More stories

  • in

    Former Premier League winners labelled ’embarrassing’ as THREE transfers in a year fall through due to admin errors

    BLACKBURN fans have slammed the club after their THIRD transfer within a year fell through due to admin blunders.The Championship side did business late in the window as they sold star man Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace on Deadline Day for £22million.
    Duncan McGuire is now in limbo as he waits to find out if his move to Blackburn gets ratifiedCredit: Getty
    They were then ready to sign Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire on loan until the end of the season.
    But the deal was not completed before the window slammed shut as the correct documents were not submitted in time.
    McGuire, 22, flew across the Atlantic to sign for Blackburn – but he is now in limbo as the club launches an appeal.
    A Rovers statement explained the situation and what could be in store next for the player.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    It read: “Duncan McGuire’s proposed loan move to Blackburn from MLS side Orlando City has not been approved by the EFL to date due to the registration documents being submitted after the 11pm transfer deadline.
    “All of the necessary signed paperwork had been completed prior to 10pm on Thursday February 1st, however due to an administrative error, the forms were not processed within the prescribed time.
    “Detailed discussions with legal representatives and the relevant football authorities have taken place over the past few days to try to reach an urgent and positive resolution to the matter.
    “The club’s lawyers have prepared the required papers and sent to the EFL Board, who will consider the case on Thursday February 8th. 
    Most read in Championship
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
    “Orlando City have allowed McGuire to remain in the UK, pending the EFL Board’s decision.
    “He will return to the United States, where he will re-join his club ahead of the start of the 2024 MLS season, should his registration not be approved.
    Crystal Palace seal £22.5m Adam Wharton transfer as he leaves Blackburn on deadline day
    “Should the appeal be refused then Blackburn will attempt to reach a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City over the coming weeks to enable the player to officially join the club on a permanent basis when the 2024 summer transfer window opens.”
    This is not the first time Blackburn have made an error when submitting the relevant transfer paperwork.
    In January last year, forms to green light the signings of Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest and Ethan Brierley from Rochdale were both not handed in before the deadline.
    An appeal was then rejected by the EFL.
    O’Brien was instead loaned out to DC United as their transfer window was still open and he never played for Blackburn.
    As for Brierley, he also never pulled on the Rovers shirt and instead returned to Rochdale as their was still a place in the squad for him.
    After Blackburn made the same mistake this year with McGuire, fans have hit out at club chiefs.
    One said: “Absolutely embarrassing.”
    Another added: “Whoever is responsible needs sacking. Plain and simple.”
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    A third raged: “Honestly the worst run club in England – you all should be ashamed of yourselves.”
    The 1994–95 Premier League winners currently sit 18th in the Championship.
    Lewis O’Brien saw his move to Blackburn fall through due to an admin issue last yearCredit: Getty More

  • in

    Kylian Mbappe ‘set to earn more than Jude Bellingham’s entire transfer fee in incredible Real Madrid signing-on bonus’

    KYLIAN MBAPPE is reportedly set to earn MORE than Jude Bellingham’s entire transfer fee with his Real Madrid signing-on bonus.Mbappe, 25, is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
    Kylian Mbappe is set to pocket a monster signing-on bonus at Real MadridCredit: Getty
    The sum could be greater than Jude Bellingham’s £115m transfer fee last summerCredit: Alamy
    And reports claim he has decided to join Real on a sensational free transfer.
    The World Cup winner, who has 29 goals this season, is set to line up in a stunning team including Vinicius Jr and England star Bellingham.
    But despite technically being a free transfer, Mbappe’s signing will not come cheap for Real.
    A transfer expert claims that because there will be no fee for PSG, the Frenchman will instead be able to pocket an enormous signing-on bonus.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    Andy Brassell told talkSPORT that this could be as much as £128.5million — £13.5m more than the £115m Real paid Borussia Dortmund for Bellingham last summer.
    He said: “Of course the fact is Mbappe will be leaving about €80million (£68.5m) on the table as well in terms of loyalty bonus.
    “That is how he got himself back in the team at PSG in autumn by agreeing to that.
    “A free transfer as a free transfer is not free. There’s always a huge signing-on fee.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    “So he would be getting an estimated €150m (£128.5m) signing-on fee from Real Madrid.
    “Very unusually for Real Madrid, they would be letting him keep the majority of his image rights.
    Erik ten Hag’s hilarious response when kids ask if he will sign Mbappe & Bellingham for Man Utd
    “Which obviously could run into not even the tens of millions but the hundreds of millions.”
    Brassell also revealed Mbappe is likely to be taking a 50 per cent pay cut to move to Real.
    But that will still see him earn a massive £30m-a-year.
    Brassell added: “We have said all along that this move wasn’t about money.
    “Now, bear in mind, that he’s been earning under his contract at PSG for the last coming up to two years €72m (61.5m) per year before tax.
    “So that is about €56m (£48m) net with the French tax laws as they are.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    “It looks like he is going to earn €35m (£30m) a year at Real Madrid. So we are talking about him taking a 50 per cent pay cut.
    “Now he was always going to choose PSG if it was about the money but we always said it was not down to the money.” More

  • in

    Newcastle in huge transfer boost with Rafael Leao ‘ready to quit AC Milan’ as Toon ‘battle PSG for Portugal ace’

    NEWCASTLE have been handed a boost in their hopes of signing Rafael Leao, according to reports.Eddie Howe’s side have been tipped to battle Paris Saint-Germain for the winger’s signature in the summer.
    Rafael Leao feels he has reached ‘the end of a cycle’ at AC MilanCredit: Splash News
    The Magpies were previously linked with a late January move for Leao.
    However, their hopes of signing the 24-year-old later this year have now received a boost.
    Foot Mercato report that Leao feels he has reached “the end of a cycle” with AC Milan.
    Despite PSG’s interest, the player prefers a move to the Premier League or La Liga, the report adds.
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    Leao has a £150million release clause in his contract, which he only extended in June, valid between July 5 and 15.
    PSG are understood to not be a priority for Leao, despite the French giants keen to sign him as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, according to reports in France.
    Newcastle would instead offer the player the chance to play in the Premier League, where he is in favour of heading to next.
    Leao joined Milan in 2019 and penned a new five-year deal last summer.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    The Portugal international has scored six goals and provided eight assists in 27 appearances this season.
    His performances in Italy across recent seasons have caught the eye of clubs across Europe.
    Bruno Guimaraes part of ‘best deal of transfer window’ as fans notice what Newcastle star swapped his shirt for
    Chelsea are amongst the Premier League sides to have been linked with signing Leao in the past. More

  • in

    Chelsea still backing Pochettino despite Jose Mourinho waiting in wings but chiefs demand club qualify for Europe

    CHELSEA are refusing to press the panic button on boss Mauricio Pochettino’s future — despite a woeful season.SunSport understands Poch’s job is safe, for now, as he prepares for an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Aston Villa tomorrow.
    Chelsea are ready to stick with Mauricio Pochettino for nowCredit: PA
    Todd Boehly has got through managers at the Bridge, with Bruno even having four games as caretaker
    The Argentine, 51, who admitted no one is safe following Sunday’s 4-2 hammering by Wolves, is under pressure to turn the club’s fortunes around with fans’ favourite Jose Mourinho available.
    Mourinho’s name was sung by Chelsea fans during the Stamford Bridge loss.
    And the once ‘Special One’, who won three Prem titles across two spells, is out of work after being sacked by Serie A side Roma.
    Club insiders insist Chelsea’s hierarchy are very calm but they do have the determination that their expensive squad should qualify for Europe this season.
    READ MORE ON CHELSEA
    The Blues have lost their last two matches in spectacular fashion — conceding EIGHT goals.
    Poch’s flops have slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League.
    Now they need a positive result against high-flying Villa to stop the rot.
    But Chelsea CAN make the Europa Conference League next term, if they win the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25 at Wembley.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    Chelsea fans booed the team off at half and full- time and even joined in with taunts about Pochettino’s future from the Wolves supporters as they turned on their manager.
    Co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are concerned by recent form.
    ‘All bets are off’ at ‘madhouse’ Chelsea says Sun Sport’s Andy Dillon following defeat against Wolves
    But they are not enough to sack the third chief of their two year reign, at least for now.
    Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were axed previously for failing to get the best out of the squad which the owners have spent more than £1billion assembling. More

  • in

    Nottingham Forest captain Joe Worrall completes shock loan transfer to Euro giants as he joins ex-Arsenal star

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST captain Joe Worrall has joined Besiktas on loan until the end of the season.The Turkish transfer window is open until February 9 which gave Besiktas time to complete the deal.
    Joe Worrall has joined Besiktas on loanCredit: Getty
    Worrall, 27, has found his game time limited this season and was even banned from training in December along with Scott McKenna.
    The centre-back did return to the first-team squad and played a minute against Newcastle.
    McKenna departed on loan to Copenhagen while Worrall was linked with a move to Championship side Middlesbrough.
    A proposed Deadline Day move to Sheffield United also collapsed despite Worrall reaching an agreement with the Blades.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    But the defender has had his wish to leave fulfilled after Besiktas had a loan bid accepted.
    The Turkish side has the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
    Worrall made 226 appearances for Forest and has been captain since 2021, so played a pivotal role in their promotion from the Championship in 2022.
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    He will join compatriot and former Arsenal and Liverpool player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Besiktas.
    Most read in Football
    The Turkish giants also possess several former Premier League stars including Cenk Tosun, Arthur Masuaku and Gedon Fernandes.
    The Biggest January Flop Signings In Premier League History More

  • in

    Only Jose Mourinho can sort Chelsea out, Pochettino has failed and will get hammered in the Carabao Cup final

    IT IS CLEAR Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea is not working and that the club is in a malaise.Only one man can change that: Jose Mourinho.
    Jose Mourinho is the only man that can change ChelseaCredit: Getty

    For most of the past two decades Chelsea have had a win-at-all-costs mentality.
    The players have been strong – physically and mentally – and the football has been effective and efficient.
    Players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Diego Costa were beloved at Stamford Bridge – and hated everywhere else.
    However, post-Roman Abramovich’s era, Chelsea feel like a club without an identity on or off the pitch.
    READ MORE ON CHELSEA
    Chelsea doesn’t feel like Chelsea anymore. Reappointing Mourinho would immediately give us that identity back.
    Despite managing great clubs like Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Manchester United, when you think of Mourinho, you think of Chelsea.
    It was Mourinho who established this identity in his first spell as manager, three years in which he won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.
    Much is made of the third season of his second spell where things went spectacularly wrong, but in the second season he won a third Premier League title and another League Cup.
    Most read in Football
    In the first he took Chelsea to the semi finals of the Champions League, achievements that look a million miles away from the current position at Stamford Bridge.
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    He is a serial winner and has proved this throughout his career.
    Mourinho is also a charismatic leader, and while there are some talented young footballers at Stamford Bridge, there is a dearth of talismanic figures at the club for fans to hang our hopes on.
    Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino APOLOGISES to fuming fans after watching his side thumped by Wolves
    Critics of Mourinho will say his style of football is from a bygone era, that the game has evolved through the tactics of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
    But anyone watching Chelsea under Pochettino and Graham Potter would struggle to find any kind of style of football at all.
    Everyone knows how Mourinho is going to set up. Ask people to describe how Chelsea play under Pochettino… they will struggle.
    The League Cup final is looming large at the end of the month, and as well as being an important trophy in its own right, it is the only realistic chance of European football next season.
    Under Pochettino there is no chance we will win it.
    With serial winner and talismanic leader Mourinho in charge we might. Bring him home.

    Why Chelsea must STICK with PochTODD BOEHLY would be a fool to sack Mauricio Pochettino before this month’s Carabao Cup Final, SunSport’s Chelsea correspondent Andy Dillon writes.
    Todd Boehly would be a fool to sack Mauricio Pochettino before this month’s Carabao Cup Final.
    But then all common sense went out of the window along with the personal effects of three other managers since the American chairman took over Chelsea less than two years ago.
    Boehly and his pal Behdad Eghbali bought Chelsea for £2.5bn in May 2022 and promised to invest a further £1.75bn in revolutionising the entire squad.
    They have certainly done that. Pochettino is famed for his ability to develop young players but is getting nowhere fast with the costly collection of individuals dumped on him by Chelsea’s transfer department
    Getting them to the Carabao Cup final on February 25 is a miracle. That they look destined to get ripped apart by Liverpool at Wembley is another matter.
    Pochettino admits his job is not safe. But one thing is for sure, he will not quit. As much as some of those Chelsea fans calling for his head in Sunday’s humiliating 4-2 home defeat by Wolves would like.
    They were also singing for former owner Roman Abramovich – so Boehly is not safe either. 
    The deposed Russian, now in exile, is always the person of first resort that a bunch of supporters used to winning big things every year reach for when times are tough. It won’t happen so the fans need to get used to that idea. More

  • in

    Frank Lampard tipped to become new Chelsea women’s manager just eight months after leaving Stamford Bridge

    FRANK LAMPARD has been tipped to become the next Chelsea women’s manager.Legendary boss Emma Hayes will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season to take over as USA women’s head coach.
    Frank Lampard has been tipped to return to ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Lampard has been tipped to replace Chelsea women’s boss Emma HayesCredit: Rex
    Chelsea are rigorously looking for a new women’s managerCredit: Rex
    Izzy Christiansen is adamant Lampard would be the perfect candidateCredit: Getty
    That will cap off a glittering 12-year stint for Hayes who won a staggering six Women’s Super League titles, five Women’s FA Cups, two Continental Cups, the Spring Series and the Community Shield.
    The Blues are now rigorously searching for the 47-year-old’s replacement, who will surely have some massive boots to fill.
    However, former England international Izzy Christiansen is adamant Lampard would be the perfect candidate.
    That is because the men’s team’s record goalscorer knows the club inside out and his character would lead to a smooth transition to a new and prosperous era.
    Read More on Chelsea
    Christiansen told Live Score: “I do have a name in mind but I’ve never heard anyone throw it out there… Frank Lampard.
    “He’s somebody who knows the club inside out. From my experiences at Everton, listening to him speak, he’s the right type of character.
    “His level of communication and knowledge of the game could be really effective and I think you’ve got someone well accustomed with what it means to be Chelsea.
    “I don’t have any knowledge on whether he’d want it or not but it makes sense to me.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
    “To be honest, I sit in a party where it doesn’t have to be a female, doesn’t have to be a male — it just needs to be the right person for the job.
    “There’s no gain in Chelsea going, ‘Right, let’s pigeonhole this, it has to be a female’.
    Frank Lampard reveals who is blocking Mason Mount from thriving at Man Utd and slams club for lack of plan
    “If they want to continue or attempt to continue the dominance they’ve had domestically, it has to be the correct appointment.”
    That would mark Lampard’s third return to Stamford Bridge after his stunning 13-year playing career came to an end in 2014.
    The legendary midfielder first came back as manager in 2019 and enjoyed a successful debut season as the Blues finished fourth despite a transfer embargo.
    However, the 45-year-old tactician’s second season was marred by poor results and he was swiftly replaced by Thomas Tuchel, who went on to win the Champions League.
    Lampard returned as caretaker boss in April for an abysmal second stint that saw him losing eight out of 11 matches, of which he won only one before his departure in June. More

  • in

    Thomas Partey ‘set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season’ as £45million signing fails to shake injury woes

    ARSENAL are allegedly set to offload Thomas Partey this summer.The 30-year-old midfielder moved to the Gunners in 2020 in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid.
    Arsenal will reportedly offload Thomas Partey this summerCredit: Getty
    He became big a fan favourite at the Emirates but the Ghana international has hardly featured this term due to injury.
    Partey was deployed at right back for the opening three games of the campaign, but he has featured just one more time since.
    The star has been out since October following thigh surgery.
    That was after he also missed the entirety of September with a groin problem.
    READ MORE ON ARSENAL
    Partey recently jetted out to Dubai with the rest of Arsenal’s squad for a warm-weather training camp as he was finally given the green light to make his return.
    However, he suffered another injury blow last week as boss Mikel Arteta revealed before their 3-1 victory over Liverpool that his ace is set to be out of action again.
    He said: “With Thomas unfortunately we had a little setback a few days ago.
    “I’m not a doctor, but he felt something in a very similar area and he wasn’t able to train the last few days.”
    Most read in Football
    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
    Now the Daily Mirror has claimed that his days in North London appear to be over.
    They report that “Partey is expected to leave Arsenal at the end of the season after failing to shake off persistent injury problems”.
    The Biggest January Flop Signings In Premier League History
    Arteta was open to selling Partey following the arrival of Declan Rice back in July.
    But they failed to receive a suitable bid.
    Juventus are now understood to be interested in signing him but opted against making any move last month due to his recent absence through injury. More