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      Jamie Vardy snubbed lucrative transfer to reunite with former manager after Leicester won Premier League promotion

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      JAMIE VARDY was offered the chance to reunite with Dean Smith this summer.The Leicester legend, 37, scored 18 league goals last season as the Foxes secured promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.Club legend Jamie Vardy has now spent 12 years at LeicesterCredit: AlamyDean Smith offered Vardy the chance to join him at MLS side CharlotteCredit: ReutersShortly after winning the Championship, Leicester lost manager Enzo Maresca and star playmaker Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea.They could have seen Vardy walk out of the exit door too had he accepted Smith’s offer to join him at MLS side Charlotte.Speaking to GiveMeSport, Smith revealed: “I did text him [Vardy] and see if he wanted to come over to America.”I knew that it was going to be hard once he took Leicester back to the Premier League. [I love] his enthusiasm for the game.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”He doesn’t train as much as he used to, and he won’t get as many minutes as he used to, but if he’s used right he’ll be really, really good [this season].”You saw the goals he scored in the Championship last year.”Smith coached Leicester for eight games at the end of the 2022/23 season as they were relegated from the Premier League.He won just two matches in charge and left in June 2023, two months after taking the job.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe scored 18 goals in the Championship last seasonAfter six months unemployed, he joined Charlotte in December last year and has won 10 of 27 games, with the club sixth in the Eastern Conference.Meanwhile, Vardy is set to begin his 13TH season with Leicester when they host Tottenham in their Premier League opener on Monday.Fans tell Jamie Vardy ‘never change’ as footage emerges of Leicester star slide tackling a KID during title celebrationsHe has scored 136 goals in 307 Premier League games for the 2016 champions. More

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      Chelsea make £56m Joao Felix bid as Atletico Madrid ace says ‘yes’ to transfer that could save Conor Gallagher deal

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      CHELSEA have made a £56million bid for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, according to reports.And the transfer could save Conor Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico as the English midfielder’s future remains in the balance.Joao Felix could be set for a return to ChelseaCredit: GettyConor Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid remains in the balanceCredit: GettyFelix, 24, spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Stamford Bridge, scoring four goals in 20 games.He returned to Diego Simeone’s side and then spent the last campaign on loan at Barcelona where he registered 10 goals and six assists in 44 appearances.Now, after four seasons, 131 appearances and 24 goals for Atletico, he could finally be set for a permanent switch.According to Ojogo, Chelsea have submitted an offer of £54m for the Portuguese international.READ MORE ON CHELSEAAn initial sum of £30m would be paid up front, with the remainder of the fee to be transferred at a later date.Fabrizio Romano understands Felix has said “yes” to a second stint at Chelsea as negotiations continue between the two clubs.It is also said to be a “crucial” factor in the completion of Gallagher’s move to Atletico.Chelsea looked set to offload academy product Gallagher in a £34m deal to ease the club’s concerns regarding Profit and Sustainability rules.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSGallagher featured in all but one of Chelsea’s Premier League games last seasonBut then a deal for Atletico striker Samu Omorodion to move the other way collapsed, putting the Gallagher deal in jeopardy.Now a bid for Felix has reignited hopes of the England international being offloaded.Chelsea have raked in staggering £1.6BILLION from transfers as top selling clubs of 21st Century are revealedGallagher, 24, has been at Chelsea for 16 years and broke through into the first team in 2019.He has played 95 games for the club, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists. More

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      Ipswich on verge of huge Sammie Szmodics transfer with Tractor Boys just £500,000 short of Blackburn’s valuation

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      IPSWICH are haggling over a deal for Blackburn striker Sammie Szmodics — with the teams just £500,000 apart on a fee.They have been debating the guaranteed sum starting point and Ipswich are at £8.5million but will not budge to the £9m demanded.Ipswich are haggling over a deal for Blackburn striker Sammie SzmodicsCredit: RexThe package for Szmodics, 28, includes extras for goals, a survival bonus and even a promotion pay-out if Ipswich are relegated but then come straight back up to the Prem.However, the negotiators cannot sort out the first sum, to the frustration of all parties and the player.Szmodics is coming off the season of his life, hitting 31 goals in all competitions despite Blackburn struggling to 19th.Everton registered their interest in the Ireland international before midfielder Amadou Onana joined Aston Villa.READ MORE IN footballPrem newcomers Ipswich eyed a move for Szmodics after signing Liam Delap from Manchester City last month.Szmodics signed a new deal in November 2023, tying him to Ewood Park until 2026, with the option of a further year. He previously told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: “I have two and a half years on my contract and so it is out of my hands.”It’s a case of me enjoying my summer and seeing what’s out there. I don’t think anyone would begrudge me if a Premier League team came knocking.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It is everyone’s dream to play in the Premier League. I don’t know if that opportunity will arise but I don’t think anyone could be blamed if they have the chance to play in the top flight.”Look at Adam Wharton, he’s 20 and flying at Crystal Palace, he’s Blackburn through and through. I am 28 now and I want to test myself.”Chelsea have raked in staggering £1.6BILLION from transfers as top selling clubs of 21st Century are revealed More

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      Ivan Toney could be set for shock transfer abroad having been linked with moves to Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea

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      ENGLAND star Ivan Toney is a top target for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, according to shock reports.The Brentford striker has been heavily linked with an exit as he has just one year left on his contract.Ivan Toney is wanted by Saudi Pro League chiefsCredit: ReutersSunSport exclusively revealed that the Bees were initially ready to slash their asking price to just £30million for Toney.But after new striker Igor Thiago picked up a knee injury that is set to rule him out until December, the club were having a re-think about selling their main man.A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Toney – including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham.But reporter Fabrizio Romano claims there is interest from the Saudi Pro League.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe reports that Toney is one of the “main strikers being considered” by chiefs in the Middle East.Al-Ahli have supposedly had an interest since January.The report also claims that the player is “assessing his options” and is yet to make a decision on his future.But his choices could now be limited as United have signed Joshua Zirkzee, Spurs have completed a deal for Dominic Solanke and Niclas Fullkrug has joined West Ham.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSToney scored four goals in 17 games last season after serving an eight-month betting ban.He was also a member of the England squad that fell just short in the final to Spain.A move to Al-Ahli would see him team-up with ex-Prem stars Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino.Man Utd transfer target Ivan Toney talks about his experience playing for England More

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      Saudi Pro League ready to raid Premier League again for Mo Salah and Kevin de Bruyne despite quiet transfer window

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      THE Saudi Pro League WILL bid for Mohamed Salah or Kevin De Bruyne this summer — if an opportunity arises.But following last summer’s game-changing shopping spree, the transfer market’s biggest new powerhouse is prepared to wait until the time is right to make superstar signings for the next phase in its development.The Saudi Pro League could still come in for Mo SalahCredit: AlamyDe Bruyne has also been linked with an exit away from Manchester City after nine years at the clubCredit: GettyAlthough there is still time for things to change, Saudi clubs have kept their powder relatively dry so far.Saudi Pro League sides splashed out about £700MILLION last summer, a total that put the league behind only the Premier League, Ligue 1 and Serie A.Of that £700m, £560m was spent on Prem players and represented nearly half the league’s income from overseas clubs, fuelling a record top-flight outlay of £2.36BILLION.Liverpool pair Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and Chelsea trio N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy all moved to the Middle East.READ MORE FOOTBALLBut Moussa Diaby’s £50.5m transfer from Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad is the only major deal done so far this summer.The money is still there if Saudi clubs need it. The Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence had an eight-year budget for international transfers when it was established last year.At least a couple of big-name arrivals can be expected soon.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSBut there is an acceptance Salah and De Bruyne may be tricky to sign now and could be available for no fee if they do not agree new contracts.There is another good reason why it might make sense to wait until at least January.Best ten new Premier League kits for next seasonAll of the Saudi Pro League’s media rights contracts expire at the end of the upcoming campaign, due to start later this month and end in May.Bringing in a new superstar now would not boost the current TV revenues of £100m per year.Only £10-15m of that comes from broadcasters outside the Arab world.But that could change dramatically with the right signing at the right time and players like Salah and De Bruyne would increase rights in every market.The emphasis of future transfer spending will be on quality rather than quantity. And the desire to make the league more competitive is set to see talent spread around more evenly in future.A knock-on effect of the lack of Saudi spending has been a factor in restricting Prem spending so far.Dr Tom Bason, from Coventry University’s Centre for Business in Society, said: “Last year’s window was kick-started by the cash injection from Saudi Arabia”Whether that was a transfer fee which allowed clubs to spend money or clubs being able to get players on big contracts off the books.“Without Saudi money, many clubs just don’t have as much cash to spend.”But Peter Hutton, an Saudi Pro League board member, said: “The growth of the league is a long-term project. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Solid budgets are in place for the league to acquire players, and the new players are positive influences as we try and raise standards.”Liverpool, Manchester City and the rest of the Premier League should not be lulled into a false sense of security.Jordan Henderson joined Al-Ettifaq last summer, before leaving for Ajax in JanuaryCredit: GettyAston Villa star Moussa Diaby has made the switch this summerCredit: Reuters More

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      Man Utd AGREE De Ligt transfer with Bayern Munich AND have Noussair Mazraoui bid accepted – but it rests on star leaving

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have agreed a deal to sign Matthijs de Ligt – and have moved a step closer to bringing in Noussair Mazraoui. United have looked to bolster their defence this summer after Raphael Varane’s exit and Harry Maguire’s future looking in doubt. Matthijs de Ligt is close to joining Man UtdCredit: GettyThey have also abid for Noussair MazraouiCredit: RexThey signed Leny Yoro for £52million from Lille but the 18-year-old faces three months out after picking up a pre-season foot injury. De Ligt has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester and now they have moved a step closer to striking a deal. Because the Red Devils have agreed an initial £38.5million with Bayern Munich for De Ligt – with a further £4.2m in add ons.De Ligt is now set for a medical before signing a five-year deal that includes the option to extend by an additional 12 months.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe centre-back won the Dutch title with Ajax before making a move to Juventus in 2019 where he also lifted the Serie A. After 117 appearances in Italy, De Ligt moved to Bayern in 2022 and also has a Bundesliga winners medal to his name. But the German giants are ready to offload De Ligt and full-back Mazraoui.Bayern also accepted a separate £16.8m proposal from United for Noussair Mazraoui in a piece of double business worth nearly £60m. Most read in FootballWhy De Ligt is the perfect Man Utd signing By Lee Scott One of Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag’s biggest headaches has been fixing their leaky defence.Despite still not being anywhere near his peak years De Ligt has built considerable experience so far in his career with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich and he has 45 caps at senior level for the Dutch national team.While he is not necessarily a highly modern ball playing type of defensive player he is a player with the defensive strengths and instincts to help shore up a United defence that was, at best, leaky last season.He has a great ability to read the game which was one of the biggest issues that we saw from the United defensive unit last season.De Ligt is also a master in one-on-one situations, who shows strength and intensity in his duels.The Dutch star does a good job in keeping things simple and tends to make good decisions in possession.The pursuit of Matthijs de Ligt makes perfect sense for United and for Ten Hag as a young defender who is still to reach his peak.He has considerable experience at a high level and he understands the game model and system of play of the manager.Click here to read our full analysis on De Ligt joining Manchester United.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSA deal for the Moroccan – which will see them pay around £12.8m up front – has been in place for some weeks.But it depends on Aaron Wan-Bissaka agreeing an exit after United accepted West Ham’s £15m offer. Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to replace Old Trafford with a ‘Wembley of the North’Wan-Bissaka needs to finalise his termination at United but a medical with the Hammers is set for Sunday or Monday. The Londoner made 22 appearances last season for United but has fallen out of favour with boss Erik ten Hag.And as revealed by SunSport, he wants a multi-million pound pay-off from United to leave this summer. The 26-year-old has less than 12 months left on his contract at Old Trafford.And he could bank a huge signing-on fee by staying put and leaving on a free transfer next summer.Wan-Bissaka’s representatives are pushing for United to give the player a chunk of the £18m fee they will receive from West Ham in order to get the deal done this summer.The former Crystal Palace defender has been on the same £90,000-a-week contract at United since he joined the club five years ago.United’s double swoop of Bayern will take summer spending to around the £150million mark – with Joshua Zirkzee and Yoro already in place.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd it suggests they have given up on their pursuit of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite – who is valued at around £70m.De Ligt and Mazraoui were both named on Bayern’s bench for a pre-season friendly at Tottenham despite closing in on exits. More

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      Chelsea ban ANOTHER star from first-team facilities ahead of likely transfer exit despite him being at club since 8

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      TREVOH CHALOBAH has been BARRED from using Chelsea’s first-team facilities as he nears an emotional exit. The boyhood Blue has been deemed surplus to requirements this summer amid an influx of centre-backs at Stamford Bridge. Trevoh Chalobah is edging towards a Chelsea transfer exitCredit: GettyChelsea are looking to offload Chalobah and have taken extreme measurements to accelerate his move. According to The Telegraph, the defender has been banned from using Chelsea’s first-team facilities.Along with Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaku, they are all being made to train with the development squad.That means Chalobah – who has been with Chelsea since he was eight – must spend his time away from the club’s first team.READ MORE IN football He has not been in the first-team dressing room or at lunch since Chelsea returned from their pre-season tour of America. Chalobah was controversially told to stay at home as his Blues team-mates jetted off Stateside. Midfielder Conor Gallagher faced a similar fate, as revealed by SunSport. Gallagher was told that he will not be allowed in the first-team building nor train with Enzo Maresca’s squad. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut the former academy graduate has since agreed a £34million move to Atletico Madrid.Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are among the clubs linked with Chalobah, who made 17 appearances for Chelsea last season under Mauricio Pochettino.Enzo Maresca’s tactical overhaul at ChelseaHe had turned down a move to Nottingham Forest last summer and fought his way back into the squad. But Chelsea have since welcomed back Wesley Fofana and signed Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer. They join Axel Disasi, Benoît Badiashile and Levi Colwill in Chelsea’s crowded backline.Chelsea are believed to value Chalobah at £20m with the centre-half said to have acted professional despite the ruthless approach to negotiate his exit.Lukaku is still a target for Napoli and Italian manager Antonio Conte but the Blues want his £37.8 million buy-out clause met.Broja meanwhile has attracted attention from the Premier League and overseas as his time with Chelsea also looks to be nearing an end.READ MORE SUN STORIESMaresca is close to adding winger Pedro Neto in a £54m deal from Wolves. It will be his NINTH signing of the summer with striker Samu Omorodion also close to joining from Atletico for £34.5m.Meet Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo MarescaENZO MARESCA is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi. More

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      Crystal Palace’s move to bring Wilfried Zaha back hijacked by Premier League rivals in shock swoop

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      CRYSTAL PALACE may miss out on bringing Wilfried Zaha back to Selhurst Park this summer because of a Premier League rival, according to reports.Zaha, 31, left Palace last summer following 12 successful years with the club and moved overseas as he signed with Turkish giants Galatasaray.Crystal Palace want to bring Galatasaray star Wilfried Zaha backCredit: GettyCrystal Palace are facing competition from Leicester for Zaha’s signatureCredit: GettyAccording to The Athletic’s transfer insider David Ornstein, the Eagles explored the possibility of reinstating the winger on loan from the Turkish champions this summer.However, Oliver Glasner’s side is facing competition from Leicester who are also keeping tabs on the Ivory Coast international’s situation.The Foxes are actively working on a deal to bring Zaha back to the Premier League, it’s claimed.Galatasaray appear open to doing business as the ex-Manchester United ace will be available on loan.Read More on FootballTalks are taking place between the Championship winners and Galatasaray.Leicester would have to pay a loan fee to bring Zaha to the King Power Stadium.Palace have explored the exact same possibility as their former star has a contract until 2026.The forward burst onto the scene with the south Londoners in 2010 after six standout years in their academy.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe ex-England youth international enjoyed a stunning three-year stint with Palace and that led to a £15million move to United.However, Zaha struggled with the Red Devils in their first year after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and that led to two loan stints back to Palace.Wilfried Zaha leaves press room in stitches with hilarious response to whether he is bothered about failed Man Utd spellHis beloved club then brought him back on a permanent deal in 2015 and he went on to amass a grand total of 90 goals as well as 62 assists in 458 appearances.Zaha left Palace as a free agent in 2023 after rejecting a record four-year deal worth £200,000 per week and went on to register 10 goals as well as five assists in 43 appearances with Galatasaray. More