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    Hull City win transfer window with ‘funniest announcement seen’ after sealing signing of Liverpool star

    FOOTBALL fans heaped praise on Hull after they announced the loan signing of Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho in hilarious fashion.Carvalho, 21, arrived at Anfield from Fulham in 2022 but spent the first half of this season on loan at RB Leipzig.
    Fabio Carvalho was mocked up as the woman choosing her man on ‘Blind Date’Credit: X / @HullCity
    Hull were made to be the man chosen, while Southampton and Patrick Bamford’s Leeds were left disappointedCredit: X / @HullCity
    He returned to Merseyside at the end of December amid speculation of another loan.
    Several Championship clubs were linked with him including Leicester, Leeds and Southampton.
    But he has opted to join Liam Rosenior’s side until the end of the season – with Hull seventh in the Championship table, just one point adrift of the play-off places.
    And the unveiling of Carvalho left social media in stitches.
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    Hull put together a photo-shopped version of the famous TV programme “Blind Date” which was hosted by Cilla Black.
    The premise of the show was that one person would ask three potential dates a series of questions without seeing them, before eventually choosing one to go out with.
    The edited clip saw Cilla with a Liverpool crest on her head, Carvalho mocked up as the woman choosing the date, and a Hull badge on the person she chose.
    It also contained Leeds and Southampton badges for the two people who had been snubbed by the woman.
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    And at the end of the video, Cilla even says: “How could you turn down Pat?,” as the image of Leeds striker Patrick Bamford storms off set.
    The caption for the post read: “‘His name is Fabio and he’s from Portugal.’
    “‘Come in, Fabio!’ 👋”
    Reacting to the clip, one person said: “Funniest announcement i think I’ve ever seen😂😂😂.”
    Another added: “Content!! This is legendary.”
    A third replied: “This really is wholesome content. You’ve got to be happy with this.”
    While a fourth responded: “As an Ipswich supporter, this is nearing genius… 😂😂fair play lads.” More

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    Man Utd star Hannibal Mejbri closing in on Premier League loan transfer with Ten Hag keen to get him playing regularly

    MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Hannibal Mejbri is edging close to a move to Everton, after Sean Dyche made the player his “number one target”.Hannibal rejected the chance to play for Tunisia in the African Cup of Nations to force through a January transfer.
    Hannibal is closing in on a loan switch to Goodison ParkCredit: Getty
    Hannibal has struggled for game time so far this season
    And Old Trafford sources say he is close to agreeing a Goodison switch.
    The source said: “Everton want the player and Manchester United are happy for him to go out on loan. They’d prefer him to stay in the Premier League as it will provide a better barometer and benchmark for his abilities as a player.
    “If he can go out on loan to Everton and make an impression, he could force his way into content at United.
    “He’s highly thought of at United and by Ten Hag, but he will get more chances at Everton. Sean Dyche is a big fan, and he thinks the player can give them a different edge to their game. He’s become the number one January priority.
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    “He also wants to bring in a striker and a full back. But loan deals are likely to be the road he goes down to beef up his squad.”
    Our story comes one day after Hannibal was linked with a switch to Spanish giants Sevilla.
    The Tunisian has been a regular in match-day squads this season but has struggled for minutes on the pitch and is eager to get further experience of first-team football.
    United recently triggered a clause to extend Hannibal’s contract.
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    He was the subject of interest from a number of clubs over the summer and had the chance to join Besiktas on loan but the midfielder wanted to stay and fight for his place under Erik ten Hag after impressing at Birmingham in the Championship last season.
    However, with United having been knocked out of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, opportunities for Mejbri could be limited in the second half of the season.
    The source added: “It’s unlikely any loan move will have an option for a permanent switch. Ten Hag wants to assess how Hannibal does and then make a firm decision about his future in the summer.” More

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    West Ham face desperate transfer scramble with David Moyes plotting moves for two ex-Tottenham stars

    WEST HAM are desperately looking to sign a forward this month after injuries and the African Cup of Nations decimated their forward line.Lucas Paqueta could now be sidelined for up to two months after aggravating his knee injury while Jarrod Bowen is likely to miss around three weeks with an ankle problem.
    Steven Bergwijn has emerged as a target for West HamCredit: Getty
    Jack Clarke is also being monitoredCredit: Getty
    Michail Antonio suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and could be out for another six weeks, while Mohammed Kudus is away with Ghana at AFCON.
    Hammers boss David Moyes was confident January would not need to be busy but plans have now been changed, with one source saying the club are “urgently” looking to find reinforcements this month.
    Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn is well liked while Sunderland winger Jack Clarke is also being monitored.
    The club’s injury crisis is likely to put a stop on moves away for Danny Ings and Said Benrahma.
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    Wolves have been in talks over a loan move for former Liverpool man Ings, who is one of West Ham’s highest earners but has scored just three goals since joining from Aston Villa last year.
    Lyon are interested in a move for Benrahma, who West Ham value at £20million.
    Ideally West Ham will sell players before buying due to financial restrictions, but the club are now prepared to push the boundaries on Financial Fair Play in order to bring someone in.
    Moyes is now left with Ings and Divin Mubama as his only options to play through the middle.
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    Jarrod Bowen is set to be absent for at least two weeks with an ankle injuryCredit: AFP
    Lucas Paqueta could miss two months with a knee issueCredit: Reuters
    Ings has not settled while the chances Mubama has been given has left the Hammers boss feeling the youngster, who is out of contract in the summer, is not ready for this level.
    West Ham’s winter break will be cut short next week when they face Bristol City in an FA Cup third round replay.
    The Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw by Liam Manning’s side on Sunday. More

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    Chelsea’s forgotten man Trevoh Chalobah ‘thrown Premier League transfer lifeline’ after playing ZERO minutes all season

    TREVOH CHALOBAH is a January transfer target for West Ham, according to reports.The Chelsea defender will be allowed to leave the club this month if the right offer arrives.
    Trevoh Chalobah is being tracked by West HamCredit: Getty
    Chalobah has been left out in the cold at Stamford Bridge this season, playing zero minutes across all competitions.
    He has also struggled with a persistent thigh problem this term, which he first suffered in August.
    However, he could now be handed a Premier League lifeline by the Hammers, report talkSPORT.
    David Moyes’ side are tracking Chalobah this month ahead of a potential move before the window closes.
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    Their interest is said to be dependant on Nayef Aguerd, though, who has been the subject of links to the Saudi Pro League.
    Aguerd is currently on international duty with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.
    Wolves captain Max Kilman is also a target for West Ham, the report adds.
    As for Chalobah, Bayern Munich remain a possible destination, with ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel an admirer.
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    Tuchel gave the 24-year-old his Premier League debut in 2021 and Chalobah made 31 appearances for the Blues during his tenure.
    The German champions are keen to sign a new centre-back after attempting to hijack Tottenham’s move for Radu Dragusin.
    Bayern have also been linked with a move for Spurs’ Eric Dier so far this window. More

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    Gary Neville slams Man Utd signing that ‘never should have gone through’ and will cost Old Trafford side ‘in long term’

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville insists Casemiro should have never been signed by his former club.The midfielder joined United in the summer of 2022 at the age of 30 following a £70million deal with Real Madrid and signed a four-year contract.
    Manchester United shouldn’t have signed Casemiro, claims Gary NevilleCredit: PA
    Neville claims Casemiro doesn’t fit Man Utd’s long-term plans
    The Brazil international has since put together a series of impressive performances and amassed a total of 11 goals and seven assists in 63 appearances.
    However, Neville still believes the experienced No6 doesn’t fit the Red Devils’ long-term plans or the wage structure.
    And that is why the Sky Sports pundit is adamant that this United signing should have never gone through “a good sporting director, a good owner, and a good head of recruitment”.
    And that is also why the ex-England international believes the manager of a club, such as Erik ten Hag, shouldn’t have the final saying on signings as he is focused on the short-term.
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    Neville said on the latest edition of Stick to Football as per Sky Bet: “Coming in from an owner’s perspective, you employ a head of recruitment who you think is the best guy out there at spotting talent, that will bring value to your club.
    “You’ve got a sporting director equally, who will be thinking the same way – their loyalty is to the club and to make sure we win games.
    “A manager’s job is purely to think about the immediate short term and getting results for himself.
    “Casemiro is perfect example of a short-term signing that is going to cost in the long term.
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    “That signing never should have gone through a good sporting director, a good owner, and a good head of recruitment.
    “That signing should have never gone through, it should have been a veto.
    “He doesn’t fit the long-term, the wage [structure]… The wages are crazy and the length of contract is crazy.” More

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    Man Utd offer Facundo Pellistri in swap transfer for Christian Eriksen’s close friend with £69m release clause

    MANCHESTER UNITED have offered Facundo Pellistri in a swap deal for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand.But the bid has been rejected by the Portuguese club as they wait on the Red Devils to trigger his £69million release clause.
    Morten Hjulmand is being closely monitored by Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    Hjulmand, left, is close friends with Manchester United man Christian Eriksen, rightCredit: AFP
    Man Utd have been to watch defensive midfielder Hjulmand at least six times already this season.
    Old Trafford scouts have seen him play in both the Primeira Liga and Europa League.
    And Erik ten Hag’s men also have the additional lure of Christian Eriksen who is Hjulmand’s close friend.
    Eriksen is understood to be a mentor to the 24-year-old when they play together for Denmark.
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    And Rasmus Hojlund is another Danish international at Man Utd.
    But the offer of Uruguayan international Pellistri – who has featured nine times in the league this season – is not being entertained by Sporting.
    Hjulmand arrived at Sporting from Lecce for around £15m.
    He has featured in all but one of the Portuguese side’s 24 games since joining the club.
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    Facundo Pellistri has been offered as part of a swap deal for HjulmandCredit: Getty
    Hjulmand has been a rock in midfield for Sporting this season
    And he has contributed one goal and two assists in all competitions.
    It is not the first time Hjulmand has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
    While at Lecce, the midfielder was mooted as a potential target for Southampton.
    But Man Utd will be a more attractive proposition for the Sporting man as Ten Hag looks to bolster his midfield options.
    Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat have struggled since arriving in the summer.
    And Casemiro also struggled at the start of the season before suffering an injury.
    Man Utd are languishing in eighth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of the top four.
    And they are heading into a tough run of fixtures against Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa.
    Pellistri has struggled to make an impact for Man Utd so far this season More

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    Radu Dragusin flying to London to complete Tottenham transfer as Djed Spence swap deal agreed despite late hijacking

    TOTTENHAM have agreed a deal for Genoa defender Radu Dragusin.Spurs’ offer of £21.5milllion plus Djed Spence on loan looked set to get the transfer over the line.
    Radu Dragusin has chosen Tottenham over Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
    Dragusin has attracted attention following his impressive displays for Genoa
    But German champions Bayern then made an improved offer of £26.7m as they looked to steal him away from Ange Postecoglou.
    However Spurs have now reached “total agreement” with Genoa as their offer was accepted overnight.
    Dragusin is expected to travel to London on Wednesday morning to complete the move.
    The deal is worth £21.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons.
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    As part of the transfer, right-back Spence will join Genoa until the end of the season after his Leeds loan was terminated.
    Tottenham will still pay Spence’s wages after the player was convinced of the temporary move to Serie A.
    It came after Leeds boss Daniel Farke was unimpressed with the 23-year-old’s attitude, and it is understood there was little interest from Championship clubs borrowing Spence this month.
    The loan to Genoa includes an option to sign the wing-back permanently for £8.6m in the summer.
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    Djed Spence’s Leeds loan was terminated last weekCredit: Getty
    Should Dragusin complete his move before midday on Friday he could make his Premier League debut at Manchester United on Sunday.
    It is a huge coup for Postecoglou who always prioritised a new centre-back in this window to bolster his options.
    Full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal have had to play in the middle of defence while first-choice pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been injured in recent months.
    Ashley Phillips, 18, who signed from Blackburn for £2m in the summer, was deemed not ready and loaned out to Plymouth earlier this week.
    And Eric Dier is set to join Bayern Munich after a decade in North London.
    Dragusin made his professional debut for Juventus in 2020 but struggled to establish himself as a regular first team player.
    He was subsequently loaned out three times to Sampdoria, Salernitana and Genoa.
    The defender completed a permanent move to Genoa in January of last year and has made 62 appearances.
    Dragusin will be Tottenham’s second signing of the January window after they brought Timo Werner in on loan from RB Leipzig. More

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    Former Man Utd and Chelsea star ‘eyeing return to Premier League’ after telling French side Rennes he wants to quit

    NEMANJA MATIC reportedly wants to return to the Premier League – after telling Rennes he is ready to quit the club.But he has allegedly considered RETIRING if an immediate transfer exit gets blocked.
    Nemanja Matic is fed up at Rennes and wants to quit immediatelyCredit: Getty
    The former Chelsea and Manchester United star, 35, joined the Ligue 1 outfit in the summer after one season with Roma following his Old Trafford exit in 2022.
    The holding midfielder is yet to score for his new side but did get three assists in six Europa League group games – and has already served two suspensions for picking up seven Ligue 1 yellow cards.
    However, just six months and 13 league appearances into his spell with Rennes, it is said he has had enough.
    Matic has reportedly struggled to gel with his team-mates and there are complications regarding his children’s schooling.
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    According to L’Equipe, Matic skipped training on Tuesday and has emptied his locker in the hope of finding a new club to enable an early exit from his two-year contract until 2025.
    The report adds that the Serbian is “unhappy at Rennes and pushing for an immediate departure” with it growing increasingly unlikely he will play for Rennes ever again.
    And it is thought the central midfielder is keen to sign for French rivals Lyon or head back to England, with several clubs apparently interested.
    L’Equipe add that successful talks have already taken place between Matic’s representatives and Lyon – but if Rennes did their heels in and refuse to let him leave then he may hang up his boots and quit football for good.
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    Matic first joined Chelsea in 2009 but made just three first-team appearances then headed to Benfica before returning to Stamford Bridge in January 2014.
    In three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues he appeared 151 times and lifted two Premier League titles.
    The 48-cap international made the switch to United in 2017 but despite playing 189 times and the club reaching both the FA Cup and Europa League finals during his five seasons at Old Trafford, he could not add to his trophy cabinet.
    In December he launched a frank and stinging attack on the Red Devils – and singled out Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho for particular criticism.
    Matic said: “At Chelsea, players acted professionally.
    “They were punctual and were never late for training but at United it happened almost every day.
    “Among the players who would always be late were Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho and a couple of other players.
    “The rest of us who were always on time were angry so we decided to form a kind of an internal disciplinary committee with me serving as its president.
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    “During one particular season, we collected around £75,000 in fines.”
    There was more European heartbreak for Matic last season, too, as Jose Mourinho’s Roma lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final before his wretched Rennes move.
    Matic won the Premier League twice with ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The Serbian spent five years at Old TraffordCredit: PA More