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      Man Utd suffer fresh transfer blow as star SNUBS them for Champions League giants despite club planning improved bid

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      MANCHESTER UNITED transfer target Kim Min-jae is on the verge of joining Bayern Munich, according to reports.The Red Devils had been pushing to sign the 26-year-old defender since the transfer window opened.
      Kim is on the verge of joining Man UtdCredit: Getty
      They came close to sealing a deal last month, but Bayern swooped in to hijack talks.
      And according to German football reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Bundesliga giants are on the verge of an agreement with Napoli.
      Bayern Munich are prepared to trigger Kim’s £43m release clause.
      The defender is expected to pen a five-year deal worth around £10m-a-year.
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      Man Utd had planned to improve their bid, but Kim made the decision to join Bayern earlier this month.
      The Red Devils are now assessing alternative defensive options.
      Axel Disasi, a highly rated French international, has emerged as a potential target.
      The 25-year-old has made 129 appearances for Monaco since joining from Reims in 2020, scoring 12 goals.
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      Jean-Clair Todibo, 23, is another alternative.
      The Frenchman has enjoyed a varied career despite his age, having joined Barcelona as a youngster in 2019.
      Following loans to Schalke and Benfica, he signed for Nice in 2021 and has since made 103 appearances for the club. More

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      Chelsea hero Malouda names Mbappe’s next club, predicts Pochettino’s debut season and reveals how Arteta can use Havertz

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      CHELSEA legend Florent Malouda insists it is “only a matter of time” until Kylian Mbappe joins Real Madrid… but could still move to the Premier League at some point.Mbappe has informed PSG he won’t trigger the option to extend his contract until 2025, which means he will be a free agent next summer and the French champions are not keen to lose him for nothing.
      Florent Malouda believes Kylian Mbappe will join Real Madrid if he leaves Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Getty
      Malouda, though, believes Mbappe could join the Premier League at some pointCredit: Getty – Contributor
      This stunning development has put Europe’s top bidders on high alert with Manchester United linked with an interest for the star striker who may cost more than €250million (£216m).
      However, Malouda believes Real are the France international’s likeliest destination if he decides to depart from Parc des Princes but it will all come down to a project that fulfils his ambitions.
      That is why the former winger believes the only Premier League team that could attract Mbappe is Manchester City as he aspires to win the Champions League in the near future.
      Malouda told SunSport, via Genting Casino: “For me, it is only a matter of time before he plays for Real Madrid. He has that desire to wear the white shirt because he liked the team when he was young. Eventually, I think he will try the Premier League, but right now, I don’t see any team apart from Manchester City that would attract him. It is not the right time for him to come to the Premier League.
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      “Everybody associated with PSG and France would love him to stay, but his priority is the sports aspect and the project. He wants a competitive project and PSG have to do their part. Kylian could play for any club in the world. This isn’t about money. He is looking for greatness and wants to find a club that can match his talents and give him the opportunity to win the Champions League.
      “He had the opportunity to go to Madrid and he extended his contract, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he found an agreement with PSG in the future. I would be very surprised if he left this summer. I think from his point of view, everything has always been clear: he wants PSG to give him a project that can fulfill his ambitions.”
      Malouda retired in 2018 after a celebrated career that saw him spend six years at Chelsea after his arrival from Lyon in 2007 and went on to win the Double in 2010 as well as the Champions League in 2012.
      The former France international still watches his former club and insists new manager Mauricio Pochettino will have his hands full after a disastrous campaign that saw the Blues finishing 12th.
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      The 43-year-old expects Pochettino to be under immense pressure and is adamant he can only hit the ground running if he wins over the dressing room.
      Malouda added: “He needs to rebuild a lot of things. He needs to rebuild an identity and a culture. He has already been studying what happened at Chelsea last season and has been talking to people at the club.
      “There were a lot of problems at the club last season, and you could tell that something was very wrong, the results and where Chelsea finished the league confirm that. He is the leader now and he needs to demonstrate that leadership from the first day. There are so many people that will be looking towards him, the players, the staff, the fans. They want to see Chelsea back at the top. He has to lead them with confidence.
      “He will understand the size of the job that he is taking on and he will know that he will be under pressure almost immediately. He has been doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes and he will know that having a good pre-season is the first step in the journey.
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      Malouda predicts Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will be under tremendous pressureCredit: Getty
      “To get off to a good start, he will have to get the players on his side. He will need to completely believe in his methods and the targets that he will set. It’s a huge job, and he has experience, but he will need his players to support him and give everything from the first match of the season.”
      Pochettino has started by offloading players from Chelsea’s bloated squad and one of the club’s most notable departures is Kai Havertz, who joined London rivals Arsenal after a £65m deal.
      Malouda believes Havertz’s move to the Emirates signals at a new strategy by the Gunners with manager Mikel Arteta opting for players with experience of winning trophies, like Gabriel Jesus.
      The Frenchman doesn’t expect the Germany international to play as a No9, like he did last season for the West Londoners, but could instead feature as a “supporting attacking midfielder”.
      Malouda believes Kai Havertz will play as a “supporting attacking midfielder” at ArsenalCredit: https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1674138215266111501/photo/1
      Malouda said: “I think this is part of Arsenal’s strategy. They are looking to bring players into their squad that are a certain age with the experience of winning trophies.
      “You must also think that Mikel Arteta has a development plan for Kai Havertz and he will know exactly how he will use him to make Arsenal better. I think this is a signing that is similar to when Arsenal bought Gabriel Jesus last summer.
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      “I definitely don’t see him as a number nine. I see him as more of a supporting attacking midfielder who can play around the striker. He has the ability to make long runs and he is comfortable arriving in the box and timing his runs well. I think he needs to create things in the midfield.
      “I’m sure his game will be more suited to Arsenal than at Chelsea because Arsenal play with a lot of interchanging and movement between positions.” More

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      Tottenham CONFIRM £45m James Maddison transfer but darts-themed unveiling clip has fans fearing worst

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      TOTTENHAM have hit the bullseye by confirming the transfer of darts-mad James Maddison on a five-year deal from Leicester.The North Londoners agreed a deal with the Leicester playmaker, 26, for £45million.
      James Maddison has completed his £45m move to TottenhamCredit: Getty
      Maddison put pen to paper on the big-money contractCredit: Getty
      The unveiling video showed the playmaker playing darts
      Tottenham announced the signing with a not-so-cryptic tweet.
      The short video posted showed a Spurs shirt hanging up in the dressing room before a so-called mystery person picked up three darts from a towel.
      Maddison is a huge darts fan and has regularly been spotted at Ally Pally for the PDC World Championships.
      But the video did not explicitly mention Maddison, prompting some witty replies from some fans.
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      One said: “Don’t tell me we’ve signed Eric Bristow to play left-sided centre-back.”
      Another joked: “Let’s hope we haven’t signed Micheal van Gerwen.”
      And a third added: “Raymond van Barneveld is fully Coys.”
      But the official confirmation followed shortly after at 9pm, with Tottenham tweeting: “Welcome, @Madders10!” with the full video of a smiling Maddison landing a bullseye on the darts board before posing for the camera.
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      Maddison – who was forced to delete old tweets slamming Spurs – spent five years at the King Power, scoring 55 goals in 203 games, and leaves as a three-cap senior England international as well as an FA Cup and Community Shield winner.
      However, following Leicester’s shock relegation, it was a matter of when, not if, he left the East Midlands club to return to the Premier League.
      Leicester were keen to wrap up a deal sooner rather than later in order to reinvest the money as part of their major squad overhaul – with Conor Coady and Harry Winks set to join Enzo Maresca’s side in the Championship.
      The Foxes initially wanted to hold out for £60m and hoped a bidding war between Tottenham and Newcastle would bump up the price.
      However, SunSport revealed the Toon’s interest had cooled – paving the way for Spurs to seal the deal.
      Maddison follows Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario through the door at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.
      Dejan Kulusevski has also made his loan deal permanent for £26m while Pedro Porro will do the same for £39m this week.
      Maddison put pen to paper on the big-money contractCredit: Getty
      He regularly celebrates by pretending to throw a dartCredit: Getty
      The video initially showed a not-so-mystery person picking up dartsCredit: Twitter
      The England international seemingly hit the bullseye with his shotCredit: Twitter
      The playmaker loves a trip to Ally Pally for the PDC World ChampionshipsCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal CONFIRM £65million Kai Havertz transfer as Mikel Arteta hints he will play in different position than at Chelsea

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      KAI HAVERTZ has completed his £65million transfer to Arsenal from rivals Chelsea.But he looks set to feature in a new position under Mikel Arteta.
      Kai Havertz has joined Arsenal for £65mCredit: https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1674138215266111501/photo/1
      Havertz will wear the No29 at the EmiratesCredit: Twitter / @Arsenal

      The Gunners confirmed the deal this evening – just moments after also agreeing to sign Declan Rice for £105m.
      And the German will wear his beloved No29 shirt – after having the number at Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea.
      Havertz, 24, said: “It’s super exciting for me to be joining this amazing club and to be part of the Arsenal family.
      “This club has such a big history, and I hope we can achieve lots of things.
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      “The mentality in the Arsenal squad is very high and you can feel that.
      “That was one of the reasons why it has been so hard to play against Arsenal recently.
      “The aim is to win trophies and I’m going to give everything to do that for the supporters and everyone at the club.
      “I’m now looking forward to meeting all the players and the staff when we come back for pre-season.”
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      Havertz spent three years at Stamford Bridge, scoring the winner in the Champions League final before adding Super Cup and Club World Cup winner’s medals.
      However, after playing as a forward – and usually as a striker – for Chelsea, Arteta hinted he could be ready to switch into a new role at the Emirates.
      Manager Mikel Arteta added: “Kai is a player of top quality. He has great versatility and is an intelligent player.
      “He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.
      “We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.”
      Havertz scored 32 goals in 139 appearances for the Blues under four different Chelsea managers, including two spells with Frank Lampard in the dugout.
      The most important of those was his memorable finish against Manchester City in Lisbon two years ago as the West Londoners were crowned Kings of Europe.
      In an emotional open letter on his Instagram, the 37-cap Germany international bid farewell to Chelsea supporters, three years on from his £70m switch from Leverkusen.
      He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.Arteta on Havertz
      He wrote: “I would have preferred for you to hear my thoughts on leaving Chelsea first from myself before my thoughts on me joining my new team. This isn’t my style and it upsets me that you had to hear of it in this way.
      “Today, I find myself at a crossroads, where words can’t describe the emotions I’m feeling.
      “It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter, saying goodbye to the club that has become my second home, and to the incredible fans who have supported me throughout this amazing journey.
      “Today I want to thank each and every Chelsea supporter, member of staff, coaches and my team-mates for the last years.
      “Joining Chelsea three years ago was a big moment in my life and I’m looking back on these years with nothing but pride, gratefulness and loads of sporting success.
      “Every second of my time at Chelsea I identified with what it means to represent the club on and off the pitch and I hope that everyone remembers me for this. I’m looking back at memories that last a lifetime. The club will be forever in my heart and I made friends for life.”
      The Havertz transfer was confirmed soon after the Gunners agreed a deal in principle with West Ham over Rice.
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      Arsenal will pay £100m up front with a further £5m in add-ons with the two clubs “very close” to securing a payment structure they are both happy with.
      The Hammers captain always wanted to join Arsenal but a late surge from Manchester City threatened to see Arteta miss out on his No1 transfer target.
      Havertz could be playing in the Arsenal midfieldCredit: https://twitter.com/kaihavertz29/status/1674132409699258369/photo/1
      The German scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League finalCredit: Getty More

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      New Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario’s dad says Ange Postecoglou picked keeper for bizarre reason after video call

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      THE father of new Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario says Ange Postecoglou signed his son for a bizarre reason.That’s after the Aussie boss and Italian goalkeeper held a stunning video call last week.
      Guglielmo Vicario is Spurs’ new No1 after completing a £16m move from EmpoliCredit: Getty
      Ange Postecoglou signed Vicario for a bizarre reason, according to the ace’s dadCredit: Getty
      Vicario, 26, became Big Ange’s second signing of the summer after completing a £16million switch from Empoli yesterday.
      The stopper has penned a five-year Spurs deal to replace outgoing captain Hugo Lloris after jetting into London for his medical on Monday.
      It was claimed Tottenham targeted the Serie A star after pulling out of a £40m move for Brentford’s David Raya.
      But Vicario’s dad claims Postecoglou made his move after being left impressed by the goalie’s rise in the game.
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      Vicario was still playing in Serie B for Perugia in 2020.
      And four years before that, he was playing his trade in Italy’s fourth tier with Venezia.
      Ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou himself came up in Australian football before finding success in Japan and Scotland.
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      Vicario’s dad says Postecoglou was hugely impressed by his son’s hard work, as well as his ability to already speak English.
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      And a hugely productive video call last week saw Tottenham’s new boss push ahead with wrapping up a £16m move.
      That’s after Vicario was approached by Newcastle and Nottingham Forest over a Premier League switch in January.
      Michele Vicario said: “A week ago, he had a video call with his new coach, Ange Postecoglou.
      “They spoke in English and the coach told him that he had chosen him because Guglielmo worked his way up just like him.
      “The coach was then impressed to see that the boy already knows English.
      “In January, two other English clubs had come forward, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
      “But Empoli wanted to postpone everything until the summer.
      “We would not have preferred to see him continue playing in Italy. My wife has always had a dream to go and study in England, then she had to make other choices.
      “Seeing her son realise a dream that belonged to her is an unimaginable feeling of satisfaction.” More

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      Arsenal AGREE Declan Rice transfer with West Ham as they close in on club-record signing for England star

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      ARSENAL have agreed a club-record £105million fee for West Ham captain Declan Rice.The Gunners faced stiff competition from Manchester City – who saw a £90m offer rejected earlier this week.
      Declan Rice has agreed to join Arsenal from West HamCredit: PA
      Mikel Arteta has sealed his No1 summer transfer targetCredit: Getty
      But now Mikel Arteta’s men have finally got a deal in principle over the line for the England international, 24.
      Two previous bids from Arsenal had been rejected by the Hammers.
      And the East London outfit were initially unsatisfied with Arsenal’s third offer of £105m – submitted on Tuesday and made up of £100m upfront and a further £5m in add-ons.
      But after City walked away, the Hammers have accepted the deal with Arsenal.
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      However, the Gunners want to make the payments over the next five years – but West Ham want the money all paid by 2025.
      SunSport understands a compromise over the payment structure is “very close”.
      Once that has been sorted out, Rice will prepare to link up with the rest of Arteta’s squad in the coming weeks.
      Rice’s preferred destination was always North London, despite his admiration for Pep Guardiola and their trophy haul.
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      He was open to moving his family up north to Manchester had Arsenal refused to budge on their initial offers, but that is now not the case.
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      The player is away on holiday and not expected back for another fortnight following his England exploits.
      Arteta wants Rice fully integrated before they head off on their pre-season tour to the States, their opening game coming on July 20.
      He leaves West Ham having led the club to their first major silverware in 43 years – winning the Europa Conference League in his final game.
      Rice was preparing to enter the last year of his contract at the London Stadium.
      He had rejected improved contract offers over the past 18 months as West Ham looked to tie him down to a longer deal.
      This included the chance to earn £200,000 a week.
      But chairman David Sullivan admitted after the Conference League win that the memorable final would likely have been Rice’s final game for the club because he “wanted to go” – and so it has proved.
      Rice was in Chelsea’s academy until he was released aged 14 and joined West Ham in 2014.
      He broke through into the first team in 2017 and has gone on to make 245 appearances for the East Londoners.
      The dramatic 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Prague, sealed by Jarrod Bowen’s late winner, etched skipper Rice’s name into the club’s history books forever.
      But few could begrudge the talismanic figure from fulfilling his desire to compete for the top titles regularly, including the Premier League and Champions League.
      Arsenal confirmed the signing of Chelsea ace Kai Havertz for £65m on Wednesday evening.
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      Arteta hinted he has signed the German to play as a midfielder – rather than in attack as he did at Stamford Bridge.
      A £40m offer is also in for Ajax defender Timber and they are in talks with Southampton for £45m-rated Lavia. More

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      Eni Aluko has last laugh with brilliant tweet after being mercilessly trolled over Declan Rice to Arsenal theory

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      ENI ALUKO has had the last laugh after being trolled over her Declan Rice theory.That’s because Manchester City have withdrawn from race to sign West Ham’s captain, leaving Arsenal as sole contenders.
      Eni Aluko is having the last laugh after her Declan Rice transfer theoryCredit: TalkSPORT
      Man City dropped out of the race after Arsenal made a £105m bidCredit: Getty
      Aluko made a splash on social media yesterday by claiming that City only made a bid for Rice to help out title rivals Arsenal.
      The former England star said Mikel Arteta called on Pep Guardiola to submit an offer, with the Treble winner agreeing solely on the basis of prompting Arsenal chiefs into making a higher bid.
      Aluko, who partied with Laura Woods at Glastonbury, received a backlash from some football fans, with many questioning her theory.
      But she reckons she’s now having the last laugh after City dropped out of the race for Rice.
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      Etihad chiefs believe Arsenal are overpaying for the Three Lions midfielder with their new £105m offer.
      And City have no intention of breaking the bank for a player who would not even be guaranteed a starting role in their XI.
      Aluko took to Twitter claiming that the “backtracking has begun.”
      And she added: “Oh hi Twitter. You’re still here. If I speak…
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      “And I will be speaking on this one.”
      Many fans thought Aluko’s response to doubters was spot on.
      One said: “Gotta respect it.”
      Another declared: “Had everyone on strings, well played.”
      One noted: “Haha cook these Twitter kids Eni.”
      Another added: “Eniiii cook them.” More

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      Uefa introduce new ‘anti-Chelsea’ transfer rule after Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk signings

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      UEFA have introduced a new “anti-Chelsea” transfer rule following the signings of Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk. The Blues splashed out huge money to land a host of talents last season.
      Mykhailo Mudryk signed for Chelsea on a long-term deal in JanuaryCredit: Getty
      But as well as spending £600million in transfer fees, the Stamford Bridge side tied their new players down to mammoth long contracts.
      Some of those were up to six, seven or even eight-and-a-half years.
      It was done to spread the costs of deals – such as the British-record £106million for Fernandez – over a longer period and therefore get around Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
      As a result, Chelsea’s transfer “spend” for the 2022-23 campaign was just £98m.
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      However, Euro bosses are closing that loophole with their new rule.
      Uefa’s executive committee have ruled that all transfer deals, starting this summer, must be calculated over a maximum of five years, irrespective of the contract length.
      Uefa said the limitation would “ensure equal treatment of all clubs”.
      It does not ban longer-term deals from being signed and the rules will NOT be introduced retrospectively.
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      The new legislation will take effect from July 1 – when the international transfer market opens.
      Wesley Fofana and David Datro Fofana are tied down at Stamford Bridge until 2029.
      Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke’s contracts run until 2030.
      But it is Mudryk and Fernandez who will not become free agents until a staggering 2031. More