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    Unemployed Jesse Lingard ‘offered free transfer to top Ligue 1 side’ – where he would link up with ex-Man Utd team-mate

    UNEMPLOYED Jesse Lingard has reportedly been offered a career lifeline in France.And he would link up with a former Manchester United team-mate at the Ligue 1 giants.
    Jesse Lingard could be on his way to France to join LilleCredit: Reuters
    But the deal could collapse over new Brexit regulations.
    Lingard, 31, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer.
    The free agent spent one season at the City Ground – despite four-year contract offers elsewhere – following his release from Old Trafford in 2022 after 22 years with his boyhood club.
    He trained with West Ham then underwent a one-month trial with Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq but did not get offered a contract as the Saudi club had already maxed out their overseas players quota with Jordan Henderson, Demarai Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum.
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    Now, though, the Mirror claim Lille are interested in snapping up midfielder Lingard who continues to keep himself sharp by training at local pitches.
    Lille, champions in 2020-21, sit fifth in Ligue 1 – 12 points adrift of leaders PSG.
    Paulo Fonseca’s side includes stars Nabil Bentaleb, Jonathan David and Samuel Umtiti, while former Red Devils youngster Angel Gomes is on the books at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
    Like Lingard, Gomes came through the youth academy at Manchester United and made ten first-team appearances.
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    But because the former Young Lions star, 23, is English, he counts as one of the four permitted non-EU stars following Brexit.
    And the limits imposed on countries not in the EU or without a cooperation agreement may mean Lingard’s move is scuppered.
    The report adds two other French clubs are also weighing up a move for the 32-cap England man.
    Meanwhile, a free transfer to North America is another option ahead of the new MLS season which starts in February.
    Lingard spent the 2022-23 season with Nottingham ForestCredit: EPA
    Angel Gomes, right, came through at Man Utd and is now at LilleCredit: AFP More

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    Chelsea, Man City and Barca on transfer red alert as ‘next Lionel Messi’ confirms he WON’T sign new River Plate contract

    CHELSEA, Manchester City and Barcelona have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri.River Plate forward Echeverri, 17, attracted interest following a sensational U17 South American Championship back in April.
    Claudio Echeverri could be set for a move to Europe in JanuaryCredit: Getty
    Echeverri wears the No10 shirt for Argentina’s U17 side, like Lionel Messi does for the senior teamCredit: Getty
    The teenager, who wears the No10 for Argentina’s age group side, scored five goals and provided three assists in eight games at the tournament as his country finished third.
    Now he could be set to follow in the footsteps of iconic Argentine No10 Lionel Messi by moving to Europe.
    That is after he confirmed he will NOT be signing a new contract with River Plate.
    He told ESPN: “I’m NOT going to renew my contract at River Plate.
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    “I’m going to play for the next months and then we see what happens.”
    Echeverri’s deal expires in December 2024, with his release clause set at £21.6million.
    This will increase to £26m in the final days of the January transfer window.
    Manchester City are leading the way in their attempts to sign the attacker – with the Treble winners keen to agree a deal before loaning him back to River for the remainder of the season.
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    This would mirror the transfer made between River and Man City for Julian Alvarez last year.
    But Chelsea are also pushing to secure his services.
    According to Sky Germany journalist Sarah Wieczorak, Mauricio Pochettino’s men want to sign the youngster and then loan him out to Strasbourg – who are also owned by American Todd Boehly.
    Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are among the other huge clubs sniffing around Echeverri.
    Both Chelsea and Man City are yet to make a formal offer to River Plate. More

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    Man Utd join transfer race with Liverpool and Man City for Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich ahead of huge midfield cull

    MANCHESTER UNITED are interested in signing Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich, according to reports.Boss Erik ten Hag wants to revolutionise his midfield following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover.
    Joshua Kimmich is attracting plenty of Prem interestCredit: Rex
    The Red Devils sit eighth in the Premier League table, eight points off the top four positions.
    But club chiefs are plotting moves that could finally see United begin to challenge for the top prizes again.
    According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, the Red Devils have set their sights on Bayern star Kimmich.
    The 28-year-old would be unlikely to move in January, but could be available at the end of the season.
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    Kimmich will have just one year remaining on his Bayern contract when the campaign ends.
    But United will face stiff competition to secure his signature.
    The experienced German international is also admired by Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
    City boss Pep Guardiola was in charge at Bayern during Kimmich’s first campaign in Bavaria.
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    Barcelona are also believed to be keen on Kimmich.
    Man Utd’s midfield could soon look very different, with three members of their first team squad potentially departing before next season.
    Forgotten man Donny van de Beek is on the verge of joining Eintracht Frankfurt on an initial loan deal next month.
    The Bundesliga side could then sign the Dutchman on a permanent basis for £13million in the summer.
    Casemiro, meanwhile, is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia ahead of the January window.
    United chiefs are believed to be open to cashing in on the 31-year-old.

    Sofyan Amrabat joined the Red Devils on an initial loan deal from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day.
    The 27-year-old, however, may not have done enough to secure a permanent switch.
    Casemiro could lead Man Utd’s midfield exodusCredit: PA More

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    Tottenham lining up £25m transfer swoop for Belgian wonderkid Arthur Vermeeren and believe they have edge over Arsenal

    TOTTENHAM are aiming to pull off a stunning £25million swoop for Belgium’s teenage sensation Arthur Vermeeren in January.The Royal Antwerp midfielder is only 18 but played a huge role in leading the club to a first Pro League title in 66 years last term.
    Arthur Vermeeren is attracting plenty of interest from Europe’s elite clubsCredit: Rex
    Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have all sent scouts to watch Vermeeren play this season.
    He is also attracting the attention of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
    But Spurs have leapt to the front of the queue as they fancy a deal similar to the one which brought Destiny Udogie to North London 18 months ago.
    Spurs paid a large part of the £18m fee up front for left-back Udogie — then loaned him back to Italian side Udinese.
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    The Italian has since gone on to excel at Tottenham, making 15 appearances so far this term.
    Udogie, 21, has also broken into his national side, making his Italy debut against Malta in October.
    Vermeeren, meanwhile, has already played 64 times for Royal Antwerp.
    He played in every minute of their Champions League campaign this season, even scoring in the 3-2 win over Barcelona.
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    Like Udogie, he also made his international debut in October.
    The midfielder earned his first senior Belgium cap against Austria.
    Spurs are back in action on Thursday evening when they take on Brighton.

    Ange Postecoglou’s side went into Christmas fourth in the table, just four points off top spot despite a savage run of injuries.
    They have been spurred on of late by resurgent Richarlison’s four goals in three games, the latest coming in their 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.
    Destiny Udogie has excelled for Spurs since joining from UdineseCredit: Getty More

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    Tottenham eye transfer raid for Dominic Solanke after cooling interest in alternative Premier League striker

    SPURS are monitoring Dominic Solanke – as they look to sign a striker in the Summer.The Bournemouth hitman, who scored a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, has taken the Premier League by storm this year. 
    Solanke scored a stunning hat-trick against Nottingham Forest on SaturdayCredit: Getty
    And Sun Online can reveal that Tottenham are “closely watching” the striker’s progress. 
    A source said: “Spurs want to sign a striker in the Summer. The club hasn’t replaced Harry Kane so recruiting a new forward is a big priority and Solanke is someone they are closely monitoring. 
    “They’ve sent scouts to watch him already several times this season, and they will continue to track him into the New Year. 
    “He ticks a lot of boxes for Spurs, and Bournemouth know if he carries on showing the kind of form he is then they will struggle to stop other clubs from sniffing around him. They are bracing themselves for bids.”
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    Spurs are also keen on Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, but interest in the Irishman has reportedly cooled and Solanke is seen as a “better prospect”.
    The source added: “Tottenham want a focal point striker who has scored 11 goals in the Premier League, and Solanke has shown this season that he has the potential to play at a higher level. 
    Spurs will be closely watching him between now and the end of the season. 
    Our story comes amid reports Arsenal are also looking at the Bournemouth hitman.
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    Liverpool are in line to make millions should Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke leave the seaside club this season.
    Solanke played 27 times for Liverpool after signing from Chelsea six years ago and went on to join the Cherries in a deal which totalled £24 million back in 2019.
    But the deal includes a buy-back option, and 20 per cent sell-on clauses.
    His goals at the weekend took his tally to 11 in 17 games in the Premier League this term, with only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah ahead of him in the goalscoring charts. More

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    Clue Sir Jim Ratcliffe will make FULL Man Utd takeover as clause in £1.3billion deal is revealed

    SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S 25 per cent stake in Manchester United could turn into a complete takeover thanks to a clause in the agreement.British billionaire Ratcliffe, 71, was confirmed as having acquired a minority stake in the Red Devils on Sunday.
    Sir Jim Ratcliffe could buy the remaining 75 per cent of the club from the Glazer familyCredit: Reuters
    The Glazers have owned Manchester United since 2005Credit: Getty
    It was also revealed he will take charge of the footballing operations at Old Trafford.
    But the 25 per cent stake could well lead to a complete takeover in the coming years.
    That’s because, according to The Mail, a clause in the deal says that if the Glazers want to sell then they first have to offer their shares to Ratcliffe.
    Ratcliffe was initially interested in a majority stake, before he settled for 25 per cent – which cost him £1.3billion.
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    Man Utd fans are keen to end the Glazers reign after 18 years at the helm.
    Red Devils supporters have held a number of protests against the family in that time.
    And they could finally see the back of them if they choose to sell their remaining shares to Ratcliffe – who is a boyhood Man Utd fan.
    Following his 25 per cent takeover, the Brit said: “As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the club.
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    “Whilst the commercial success of the club has ensured there have always been available funds to win trophies at the highest level, this potential has not been fully unlocked in recent times.
    “We will bring the global knowledge, expertise and talent from the wider INEOS Sport group to help drive further improvement at the club, while also providing funds intended to enable future investment into Old Trafford.
    “We are here for the long term and recognise that a lot of challenges and hard work lie ahead, which we will approach with rigour, professionalism and passion.
    “We are committed to working with everyone at the club – the board, staff, players and fans – to help drive the club forward.
    “Our shared ambition is clear: we all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football.” More

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    Man Utd fans moan ‘this recruitment team man’ as they club target transfer for little-known youngster to help Hojlund

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans have lambasted their club amid reports linking them with a move for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee.Erik ten Hag’s attackers have struggled to find the back of the net so far this season, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund mustering just four Premier League goals between them.
    Rasmus Hojlund has struggled since arriving at Manchester UnitedCredit: Rex
    Joshua Zirkzee is being linked with a move to Old TraffordCredit: Getty
    Hojlund, 20, joined from Atalanta for £72million in the summer and scored five goals in Man Utd’s disappointing Champions League campaign.
    But he is still yet to net in 14 Premier League appearances – the latest of which came in a dismal 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday.
    According to Sport1, Man Utd are now considering an approach for Dutchman Zirkzee, 22, to improve Ten Hag’s options.
    The ex-Bayern Munich man swapped Germany for Italy last year and has scored 10 times in 37 appearances for Bologna.
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    But Man Utd’s attempts to acquire Zirkzee could prove complicated.
    Bayern have a £19m buy-back option on him and a 50 per cent sell-on clause should he leave Bologna.
    It is also estimated Man Utd would have to pay between £30m and £35m to steal him away from the Serie A side.
    However, Red Devils fans are not happy with their club being linked with Zirkzee.
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    Zirkzee has scored seven Serie A goals so far this season
    One said: “Why buy another young striker to play alongside another young striker? This recruitment team mannn 🤦🏽‍♂️.”
    Another added: “Nah wtf. He’s so average.”
    A third replied: “Instead of focusing on the midfield that can’t create a single chance for strikers, we are in for another striker 😂😂😂.”
    While a fourth responded: “How about a made striker like Ivan Toney.”
    Man Utd have lost eight of their 18 Premier League games so far this season.
    They are eight points adrift of the top four heading into Christmas – and have already been eliminated from the Champions League following just one win from six group-stage matches. More

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    Wolves ready to swoop for Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace with Jose Sa eyeing transfer to Premier League rival

    WOLVES are ready to go for Crystal Palace keeper Sam Johnstone — as Jose Sa waits for a move.Johnstone, 30, could be available following the August signing of Dean Henderson from Manchester United, who is now fit and starting.
    Wolves are interested in signing Sam JohnstoneCredit: Getty
    Jose Sa could leave Wolves to join Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
    England man Johnstone only lost his place through injury but will be fit soon.
    Wolves have been on his trail since the summer when Henderson, 26, joined Palace.
    Wolves are in the market for a new No 1, with Sa in the sights of Nottingham Forest and also clubs in Saudi Arabia.
    Sa, 30, was on Forest’s watch list before and the appointment of ex-boss Nuno Espirito Santo has put him back on the Midlanders’ radar.
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    The Wolves ace would be available at the right price.
    And Neil Cutler, the keeper coach at Molineux, has worked with Johnstone in the past.
    Palace gave Johnstone a new contract last month but the signing of Henderson puts them under pressure to keep both happy.
    Johnstone joined Palace on a free from West Brom in July 2022 and is pushing for a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad.
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    That means Wolves could have to pay a decent fee, while Newcastle are also keeping tabs on him following the injury to Nick Pope.
    Pope was ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging his shoulder in the win over United last month. More