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    Arsenal battling Man Utd for Mason Mount with Chelsea star one of three high-profile midfield targets

    ARSENAL are eyeing up a move for Mason Mount as one of THREE midfield targets this summer.But the Gunners face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool, while Chelsea remain keen to agree a new deal with the England international, 24.
    Chelsea have failed to tie Mason Mount down to a new contractCredit: Getty
    Mount has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge at the end of the season as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
    Negotiations between the Blues and the player have stalled during this season.
    And that has opened the door to a potential departure, with owner Todd Boehly keen to offload any members of the squad with less than one year left.
    According to The Athletic, Chelsea are set to make one final push to agree terms with Mount – who has been with the club since 2005.
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    But Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd are all circling as they look to prise him away from West London.
    Mikel Arteta is seeking additional central midfielders to support Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka.
    Xhaka, 30, is also being linked with a departure to Bayer Leverkusen this summer as he too enters the final year of his contract.
    Alongside Mount, Arsenal are understood to be interested in Premier League captains Declan Rice and Ilkay Gundogan.
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    Rice, 24, is expected to leave West Ham at the end of the season.
    Man Utd and Chelsea are admirers of the Hammers midfielder, but the Gunners have identified him as their “main target”.
    And Manchester City skipper Gundogan, 32, is another possible acquisition for Arsenal.
    The German midfielder, who lifted the Premier League title on Sunday, is out of contract at the end of the season.
    Barcelona are widely agreed to be the frontrunners to sign the ex-Borussia Dortmund man.
    But Arsenal are also keeping tabs on him should the opportunity to strike a deal arise.
    Declan Rice is expected to leave West Ham this summerCredit: Getty
    Ilkay Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the seasonCredit: AP More

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    Man Utd on red alert with Mohammed Kudus set to quit Ajax but face transfer fight with two rivals including Arsenal

    MANCHESTER UNITED have been put on red alert over a transfer move for Mohammed Kudus – but face a fight with two rivals for his signature.Erik ten Hag is looking to return to his old club once more for reinforcements after already raiding them for Lisandro Martinez and Antony last summer.
    Man Utd have been put on red alert in the chase to sign Ajax’s Mohammed KudusCredit: Rex
    He has been keeping tabs on Kudus for months with Arsenal and Liverpool also linked.
    The 22-year-old Ghana attacker has acquired a long-list of admirers after scoring 22 goals in 48 matches for club and country this term.
    He remains under contract until 2025 but sparked speculation that he could be set for a move by recently snubbing a new one-year extension.
    Now The Athletic has claimed that he has “made the Dutch side aware of his intention to exit” once the transfer window re-opens.
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    The publication backs up claims that United and Arsenal are plotting a swoop.
    However, they also state that Newcastle are among the clubs also keen on snapping him up.
    Ajax are expected to demand at least £40million for Kudus.
    But that asking price “might be influenced by which teams are in for him”.
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    Kudus moved to Ajax from Nordsjaelland in July 2020.
    He also came close to a move to the Premier League last summer with Everton, only for Ajax to put a block on the switch.
    But Kudus has continued to shine despite that setback and also impressed at the World Cup with two goals for Ghana. More

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    Watch Man City defender Aymeric Laporte break down in tears on the pitch leaving fans fearing the worst

    MANCHESTER CITY defender Aymeric Laporte broke down in tears during his side’s Premier League title celebrations on Sunday.Pep Guardiola’s men were confirmed as champions on Saturday evening following Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
    Aymeric Laporte was emotional during Man City’s title celebrationsCredit: Sky Sports

    Laporte has racked up five Premier League titles at the EtihadCredit: Getty
    They ensured nothing would spoil their party at the Etihad 24 hours later as they clinched a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
    And then the pandemonium could begin as Man City supporters invaded the pitch, before the squad lifted the trophy for a fifth time in six seasons.
    But football fans were drawn to the emotional reaction of Laporte, 28, during the celebrations.
    He could be seen sitting on the pitch in tears as chaos ensued around him.
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    And many believe he broke down because he could be leaving the club this summer.
    On social media, one person said: “This almost confirms he’s leaving I guess… will never forget his 17-18 and 18-19 seasons, he was immense… thank you Aymeric! Class on and off the pitch.”
    Another added: “Will never forget the way he sacrificed his body for us to win the title last year. LAPORTE YOU WILL BE MISSED.”
    A third replied: “Laporte we love you, please don’t leave! 😢💙🙏🏼.”
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    And a fourth responded: “I wish he would stay but he won’t.”
    Laporte has started just 10 of Man City’s 36 Premier League games this season.
    Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and John Stones have all been preferred to the Spain international.
    Laporte, who has won five Premier League titles since joining from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, fuelled rumours of a departure from Man City last month when he added an Instagram caption: “After the rain, a rainbow; after a storm, the calm; and after an end, a new beginning.”
    He has been linked with a move to LaLiga champions Barcelona. More

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    Man Utd £56M Kim Min-jae transfer ‘practically done’ as club ‘identify house for centre-back’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly closing in on sealing Napoli defender Kim Min-jae for £56million.The Red Devils are keen to bolster their options at centre-back in the summer transfer window.
    Kim Min-jae has been brilliant for Napoli this seasonCredit: Alamy
    Kim Min-jae’s Serie A stats this season
    Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have impressed under Erik ten Hag this season.
    But Harry Maguire is being linked with a move away from Old Trafford.

    And Victor Lindelof could also be shown the exit door – with reports he may even be included in the deal for South Korean Min-jae.
    Min-jae 26, has been heavily linked with a switch to Man Utd after a sensational season with the Serie A champions.
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    He has played a key role in helping Napoli to their first scudetto since 1990.
    According to Il Mattino, he will depart at the end of the season irrespective of Napoli’s desire to keep him.
    And a deal with Man Utd is understood to be “practically done” despite people close to the defender having doubts about the move.
    It is also believed United have identified a house for Min-jae to live in.
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    This would indicate a deal is close to being clinched.
    United are understood to have offered him a £7.8m per season salary – although they are yet to meet with Napoli to table an official bid.
    They are expected to pay his £56million release clause – meaning Napoli will make a £37m profit just 12 months after signing him from Fenerbahce. More

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    Chelsea ‘make £70m Dusan Vlahovic transfer offer’ but fans worry of ‘Higuain vibes’ as they say ‘just keep Lukaku’

    CHELSEA are reportedly interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.The Blues are set to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table for the first time since 1996, despite spending almost £600million on 16 new players over the past year.
    Chelsea are considering a swoop for VlahovicCredit: Getty
    Todd Boehly has welcomed five defenders, four midfielders and six attackers to Stamford Bridge since he took over as Chairman last May, but he is yet to add a first team-ready out-and-out striker to his ranks.
    Romelu Lukaku – who was signed for £97.5million August 2021 – is currently on loan at Inter Milan, but he could leave the club on a permanent basis before the 2023-24 campaign kicks off.
    So Chelsea officials are now on the hunt for a new No.9.
    According to football journalist Julien Laurens, the Blues are keen on the prospect of signing Vlahovic from Juventus.
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    And ESPN claim that they have already made a £70million offer for the striker.
    Vlahovic joined Juventus in a £62m transfer from Fiorentina in January last year, but he struggled to find his form.
    And Chelsea fans have admitted that they would rather keep Lukaku at Stamford Bridge than sign the Serbia international.
    One person tweeted: “Is Vlahovic even really much of an upgrade on Lukaku?”
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    Another added: “Vlahovic has flop written all over it, not even scored that many this season either. I’d rather give Lukaku another go until we can go for Toney when his ban is up.”
    While a third wrote: “This guy gives me washed up Higuain vibes, offer 80m for Harry Kane and move on.”
    Chelsea are also understood to be interested in signing Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
    Mauricio Pochettino, who is set to become the club’s new manager this summer, is a known admirer of the Argentina international.
    Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is another name on the transfer wishlist, although Chelsea face competition from Manchester United for his signature.
    The Blues could let go of several first team players this summer in order to make way for more signings.
    Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been linked with a move away, as well as Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. More

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    Man Utd poised to offer wonderkid new contract.. before shipping striker out on loan

    ROOKIE Mateo Mejia is to get a new deal from Manchester United — then be shipped out on loan.The striker has had injury problems but is still seen as a long-term prospect at Old Trafford.
    Mateo Mejia is set to receive a new contract at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    Manchester United youngster Mejia is set to then be sent out on loanCredit: Getty
    Mejia, 20, is currently in Indonesia playing for Colombia in the Under-20 World Cup and both the player and United hope to find some interest off the back of that.
    United signed Mejia from Real Zaragoza in 2019.
    And despite being born in Spain, Mejia has been recognised by Colombia for the Under-20 finals, as he qualifies for the South Americans through his parents.
    United manager Erik ten Hag invited the winger to train with the senior squad last month after Marcus Rashford’s injury.
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    Mejia is not the first youngster the club is looking to reward with a new deal.
    The Red Devils did the same with Alejandro Garnacho, who penned a five-year contract believed to be worth around £50,000 a week.
    Garnacho has been enjoying a breakout season at Old Trafford with six goals and six assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
    The Manchester giants are also set to offer Facundo Pellistri a new contract.
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    Pellistri has broken into the first team under Ten Hag and impressed this season.
    The winger played for Uruguay at the 2022 World Cup and has seen his game time increase since the tournament in Qatar.
    Both the United board and Ten Hag are said to be pleased with the 21-year-old’s development and they are keen to tie him down for the future. More

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    Harry Kane waves at Tottenham fans during lap of honour, but Ryan Mason insists he was NOT saying goodbye

    TOTTENHAM interim manager Ryan Mason has dismissed suggestions that Harry Kane was waving goodbye to fans following the club’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday.Kane, 29, joined his teammates on a lap of honour after the full-time whistle to mark Tottenham’s final home game of the season.
    Kane joined his Tottenham teammates on a lap of honour on SaturdayCredit: Getty
    The striker was seen waving to fansCredit: Alamy

    While walking around the pitch with his family, the striker was seen waving to fans amid ongoing speculation surrounding his future at the club.
    Some supporters believed he was waving goodbye to to Spurs after 14 years in north London.
    One person took to Twitter to say: “Dunno if this is the last time I’ll see Harry Kane but I will say my goodbyes just in case. Greatest ever player I’ve seen in a Spurs shirt. My striker.”
    While another added: “Is this the final Goodbye from Harry Kane?”
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    But Mason has insisted that Kane’s actions were not out of the ordinary.
    During his post-match press conference, the 31-year-old said: “No, he waves at the crowd every season.
    “I remember sitting here two years ago, and you guys were convinced he was leaving, saying the same thing.
    “It’s the last home game of the season so he wants to show his appreciation to the support he’s received, and we’ve all received this season.”
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    Kane has been heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham in recent months.
    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly eager to lure him to Old Trafford.
    But Spurs chief Daniel Levy is demanding £100m for the club’s all-time top goalscorer.
    Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also understood to be interested in signing the the striker. More

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    Crystal Palace chasing Bournemouth ace Jefferson Lerma with midfielder yet to agree new contract with Cherries

    CRYSTAL PALACE have put Bournemouth hard man Jefferson Lerma on their wanted list.The Eagles are interested in the Colombia midfield enforcer, 28, who is out of contract at the Cherries this summer.
    Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Bournemouth star Jefferson LermaCredit: Reuters
    Palace may firm up their move soon, once they decide what their budget is for next season, and if they are after bargains rather than buys then Lerma will be a priority.
    The Eagles are also set to offer new deals to James Tomkins, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward, who are free agents at the end of the campaign.
    But their hopes of bringing right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to Selhurst Park from Manchester United are fading because of his asking price. 
    Lerma joined Bournemouth from Levante after a club record £25million in 2018.
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    The midfielder has since amassed a total of 12 goals and eight assists in 183 appearances.
    The Cherries’ manager Gary O’Neil has stated he wants the Colombia international to stay at Dean Court.
    O’Neil said last month: “Hopefully Jeff decides to stay and hopefully there can be an agreement reached.
    “But I think you see from his performance [against Fulham], there’s absolutely no issue.
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    “I get on great with Jeff, and he gives absolutely everything every time he plays.
    “So, yeah, no problem with the situation. And Jeff’s in a good spot.”
    Palace and Bournemouth have both confirmed their place for next season’s Premier League campaign after a brief relegation battle. More