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    Nottingham Forest ‘agree personal terms with long-term Arsenal target Houssem Aouar’ but yet to strike deal with Lyon

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST have reportedly agreed personal terms with Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.The Frenchman, 24, has been a linked with a move to the Premier League for years.
    Nottingham Forest have reportedly agreed personal terms with AouarCredit: Getty
    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was understood to be very keen on the prospect of a swoop until recently, but The Gunners opted to sign Fabio Vieira from Porto instead.
    Nottingham Forest have since identified Aouar as a top transfer target.
    And according to Get French Football News, they are edging closer to completing a deal for the sought-after midfielder.
    Forest have already agreed personal terms with Aouar, who was claimed to have been ‘seduced’ during talks with the club’s management team.
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    However, an agreement has not yet been reached with Lyon.
    The Ligue 1 side have already rejected two offers from Nottingham Forest.
    But, given that Aouar has just entered the final year of his contract, Lyon are expecting just £12.6million for their midfield maestro.
    Forest have been one of the Premier League’s biggest spenders in this summer’s transfer window.
    Steve Cooper has already introduced 15 new players to his squad since gaining promotion from the Championship to England’s top tier.
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    But, he is still eyeing up at least three more additions, including Aouar.
    Forest are also pushing to sign Neal Maupay from Brighton.
    The striker was left out of Graham Potter’s squad last weekend after talks over a proposed £15m move began to advance.
    However, Everton and Fulham are now attempting to hijack the deal. More

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    Nicolas Pepe ‘closes in on Nice transfer to join ex-Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey after flop’s agent is spotted at stadium’

    ARSENAL flop Nicolas Pepe is reportedly closing in on a move to OGC Nice.That’s after his agent was spotted at the Ligue 1 side’s stadium at the weekend.
    Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe is wanted by French side NiceCredit: Getty
    Arsenal icon Aaron Ramsey has already been snapped up by NiceCredit: Alamy
    The Mirror claims Nice, owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, want Pepe to join their French revolution this summer.
    The club has been splashing out in a bid to challenge for silverware this season, with ex-Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani and Blackburn’s Ben Brereton-Diaz on their radar.
    And they have already completed a deal for ex-Arsenal icon Aaron Ramsey.
    Goalie Kasper Schmeichel also departed Leicester to join Nice this month.
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    And Ratcliffe, who failed in his attempt to succeed Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, wants to raid the Premier League again in a loan move for Pepe.
    Arsenal paid a club-record £72million to sign the forward, 27, from Lille in 2019.
    But Pepe has managed just 27 goals in 112 games, and is now firmly second-choice to academy hero Bukayo Saka.
    The Ivory Coast international has been linked with a move to Newcastle.
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    And Leeds are also thought to be interested.
    But it is unlikely Pepe would snub a return to France, where he starred for Angers and Lille.
    Nice could also be able to offer continental football, but must first get past Maccabi Tel-Aviv in their Europa Conference League qualifier.
    The French side finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season, just five points off second-place Marseille.
    And Ratcliffe hopes a major effort in the transfer market can help close the gap this term. More

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    New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly plots plan to dish out SEVEN-YEAR contracts with Mount and James in line for bumper deals

    CHELSEA want seven-year contracts for their best players aged under 25 – with Mason Mount and Reece James first in line.That’s according to the Mail, who say new club owner Todd Boehly is keen on US-style long deals for youngsters.
    Reece James and Mason Mount are tipped to be offered mega-long new Chelsea deals under a radical policy change by club owner Todd BoehlyCredit: Getty
    Newcastle, West Ham and Southampton target Armando Broja could also be one of the Stamford Bridge starlets asked to sign a long dealCredit: Rex
    It’s thought England stars Mount and James will be joined on the list by striker Armando Broja – a top target for Newcastle and West Ham.
    It comes as the Blues reportedly agreed a £17million deal for Inter Milan midfielder Cesare Casadei, 19.
    And it shows how Boehly is reshaping the Stamford Bridge set-up on and off the pitch – with the club also in talks over extending boss Thomas Tuchel’s deal.
    American sports clubs often try to pin down starlets for their peak years.
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    And playmaker Mount, 23, plus 22-year-old wing-back James, are already established as first-team regulars.
    Both also seem certain to be part of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions’ squad for the World Cup in Qatar this winter.
    But attempting to lock Broja, 20, into a lengthy stay could also be a smart piece of financial work.
    That’s because it’s understood his admirers have been considering paying out up to £30million for the Albania star, who shone on loan for Southampton last season.
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    The suggestion is, however, that seven years would be the outer limit if Chelsea do adopt the radical policy of huge extended contracts.
    Earlier this month £62m Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella, 24, and Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, arrived on six-year deals.
    Everton, though, insist frontman Anthony Gordon is not for sale at any price after the Blues bid £45m. More

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    Alvaro Morata deals Man Utd transfer blow as he breaks silence on speculation amid talk of Ronaldo swap move

    ATLETICO MADRID striker Alvaro Morata has quashed speculation he could move to Manchester United in a swap deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.The 29-year-old Spaniard, who has already flopped in the Premier League with Chelsea, netted twice in Atletico’s opening day LaLiga win over Getafe on Monday night.
    Alvaro Morata scored a brace in Atletico’s first LaLiga match of the campaignCredit: Getty
    That was despite speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford in a blockbuster swap deal involving wantaway Ronaldo.
    Now Morata has distanced himself from a return to England, insisting he is happy at Atletico and does not want to leave.
    He said: “I really want to play here, work and play in many competitions. I’m excited to be here, as always, I can only work and run for the team in every game.
    “Speculation over my future? It’s what comes out in the press, I just wanted to work and work.
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    “Atletico are one of the best clubs in the world. If there’s a market I can’t do anything, just work. I’m happy here and I want to continue working.”
    Morata spent the last two seasons on loan at Juventus but has now returned to Atletico, who he joined from Chelsea in 2019 after a nightmare spell at Stamford Bridge.
    Diego Simeone has a number of forwards to choose from at Atletico – with Morata, Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Matheus Cunha all at the club.
    But Morata remains keen to stay put.
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    Meanwhile, Man Utd are keen to find a replacement for Ronaldo who has made it clear his desire to leave in search of Champions League football.
    Erik ten Hag has been linked with signing a host of strikers including Morata’s Atletico team-mate Cunha.
    United have had an offer for Marko Arnautovic turned down by Bologna.
    Mauro Icardi, Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also been identified as possible targets. More

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    Fulham and Everton trying to hijack Neal Maupay’s £15m transfer from Brighton to Nottingham Forest with striker stalling

    EVERTON and Fulham are trying to hijack Neal Maupay’s move from Brighton to Nottingham Forest.Maupay, 26, was left out of the Brighton squad for Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle after Forest agreed a £15million fee.
    Nottingham Forest have had a £15million bid accepted for Neal MaupayCredit: Reuters
    But the Frenchman is stalling on agreeing terms after holding talks with Everton boss Frank Lampard as well.
    While Fulham are also looking at Maupay to ease the scoring burden on Aleksander Mitrovic.
    Maupay has scored 26 goals in 102 league games for Brighton since a £14m move from Brentford in the summer of 2019.
    Forest recently completed deals for midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Atalanta ace Remo Freuler.
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    And manager Steve Cooper has now looked to add more firepower to his squad having also completed the £20m signing of Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis.
    The Nigerian was the 15th arrival of a busy summer at the City Ground but Forest feel adding Maupay will strengthen their survival chances further.
    Meanwhile, Everton have told Chelsea Anthony Gordon is not for sale after rejecting two bids for the winger.
    The Toffees most recently hit back a £45m offer for the winger and have told the Blues not to return with another bid.
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    But one player they could sell is January flop Dele Alli, who has struggled to make an impact since his arrival.
    The midfielder is being eyed up by Turkish giants Besiktas and could leave on loan or a permanent basis. More

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    Erik ten Hag wants Cristiano Ronaldo out NOW but Man Utd not willing to rip up his contract and have no transfer offers

    ERIK TEN HAG wants the Cristiano Ronaldo saga sorted   NOW   after   accepting Manchester United will be better off without him.And United have pulled the plug on a move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot over his excessive wage demands. 
    Cristiano Ronaldo has brought Man Utd to his knees with his transfer demands, so boss Erik ten Hag now believes he should goCredit: Getty
    Erik ten Hag’s patience on the Cristiano Ronaldo situation seems to have run outCredit: Alamy
    Ronaldo’s bid to quit is threatening to completely derail the Red Devils after a rotten start to the season.
    Boss Ten Hag is now ready to grant the forward’s wish to leave in an episode that has rumbled on all summer.
    But the 37-year-old will be short on offers from teams in the Champions League, with just over two weeks of the transfer window remaining.
    SunSport exclusively revealed last week that a number of players had grown angry at the way Ron was trying to force his way out.
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    They claimed his foul mood was affecting the spirit in the camp.
    Ten Hag also slammed the player’s premature exit from a pre-season game as “unacceptable”.
    The manager wanted to believe Ronaldo could change and started him at Brentford on  Saturday in the hope of a morale- boosting victory.
    But the team crashed to a humiliating 4-0 defeat, with Ron and the Dutchman ignoring each other at full-time.
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    The Portuguese stormed off at the end and had words with coach Steve McClaren.
    The club’s problem is they have no firm offers and they are not willing to rip up his contract and let him leave on a free.
    His agent Jorge Mendes has told the board he has a deal with a club — but they have to name  their price. So far the hierarchy has been  unwilling to do that.
    SunSport understands United last night called off their £15million deal with Juve for Rabiot, 27, after his mother and agent Veronique demanded a pay packet for her son similar to that  of £240,000-a-week high earner Bruno Fernandes.
    United may now move for £50m-rated Real Madrid and Brazil midfielder Casemiro,  30.
    Cristiano Ronaldo seems as fed up with the saga as his Man Utd team-matesCredit: AFP More

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    Chelsea told Anthony Gordon NOT for sale at any price… but may still return to Everton with transfer bid over £45m

    EVERTON told Chelsea on Tuesday night that they are not willing to sell winger Anthony Gordon.The west London club have made a second attempt to sign the England U21 international with a £45million bid.
    Everton do not want to lose Anthony Gordon at any price despite Chelsea’s two big bidsCredit: Rex
    Yet Everton are determined to hold onto their prized player and are insisting they will not welcome any more bids even though Chelsea might return with another offer.
    Chelsea’s second attempt came on the back of a verbal £40m offer which was turned down.
    Everton have already waved away verbal offers from both Spurs and Newcastle who were both keen to land the rising star who only made his senior debut in January 2020.
    Gordon, 21, who has three years left on his current contract, had indicated he was prepared to move to London to play for either Spurs or Chelsea.
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    Everton are determined to give him another new contract but for the time being at least, Gordon has indicated he will run the contract down.
    Goodison Park boss Frank Lampard is determined to keep Gordon, especially after the club sold Richarlison to Spurs for £60m.
    And they have also been without Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the opening two games of the campaign after he suffered an injury.
    Everton are yet to get off the mark this season following back-to-back defeats.
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    A Jorginho penalty saw Lampard’s men beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Goodison Park.
    And they then suffered a second straight loss as Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa secured a 2-1 win.
    Next up for Everton is a home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. More

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    Chelsea forgotten man Charly Musonda seals transfer after decade with Blues and just seven appearances

    CHELSEA outcast Charly Musonda has completed a transfer to Levante.The attacking midfielder, 25, has signed on a free transfer for the Spanish second division side after leaving Blues at the end of June.
    Charly Musonda had been without a club since the end of June
    Musonda made just seven appearances for Chelsea after progressing through the youth ranks, having joined the club in 2012.
    The Belgian had three loan spells since 2015 to Real Betis, Celtic and Dutch side Vitesse.
    But he failed to impress Chelsea management in that period and spent the last two seasons playing for the under-23 side.
    Earlier this summer Musonda went on trial at Belgian club Zule Waregrem but went AWOL before signing his contract offer.
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    Musonda was one of five Chelsea players to leave on a free this summer.
    Big names Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen made high-profile moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, while Danny Drinkwater made a switch to Reading and Jake Clarke-Salter joined QPR.
    Chelsea have been busy replacing those outgoings and could break the record for the highest spend in a transfer window.
    Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella have arrived for huge fees with Inter midfielder Cesare Casadei set to become Thomas Tuchell’s sixth summer signing.
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    The German also has his eyes set on Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong and the Blues are prepared to wait for the Spanish giants to lower their asking price for the Dutchman.
    Leicester defender Wesley Fofana wants to make a move to Stamford Bridge but Chelsea are yet to meet the Foxes’ £85m asking price.
    Chelsea also remain keen on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Anthony Gordon with Everton rejecting two offers for the young winger. More