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      How Kylian Mbappe went from growing up in poverty-stricken estate to £604m fortune as he’s offered ‘£11.6m a WEEK’ deal

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      HE’S one of the greatest footballers of our time and strikes fear into the hearts of defenders thanks to his ability to sprint like Usain Bolt. Now Kylian Mbappé, 24, could become the highest-paid sports star of all time as part of a record-breaking £259million transfer deal.
      Kylian Mbappé could become the world’s highest-paid footballerCredit: Getty
      If the French striker accepts the Saudi offer, it’s reported he could earn up to £11.6million a week (pictured as a teen)Credit: Offside Sports
      The French striker may move from Paris Saint-German to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal after an offer was accepted by the club.
      It would see him make an eye-watering £11.6m per week as part of a £604m deal for just one year at the club, according to CBS Sport’s James Benge. 
      The staggering sum is worlds away from his childhood in the Paris suburb of Bondy, renowned for “violence and drugs”, where a giant mural of the star now stands with the slogan “ville des possibles” – “the town where anything is possible”. 
      Prior to the Saudi offer, Mbappé was already worth a whopping £144million and doesn’t shy away from enjoying living the high life.
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      From owning an £8.5million luxury pad with views of the Eiffel Tower to amassing a £1.2million car collection, we look at his glam life and the difficult start he left behind.
      Born to immigrant parents – his mum Fayza Lamari is of Algerian descent and his dad Wilfried Mbappé descends from Cameroon – Mbappé grew up in a town notorious for its riots.
      In 2005, when Mbappé was five, violent protests against police harassment saw angry youths torch cars, attack cops and vandalise buildings. 
      When Bleacher Report visited in 2017, it reported the working-class area still has high crime rates and the unemployment rate is double the national average, but locals say things are improving.
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      A mural in Bondy pays tribute to its footballing legendCredit: Getty
      One optimistic resident Elfilali Ahmed said: “When I used to tell people I was from Bondy, they would ask about the violence and drug use. Now, they all ask me about Kylian Mbappé and if I know him.”
      Another resident who lives in a block of flats yards from the one Mbappé grew up in told the Mirror: “What he has achieved is a great inspiration for children around here.
      “Life in Bondy is sometimes hard and he is showing them there is a way out of what can be a dark place.”
      Mbappé has put his success down to practice and determination.
      “In football, everything is possible through hard work and I think that has been important,” he told beIN Sports last year.
      “I’ve always believed in myself and I knew I was capable of doing great things. It isn’t just about desire and wanting to succeed, you must work hard.”
      £8.5m luxury pad
      Inside Mbappé’s luxury Paris apartment, which boasts a basketball courtCredit: Instagram
      These days Mbappé lives in a luxurious £8.5million multi-floor apartment in Neuilly-sur-Seine, an exclusive Paris neighbourhood loved by celebrities which boasts views of the Eiffel Tower.
      Mbappé has remained tight-lipped about what his home is like, but it’s believed to have 12 bedrooms, a basketball court, library, gym and Turkish bath.
      It’s also believed to have an outdoor jacuzzi perfect for relaxing and gazing at the Eiffel Tower.
      £1.2m cars
      Mbappé owns many high-end vehicles but cannot driveCredit: Instagram
      The sports star’s most expensive vehicle is a Ferrari 488 Pista, worth £450,000Credit: Getty
      Over the years Mbappé has owned an enviable array of beautiful cars – despite being unable to drive. 
      He rationed that having “drivers at my disposal” meant it had “never been a priority” to get his driving licence. 
      His jaw-dropping vehicles include a Ferrari Hybrid SF90 Stradale, which he bought for £400,000 – one week’s salary.
      The striker also boasts a Ferrari 488 Pista that goes from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and costs an estimated £450,000.
      Among Mbappé’s collection are several more practical vehicles including a seven-seater Mercedes Benz V-Class, which cost around £115,000.
      He also has a £103,000 Volswagen Touareg, a £65,000 Wolkswagen Multivan and a Volkswagen Tiguan worth £49,000. 
      Goal.com also claims he owns a BMW, an Audi and a Range Rover – but no details regarding what models have been released. 
      Designer clobber
      Mbappé fell in love with trainers after getting his first pair of Nike Air Max 1sCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      He has a range of expensive pairs including high-tops from a Dior-Nike collaborationCredit: Getty
      Mbappé is a self-confessed “sneakerhead” – someone with a love for trainers – and admitted having a “small collection” in a 2018 interview with Hype Beast.
      The footballer said the shoes brought him “real pleasure” and described himself as “like a kid with a new toy” whenever he gets a new pair. 
      He added: “I’ve always been a sneaker lover, so it’s a pleasure to buy new pairs and mix them with my clothes to flex a little.”
      In a 2019 Complex video, Mbappé forked out £935 for two pairs of trainers – Air Max 90 Ice in ‘Gym Red’ and Jordan XI ‘Parton’ in blue.
      He revealed he fell in love with the footwear after his mum saved up to buy him a pair of Nike Air Max 1s.
      Describing them as the “apple of my eye” he said he “cleaned them every day”.
      The footballer’s other favourite trainers include neon yellow Air Jordan 1 Gatorade due to their “flashy colour”. He also professed love for Air Jordan 5 PSGs and high-top Air Jordan 1s.
      Jetset holidays
      While Mbappé is relatively private, he enjoys sharing snaps from his lush holidaysCredit: Instagram
      The footballer is snapped flying on a private jetCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      When Mbappé’s not enjoying the views from his beautiful Paris home, he’s known to love holidaying abroad. 
      Just last month he was spotted playing paddle tennis with friends on Miami’s South Beach in Florida.
      Mbappé was also snapped playing a game of Jenga with two bikini-clad women.
      It’s not the only holiday he’s taken this year, with the star being pictured during a trip to Marrakech, Morocco.
      Spanish newspaper Mundo Reportivo reported Mbappé was joined by France teammate Eduardo Camavinga and other Real Madrid stars during multiple trips.
      Mbappé regularly shares photos of himself on private jets and at envy-inducing locations including a remote temple, beside a beautiful cove and in high-end hotels.
      Just a few of the other spots he has visited have included Disney Land Paris, Cameroon and New York.
      Celebrity pals
      The French strikes is also close pals with Basketball star LeBron JamesCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      Mbappé appears to be good friends with ex-England ace David BeckhamCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      The sports star isn’t just popular on the pitch, but off it too, boasting a number of A-list pals including basketball legend LeBron James, who he collaborated with for the Nike footwear range ‘Chosen 2’.
      For the collaboration, Mbappé co-designed football boots for the clothing giant, which cost £250 a pair, were named Mercurial Superfly and were black with an iridescent finish.
      It seemed he and James hit it off as they have been pictured together multiple times since including once while exchanging shirt.
      Mbappé also has a wealth of admirers from the footballing world including David Beckham, Theirry Henry and the late great Pele.
      £150k watch stash
      Mbappé holding a £48,900 Hublot Integrated King Gold watchCredit: Instagram / @k.mbappe
      It’s not just trainers that Mbappé appears to have an eye for – he has a thing for extremely expensive watches boasting a collection worth nearly £150,000.
      During the FIFA World Cup last year he was seen posing with a £48,900 Hublot Big Bang King Gold.
      Mbappé has also sported a number of other timepieces from the brand including Big Bang Steel Diamonds, which cost £16,100, and the Unico Titanium Rainbow, which cost £59,900.
      The most expensive he’s been pictured wearing in public to date was a Big Bang Unico, which costs up to £65,161.
      Generous star
      While he lives a privileged lifestyle, Mbappé hasn’t forgotten his roots and is known for generously giving away large sums of his vast wealth.
      The Sun reported he donated his 2018 World Cup match fees and bonuses – roughly £400,000 – to a children’s charity.
      The following year Mbappé donated £25,000 to help fund a private search for the footballer Emiliano Sala after his plane vanished while travelling from Nantes to Cardiff. 
      Sadly, the striker’s body and the aircraft wreckage were discovered in the English Channel one month after he disappeared in February 2019.
      Mbappé was also reported to have made a “very large” donation to homelessness charity Abbe Pierre Foundation.
      Read More on The Sun
      In a 2021 statement the organisation thanked him for his generosity that would help with “first aid actions, access to water and hygiene”.
      Mbappé even launched his own charity, Inspired by KM, in 2020 and supports 98 disadvantaged children in Paris “until their working lives begin”.  More

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      I’ve made £75m in career earnings and won Champions League 5 TIMES but I’m unemployed at 31 and haven’t played in months

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      ISCO has been without a club since December after having his contract ripped up by Sevilla.The 31-year-old left Real Madrid for Seville in the summer of 2022 following a highly-decorated nine years at Santiago Bernabeu.
      Isco played 19 times for Sevilla last seasonCredit: Getty
      The attacking midfielder has won the Champions League five timesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Having arrived as the first signing of Carlo Ancelotti’s first stint in Madrid, Isco won five Champions Leagues with the club.
      He played 353 times for Real Madrid, with Capology claiming that he has so far earned £75million in wages during his career.
      After coming to the end of his contract, he opted to reunite with his former Real and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.
      The former Sevilla boss “loved” Isco but following his departure, it emerged that transfer chief Monchi didn’t.
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      After just four months and 19 appearances, Isco was headed for the exit – with Monchi publicly claiming that the attacking midfielder wanted to leave.
      Isco has since denied this in an explosive interview with Marca – before claiming that he and Monchi, who now works for Aston Villa, even came to physical blows.
      He said: “I told [Monchi] that he was the most deceitful person I had ever met in the world of football and he attacked me.
      “He came towards me, took me by the neck and security had to separate us completely. As you will understand, after that, I did not want to continue there under any circumstances.
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      “And although I was sorry, because I had a very good relationship with my team-mates and the fans treated me wonderfully, I couldn’t be comfortable in a club where the sports director attacks me and nobody speaks up or apologises.
      “Not because of the aggression, not because of all the lies he was leaking. So I forgave my contract and left. Overcoming the barrier of violence is not something that I could let go.”
      Isco’s contract was subsequently ripped up, making him a free agent going into the January transfer window.
      Despite his pedigree a move to failed to materialise – with Union Berlin coming closest to signing him.
      The Bundesliga side, who were second in the top flight, looked set to recruit Isco with the player having completed a medical – only for the deal to fall through.
      Explaining what happened, Union’s sporting director Oliver Ruhnert said: “We would have liked to see Isco with us, but we have our limits.
      “Those limits were overstepped today, contradicting the earlier agreement. In the end, the Isco deal will not come to pass.”
      I prioritise, on this occasion, going abroadIsco
      In March it emerged that Isco was training at home with a personal trainer in a bid to stay fit and ready for a potential offer.
      As August approaches, the 38-cap star still finds himself without a club.
      On what he wants next, he told Marca: “I prioritise, on this occasion, going abroad. I have played in Valencia, Malaga, Seville and Madrid.
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      “I am excited about the experience of playing in another league, learning another language, growing personally also outside of Spain… I am not ruling out anything.”
      He was recently linked with French side Marseille, although the rumours have since died down.
      Isco left Sevilla after a falling out with MonchiCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The 31-year-old is still without a club after leaving SevillaCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Man Utd fans joke ‘bet Jonny Evans feels old’ as unknown squad sent to face Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans joked “bet Jonny Evans feels old” after the Northern Irishman was named in their youthful squad to face Wrexham tonight.Erik ten Hag’s side will take on the League Two new-boys in San Diego this evening without any of their senior first-team stars.
      Jonny Evans featured for Man United’s first team against LyonCredit: PA
      The match will provide an opportunity for the Red Devils’ youngsters to shine, with Evans there as an experienced head to help them out.
      Evans signed a short-term contract at United last week after impressing while training with Ten Hag’s side to gain fitness.
      The arrangement is seen as mutually beneficial, with the 35-year-old regaining match sharpness while providing invaluable guidance for United’s starlets.
      Evans is by far the oldest member of the Red Devils’ 15-man squad for tonight’s match.
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      The former Leicester defender is the only player over the age of 20 to be involved.
      After learning of United’s youthful travelling party, one fan joked: “Bet Jonny Evans feels old.”
      While a second tweeted: “I take that Jonny Evans is the captain for tomorrow early hours in morning.”
      A third fan joked: “Jonny Evans will be the baby sitter.”
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      Another added: “Jonny Evans must be feeling embarrassed somehow with our kids.”
      United’s initial 15-man squad features goalkeepers Elyh Harrison and Dermot Mee, as well as defenders Marc Jurado, Will Fish, Sonny Aljofree, Willy Kambwala, Logan Pye and Evans.
      Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Toby Collyer and Maxi Oyedele make up the midfield, with Shola Shoretire, Joe Hugill, Charlie McNeill and Mateo Mejia available in attack.
      While this 15-man squad has travelled to San Diego specifically for this match, a number of other young fringe players could temporarily leave United’s first team camp to take part in the Wrexham match.
      These could include Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez and Dan Gore.
      Evans featured as a half-time substitute in United’s 1-0 win over Lyon in Edinburgh last week.
      But he was not involved in their 2-0 triumph over Arsenal on Saturday, and won’t play against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.
      Speaking about Evans, Ten Hag said: “I think he helped us, as you said, [with] younger players, but also for numbers here.
      “Not all the internationals were in and we had to manage the load from the players so that was really useful.
      “Jonny wants to stay fit, he still wants a career. Last week I think he played a very good game against Lyon and you could see how he was mentoring the younger players and I think he was pushing the younger players to a higher level and that can be really helpful.
      “So I’m happy we bring him in. He will be tomorrow in that game. So I’m happy he wants to do that and I think we help him as well.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Evans first joined Man United as a teenager in 2004, before debuting in their first team squad two years later.
      He went on to make 198 appearances for the Red Devils, winning a trio of Premier League titles and the Champions League before leaving for West Brom in 2015.
      Evans trained with United’s first team last weekCredit: Getty
      Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham will take on a youthful Man Utd sideCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd legend calls on Ten Hag to snub Hojlund transfer as he names ‘proper number nine’ club should sign instead

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Teddy Sheringham has urged his former club to chase Napoli star Victor Osimhen instead of Atalanta ace Rasmus Hojlund.United manager Erik ten Hag is desperate to sign a centre-forward to spearhead his attack during the summer transfer window and Hojlund is understood to be the favourite choice.
      Teddy Sheringham urged Manchester United not to sign Rasmus HojlundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Atalanta star Hojlund appears as Man Utd’s top target to spearhead their attackCredit: Getty
      However, talks over the Denmark international’s release clause have hit a snag with Atalanta demanding a whopping £86million and the Red Devils not willing to go over £60m.
      The Serie A giants are sticking to their valuation of the striker, who has agreed personal terms with the Manchester giants.
      Sheringham insists United should turn their focus away from the 20-year-old, who has four years left on his Atalanta contract and registered only nine goals in 32 league matches last season.
      Instead, the former England international insists Ten Hag should go for Osimhen, who finished as top scorer in Italy with 26 goals in 32 games and led Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years.
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      The 1999 Treble winner, though, admitted Tottenham superstar Harry Kane would be the “ideal solution”.
      But a move for Kane is unlikely as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has slapped a £100million fee for the 29-year-old, who turns 30 on Friday, and is not keen to sell to a Premier League rival.
      Therefore, the star striker faces three choices as he could either run his contract down until June, sign an extension or accept to be sold with Bayern Munich very interested.
      Sheringham told SunSport via Lord Ping: “Manchester United have always brought in top, top quality strikers to help them challenge for the title.
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      “I really think that Harry Kane would be the ideal solution for Manchester United, but they may have to wait another season to get him.
      “If Kane is the player that United really want, then I would wait for him to become available.
      “We’ve all read the stories that broke over the weekend about the club selling him this summer unless he signs a new deal, and we also know that Daniel Levy would prefer to sell him outside of the Premier League, but who knows what will happen with Harry Kane this summer.
      “If he stays at Tottenham you know that Kane will be professional, focussed and will give you a 100% in every single game. I don’t know what is happening with that situation.
      “It seems like for the last few summers, there has been doubts about his future at Tottenham.
      “It looks like United may have to look elsewhere for a forward this summer.
      “I’m not sure about Hojlund at Atalanta but I do really like Osimhen at Napoli – he looks like he knows where the goal is. He is a proper number nine that leads the line.”
      Sheringham insists Man Utd should go for Napoli superstar Victor OsimhenCredit: Reuters More

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      Harry Kane told signing new Tottenham deal this summer would be WORST thing he could do in shock advice from club legend

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham has urged Harry Kane not to sign a new deal with Spurs.Kane has one more year left in his contract with the North Londoners and seems uninterested in penning fresh terms as he is instead keen on moving to Bayern Munich.
      Tottenham superstar Harry Kane shouldn’t sign a new deal with the clubCredit: Rex
      Sheringham agrees with that decision as he insists an extension would be the “worst thing” the England captain could do this summer as that may prolong his trophyless streak.
      The former centre-forward claims the 29-year-old, who turns 30 on Friday, is in a “very similar” place he was in 1997 and hinted he should follow in his footsteps that led to United and a Treble triumph.
      However, the 57-year-old urged the Tottenham and England record goalscorer to avoid Bayern, who pose as his likeliest destination if he leaves Ange Postecoglou’s side.
      The ex-England international claims Kane would be a better fit at Real Madrid as the Bundesliga works best for rising English stars rather than those in their prime.

      Sheringham told Lord Ping: “I really don’t know what is going to happen with Harry Kane this summer.
      “I assumed that he would stay and see out his contract, but the reports coming out of the club over the weekend have indicated that if he won’t sign a new deal, he will be sold.
      “Let’s assume that he stays. There is a chance that Ange Postecoglou could come into the club and excel. If that were to happen and he could convince Kane that his future is at the club, then you wouldn’t be surprised if he signed a new deal at the end of the season.
      “I think the worst thing that Harry Kane could do would be to sign a new contract this summer. He could be in a situation where things don’t go to plan with Ange and then he’s in a cycle where he has to wait for a new manager to come in.
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      “If he goes into the season without a new deal, he can watch how everything unfolds. Harry Kane will still be completely focussed on scoring goals for Tottenham and doing his best for the club.
      “The dream scenario would be for him to perform well next season and be convinced that his future remains at the club.
      “Harry is in a very similar situation to where I was with the club. He will want the best players playing alongside him and he will want to be playing against the best players in the Champions League, obviously that isn’t happening at Tottenham this season.
      “I really hope that he stays, but I don’t expect him to make the decision anytime soon.
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      Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham also claims Harry Kane should avoid Bayern MunichCredit: The Sun
      “I wouldn’t go to Bayern if I was Harry Kane. I don’t see the German league as that much of an attractive proposition for where Kane is at his age.
      “I can understand younger players going over there – we’ve seen players like [Jadon] Sancho and [Jude] Bellingham go there with a clear development plan, but Kane is in a different stage of his career.
      “What will Kane get out of joining Bayern? He’ll probably win a title – he’ll have Champions League football. I don’t think that is the move that I would be looking for in my prime.
      “I can see the appeal of Real Madrid. If he had the opportunity to go there, with the sexiness of playing for the biggest team in Spain, a team always amongst the Champions League favourites etc. That has much more appeal than Bayern.” More

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      Kylian Mbappe breaks silence over £259m Al-Hilal transfer after NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s cheeky tweet

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE has broken his silence over Al-Hilal’s world record £259million bid.Paris Saint-Germain have accepted the Saudi Pro League side’s offer, which would blow the record £198m paid for Neymar out of the water.
      Kylian Mbappe is the subject of a world-record bid from Al-HilalCredit: Rex
      Giannis Antetokounmpo joked that Al-Hilal should sign him insteadCredit: Getty
      Spanish outlet Relevo claim that Mbappe is “reluctant” to move to Saudi Arabia – despite reportedly being offered up to £11.6m a week to join Al-Hilal.
      Following news of the Saudi side’s offer, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo joked that they should sign him instead.
      Posting a smiling selfie to social media, the two-time MVP wrote: “Al Hilal you can take me. I look like Kylian Mbappe.”
      The PSG forward saw the funny side, responding to the Milwaukee Bucks star’s tweet with 13 laughing emojis.
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      Mbappe was put up for sale by PSG chiefs after making it clear that he will not sign a new contract.
      The forward’s deal has reached its final 12 months, with club bosses convinced that he has already agreed to join Real Madrid in 2024.
      Should Mbappe opt to join Al-Hilal, PSG would stand to make a nearly £100m profit on the £162m they paid for him in 2018.
      Mbappe returned to PSG for pre-season training earlier this month, but was left out of Luis Enrique’s travelling party for the pre-season tour of Japan and Korea.
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      Giannis’ tweet seemed to amuse Mbappe
      The Ligue 1 champions are determined not to lose their star man on a free transfer, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi encouraging Mbappe to seriously consider offers this summer.
      It’s claimed that the French icon would be willing to sit out of the entire season in order to leave Parc des Princes on his terms.
      PSG believe that Mbappe wants to see out his current deal in France in order to bag a huge bonus – before picking up a staggering £150m signing on fee with Real Madrid.
      His refusal to sign a new deal and supposed willingness to sit out of the season is viewed as a “betrayal” of PSG and their supporters.
      In addition to Real Madrid, Mbappe has also been linked with Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Tottenham.
      Although reports claim that he is “completely uninterested” in joining the latter.
      French paper L’Equipe claim that Barcelona are keen on Mbappe – but cannot afford to pay a transfer fee.

      They add that Xavi’s side could look to offer players in part-exchange for the forward.
      Should Mbappe move to the Saudi Pro League, he would join the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic at Al-Hilal – who are also chasing Aleksandar Mitrovic.
      Antetokounmpo isn’t the only NBA player to have commented on the money being offered for Mbappe.
      LeBron James, who will earn around £41.5m next season, posted a gif of Forrest Gump running, captioned: “Me headed to Saudi when they call @RichPaul4 & @mavcarter for that 1 year deal!”
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      While wantaway Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard wrote: “1 year 776mm? Wtf lol …”
      Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who recently penned a four-year £78m deal, added: “They got basketball leagues too right? I don’t the ink on my contract has dried up yet.”
      LeBron James noticed the huge money offered to Mbappe More

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      Chelsea ‘close to transfer’ for wonderkid dubbed ‘Kante’s little brother’ but could farm him out to Boehly’s other club

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      CHELSEA are closing in on a summer swoop for Montpellier star Elye Wahi, reports suggest.Wahi stood out in Ligue 1 last season as he registered an impressive total of 19 goals and six assists in 33 appearances.
      Chelsea are close to signing Montpellier star Elye Wahi this summerCredit: AFP
      Wahi, though, may spent the coming season on loan at Chelsea’s sister club StrasbourgCredit: Getty
      Chelsea target Wahi has been dubbed “N’Golo Kante’s little brother”Credit: Getty
      And according to The Mail, the Blues are ready to add the striker to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
      Inter Milan have also shown interest in the 20-year-old wonderkid but the West Londoners are expected to win the bidding war.
      If the France Under-21 international joins Chelsea then he is expected to be loaned out to Strasbourg.
      This comes after the Premier League giants’ owner Todd Boehly bought a near 100 per cent stake of the Ligue 1 outfit.
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      That is despite Pochettino desperately looking for a centre-forward to spearhead his attack this coming season.
      Nicholas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku also moved to Stamford Bridge this summer.
      But Jackson may not be the team’s starting No9 whereas Nkunku is more likely to be used in different positions up front.
      Wahi is so highly-rated he has been compared to Chelsea legend N’Golo Kante, despite the fact they play in different positions.
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      The comparison with Kante, who left for a mega-money contract in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ittihad, comes through them both hailing from the small Paris suburb of Courcouronnes.
      And each started their football careers at the local amateur club JS Suresnes and, like the star midfielder, Wahi spent every spare second at their Maurice-Hubert stadium honing his skills.
      Those similarities saw Le Parisien dubbing the young Frenchman as “Kante’s little brother”. More

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      England U21 hero Anthony Gordon takes brutal swipe at Frank Lampard and admits he was ‘unfit’ when he joined Newcastle

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      ANTHONY GORDON admits he was nowhere near ready for Eddie Howe coming from Frank Lampard’s Everton. “Unfit” and nowhere near the tactical level required following his £40million January switch to Newcastle, the winger’s first months on Tyneside were a massive struggle. 
      Frank Lampard was sacked by EvertonCredit: Getty
      Anthony Gordon took a swipe at Frank LampardCredit: Rex
      From publicly throwing his toys out of the pram when hooked as a sub at Brentford to being replaced at half-time in his third start. 
      Gordon, 22, failed to score until the final game of last term – but there’s been no looking back since. 
      Named Player of the Tournament as England won the U21 Euros, big things are expected next season. 
      But Gordon reflected: “I was unfit when I first came, I didn’t feel up to speed at all. 
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      “And the manager’s tactical detail is so impressive – there is so much compared to what I was used to before. 
      “It is impressive and there is so much of it that it took a while. It was difficult, I won’t lie. 
      “He did warn me, and the other players did too. But the summer has put me in a really good place. 
      “Winning the trophy was class, it definitely boosted my confidence, but it’s more about getting used to the style of play. I’m already feeling more confident in the detail.” 
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      And Howe said: “I’ve been impressed with him in pre-season. The key thing is that he carried the momentum on with us from England. 
      “He has huge promise and potential to be a very, very good player for Newcastle. 
      “He’s just got to keep working at every area of the game and keep developing.” 
      Gordon “likes” the competition Harvey Barnes provides on the left wing, with the £38m new signing playing 20 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa in Philadelphia. 
      But they – and £55m midfielder Sandro Tonali – were all upstaged by local lad Elliot Anderson, who the Toon Army have christened the “Geordie Maradona”. 
      The Whitley Bay-born attacking midfielder, 20, recovered from a shocking early miss to score one and create another to show Howe that he is ready to start the Prem season. 
      “The manager’s tactical detail is so impressive – there is so much compared to what I was used to before. Anthony Gordon on Eddie Howe
      Nineteen of his 22 appearances last season were short cameos off the bench but he has been Newcastle’s star of pre-season so far. 
      And Howe said: “He did really well nicking balls and being very aggressive but his composure around the box was elite. 
      “He’s in an area where there is huge competition but we really like him and he’s developing nicely. 
      “I’m looking for all players to leave a positive impression and stake their claim. Elliot has done himself no harm – he’s been hugely impressive.” 
      Newcastle have stuck with a 4-3-3 under Howe but the Mags boss tried an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 against Villa in preparation for their Champions League campaign- and it didn’t go well as they were cut to shreds at will early on. 
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      Howe said: “There is a feeling we are going to need to be flexible next season with the different amount of competitions we are in. 
      “That is what pre-season is for and there were some bits we need to look at.” 
      Gordon was named Player of the Tournament as England won the U21 EurosCredit: Getty More