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      England aces Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham breach Covid rules at party 36 hours before Three Lions duty

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      ENGLAND stars Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham have been filmed attending a packed birthday party ahead of today’s squad meet-up.
      The football stars were in a gathering of about 20 friends and family, clearly flouting strict Covid-19 laws.

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      Birthday boy Tammy Abraham dancing among guests on Saturday

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      Abraham folds over laughing as Chilwell grins at the camera

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      Singing Sancho belts out a tune as his face mask hangs around his chin

      With all three due to play against Wales on Thursday, it is feared they have put the national team in jeopardy.
      There seemed to be little social distancing at Saturday’s surprise bash for Abraham’s 23rd birthday.
      The party at his London mansion came just 36 hours before the trio report for England duty. 
      One reveller said: “It was a great party. We wanted to do something nice for his birthday. But maybe we didn’t think it through.”

      Coronavirus laws ban people from mixing in groups of more than six, with fines of up to £10,000.
      Footage from the party, following Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in which left-back Chilwell scored, circulated on social media. One video shows Chilwell, 23, laughing with team-mate Abraham after spotting him chatting to a blonde.
      Striker Abraham is filmed alongside his girlfriend, Leah Monroe, as a group of about 20 sing Happy Birthday.
      Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho, 20, with a mask around his chin, is seen dancing in a crowd.

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      Chelsea team-mates Abraham and Chilwell on the pitchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Jadon Sancho plays as a winger for Borussia DortmundCredit: Rex Features

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      The footballers’ breach of Covid rules comes as a headache for Gareth SouthgateCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      The FA examined footage and said there will be no change to the England team at this stage.
      There has been no reaction yet from England boss Gareth Southgate with players due this morning at St George’s Park, Staffs.
      Stars will be tested for Covid-19 and stay in an isolation bubble before the Wembley friendly.

      Southgate left two other young stars, Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood, out of the squad for breaching Covid protocols with two Icelandic beauties last month.
      A source close to Abraham said of the party: “He genuinely had no idea it was going to happen. He and Sancho didn’t drink alcohol.

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      Abraham and Chilwell at the birthday bash

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      The party was held at Abraham’s plush London mansion 

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      Sancho was among a group of about 20 singing Happy Birthday

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      Jadon Sancho was also filmed dancing in a crowd

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      A source close to Tammy Abraham said the party was a surprise to him

      “It was family and very close friends only — and they even did temperature checks on arrival.”
      Abraham said: “I arrived home to find a small surprise gathering.
      “Though I was totally unaware this was planned, I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for the naivety shown for the organisation and attending of this gathering.
      “All I can do now is learn from it, apologise to everyone and ensure it never happens again.”

      Gareth Southgate hits back at Jose Mourinho and insists it’s Tottenham’s job to look after Harry Kane for England
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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      Furious Southgate to tell England stars to stop embarrassing themselves after Sancho, Abraham & Chilwell’s Covid breach

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      FURIOUS Gareth Southgate will tell his England players to stop embarrassing themselves.
      Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho were pictured breaking Covid rules by going to a party – despite six people being the limit of socialising.

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      England’s Chelsea duo Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell were at the party, breaching the rule of six

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      England’s Borussia Dortmund attacker Jadon Sancho was also at the gathering

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      Three Lions’ boss Gareth Southgate says his players must adapt to the situationCredit: Rex Features

      Southgate will hammer home the point to the players at a team meeting at St George’s Park ahead of Thursday’s match with Wales.
      Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden broke lockdown rules in Iceland by inviting two women to their hotel.
      Southgate was already planning to address his squad that includes several uncapped and inexperienced players.
      The England boss will not “read the riot act” to his players but will warn them firmly they have to behave.

      All the players will be tested for coronavirus today before having a light training session because so many players were in Premier League action yesterday.
      ‘STRANGE ENVIRONMENT’
      Last week Southgate said: “I guess what I would say is that players who have worked with us for a long time know how we operate and know that we won’t duck decisions.
      “What we found in the last camp was lots of new players coming in so I think that maybe as a reminder when you have got lots of new players that you have to be a little more… not assuming that people are going to understand how you work and pick it up from the rest of the group.
      “In what we are dealing with at the moment the interaction with the group is more difficult.

      “Players are not allowed to sit so long together and chat.
      “It’s hard for senior players to mentor younger ones in quite the same way because we are having to sit in masks all the time, we can only sit together for 15 minutes.

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      England axed Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood after they broke lockdown rules by inviting girls back to the team hotel in IcelandCredit: Reuters
      “We are having to socially distance. It’s a really strange environment and not so easy for players coming in.
      “But I think always, you have to work at culture. It never is embedded forever, Its constantly evolving.
      “The team group is constantly evolving as players come and go.
      “So you have always got to keep affecting that, keep addressing that and we will discuss the shirt, what it means to wear the shirt and some reminders on how we work but that’s not a case of reading the riot act.
      “That’s a case of asking the players what sort of team they want to be involved in and be a part of and I think they have shown so many positives over the last years but we had not been together for 10 months.

      “We addressed some of that last time round but obviously when something like what has happened has happened we have to revisit that.”
      England face Wales in a friendly before Nations League matches against Belgium on Sunday and Denmark three days later.
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Buyako Saka, Harvey Barnes and Dean Henderson  are hoping to win their first caps.

      England footballers Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho filmed at surprise birthday party for Tammy Abraham More

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      Three Lions stars Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho flout Covid rules 36 hours before England duty at party

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      ENGLAND stars Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho have been filmed attending a packed birthday party ahead of today’s squad meet-up.
      The footballers were in a gathering of about 20 friends and family, clearly flouting strict Covid-19 laws.

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      Birthday boy Tammy Abraham dancing among guests on Saturday

      11

      Abraham folds over laughing as Chilwell grins at the camera

      11

      Singing Sancho belts out a tune as his face mask hangs around his chin

      With all three due to play against Wales on Thursday, it is feared they have put the national team in jeopardy. There seemed to be little social distancing at Saturday’s surprise bash for Abraham’s 23rd birthday. The party at his London mansion came just 36 hours before the trio report for England duty. 
      One reveller said: “It was a great party. We wanted to do something nice for his birthday. But maybe we didn’t think it through.”
      Coronavirus laws ban people from mixing in groups of more than six, with fines of up to £10,000. Footage from the party, following Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in which left-back Chilwell scored, circulated on social media. One video shows Chilwell, 23, laughing with team-mate Abraham after spotting him chatting to a blonde.
      Striker Abraham is filmed alongside his girlfriend, Leah Monroe, as a group of about 20 sing Happy Birthday. Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho, 20, with a mask around his chin, is seen dancing in a crowd.

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      Chelsea team-mates Abraham and Chilwell on the pitchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Jadon Sancho plays as a winger for Borussia DortmundCredit: Rex Features

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      The footballers’ breach of Covid rules comes as a headache for Gareth SouthgateCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      The FA examined footage and said there will be no change to the England team at this stage.
      There has been no reaction yet from England boss Gareth Southgate with players due this morning at St George’s Park, Staffs. Stars will be tested for Covid-19 and stay in an isolation bubble before the Wembley friendly.
      Southgate left two other young stars, Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood, out of the squad for breaching Covid protocols with two Icelandic beauties last month.
      A source close to Abraham said of the party: “He genuinely had no idea it was going to happen. He and Sancho didn’t drink alcohol.

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      Abraham and Chilwell at the birthday bash

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      The party was held at Abraham’s plush London mansion 

      11

      Sancho was among a group of about 20 singing Happy Birthday

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      Jadon Sancho was also filmed dancing in a crowd

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      A source close to Tammy Abraham said the party was a surprise to him

      “It was family and very close friends only — and they even did temperature checks on arrival.”
      Abraham said: “I arrived home to find a small surprise gathering.
      “Though I was totally unaware this was planned, I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for the naivety shown for the organisation and attending of this gathering.
      “All I can do now is learn from it, apologise to everyone and ensure it never happens again.”

      Gareth Southgate hits back at Jose Mourinho and insists it’s Tottenham’s job to look after Harry Kane for England
      GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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      West Ham are blowing everyone away as David Moyes’ switch to 5-4-1 works wonders in Leicester and Wolves thrashings

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      WEST HAM aren’t just blowing bubbles — they’re blowing teams away in the Premier League thanks to a system that’s got them flying high.
      It may have taken them a while to get it right but David Moyes and his men are thriving following a return to a 5-4-1 formation.

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      West Ham ran riot away at Leicester on Sunday as they eased to a 3-0 victoryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They have now had two clean sheets in a row after just one in their previous 20 Premier League matches.
      And in those last couple of games they have had 31 per cent and 37 per cent possession — but scored seven goals.
      With the 5-4-1 set-up — which Moyes used in his first spell — they have got pace to get forward to support Michail Antonio really quickly.
      That’s what they did against Wolves last week.

      They sat back and just countered really well to grab a 4-0 win — and they did exactly the same on Sunday as they won 3-0 at Leicester.
      They defended with 6½ and attacked with 3½, with Tomas Soucek doing a bit of both.
      They had a back five with Declan Rice sitting and Soucek occasionally getting forward.
      But it was mainly Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen supporting Antonio, who was magnificent playing against three central defenders.

      When West Ham are playing a team where they are expected to dominate possession, things will have to change, with them probably switching to a 3-4-3 — but the same personnel can be used.
      But their next three matches are Tottenham away, Manchester City at home and Liverpool at Anfield — and 5-4-1 could work well for those games.
      They played 4-2-3-1 at home for their first game, losing 2-0 to Newcastle, and changed to the 5-4-1 system at Arsenal — and it seems to have worked really well for them.
      There is a certain irony that they have found this winning formula when Moyes is having to self-isolate.
      Fans might ask why it has taken so long to put their faith in the system again.
      But that is football — it is just maybe after they got beaten by Newcastle, they went to Arsenal wanting to be defensively sound and still a real threat on the counter-attack.
      It worked so well, they have stuck with it and it looks like they are on to a winner.

      West Ham clinch £4m transfer for Vladimir Coufal as they sign Slavia Prague right-back on three-year deal More

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      Lionel Messi is a God but the current mess Barcelona are in shows even he may be running out of miracles

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      THINGS are bound to look better after a 4-0 victory.
      I’m not talking about West Ham’s against Wolves, although that certainly brightened our start to the season.

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      LIonel Messi decided to stick around at Barcelona – but it might just be for one more seasonCredit: AFP or licensors

      No, it was Barcelona’s against Villarreal.
      In Catalonia at least, Barca are regarded as the biggest club in the world, the best-supported club in the world — with the best player in the world.
      The fact they failed to win LaLiga last season, they haven’t won the Champions’ League in five years, lost a fortune and two managers in a few months and that Lionel Messi was set to go elsewhere a few weeks ago is considered by millions of supporters to be temporary and misleading.
      That may well be. But even the current Barca are regarded by the owners as a mess brought about by the policies of the people who voted them onto the board.

      Because, as you may well know, the club is owned by the fans.
      This is both a strength and a weakness.
      Strength is the democratic connection between supporters and the club; weakness can be in overall management structure.
      No fewer than 11 of 21 directors have left in recent times.

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      Ronald Koeman is the new man in the Barca dugoutCredit: Reuters

      In the immediate post-Pep Guardiola years, the team maintained their success rate, winning LaLiga repeatedly and the treble in 2014-15.
      This was quite a feat for Josep Maria Bartomeu, who was appointed emergency president in 2014 before being elected two years later.
      Neymar’s sale to Paris Saint-Germain in the same year coincided with a change in fortunes.
      Soon the erosion was to become a landslide.
      And there is no doubt that the ageing team was badly mishandled. Led by Messi, the veteran players oozed power.
      Managers came and went — Gerardo Martino, Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien.

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      Messi is sticking aorund for another year, then tipped to join Manchester CityCredit: AFP or licensors
      Players did the same and nearly £1billion was spent on no fewer than 28 of them.
      Neymar broke away from the famous MSN formation, departing for a world-record £200m, and now Luis Suarez has gone to Atletico Madrid, leaving only the unhappy Messi.
      Most of us would be happy on a reputed £600,000-a-week but the great Argentinian knows a slump when he plays in it.
      He already seems determined to leave at the end of his contract next year and he will re-start his career at 34, possibly with mentor Guardiola at Manchester City.
      Like Sir Alex Ferguson, Guardiola has the ability to re-create champions.
      Bartomeu said he will not stand for re-election next year, deserting new boss Ronald Koeman, once renowned as a free-kick scorer during six seasons at Barca.

      As a manager of nine clubs, including Southampton and Everton, free kicks are about all his teams have won.
      And this Barcelona is no free kick of a job. He has been chosen, I suspect, to be the tough guy Bartomeu requires.
      The haste and lack of appreciation with which Suarez was hustled away to Atletico is Koeman’s statement.
      Messi was so upset he claimed his mate was ‘thrown out.’
      Messi is a God in Catalonia but he is running short of football miracles.
      Barcelona’s dependence on him may have become a deadweight and it is certainly possible that a new president will have a clearer view once he goes. More

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      Callum Hudson-Odoi transfer exit a possibility before deadline day, admits Chelsea boss Frank Lampard

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      FRANK LAMPARD admitted he cannot say for certain that Callum Hudson-Odoi will not make a deadline-beating move to Bayern Munich.
      The Chelsea chief insists Hudson-Odoi, who made his first Prem start of the season in yesterday’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, is a key part of his plans.

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      Callum Hudson-Odoi is once again being courted by Bayern MunichCredit: Rex Features

      Yet Bayern also declared their interest in the England attacker and are desperate to sign him.
      Hudson-Odoi, 19, only signed a five-year deal at the Blues 12 months ago and Lampard will hold talks with him before tomorrow’s deadline.
      Lampard said: “There is no definitive answer — by Monday we will know the answer.
      “Bayern might have declared their interest, which is one thing, but Callum is absolutely part of my plans.

      “What Callum wants comes into consideration.
      “He is our player and everything has to be right for everyone.
      “Callum showed what we wanted, especially in the second half when he was more aggressive, took on the full-back and got crosses in.”
      Bayern were linked with Hudson-Odoi before he agreed to his long-term contract with Chelsea.

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      Frank Lampard has refused to rule out a move away for Callum Hudson-OdoiCredit: PA:Press Association

      And they remain big fans, with boss Hansi Flick hailing the Chelsea attacker as ‘one of the biggest talents’.
      Quizzed over Hudson-Odoi in a press conference, Flick said: “I don’t know what will happen.
      “But he is one of the biggest talents in his position. So it is normal that a club like Bayern deals with him.”

      Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi shows off amazing ball control with Christian Pulisic More

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      Man Utd’s transfer priority should be a centre-forward and centre-back NOT Jadon Sancho, claims Teddy Sheringham

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      TEDDY SHERINGHAM says Manchester United need a world-class signing — but not Jadon Sancho.
      The former United and Spurs star believes bringing in a top-class centre-forward or centre-back — or preferably both — should be the priority at Old Trafford.

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      Manchester United should not be prioritising a move for Jadon Sancho, according to Teddy SheringhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Red Devils legend Teddy Sheringham believes his old club need a centre-back and a centre-forwardCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sheringham said: “I’m not sure that Sancho is the answer to what Manchester United need at the moment.
      “They’ve got tricky wingers. They’ve got flying players. If anything, they still need players down the spine of the team.
      “If they are going to be a top team, they need a top centre- forward and another top centre-half to play alongside Maguire.
      “You look at Liverpool and the signings they have made, Thiago and Jota. They are fantastic acquisitions, to make them even better than they were last year.

      “Have Man Utd done that? I don’t think so.”
      And Sheringham knows from experience that big-name transfers can have not only a direct effect on a team, but can also have an indirect impact on an entire club.
      Sheringham said: “I go back to when Jurgen Klinsmann came to Tottenham.
      “He was the biggest lift I’ve ever known at a football club.

      They’ve got tricky wingers. They’ve got flying players. If anything, they still need players down the spine of the team.
      Teddy Sheringham on Jadon Sancho

      “Around that time, Ossie Ardiles was the manager and he actually told me he was thinking about signing Maradona. I was like, ‘Wow, Ossie, let’s do it’.
      “About ten days later he came to me and said, ‘Look, I’m not going to sign Maradona. There’s too much baggage with him. But I think you’ll like his replacement — Jurgen Klinsmann.’
      “I was blown away by his name and by the way he came in and trained and played and lifted the whole club.”
      Sheringham believes the second coming of Gareth Bale at Tottenham is already having a similar impact, even before the Welshman has kicked a ball for the club.
      The former England striker, who had two spells at Spurs, said: “I can’t think of a better signing, apart from Lionel Messi, that Tottenham could have made to make them a better team all round.
      “I think he’s already lifted everybody just by being at the club. When he starts playing, it will be even better.

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      Jurgen Klinsmann’s arrival at Tottenham lifted the whole clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “That presence of a top player again, on the pitch, just gives you so much. It gives other people a bit more space.
      “When Bale plays, there’s going to be a defender on him plus a midfield player looking out for him, plus the winger, and that gives other people space on the pitch.
      “He might not play 50 games out of 50 for Tottenham. But the 30 games that he will play, I think he’ll be a great acquisition. A fantastic signing.”
      But Sheringham says the jury is still very much out on whether Jose Mourinho is the right man to take Spurs forward.
      He believes that if Mourinho can win a trophy and/or take Tottenham back into the Champions League, supporters will tolerate the team playing less attractive football.
      He said: “I know they were very good in the League Cup against Chelsea but that’s the first time I’ve seen it from a Tottenham team under Jose, I think.
      “I think he still needs to prove to everyone in the Tottenham camp, to the supporters, that he can get back to when he first came over and was managing Chelsea.
      “Winning would be enough, right this minute.

      I think he still needs to prove to everyone in the Tottenham camp, to the supporters, that he can get back to when he first came over and was managing Chelsea.
      Teddy Sherringham on Jose Mourinho

      “I know a lot of Tottenham supporters and I think they would take a George Graham sort of 1-0, 1-0, 1-0, to take them to cup finals and win the cup finals, or even better than that, to get you up the league.
      “He’s been brought in because Daniel Levy’s thinking on the matter is, ‘Sod all this fancy football and not winning anything, we need to start competing and winning stuff’.
      “Hopefully that’s the reaction you are going to get from Jose and his players.”
      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Sheringham’s old United team-mate and fellow 1999 European Cup Final goalscorer, is also under pressure to take United forward.
      Sheringham said: “He’s the nicest man I’ve ever met in football. He has a lovely family, lovely wife and two kids.
      “I was so surprised to hear that he was going into football management.
      “I thought he might be too nice, but I think he’s adapted to it very well.
      “He’s still a very young manager so he’s going to make mistakes and he’s going to be naive in certain aspects.

      “At the moment, I think he’s doing OK. He has to do better than last season.
      “If there is progression in the football club, I think you keep your manager.
      “As soon as there isn’t progression, the question marks are going to be out.
      “If you’re going to go one better than last year, you’ve got to be winning things and finishing closer to the top teams.”
      A big signing would be a big help to Solskjaer. Just not necessarily Sancho.

      Man Utd open Ousmane Dembele transfer talks with Barcelona as they eye season-long loan amid Jadon Sancho struggles More

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      Chelsea ready to pay £100k a week to ship Loftus-Cheek out on loan with Blues desperate to get midfielder some game time

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      RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK could be  loaned out on the ‘cheap’ — with Chelsea keen to get him some game time.
      Midfielder Loftus-Cheek, 24, might follow Ross Barkley out of Stamford Bridge as Frank Lampard shakes up his squad and looks to keep them sharp.

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      Southampton have been linked with a loan swoop for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Chelsea could reportedly offer him in part-exchange to West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s fellow England midfielder Ross Barkley has already left Chelsea on loan for Aston VillaCredit: Reuters

      Loftus-Cheek is on a stunning £9million-a-year contract but Chelsea are prepared to pay £100,000 a week out of his £173,000 pay packet to get him a  new temporary home.
      Southampton have been looking into the package while others are considering it before the close of business on Monday.
      Saints are weighing up whether he is better value than Nice midfielder Wylan Cyprien, although his club want a guaranteed buy at the end of a year,
      Aston Villa looked into a move but chose Barkley, who is on MORE.

      There are also suggestions Chelsea would be prepared to offer West Ham Loftus-Cheek AND Germany centre-back Antonio Rudiger in exchange for versatile England star Declan Rice.
      Lampard is thought to fancy Rice for the holding role in midfield.
      And the Stamford Bridge legend said of Loftus-Cheek last week: “I’m very open with Ruben.
      “We’ve had a couple of conversations in the past week.

      “Ruben’s fit as a fiddle, he can play week in week out if he needs to, coming off the back of a lot of work.
      “He would have been playing games and fitter earlier, if it wasn’t for lockdown.
      “There’s a possibility that Ruben may go out to play games, because I think that would be great for him.
      “We hold him in very high regard here, I certainly do, and that could be a good option for him.
      “If that’s not the right option, he’ll be competitive in this squad as well, because of the quality that he has, and, hopefully, be a big plus for us.” More