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    Forgotten Chelsea star wanted by West Ham in shock January transfer after playing just 106 minutes this season

    IAN MAATSEN is being lined for a January transfer by West Ham, reports suggest.Maatsen has only been afforded a bit-part role at Chelsea so far this season.
    Ian Maatsen is reportedly being tracked by West HamCredit: Getty
    Maatsen starred in pre-season for the BluesCredit: Getty
    This has seen the exciting academy prospect handed only 106 minutes of action in the Premier League.
    All of these minutes have come from seven appearances off the bench.
    One of the 21-year-old’s main strengths is his versatility.
    And this is something Hammers boss David Moyes may be looking to utilise.
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    According to Rudy Galetti, West Ham are looking to “make an attempt” to sign him in the January window.
    The club are said to have asked for information on Maatsen’s availability.
    Maatsen is able to play at left-back, left-wing and in central midfield.
    He has even featured briefly as a right winger under Mauricio Pochettino this season.
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    West Ham are not the only club who have been linked with a move for the Dutchman.
    Barcelona are said to be tracking Maatsen, which saw Chelsea reportedly trigger a one-year contract extension in the player’s contract to ward off the immediate interest.
    His deal expires in June 2025, meaning Chelsea will have a decision to make on his future over the next two windows.
    Chelsea had agreed to sell Maatsen to Burnley, where he was on loan in the Championship last season, on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for £31.5million in the summer.
    However, the deal fell through because Maatsen was reportedly reluctant to seal a move to Turf Moor.
    Other loan spells have seen Maatsen star for Charlton and Coventry after time in the youth set-ups of Dutch sides Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam and PSV. More

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    Newcastle ‘consider recalling £7m teen in January’ and receive boost in Kalvin Phillips transfer chase

    NEWCASTLE are reportedly considering recalling Yankuba Minteh from his loan spell at Feyenoord.The Magpies have seen the limits of their squad tested this summer after suffering an injury crisis.
    Newcastle are considering recalling Yankuba Minteh from loanCredit: Getty
    Newcastle have also had a boost in their chase for Kalvin PhillipsCredit: Alamy
    Minteh, 19, has been impressive in the Netherlands while playing under Arne Slot.
    The winger has netted three times and bagged two assists in 10 Eredivisie games.
    According to The Telegraph, this form has got Newcastle thinking about bringing him back to St James’ Park in January.
    The deal could prove difficult to pull off as the report claims that Feyenoord may not agree to the recall as they paid a fee to have the Gambian for the entire season.
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    To make it harder for Howe’s side, there was no recall option in the loan deal when it was signed off.
    However, it is said that the clubs have a good relationship and that a “compromise” could be found.
    Minteh joined Newcastle from Danish club OB Odense in the summer for around £7million but was sent straight out on loan.
    Newcastle are expected to have some of their stars return from injury soon to lighten the load on the stretched squad.
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    Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy are both set to be back before the end of January.
    What has made it worse is summer signing Sandro Tonali’s ban for breaching betting rules.
    The report also claims that Newcastle have had a boost in their hopes of signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
    Phillips would be an ideal option to replace Tonali while he is away from the pitch.
    It says that City would not stand in his way if he wanted to move north to Tyneside.
    However, there is “intense” competition to sign the England international.
    Juventus, West Ham and Tottenham are all among the sides interested in signing the 27-year-old. More

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    Man Utd in advanced talks to hijack Arsenal’s £26million transfer for the ‘new Nemanja Vidic’

    MANCHESTER UNITED look set to hijack Arsenal’s deal for Radu Dragusin, according to reports.The Red Devils are keen to sign a centre-back in January after leaking goals in the Champions League.
    Radu Dragusin is on Man Utd and Arsenal’s radarCredit: Rex
    Man Utd have conceded 14 times in five European matches this season and their hopes of progression are now hanging by a thread after drawing 3-3 with Galatasaray.
    And to fix their defensive woes, the Red Devils are keen on Dragusin.
    The 21-year-old Romanian international has been compared to ex-United captain Nemanja Vidic.
    Dragusin came through the ranks at Juventus and now plays for Serie A side Genoa.
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    They had the defender on loan last season and made the move permanent in the summer for around £5million.
    He penned a contract at Genoa that runs until 2027 but it contains a release clause worth £26million.
    Reports from Romanian outfit ProSport claim United are in advanced talks with the player ahead of potentially triggering the clause.
    Dragusin’s agent Florin Manea previously revealed he has been in discussions with a host of Premier League clubs over a transfer.
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    He said: “I have been in London for some time and have almost weekly meetings with important teams.
    “We are getting closer. I spoke with Newcastle, with Arsenal, with Tottenham.
    “I also have messages with them, conversations. There are teams that ask about Dragusin.” More

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    Arsenal in advanced talks with Ben White over new deal and Arteta has already identified next star he wants to tie down

    ARSENAL are in advanced talks with Ben White and are hopeful of agreeing a new deal before Christmas.The Gunners have also opened negotiations with Takehiro Tomiyasu to extend his stay as part of manager Mikel Arteta’s long-term planning.
    White, 26, has 2½ years still left to run on his contract while 25-year-old fellow defender Tomiyasu’s deal expires in 2025.
    Arsenal are in advanced talks with Ben WhiteCredit: Alamy
    But Arteta and sporting director Edu aim to tie key stars down to fresh terms and keep the nucleus of the squad together until 2027 and beyond.
    Martin Odegaard and WIlliam Saliba, along with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and Aaron Ramsdale have all agreed new terms over the past year or so.
    Recent signings Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also locked into long contracts.
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    White cost £50million when he was signed from Brighton, while Japanese star Tomiyasu was a bargain £19.5m buy from Bologna when they both arrived in the summer of 2021.
    Midfielder Thomas Partey’s deal runs to 2025 but the club could sell him next month.
    Arsenal have spent some £600m on signings since Arteta took over four years ago.
    But the feeling within the club is they now have a strong squad for the next five years and will not need to keep splashing out at such a rapid rate in the future.
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    Arsenal sit top of the table and are through to the Champions League knockout stages after beating Lens 6-0.
    Arteta said: “It was a genuine dream.
    “We had a chance to qualify today and we’ve done it in a really convincing way against a really good side.
    |The team from the beginning showed a lot of aggression and determination to go for the game.
    “It’s great we’re able to win in this way and we showed at home not to concede any goals and score a lot which is a positive factor.
    “The players need to believe we can do that against big opponents.”
    Mikel Arteta praised his in-form GunnersCredit: Getty More

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    Former Man Utd star linked with January Premier League return as current club ‘consider terminating contract’

    FORMER Manchester United striker Josh King is expected to leave Fenerbahce in January, according to reports.King, 31, joined the Turkish side in July 2022 and has since scored 11 goals in 38 appearances.
    Sheffield United are interested in signing Josh KingCredit: Getty
    However, his game time this season has been limited due to injury.
    Ismail Kartal is now prepared to offer the striker a mutual contract termination.
    Should he leave Fenerbahce in January, King will become a free agent.
    And according to Turkish outlet Milliyet, Sheffield United are monitoring him.
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    The Blades allegedly expressed an interest in signing the Norway international earlier this year, but they could not reach an agreement with Fenerbahce.
    Paul Heckingbottom is now expected to reignite his interest ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
    Sheffield United currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, four points adrift of Luton.
    King already has plenty of experience playing in England.
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    He signed for Man Utd at the age of 16 and spent five years at the club, making just two appearances.
    The striker then joined Blackburn on a permanent transfer, but his most prolific period came with Bournemouth.
    He scored 53 goals and provided 19 assists in 184 appearances during his six-year spell with the Cherries.
    King then went on to play for Everton and Watford before joining Fenerbahce last summer. More

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    Chelsea ‘set to cancel two transfer agreements in January’ including forgotten star that could cost them millions

    CHELSEA are reportedly prepared to prematurely recall two on-loan players in January.The Blues sent eight players out on loan ahead of the 2023-24 campaign in a bid to cut down Maurico Pochettino’s bloated squad.
    Diego Moreira joined Chelsea in July but was loaned to LyonCredit: Getty
    Andrey Santos has made just two appearances for Nottingham ForestCredit: Alamy
    Teenagers Diego Moreira and Andrey Santos are among the stars that have temporarily left Stamford Bridge.
    However, both players are expected to return in January – six months earlier than initially planned.
    According to the Standard, Moreira is set to be recalled from Lyon when the upcoming transfer window opens.
    The Portugal Under-21’s international has made just three appearances since joining the Ligue 1 side, playing 75 minutes in total.
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    Chelsea will likely have to pay around £2.5million to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
    Meanwhile, Santos is also set to return in January.
    The 19-year-old Brazilian has been limited to just two appearances for Nottingham Forest since the start of the season.
    Pochettino is said to be unhappy with his current situation at the City Ground.
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    Chelsea can break the loan arrangement if Santos does not make a certain amount of appearances before January.
    However, his loan options will be limited if he returns due to new FIFA regulations.
    The Blues are expected to send both players out on loan again if they are recalled in a bid to get more first team experience.
    Moreira joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Benfica in July, while Santos signed from Vasco da Gama in January but immediately returned to Brazil on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season. More

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    Erik ten Hag wowed by Man Utd legend’s son and wants to fast-track progress into first team

    ERIK TEN HAG has been left “wowed” by Darren Fletcher’s son Jack, Sun Sport can reveal. The 16-year-old midfielder was promoted by United’s Dutch manager to train with the first team ahead of their clash with Galatasaray. 
    Erik ten Hag has called up Darren Fletcher’s son Jack to first-team trainingCredit: Getty
    Ten Hag wants to ‘fast track’ Jack Fletcher into the first teamCredit: Getty
    Jack is the son of Man Utd technical director Darren FletcherCredit: AFP
    And sources close to the club say Ten Hag is keen to “fast-track” Fletcher’s progress.
    Our source said: “Erik Ten Hag has been watching Jack closely for several months now and has been really impressed. He thinks he has huge potential which is why he decided to promote him to train with the first team last week. 
    “Ten Hag is now working with his staff to put a plan in place to try and develop and fast-track Jack’s progress. 
    “He is likely to go out on loan next season but Erik believes, in the long term, he has a massive future at United. He’s been wowed by his attitude, and his maturity and – thinks he is the latest in an exciting crop of talent to be coming through at United.”
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    The 16-year-old, who was the only Under-18 representative in the group, joined United from rivals Manchester City earlier this year.
    Jack joined alongside his twin Tyler, and the pair are sons of United technical director Darren.
    While Jack was not selected as part of the travelling party to Istanbul, he’ll be buoyed to have been selected to train with the first team.
    Kobbie Mainoo made a sensational Premier League full debut for United against Everton on Sunday at the age of 18.
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    And Alejandro Garnacho, 19, scored a stunning overhead kick at Goodison Park and also emerged from United’s academy.
    Meanwhile, Sun Online can reveal Ten Hag remains confident United can still have a “brilliant season” despite their European future hanging in the balance. 

    Our source added: “Spirits remain high. United’s form of late has been good and they still think they can get out of the group, and go on to have a brilliant season.
    “New editions will also come in in January which will give the squad and the club a much needed boost.” More

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    New book reveals how Lionel Messi ‘pleaded with Pep Guardiola for Man City transfer before receiving brutal response’

    LIONEL MESSI supposedly met with Pep Guardiola about joining Manchester City in 2020.The Argentine legend had a meeting with him a year before his Barcelona deal was set to end.
    A reunion between Messi and Guardiola at Man City was turned down by the managerCredit: AFP
    Messi eventually ended up signing for PSG when his contract expired – but discussions took place over a move to the Premier League.
    A new book named “God Save Pep” written by Marti Perarnau, who has previously been given behind-the-scenes access to write about Guardiola, has made the claims.
    It states that Messi texted his friend Sergio Aguero and asked how long the manager plans to stay at Man City.
    It reportedly led to the World Cup winner contacting his old boss and they scheduled a meeting at his house in Barcelona.
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    Messi was told about the tough training sessions at City and he was also warned about the rainy British climate.
    The book claims Guardiola said: “In Manchester we train very hard and I make long tactical talks. Maybe you’ll get bored.”
    But Messi was still keen to join the club as he reportedly pleaded: “I will train hard, I’m not worried. I will put up with everything you do.
    Although it proved not enough to convince the Spaniard over a reunion.
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    Guardiola apparently replied: “Leo, we have grown older. Maybe we can’t stand each other anymore.”
    Messi stayed for just two seasons at PSG before joining Inter Miami in July. More