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    Brighton set to go back in for £10m-rated Boca Juniors ace as they look to beat Man City and Juventus in transfer race

    BRIGHTON will make a new move for Argentinian left-back Valentin Barco ahead of the winter window.The Seagulls tried to sign Barco, 19, from Boca Juniors this summer and went close to triggering his release clause of around £10million.
    Valentin Barco is on the radar of several top clubsCredit: EPA
    However, Manchester City and Juventus were also strongly linked and the whole deal became too hard to broker.
    But progressive Brighton still think they can offer Barco the best move at this point of his career.
    Boss Roberto de Zerbi remains optimistic a deal can be struck.
    However, the club may have to pay more for him than expected.
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    Barco has played 22 games for Boca Juniors in his career and has become a first-team regular this year.
    He is predominately a left-back, but he can also play higher up the pitch as a winger.
    Barco has been capped three times by the Argentinian Under-20s team.
    Boca Juniors want to keep the wonderkid and could reportedly tempt him into staying by offering him a new deal.
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    The contract would supposedly see his release clause rise to £16m.
    Brighton have developed a reputation for picking up prospects from South America and they already have Barco’s international team-mate Facundo Buonanotte in their squad. More

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    Premier League cult hero who scored one of the best ever goals finds new club after two months unemployed

    PAJTIM KASAMI has signed for Sampdoria after spending two months without a club.The Swiss international left previous team Olympiacos at the end of last season.
    Pajtim Kasami has signed a one-year deal with SampdoriaCredit: Instagram @sampdoria
    The Swiss midfielder scored one of the all-time great Premier League goals for FulhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Kasami, 31, will be best known to English football fans for his spell at Fulham.
    He played 56 times for the Cottagers between 2011 and 2014.
    His most memorable moment by far came in a match against Crystal Palace during the 2013-14 campaign.
    Palace had gone 1-0 up on the night via a goal by Adrian Mariappa.
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    Kasami then levelled for Fulham in spectacular fashion, controlling a long ball with his chest before striking a sensational volley into the opposite top corner.
    The West Londoners went onto win the match 4-1, but would be relegated at the end of that campaign.
    Kasami left upon Fulham’s demotion, joining Olympiacos.
    He returned to English football during the 2016-17 season, playing on loan at Nottingham Forest.
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    The 12-cap international spent five years back in his native Switzerland with Sion and then Basel, before returning to Olympiacos last year.
    He has now penned a one-year contract with Sampdoria and will play in Serie B, following his new team’s relegation to the second tier last term.
    Fulham fans still appear to hold a place in their hearts for Kasami.
    One wrote: “Should have come home son.”
    While a second tweeted: “Many congratulations Pajtim!!”
    Another added: “Good luck, Pajtim!”
    Kasami celebrates his amazing Selhurst Park strikeCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Man Utd centre-back transfer target reveals he rejected summer move over fears he would ‘make a mistake’

    MANCHESTER UNITED transfer target Jean-Clair Todibo didn’t join the Red Devils this summer over fears he’d make a “mistake”.Todibo, 23, was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford last month.
    Todibo revealed he didn’t want to ‘make a mistake’ when asked about joining UnitedCredit: Rex
    The Red Devils approached OGC Nice over a potential swoop just before deadline day, but a deal failed to materialise.
    And now the defender has opened up about why he decided against joining Erik ten Hag’s side.
    Todibo told L’Equipe: “I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t have the thought to tell myself that perhaps I should play in a ‘top club’ to increase my chances [of playing for France], but there are also guarantees when playing at Nice.”
    When pressed about rumours linking him to Man Utd, he added: “I experienced it differently from my previous situations in my career.
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    “My thinking was much more in-depth, thoughtful. I didn’t want to make a mistake in my choice. I remained very calm.
    “Reflection is much more important than when I started. I’m waiting to be presented with the complete project.
    “What is expected of me? Why am I coming? You shouldn’t arrive at a club like that. I know what I have at Nice. Why go into the unknown?
    “So, everything must be clear. My first transfer, I was 18 years old. The thinking was not as thorough.”
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    Todibo joined Nice from Barcelona in 2021 and has since made 106 appearances.
    He made his international debut for France earlier this week against Germany. More

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    Lamine Yamal ‘lined up for shock summer transfer to Premier League but Barcelona blocked move for record-breaking teen’

    MANCHESTER CITY tried to sign Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal this summer, according to a club chief.The two clubs have conducted a number of deals in recent years, with former City captain Ilkay Gundogan joining Barca this summer.
    Manchester City tried to sign Lamine YamalCredit: Getty
    Joao Cancelo also signed for the Spanish giants on loan until the end of the season.
    In return City tried to sign 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, according to Barcelona board member Enric Masip.
    He told Radio Marca: “Lamine Yamal and Balde were in serious danger of leaving this summer because there is a club that tried to poach them.”
    But Barca blocked the move from happening and they are now plotting a contract extension for the youngster.
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    Yamal is set to be offered a three-year deal – the maximum that can be given to a player of his age.
    The Spaniard impressed in pre-season for Barca and he has been rewarded for his fine form with minutes for the first-team this season.
    He has featured in all four LaLiga games so far and even has two assists.
    Barcelona boss Xavi is a big fan of Yamal and predicted a bright future for the teenager.
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    He said after Barcelona’s win over Villarreal: “He is a very good player. Very unbalancing, very electric, a difficult opponent to cover. He has a great future.”
    Yamal has also burst on to the international scene and set a new record for the youngest player to represent Spain when he made his debut against Georgia last week. More

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    Jurgen Klopp fumes at journalist and rants ‘you can’t wait until December to ask this?’ ahead of Wolves vs Liverpool

    JURGEN KLOPP let rip at a journalist after being asked about Mohamed Salah’s future.The Liverpool star was a target of Saudi Arabia but the club held off Al-Ittihad who were prepared to bid a staggering £215MILLION.
    Jurgen Klopp was not impressed when asked about Mohamed Salah’s futureCredit: AFP
    The Liverpool winger is wanted by Saudi side Al-IttihadCredit: Getty
    Al-Ittihad were ready to offer Salah, 31, a staggering £1.8m-per-week.
    Klopp would have been relieved to see his star player stay at the club.
    However, rumours that the Saudi club will try again for him will not go away.
    The manager was asked about a reported January move that could see Salah leave Anfield, and he was not impressed.
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    He fumed back: “A week after the transfer window, you ask about January? Are you kidding?
    “You can’t wait! I’m not worried, we will see what happens.”
    Liverpool had a busy summer window as the club replaced the entire midfield.
    Stars such as Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner left the club, while Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo joined.
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    Despite the turnover of players, Klopp has insisted that he is “happy” with his squad.
    He added: “I’m happy. I was with the midfield we had over the years.
    “They were super characters, grew fantastically into different roles from younger players.
    “It was a big task to replace them but I’m happy with what we’ve got.”
    Liverpool return to Premier League action with a trip to Wolves as they hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
    However, Klopp is not expecting an easy match.
    He said: “It is a difficult place to go. The Premier League is the Premier League.
    “If you ask if there are any grounds where we think we have the points already, there are none.
    “Wolves lost a few key players but you look at the line up and think they have quality. A really good football team.” More

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    Forgotten Premier League star joins MLS revolution on free transfer after four months unemployed

    A FORMER Premier League star has ended four months of unemployment by joining MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.Winger Junior Hoilett has been a familiar name in the upper echelons of English football for the past 15 years.
    Junior Hoilett has signed a one-year deal with Vancouver WhitecapsCredit: Twitter @@WhitecapsFC
    The winger left Reading after last season’s relegation to League OneCredit: Getty
    Now the Canadian international has returned to his homeland on a deal until the end of the season following this summer’s departure from Reading.
    The 33-year-old snubbed a move to link up with his former Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock at Huddersfield Town in order to join the Whitecaps.
    And the club’s director, Axel Schuster, is delighted to have him on board.
    He said: “Junior brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group.
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    “He has played a key role with Canada’s men’s national team over the years, having most recently helped Canada finish at the top of Concacaf qualifying for the World Cup and was the captain at the Gold Cup.
    “We are very pleased to welcome Junior and his family to the club.”
    Hoilett arrived at Blackburn Rovers in 2003 from amateur club Oakville SC and he quickly progressed through their academy alongside the likes of Phil Jones.
    After loan spells in Germany with Paderborn and St Pauli, he went on to become a regular in the Premier League for Rovers and made his debut against Manchester City on the opening day of the 2009/10 season.
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    Hoilett left in 2012 to sign for QPR but tasted relegation with the Hoops.
    However, he played a key role in helping them return to the Premier League after just one season but he departed in 2016 when his contract expired to sign for Warnock at Cardiff.
    He once again tasted top-flight action and then relegation with the Bluebirds during his five-year stint in Wales, which produced 23 goals in 173 league appearances.
    Having fallen out of favour under Mick McCarthy, he left Cardiff to sign for Reading in 2021.
    But his second season there ended in relegation to League One from the Championship and he snubbed a contract extension to become a free agent in June.
    “Wonderful surprise! Welcome to Vancouver,” wrote one fan reacting to his latest transfer move.
    Another declared that Hoilett was “gonna tear it up” while another tweeted: “Looking forward to those smooth silky moves that Junior has.” More

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    Fulham ‘still plan to SELL Joao Palhinha with new contract not changing Bayern Munich transfer exit in January’

    FULHAM are reportedly still planning on selling Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich despite him signing a new contract.The Portuguese star was set to join the Bundesliga giants on transfer deadline day until the move collapsed.
    Fulham are reportedly still planning on selling Joao Palhinha after he signed a new contractCredit: Getty
    Palhinha, 28, was at Bayern and was even believed to have posed with a club shirt.
    Fulham were unable to sign a replacement, with Manchester United’s Scott McTominay reportedly the favourite to arrive at Craven Cottage.
    This meant that the club pulled the plug on Palhinha’s move to Bayern.
    The midfielder has since signed a new deal with the Cottagers.
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    Fabrizio Romano, however, has claimed that Bayern still want to sign Palhinha and will move for him in January.
    The transfer guru has also suggested that the midfielder’s new contract was “key” after the drama on deadline day.
    He continues to suggest that Fulham are still planning on selling Palhinha for a “huge fee” next summer.
    Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel believes that his squad is still “thin” despite the arrivals of high-profile stars such as Harry Kane, Kim Min-jae and Konrad Laimer.
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    Palhinha has been backed to still make the move to Bayern, with his agent brother Goncalo suggesting that the transfer has merely been  “postponed”.
    He said: “They didn’t kill the dream, they just postponed it.
    “Very proud of my brother and the player I represent.”
    Tuchel has also been asked whether his side could return for Palhinha in the future.
    He said: “I have no opinion on that. There’s no point in thinking about it now. He plays at Fulham and we play here without him.
    “In winter we have to see. Things change sometimes, you can’t predict that.”
    After signing his new contract, Palhinha said: “I feel happy. A lot of history happened these few weeks for me, you heard a lot of things about my future, but I’m just focused on my work at Fulham.
    “I always have 100 per cent commitment with this club, I have all the respect for the club, for the fans. Since the first day, they supported me a lot, and me and my family felt this since the first moment that I arrived here.
    “I have a lot of respect for everyone here in Fulham and I am ready to start again, to give all my best, and I want to achieve good things.” More

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    Jadon Sancho lined up for shock switch to Premier League strugglers with Man Utd outcast ‘open to January transfer’

    JADON SANCHO is reportedly wanted by Nottingham Forest amid his fallout with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.The winger’s Old Trafford future is up in the air after he hit out at Ten Hag following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
    Jadon Sancho has been linked to Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
    Sancho issued a statement, which has since been deleted, denying Ten Hag’s claim he had been left out because he wasn’t training well enough, and insisted he was being made a scapegoat.
    The winger was subsequently banished from first-team training after Sancho refused to apologise for his outburst, with his days at the club looking numbered
    According to Manchester Evening News Sancho is open to a January transfer – and there is no shortage of interest.
    Nottingham Forest are the latest club to be linked to the 23-year-old, who signed Anthony Elanga from United in the summer.
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    Sancho’s former side Borussia Dortmund is also rumoured to be interested with a potential loan deal being offered.
    Saudi Arabia side Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by Steven Gerrard, made a late move for Sancho in the summer transfer window but ran out of time to complete a deal.
    Sancho’s row with Ten Hag exploded after he hit out the manager’s comments on social media with a bombshell statement.

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    Ten Hag said “n his performance on training, we didn’t select him”.
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    To which Sancho wrote: “I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week.
    “I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!
    “All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
    “I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge.
    “I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what.” More