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      Chelsea line up £90m Romelu Lukaku return as Blues accept defeat in Erling Haaland transfer pursuit

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      CHELSEA will step up plans to re-sign Romelu Lukaku in a £90million-plus deal.Inter Milan’s star is seen as the most achievable of boss Thomas Tuchel’s targets.
      Thomas Tuchel wants Romelu Lukaku to lead the line for Chelsea next season after the Blues accept defeat in the chase for Erling HaalandCredit: Getty
      Lukaku is on a list that includes Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, but the young Norwegian star looks out of reach with Manchester City in pursuit.
      So the Blues are turning to a player with proven Premier League experience, firstly with them seven years ago, followed by spells at West Brom, on loan, Everton and Manchester United.
      Chelsea believe they need a strong centre-forward to lead the team next season.
      And frustration with current striker Timo Werner is also growing after Tuesday’s 1-1 Champions League semi-final first-leg draw at Real Madrid.
      The German, 25, missed a golden chance to score, just like he did at West Ham three days earlier.
      And the £48m forward is failing to convince Tuchel he is the man to spearhead Chelsea’s attack for the next few years.
      At 27, Lukaku is at his peak.
      He has scored 27 goals for Inter this term and is considered mentally strong enough to handle leading the line for a club like Chelsea next season.
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      Tammy Abraham, 23, failed to persuade Tuchel he is what Chelsea needs, despite being top scorer with 12 goals this season.
      He is being linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer with West Ham favourites to sign him.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Mino Raiola ‘wants to make Erling Haaland first £1m-a-week player as Man Utd step up transfer interest in Dortmund star’ More

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      Manchester United keeper Sergio Romero looks like he could have signed for rivals City in his sky blue Hummer

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      MANCHESTER United back-up keeper Sergio Romero looks like he could have signed for rivals City in his sky blue Hummer.But with the white stripe, it’s more likely to be the colours of his homeland Argentina.
      Manchester United’s Sergio Romero has a Hummer in City’s coloursCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Romero, 34, was in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
      He was seen smiling and grinning to passers by as he drove the bulky beast on Monday afternoon.
      Sergio Romero has all but confirmed his Old Trafford exit by putting his luxury mansion up for sale.
      The sprawling Cheshire pad is up for an eye-watering £3.5million or can be rented for £22,000-a-month.
      The high-spec pad has six bedrooms all with en-suites.
      The Red Devils’ back-up keeper on the pitchCredit: The Sun
      The Argentinian ace could have picked the colours of his homelandCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      Romero, 34, was spotted out and about in Wilmslow, CheshireCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke
      The footballer was seen grinning to passers by on Monday afternoonCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

      There is a triple garage for any luxury motors the undoubtedly wealthy new occupants may have.
      It boasts 10,000 sq feet and five reception rooms which provide plenty of space to host guests. And it even has a games room complete with table tennis table.
      The house sits at the end of a secure gated drive in an area popular with footballers from both Man Utd and their bitter rivals City.
      Man Utd outcast Sergio Romero returns home to Argentina having not played for Solskjaer in seven months More

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      Nuno Espirito Santo offered to Tottenham as super-agent pushes Wolves boss as Jose Mourinho replacement

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      JORGE MENDES wants to get Nuno Espirito Santo to Tottenham.SunSport understands that Mendes – Wolves boss Nuno’s agent – has made contact with Spurs over a potential switch in the summer after Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
      Jorge Mendes wants to get Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo in at Spurs this summerCredit: Getty
      Super-agent Mendes also wants ex-Benfica boss Bruno Lage to replace Nuno at WolvesCredit: Reuters
      And super-agent Mendes is also believed to be working on bringing another of his Portuguese clients, Bruno Lage, to the UK to replace Nuno at Wolves.
      Nuno signed a contract extension at Molineux until 2023 back in September – and has been happy at the club since arriving in 2017.
      But there is a sense that this may be the right time to move on to a bigger side with the chance of consistent European football after Wolves’ dip in form this season.
      SunSport reported back in January that Mendes was looking for a new Premier League club for his client having seen Nuno’s reputation soar after guiding Wolves back to the top flight.
      And the Portuguese coach was close to replacing Mikel Arteta earlier this campaign before Arsenal’s mini-resurgence over Christmas.
      Nuno is also open to a return to La Liga – where he managed Valencia in 2014-15 – providing there is the chance to compete in Europe.
      Potential Wolves replacement Lage has been out of work since being sacked by Benfica last summer.
      The 44-year-old previously worked in England as assistant to Carlos Carvahal at Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday.
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      Tottenham sacked Mourinho last week, but their search for a new boss as taken a hit after top target Julian Nagelsmann was snatched up by Bayern Munich.
      Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has ruled himself out of the running, while former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been linked.
      Nuno insisted before Wolves’ 4-0 drubbing against Burnley that he is committed to the club and intent on seeing out his current contract.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Harry Kane ODDS-ON to ditch Tottenham this summer with Man City, Man Utd & PSG leading £150m transfer battle More

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      Aubameyang available for Arsenal’s semi-final crunch with Villarreal but skipper not fully fit after Malaria

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      ARSENAL star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is available for the Europa League semi on Thursday night — even though he is still not fully fit after malaria.Aubameyang has not played for the Gunners since the start of the month, having picked up the illness on international duty with Gabon.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could return for Arsenal against Villarreal on ThursdayCredit: Getty
      Aubameyang has not played since the international break after contracting malariaCredit: Instagram @Auba
      The 31-year-old has returned to training but is still trying to build up his overall health levels.
      But with Alexandre Lacazette injured and boss Mikel Arteta left with youngsters as other attacking options, Aubameyang will have no hesitation answering the call if needed against Villarreal.
      His return would be a major boost to Arteta ahead of the first leg.
      There is a hope the Arsenal captain’s fitness level will be enough to see him through because he played against Liverpool and Slavia Prague before being diagnosed with malaria.
      Meanwhile, Stan Kroenke has REFUSED to sell Arsenal – despite fan protests and Spotify founder Daniel Ek plotting a £2.5BILLION bid.
      The American billionaire, 73, released a statement which will come as a crushing blow to Gunners fans.
      Kroenke has had sole ownership of Arsenal since buying out rival shareholder Alisher Usmanov three years ago.
      And from his US base in Denver, Colorado, he is virtually immune to the growing hostility of Gunners fans back in London.
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      The statement read: “In recent days we have noted media speculation regarding a potential takeover bid for Arsenal Football Club. We remain 100 per cent committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the club.
      “We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer.
      “Our ambition for Arsenal remains to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game and our focus remains on improving our competitiveness on the pitch to achieve this.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Arsenal chief Stan Kroenke releases statement ruling out sale despite Daniel Ek plotting £2.5bn offer and fan protests More

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      Jacob Murphy set for Newcastle contract talks as Burnley and Watford eye £6million summer transfer swoop

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      NEWCASTLE will open talks with Jacob Murphy over a new deal — as Burnley and Watford lead the race to sign him.Murphy, 26, is entering the last year of his contract and Toon chiefs want to tie him down given his impressive recent form.
      Jacob Murphy is set to be offered a new Newcastle dealCredit: PA
      They will look to do so once their Premier League status is confirmed.
      That now appears a formality with Steve Bruce’s side sitting nine points above 18th-placed Fulham with five games remaining.
      However, newly-promoted Watford are still set to test their mattle with a £6million for the winger this summer.
      While Burnley, Southampton and Rangers have all declared an interest too.
      Murphy, a boyhood Magpies fan, has played a key role as Newcastle edge towards safety.
      A £12m signing from Norwich in 2017, he has excelled at wing-back in recent weeks having been on the periphery previously under Bruce.
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      And he weighed in with a crucial equaliser in the come-from-behind victory over the Clarets earlier this month.
      Dwight Gayle has already been offered a new deal beyond this summer.
      But fellow out-of-contract striker Andy Carroll is yet to be handed an extension.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

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      European Super League was no two-bit rush job from 12 greedy owners… 300-400 staff were involved for MONTHS

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      DO not be fooled into thinking that the European Super League was a merry band of 12 selfish football club owners with a few people working for them.The opposite is the case.
      Arsenal fans have protested against the Kroenke family since the European Super League shamblesCredit: Getty
      Man Utd fans flew a plane over their draw with Leeds demanding the Glazer family sold the clubCredit: Reuters
      Because at any one time there were between 300 and 400 staff — including bankers, lawyers and communications experts — working in various countries to try and get this thing over the line.
      It is also completely ludicrous to suggest that this potential game-changer was a sudden thing.
      Some of the clubs involved had been working on this for months.
      As for the clubs’ media officers, they only found out a  couple of days  beforehand — and most thought the ESL was a terrible idea.
      Although not all of them.

      ROLL THE DYCHE
      CRYSTAL PALACE have yet to sort out who will be their boss next season — and it is a situation which looks like dragging over the next few weeks.
      Keeping Roy Hodgson, 73, would be the safest option.
      But if Palace chiefs offer him a new deal, there is no longer a 100 per cent guarantee that the former England boss would continue.
      There is a chance Hodgson could quit management in the summer.
      Burnley boss Sean Dyche has always been in the frame for Palace.
      But it would cost nearly £3million to  get him out of Turf Moor — and that hefty figure would not include the rest of his management team.
      Eddie Howe has gone cool on the Celtic job, knowing that Palace were also interested, but there is a concern whether he would be the right fit.
      Sean Dyche is Crystal Palace’s first choice to take over should Roy Hodgson leaveCredit: AP
      One player who is not going anywhere in the summer will be Wilfried Zaha.
      He is now leaving his current advisors Roc Nation, so Zaha is looking for his fourth set of agents in a year.
      Yet Zaha’s issue is not who represents him.
      He is aged 28 and on a fat contract, so the interest from clubs such as Arsenal ended a long time ago.
      But Palace have a lot of recruiting to do as 11 players will be out of contract.
      Yet despite all this, it has still been a  decent season in South London.
      THERE was a shock result in the Croatian fifth division with second-bottom Omladinac winning 5-0 at title-chasing  Matulji.
      And the story gets really weird.
      The new chairman of Matulji is Ivan Brbac, who replaced 56-year-old Sandi Sneler after he died from Covid-19.
      Yet Brbac, 30, still plays for Omladinac — and he played 75 minutes of the famous win over Matulji.
      Imagine that happening in the National League.
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      Norwich players donated their shirts for Cure LeukaemiaCredit: Alamy
      WOLVES, Watford, Crystal Palace and Harry Kane have all donated signed shirts for an auction in aid of Cure Leukaemia.
      Norwich also told players they had to donate their shirts from Saturday’s game at QPR for the auction — even if they had won the title.
      In the end, Norwich’s title party was put on hold so the players will be able to keep those prized shirts from their special day if, as expected, they win the Championship.

      GARETH SOUTHGATE was hoping each team at Euro 2020 would have squads of 23.
      He has always felt this size is a better test for a manager.
      Equally, the England boss is relaxed with the fact that Uefa are set to allow squads of 26 at the summer tournament.
      Southgate will name his squad in the week beginning May 24.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

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      Wayne Rooney consigned to bench as footy star waits for dinner with his wife Coleen

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      WAYNE Rooney was consigned to the bench as he waited for his dinner with wife Coleen.The Derby manager, 35, looked deep in thought while his other half, also 35, studied her phone.
      Wayne looked deep in thought while Coleen scrolled through her phone
      Wayne and Coleen were picking up dinner near their home in Prestbury, CheshireCredit: AFP – Getty
      The pair had popped out with their Pomeranian Pip to collect a food order from a café near their home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
      It came as Wayne vowed to back Coleen “all the way” in her Wagatha Christie court fight.
      A source told The Sun Online last year: “Wayne and Coleen Rooney are stronger than ever after spending lockdown together.
      “This is the longest time they have spent together uninterrupted since they got married, and Coleen has fallen in love with Wayne all over again.
      “She says that she now remembers what a wonderful, caring companion he is – and an amazing dad to the boys.”
      Wayne has vowed to back Coleen ‘all the way’ in her Wagatha Christie court fightCredit: Rex Features
      Coleen pictured last yearCredit: Splash
      Wayne has signed an 18-month contract with Derby CountyCredit: Getty

      The insider continued: “They’ve been through the mill, but the last couple of months have been a revelation to them all.
      “It’s going really well and truly bonded them as a loving, family unit.”
      After a year playing football in the US, 34-year-old Wayne signed an 18-month contract with Derby County, keeping him closer to home for Coleen and the boys.

      Nicky Butt in line for Wayne Rooney reunion at Derby after quitting Manchester United coaching role More

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      John Stones set for massive £39m Man City contract extension after reviving Etihad career

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      JOHN STONES is in advanced talks with Manchester City over a new five-year contract worth up to £39million.The England defender has had a stunning season at the Etihad, becoming a key player under Pep Guardiola.
      John Stones is set for a stunning new Man City contract worth £39mCredit: AFP
      It was understood he was close to being axed last year, but his return to fitness and form have seen him become a regular Man City starter.
      And Stones is set to be rewarded with new £150,000-a-week terms, with his contract having just one year left from the summer.
      He will also be handed a number of incentives and bonuses for trophies, appearances and clean sheets.
      Guardiola wanted the 26-year-old to re-focus on his football before tying him down to another deal.
      It comes as Kevin De Bruyne signed up for another four years at the Etihad, worth more than £300,000 a week.
      Stones has helped City to an almost certain Premier League title, which can be sealed on Sunday if results go their way.
      He missed the Carabao Cup final win over Tottenham on Sunday through suspension, but will be back to face PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday.
      And the ex-Everton ace is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros this summer.
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      Stones has been desperate to secure his long-term future with City, and has never wanted to leave.
      He was one of Guardiola’s first signings when he joining from the Toffees for £50m in 2016 – going on to win two league title.
      The former Barnsley centre-back has also lifted three EFL Cups and an FA Cup, but injury issues stuttered his career.
      The Three Lions man has created a solid defensive partnership with £65m Portugal star Ruben Dias this campaign.
      Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho are set to leave City this summer when their contracts run out  
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Pep Guardiola praises Man City’s incredible quality against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup final making it their fourth win in a row More