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      in Soccer

      Barcelona’s next president has already decided to SACK Ronald Koeman… and replace him with Xavi

      by

      RONALD KOEMAN has always called it his dream job.
      Yet the Dutchman may soon be waking up in hot sweats given the nightmare nature of the task he is inheriting at Barcelona.

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      New Barcelona chief Ronald Koeman is ready to oust some of their 30-something legends but could be booted out himself next yearCredit: EPA

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      Nou Camp icon Xavi, now boss of Quatari side Al Sadd, is wanted as Barca manager from 2021-22 if Victor Font becomes presidentCredit: AFP or licensors
      The ex-Southampton and Everton boss takes over at the club where he was a legendary European Cup- winning player, amid an almighty sewage storm.
      He arrives in the aftermath of an historic Champions League humiliation by Bayern Munich — which saw his predecessor Quique Setien sacked.
      Koeman has been told he must oversee the departures of some of Barca’s modern-day greats,  including Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez.
      And he must do so in the knowledge that the favourite to become club president next year has vowed to SACK him, even if he wins the Champions League.

      Koeman has spent 23 years in coaching and management waiting for this chance to take charge at the  Nou Camp — and quit as  Holland  national team boss to do so.
      And he did not mince his words when insisting Barcelona’s 8-2 quarter-final defeat by Bayern was unacceptable and that he only wanted players  fully committed to the club.

      It is not a revolution. We must seek the best for the club and if that implies changes, we will make changes… what we saw against Bayern is not the Barca we will see.

      Koeman said: “We have to make changes, the image of the other day against Bayern is not what we want. We will work hard to regain prestige.
      “I only want to work with people who want to be here — if they are not happy here, let them say so.

      “I want people who are going to give everything for Barca.
      “It is not a revolution. We must seek the best for the club and if that implies changes, we will make changes. But we will do so by talking to the players.
      “We are clear that what we saw against Bayern is not the Barca  we will see — we want a very different image.”
      Yet before a masked Koeman had been unveiled on the Nou Camp pitch, he had already been warned  his tenure could be short-lived.

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      Uruguay and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 33, is likely to be one of the big-name casualties at BarcelonaCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      Gerard Pique, also 33, shows the shock that reverberated around Barcelona as Bayern humbled them, and knows he too could be leavingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      That was the message from club presidential candidate Victor Font, who is widely expected to unseat Josep Maria Bartomeu in an election in March.
      Font hardly rolled out the red carpet for the man whose goal won Barca their first European Cup, under Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, in 1992.
      He insisted he wants another Barca playing great, Xavi, to take over if he wins the presidential vote.
      Font warned: “Even if Koeman  has a great season, I will not change my plans.
      “If I become president, Koeman will not be the coach of Barca in the 2021-22 season.
      “Xavi understands that all the  puzzles in the club must be put together.
      MESSI ONE OF EIGHT ‘UNTOUCHABLES’
      “Who will lead the team will be decided by the board of directors — in our case it will be Xavi.
      “Lionel Messi is completely disappointed because of the critical situation at the club.
      “I expect that Messi will play under Xavi in 2021.”
      Messi is one of eight players labelled ‘untouchable’ by Bartomeu,  along with keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, defenders Clement Lenglet and Nelson Semedo, as well as Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, French winger Ousmane Dembele and Spanish superkid Ansu Fati, 17.
      That means stalwarts  Pique and Busquets can leave — along with  fellow thirtysomethings Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Jordi Alba.
      While Bartomeu has insisted that Koeman will decide whether Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho stays at the club.

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      Ronald Koeman says he has yet to speak to Lionel Messi but wants to keep the Argentinian he still rates as the world’s best playerCredit: AP:Associated Press
      And Koeman admitted he is yet to speak to Messi about his future — but remains adamant that he wants the Argentinian maestro to extend his contract beyond next summer. 
      Koeman said: “I don’t know if I have to convince Messi.
      “He’s the best player in the world and the best in the world you want him in your team — not the other way around.
      “Messi has a contract and is very important, I want him in my team.”
      Koeman’s appointment follows a recent trend for major clubs to appoint great former players as  managers.
      But while Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Andrea Pirlo, newly installed at Juventus, had little or no managerial experience, Koeman has a decent CV.

      He won titles in Holland with Ajax and PSV, and the Copa del Rey with Valencia.
      The Dutchman then enjoyed three good seasons in Premier League before he was sacked by Everton following a disastrous start to the 2017-18 campaign.
      Koeman guided both the Saints and Everton to Europa League football and has since revived the fortunes of his national team.
      He guided them to last year’s Nations League final after the Dutch had failed to qualify for the World Cup.
      And like Pirlo, Lampard and Solskjaer, there is no doubting   Koeman’s status as a player at the club he now manages.
      He also follows in a famous line of Dutchmen to have managed Barca, after ‘Total Football’ architect Rinus Michels, Cruyff, Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard.

      Koeman, 57, who only underwent heart surgery in May, explained: “It is a day to be very happy, proud. Barca is my home.
      “It is such a challenge — it is not easy. Barca always demands the maximum.
      “That is how it should be.”

      Barcelona president confirms Ronald Koeman as new boss and says Lionel Messi is staying More

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      in Boxing

      Dillian Whyte says ‘I’m the real Gypsy King’ as he prepares for Povetkin fight in Essex car park Winnebago

      by

      DILLIAN WHYTE sat on his caravan steps in a field at the side of the M25 waiting for a fight and roared at Tyson Fury: ‘I am the real Gypsy King’.
      The 32-year-old Brixton ace is holed up in a Winnebago in Brentwood to prepare for his fight with Russian dangerman Alexander Povetkin on Saturday.

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      Dillian Whyte says he is the ‘the real Gypsy King’ as he prepares for Povetkin fight in a Winnebago

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      SunSport’s boxing man Wally Downes Jr with Whyte
      A 12th consecutive win will earn him the WBC’s diamond belt and secure the shot at the main belt Fury currently holds, that must happen before March.
      Fury has flipped between promising Whyte his hard-earned shot – after he has dealt with his Deontay Wilder trilogy – and vowing to ditch the title if the sanctioning body forces him to face the Body Snatcher.
      So Whyte went on record to tell SunSport he is the hardest travelling, biggest banging, real road warrior around.
      He said: “I drove 40-hours with my three dogs out to my training base in Portugal for a 22-week camp away from home for this fight.

      “Now I am living in a caravan for a week before fighting a dangerous Russian, in an Essex field, on the side of the motorway.
      “I will fight anyone, anywhere and that is why I am the real Gypsy King and I have even got my flat cap to prove it.
      “Tyson Fury likes to tell people that he is but let’s see.
      “Fury had a privileged upbringing, went to a posh school in an expensive area and lives in a lovely house. What kind of gypsy is he?”

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      Whyte has tuned up in Portugal ahead of his fight with Russian dangerman Alexander Povetkin

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      ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury is the current WBC heavyweight champion
      Whyte and Fury have been involved in a verbal war for years and the Jamaica-born star believes he has dug up some dirt that would harm his reputation and public appeal.
      The 6ft 9in champion lists his full name as Tyson Luke Fury, which has boosted his brand and helped secure meetings with the Iron Mike legend he was named after.
      But Whyte insists his team have evidence that he has switched his Christian names around to sound like the Baddest Man on the Planet.
      Whyte said: “My real name is Dillian. I know his real name is Luke.
      “He changed it to Tyson to make himself sound harder. People can have a little look around on the internet and see for themselves.
      “In boxing, the name Tyson is a lot more sellable than Luke.

      I will fight anyone, anywhere and that is why I am the real Gypsy King and I have even got my flat cap to prove it.
      Dillian Whyte

      “A lot of what Tyson does and says is a game, you can never take anything he says seriously or at face value.
      “He might say he wants to fight me sometimes but how can you trust a man who doesn’t even use his own name?”
      Vladimir Putin-backed Povetkin has been up to his usual tricks at the claustrophobic Holiday Inn, sending two of his burly team to try to spy on Whyte’s training sessions.
      The 40-year-old Olympic champ tried the same intimidation tactics when he came to London to face Anthony Joshua in 2018.
      But Whyte’s close-knit team managed to spot the two Soviet powerhouses attempting to hide behind the foliage and the WBC interim champ laughed it off.
      “I was just doing some strength and conditioning training,” he laughed.
      “Did they think they were going to catch me going through my gameplan or sparring?

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      “We looked out the window and saw these massive guys trying to hide behind a tree and peek through the windows.
      “I yelled out asking them what they were up to, if they needed any help or directions, and they walked off.
      “But this is a good sign. It shows they are worried and they seriously should be.”

      Dillian Whyte slams Frank Warren’s Dubois fight offer and says ‘he’s just trying to deviate from me facing Tyson Fury’ More

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      in Soccer

      Southgate faces Man Utd and City row with Rashford, Sterling and Co set for just TWO weeks’ holiday before England games

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE faces a battle with both Manchester clubs over players for England’s two forthcoming clashes.
      Stars such as United captain Harry Maguire and City’s Raheem Sterling will have only had a two-week break before preparations begin for the Uefa Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark.

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      Gareth Southgate faces a battle with both Manchester clubs ahead of England’s two upcoming friendliesCredit: PA:Press Association
      Southgate looks set to name an extended squad next week ahead of the trip to Reykjavik on September 5 and a game in Copenhagen three days later.
      But United and City have concerns that their players – who would begin training at St George’s Park on Monday week – will take part in two competitive games inside a week so soon after returning from the final stages of the Uefa club competitions in Portugal and Germany.
      United captain Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford and teenager Mason Greenwood are all likely to be selected for England’s first international for 10 months.
      Sterling, John Stones and also Phil Foden are likely to make up the City contingent.

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      Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will have only had a two-week break before the international preparationsCredit: Getty

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      Manchester City will also only have had a fortnight off before preparations begin for the Uefa Nations League games against Iceland and DenmarkCredit: Reuters
      All the players are desperate to play for England despite the concern of clubs.
      The FA’s medical team will be in constant dialogue with their City and United counterparts who will express concerns over a player’s fitness.
      The stars would have been due to report for training with the clubs on Monday week but their initial sessions are likely to be less rigorous than England’s. 
      Boss Southgate is taking both Uefa Nations League games seriously.

      For Southgate, this is the start of the countdown to next year’s Euro2020 finals which were postponed from this summer due to the coronavirus crisis.
      Southgate is currently in the second week of quarantine at home in Yorkshire as he has been on holiday in Portugal but this will not stop him from resuming his normal duties next week.

      Uefa are staging a meeting with national associations today to rubber stamp the matches next month although they all look certain to be played behind closed doors.
      City were dumped out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Lyon on Saturday while United lost to Sevilla 24 in the Europa League 24 hours later.
      The situation for Southgate with the clubs would have been far more serious had either City or United reached the finals of either the Europa League or Champions League. More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea join Leeds in £50m transfer battle for defender Ben White from Brighton

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      BEN WHITE has become the most wanted player in England after EVERY top six club in the Premier League made contact with Brighton to ask how much they want for him.
      Centre-back White, 22, is suddenly in demand after impressing during his season on loan at Leeds.

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      Ben White is wanted by all of the top six this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Yorkshire club have already made a £35million bid – of £30m in cash plus a further £5m in add-ons.
      But Brighton are set to reject it out of hand, valuing their star at more than £50m.
      Champions Liverpool are showing the strongest interest of all, while both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Leicester and Tottenham have also asked the Seagulls how much it would cost to sign their academy product.

      This is despite White yet to play a single game in the Premier League.

      Brighton do not want to sell, and it would take an offer in excess of £50m to even tempt them to consider doing a deal.
      SunSport understands they feel the market is depressed this summer because of the impact of Covid-19.

      And they believe he will be worth much more next year after a campaign in the Premier League with them.
      Instead boss Graham Potter wants White to form a powerful-looking back three alongside Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk, another player who has attracted attention from Chelsea.

      Leeds have now made two bids for White since winning promotion to the Prem – having failed with an initial £18m bid. More

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      in Soccer

      Alan Shearer wanted as Newcastle manager as Singaporean group launch new Toon takeover bid

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      THE Singaporean group trying to buy Newcastle want Toon legend Alan Shearer as manager.
      Cousins Terence and Nelson Loh head the Bellagraph Nova Group and believe they are at an advanced stage of buying out owner Mike Ashley.

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      Alan Shearer could be set for a sensational return to Newcastle UnitedCredit: Rex Features

      The investor group on Sunday said they had “enlisted the help of” Magpies hero Shearer.
      A BN Group insider claimed: “We’ve offered Alan the manager’s position, or whatever he would like to do in the club.
      “He has already accepted to work with us if our takeover goes through.”
      Shearer was unavailable for comment but the group said in a statement: “We are at an advanced stage of negotiation having already provided a Letter of Intent, as well as a Proof of Funds on August 10.

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      Shearer is Newcastle’s all-time record scorer with 206 goalsCredit: Reuters

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      Shearer previously took charge of Newcastle in 2009 Credit: PA:Empics Sport
      “In addition to the engagement to Newcastle Football Club and community, we have enlisted the help of England captain Alan Shearer and former player Michael Chopra.
      “BN Group founders declared their willingness to massively contribute to the development of the club through their solid and international structure and a combined business/sport- devoting mindset.”

      Match of the Day pundit Shearer will not want to take pal Steve Bruce’s job at St James’ Park.
      The club’s 206-goal all-time top scorer had an ill-fated spell in charge in 2009, with Toon relegated after his eight-game reign.

      The private equity firm, based in Paris, remains in talks with Ashley and are confident of striking a deal.
      They are locked in discussions over Ashley’s £340million asking price.
      BN Group believe that figure is too high but the Sports Direct owner is desperate to sell after the failed Saudi Arabian bid.
      The Asian finance company was founded by the Loh cousins and businesswoman Evangeline Shen.
      Their website boasts of revenues of £9billion, with investments in technology, new media and healthcare.
      One of its subsidiaries holds the £78m world record for the highest ever online, single jewellery transaction.

      While Tyneside was still in a state of mourning following the Saudis withdrawing their bid, Chopra (below), who played for Newcastle and Sunderland, hinted at his involvement in a separate takeover.
      Earlier this month, the Geordie tweeted: “Get the cans from the bin and put them back in the fridge. Watch this space.”
      And last week it emerged that Chopra, 36, held meetings with the BN Group at their Paris headquarters.

      Micky Quinn questions why Newcastle Saudi Arabian bidders were put under such scrutiny compared to other club’s owners More

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      in Soccer

      Kevin De Bruyne refuses to blame Raheem Sterling’s horror miss for Lyon loss as Man City vent about VAR again

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      KEVIN DE BRUYNE refused to blame Raheem Sterling for Manchester City’s exit from Europe.
       Sterling missed a shocking late sitter when he blazed over an open goal from five yards with City trailing 2-1.

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      Kevin De Bruyne refuses to blame Raheem Sterling for Man City’s Champions League exitCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Lyon sub Moussa Dembele made him pay by scoring his second of the night to make it 3-1 just SIXTY SECONDS later.
      De Bruyne, yesterday named Premier League Player of the Season, said: “We still had seven or eight minutes to equalise. So I don’t blame Raheem, it’s football.
      “He did so many good things in the game and people are talking about the miss. That’s the way it goes I guess.”
      City centre-back Aymeric Laporte held his hands up for a “bad team performance” but was baffled by VAR allowing Lyon’s second goal.

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      Sterling missed a late sitter which would have levelled the scoreCredit: EPA
      Laporte claimed he had been fouled in the build-up to Moussa Dembele’s first strike —   but neither Dutch whistler Danny Makkelie nor the video  ref saw fit to disallow it.
      Laporte tweeted: “Just to be clear: I will not hide, I’m a football player but a man  foremost, we all made mistakes in this game, and I also take my responsibility for the bad team performance.
      “But this decision is hard to accept, especially in a  crucial qualifier AND with the help of VAR.”
      Team-mate Fernandinho weighed in on Twitter:  “Disappointing and painful night in Lisbon. Life sometimes can be cruel, and football isn’t different.

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      Kevin De Bruyne has been named Premier League Player of the YearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “But now is time to get a little rest and get ready for the next season. And it will be very different.”
      City have failed to reach the semi-finals since 2016.
      And De Bruyne, whose goal had  cancelled out Maxwel Cornet’s first-half strike, added: “It’s a little bit of a shame because we had good hopes to do well this year.
      “I don’t think we are far away. At this level it’s just small details. The difference against Lyon is we made mistakes and they scored — but the chances we  created we didn’t take.

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      Moussa Dembele made a huge impact for Lyon off the bench but City aren’t happy with VARCredit: EPA
      “In the first half we didn’t play the way we usually do. We didn’t create enough.
      “In the second half, we played much better and created many chances.
      “They had two chances in the second half and scored two goals.”
      Lyon now face Barcelona batterers Bayern Munich in Wednesday’s semi-final.

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      Pep Guardiola paid the price for a defensive line-up against France’s seventh-best teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      De Bruyne said: “Lyon have a great team.
      “If I have to pick a player who impressed me, it’s Houssem Aouar. He was fantastic.”
      KDB produced 20 assists during the Prem campaign to equal Thierry Henry’s record and scored 13 times to help Pep Guardiola’s men finish second in the table.
      But Liverpool beat City to the title to end their 30-year wait for league  glory and Jurgen Klopp was named Prem Manager of the Season.

      Reds and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold clinched Young Player of the Season after he had a key role in finally  bringing the championship back to Anfield.
      Tottenham star Son Heung-min’s strike against Burnley, where he ran the length of the pitch, won Goal of the Season.
      Votes from the public were added to those of 20 Prem captains and a panel of experts to decide the winners in all categories. More

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      in Soccer

      Man City lining up Mauricio Pochettino to take over as boss if Pep Guardiola fails to agree new deal

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      MANCHESTER CITY are eyeing Mauricio Pochettino amid doubts over Pep Guardiola’s future.
      The former Tottenham boss is also on Barcelona’s radar with Quique Setien set to be sacked.

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      Man City want Mauricio Pochettino if Pep Guardiola does not agree a new deal
      But Poch has admirers at City and would love to stay in England.
      He knows Guardiola, reeling from Saturday’s Champions League exit to Lyon, has just ten months left on his contract.
      So far Guardiola has not committed to staying beyond next summer, which could soon leave City in limbo.
      The club hierarchy would ideally like him to extend his deal and continue – despite another Euro failure.

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      The Spaniard has just ten months left on his City deal
      His close friends at City – chief exec Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain – are keen for him to stay on.
      But Pep admitted last month chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak was “not happy” with their effort in the league – and the failure to win the FA Cup and Champions League since will not have helped.

      Poch, 48, is well known to the Catalan powerbase at the Etihad from his days working in Barcelona at Espanyol.
      He is believed to have his admirers behind the scenes – and his record in Europe will not have gone unnoticed.

      Last season he guided Spurs to the Champions League final for the first time in their history – although they ultimately lost to Liverpool.
      Meanwhile Guardiola’s failure to get past the quarter final stage for a fourth successive year at City is bound to be a source of huge frustration.
      Poch still has a home in Hertfordshire and has said when he left Tottenham in the autumn that he would ideally like to manage in England again.
      He had always previously suggested he could not manage Barcelona out of loyalty to Espanyol – but his views may have changed after nine months out of the game.
      He was always viewed as a possible Manchester United manager but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is safe for the foreseeable future now.
      Taking over from Guardiola and achieving the European glory which the club craves would appeal to him and be a challenge that he relished.

      He has always spoken publicly of his respect for the City boss – although privately he resented living in his shadow in Catalonia.
      He would not be the only name in the frame to succeed Pep though and it would be a hugely attractive job when he does go.
      RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann is another whose European exploits will have caught the eye of the City top brass.

      Watch Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards scream in disbelief as Raheem Sterling misses open goal vs Lyon in Champions League quarter-final More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea all join Leeds in £50m transfer battle for defender Ben White from Brighton

      by

      BEN WHITE has become the most wanted player in England after EVERY top six club in the Premier League made contact with Brighton to ask how much they want for him.
      Centre-back White, 22, is suddenly in demand after impressing during his season on loan at Leeds.

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      Ben White is wanted by all of the top six this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Yorkshire club have already made a £35million bid – of £30m in cash plus a further £5m in add-ons.
      But Brighton are set to reject it out of hand, valuing their star at more than £50m.
      Champions Liverpool are showing the strongest interest of all, while both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Leicester and Tottenham have also asked the Seagulls how much it would cost to sign their academy product.

      This is despite White yet to play a single game in the Premier League.

      Brighton do not want to sell, and it would take an offer in excess of £50m to even tempt them to consider doing a deal.
      SunSport understands they feel the market is depressed this summer because of the impact of Covid-19.

      And they believe he will be worth much more next year after a campaign in the Premier League with them.
      Instead boss Graham Potter wants White to form a powerful-looking back three alongside Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk, another player who has attracted attention from Chelsea.

      Leeds have now made two bids for White since winning promotion to the Prem – having failed with an initial £18m bid. More