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    Jose Mourinho ‘makes contact with long-term Arsenal transfer target but star wants to wait for Premier League offers’

    JOSE MOURINHO has made contact with a long-term Arsenal transfer target but the star “wants to wait for Premier League offers”.The Roma manager is eyeing a move to sign Youri Tielemans on a free transfer when he officially leaves Leicester at the end of this month.
    Jose Mourinho has made contact with Youri TielemansCredit: Rex
    Tielemans will depart the King Power Stadium when his contract expires, the Foxes have confirmed.
    And, despite being a long-term Arsenal target, Tielemans has been approached by Roma and Mourinho.
    Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the Serie A side have already made contact with Tielemans over a potential move.
    However, Roma’s hopes rest on which other clubs approach the Belgian this summer.

    The report adds that the 26-year-old is waiting to see if he receives offers from any Premier League clubs.
    Aston Villa are one such club who could come in for Tielemans, with bookies slashing odds on a move to Villa Park.
    Arsenal also remain interested and were linked with Tielemans as recently as April.
    The Gunners have been rumoured with signing the former Monaco midfielder for several seasons, but no deal has materialised.
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    Tielemans remains in high demand despite Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League, though.
    He will be one of seven players to leave the club at the end of June, with others expected to be sold in a mass exodus this summer. More

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    Man Utd ‘close to completing surprise transfer for France World Cup star in under-the-radar £44million move’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are one step away from completing their first signing of the summer transfer window, according to reports in France.United are on the lookout for a new centre-back to stand alongside Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane next season.
    Monaco centre-back, 25, is close to signing for Man UtdCredit: Rex
    Axel Disasi’s performances in Ligue 1 meant he was called up to the French World Cup squad in QatarCredit: AFP
    A move to United could enhance his chances at the international levelCredit: Getty
    According to L’Equipe, they are close to signing Monaco’s Axel Disasi, who was previously linked with Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
    The move has seemingly come out of nowhere, with reports claiming that United have “no issue” in matching the French club’s asking price of around £44million.
    Disasi has made 129 appearances for Monaco, playing both centrally and at right-back.
    The 25-year-old has been capped three times by France and was part of their World Cup squad which lost to Argentina in the final in December.

    United manager Erik ten Hag is determined to bolster his defensive options, with Harry Maguire likely to leave the club.
    Club captain Maguire was the Red Devils’ record defensive signing when he joined from Leicester for 85m back in 2019.

    But has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham in recent days after his much-publicised form struggles.
    The Premier League giants have also been linked with Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae, which would cost them 43m in a release clause.
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    Centre-back Victor Lindelof looked to be heading for the exit, but he impressed Ten Hag after stepping into the team towards the end of the season.
    However, the club are still open to offers for the Swedish international.
    Eric Bailly – who spent this season on loan at Marseille – is set to leave United in a permanent deal.
    Meanwhile, Axel Disasi has his heart set on the Premier League, with the Red Devils being his first choice.
    L’Equipe report that although the deal for Disasi is ‘close’, the two clubs have not actually commenced final negotiations.
    Harry Maguire is likely to leave the club if United sign another centre-backCredit: Getty More

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    Mateo Kovacic praises ‘top team’ as he drops major transfer exit hint with Chelsea future up in the air

    MATEO Kovacic has praised a “top team” as he dropped a major transfer exit hint with his Chelsea future up in the air.As new manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to overhaul his midfield this summer, Kovacic has been linked with a move away from the club.
    Mateo Kovacic has praised a “top team” in the latest hint over his Chelsea futureCredit: Getty
    Premier League champions Manchester City are believed to have already “opened talks” with the Croatian as they plan for next season.
    Kovacic, who is currently on international duty, has now fuelled those rumours with his latest comments.
    He told Nacional, via the Evening Standard: “I have one more year with Chelsea, this season was very bad.
    “Everything is going towards the fact that after 5 good years I will change, but in football anything can happen.

    “Right now, I’m focused on Croatia and the Nations League.
    “Manchester City is a top team and deserves to be in the Champions League final.
    “That’s what I have to say. The summer is long, we’ll see what happens.
    “Chelsea is phenomenal for me. I love the city and the fans, they love me, I have wonderful memories of Chelsea. We’ll see what happens.”
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    Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been linked with moves for Kovacic, who is entering the final year of his current deal.
    The 29-year-old has made 221 appearances for the Blues, having made a loan move from Real Madrid permanent in 2019.
    He also won four major trophies including the Champions League and Club World Cup.
    A potential exit from Stamford Bridge would fall in line with Pochettino’s reported plans to overhaul his midfield.
    The position is seen as a priority in the transfer market this summer, with “mini-Kaka” Gabri Veiga the latest player linked with Chelsea.
    As for other outgoings, Mason Mount remains in talks with United and N’Golo Kante is edging closer to a move to Saudi Arabia. More

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    Inter Miami already feeling Lionel Messi effect as Instagram followers explode by FOUR HUNDRED percent in under 24 hours

    INTER MIAMI are already basking in the Lionel Messi effect.That’s after their Instagram followers jumped an incredible four hundred percent in under a day.
    Inter Miami are already reaping the benefits of signing Lionel MessiCredit: AFP
    The global superstar has seen their Instagram followers leap by over 400 percentCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    Messi, 35, left fans stunned by announcing a free transfer to David Beckham’s MLS franchise yesterday.
    The ex-PSG star was widely expected to rejoin Barcelona.
    But Messi will now continue his glittering career in America, six months after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.
    The veteran is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most popular sports stars on the planet.
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    He boasts an astonishing net worth of almost £500million.
    And over £50m of that is pocketed through lucrative sponsorship deals.
    Inter Miami are now starting to feel the beginning of that effect on Instagram.
    Before Messi’s move was announced, their account had 900,000 followers from across the globe.
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    But less than 24 hours later, that figure had jumped to a whopping 4.7m.
    That’s an astonishing increase of around 411 percent.
    Simultaneously, Messi’s former club PSG have since lost one million followers after his exit last weekend.
    And the ace’s influence is sure to continue growing at Miami once he pulls on the jersey for his first match.
    Reflecting on his decision to join the Americans, Messi said: “I’m at a point where I want to step out of the spotlight a bit, think more about my family.
    “I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn’t enjoy it.
    “I had that month that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that it was a difficult period for me.
    “I want to rediscover joy, enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day.
    “And that’s why the decision for Barcelona didn’t happen.” More

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    Chelsea’s forgotten man urged to swap Premier League clubs to ‘get the management he needs’

    FORGOTTEN Chelsea star Christian Pulisic has been urged to swap Premier League clubs to “get the management he needs”.The American winger has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and is reportedly free to leave the club this summer.
    Christian Pulisic has been told to join a fellow Premier League club this summerCredit: Reuters
    With just one year left on his contract, Chelsea are prepared to sell Pulisic for £20million, according to ESPN.
    The report adds that Newcastle United, Manchester United, Napoli, AC Milan and Galatasaray are all interested.
    All five clubs have been made aware of Pulisic’s transfer fee and wage demands.
    However, it is Newcastle that have been highlighted as the perfect destination for Pulisic by ex-Premier League keeper Shaka Hislop.
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    Hislop told ESPN: “I think he’d get the management he needs at Newcastle United.
    “Listen, if Newcastle come in for Christian Pulisic, if I have anything to do with advising him, I’m telling him take it.
    “Let’s remember Christian Pulisic has struggled to establish himself in a team that just finished 12th in the league.
    “And given his stop-start and inconsistencies in English football – even dating back to his latter [Borussia] Dortmund days – right now, to get a team finishing in the top-four, top-half of the Premier League, I can’t think of any other.”
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    He also added: “Eddie Howe likes utilising that pace. I would have him. I think he fits how Eddie Howe likes to play.
    “He does not bring the kind of ego and will allow himself to be coached, to learn under Eddie Howe.”
    Pulisic has seen his number of appearances decline across the past three seasons, making just 30 last term and scoring once.
    New manager Mauricio Pochettino is also understood to be happy for the club to sell the 24-year-old as he looks to build his squad for next season.
    Despite Hislop’s advice, Serie A remains the most likely destination for Pulisic, according to the bookies.
    He was also reportedly offered to AC Milan along with Hakim Ziyech last month as part of a bid for winger Rafael Leao.
    Christian Pulisic is available for £20million this summerCredit: AFP More

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    Declan Rice has missed out on £10MILLION by staying at West Ham as club’s owner lifts lid on mega-money contract offer

    DECLAN RICE has missed out on £10MILLION in wages after rejecting West Ham’s contract offer 18 months ago.Hammers owner David Sullivan revealed on Thursday that the club’s Europa Conference League triumph was Rice’s final game for the East London outfit as he prepares to depart in the summer.
    West Ham skipper Declan Rice will leave the club this summerCredit: PA
    The England international, 24, has come through West Ham’s youth set-up but is now the subject of interest from Europe’s top clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
    Yet despite his imminent departure, captain Rice has been praised for showing loyalty to his boyhood club.

    And that trait was illustrated by him declining a £200,000-a-week contract 18 months ago – only for him to give his all while being paid wages well below his market value – thought to be around £60,000-a-week.
    Speaking on talkSPORT, Sullivan said: “I think it has to be [his last game]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
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    “You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.
    “In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
    “It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
    “It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go.
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    “You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
    Rice’s contract runs out at the end of next season.
    West Ham are understood to value the midfielder at around £100million.
    Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Rice and the Gunners are reportedly the midfielder’s preferred destination. More

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    Former Tottenham star wakes up unemployed after breaking unwanted record in miserable spell at LaLiga giants

    FORMER Tottenham star Matt Doherty has been released by Atletico Madrid.The right-back joined the Spanish giants on deadline day in January after being released by Spurs.
    Matt Doherty has been released following a disastrous spell at Atletico MadridCredit: Sportsfile
    But he failed to impress manager Diego Simeone and is looking for a new club after a disastrous spell in the Spanish capital.
    Doherty, 31, arrived as a back-up to Nahuel Molina and has been limited to a substitute role over the last few months.
    He played just 16 minutes and set a new record for the least amount of game time for a foreign player.
    The Irishman featured in just two games and was unable to displace Molina, despite fears the Argentina international would suffer from fatigue after the World Cup.
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    Doherty is now looking to revitalise his career following an underwhelming spell at Spurs too.
    He made just 44 Premier League appearances for the North London club across two-and-a-half years, scoring three goals.
    Despite his lack of game time Doherty revealed he was enjoying his time in Spain and wanted to use the experience to improve as a player.
    He said: “The reason I left was… well, initially it was just to go on loan for the rest of the season and then obviously we had the problems with too many loans, so then it was a case of I couldn’t really say no to that type of experience and a manager of his calibre.
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    “I didn’t have long to think about it, but the time I did have, I just couldn’t say no to that opportunity.
    “I am there until the end of the season and I am just using it as a learning experience. I am improving by training with world-class players every day. I am using the six months I have there to try and get better, to try and understand the game better and improve my overall game.” More

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    Chelsea legend Eden Hazard to RETIRE aged just 32 after £400k-a-week Real Madrid contract torn up

    EDEN Hazard is set to retire aged just 32 after having his £400,000-a-week Real Madrid contract torn up.The Chelsea legend will leave the Spanish giants at the end of this month after his contract was terminated a year early.
    Eden Hazard could retire aged just 32 after leaving Real MadridCredit: Reuters
    Hazard has endured a difficult four years at the Santiago Bernabeu after signing from Chelsea for £100million in 2019.
    The deal, which could have risen to £150million, remains the club’s record signing but Hazard has failed to live up to the fee.
    However, he has settled well in Madrid and now speaks fluent Spanish.
    As a result, he is understood to be planning to stay in the Spanish capital with his family,

    Mundo Deportivo report that this has prompted him to consider retiring at the age of 32 in order to remain where he is settled.
    Hazard, who retired from international duty after Belgium’s 2022 World Cup exit, could still join another club close to the city, though.
    That option remains out of his hands, however, with just one club said to have approached the Belgian winger following his contract termination.
    MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps have reportedly put a deal on the table for Hazard, but this would scupper his plans to stay in in the Spanish capital.
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    Having been a fan favourite across seven years with Chelsea, Hazard’s form never reached the same heights in Spain.
    Injuries saw him limited to 76 appearances, in which he scored just seven goals and provided 12 assists.
    Last season he scored once in 10 matches and failed to play a full 90 minutes.
    With injuries and illness causing him to miss 78 matches for Real Madrid, Hazard has not completed a full 90 minutes for the club since November 2021.
    Eden Hazard has suffered from poor form and injuries during four years with Real MadridCredit: AP More