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    Forgotten former Chelsea wonderkid who’s now unemployed closing in on transfer to tenth club

    FORMER Chelsea prospect Josh McEachran is reportedly set to join League One side Oxford United.The English midfielder, 30, came through the Blues’ academy set-up at Stamford Bridge.
    Josh McEachran came through Chelsea’s academy and left the club in 2015Credit: PA:Empics Sport
    He has featured for a host of Football League clubs since departing Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    He made 22 first-team appearances for the Premier League giants – including 17 during their 2010/11 campaign under Carlo Ancelotti.
    Loan spells with Swansea, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan and Dutch club Vitesse followed over the next four years.
    He eventually left Stamford Bridge permanently in 2015, penning a deal with Brentford who were in the Championship at the time.
    After four seasons and more than 100 games for the Bees, McEachran joined Birmingham for one season in 2019.
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    A stint at League One outfit MK Dons followed, before he left on a free in the summer.
    But he looks set to be snapped up quickly by another third-tier side, Oxford United.
    According to BBC Radio Oxford, they are “close” to signing him on a free transfer.
    McEachran was born in Oxford and played for the Oxford Mail Boys team as a youngster before being scouted by Chelsea.
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    He has played 13 games for England’s U21 side – the last of which came in 2021.
    But he has never received a call-up to the senior team.
    Oxford finished 19th in League One last season, narrowly avoiding relegation by two points. More

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    Tottenham submit JOINT bid for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes but offer is £70m lower than Leicester’s demands

    TOTTENHAM have submitted a joint £50million bid for Leicester stars James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.Spurs have been linked with both Foxes forwards following the East Midland outfit’s relegation to the Championship.
    Tottenham are keen to sign both Harvey Barnes and James MaddisonCredit: Getty
    And SunSport understands they have now made a formal offer of £50m in an attempt to snap up the pair.
    But the offer is around £70M less than what Leicester valued the players at 12 months ago.
    Least summer, they were thought to be asking for around £60m for each of Maddison and Barnes.
    However, they are aware relegation means they may well have to take a cut-price.
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    Maddison, 26, who is also receiving interest from Newcastle, has just one year left on his contract so Leicester need to sell to avoid him leaving on a free.
    He is on international duty ahead of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
    Barnes, 25, has a deal that keeps him at the King Power Stadium until 2025, but he is still expected to leave before the new season gets underway.
    Aston Villa and West Ham are both monitoring his situation.
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    Maddison contributed 10 goals and nine assists in 32 games for Leicester this season, while Barnes registered 13 goals and three assists.
    Their imminent departures come as Enzo Maresca is being tipped to become the Foxes’ new head coach.
    Maresca, 43, is one of Pep Guardiola’s coaches at Manchester City.
    He is believed to have impressed Leicester chiefs during the interview process – which also saw the 2016 Premier League champions talk to outgoing boss Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker and Graham Potter. More

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    Leicester set to name untried Man City coach as new manager after interviewing five ex-Premier League bosses

    LEICESTER are reportedly set to appoint Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager.The Foxes were relegated down to the Championship on the final day of the Premier League season.
    Man City coach Enzo Maresca, left, is set to take charge at LeicesterCredit: Getty
    Dean Smith took charge from Brendan Rodgers for the final eight games of the campaign.
    But he left at the end of the season and The Telegraph are now claiming Maresca is poised to take charge.
    The Italian, 43, was one of Pep Guardiola’s coaches during Man City’s Treble-winning triumph.
    He is understood to have impressed in conversations with Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin – where he “outlined his philosophy and vision” for the club’s future.
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    Leicester, who are said to have sought the view of ex-player Esteban Cambiasso during their hunt for a manager, interviewed a host of names.
    They included Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.

    But they seem to have landed on Maresca – who was linked with the vacant job at Southampton during the 2022/23 season.
    His only past experience of being a head coach came at Parma where he was sacked after 14 games.
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    Leicester are in the midst of a huge squad overhaul.
    Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Ayoze Perez and Ryan Bertrand all departed when their contracts expired at the end of the season.
    James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Wilfred Ndidi and Timothy Castagne are also being linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium. More

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    Kulusevski ‘offered to Premier League club’ with Tottenham at risk of missing out on permanent transfer

    DEJAN KULUSEVSKI has reportedly been offered to Newcastle as Tottenham face the possibility of missing out on their loan star.The Swedish forward, 23, joined Spurs on an 18-month loan from Juventus in January 2022.
    Dejan Kulusevski has not yet signed a permanent deal with TottenhamCredit: Getty
    Within the deal was a £29million obligation to buy providing the Lilywhites qualified for the Champions League.
    But the North London club missed out on the top four this season and failed to qualify for any form of European competition.
    Instead, they were offered first refusal when Juventus chiefs travelled to London to discuss terms.
    And The Evening Chronicle are now reporting that Kulusveski is keen to play in the Champions League next season.
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    As a result, his representatives, World Soccer Agency, are “seeking a new challenge” for their client.
    And Newcastle have been touted as a potential destination – with the Magpies having scouted him in the past.
    Eddie Howe’s men have sealed a return to Europe’s premier competition – 20 years on from the club’s last appearance in the Champions League.
    Kulusevski has registered seven goals and 16 assists in 57 appearances for Tottenham.
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    He joined Spurs at the same time as fellow Juventus man Rodrigo Bentancur – with both men impressing in North London.
    Bentancur joined on a permanent transfer, but Tottenham are still yet to firm up a long-term deal for Kulusveski.
    Speaking at the end of the season, the Sweden international said: “I honestly don’t know [what will happen], I just focus on doing the best possible on the pitch.
    “Now of course I have to talk to the club and then we’ll see what happens.” More

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    Chelsea and Inter Milan meeting to discuss potential SIX-PLAYER mega transfer swap including stars Lukaku and Onana

    CHELSEA and Inter Milan are reportedly meeting to discuss SIX potential transfers in the summer window.SunSport revealed earlier this week that the Blues could seek to sign keeper Andre Onana in a swap deal with Romelu Lukaku and Kalidou Koulibaly going the other way.
    Romelu Lukaku is keen to stay at Inter Milan following his loan spellCredit: Getty
    Andre Onana is being heavily linked with a move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
    And according to Calcio Mercato, Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio flew to London on Wednesday for discussions with the Premier League club.
    Lukaku, 30, was on loan at Inter from Chelsea last season and is keen to remain in Italy.
    But he still has three years left on his Stamford Bridge contract, so any move will not come cheap.
    As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Koulibaly, 31, is another linked with a move to Inter following a difficult first campaign in West London.
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    Kalidou Koulibaly endured a poor first year with ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Denzel Dumfries could be on his way to Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
    And Mauricio Pochettino is understood to be in the market for a keeper despite Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy both fighting for the No1 spot.
    Cameroonian Onana, 27, has enjoyed a sensational campaign with Inter and is thought to be Chelsea’s first-choice signing in between the sticks.
    Wingback Denzel Dumfries, 27, is another Inter star linked with a move to the Blues, although Chelsea are not understood to be seeking out wide-right defenders as they already have Reece James and recently signed Malo Gusto from Lyon.
    But going the other way, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah are thought to be Inter targets as Ausilio lands in England to begin negotiations.
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    Trevoh Chalobah is a target for Inter MilanCredit: Getty
    It is widely understood Chelsea need to sell players this summer to deflate their huge 33-man squad.
    And due to Financial Fair Play regulations, they also need to balance the books after spending £600million on players across the last two transfer windows.
    A number of players are being linked with a Stamford Bridge exit.
    Mason Mount is in talks to join Manchester United, while N’Golo Kante looks set to move to Saudi Arabia.
    Mateo Kovacic has received interest from Manchester City, Christian Pulisic is being monitored by AC Milan, Newcastle are in for Conor Gallagher, and Arsenal are pursuing Kai Havertz.
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been linked with a move away from Chelsea for some timeCredit: Getty More

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    Arsenal set to seal £110MILLION Declan Rice transfer as Chelsea, Man Utd and Bayern fall out of running for West Ham ace

    WEST HAM are resigned to the fact that Declan Rice has set his heart on a move to Arsenal.And plans to start a bidding war with Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are likely to be shelved by the Europa Conference League winners.
    Declan Rice won the Europa Conference League in his final game for West HamCredit: PA
    Hammers boss David Moyes is understood to prefer a deal with Chelsea involving Conor Gallagher in part-exchange.
    But Rice has made it clear that he is not interested in a return to the club who released him at the age of 14.
    German champions Bayern have already dropped their pursuit of the 24-year-old England star after being told Rice wants to remain in the Premier League.
    And Manchester United are reluctant to spend huge money on another holding midfielder after buying £60million Casemiro last summer.
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    That has left the way clear for Arsenal to complete their priority signing of the summer and negotiations with West Ham are now at an advanced stage.
    The Gunners are looking to pay a club record £90m for Rice, while the Hammers value him at £110m.
    It is expected that the two clubs will agree on a £100m compromise, with the potential for a further £10m in bonus payments and add-ons.
    No formal bid has yet been made by Arsenal, who were unhappy at the way their January moves for Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo played out when a series of offers were publicly rejected.
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    They prefer to remain in confidential talks with West Ham until a fee and terms of payment can be agreed and are confident of securing the player’s signature in the next few weeks.
    Rice is on England duty but will be on standby to confirm personal terms and undergo a medical from next week.
    He believes he fits perfectly into Mikel Arteta’s policy of building a team around hungry young players who can grow together for the next five or six years.
    And the opportunity to play Champions League football is another huge incentive for the midfielder, who has been told he can leave West Ham after rejecting a new £200,000-a-week contract. More

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    Jude Bellingham to rake in £70MILLION in wages at Real Madrid after becoming most-expensive Brit ever in £115m transfer

    JUDE BELLINGHAM will meet Real Madrid fans on Thursday as the most expensive English footballer ever.Bellingham, 19, officially completed his transfer to the Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund in a move that will rise to £115million.
    Jude Bellingham has joined Real Madrid from Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
    The England midfielder has signed a £220,000-a-week contract that will earn him a cool £70million over the six years of the deal.
    It is a huge rise on his £110,000 salary at Dortmund – yet the teenager could have earned almost double had he opted for Manchester City or United.
    Bellingham, 19, will be unveiled in a midday ceremony after a medical at Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja, in the north of the city.
    It will take place at Real Madrid City, the club’s training complex, because of renovation work at the Bernabeu.
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    His signing was greeted by Real’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior with the tweet: “Welcome to the best team in the world.”
    Bellingham’s fee is £15m higher than the previous high for an English player, when Manchester City paid £100m for Jack Grealish.
    He is the first British star to join the Spanish giants since Gareth Bale, who retired 12 months ago, in 2013.
    Bellingham’s final campaign with Dortmund ended in heartbreak when they lost out on the title to Bayern Munich on goal difference.
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    Yet it was a huge personal success, being named Bundesliga Player of the Season, and he said an emotional farewell to Dortmund fans in a statement.
    Bellingham said: “Thank you to everyone at BVB for everything over the past three years. It’s been an honour to wear your jersey and I will never forget the journey there.”
    Bellingham misses England’s two Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, but thanked Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for his help in becoming a new Galactico.
    He said: “England as a country are famous for kind of getting carried away and put a lot of pressure on people early but Gareth has done an amazing job in easing me in.” More

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    Man Utd ‘GIVE UP on Harry Kane transfer to avoid months-long saga as bosses believe Tottenham will never sell to them’

    MANCHESTER UNITED have moved away from their pursuit of Harry Kane as they feel Tottenham “never wanted to sell” to them.The Red Devils have been heavily linked with England captain Kane, 29, for several months as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his Spurs contract.
    Harry Kane could be set to leave boyhood club Tottenham this summerCredit: Alamy
    In recent weeks, Real Madrid have joined the race to sign the Lilywhites’ all-time record scorer.
    And according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United are now “looking at other options” as they search for a new striker.
    The report states negotiations between Man Utd and Tottenham are “not advancing at all” and that Erik ten Hag’s men believe Spurs “never wanted to sell Kane to them”.
    United are also unwilling to become embroiled in a “two-month saga”.
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    Kane was the centre of a long, drawn-out transfer pursuit from Manchester City two years ago.
    But Spurs eventually held onto their man – who has 213 Premier League goals, 47 adrift of Alan Shearer’s record.
    He could yet leave England amid interest from Real Madrid as they seek a replacement for Karim Benzema.
    But news of Kylian Mbappe potentially being on the market could knock Kane down Real’s pecking order.
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    Meanwhile, Man Utd have turned their attention towards alternative striker options.
    And Romano is reporting one of those is Atalanta and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund.
    The 20-year-old scored 16 goals in 42 appearances for the Serie A side in the 2022/23 season.
    When asked earlier this week about interest from Man Utd, Hojlund told Danish media outlet Tipsbladet: “It is a huge club, so I must have done something right if it says that they want me.
    “We have to see what happens. As you see and hear, I could well imagine that a lot could happen in relation to a couple of strikers this summer.
    “There are many clubs that lack a nine, so something will definitely happen in relation to that, and then we will have to see if I am in it.” More