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      Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong slams ‘lies’ about Barcelona wages and explains why salary ‘looks bigger’

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      BARCELONA midfielder Frenkie de Jong has hit back at critics who claim he is refusing a wage cut.The 25-year-old Dutchman agreed a £400,000-a-week salary when he joined the Catalan giants back in 2019.
      De Jong has hit back at those accusing him of refusing a wage reductionCredit: AP
      He then penned a lucrative two-year extension during ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s spell in charge of the club.
      But Barcelona’s crippling financial crisis resulted in De Jong being forced to take a wage reduction in each of his first three seasons.
      It means they are now required to pay those deferred wages to the player on top of his existing salary.
      As a result, De Jong, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer, will earn £16.8million net this season, followed by up to £21m in the following campaign – figures which include £17m worth of deferred payments.
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      And the midfielder has now set the records straight on the controversy surrounding his salary packet.
      Speaking to TV NOS, via Mundo Deportivo, De Jong said: “There have been many lies and falsehoods spread about my salary.
      “In each of the first three years I played here, I cut my salary. Eventually the money comes back, and it comes on top of my normal salary, so it looks bigger.
      “I think a lot of people don’t understand this, but the figures the media are spreading are false.”
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      Barcelona wanted to sell De Jong in the summer to alleviate their economic strain and enable them to register their host of new signings.
      But the former Ajax man made it clear his desire to stay at the Nou Camp, despite strong interest from Man Utd and Chelsea.
      And he recently revealed he felt during the transfer window that the club were trying to force him out the door.
      Last week, De Jong told Ziggo Sport: “I was calm. I decided in May that I wanted to stay. My opinion has never changed during this entire period.
      “I stayed calm. But then you know the pressure would start to come.
      “Yes, from the newspapers, from the president, exactly. From everywhere actually. But I wanted to stay at Barca so it never baffled me.”
      De Jong has started four of Barca’s eight LaLiga matches so far this season – including their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.
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      But it has been reported that he remains “disgusted” by his role in Xavi’s side, with competition rife alongside the likes of Sergio Busquets, Gavi, and Pedri.
      And that discontent in Spain could finally see him depart in the coming months. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo handed another brutal transfer snub as Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone rules out move

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      ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be joining the club next summer.The Spanish giants were linked with an audacious swoop for wantaway Ronaldo during the summer transfer window, but many fans were strictly against the move.
      Ronaldo was linked with a move to Atletico MadridCredit: AFP
      Simeone has dismissed transfer rumoursCredit: Alamy
      One group of Atletico supporters even issued a statement suggesting that the Portugal skipper “represents the antithesis of the values” of the club.
      Although a move failed to materialise in the summer, Los Colchoneros have continued to be linked with Ronaldo, who spent nine years with the club’s rivals Real Madrid before moving to Juventus in 2018.
      Some reports have suggested that Atletico will look to complete a deal next summer.
      However, Simeone has since shut down all rumours, claiming that he has no interest in signing the Manchester United star.
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      The Argentine boss told Spanish football reporter Martin Liberman: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible arrival at Atlético in the summer?
      “The little birds told you anything far from what happened.
      “People speak sometimes to tell what they want to tell, not reality.”
      Ronaldo has been pushing for a move away from Old Trafford since July.
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      Numerous clubs expressed an interest in signing him, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was not granted an escape route.
      Ronaldo has had to settle for limited minutes so far this season following the resurgence of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. More

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      Chelsea blow as former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards set to spurn any job offer for some time out

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      LIVERPOOL’S former transfer guru Michael Edwards is ready to take this season away from the game despite being in great demand.Edwards quit the Kop and has been chased by Chelsea and foreign clubs.
      Edwards is set to take some time away from footballCredit: PA
      But the 43-year-old wants time to consider his options after a gruelling 11 years at Anfield.
      He left Merseyside last summer and has been heavily linked with taking up a role at Stamford Bridge.
      But that now seems highly unlikely given his reluctance to take any job for the time being.
      Edwards also worked with Portsmouth and later Tottenham, but made his name in Merseyside as a top talent spotter.
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      He brought the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Allison to Liverpool.
      Meanwhile, Chelsea have undergone a number of changes at board level following the departure of Roman Abramovich and arrival of new owner Todd Boehly.
      Club director Marina Granovskaia and technical and performance advisor Petr Cech both left.
      And American Boehly appointed himself as temporary sporting director.
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      Manager Thomas Tuchel was then sacked early on in the season and replaced by Graham Potter.
      It came just weeks after a record-breaking transfer window in which the Blues spent more than £250million.
      Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Slonina and Denis Zakaria were all brought in over the summer. More

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      Man City ‘have no financial boundaries’ to prevent sensational transfer bid to pair Kylian Mbappe with Erling Haaland

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      MANCHESTER CITY reportedly have the cash to sign Kylian Mbappe and partner him with Erling Haaland.French superstar Mbappe is claimed to be considering buying himself out of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in January.
      Kylian Mbappe is desperate to leave PSGCredit: Getty
      Manchester City can reportedly afford to partner Erling Haaland with MbappeCredit: PA
      That would make him a free agent, although signing fees and wages would still make a move for Mbappe a costly one.
      But there are “no financial boundaries” stopping City from tabling a sensational offer, according to Marca.
      The Premier League champions are owned by the cash rich City Football Group, who have turned the club into a force through heavy investment since taking over in 2008.
      And there are not believed to be any financial reasons why they can’t make a move for Mbappe, if he becomes available.
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      Any potential swoop would see the 23-year-old partner current striker sensation Haaland.
      Mbappe is thought to be unhappy at playing on his own as a striker, but any move to the Etihad would see him link up at the top of the pitch with goal machine Haaland.
      The pair are widely regarded as the two future best players on the planet when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo retire.
      But, unlike Messi and Ronaldo, they could end up playing on the same team.
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      Haaland has scored 20 goals in 13 games for City, and Mbappe’s record of 183 goals in 230 games for PSG suggests he would be just as prolific.
      However, whether City do choose to pursue a deal if Mbappe terminates his contract in Paris remains to be seen.
      Real Madrid were thought to be Mbappe’s most likely landing spot until he signed a new three-year deal in May.
      Then reports in the week claimed Liverpool were the frontrunners for his signature.
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      There is believed to be a split in the PSG camp, with Mbappe left with just four allies in the entire squad.
      He is desperately searching for a way out of the club just months after signing a bumper new deal worth a reported £650,000-a-week. More

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      Newcastle boss Eddie Howe rules out sensational transfer move for wantaway Man Utd ace Cristiano Ronaldo

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      EDDIE HOWE does not want to sign ageing superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo to spark a Newcastle revolution.The minted Magpies are turning away from short-term fixes as they plot a way to the top of the tree.
      Eddie Howe has ruled out a transfer move for Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo asked to leave United in the summerCredit: Getty
      Howe admitted he is making special plans to stop 37-year-old Ronaldo at Old Trafford on Sunday.
      But he added: “It is not really a signing we would necessarily look to make.
      “We’re trying to provide long-term growth, we have got a longer-term vision.
      “We have quite an ageing squad, so we need to invest in more young players.
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      “That’s a big part of our progression — we need to get the average age down.”
      The Portuguese legend has played all but 30 minutes of Manchester United’s last three games — bagging his 700th club goal in the process.
      Ronaldo also scored twice in last year’s corresponding fixture against Newcastle, a 4-1 win for United, on what then seemed to be his stunning second coming at Old Trafford.
      And Howe added: “It just shows how good his record is, how good his career has been, it puts it in focus again.
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      “The quality is unquestionable and we are going to have to be very, very good against him if he plays.
      “We’re going to have to brief our defenders on the areas from where he wants to score. It’s something we have to be aware of.”
      The Red Devils just squeaked into the top six last season, while Liverpool’s struggles this term might help open up a European spot for Toon.
      It is certainly where the ambitious and upwardly mobile Tynesiders hope to be by May.
      But Howe warned: “Liverpool will come again I’m sure, they’re still obviously an outstanding team.
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      “We’re very early in the season to make snap judgments on what’s going to happen.
      “However, it is very clear that we want to be there, we’re trying everything we can to be the best team we can be. But the competition is also very strong.” More

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      Everton’s contract talks with Anthony Gordon stall with winger asking for around £100k-a-week

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      ANTHONY GORDON’S contract talks at Everton are taking time to finalise.Toffees boss Frank Lampard is keen to reward the young attacker, who was a target for Chelsea in the summer.
      Anthony Gordon’s Everton contract talks are stalling over his mammoth wage demandsCredit: Getty
      But now it is about the money men sorting terms.
      The Gordon camp are looking for wages that reflect the £60million valuation that was on his head at the height of the interest.
      And they will be looking in the £100,000-a-week range for wages.
      Everton are also keen to give Gordon, 21, a pay hike after some fine performances.
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      The player’s current contract has over two years to run but is ticking down.
      Keeper Jordan Pickford is still waiting for a new deal too, although he is already on a big salary.
      And he only has a very limited group of clubs he could move to, with Manchester United linked.
      Meanwhile, Everton are reportedly looking at a deal for Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.
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      The Mexico international is out of contract in 2024.
      And his agent has hinted at a possible move to Goodison Park.
      Alessandro Monfrecola said: “Next June, Lozano will leave in my opinion.
      “Although he is delighted to be here, he has never hidden that he aspired to the top English clubs.
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      “I think he could land in Manchester United or Everton. This does not exclude that other English teams could enter the negotiation.
      “My personal prediction is that he will leave in June, but he is very happy here.” More

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      Liverpool send scouts to watch RB Leipzig star and Chelsea transfer target Christopher Nkunku

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      CHELSEA target Christopher Nkunku is being checked out by Liverpool in case his move from RB Leipzig to Chelsea stalls.Kop chiefs sent a top spy to look at the French forward, 24, in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Celtic.
      Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Chelsea target Christopher Nkunku in actionCredit: Getty
      But even Anfield insiders fear they have missed the boat.
      Chelsea are well down the line with their move for Nkunku — even though lots can change between now and the end of the season, when a deal is lined up to go through.
      Newcastle’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson was also at the Celtic game.
      But he was keeping an eye on the Scottish side’s 21-year-old midfielder Matt O’Riley, who is also liked by Crystal Palace.
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      Nkunku isn’t the only RB Leipzig star in Chelsea’s sights.
      Reports claim the Blues remain eager on teammate Josko Gvardiol.
      Former boss Thomas Tuchel wanted the Croatian defender last summer.
      An offer was put in with a view to Gvardiol joining next year.
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      But Leipzig rejected Chelsea’s bid before handing the centre-back a new deal.
      However, the Blues would still like to bring Gvardiol to Stamford Bridge.
      It’s reckoned Todd Boehly is having regular meetings with his Leipzig counterparts to get a deal done.
      And Chelsea could end up paying a mammoth £80million as they look to rebuild their defence under Graham Potter. More

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      Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix ‘has lost patience with boss Diego Simeone and wants transfer out of club’

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      ATLETICO MADRID striker Joao Felix is reportedly seeking a transfer exit.That’s after “losing patience” with Diego Simeone after playing less than 30 minutes in the last four games.
      Joao Felix wants to leave Atletico Madrid after being benched by Diego SimeoneCredit: Getty
      A Bola claims Felix, 22, has become frustrated with his role at Atletico, three-and-a-half years after his £114million move from Benfica.
      The Portugal star is yet to find his best form at the Wanda Metropolitano.
      But Felix has particularly struggled this term, failing to score one single goal.
      As a result, Simeone has mainly kept the forward on his bench for the last four matches, giving him just 29 minutes of action.
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      Felix believes he is being treated harshly by his boss, especially after he reportedly played INJURED for six months in 2021.
      And the LaLiga title winner is now looking for a way out in January.
      However, with just 29 goals in 122 games, Felix may not have many options available.
      The striker’s contract also runs until 2026, and Atleti have no intention of letting him go on the cheap – with the attacker said to have a £300m release clause.
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      Should Felix depart, it would seem Simeone already has a replacement lined up.
      Reports claim Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is top of Atletico’s shopping list.
      The Brazilian’s contract is up at the end of the season.
      And Firmino is ready to quit Anfield on a free transfer for a switch to the Spanish capital. More