fee for himself, writes JAKE LAMBOURNE.
    The Borussia Dortmund striker, 21, was heavily linked with a move away from Signal Iduna Park following his goalscoring exploits for the Bundesliga side.
    Manchester United, City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were all believed to be keen on securing his services.
    Attention will now turn towards 2022 with the Norway international now available for just £64million due to a clause in his contract.
    It was recently claimed how clubs were put off signing Haaland in the recent transfer window after being told he would cost £500million over five years.
    And now Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk has revealed the whopping demands his agent Raiola was seeking for his client.
    Not only were potential suitors informed they would have to pay Haaland £825k-a-week in wages, but they were also informed of his agent fee.
    Falk has declared that Raiola himself was seeking a staggering £34m for brokering the transfer.
    VALUABLE ASSETS
    Manchester City boast the most valuable Premier League squad, followed by Manchester United.

    IT’S ALL GUNN HORRIBLY WRONG
     Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has sent an email to all the club’s staff in which he called for everyone to bounce back after a ‘hugely disappointing start’ to the season, writes DYLAN TERRY.
    The Gunners have lost their first three games of the Premier League campaign, conceding nine goals and failing to score.
    The dreadful early run has left them rock bottom of the table amid growing pressure on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta – but he has received backing in the form of transfer funds, with the club topping the charts as the biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer.
    And Venkatesham wants them to build on that by turning things around on the pitch.
    In an email obtained by the Evening Standard, he said: “Of course, I write this update against the backdrop of a hugely disappointing start to the season. 
    “I know how tough this is for all of you, both as supporters and employees, with criticism coming from all angles.
    “At times like this it is critical we stick together and stay positive. We have a very important run of games coming up after the international break and I’m confident we can and will come out fighting.”
    ‘WIN WIN’
    Gary Neville believes Daniel James’ £25million switch from Manchester United to Leeds is “win win” for all concerned.
    United legend Nev said: “He’ll suit the way they play with such pace on the counter-attack. He’ll love it there.
    “It’s a good thing for United to get the money they did, and good for Dan to further his career at a good club.”
    JACK THE LAD
    England international Jack Grealish newboy has revealed he swapped for Aston Villa for Manchester City in order to increase his chances of playing for the national team.
    He told IVT: “That was a massive reason.
    “To be playing for England in the biggest of games I need to be playing at club level in the biggest of games, that would be the Champions League and all these type of games.
    “You see the likes of Phil playing in the Champions League, in the semi-finals, the quarter-final, the final and you could see that it really did help his England career.
    “So I feel like to be play at the biggest games for England I need to be doing that at club level also.”
    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has high hopes for Jack GrealishCredit: Getty
    DYNAMIC DUO
    Former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor has heaped praise on England’s midfield duo Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.
    The pair put in a solid performance in England’s 4-0 win against Hungary at the Puskas Arena, Budapest. 
    And Rice even got his second ever international goal for the Three Lions, scoring the fourth and final goal.
    Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor questioned how long West Ham and Leeds can keep hold of their star men.
    He said: “I watched Rice and Phillips last night, (they) were outstanding.
    “But what was going through my head is ‘how long can these players stay at their clubs? How long can Leeds keep hold of Kalvin Phillips? How long can West Ham keep hold of Declan Rice?’
    “Because if I’m them, they’re all going to be talking while they’re away ‘oh we’ve got Villarreal, Atalanta, we’ve got the Leipzig’s, we’ve got PSG’.
    “And you’d have banter about it: ‘oh who have you got? Oh you’ve got no-one.’
    “Do you know what I mean? You know what football banter’s like Trev and Jamie.
    “I just can’t see them staying like more than another season at their clubs, I feel like they’re gonna wanna go and play at the top.
    “They’re getting it with their country, so they’ll wanna get it with their clubs.”
    ‘THEY DON’T CARE’
    Ian Wright slammed Fifa and Uefa for not doing enough to tackle racism after Hungary fans abused England players on Thursday, writes KEALAN HUGHES.
    Raheem Sterling, 26, and Jude Bellingham, 18, were both subject to monkey chants from the home crowd.
    And the Puskas Arena was full despite Hungary being forced to play games behind closed doors by Uefa due to fans displaying racist and homophobic banners during Euro 2020.
    But since the 2022 World Cup qualifying match fell under Fifa jurisdiction, fans were allowed in, something which Wright could not beleive.
    He said during ITV’s coverage of the match: “You can’t believe that two organisations can’t get together and give them a three-match ban.
    “The sad thing is that black players will know – especially when there’s a full stadium there – that they are going to get racially abused because they’re banned as it is, they’re allowed back in so as soon as someone like Sterling is getting fouled, they know they’re going to get the abuse.
    “It’s in their workplace that this is happening. I think it’s embarrassing. I don’t know what to say about Uefa and Fifa. They don’t care enough. They don’t care enough to do anything about it.
    “We’ve got to say ourselves, like Gareth so rightly said, we’ve got our own problems. It’s only a couple of weeks ago that someone got arrested for abusing Jadon Sancho.
    “So, of course, we’ve got our own problems but that doesn’t mean you can’t condemn that kind of behaviour.
    “The banners, the videos, the armbands, the everything, the gestures… they don’t do anything.
    “It’s all laughable, they don’t do anything. You’ve got to come down hard on people.”

    UNITED STILL KEEN ON BISSOUMA
    Manchester United are said to be still interested in signing Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
    Bissouma, 25, was reportedly on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer wishlist.
    But the club never ended up making a move for the Mali international, who has also reportedly courted interest from Arsenal and Liverpool,
    But the Metro claim, United could revisit their interest in the midfielder in the January transfer window.
    ALL AUR NOTHING
    Serge Aurier is reportedly keen on a move to Arsenal after leaving Tottenham, writes MARC MAYO.
    Spurs terminated Aurier’s contract a year early on deadline day having failed to find a buyer during the summer transfer market.
    The Ivorian defender’s next step remains to be seen but an incredible switch to his old team’s bitter rivals is said to be of interest.
    Sky Sports claim the right-back has informed Arsenal of his interest as he looks to find a new club in England.
    Mikel Arteta is nonetheless already well-stocked for the position having signed Takehiro Tomiyasu on deadline day.
    The £20million Japan international will compete with Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles for a spot in the team.
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    Lacazette ‘to reject new Arsenal deal’, £17m Tomiyasu transfer CONFIRMED, Bellerin LEAVES, Maitland-Niles stays

    ARSENAL completed some very late business on transfer deadline day with the £20m signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna.The Japan international defender put the finishing touches to the deal in the final hour of deadline day.
    While right-back Hector Bellerin has left the club on loan, moving to Real Betis for the rest of the season.
    And Ashley Maitland-Niles – who openly asking for a move via Instagram – will stay with the club after talks with management.
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    YES – BUT WHO’S THE BETTER PLAYER?
    Arsenal’s £50million summer signing Ben White could prove better value in central defence than new £42m Manchester United recruit Raphael Varane over the next four years at least according to this tweet below.

    But no financial predictions can replace the basic question: Which of them is and will be the ‘better’ player?
    That’s without even considering other issues, such as how they gel with team-mates and tactics, plus their facts and figures ON the pitch.
    French World Cup winner Varane, 27, has the greater pedigree after ten years with Real Madrid.
    But White, twice capped by England, is four years younger.
    Gunners’ fans, though, will want to know if has the stature, mentally as well as physically, to help Mikel Arteta’s men recover from opening with three straight Prem defeats – including conceding nine goals.
    Let’s discuss this again in 2025…!
    MUSTAFI JOY AT LEVANTE DEAL
    Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi claims he was instantly impressed with Levante as he joined the Spaniards following his release from Schalke.
    The 20-cap Germany star, 29, held talks with Torino last month but the Serie A club chose not to pursue a deal.
    Credit: AFP
    Instead LaLiga club Levante have handed the ex-Valencia ace an 18-month contract.
    Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.
    “We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
    BERND OUT TO INTER?
    Inter Milan are eyeing Arsenal No1 Bernd Leno, reports say. 
    According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
    Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
    WENGER: ARSENAL ARE IN GOOD SHAPE
    Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are in a good place despite making their worst start to a season for 67 years, writes KEALAN HUGHES.
    The Gunners have lost their opening three Premier League games without scoring a goal.
    But former manager Wenger believes Arsenal have had a tough fixture list to contend with.
    Mikel Arteta has also lost key players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ben White to Covid while others such as Thomas Partey have been ruled out with injury.
    Wenger told German outlet BILD Live: “I’m 71. I’ve given this club the best years of my life. At the moment I’m just a fan.
    “Today the club is in good shape. 
    “They had two tough games (against Chelsea and Manchester City), the team has potential and I hope they can come back.”
    SILKY SAMBI
    Sambi Lokonga has started two games for Arsenal so far this season.
    He’s settled into the midfield well, and Gunners fans should get a glimpse of him alongside Thomas Partey in their next game against Norwich.

    GAB’S BACK
    Arsenal defender Gabriel made his return to action in a behind closed doors game against Brentford. 
    The Brazilian starred alongside summer signing Ben White, and the pair would most likely be the Gunners’ starting centre-back partnership. 
    Arsenal won the game 4-0, and seeing some stars return from injury made boss Mikel Arteta happy.
    He said: “Yeah, really good. 
    “We don’t have any big injuries as well, they have the minutes, we could work on some things, so it was a good idea to play the game.”
    TORREIRA SPEAKS
    Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira has broken his silence on why he left Arsenal to head to Fiorentina on loan.
    And the midfielder simply says it’s because he feels ‘good’ in Italy, where he played before he joined the Gunners.
    He said: “I wanted to go back to Italy, where I felt good.
    “For me the most important thing is to play.
    “It’s true that we have been talking about Fiorentina for many years, I want to make the most of this experience now that I’m here.”
    SAK THATS
    Saka was brought on late on in England’s thumping 4-0 win over Hungary in Budapest.

    HEATH JOINS ARSENAL
    Arsenal Women have announced the signing of USA international Tobin Heath.
    The 33-year-old has an incredible record.
    Boss Jonas Eidevall said: “Tobin’s record speaks for itself.
    “She’s an incredibly talented player who will bring so much experience to our squad.
    “This is an exciting time for the club, and I’m delighted we could secure Tobin’s signing as we prepare to kick off the new season at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.”
    RAM’S A STARTER
    Arsenal summer signing Ramsdale could take Leno’s No1 spot sooner than expected.
    Journalist Charles Watt has predicted the England international will be a starter sooner than other youthful summer signings.
    On his show, he said: “You would say [Takehiro] Tomiyasu, Ramsdale, [Albert Sambi] Lokonga and [Nuno] Tavares are very much more ones for the future, although I don’t think it’ll be too long until we see Aaron Ramsdale installed as Arsenal’s number one.”
    INTER PLOT LENO SWOOP
    Inter Milan are plotting a transfer swoop for Arsenal first team goalkeeper Bernd Leno, reports say.
    According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the cash-strapped Serie A champions Inter will target affordable alternatives in the next transfer window.
    Leno, 29, is coming into the final year of his contract meaning Inter can negotiate a pre-contract from January 2022.
    ‘I’M A FAN’
    Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are in a good place despite making their worst start to a season for 67 years, writes KEALAN HUGHES.
    The Gunners have lost their opening three Premier League games without scoring a goal.
    But former manager Wenger believes Arsenal have had a tough fixture list to contend with.
    Mikel Arteta has also lost key players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ben White to Covid while others such as Thomas Partey have been ruled out with injury.
    Wenger told German outlet BILD Live: “I’m 71. I’ve given this club the best years of my life. At the moment I’m just a fan.
    “Today the club is in good shape. 
    “They had two tough games (against Chelsea and Manchester City), the team has potential and I hope they can come back.”

    XHAKA DECLINED VACCINE
    Covid-19 sufferer Granit Xhaka declined to be vaccinated, Swiss football chiefs have revealed.
    Arsenal midfielder Xhaka is isolating and missing Switzerland’s three World Cup qualifiers this month after his positive test yesterday.
    And Blick quote Swiss FA head of communications Adrian Arnold as saying: “He’s a player who isn’t vaccinated. We left this up to each player. It’s a personal decision of each player – just like any other person in Switzerland.
    “All the other players in the team have been vaccinated or have recovered [from Covid] – so they are more or less safe, at least from a medical point of view.
    “One is never quite sure. Accordingly, we have a very high vaccination rate. Now, unfortunately, Granit got caught. From a sporting point of view, it is a shame for us at this important moment.”
    CEDRIC FIGHTS FOR ARSENAL FUTURE
    Portugal right-back Cedric Soares is determined to stay at Arsenal next season, according to football.london.
    Fenerbahce were linked with the former Southampton star before the transfer window closed for Prem clubs on Tuesday night.
    The Turkish deadline is not until next Wednesday, September 8.
    But it’s claimed the 30-year-old hopes to establish hjimself in Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans.
    IT’S BEEN A WHILE
    Arsenal have been stuck on three Premier League titles for over a decade.
    They’ve had to watch Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea fight it out at the top.
    The Gunners have, however, spent around £150million this season and are expected to have a big season.

    LEND A HAND
    Leno has conceded the same amount of goals as he has made saves so far this season (9).
    Time for Aaron Ramsdale to get a go between the sticks?

    BIG BEN
    Ben White finds himself third on Arsenal’s all-time most expensive signings list.

    IT’S ALL GUNN HORRIBLY WRONG
     Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has sent an email to all the club’s staff in which he called for everyone to bounce back after a ‘hugely disappointing start’ to the season, writes DYLAN TERRY.
    The Gunners have lost their first three games of the Premier League campaign, conceding nine goals and failing to score.
    The dreadful early run has left them rock bottom of the table amid growing pressure on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta – but he has received backing in the form of transfer funds, with the club topping the charts as the biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer.
    And Venkatesham wants them to build on that by turning things around on the pitch.
    In an email obtained by the Evening Standard, he said: “Of course, I write this update against the backdrop of a hugely disappointing start to the season. 
    “I know how tough this is for all of you, both as supporters and employees, with criticism coming from all angles.
    “At times like this it is critical we stick together and stay positive. We have a very important run of games coming up after the international break and I’m confident we can and will come out fighting.”
    TOM’S A STARTER
    Summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu will wear the No18 shirt for Arsenal this season.

    GUNNING FOR GLORY
    Arsenal spent big this summer.

    ‘THEY DON’T CARE’
    Ian Wright slammed Fifa and Uefa for not doing enough to tackle racism after Hungary fans abused England players on Thursday, writes KEALAN HUGHES.
    Raheem Sterling, 26, and Jude Bellingham, 18, were both subject to monkey chants from the home crowd.
    And the Puskas Arena was full despite Hungary being forced to play games behind closed doors by Uefa due to fans displaying racist and homophobic banners during Euro 2020.
    But since the 2022 World Cup qualifying match fell under Fifa jurisdiction, fans were allowed in, something which Wright could not beleive.
    He said during ITV’s coverage of the match: “You can’t believe that two organisations can’t get together and give them a three-match ban.
    “The sad thing is that black players will know – especially when there’s a full stadium there – that they are going to get racially abused because they’re banned as it is, they’re allowed back in so as soon as someone like Sterling is getting fouled, they know they’re going to get the abuse.
    “It’s in their workplace that this is happening. I think it’s embarrassing. I don’t know what to say about Uefa and Fifa. They don’t care enough. They don’t care enough to do anything about it.
    “We’ve got to say ourselves, like Gareth so rightly said, we’ve got our own problems. It’s only a couple of weeks ago that someone got arrested for abusing Jadon Sancho.
    “So, of course, we’ve got our own problems but that doesn’t mean you can’t condemn that kind of behaviour.
    “The banners, the videos, the armbands, the everything, the gestures… they don’t do anything.
    “It’s all laughable, they don’t do anything. You’ve got to come down hard on people.”

    RED DEVILS DEBUT
    Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga made his senior debut for the Belgium national team yesterday.
    The Red Devils won 5-2 against Estonia.

    NEXT FIVE
    Arsenal can finally get a win on the board when they take on Norwich City at home.

    MUST WIN
    Arsenal flop Shkodran Mustafi has got his career back on track after joining Spanish outfit Levante, writes CHISANGA MALATA.
    The Germany international had been without a club following the expiration of his short-term contract with Schalke at the end of the 2020/21 season.
    The centre-back was in talks to join Italian outfit Torino last month, although the Serie A side opted not to take a punt on the 29-year-old.
    Levante promptly swooped and have subsequently handed the defender an 18-month contract at the Estadio Ciudad.
    An excerpt of a club statement read: “Levante UD has reached an agreement with Shkodran Mustafi (04/17/1992, Bad Hersfeld, Germany) for the incorporation of the footballer to the ranks of the Levantine team until June 2023, with the option of one more season.”
    An elated Mustafi said: “From the first moment I liked the idea of coming to Levante.”
    He later added: “We are going to give everything to take the club as high as possible.”
    ART OF FOOTBALL
    Arsenal are bottom of the Premier League, conceding nine and scoring none.

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    F1 Dutch Grand Prix practice LIVE: Stream, TV channel, full race schedule as Hamilton breaks down in second practice

    F1 action is back this weekend as Max Verstappen hopes to pick up a vital race win in his homecoming Dutch Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton remains just three points ahead of his rival and Sunday’s race should prove to be one of the most pivotal of the season yet.

    Practice start time: 10.30am BST
    TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1

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    F1 DAZZLES AGAIN
    F1 received the perfect boost after the Belgian Grand Prix farce with a dazzling opening day of the Dutch Grand Prix, writes BEN HUNT.
    After the dreary washout at Spa, with the processional three laps behind the safety car in a crude box-ticking exercise, these were the just scenes the sport needed again.
    Over 70,000 orange-clad spectators were illuminated under the sunshine of Zandvoort, as the Dutch Grand Prix was welcomed back to the F1 calendar for the first time since 1985.
    F1’s owners Liberty Media have worked hard to secure new races in exotic destinations such as Miami and Saudi Arabia while their ill-fated Vietnam GP, scheduled for last year but cancelled due to the pandemic, looks permanently destined for the dustbin.
    It makes the return of this race their first long-term commitment in the post Bernie Ecclestone era – ironic given it was him who axed the Dutch GP, saying in 1985 F1 could “not keep pouring money into the circuit”.
    Instead it was the Orange Army who were pouring into the circuit yesterday (FRI) as the weekend got underway.
    Platform One of Amsterdam Centraal station was already heaving at 9am, as the Sprinter trains ferried fans to the coastline resort of Zandvoort, with services departing every 10 minutes for the half an hour journey.
    On arriving in Zandvoort Am See, the pop-up bars were already selling beers while enterprising children ran stalls selling sweets and soft drinks.
    The houses in this small seaside town on the outskirts of Amsterdam were decorated with chequered flags and the streets were full with fans dressed in orange, keen to cheer on their countryman Max Verstappen.
    TROUBLE DUTCH PREDICTED FOR BIG GUNS
    Sweden’s ex-F1 star Marcus Ericsson is predicting more surprises at the Dutch GP after Ferrari’s one-two in second practice.
    Not only did Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz nick the first two spots, they were followed in third by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.
    And Ericsson posted: “The drivers can make a big difference on a track like this.”

    MAX’S HAT TRICK
    Max Verstappen revved up for his home Dutch GP by unveiling a new helmet.
    The Red Bull ace is three points behind F1 Championship leader Lewis Hamilton ahead of Sunday’s race.

    FP2: LECLERC GOES FASTEST
    Leclerc clocks in a time of 1:10.902, the fastest out of both practice sessions so far.
    He’s knocked Ocon off top spot with not long to go.
    FP2: VERSTAPPEN GAINING
    Dutch driver Verstappen is driving fast in front of his home crowd.
    But he falls 0.190s short of Ocon’s quickest time so far with just over ten minutes left in the session.
    FP2 – RED FLAG
    Another red flag in practice, this time it’s Mazepin whose in the gravel at turn 11.
    Ocon has driven the quickest so far.
    FP2: HAMILTON DONE FOR THE DAY
    Hamilton’s day is OVER!
    The Brit has a broken engine it seems and he’s been taken back into the pits.
    Bottas and Verstappen are battling it out it seems.
    BIG FAN
    Former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson is a big fan of the new track at Zandvoort.
    He’s branded it ‘old school’.
    On Twitter, he said: “Zandvoort looks awesome.
    “What a cool track. Proper old school. Flowing corners, high speed, unique kerbs and no asphalt run offs = no margins for errors.
    “All the Dutch fans filling the grandstands makes it even better!”
    FP2: RED FLAG
    Well that lasted long.
    This time it’s Hamilton who is ordered to stop after saying he is ‘losing power’.
    A huge cheer from the crowd goes up as the Brit comes to a grinding halt.
    Better to happen now rather than in qualifying or the race itself.

    FP2: HERE WE GO
    Right, here we go!
    FP2 is underway at Zandvoort, who will go fastest this time? Surely Verstappen will want to take top spot?
    Hamilton went fastest in FP1, beating the Dutch title challenge by +0.097.
    And hopefully nobody spins out or has engine faults, taking up precious practice time..
    No red flags, please!
    FP2: HALF AN HOUR TO GO
    We’re half an hour away from FP2.
    Here’s a reminder of who went fastest in FP1:

    Hamilton – 1:11.500
    Verstappen – +0.097
    Sainz – +0.101
    Leclerc – +0.123
    Bottas – +0.238
    Alonso – +0.658
    Ocon – +0.731
    Giovinazzi – +0.859
    Stroll – +0.931
    Gasly – +1.015

    FP2: ONE HOUR TO GO
    FP2 is just under an hour away so stick around for all the latest updates.
    Let’s hope there’s not a massive delay like in FP1 and we get a full hour of action!
    CLOSE CALL
    Norris: “What’s this guy doing? He’s just pushed me off the track!”

    STEEP
    This photo on board the Mercedes gives you a rough idea how steep the banking is on some of the corners at Zandvoort.

    FP1: FULL DETAILS
    Tsunoda didn’t manage to clock in any lap time putting him rock bottom
    Vettel – whose in 19th – managed to clock in a time, but it’s over four seconds short of the time leader Hamilton set.

    FP1: HAMILTON FINISHES TOP
    Hamilton finishes top of FP1, followed by Dutch driver and title rival Verstappen.
    And Sainz takes third spot…… your top ten are as followed:

    Hamilton – 1:11.500
    Verstappen – +0.097
    Sainz – +0.101
    Leclerc – +0.123
    Bottas – +0.238
    Alonso – +0.658
    Ocon – +0.731
    Giovinazzi – +0.859
    Stroll – +0.931
    Gasly – +1.015

    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    FP1: HAMILTON TOP
    Hamilton is quickest in FP1, edging out team-mate Bottas with a time of 1:11.500.
    Verstappen just can’t seem to beat Hamilton’s time and he’s clocked in a time 0.097s behind the Brit. 
    FP1: THE CLOCK IS TICKING
    The clock is ticking down and there’s just 13 minutes left of FP1, thanks to the delay.
    Vettel’s car is being moved by the recovery car so hopefully we can squeeze some more action in with the very little time left.

    FP1: HIGH VIZ
    It looks as if Vettel has an electrical issue with his car, but the lengthy delay continues.
    A man in a high viz, with a voltmeter and a rubber mat is attending to the car.
    All drivers are back in the pits whilst the issue gets sorted, but not the best way to start the weekend!
    Stay tuned.
    FP1: VETTEL IN PITS
    Seb Vettel is back in the pits after stopping at the pit exit, leading to a red flag.
    But his car, however, is still where he left it ten minutes-plus from when he initially stopped.
    Frustrating as it’s holding practice up.
    FP1: RED FLAG
    Vettel’s engine issues continue as he has engine failure and has pulled over on the pit exit.
    Fireman Seb grabs a fire extinguisher and decides to try and put the problem out himself.
    Red flag.
    Credit: TWITTER: F1
    FP1: VERSTAPPEN FASTEST
    Verstappen is eager to impress on the track as he slashes his own fastest lap time and edges out Bottas by 0.171s.
    The Dutch driver clocks in a time of 1:12.850 and is still top.
    Hamilton is impressing too, but finds himself down in seventh place at the moment.
    FP1: VETTEL EARLY PIT
    Vettel appears to have an issue with his car and he’s back into the pits early doors.
    Not the best start to the afternoon for the former F1 champion.
    Verstappen has gone quickest with a 1:13.045 in front of his home fans at Zandvoort.
    FP1: YELLOW FLAG
    Three minutes into practice getting underway, AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda spins out.
    The driver spun at low speed in the middle of the lap, and luckily didn’t fully go into the gravel.
    He was, however, waiting a little while to get back onto the track. As you were!
    FP1
    Here we go!
    FP1 is underway for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
    Max Verstappen will want to win in front of his home crowd on the revamped circuit.
    Lewis Hamilton could receive a frosty welcoming, despite the warm weather.

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    Hungary 0-4 England LIVE RESULT: Sterling pelted with objects after giving Three Lions lead as Maguire nets third

    ENGLAND have hammered Hungary in a powder keg of an atmosphere in Budapest.Raheem Sterling netted a simple tap-in before being pelted with objects by a section of Hungary supporters behind the goal.
    And Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice have all netted to see England stroll to victory.
    There have also been alarming reports of racism towards Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham in Budapest.
    THAT’S ALL FOR TONIGHT
    England put in a very professional performance in front of a very hostile, unpleasant 60,000 fans in Budapest.
    Sterling, Kane, Maguire and Rice got the goals for Southgate’s side, strengthening their grip on the group.
    England will be eyeing World Cup glory next year, hoping to avenge their Euro 2020 final loss, and they’ve got off to the perfect start.
    As for Hungary, hopefully FIFA look into the scenes that happened tonight and come down harshly on those responsible for throwing projectiles and hurling racist abuse at an 18-year-old in Bellingham, and Sterling.
    England have two more qualifiers to go this international break, they face Andorra on the weekend, followed by Poland next week.
    And we will have you covered here at SunSport.
    Goodnight!
    PEOPLE’S CHAMP
    Rice was outstanding for England again tonight, alongside the equally outstanding Phillips.

    FT STATS: HUNGARY 0-4 ENGLAND
    England ran riot in the second half.

    FT: HUNGARY 0-4 ENGLAND
    England needed to settle the crowd down with a goal.
    They got the opener through Sterling, but the goal provoked the home fans who proceeded to boo England players and throw bottles.
    Sterling – who was getting booed – set up the second, finding Kane, who steered his header past Gulacsi.
    Shaw – getting cups thrown at him – curled in a wonderful corner, finding Man Utd team-mate Maguire who headed home the third.
    And Rice – who decided to down a drink thrown from the crowd – scored the fourth, squeezing a powerful effort underneath the goalkeeper.
    ITV reported that Sterling and Bellingham were racially abused with monkey chants….. harsher consequences, please.
    PEEEEEEEEP!
    THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES IN BUDAPEST!
    ENGLAND STEAMROLLED HUNGARY AND SILENCED THE BOO BOYS!
    HUNGARY 0-4 ENGLAND
    90. The fourth official holds his board up and there will be just two added minutes.
    HUNGARY 0-4 ENGLAND
    87. DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION!
    Rice and Grealish’s night comes to an end as they’re replaced by Henderson and Saka.
    OFF: Rice and Grealish
    ON: Henderson and Saka
    Bottoms up, Jack!Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    HUNGARY 0-4 ENGLAND
    86. Rice sets the move off in the midfield.
    The ball is then worked wide to Grealish on the right side of the penalty area.
    The England No7 tries to dance his way into a shooting opportunity, but he’s sealed out.
    He instead tees up Rice 25 yards from goal.
    The West Ham man unleashes a powerful effort, and the ball sneaks underneath Gulacsi!
    GOOOAAAALLLL!!!
    RICE SCORES ENGLAND’S FOURTH!!!
    GAME OVER!!!
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    84. ITV are reporting that monkey chants were aimed at 18-year-old Bellingham as he warmed up down the touchline earlier.
    Disgraceful.
    But the England boys have done their talking on the pitch.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    83. SUBSTITUTION!
    England make their first change of the game and Lingard is coming on for Mount.
    OFF: Mount
    ON: Lingard
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    81. SUBSTITUTION!
    Kleinheisler’s evening comes to an end as he’s replaced by Gazdag in the midfield.
    OFF: Kleinheisler
    ON: Gazdag
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    80. Kane drops deep before clipping the ball wide to Grealish on the left flank.
    As the England No7 cuts inside, the offside flag goes up against him.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    77. HAT-TRICK OF MISSES!
    Kane finds himself through on goal again, but sends his shot straight at Gulacsi!
    Has to do better there….. England corner.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    76. Sterling is played through on goal, but looks miles offside.
    He rounds the keeper, takes his time to set himself, but sends his shot straight at the retreating Gulacsi.
    He knows he would have been offside.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    75. Stones concedes a free-kick in a dangerous area.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    74. Varga runs at Shaw and gets the beating of the left-back.
    The second half substitute gets a good cross in aiming for the near post.
    But Pickford comfortably gathers for the Three Lions.
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    72. England are in cruise control heading into the final 15 minutes or so.
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    70. SUBSTITUTION!
    Hungary make a second change.
    OFF: Bolla
    ON: K.Varga
    HUNGARY 0-3 ENGLAND
    68. Shaw – after having bottles thrown at him – delivers a good cross into Hungary’s penalty area.
    Maguire bullies his way through and heads home into the far corner!
    The Hungarian crowd are starting to behave badly, but no surprises there.
    GOOOOOOAAAALLL!!!
    HAVE THAT!!!
    MAGUIRE HEADS HOME!!!
    HUNGARY 0-2 ENGLAND
    68. Shaw is now being pelted by some sort of missiles (plastic cups), the corner will be taken shortly.
    HUNGARY 0-2 ENGLAND
    66. SAVE!
    Shaw makes up ground down the left channel before picking out Kane insie the penalty area.
    The England captain gets a shot off on his weaker left foot, but it’s saved well by Gulacsi!
    Kane could have had a hat-trick.
    HUNGARY 0-2 ENGLAND
    64. SUBSTITUTION!
    Hungary make the first change of the game and it’ll be a switch up top.
    OFF: Sallai
    ON: Salloi.
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES
    HUNGARY 0-2 ENGLAND
    62. Mount plays a lovely flick over the top of Hungary’s backline for Sterling to run onto.
    The goalscorer plays a first time pass into the penalty area, it takes a slight deflection and sets up nicely for Kane.
    And the England captain guides his header well past Gulacsi!
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    Man Utd transfer news: Cristiano Ronaldo to head back to Manchester early, Sancho injured on England duty – updates

    DEADLINE DAY has been and gone with Manchester United completing the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus.The Portuguese icon, 36, has been confirmed as a United player once again after moving back to England.
    Ronaldo is also set to take back his famous No 7 shirt from Edinson Cavani and could even take penalty duties off the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes.
    The Portugal star will even head back to Manchester early as he is suspended for his country’s next game after taking his shirt off in the celebrations from their 2-1 win over Ireland on Wednesday night.
    Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho has been injured on England duty and United are waiting to see the extent of his problems.
    Elsewhere, Daniel James has crossed the Pennines to sign a £30m deal with Leeds.
    While Dortmund have issued a final hands off warning on Erling Haaland, with the chase for the striker’s signature likely to rumble on.
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    Get all the latest Man Utd news, updates and transfer gossip here…
    COLE: MAN UTD BIGGEST CLUB IN ENGLAND AGAIN
    Manchester United MUST win the Prem as Cristiano Ronaldo’s return finally makes them England’s biggest club again, Joe Cole claims.
    Former Chelsea and England midfielder Cole rates capturing five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ron from Juventus a “stroke of genius”.
    The ambassador for bookie Coral said: “Manchester United are now back front and centre as the biggest club in the country after signing Ronaldo. 
    “They have the biggest player in the league, with the biggest global reach, playing for them. 
    “It is a stroke of genius to bring him back to Old Trafford.”
    I’M STILL EVRA SO EXCITED BY CRIS
    Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Patrice Evra is still bubbling with “excitement” at the master’s return.
    This tweet reads like any fan’s…

    BANNED RON’S RETURN BOOSTS UTD
    Cristiano Ronaldo has been released from international duty after being banned for Portugal’s next World Cup qualifier.
    Manchester United have now received a huge boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Newcastle after the news was confirmed on Thursday.
    Ronaldo, 36, was handed a one-match suspension after being booked as he celebrated his record-setting late double in Portugal’s 2-1 comeback win against the Republic of Ireland.

    And it saw him ruled out of Tuesday’s trip to Azerbaijan.
    But Ronaldo will no longer have to stick around with Portugal, who first face Qatar in a friendly on Saturday, and is allowed to head for Carrington.
    A statement from the Portuguese FA read: “Cristiano Ronaldo was excused from the national team on Thursday.
    “The yellow card against Ireland, being the second in this stage of qualification, forces him to fulfil an official game of suspension, which will happen against Azerbaijan.
    “This morning, the captain of the national team was part of the group of players who carried out recovery work at the hotel.”
    ANGEL SAYS GAAL WAS A DEVIL
    Angel Di Maria tore into Louis van Gaal as he explained why inheriting the No 7 top from legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, George Best was never his big problem at Manchestr United.
    In fact, to put it politely, the PSG winger has fiercely contrasitng views on United’s ex boss and arguably their most famous shirt number…

    The 111-cap Argentina star, 33, said: “I didn’t give a f*** about the Manchester United No 7 shirt.. my problem in Manchester was the coach.
    Van Gaal was the worst of my career.
    “I would score, assist, and the next day he would show me my misplaced passes..
    “He didn’t like players being more than him.”
    HOW ED TALKED GLAZERS INTO BUYING RON
    Ed Woodward played a crucial role in ensuring the most incredible return in football history happened.
    Sir Alex Ferguson is understandably hailed for his role in getting Cristiano Ronaldo back with his late phone call to the player.
    But it would not have got near that point without Executive Vice-Chairman Woodward convincing the club’s owners and sponsors in a whirlwind 48 hours that it all made sense.

    Forget the transfer fee for Ronaldo that comes to less than £20million.
    It was the commitment to a wage of £75million if he completes the full three years of his contract, for a player who would be 39 at the end of it. To a bean-counter that just did not make sense.
    But while sponsors and the owning Glazer family may look at the bottom line it was Woodward who convinced them how it would work on and off the pitch.
    United fans often ridicule the club for the endless signing up of sponsors – they have 24 – and when executives point to social media figures.
    Woodward convinced them this Ronaldo deal would really work for them.
    And in the 24 hours after the announcement of Ronaldo’s return on social media was the most liked by a sports team ever with 12.9million likes.
    The announcement on Twitter alone was likewise with 862,000 retweets and two million likes. They earned more than 3.7m new followers across the club’s social channels.
    SOLSKJAER ‘BLOCKED 5 STARS FROM LEAVING’
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly blocked five players from leaving Manchester United during the summer transfer window.
    According to The Mirror, he blocked moves for some of United’s fringe players, who were already struggling for playing time, to keep his squad depth high over the season.
    Donny van de Beek is the most notable name that Solskjaer stopped from leaving over the summer.
    Diogo Dalot also saw a potential loan move blocked after returning from Italy.
    Anthony Elanga had also harboured hopes of leaving on loan to gain some experience, but Solskjaer believed his development was best served in Manchester.
    TITLE AIM
    Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof has insisted that he is excited by the competition created by the summer arrival of Raphael Varane.
    The Swede has had his place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team threatened by the signing of the former Real Madrid star.
    He told Swedish outlet FotbollDirekt: “It’s great, I play in one of the world’s biggest clubs and they have very good players. We will have a competitive situation and I only see it as positive that we have got a good player in the squad.
    “I have played a lot the last two years and last year I had big problems with my back and played with pain. My back feels good now, there will probably be no problems, but I do not think I will play 50, 60 matches.
    “I think the squad looks very good. It feels good, we have a good atmosphere in the team and the Premier League is always a tough league.
    “But we will do everything we can to win the title. That is the goal.”
    GREEN SHOOTS
    Mason Greenwood continued his hot start to the season by scoring against Stoke City in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
    Most Manchester United stars are currently off around the world on international duty.
    But for those that aren’t, the Red Devils yesterday staged a behind-closed-doors friendly at Old Trafford.
    According to the MEN, Greenwood scored yet again – but couldn’t prevent his side from falling to a 4-3 defeat.
    The 19-year-old was surprisingly not included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, despite having scored in all three of Man United’s Premier League games so far this season.

    ‘HE’S FLYING’
    Gary Neville believes Greenwood now has the perfect example in terms of professionalism.
    He told the Webby and O’Neill Youtube channel: “The way Mason Greenwood is playing at the moment, he’s fit, he’s flying, he looks completely on top of his game. There’s no way he’s being left out.
    “What Cristiano will do is make Mason understand the professionalism required pre-training, in training and in recovery. With Cristiano, he’s got an even better chance of becoming a great player.
    “Aside from Harry Kane, I don’t see anybody close to Mason Greenwood as an English centre-forward. No-one, no-one’s near him.”
    ‘RISE OF ENERGY’
    Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has given all the club’s teams “renewed energy”, says women’s team head coach Marc Skinner.
    He said: “We feel in the staff – it’s not even just the players – with Cristiano returning, it becomes part of the bigger construct of the club.
    “You can feel the vibes that are changing in the teams. I was speaking to someone who’s been here a long time because obviously that’s how you get to know the history of the club as well, and they can feel a renewed energy, a focus, a connected drive in all of the teams.
    “It feels like, although Manchester can be quite grey, it definitely feels like there’s a rise of energy from all the teams in and around Manchester United.”
    ‘HE’LL LOVE IT’
    Gary Neville believes Daniel James’ £25million transfer from Manchester United to Leeds United is a win-win for all concerned.
    Neville thinks James will be perfect for Marcelo Bielsa’s brand of high energy, counter-attacking football – and that the deal is also very good for Manchester United. 
    He said: “It’s really good for Dan James. It’s one of those where this is a win-win. He came to United and always did his very best, he was a massive threat on the counter-attack, but they have a lot of players in those areas.
    “It’s really important for young players to go and play, and Leeds have always wanted him. They wanted him the first time around when United got him instead.
    “He’ll suit the way they play with such pace on the counter-attack. He’ll love it there, the crowd’s a big crowd, a club that demands a lot.
    “It’s a good thing for United to get the money they did, and good for Dan to further his career at a good club.”

    ‘LIKE A ROLLS-ROYCE’
    Ray Parlour was effusive in his praise of new Manchester United signing Raphael Varane after his composed debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
    Parlour compared the impact of Varane to that of United legend Rio Ferdinand and Manchester City stalwart Ruben Dias – who won the Football Writers’ Player of the Year as City lifted the Premier League title and reached the final of the Champions League.
    He said: “I think Varane had a really good game. He looked like a Rolls-Royce.
    “You know like Rio back in his day for Manchester United?”
    “Varane could be exactly the same as Ruben Dias. The impact he made at Manchester City, they will certainly have a go.
    “You know Harry Maguire plays every game, he is a leader, and if they can get the partnership in the way that John Stones has really benefitted.”

    RON TO WATCH
    Fans desperate to watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s second debut for Manchester United are being asked to pay up to £2,500.
    The Red Devils will take on Newcastle on Saturday the 11th in a 15:00 kick off, but the game won’t be televised in the UK due to the return of the 3pm blackout rule.
    That means the only way for fans to watch the return of their legendary forward will be at Old Trafford, with prices now soaring for the privilege.
    American resale site StubHub have been asking fans to cough up as much as £2,514 to watch the game.
    ‘SPECIAL MOMENT’
    Manchester United’s new signing Cristiano Ronaldo says breaking the men’s international goals record is one of his proudest achievements yet.
    Posting on Instagram, Ronaldo expressed to his 300 million plus followers just how much the feat meant to him and how proud he was to accomplish it.
    He wrote: “First of all, because every time I represent my country is a special moment, for knowing that I’m defending Portugal and showing to the world what Portuguese people are made of.
    “Secondly, because national teams competitions have always had a very strong impact in me as I was growing up, watching my idols playing for their flags every other summer in Euros and in World Cups.
    “But finally and above all, because scoring 111 goals for Portugal means 111 moments like the ones we experienced today in Algarve, moments of worldwide union and happiness for millions and millions of Portuguese citizens all around the globe. For them, every sacrifice is worth it.”
    ‘RECHARGE’
    Manchester United star Fred is on holiday in Croatia after being blocked from international duty.
    Fred was not permitted to link up with the Brazil international squad by United, upon Premier League instructions.
    Premier League clubs refused to release players travelling to ‘red list’ countries for internationals, as it would require a 10 days quarantine upon return.
    Fred has this morning shared an Instagram video from the beach in Split, Croatia as he looks to ‘recharge’.

    ‘COULD BE A LEGEND’
    Danny Murphy has admitted that he’s concerned for Mason Greenwood after Manchester United re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Murphy believes Greenwood’s game time could now be severely affected by the signing of the Portuguese legend.
    He told talkSPORT: “He’s 19, what he’s got is the natural knack to finish. He scores goals effortlessly with both feat, in fact I can’t remember a forward being so effortlessly with both feat since Robbie Fowler.
    “He was comfortable either way and Greenwood looks comfortable on his right foot.
    My concern for him is the singing of Ronaldo, I don’t want to put a downer on it as I can’t wait to see one of the best players play in the Premier League and its going to be fascinating how he fits into the team and how he builds relationships with [Bruno] Fernandes and [Jadon] Sancho.
    “Ithink Greenwood, although we may have to wait a little longer due to Ronaldo’s signing, could go on to be an absolute legend for United. Ronaldo is going to delay his progression.”

    REAL DEAL
    Real Madrid are interested in Paul Pogba and could try to steal him away from Old Trafford when his contract expires next summer.
    The midfielder has been a top target for Paris Saint-Germain but they were unable to secure a deal for the Frenchman this summer.
    Manchester United are keen to keep Pogba at the club and have offered him a new contract, but talks are ongoing.

    ‘HE DEFIES BELIEF’
    Cristiano Ronaldo has been labelled the ‘greatest goalscorer of all time’ after breaking the international record on Wednesday night.
    Jason Cundy insists the record cements Ronaldo’s place as football’s greatest ever forward.
    “He is a joke. He defies belief. He’s a freak of nature. He is the greatest goalscoring no.9 the world has ever seen.
    “With Ronaldo there… can United win the title? The answer to that question is emphatically, ‘Yes’.
    “If you say, ‘No, they can’t win it’ – then you’re an idiot.”
    ‘HE DIDN’T GIVE A F***’
    Angel Di Maria has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo got into a fight with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid after the Portuguese coach labelled him lazy.
    The pair won the LaLiga title and Copa del Rey during their time together, but Di Maria – who was also at Real Madrid during the same period – admits it did boil over between the pair.
    Speaking to Libero, the Argentine said: “Mourinho is insane, with me he was always a good guy.
    “He fought with anyone though, he didn’t give a f***.
    “One time he fought with Ronaldo telling him he didn’t run, that everyone ran for him.”

    OLE SAYS NO
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly blocked five players from leaving Manchester United during the summer transfer window.
    According to The Mirror, he blocked moves for some of United’s fringe players, who were already struggling for playing time, to keep his squad depth high over the season.
    Donny van de Beek is the most notable name that Solskjaer stopped from leaving over the summer.
    Diogo Dalot also saw a potential loan move blocked after returning from Italy.
    Anthony Elanga had also harboured hopes of leaving on loan to gain some experience, but Solskjaer believed his development was best served in Manchester.
    MAD MAX
    Juventus boss Max Allegri was said to have been left ‘furious’ about Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock exit.
    The returning Old Lady manager wasn’t told that Ronaldo would be leaving the club when he agreed to come back.
    According to Il Giornale, Allegri is “furious” with club president Andrea Agnelli and sporting director Federico Cherubini.
    He reportedly told club bosses that “these were not the agreements” when he agreed to return to the club.
    Juventus have signed Moise Kean from Everton and Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo this summer.

    BISS PLEASE
    Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Brighton star Yves Bissouma, according to reports.
    Graham Potter’s side managed to fend off any interest over the summer with their price tag but they may not be so lucky in January.
    According to Metro’s Aden-Jay Wood, ‘several clubs’ including Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool have ‘long-standing interest’ in Bissouma.
    Surprisingly, Brighton received no official bids for the 25-year-old over the summer.
    But interest could be ‘revisited’ in January.

    DONNY MOVE?
    Everton staff had ‘serious reservations’ about Marcel Brands pursuing a deal for Manchester United midfielder Donny Van de Beek on deadline day.
    That’s according to The Telegraph, who claims that Brands explored a potential move to bring Va ode Beek to Goodison Park in the final hours of the transfer window.
    No formal approach was made, but Brands allegedly spoke to Van de Beek’s agent Guido Albers to gauge the interest in a move to Everton.
    ‘COULD HAVE BEEN MASSIVE’
    Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester City would have been bigger than the impact he’ll have at Manchester United, Trevor Sinclair has suggested.
    Former Manchester City star Sinclair said: “I feel his impact at Manchester City would have been huge.
    “They haven’t got a striker, they need one, the possession and the amount of chances they carve out and don’t get finished because they haven’t got an out and out striker such as [Sergio] Aguero or someone like Cristiano Ronaldo.
    “Of course he would [have been a better fit at Man City], Man United have got Edinson Cavani, who does a very similar job.
    “I’m sure Manchester United fans are delighted that he’s gone to Manchester United, but whether he’s gonna change their whole season I don’t think that’s the case, he could have been massive for Manchester City.”
    ‘TRULY PROUD’
    Cristiano Ronaldo created history on Wednesday night, scoring his 110th and 111th international goals to break the record held by Ali Daei.
    Iran legend Daei scored 109 goals in 149 appearances for his country but saw his remarkable record equalled by Ronaldo during Euro 2020 in June.
    Daei praised Cristiano at the time, writing on Instagram: “I am honoured that this remarkable achievement will belong to Ronaldo – great champion of football and caring humanist who inspires and impacts lives throughout the world.”
    And after breaking the record Ronaldo said: “I can’t even start to express myself in words! I’m thrilled with an overwhelming sensation! Let’s go, Portugal! Let’s go!
    “From all the records that I have broken during my career – and fortunately there have been a few – this one is very special for me and it’s certainly on the shelf of the achievements that make me truly proud.”

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    £17m Tomiyasu transfer CONFIRMED, Lacazette ‘to reject new Arsenal deal’, Bellerin LEAVES, Maitland-Niles stays

    ARSENAL completed some very late business on transfer deadline day with the £20m signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna.The Japan international defender put the finishing touches to the deal in the final hour of deadline day.
    While right-back Hector Bellerin has left the club on loan, moving to Real Betis for the rest of the season.
    And Ashley Maitland-Niles – who openly asking for a move via Instagram – will stay with the club after talks with management.
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    Get all the latest transfer news, gossip and updates below…
    DROGBA TROLLS GUNNERS OVER WILLIAN
    It would have been Mission: Impossible for outgoing wideman Willian to transform Arsenal single-handedly.
    But Chelsea legend Didier Drogba could not resist the ultimate dig after the former Blues superstar exited the Emirates for home-country club Corinthians on deadline day.
    Drogba tweeted: “Thank you agent Willian, your mission is over” – along with a picture of Arsenal propping up the Prem table.
    And his mischief went further as he added two other ex-Chelsea players who made the switch to the Gunners.
    But David Luiz and Petr Cech achieved far more at Arsenal than Willian – with the latter now back at Stamford Bridge as an advisor.

    WILL MO GO?
    Arsenal have received an “official offer” from Besiktas for Mohamed Elneny and want to include him on their UEFA list by the end of today.
    The Turkish Super Lig side are in a rush to get a deal done for Elneny, so they can register him for their UEFA Champions League campaign.
    That deadline slams shut on September 2, so Besiktas want a deal done as soon as possible. And Besiktas are reported to have made a move for the player they had on loan in 2019/20.
    NTV Spor report an “official offer” has been forwarded to Arsenal.
    FOUR’S TO BE RECKONED WITH
    When you’re bottom of the Premier League with no goals scored and nine concededfrom tr three games, any win is worth parading.
    And the Gunners were qiuock to post snaps from today’s 4-0 friendly triumph for their strong line-up against a very young Brentford side.
    The best snaps against Brentford 📸Check out the full gallery 👇— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 2, 2021

    GUNNERS TAUNTED FOR BEATING BRENTFORD KIDS
    Arsenal have finally recorded their first win of the season against a Premier League side… but it was a friendly against Brentford’s KIDS.
    The Gunners defeated the ‘Young Bees’ 4-0 at London Colney on Thursday – and are getting a bit of stick from fans on Twitter.
    Arsenal played a strong team for the behind-closed-doors fixture, with Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes returning to the defence.

    The two played in a back three with Pablo Mari, who missed their 5-0 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.
    Arsenal won thanks to goals from Magalhaes – who was replaced by Rob Holding after 69 minutes – Lacazette and a surprise brace from Cedric.
    The news pleased Gunners fans after they lost 2-0 to Brentford in their Premier League opener in August.
    One supporter asked Arsenal on Twitter: “So does this mean we’ve won 4-2 on aggregate?”
    And another wrote: “Better late than never, lads.”
    But Brentford played an inexperienced team against Mikel Arteta’s side, with the club’s website describing the XI as the ‘Young Bees’.
    ODEGAARD LOVES ‘STABLE’ GUNNERS
    Martin Odegaard has explained that ‘stability’ is the reason he is happy to be back at Arsenal, having previously struggled to get that at former club Real Madrid.
    He said: “I am so happy to be back in Arsenal. I loved it here from the first day I came in January.
    “I wanted stability. I wanted to settle down somewhere with a lot of good players who want to establish the club back in the top, with a good manager.
    “That’s why I think Arsenal is pretty perfect for me.”
    ‘IMPORTANT POINT’
    Lucas Torreira declared that joining Fiorentina represents a key step in his career as he was unveiled to the media at a news conference on Thursday.
    He said: “I think it’s an important point in my career. This is a very good team. It’s too early to talk about targets, but I’m sure that the work the coach is doing and his tactics – which I’ll learn more about this week – are well-suited to my approach to the game.
    ““[I’ve had] [Unai] Emery, [Diego] Simeone and now [Vincenzo] Italiano. I’ve always watched Serie A. I watched Spezia a lot last season and I’m pleased he’s here at Fiorentina. Right now I’m trying to understand what he wants me to do, so I can help the team to do well.”
    ‘FOCUS ON YOUTH’
    Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham believes the club’s transfer window shows they are moving in the right direction.
    The Gunners were Europe’s biggest spenders before Tuesday’s deadline, paying £156.8m on new additions.
    Ben White (£50m), Martin Odegaard (£34m), Aaron Ramsdale (£30m), Takehiro Tomiyasu (£19.8m), Albert Sambi Lokonga (£15m) and Nuno Tavares (£8m) all moved to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
    He said: “Our approach for this window was framed by fully recognising that we are not where we want to be on the pitch – finishing eighth last season, with no European football for the first time in many years.
    “This is well below the standards each of us all have, and of course that our fans rightly demand of us, which is to be competing for the biggest trophies in the game.
    “While we would love to jump from where we are to where we want to be in an instant, we need to be realistic that the gap is too large to do that. As such, our activity this window has been focused on youth.”
    TICKED THE RIGHT BOXES
    Arsenal signed Takehiro Tomiyasu instead of Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey due to worries about the right-back’s height.
    The Athletic claim the Gunners had reservations about Lamptey’s height and felt that he could be targeted by aerial crosses to the back post.
    The same hang-ups were had over Norwich ace Max Aarons, which led Arsenal to go for Tomiyasu instead.

    MIND WAS SET
    Willian looked like he was going to stay at Arsenal this summer but when Corinthians came calling his mind was made up.
    And he has revealed he turned down offers from elsewhere to return to his native Brazil.
    He told ESPN: “To make this decision, we have to think about everything, about the whole situation.
    “But when I saw that it was only Corinthians. Some clubs tried to cross, but I said ‘no, it’s just Corinthians’.
    “I want to thank the president, the entire board for all the effort to get me back, the players, all the fans. A person who dreamed of my return, my mother, unfortunately, is not among us.
    “Thanking my family, my wife, my father, my daughters, everyone who is here rooting for me. I can’t wait to start playing.”
    REALLY INTER HIM
    Inter Milan are claimed to be eyeing Arsenal’s Bernd Leno as the long-term successor to Samir Handanovic.
    The German shot-stopper was linked with a potential move away from the club this summer, but rumours cooled after Euro 2020, and the Gunners have since signed Aaron Ramsdsale to come in as his back-up.
    Tuttosport claim the Serie A champions are interested in both Leno and Andre Onana, a player who has also been linked to Arsenal.
    ONE MO DEAL?
    Besiktas have made an “official offer” for Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny and want to include him on their UEFA list on Thursday.
    The Turkish Super Lig side are in a rush to get a deal done for Elneny, so they can register him for their UEFA Champions League campaign.
    That deadline slams shut on September 2, so Besiktas want a deal done as soon as possible. And Besiktas are reported to have made a move for the player they had on loan in 2019/20.
    NTV Spor report an “official offer” has been forwarded to Arsenal.

    MISSED OPPORTUNITY
    Bacary Sagna has admitted he wished he would have stayed at Arsenal to help deliver them another title under Arsene Wenger.
    Sagna, speaking to Football.London , claimed that one or two more experienced players in what was a youthful side, could have helped them over the line.
    He said: “I think it could have made a difference.Especially in my first year. It marked me the most because we had 10 points at the end of March I think and we let it slip in a split second.
    “Maybe if we had a player who had been in this position and been champion before, he would have made everyone quiet and would have made everyone focus on one game.
    “We were focusing more on the team chasing us and we gave too many points away.”
    ‘DOESN’T LOOK GOOD’
    Sead Kolasinac appears to have picked up an injury on international duty away from Arsenal.
    He went off injured in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup qualifier against France on Wednesday night, with Jules Kounde receiving a red card.
    And his manager at international level, Ivaylo Petev, issued a worrying statement, telling Haris Mrkonja: “I just spoke to him. He will have to do some tests tomorrow. But for now it doesn’t look good.”

    ‘PERFECT FOR ME’
    Martin Odegaard has explained that ‘stability’ is the reason he is happy to be back at Arsenal, having previously struggled to get that at former club Real Madrid.
    He said: “I am so happy to be back in Arsenal. I loved it here from the first day I came in January.
    “I wanted stability. I wanted to settle down somewhere with a lot of good players who want to establish the club back in the top, with a good manager.
    “That’s why I think Arsenal is pretty perfect for me.”
    HEC OF A DEAL
    Arsenal had wanted £20million for Hector Bellerin this summer but instead ended up allowing him to join Real Betis on loan for free.
    That’s according to ABC Sevilla, who cover how the Spaniard ended up at Betis at the end of the transfer window despite having been deemed an ‘unattainable footballer’ at one point.
    They detail the defender’s ‘heart and his efforts’ to join the La Liga club this summer and realise a childhood dream of playing for them.
    According to their information, Betis met with Bellerin’s agents in May, and they worked up a scenario that was eventually realised on the final day of the market.

    ‘MY REGRET’
    Granit Xhaka was denied a transfer to Roma by Arsenal despite wanting the move, a director at the Serie A club has claimed.
    Xhaka was linked with a switch to join Jose Mourinho’s side but eventually signed a new contract to keep him at the Emirates Stadium until 2024.
    Roma director Tiago Pinto has suggested that the 28-year-old was keen to join Mourinho at Roma. He would have had a far better start to the new season as Mourinho has won both of his opening games in charge.
    He said: “The market is closed and today I have fun, because we bought so many players but everyone asks me about the midfielder.
    “Everyone knows we were after Xhaka, he wanted to come to Roma, but Arsenal didn’t release him. It’s my regret for this transfer market.”
    XHAKA UPDATE
    The Swiss FA have confirmed that Granit Xhaka was not vaccinated against Covid-19 before testing positive for the virus while on international duty.
    The midfielder was absent from last night’s friendly game with Greece after undertaking a PCR test yesterday. He’s now a doubt for upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Italy and Northern Ireland.
    Asked about the situation, the Swiss FA’s head of communications Adrian Arnold said:
    “Granit Xhaka was not vaccinated. He’s a player who isn’t vaccinated. We left this up to each player, it’s a personal decision of each player – just like any other person in Switzerland.
    “We have issued a recommendation that everyone vaccinate. But he decided for himself personally. And it is also his right not to be vaccinated.”
    ‘AGENT WILLIAN’
    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba could not hold back from trolling Arsenal over ‘agent’ Willian after the midfielder was allowed to leave the club.
    Willian struggled for form in his year playing for Arsenal and terminated his contract to move to Corinthians this week.
    Drogba has rubbed salt in the wound by referencing other successful Chelsea players who went on to have a difficult time at the Emirates.
    The former Chelsea star wrote on Twitter : “Thank you agent Willian, your mission is over, like David Luiz and Petr Cech.”

    BIG DEMANDS
    Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah priced himself out of making a move to London rivals Crystal Place late in the transfer window.
    That’s according to talkSPORT and their transfer insider Alex Crook, who has been speaking about the failed move before the deadline.
    Crook claims Crystal Palace did make a move for Nketiah, but haggling over a fee with Arsenal wasn’t the problem.
    Crook said: “One Premier League chief executive said the problem with the Crystal Palace deal wasn’t Arsenal’s asking price.
    “It was the demands of his agent, in terms of agent’s fees, and it was Eddie Nketiah’s wage demands that have priced him out of a move from Arsenal this transfer window.”
    BISS PLEASE
    Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Brighton star Yves Bissouma, according to reports.
    Graham Potter’s side managed to fend off any interest over the summer with their price tag but they may not be so lucky in January.
    According to Metro’s Aden-Jay Wood, ‘several clubs’ including Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool have ‘long-standing interest’ in Bissouma.
    Surprisingly, Brighton received no official bids for the 25-year-old over the summer.
    But interest could be ‘revisited’ in January.

    ‘THEY CHOSE PEPE’
    Wilfred Zaha has revealed he almost signed for Arsenal when Unai Emery was in charge, but the Spaniard instead brought in Nicolas Pepe.
    The Crystal Palace star told Jamie Carragher on The Greatest Games podcast: “I had a conversation with the manager, actually.
    “He was just like, ‘we don’t need to go through much’. He’s seen me play, he knows I can change games at any time and stuff like that. It was like, ‘yeah, we’d love to have you’.
    “And I was just like, ‘I’d love to come’. The conversation was rather straightforward because I’ve played against him when he’s managed Arsenal, he’s seen what I can do, he’s seen my work rate, what I can add to the team.
    “Obviously, it was up to the club who they chose, and obviously they chose Pepe over me.”

    NIGHTMARE
    Martin Odegaard has lifted the lid on his thoughts about Arsenal’s All or Nothing documentary on Amazon Prime.
    The new signing, who spent last season on loan at the Emirates, admitted that having cameras following the team’s every move isn’t his ‘favourite thing’.
    Arsenal’s media chief Mark Gonnella claimed the fly-on-the wall documentary will provide fans with behind-the-scenes access and a ‘unique insight’ into the Gunners’ 2021-22 campaign.
    At a press conference on Tuesday, Odegaard opened up on his reservations about the documentary, saying: “I must admit that it’s not my favourite thing to have cameras everywhere.
    “You automatically think a bit more about what you are saying when there are cameras there, but the crew is discreet.”
    BELLER-OUT
    Hector Bellerin was offered on loan to Newcastle this summer before he made the move to boyhood club Real Betis.
    It seems Mikel Arteta was desperate to offload the Spaniard, with Takehiro Tomiyasu arriving on deadline day to replace Bellerin.
    The defender still has two years left on his Gunners contract but will need to impress in La Liga if he is to win back a place under Arteta.

    Gary Neville has been left unimpressed by the transfer strategy imposed by Edu and Mikel Arteta this summer.
    Neville isn’t convinced the six additions will instantly improve a struggling Arsenal side, and thus, he has called on the Gunners’ more senior players to step up and galvanise the squad.
    He told Sky Sports: “There are no signings I look at and think, ‘they excite me’, but they do have a group that need to come together quickly and form a team.
    Sometimes it’s not the signings they bring in at Arsenal, it’s the senior players you look at and think, ‘what are they getting from them?’
    They have to start working for each other on the pitch and be difficult to beat before they worry about winning loads of matches. They’ve been very easy to beat so far this season, which is not a good trait.”

    BETTER CALL SOL
    Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has offered to help his old club overcome their defensive issues. The Gunners have made a torrid start to the new season, conceding nine goals in three games as the pressure begins to mount on boss Mikel Arteta.
    The 73-cap England international told talkSPORT: “I’d love to go there and help them out.
    “There is a serious problem there and I’m happy to help, even if it’s a couple of days a week.
    The tricks of the trade and little things, there is a blind-spot there and I’d help them out all day long.
    “It’s been happening a lot and it doesn’t matter who plays at the back, it seems to be the same type of occurrences.
    “I think it’s a young team, there’s great footballers but I think they just need the know-how, the little nuggets of information that someone like me or someone else can give over to them.”
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