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      How PSG went from comic club dubbed Hollywood FC to hungry team built on young talent facing Arsenal in Champions League

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      FOR years they have been the punchline to a footballing joke.The dominant force in a “farmer’s league”, a circus of a club with a Big Top full of headline acts but not even a round of applause.Paris Saint-Germain will face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finalCredit: GettyPSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has overseen many versions of the clubCredit: AFPStars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all been replacedCredit: GettyAnd absolute flops when it comes to the Champions League.But having sent both Liverpool and Aston Villa packing already, Luis Enrique and his new-look PSG now have Arsenal in their sights.Mikel Arteta and his side know that they arguably face their toughest test yet on the road to Munich.Yet nobody would have said that at the start of the season. And even fewer when PSG were rolled over at The Emirates in the league stage.Indeed, the story of PSG under their Qatari owners has always been about the mis-steps and stumbles than the success.Now, though, they are on the brink of finally conquering the highest European peak, fulfilling the ambitions of club President Nasser al-Khelaifi.Sun Sport has spoken to insiders to trace the changing face of French football’s dominant force. And how the biggest potential crisis became the launchpad for rebirth and potential glory.2011 – the beginningIN 2011, PSG were not in the top TEN of all-time French clubs.JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThey had just two Ligue 1 titles to their name, the last of which had come 17 years earlier, were owned by a US-based investment company and had flirted with the drop to Ligue 2 twice in the previous few seasons.Hooliganism was still a curse, too. The year before the takeover, Marseille fan Yann Lorence died after spending two weeks in a coma when he was attacked by two PSG supporters, one of whom, Jeremy Banh, eventually received a five-year jail term.Heartwarming moment Matty Cash’s reporter sister tells him she loves him after Aston Villa’s PSG defeatIt meant Qatari Sports Investment’s initial purchase of 70 per cent of the club’s shares in a deal worth £60m was a major surprise, even if questions were being asked about the relationship between the governments in Paris and Doha following the controversial hosting vote for the 2022 World Cup.In came a new big boss. Nasser al-Khelaifi. The former top 100 tennis pro who was to become one of the most influential men in world football.PSG insiders recalled: “We’re talking about a club that was on the brink of relegation, nowhere near European football.“You literally had fans being killed in the stadium –  the ultras killed a fan. And so they were banned for life. And it was an awful national crisis.“They were completely unsuccessful on the pitch, completely economically insignificant – and people forget that was just over 10 years ago.”2011-2016 – the “bling bling” stagePSG previously boasted stars such as David Beckham and Zlatan IbrahimovicCredit: EPACarlo Ancelotti was the manager between 2011 and 2013Credit: AFPLaurent Blanc won three consecutive titles as managerCredit: Getty – ContributorSuccess did not come instantly. Despite appointing Carlo Ancelotti before Christmas, PSG failed to lift the French title, finishing three points behind Montpellier.Not good enough and the summer of 2012 saw the chequebook out.That season saw the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with David Beckham arriving in January, plus South American superstars Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moira and others.It was a deliberate strategy. One of those closest to the heart of the club explained: “You have to go through the bling bling stage.“Just like when you launch a product, you have to overspend, over the market price, to get some market share.“If you’re launching a new sofa brand or a new TV brand, if you’re taking on Samsung, you’ve got to flood the market with your product, bring in a load of influence and brands to raise awareness about why you’re better.“So you overpay people and lose money, and it’s investment to then make money in the long term.“That’s where PSG went, that’s the cycle they’ve been on. So it was why they signed Beckham, Zlatan and others.“Then, over time, you look towards financial stability and a more proportionate business model.“You have to go through those phases just like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man United, Chelsea, City all did.“They’ve all gone through the same business model as you have to if you want to go from zero to hero.”The titles started to come, even if Ancelotti hopped off to Real Madrid, replaced by Laurent Blanc.But so did the problems off the pitch.One well-placed source recalled: “The club pandered to the players and allowed them to have the control.“Signing Beckham summed it up. There was a feeling that they had to go and get the biggest names available, to make some sort of history.”2016-2023 – the Hollywood eraThe club failed to win the Champions League with one of the most sought-after attacksCredit: APMbappe left for free to join Real Madrid last summerCredit: GettyMessi also left as a free agent and is now in the MLSCredit: AlamyFour successive Ligue 1 crowns, three under Blanc, might have looked like success. But PSG were just the gigantic fish in a small pond. The Champions League was what mattered.Ambition was clear in the choice of managers asked to take PSG to the European elite.Engaging Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel and then Mauricio Pochettino was designed to signal that dominating Ligue 1 was now expected. It was about conquering Europe.But that meant dominating the transfer market, too.And that was where the issues began.From 2017, when Neymar joined from Barcelona, swiftly followed by Kylian Mbappe – just a small matter of £367m between them – the conveyor belt did not seem to stop.Top of the tree, without question, was the capture of Lionel Messi in 2021, when cash-strapped Barcelona could not afford to keep him.From the inner sanctum, there are still no regrets: “Everyone focused on Messi. Messi was a free transfer and made the club money.“And on the pitch, it’s easy when you don’t win the Champions League that’s it’s assumed to be a failure. Actually, his statistics were very, very good.“But that phase of bling bling went on for too long.”Despite their credentials, manager after manager was undermined from within.A close advisor to one of them agreed: “There’s nothing wrong with spending money on players. Indeed signing Messi was basically printing money from shirt sales“But for too long it was just about the big names – they turned into a French version of FC Hollywood.“They weren’t buying players to fit the team, just commercial players. PSG were opening shops in London and New York and needed to have the big names so they could sell shirts.“If you had Neymar, Mbappe and Messi in the same team that meant you only had seven players prepared to run for the rest of the team.“And every time it was left to the manager to pick up the pieces.”It was not just those three, either. In 2021, following another Champions League near-miss when they were beaten by Manchester City in the semi-finals, PSG took veteran defender Sergio Ramos – despite his decade-long personal problems with Messi.There was also dressing room disquiet over the hierarchy’s decision to bring in Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forcing out popular Keylor Navas.By 2023, it was eight Ligue 1 crowns out of 10 plus a bucketload of domestic cups. But still no Champions League titles.2023 onwards – new model, new horizonsThe last couple of years has seen the club become a teamCredit: GettyBradley Barcola is one of the many young talents in the squadCredit: ReutersKhvicha Kvaratskhelia was one expensive signing from NapoliCredit: GettySometimes it takes facing a nightmare to make the changes needed.And when Mbappe made clear he was going to see out his contract and force through a free transfer to Real Madrid, it was PSG’s lightbulb moment.Listening to al-Khelaifi now, it was all planned: “The five‐year plan was a mistake, I openly admit that. But we learn from our mistakes.“The new superstar of Paris Saint-Germain is the team, but we also have a lot of stars.“What is different today is that we have a strong collective on the pitch, and a strong and supportive institution off the pitch.“We also think in the short, medium and long term, and we don’t just look in front of our noses and react impulsively and emotionally to everything.”Or, perhaps, it was of necessity. The senior figure added: “A line was drawn when Messi was on a trip with his wife to Saudi Arabia rather than training. He got banned for two games.“That was a huge moment, a huge statement.“Then Mbappe was dropped and shown that the institution is stronger and more important than the individual.“Now we have the youngest team in the last eight of the Champions League and the third youngest in the entire competition.“The new training centre is a £300m process, about capturing French talent. Not buying in talent, but building it. That’s very much the future of the club and hopefully it will work.”There was, he admitted, a “little wobble” in the autumn.Ousmane Dembele was excluded from the squad for the league stage trip to Arsenal after Luis Enrique stated he “did not comply with the obligations of the team”.A 2-0 defeat in which the French champions rarely threatened was followed by losses to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, with PSG facing early elimination, especially when they trailed Manchester City 2-0 at home after 53 minutes of their penultimate match.But four goals in 37 minutes, with Dembele outstanding, transformed the picture, meaning there was no panicky transfer splurge in January.The former Barcelona man’s response to his public shaming was remarkable, scoring 18 in a 10-game streak from mid-December and then six in six including the winner at Anfield.That the changes are real is clear, too, even if the £70m splashed out to land Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli was hardly done on the cheap.Dembele, Willian Pacho, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery are the new faces of PSG.The managerial aide agreed: “What they are doing now is what they promised all the previous managers they would do – and never did!“Now the club is building a young team, a hungry team.”And one that, this time, really might be good enough to lift the biggest prize. Although Arteta and his Gunners will be thinking otherwise.Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates More

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      ‘We’re slaves eating the master’s leftovers’ – Inside Chelsea’s Strasbourg talent factory where loyal fans reject owners

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      OUTSIDERS looking in would think that RC Strasbourg and their fans are living the dream.The Ligue 1 side are enjoying a season to remember – one of their best campaigns ever with some of the most promising young players on the planet strutting their stuff.On the pitch Strasbourg are having a season to remember, but fans aren’t happyCredit: AFPMany are vocal in their hatred of their club’s new ownershipStrasbourg Ultras are furious with the direction of the club under Boehly, Eghbali and CoCredit: GettyGraffiti reading ‘BlueCo Out’ can be spotted all over the cityBut not everything is as it seems. There’s trouble brewing, bubbling just under the surface, and ready to erupt.As a Chelsea fan, when I went to visit the city of our sister club, I discovered that the incredible on-pitch performances are only Polyfilla in the cracks of the club’s identity.Strasbourg Ultras fervently believe their beloved club is at risk of crumbling into nothingness at the hands of BlueCo, the consortium that also owns Chelsea.But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning…With one French Ligue 1 title to their name – after winning the 1978-79 crown – Alsace’s biggest football club was shockingly declared bankrupt in 2011.But, since then, their story has been one of footballing authenticity, a true tale of the ‘dare to dream’ mentality that captures everyone who falls in love with their team from a young age.They rose back through the ranks from the amateur fifth tier and back into France’s top division with ex-France international and West Ham midfielder Marc Keller as president.It is the kind of footballing romance story that personified a city of people who took immense pride in their local team.However, as in many a romance tale, a shock betrayal came from the leading man in the summer of 2023.Keller sold the club to Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly and Co – leading to almost two years of confusion, disarray, lack of communication with supporters, and monumental change from those now in charge of the club.Todd Boehly gives major Chelsea stadium update and vows to leave Stamford BridgeStrasbourg could finish second in Ligue 1 this season, but signs of protests remain plastered across the stadiumCredit: AFPStrasbourg is a beautiful city full of passionate fans – but many fear they are merely becoming Chelsea’s ‘B team’Supporters fervently believe their beloved club is at risk of crumbling into nothingness at the hands of BlueCoAs I strolled through the quaint and beautiful city of Strasbourg, I took a moment to sit on a wall and marvel at the river opposite me, when I was struck by what I saw on a lamppost.Stickers covered it, reading one particular message loud and clear: “BLUECO OUT”.Walking to the stadium on my first day, I noticed that these stickers occupied almost every lamppost, street sign, dustbin and bridge, alongside other variations such as ‘Non a la multipropiete’ which translated reads ‘Not a timeshare’.I reached out to Alexandre, a spokesperson for the club’s supporters federation, to find out how the fans really feel.He said: “I’m not worried about losing our identity, we’ve already lost it. It’s like you are eating the master’s leftovers, but you are a slave.”Some people might say, ‘OK, well that’s better than what we were used to’ but some others would say, ‘I’d rather be free, broke but free’.””The beauty of European football is that you have teams from different countries competing against each other based on merit, not because you are part of an ownership.”Chelsea use us as a feeder club, as a ‘B Team’ and to us that is very, very wrong.” More

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      Harry Redknapp: Eddie Howe has a huge summer ahead – Newcastle are THREE good signings away from challenging for title

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      NEWCASTLE fans waited so long for a proper knees-up that it was always going to be one to remember.They may have forgotten what it was like to win a trophy but not how to throw a party — as we all got to see two weeks ago.Harry Redknapp says Newcastle can now target more silverware after winning the Carabao CupCredit: GettyWhich is just as well, because their gaffer Eddie Howe is building something so special I think those supporters will have a lot to celebrate from here.Far bigger things than the Carabao Cup, with all due respect, because in my book that is just the start.They certainly won’t be waiting 70 years for the next domestic trophy!I am not saying the next stop is the Premier League title as they are three good signings short of pushing the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal over a season — but they are moving closer.READ MORE IN football Eddie, who was in hospital yesterday after feeling ill during the week, will miss their clash against Manchester United today and I wish him a speedy recovery.And so will all the Toon fans — which certainly shows up all those who reckoned Eddie was only keeping the seat warm for a glamorous foreign name after the Saudis appointed him.Whether that was the plan when they arrived I don’t know but — four years on — the only way I can see Howe leaving St James’ Park is for the England job.The search for Thomas Tuchel’s replacement, when that day comes, won’t take long, although I am not saying Newcastle fans should start worrying yet. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThat’s for the future.For now, all that matters is making sure this is the real thing, not just another false start.Harry Redknapp rings me on the M40 after every game whether we win or lose – he’s the best uncle everAfter the Saudis took over there was a lot of talk the richest club in the world would take off, and when they made the Champions League two years ago, it certainly looked that way.But despite that famous win over Paris Saint-Germain, they never really got off the launch pad and when they went from finishing fourth in the Prem to seventh, quite a few feared the worst for Eddie.Thankfully the people who matter never doubted he was the right man and now you won’t find anyone who disagrees.Actually there was one… the radio pundit I heard who said Howe wasn’t the answer if they wanted to push on after the League Cup. What a load of cobblers!I think those supporters will have a lot to celebrate from here. Far bigger things than the Carabao Cup, with all due respect, because in my book that is just the start.Harry RedknappOf course, they must make sure the Wembley win isn’t a one-off and Newcastle can only prove that over time but what convinces me they will is the way Eddie has gone about it.Right from the start he said it wouldn’t be a trolley dash for the biggest names in football just because he had the money and he proved it by making Kieran Trippier his first signing.When Dan Burn, something of a journeyman up to then,  arrived soon after fans weren’t exactly buzzing at the new buys.Ask them now, though, and you will get a different answer. And do not forget, either, that for all there is no shortage of stars in the squad, the fact most have become bigger at the Toon than they were before says a lot.Eddie Howe lifted the Carabao Cup but he can win more with NewcastleCredit: PAThe Geordie’s still know how to party but fans shouldn’t be happy yetCredit: SplashAlexander Isak is a world-class striker you could put alongside any in the game, while Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are top-notch midfielders.Anthony Gordon is one of the best wingers around and young full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have both won England caps since signing.But for me, Trippier has been the real star of the show and the leader every manager wants.The second leg of the League Cup semi-final was perfect proof, when he steamed into the first tackle and set the tone. Arsenal were never in it after that.Dan Burn is just unbelievable. From doing the rounds at places like Yeovil, Birmingham and Wigan to man of the match at Wembley and an England cap. What a career!Harry Redknapp And Burn is just unbelievable. From doing the rounds at places like Yeovil, Birmingham and Wigan to man of the match at Wembley and an England cap. What a career!There have been more glamorous names since — most of them, to be honest — but Eddie knew it had to start with characters. And they don’t come bigger than those two.He knows there is a huge summer ahead, too, and top of the list has to be keeping Isak, with loads of Europe’s big names sniffing around.Read More on The SunSecuring a Champions League place will help, for sure, and with five teams in it from England next season, there is a great chance of Newcastle being one of them.Now those incredible Geordie fans are already daring to dream — and this time there may be no rude awakening. More

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      Which striker should Man Utd buy? We reveal who would be best fit for Amorim and why it’s great news for Ratcliffe

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have struggled to find any real form in the Premier League despite stronger performances in the Europa League.One of the most notable issues Ruben Amorim’s side have experienced is a major lack of goals, with none of the strikers in the squad really impressing.Ruben Amorim will be looking for a new striker in the summerCredit: EPAAfter considering six main options we have found the perfect option for Man UtdCredit: GettyLast summer United signed Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, though it has since become clear his profile is not what the Red Devils need up front. That has left Rasmus Hojlund as the only true recognised striker in the squad. However, while Hojlund still has the potential to develop into a very strong striker, he has been woefully out of form.Next summer Man Utd transfer chiefs will doubtless be looking to recruit a top forward.The issue they will find is that there is a real scarcity of top talent in that department which fit the unique needs of Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.Other top clubs, including Arsenal who we analysed last week, are also in the market which will only drive up price, but we have looked at who could be the top fit for Man Utd for next season.Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray and NigeriaVictor Osimhen is itching for a transferCredit: GettyThe first player on our list is also probably the most expensive; 26-year-old Galatasaray and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen.The on-loan Napoli ace has an estimated transfer value of £59million, having been touted as a top target for Premier League sides for some time.Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordAfter being one of the main reasons Napoli won their first Serie A title since the era of Diego Maradona, he fell out of favour with the club’s owner before he was sent on loan to Turkey.Osimhen will be seeking employment away from Napoli when he returns at the end of his loan spell, with links both to England and Saudi Arabia being widely reported.I told Rio Ferdinand to tell Sir Alex Ferguson to f*** off and the Man Utd legend’s reaction was pricelessGalatasaray are by no means a small club, but they do not play in a top five European league and are in no position to challenge for top European honours.In terms of the profile of striker United will be looking for this summer, it is fair to say that Osimhen is a very strong fit. He prefers to play on the shoulder of the last defender and attack space behind the defensive line but has the technical profile to receive the ball and play with his back to goal when required.Amorim’s system needs the striker to generate a significant amount of goals and shots.Here we see Osimhen makes contact with the central defender and then pulls away to make a pocket of space to attack the crossOsimhen’s 166 goal contributions across 253 games at club level speak for themselves in this regard.There is no doubt Osimhen would be a strong option thanks to his superb movement in and around the penalty area and the ability to create opportunities for himself.Viktor Gyokeres – Sporting Lisbon and SwedenVictor Gyokeres is one of Europe’s top strikersCredit: GettyIt should come as no surprise that Sweden and Sporting Lisbon ace Viktor Gyokeres had been included on this list. After all, he was one of the stand out players at Sporting when Amorim was there as coach, with 50 goal contributions in 41 games for Sporting this season after his 58-goal contribution tally last term.The 26-year-old, who has a market value of £63m has had something of an unusual career path to get to this point, having flopped at Brighton before really igniting his career at Coventry.His performances in the Championship were very strong and this led to a move to Portugal for an initial £17.5m.Gyokeres now looks poised to take the next step in his career and it is easy to see why. He is a modern striker with the ability to stretch opposition defences and make long and aggressive runs beyond the defensive line, while he has the skill to score a variety of different goals.The issue for Gyokeres when it comes to a move to a club like Man Utd, however, is facing a low or medium block a lot of the time – a factor which has massively limited Hojlund’s effectiveness this term.This means space behind the defence, where Gyokeres does his best work, is hard to come by for any striker.Here we see Gyokeres on the shoulder with space to attack ahead of himWhile Gyokeres is by no means a poor technical player, with the ability to receive the ball in tighter areas and bring others into the game, this is not the biggest strength of his game. He is more of a powerful forward who will thrive with balls played into the channels he can run on to in order to stretch the opposition.Hugo Ekitike – Eintracht Frankfurt and FranceHugo Ekitike looks set to be the next big money striker to be sold by FrankfurtCredit: AFPFans of English football were given quite the introduction to the France Under-21 star Hugo Ekitike when he scored three goals in a 5-3 win over England.The 22-year-old developed at Stade Reims in Ligue 1 before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, although it did not work out before he moved again to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.Ekitike has scored 19 goals in 38 matches in all competitions so far this season and is valued at just over £33m, drawing intense interest from other top clubs in Europe.Ironically, had Ekitike stayed at PSG until Kylian Mbappe left to join Real Madrid it is likely he would now be the starting striker in Paris. He is perhaps the closest striker in top level football at the moment to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, with a similar all round playing style and the most well rounded on this list.Ekitike is equally comfortable playing with his back to goal when he is running into space or running through the channels to stretch the game.Here Ekitike shows very clever movement with curved runs to pull off the shoulders of defenders and gain the separation he needs to finishFor a team like Man Utd who are still building towards their identity under Amorim, the signing of a striker that is well balanced like Ekitike would make a lot of sense. It can be easy with strikers of this type to overlook how effective and efficient they are in front of goal but as we touched upon above, Ekitike has show he can perform very well in a top five league.Liam Delap – Ipswich Town and EnglandLiam Delap has had a solid season despite his team’s looming threat of relegationCredit: GettyWhile Ekitike was scoring for France this week, Liam Delap was returning the favour with a goal for England Under-21s.When Ipswich Town signed the now 22-year-old from Manchester City in the summer there were some who doubted his ability to lead the line for a newly promoted Premier League side.With 10 goals and two assists in 28 league matches, a strong return for a team facing relegation, he has very much proven those doubters wrong.The Ipswich ace is another potential target who fits represents a modern profile of player. He is tall and powerful and extremely adept when it comes to making runs to stretch the game and attack behind the opposition line. There is an argument United would be better placed signing a more-well rounded player who can link the game and play in deeper areas or make aggressive runs behind the defensive line. Here we see how Delap times his run well to get across the defender to finishWith that said, however there is some value in the idea of United signing a young English striker that can develop as the team does.An added complication is Delap is a product of the Man City youth academy, and his boyhood club are thought to have a clause to say they can buy him back at a set price. Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig and SlovakiaBenjamin Sesko was the talk of the town at the European Championships last summerCredit: GettyPlaying for one of the smaller sides during the European Championships for Slovakia last summer, Benjamin Sesko was the name on everyone’s lips as he impressed with his power and pace.He was heavily linked at the time, and in January, with a move to Arsenal but made the choice to at least see out the season in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, where he has scored 17 goals in 36 games.That does not mean he will not be open to a move this coming summer, with an estimated transfer value of £42m.Sesko, like previous names mentioned, is tall, powerful, quick and at his best when he is given space to run into and to attack as his team moves the attack forward.His biggest strength, however, comes in his incredible ball striking with the ability to strike the ball with power from distance.Sesko is another player who thrives when he is able to play and attack in moments of transition. Here we see how part of Sesko’s threat is his ball-striking abilityAs a top level striker he still needs to add some real consistency to his game in front of goal.There is a worry he is too one dimensional in needing space in the final third to really fit the way United will play.Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford and CameroonBryan Mbeumo has been Brentford’s main man after they lost Ivan ToneyCredit: GettyThe final attacker on our shortlist is 25-year-old Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, who is valued at £42m.He has had a very strong season with 20 goals and assists in all competitions after stepping up to fill the void of Ivan Toney’s sale. His performances have been so strong this season that he is now being linked to a move this coming summer to a top 6 level club that will be involved in European competition.Mbeumo is not a tall and powerful striker who will threaten space behind the defensive line like other names on the list, with a preference to pull into the channels and get on the ball in the final third.There is a real argument with Mbeumo that he would fit better in the United system under Amorim as one of the two attacking midfielders behind the main striker. His mobility and movement in these areas are excellent and he is extremely difficult for opposition defenders to pick up and mark. Mbeumo is exceptionally dangerous off the right flank, rather than in the middleMbeumo would not be at his best as the main striker for United. He is more movement based in the way he creates threat and space in the final third while United need to find a striker who has a better rounded and more versatile attacking profile.ConclusionIt is tempting to say Osimhen would be the best option of the six strikers we have discussed above since he is the most ready-made option. However, Man Utd are in the midst of a financial nightmare after years of overspending with a big rebuild to come this summer for a squad well below the standards needed to challenge for top honours.Therefore, given his relative price at almost half the value of Osimhen or Gyokreres, Ekitike should be the target of choice next summer. His profile is well rounded and he has more to come in his development as this United team develops, while a likely cheaper deal would be music to the ears of Sir Jim Ratcliffe after numerous cuts made to the club.Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man UtdSIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old TraffordJanuary 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin addedMarch 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre moveMarch 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s footballMarch 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old TraffordMarch 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in DecemberApril 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanlinessMay 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roofMay 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticketMay 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axedMay 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of resultJune 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into officeJune 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s teamJuly 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensationJuly 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board  July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex WylieAugust 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toiletOctober 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex FergusonOctober 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matchesOctober 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15mNovember 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters AssociationDecember 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century” December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting directorDecember 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucherDecember 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to BournemouthDecember 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two starsDecember 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity More

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      Chelsea files: John Terry’s manager job that collapsed at last minute and party-loving keeper tipped to surpass Courtois

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      GOALKEEPERS have been a big talking point at Chelsea this season with boss Enzo Maresca unsure who is his definite number one.Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have been in and out like the Hokey Cokey.Incoming Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders enjoys a party and a sing-songCredit: RexThe teenager could surpass Thibaut Courtois in West LondonCredit: GettyAnd that’s something that won’t trouble incoming keeper Mike Penders, who just loves a singalong and a party.The teenager is due to join up with the Blues this summer following a £16.7million deal with his current side Genk in the Belgian top flight.Still only 19, colourful Penders loves a party and says it stems from his upbringing in the town of Uikhoven in a region famous for its carnivals.Penders said: “Singalongs are my thing.“It’s simple: if you come from our neighbourhood, you grow up with carnival. Then you learn those songs by heart. “You just have to come and experience it. The last time I went I wore Lederhosen.”England skipper Harry Kane also wears the famous leather trousers when he visits Oktoberfest each year as he plays for Bayern Munich.Penders has all the ingredients to become an even bigger star than Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea – even without his ability to sing a song at his first-team initiation.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeFor a start, the towering keeper is exactly two metres tall – one centimetre more than his famous Belgian predecessor.He is coming through the same famous stable at Genk like Courtois and if the next few weeks go well for him, he could also rock up at Stamford Bridge as a decorated star.Thomas Tuchel always made me feel wanted and England star was destined for greatness, reveals ex-Chelsea wonderkidGenk are top of the table and face the ten-game play-offs bidding for the championship.Penders has every chance to make the biggest move of his career with a league title to his name.He is already a famous name at home. His transfer fee to Chelsea is considered huge back home for a player so young.Some of that money was spread among the clubs of his previous career – right down to sixth-tier Bregel Sport. The 100,000 euros was enough to keep the struggling club afloat – but only temporarily as they went broke just last week.HELD ON BY GAFFER TAPEJOHN TERRY fears his ambition to become a manager is drifting away.Chelsea’s most successful player and captain still hopes his dream of being head coach at the club which is in his heart may still come off one day. But he is caught in a vicious circle.He came painfully close in September 2023 when he was offered a job by Saudi Pro-League side Al-Shabbab… only for the deal to collapse at the last minute.Terry, 44, said: “I got very close with that and things got moved at the last minute, which meant it didn’t go through.“I’ve done my badges. I’m ready. If the right opportunity comes up, and it has to be the right opportunity in terms of squad, location, I’m all ears.“I’m watching every game of football I can possibly watch. I’ve still got my eyes in it. There will come a point for me when I need to say ‘that’s it’.John Terry missed out on becoming a manager in the Saudi Pro LeagueCredit: GettyHe is currently having to make do with testing his management skills in the Baller LeagueCredit: PA“But you have to be obsessed with it and I’m still obsessed with it. I’m analysing games, I’m reviewing stuff, I’m doing online courses and all of that to be a better coach or a better manager that I can be.“So who knows if that opportunity comes along? I’ve got a lot to give. I know that I’ve managed dressing rooms and groups before.”Terry has found work as a coach at Aston Villa and Leicester and is back now working two days a week at his beloved Chelsea.The five-time Premier League winner said: “I led Chelsea for 22 years. So to get thrown at me that I’ve got no experience as a number one is a little bit baffling.“But again I’ll keep trying until that kind of day stops because I have a dream of managing Chelsea one day and that’s the ultimate for me. Would I love to be part of it? Of course I would. Chelsea’s my club.”John Terry was speaking on Chelsea and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Watch every game from the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN for free.TOUT OF ORDERCHELSEA are going digital with ticket buying and going on the offensive against the touts.Illegal sales are a menace and no home game at Stamford Bridge is complete without a gaggle of shady characters loitering outside Fulham Broadway tube station offering seats at premium price.The club is trying to combat this and have highlighted their efforts in an email to fans detailing the work they have undertaken.This season alone it includes:Stopping more than 1,000 people coming into the ground with touted tickets.Cancelling more than 1,500 membership accounts linked to illegal activity.Arresting individuals following police operations on matchdays.The Blues are stamping down on tickets touts outside Stamford BridgeCredit: ReutersThis is all worthwhile stuff but in the meantime, Chelsea’s chairman Todd Boehly has attracted fierce criticism from fans over his stake in American ticket resale site Vivid Seats.The unauthorised website sells tickets for Premier League games at vastly inflated prices.Vividseats.com even appears on a blacklist of outlets issued by the Premier League who add: “We would urge fans to exercise extreme caution when dealing with these websites.”GLOBAL GAMECHELSEA became the first English club to field an entire team of foreign players against Southampton in the Premier League back in 1999.And the Blues will continue to break new ground across the world when they add Kazakhstan’s teenage wonderkid Dastan Satpaev, 16, to their ranks next summer.Satpaev’s arrival – when he turns 18 – will take the Prem’s number of nationalities to a staggering 127 since the league began in the 1992/93 season.Dastan Satpaev will be the Premier League’s first Kazakhstani footballerCredit: GettyEagle-eyed Chelsea fans will have spotted the Kairat Almaty striker, who has agreed a Stamford Bridge move in a £3.3m deal with a five-year contract, was in the UK last Saturday.Satpaev came off the bench for the final 16 minutes of Kazakhstan’s 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Wales in Cardiff.He showed flashes of promise in his brief cameo as a substitute but is already being hailed as the best talent the country has ever produced.No pressure, then.TOP MARCSIT’S A good time to be a Chelsea defender.Club captain Reece James scored a screamer for England on Monday night against Latvia to add to his recent belter at Copenhagen in the Conference League.And his club-mate Marc Cucurella is also in the goals this season with five – four in the Premier League and one in Europe.Part of his increased strike rate has been down to boss Enzo Maresca pushing the Spaniard into a midfield role at times – the new ‘inverted full-back’ fad that is gripping football.Cucurella has responded with two goals in seven games, which is a decent return for a left-back.Marc Cucurella has found his shooting boots this seasonCredit: GettyIt has transformed his standing in the eyes of Chelsea fans who were unsure of his worth to start with but now sing songs about his big mop of curly hair in tribute to his improvement.Cucurella says scoring more goals has been a big priority. He said: “One of the things that I felt that I could improve upon was my ability in the last third – more goals and more assists. I would say this season I have had the opportunity to score a few goals.“I’m very happy because I feel very good and I’ve been able to help the team.“I always try to give the best for my team and I always try to leave everything on the pitch for my team. I always try to win. “I think they are the best things I can have as a player. Now I’m even a goalscorer! Hopefully, I can score a lot more goals and I’m very happy.”LONELY WITHOUT LEONCHELSEA fans eagerly waiting to find out who will be the club’s first opponents in the Club World Cup should not hold their breath.Fifa sources say that it will take some time to find a replacement for Club Leon – the Mexican side booted out of the competition over dual ownership issues.The case is likely to go to appeal and even then if the decision is upheld, a new team will be sought from within the Concacaf football federation.Considering there are 41 member associations throughout the Americas, that will take some sifting. More

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      Gareth Southgate was close to Man Utd job but now England’s most successful manager in decades looks done with football

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      HE was England’s most successful manager in half a century and was only a couple of penalty kicks away from being regarded as the greatest of all time.He has represented the Three Lions, as a player and manager, more often than any other man.Sir Gareth Southgate appears unlikely to return as a manager, nor become a consultant, despite the wishes of the FACredit: GettySouthgate has major interests, such as the challenges facing young men in the social media age, which he addressed in his Dimbleby lectureCredit: BBCHe is a knight of the realm, who is respected in wider society to such a degree that he delivered the prestigious Dimbleby Lecture at the BBC last week.Yet, at the age of 54, Sir Gareth Southgate may be finished with football.The former defender was closer than many would believe to becoming Erik ten Hag’s successor at Manchester United.Dan Ashworth, United’s short-lived sporting director, pushed his candidacy strongly and left the club soon after he failed to persuade United’s ownership.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMeanwhile, Southgate’s advisor Jimmy Worrall also has close links to Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe.But the United job was an outlier.If Southgate did look to return to club management, he would be unlikely to land a job at a higher level than his previous club role at Middlesbrough almost two decades ago.Despite leading England to successive Euros finals, as well as a World Cup semi and quarter-final — and despite transforming the once-rotten culture around the national team — Southgate’s stock as a manager has not risen  significantly.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKWhile the FA are keen to employ Southgate as a consultant, that doesn’t appeal to the former manager, who believes his presence on the payroll would not be beneficial to Thomas Tuchel nor any future Three Lions boss.The idea of returning to media punditry is regarded similarly.Sir Gareth Southgate fears boys are watching too much porn instead of ‘expressing their emotions’ New England chief Tuchel may have criticised the performance of Southgate’s team at last summer’s Euros — although he only really echoed Southgate’s own public comments during that tournament.But Sir Gareth will not be responding in kind. He is too classy and decent to give it back to Tuchel.There is also a feeling that international management, rather than the club game, suited Southgate perfectly.Most great club managers are single-minded football obsessives.Southgate has a more curious mind and the England role allowed him a wider remit, which he relished. The themes he expressed in his Dimbleby Lecture — on the challenges facing young men in the social media age — are dear to him.He helped many England players greatly, as people as well as footballers.And if Southgate headed back into football management any time soon, he would do so without his hugely-trusted No 2 Steve Holland — who is keen to make it as a manager in his own right and is currently the boss of Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos.Southgate always regarded his England role as a partnership with Holland, believing the pair counteracted each other’s strengths and weaknesses. He may feel isolated in management without Holland’s presence.Southgate’s old sidekick Steve Holland now bosses Yokohama F MarinosCredit: GettyA boardroom job in football isn’t on the agenda either.He may have looked good in a  waistcoat during the 2018 World Cup but, professionally speaking, a tracksuit is more Southgate’s style.So what next, if there is no return  to football?The Dimbleby Lecture — given on  the personal request of BBC director-general Tim Davie — wasn’t his first weighty speech since his exit.Southgate showed during his England reign he is a more effective politician than most politicians. His ‘Dear England’ letter before the Euros in 2021 spoke to the nation better than anyone in the House of Commons could.But there is apparently no chance of a bid for Parliament.Despite being branded as ‘woke’ — an insult which shouldn’t even be an insult — Southgate isn’t party political. He’d probably have more in common with Sir John Major than Jeremy Corbyn.That Dimbleby Lecture championed traditional family values as well as Southgate’s deep respect for the military.He is a quiet patriot, not a raving lefty and not even close friends could tell you which way he votes.As for a  job in business, Southgate is said to be equally uninterested.Unlike many in football he isn’t  an obsessive chaser of the next five-pound note.He doesn’t need to work but equally recognises that even a senior job in industry would only pay a fraction of that on offer in managing a lowly Premier League club. And anyway Southgate is patriotic and old-school enough to have regarded the England job as the pinnacle of his profession.Should his journey of self-discovery lead him away from the game which made him, he would be a great loss to football.Fighting relegation, as he did unsuccessfully at Middlesbrough in 2009, isn’t currently on his wish-list either.Had Southgate landed the United job he wouldn’t have been a popular appointment among supporters — despite doing the kind of transformative job with England that they are crying out for at Old Trafford.And the sad truth is he wouldn’t be welcomed with widespread jubilation at any top-flight club.His image as an overly-cautious manager is overstated but not entirely untrue.He never played for nor managed clubs which expected to win  silverware and never quite shook off that mindset as expectations rose with England.So what next for a man who is significantly younger than most who have just departed England’s ‘impossible job’?Having succeeded the likes of Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and King Charles in giving that Dimbleby Lecture, Sir Gareth is yet to find his calling, post-England.But should his journey of self-discovery lead him away from the game which made him, he would be a great loss to football.Flair’s fair for AngeTHERE was much online merriment when a Tottenham legends team — featuring Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon — hammered  AC Milan’s old boys 6-2.The obvious joke, that the veterans could still beat Ange Postecoglou’s first team, was barely even funny because it is possibly true.Robbie Keane bagged a hat-trick as Spurs legends beat Milan 6-2Credit: GettyYet the flair of some of those Spurs players of the not-too-distant past also showed that Postecoglou’s devil-may-care style was more in tune with the club’s ethos than most of his recent predecessors.The expectation is that Spurs will wilt in a hostile atmosphere against Eintracht Frankfurt in next month’s Europa League quarter-final and that will spell the end for Big Ange.If so, that would be a shame. Spurs might not be very good under Postecoglou but at least they are recognisably Spurs.IT was so sad  to see Scotland relegated from the top tier of the Nations League by virtue of a 3-0 loss at home to Greece.And the poor old  Tartan Army couldn’t even get a drink at Hampden Park.Despite their great national thirst, booze is still banned inside grounds north of the border, as it has been since 1981 — just about the last time the Scots were any good at football.Lennox all HartTHE warm tributes to The Sun’s legendary ‘Voice of Boxing’ Colin Hart — who died on Saturday aged 89 — were rich, poignant and greatly appreciated by his family.Lennox Lewis says he was inspired by Colin Hart’s viewsCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdIt was especially interesting to read the words of Lennox Lewis and  how he felt driven to win over a sceptical Harty on his journey to becoming heavyweight champion of the world.The media landscape has changed hugely since Lewis and Colin enjoyed their verbal sparring en route to an immense mutual respect.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere are now often too many obstructive PR people between elite  athletes and journalists.As Lewis agrees, that is to the detriment of sportsmen and women, as well as to the media and the public. More

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      Liverpool’s secret weapon to sign Semenyo or Kerkez as Prem wonderkid eyed by Inter – latest exclusives from Alan Nixon

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      ALAN NIXON is SunSport’s Boss of Goss.Check out this week’s red-hot transfer whispers from our man in the know…If Liverpool sell Ben Doak, it could be the trigger for some major arrivalsCredit: GettyBEN & CHERRYBOURNEMOUTH saw their hopes of signing Liverpool teenager Ben Doak soar after Dougie Freedman quit Crystal Palace.Cherries are chasing the 19-year-old Scotland international forward but face a real battle to beat the Eagles.Freedman’s exit as sporting director — revealed on Monday — has given them a massive lift, though, as Doak’s fellow Scot was driving the deal for Palace and is also close to his agent.Kop chiefs are due to decide on Doak’s future this summer after his successful loan spell at Middlesbrough was cut short by a thigh injury in January, but insiders believe he will be sold.Liverpool’s asking price will be close to £25million but Doak would be an ideal bargaining chip in a move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo or left-back Milos Kerkez.Freedman has left a list of targets with Selhurst Park boss Oliver Glasner ahead of his departure.They include Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas, Burnley centre-half Maxime Esteve and Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg.IRONS EYE RIGGThere could be conflict over Chris Rigg’s valuationCredit: GettyWEST HAM are ready to move for midfield starlet Chris Rigg if he does not make it to the Premier League with Sunderland.Rigg, 17, is keen to play in the top flight and hopes that will be with his local team through promotion.However, the Irons are showing growing interest in the playmaker, who would be an ideal domestic addition to their squad.Rigg was shocked to be left out of the starting line-up for England Under-19s last week, with two young Premier League stars in front of him.Newcastle’s Lewis Miley and Fulham prospect Joshua King took up the roles that Rigg had been holding down.Sunderland will want about £20million, though Hammers see Rigg more in the £10m category.INT-EREST IN DUOJosh Acheampong recently featured for England Under-19sCredit: GettyINTER MILAN sent a spy to watch Southampton midfielder Tyler Dibling and Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong.The Serie A giants put a man on a mission to Bangor for an England Under-19 game with Wales to see the duo.Acheampong, 18, who is under contract to 2029, can play centre-half or right-back.Dibling, 19, may go to the top bidders if Saints  go  down.OWLS’ NOD TO HENDANE Henrik Pedersen is top of the list to be the next manager of Sheffield Wednesday.Pedersen is currently No 2 to Owls boss Danny Rohl, who is tipped to move on to Southampton in the summer.Rohl can quit Owls for a reduced compensation fee once Saints are officially relegated.The German, 47, missed out on the move previously because Southampton would not pay the approximate £4million top-flight exit fee.Pedersen is popular with the Wednesday heirarchy and has a lot of experience in several countries, from youth level to first-team boss.MOORE TO FORK OUTBramley-Moore Dock will open next seasonCredit: GettyEVERTON are looking for staggering sums to hire the special executive boxes in their new home.The club have offered wealthy fans and local businesses boxes for more than £200,000 a season at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.Many have snapped up smaller deals but some of the most expensive are yet to be filled — at an outfit known as the ‘People’s Club’.GAV ANOTHER GOSOUTHAMPTON will welcome back keeper Gavin Bazunu in the Championship following their relegation — as they expect Aaron Ramsdale to leave.Bazunu, 23, was exiled to Belgium with Standard Liege on loan after a serious injury but is seen as first choice next season.The Republic of Ireland cap lost his place to Ramsdale when he arrived from Arsenal.BIG AL’S WICKED WHISPERWHICH Premier League club are worried they will not be able to sell a RESERVE — who they hoped to move on for £30million?The loyal servant can leave in the next window after waiting in the wings for long enough and only playing a few games.But the anticipated rush for the respected player has not happened and his bosses fear a cheap sale or even a loan to get him out of the door.DAN’S GERMAN PLANLEEDS boss Daniel Farke has sent his top scout to his German homeland to look for Premier League talent.The club’s spies were at Bundesliga matches and second-tier games over the last weekend to check out potential recruits.Farke always thinks there are bargains to be found at that level and Leeds will need new blood if they return to the Prem.ALL IN FOR OLUOluwaseun Adewumi has impressed on loan at DundeeCredit: PABURNLEY face a fight to hold on to Oluwaseun Adewumi when he returns to them from a spell in Scotland.The Austrian Under-21 midfielder has caught the eye with Dundee in a loan spell at Dens Park.The Clarets have already fielded interest in Adewumi, 20.The one consolation is he has already played for two sides this season — for Austrian club Floridsdorfer and Dundee — so cannot move again until the summer. More

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      in Motorsport

      The stunning celebs you forgot were F1 grid girls – from I’m a Celeb legends to soap heartthrob and Ted Lasso star

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      THEY were the stunning models who lived life in the fast lane – both on and off the track.But after going on to become TV stars, reality TV bombshells and even the owner of an animal sanctuary, you might have forgotten these stunning celebs who once posed as grid girls.Katie paid tribute to Eddie who got her involved in F1 as a grid girlCredit: PAEddie was one of the driving forces behind the women being brought into the sportCredit: RexOn the grid, Katie was known as her alter-ego JordanCredit: GettyKatie said his death was a great loss to the paddockCredit: PA:Press AssociationThis week, Katie Price’s fans were stunned to see gorgeous throwback snaps of her with the late F1 boss Eddie Jordan, who has sadly died at the age of 76.The glamour model, 46, became a grid girl under the motor racing legend’s tenure back in 1998 when she was aged just 19.Eddie pioneered the introduction of the glamorous women, and Katie even did a stunt for his team Jordan where she straddled one of the F1 cars. Here, we have a look at the other celebs who gave their blossoming careers a boost as a motoring hostess.Nell McAndrewBack in the 1990s, Nell was known for her outrageous behaviour and incredible modelling shoots, so it’s no wonder F1 snapped her up. Eddie convinced the beauty, now 51, to pose for a sizzling series of photos with one of his F1 cars in 2004.In the snaps, she is seen sprawled out in a yellow bikini over the pricey motor, while in another she channels Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, swishing around with a sword and slick jumpsuit.It’s certainly a far cry from her days now as a marathon runner.Lizzie Cundy says being a grid girl was ‘the best job she ever had’ on Good Morning BritainFellow glamour model Nell posed for a photo shoot with one of Eddie’s carsCredit: GettyShe channelled her best Kill Bill vibes for the fun shootCredit: GettyJodie MarshKatie’s long-time nemesis Jodie Marsh made a special guest appearance as a grid girl back in 2003. The former glamour model, now 46, graced the paddock and track at Silverstone to promote Playstation 2 game Formula One.Jodie made a special apperance as the face of PlayStation 2’s new F1 gameCredit: GettyJodie also knew F1 legend Eddie Jordan from her brief stint as a grid girlCredit: ReutersShe opted to wear a driver’s jumpsuit tied at her waist rather than a classic skimpy skirt, and in her special guest appearance on the track, she planted a kiss on Eddie’s cheek.Nowadays, Jodie has traded her hard partying socialite reputation for a new life running an animal sanctuary. And this week, the down-to-earth star joked she’s “fat but happier than ever”.Keeley HazellKeeley also appeared briefly as a grid girl to promote a video gameCredit: AlamyShe posed for photos with F1 drivers Tiago Monteiro (L) and Christijan Albers (C)Credit: GettyThese days you’re most likely to recognise Keeley as Ted Lasso’s Bex but back in the day, she was a lads’ mag favourite who also turned heads on the F1 track.The 38-year-old made her debut as a grid girl in 2003 at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – leaving fans delighted.Like Jodie Marsh, she turned up to promote PlayStation’s Formula One game, which saw her perch on the Midland F1 team car. It certainly was a gear change from her usual Page 3 shoots.Gemma AtkinsonGemma was named the face of the British Grand Prix in 2007Credit: GettyThe model told how she was a big fan of the sportCredit: GettyBefore Strictly Come Dancing fame, Gemma, now 40, was unveiled in 2007 as the ‘female face’ of the British Grand Prix.At the time, the Hollyoaks star said: “I’m a massive F1 fan and this is my first time at the British Grand Prix. I’m really excited to be here as the female face of the British Grand Prix.“The atmosphere here at Silverstone is incredible! It is an unbelievable experience and I never imagined I’d get so close to the action. I’m so thrilled to be here.”Just a few months later, she was snapped up for I’m A Celeb and from there her star has continued to rise. Melinda MessengerMelinda doesn’t look back on her time as a grid girl in a positive mannerCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdShe posed up with drivers and fellow glamour model Katie PriceCredit: AlamyLike fellow Page Three girls Jodie and Keely, Melinda made an appearance at the British Grand Prix to promote an F1 video game. She wasted no time getting cosy with drivers Ralph Schumacher and Damon Hill in the pits during a practice run in 1998.Melinda became a regular fixture, but she doesn’t look back on the time positively. She told The Sun: “I was willingly exploiting myself, don’t forget. I was quite happy to go and get paid to look glamorous. So that’s a self-exploitation.”Lucy PinderLucy proved a big hit when she posed next to F1 cars back in 2005Credit: AlamyLucy posed up to promote a video game with pal Michelle MarshCredit: Getty Images – GettyLucy, 41, has turned her talents to acting in recent years, but at the height of her glamour girl fame she made a special appearance on the F1 grid.Alongside pal Michelle Marsh, she turned up at Silverstone in 2005.And even the drivers were fans of the beauties, with former F1 champ Fernando Alonso looking delighted while getting a picture with the girls. She also made appearances as a gird girl at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport back in 2009. Michelle MarshOutsiding of posing for F1, Michelle and Lucy also appeared with bikes for RiskologyCredit: AlamyPage 3 blonde Michelle, now 42, turned up on the track alongside Lucy back in 2005. After being announced as the face of PlayStation’s F1 game, she posed for a series of photos on a F1 car, many showing off her ample cleavage. In a photo of her and Lucy with driver Fernando Alonso, the motor head is seen to peer down Lucy’s top. The pairing certainly proved a hit that year. Olivia AttwoodOlivia wasn’t an F1 girl, instead she posed for Monster at Motorsport eventsShe claims the job saved her life and put her on the path to fameOutspoken Olivia found fame appearing on Love Island back in 2017, but before then she was touring the world as a Motorsport grid girl for Monster Energy.Sadly, she never made it to the prestigious F1 paddock, but isn’t ashamed of her brolly dolly days, claiming it saved her life.Olivia blasted F1 bosses’ decision to axe the grid girls in 2018, saying: “They’re taking the fun, glamour, and extravagance out of absolutely everything – where does it end? If you got a mechanic to hold a brolly over the bike on the track, how boring’s that?”She later told The Sunday Times: “That job saved my life. I travelled the world, it gave me discipline, I met amazing people, so to me, it’d be pretty sad to think someone else wouldn’t get that opportunity.”Lucy Pinder and Michelle Marsh pose with F1 drivers at the British Grand PrixCredit: GettyMelinda Messenger, Katie Price and Emma Noble launched the F1 racing season for team JordanCredit: PA:Press Association More