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      Kai Havertz skips pre-season weigh-in as Chelsea close in on club-record £90m transfer

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      KAI HAVERTZ skipped his pre-season weigh-in as he draws closer to a £90million Chelsea move.
      The forward was the only member of Bayer Leverkusen’s squad absent as they reported back for duty yesterday.

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      Kai Havertz is closing in on a club-record move to ChelseaCredit: AFP
      Chelsea have agreed a club-record fee to sign the German ace after months of haggling.
      He is set to become boss Frank Lampard’s FIFTH signing of a summer spree shaking English football.
      Havertz, 21, is set to pen a five-year contract worth more than £300,000 a week to catapult him into the top earnings league.
      And he will join Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva as a legion of new players being bought to transform the Blues into title challengers.

      Striker Werner scored in his first appearance on Saturday in a 1-1 friendly draw at Brighton having joined from RB Leipzig for £48m.
      Chelsea clinched £50m left-back Chilwell last Thursday and centre-half Silva joined on a free transfer the same day.
      Lampard, though, is cursing the return of international football for disrupting his preparations.

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      Frank Lampard is making serious moves in the transfer marketCredit: Andy Hooper

      Many of his squad are already scattered around Europe to report for their countries.

      And he said: “This international break is not a positive for us at all, most clubs will tell you that.
      “It is very difficult to try to put our team together to work on the things we need to.”

      Hakim Ziyech limps off with injury on Chelsea debut vs Brighton in huge blow before start of Premier League season More

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      Kepa Arrizabalaga in Chelsea U-turn as he snubs transfer exit to stay and fight for No1 jersey

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      KEPA ARRIZABALAGA has done a shock U-turn and wants to fight for his Chelsea future.
      He became the world’s most expensive keeper when the Blues paid £71.6million to get the Spanish stopper from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

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      Kepa Arrizabalaga wants to stay and fight for his Chelsea futureCredit: PA:Press Association
      But only four weeks ago, Kepa, 25, was axed for the FA Cup final and a Champions League clash at Bayern Munich to leave him fearing he would never play for Chelsea again.
      It was the climax to the most troublesome period of his career while he struggled to convince manager Frank Lampard to show faith in him.
      But he has repaired relations with the chief and is impressed by the club’s defensive strengthening recently.
      Chelsea have splashed more than £136m this summer, bringing in, among others, left-back Ben Chilwell and centre-half Thiago Silva.

      Kepa is now convinced his best option is to stay put rather than seek a move from Stamford Bridge.
      He still has four years left on a £150,000-a-week contract and Chelsea would want to recoup at least £50m of their transfer fee back. This has put off clubs offering him a way out.
      Kepa played 45 minutes of Saturday’s 1-1 friendly draw at Brighton but that is hardly a sign his place is secure.

      Chelsea have been linked with a string of keepers with the latest being Rennes’ Edouard Mendy in an £18m deal.

      Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak are others to have triggered interest.
      Kepa felt he was being made a scapegoat last season as the Blues leaked 54 goals in the Premier League.

      Hakim Ziyech limps off with injury on Chelsea debut vs Brighton in huge blow before start of Premier League season More

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      Harry Maguire was arrested by top undercover police from mainland Greece drafted in to target organised crime on Mykonos

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      HARRY Maguire was arrested by top undercover cops drafted from mainland Greece to target organised crime on Mykonos. The detectives were on the holiday island to monitor drug dealing and protection rackets when they were called in to help detain the England defender. It emerged on Saturday they were specially trained in anti-corruption and bribery […] More

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      Liverpool want Ismaila Sarr and are prepared to meet £40m Watford asking price to seal transfer

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      LIVERPOOL are ready to bid for speed king Ismaila Sarr — and match Watford’s stunning £40MILLION asking price.
      Senegal ace Sarr, 22,  is now top of Liverpool’s hitlist because he can play two roles in attack, either as a wideman or through the middle.

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      Liverpool are ready to meet Watford’s £40m asking price for Ismaila SarrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      That gives him the edge on their other favourite — Wolves’ Spanish  ace Adama Traore — who is an out and out winger.
      On top of that Sarr would be more prepared to wait for a regular start at Anfield while Traore, 24, would want more game time.
      Watford are prepared to sell and informed the Reds of the price a month ago, as we revealed. Now Jurgen Klopp’s transfer team are getting serious.

      The move would also encourage the pack chasing Rhian Brewster, 20, to think they have a chance of BUYING rather than loaning him.

      Sheffield United and Palace are major admirers of the striker.
      Brewster’s future could be under the spotlight after he missed a penalty in the Community Shield shootout defeat to Arsenal yesterday.
      The youngster was the only one of ten takers to fluff his lines after a 1-1 draw in normal time sent the game to spotkicks.

      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring for Arsenal in the first half.

      But Takumi Minamino’s second-half equaliser made sure of a shootout.
      But Brewster fluffed his lines, leaving Aubameyang to score the winning penalty for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

      Arsenal celebrate and lift the Community Shield after beating Liverpool at Wembley More

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      Footballers will take bodyguards with them on holiday after Harry Maguire drama

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      HARRY Maguire and other footballers will take bodyguards with them on holiday after the star’s court drama in Greece.
      We can reveal that several Premier League stars have contacted specialist firms in the past week.

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      Premiere League stars will follow in Wayne Rooney’s footsteps and hire bodyguards for their holidaysCredit: Xposure

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      Harry Maguire was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery but has been granted a retrialCredit: AFP or licensors
      A source said: “A lot of the lads have contacted security firms after seeing what happened to Harry.”
      And England international Maguire, 27, has admitted he would take minders with him on holiday in future following his arrest after a row outside a bar in Mykonos.
      Speaking in his BBC interview, he said: “Security is probably something that I need to look into.
      “I don’t want to do it – I don’t want security coming away with me.

      “But in the current climate and situation I find myself in, would it have helped – yeah for sure.”
      Yesterday one firm, which provides security for dozens of stars, said demand has gone “through the roof” since Maguire’s dramatic arrest.
      The bodyguards, who often include former SAS soldiers and ex-policemen, travel with players and watch them around the clock.

      Many even fit panic alarms and CCTV cameras in the players’ rooms to ensure they can immediately react if they are targeted by local gangs or criminals.

      Last week Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney admitted he had used bodyguards.
      And ex-England goalkeeper Rob Green said it was inevitable players would pay for protection in the future.

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      Maguire has since said he would take minders with him on holiday in futureCredit: BBC

      Harry Maguire tells the BBC he is ‘confident that something happened with Daisy, there was a mark on her arm’
      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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      Brit trolls attack Greek lawyer in Harry Maguire case and brand him a ‘crook’

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      TROLLS have blasted the Greek lawyer in the Harry Maguire case, branding him a “crook”.
      Ioannis Paradissis, representing two cops allegedly attacked by the footballer, has been targeted by Brits online.
      ⚠️Click here for the latest news on Harry Maguire

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      Lawyer Ioannis Paradissis is representing two Greek cops allegedly attacked by Harry Maguire

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      Harry Maguire was arrested on the Greek island of Mykonos on August 20Credit: PA:Press Association
      One called him a “knobhead” and wrote: “How bad are you, what a crook.”
      Another claimed Greek lawyer pals living in London agreed with him when he wrote: “Murderers and rapists are shown more justice than Maguire and his colleagues were afforded.”
      One City fan even emailed and said: “I’m actually a Manchester City fan who would love for Maguire to be found guilty, but I still believe it’s his right to have a fair trial.”

      He continued: “How can you go home tonight after being involved in that farce!
      “Such unprofessionalism shown from yourself and the Greek authorities, it is a complete embarrassment to you and also Greece itself.”

      Another called the lawyer a “fool” and told him: “You should hang your head in shame”.
      Mr Paradissis got the abuse hours after the footballer was convicted of assault, attacking a cop, verbal assault and bribery.

      He said: “I’m appalled that people can say such things and defend Harry Maguire. They should be angry with him, not me.”

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      The Man Utd captain was released from Greek police custody on August 22Credit: AFP or licensors

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      Harry Maguire (top left, blue cap) leaves a court building with his lawyer Constantine Darivas (left) on the Greek island of SyrosCredit: AFP or licensors

      Greek prosecutor blasts Harry Maguire for failing to apologise for boozy Mykonos brawl
      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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      Aston Villa prepared to offer Ollie Watkins £70,000-a-week deal to beat Fulham to transfer

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      ASTON VILLA look ready to splash the cash for Ollie Watkins — and offer him a £70,000-a-week contract.
      Villa boss Dean Smith wants his old Brentford hotshot.

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      Aston Villa want to secure Ollie Watkins’ signature from Brentford with £70,000-a-week wagesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And he is being backed by the Villa hierarchy to buy him AND put a personal package together that beats all rival offers. 
      Watkins, 24, plans to quit the Bees and Villa are jostling with Fulham for his signature.
      And their plan to beat the opposition with the cash burning a hole in their pocket looks set to pay off.

      Villa have also keen on Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard in a potential £30million deal, with Jack Grealish tipped to join Manchester United.

      SunSport understands Smith is interested in Watkins’ teammate Said Benrahma too.
      Should the pair leave Brentford, it would spell the end of Thomas Frank’s BMW attack, leaving just Bryan Mbeumo at the new stadium.
      It could get even worse for the beaten Championship playoff finalists too.

      SunSport can reveal Rico Henry is attracting plenty of attention from Premier League clubs.

      Brighton and Leeds are both interested in the flying left-back, who is a key cog in the Brentford machine.
      Villa boss Smith is also keeping tabs on his former player.

      Aston Villa offer Jack Grealish bumper £100k-a-week new deal More

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      Harry Maguire given an extended break by Man Utd boss Solskjaer after Greece verdict

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      HARRY MAGUIRE has been given an extended break by Manchester United following his Greek nightmare.
      Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will let his captain, 27, return to training later than the rest of the squad.

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      Harry Maguire will return to training later than his Man Utd team-mates

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      Maguire was found guilty of assaulting police, resisting arrest and attempted bribery in MykonosCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Maguire is fighting to clear his name after being found guilty  of assaulting police, resisting arrest and attempted bribery in Mykonos.
      United’s players are due back at Carrington on Wednesday but Maguire will not link up until the weekend.
      Wolves’ Conor Coady has been called up by England as replacement for Maguire, who was originally named in their squad before being axed after Tuesday’s guilty verdict.
      There was also a first senior call-up for Arsenal utility man Ashley Maitland-Niles last night.

      England’s 25-man squad report to St George’s Park tomorrow for coronavirus testing.
      ⚠️Click here for the latest news on Harry Maguire

      Boss Gareth Southgate’s team face Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday before playing Denmark in Copenhagen three days later.

      Having been found guilty in a Syros court, Maguire successfully appealed, meaning there will now be a retrial.
      After that, he held more talks with Southgate and again made himself available for the upcoming matches.
      But Southgate stressed he should take some time away.

      The defender looks certain to return to the squad, though, for a triple header in October at home to Wales, Belgium and Denmark.
      Solskjaer will be missing other players this week, too.
      Paul Pogba is self isolating after contracting coronavirus while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is in quarantine for 14 days after going on holiday to Dubai.

      Harry Maguire denies being drunk during Mykonos brawl and says ‘I can handle a few drinks’ More