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    Man Utd transfer boost as France World Cup star Marcus Thuram is available for just £9.6m to replace Cristiano Ronaldo

    MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly looking to sign Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram during the January transfer window.The Red Devils have been seeking a new striker since Erik ten Hag took over in May.
    Thuram has been linked with a move to Man UtdCredit: Rex
    And with the January window looming, they may have finally found their man.
    According to Sport Bild, Man Utd have expressed an interest in signing Thuram, 25, from Borussia Monchengladbach.
    The Bundesliga side are currently open to selling the striker for just £9.6million as his contract expires in June.
    United believe he could be the ideal candidate to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who sensationally left the club last month.
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    Thuram has made four appearances so far for France in this year’s World Cup, but he is yet to get on the scoresheet.
    Despite his lack of goals for France, the striker is currently one of the Bundesliga’s top scorers with 10 goals in 15 games for Borussia Monchengladbach this season.
    His impressive form has attracted interest from various Premier League clubs including Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham as well as Man Utd.
    The Red Devils are also keeping tabs on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is expected to leave Turin next month despite joining the club earlier this year.
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    Portuguese superstar Joao Felix is also on United’s radar.
    The attacker has been pushing for a move away from Atletico Madrid for the past month, so a move to Old Trafford could be on the cards. More

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    Man Utd want Jude Bellingham AND Frenkie de Jong next summer as Erik ten Hag eyes massive £200MILLION transfer splurge

    ERIK TEN Hag is planning a near £200MILLION double whammy to land Jude Bellingham AND Frenkie de Jong next summer.The Manchester United boss is determined to be part of the conversation when England’s teenage whizzkid Bellingham decides where to move to from Borussia Dortmund.
    Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is planning an overhaul of his midfield next summerCredit: Getty
    Frenkie de Jong is one target for the club after failing to sign him in the summerCredit: Getty
    Jude Bellingham is also a target after impressing for Borussia Dortmund and EnglandCredit: AP
    And having failed repeatedly to sign de Jong from Barcelona when he took over at Old Trafford in July, he will once more try to persuade his fellow countryman to switch to the Premier League.
    The Dutchman has already spent almost £230m in bringing in new talent as part of his re-building master plan.
    Lisandro Martinez, who will today join his Argentinian team-mates in going for World Cup glory, arrived along with Christian Eriksen, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Casemiro.
    Next up, Ten Hag hopes, will be a replacement in next month’s transfer window for Cristiano Ronaldo, sacked in disgrace over his infamous “no respect” TV interview with Piers Morgan.
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    Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos and PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gapko are high on his January shopping list.
    Yet ten Hag knows he needs to bring in yet more star quality if he is to transform the fortunes of the club that has not won the Prem title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s sign – off year of 2013.
    He is understood to believe that Bellingham can be persuaded to join what he believes will be one of the world’s most exciting and spectacular makeovers.
    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes he is in a good position to capture the 19-year-old who made himself the midfield icon of the Three Lions heroic but doomed World Cup bid.
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    Real Madrid see themselves in pole position to grab the former Birmingham City star.
    But ten Hag – who has been told that either a sell–out by owners the Glazers or new investment will considerably add to his transfer war chest, is thought to be insistent that United get into an expected £130m fight for the Brummie.
    De Jong, who could cost at least £60m, remains at the Nou Camp after refusing to leave for United amidst a war over £17m he says is owned to him over unpaid wages.
    Before the World Cup campaign with Holland, he stressed that he still sees himself at Barca for several years.
    Yet ten Hag, who helped bring him through at Ajax, is understood to believe he can yet lure the 25-year-old to Old Trafford.
    Ten Hag’s spending plans are likely to come at a cost for some stars already at his club.
    Last week he made clear that while he was impressed by Harry Maguire’s performances in Qatar, he will still have to fight for his place.
    The £85m centre half starts back tomorrow after England duty tomorrow along with the rest of United’s World Cup contingent aside from Martinez and Raphael Varane, who will be going head to head in today’s final.
    United could be prepared to take a £40m hit on the world’s most expensive defender – signed from Leicester City in 2019 – if he decides he cannot make himself a regular.
    Outcast £50m right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is wanted by Wolves on loan next month and having also arrived in 2019 from Crystal Palace he looks certain to leave for good next summer.
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    Left back Brandon Williams and midfielder Fred could also be sold to raise cash for ten Hag’s mega project.
    And now that Ronaldo has gone the Theatre of Dreams manager has the superstar’s £490,000 weekly wage to play with in negotiations after his summary dismissal last month. More

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    Crystal Palace eyeing January transfer bargains with money man John Textor set to splash cash at new club Lyon instead

    CRYSTAL PALACE money man John Textor is ready to complete his multi-million-pound takeover of French side Lyon this week.The American, 57, has found new backers for the project after he hit snags in his original bid to do a deal that would have seen Palace brought into a ‘super group’ of clubs.
    Palace hoped John Textor would help them splash out but must wait to seeCredit: Getty
    Now Textor is finalising the Lyon swoop, he will immediately give the French outfit cash for January signings.
    Anxious Palace are still waiting to see if they will be the ‘losers’ — if Textor has used his funds on the Lyon project at their expense.
    Palace were hoping Textor would be spending most of his cash on them rather than have to wait in the queue — but they could be further down his priorities.
    Fellow Americans Josh Harris and David Blitzer, also major shareholders, have their own networks going, too.
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    Steve Parish is the only significant figure at Palace totally committed to them alone.
    The Eagles are currently searching the loan and bargain markets for the two or three players they want until extra funds arrive.
    Meanwhile, 30-year-old star man Wilfried Zaha is tipped to run down his contract.
    That could put alert Arsenal and Chelsea on alert for a summer free transfer.
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    And the Eagles could offer new contracts to keeper Vicente Guaita and striker Jordan Ayew.
    Both have been regulars as Patrick Vieira’s side prepare for the Prem return in 11th place. More

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    I wouldn’t be surprised if Cristiano Ronaldo RETIRES, says ex-Man Utd team-mate Patrice Evra, as star searches for club

    CRISTIANO RONALDO has been tipped to RETIRE from football by old Manchester United pal Patrice Evra.That’s after seeing his “dream” of winning the World Cup with Portugal come to a cruel end.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to retire after Portugal’s World Cup exitCredit: Getty
    Former Man Utd team-mate Evra believes Ronaldo’s ‘dream’ is overCredit: Getty
    Ronaldo, 37, went into Qatar 2022 with high hopes after having his United contract terminated.
    The veteran striker was eager to lead Portugal to glory in a bid to secure a new deal with a Champions League club.
    But Ronaldo’s vision faded after being axed by Fernando Santos for Portugal’s final two games.
    And he left the pitch in tears after being shown the exit in the quarter-finals by Morocco.
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    Ronaldo, who trained at old side Real Madrid earlier this week, is yet to receive any lucrative offers to remain in Europe.
    Indeed, the only concrete contract he’s received is from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
    Linked clubs including Chelsea and Bayern Munich continue to distance themselves from Ronaldo.
    And even his international future remains unclear after long-time supporter Santos was sacked by Portugal’s FA.
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    Former United team-mate Evra now reckons Ronaldo could opt for retirement.
    The Frenchman claims Ronnie has little left to play for after his World Cup dream went down in flames.
    And with no top offers on the table, it would “not surprise” Evra if Ronaldo decided to call it a day.
    Evra told Sky Sports: “When I have talked to him I haven’t spoken about what he is going to do next.
    “We have been talking more about life and family, but I don’t know. Messi is saying he will retire [from the World Cup] but I don’t know if Ronaldo will.
    “Sometimes, when you are getting so much criticism, especially at the end of your career, you are like ‘OK, I think it’s time to stop’.
    “That must be a feeling, especially when you are not in the starting XI of your national team, because that is what Cristiano wanted: to play, be fit and win the World Cup with his country.
    “This was his dream; now he doesn’t have that dream. Although I won’t talk for Cristiano, I wouldn’t be surprised if he says he is retiring.
    “Now everything Cristiano does he is a ‘bad person’, a ‘bad player’ or whatever. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to retire.” More

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    Cardiff City hit with transfer embargo for failing to pay £15m fee for tragic Emiliano Sala who died in plane crash

    CARDIFF CITY have been hit with a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first part of the £15million transfer fee for Emiliano Sala.The Argentine striker died in a tragic plane crash in January 2019 as he flew to Britain after completing his record move.
    The consequences of Emiliano Sala’s tragic transfer to Cardiff continueCredit: AFP
    However, the fall-out resulted in the Bluebirds refusing to pay the first instalment to Sala’s previous club Nantes.
    Cardiff lost an appeal and were ordered by Fifa to make the initial payment of £5.3m but the club continue to dispute the ruling.
    Now, though, they have confirmed they are currently under an embargo and therefore unable to make any new signings.
    Chairman Mehmet Dalman, though, is “confident” the punishment will be lifted before the January transfer window opens.
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    He told BBC Radio Wales Sport: “I wish I had the power to lift the shadow of this situation from the club.
    “People at this club want this resolved.
    “People should not forget that a 28-year old man was killed when he there was no need for that accident to happen.
    “There is a human side to this story, it is not just a financial one.”
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    Cardiff are currently in talks with the EFL and Fifa to find a solution while they wait for a Swiss Federal Court verdict to their Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal which is expected to be returned early in 2023.
    Dalman’s club signed 17 new players in the summer transfer window – and yet sat just a point above the Championship relegation zone going into this weekend’s fixtures.
    He added: “There are lots of legal discussions going on and they will continue to go on, but we have received our first invoice from Nantes.
    “We haven’t paid it and at this stage have no intention of paying it, until certain negotiations come to fruition.
    We haven’t paid and have no intention of payingMehmet Dalman
    “This puts the EFL in a position where they automatically put us under a transfer embargo, but until January that is pretty meaningless anyway.
    “Until January I am sure there will be other developments. We are working hard to ensure we can do business then.
    “Should fans be worried we won’t be able to buy anyone in January? Yes and no.
    “We certainly would like to add more players, the manager [Mark Hudson] is keen to do that and we’ve told him to plan accordingly because we believe this is temporary not permanent.
    “But of course it is unpredictable.
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    “I don’t know Mark dreadfully well, but he’s a professional, he understood our position.
    “He didn’t necessarily like it. But we have told him to get his targets in place.” More

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    Chelsea target Brazil wonderkid Vitor Roque, 17, but Athletico Paranaense striker has amazing £87m buyout fee

    CHELSEA will try and sign Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque, according to reports.But the Blues may face a tough task to land the youngster – because he has a staggering £87million buyout clause.
    Chelsea want to sign Brazilian teenager Vitor RoqueCredit: Getty
    The 17-year-old Roque is one of the hot prospects for the future of Brazilian football alongside Endrick.
    Real Madrid pipped the Blues to land 16-year-old Endrick for £60m this week.
    But according to AS, Chelsea are leading the charge for Roque from Athletico Paranaense.
    However, Paris Saint-Germain are said to be very interested, Barcelona are keen and Real Madrid will also try their luck.
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    The rapid and bullish striker is attracting plenty of attention with his performances in the Brazilian Serie A, but with his dribbling ability he is equally effective on the wing.
    He made his debut aged 16 – although he was dragged off after just 18 minutes – before helping Ronaldo’s club Cruzeiro earn promotion to Serie A and then joined Paranaesne in April 2022.
    He has racked up seven goals in 36 appearances since the switch.
    Roque featured in the Copa Libertadores final – a 1-0 defeat to Flamengo – and is under contract until 2027.
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    But because he turns 18 in February, he will be eligible to move to Europe in the summer transfer window.
    Roque may well follow in the footsteps of compatriots Endrick, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior by making the transfer aged 18.
    However, with all three of those heading to the Bernabeu, Chelsea will hope to buck the trend with the latest talent.
    And he would fit the new transfer strategy under Todd Boehly of snapping up exciting teenage players with the view of developing them into first-team stars.
    The likes of Eddie Beach (18), Carney Chukwuemeka (18), Gabriel Slonina (18), Omari Hutchinson (18), Zak Sturge (18) and Cesare Casadei (19) all signed for Chelsea in the summer. More

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    Newcastle make £50m Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia major transfer target as Real Madrid and PSG monitor Georgian ace

    NEWCASTLE have identified Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as a major transfer target, according to reports. Kvaratskhelia, 21, has been lighting up the Serie A and the Champions League with Napoli.
    Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been a star for Napoli this seasonCredit: AFP
    He caused nightmares for Liverpool’s defence in the 4-1 loss to NapoliCredit: Getty
    The winger has eight goals and 10 assists in 17 games for the Italian giants this season.
    And following his good form he has now gained the attention of financial powerhouses Newcastle.
    The Toon are on the lookout for ways to improve their team, and have already landed major talent on the continent such as Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes.
    Kvaratskhelia is the latest star identified to improve their team.
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    The Times report Newcastle sent scouts to watch the Georgian prior to the World Cup.
    Their findings have determined the Magpies will make him one of their primary targets in the next two transfer windows.
    The report suggests Kvaratskhelia, affectionately nicknamed “Kravadona” by Napoli fans in reference to club legend Diego Maradona, is rated in the region of £50million.
    This represents a big profit line for Napoli considering their investment of just £10m in acquiring him from Dinamo Batumi last summer.
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    However, Newcastle will face stiff competition from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with the pair also monitoring him.
    Kvaratskhelia represents a new breed of winger which is both technically brilliant and physically imposing – with Manchester United transfer target Cody Gakpo another example.
    He stands at 6ft tall, is quick, and has footwork not too unlike his Argentian namesake.
    Indeed, his dangerous exploits were made painfully aware to Liverpool in the Champions League as he starred in the 4-1 demolition of Jurgen Klopp’s side in September. More

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    Man City ‘sign Kylan Midwood from Sheff Utd after beating more than four clubs to 15-year-old England wonderkid’

    MANCHESTER CITY have signed Sheffield United wonderkid Kylan Midwood, beating more than four clubs to the 15-year-old’s signature, according to reports.Midwood has impressed in the Blades’ academy ranks and had City, as well as four other clubs chasing after him.
    Done, completed. Manchester City have signed U15 Sheffield United top talent Kylan Midwood, it’s done and sealed. 🚨🔵 #MCFCMore than four clubs beatedn to the signing with the mission to develop the young players at the best level in the Academy. pic.twitter.com/cqMoODkds2— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 16, 2022

    But according to Fabrizio Romano, it is City who have won the race for Midwood and plan to develop him to the “best level”.
    The Italian journalist revealed earlier this month that Chelsea Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle were also keen.
    Midwood will be the next talented youngster to leave the Blades this year.
    Will Lankshear joined Tottenham in the summer believed to be for a fee around £2million.
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    City have invested heavily in their academy.
    In 2014, the club shelled out £200m on developments.
    Stars such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer have risen through the ranks to play in Pep Guardiola’s first team.
    Some players have, however, slipped through the cracks and have gone on to make a name for themselves elsewhere.
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    Jadon Sancho left for Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, and after taking Germany by storm he joined Manchester United in a big money move.
    Juventus ace Adrien Rabiot was also once on City’s books. More