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      How Arsenal could line up after January transfer window with Mikel Arteta planning bids for Danilo and Mudryk

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      ARSENAL could have a whole new look for the New Year after the January transfer window SunSport exclusively revealed Mikel Arteta is hoping for at least two signings this winter.
      Arsenal could line up in a new way after January, with Palmeiras’ Danilo Oliveira on their shortlistCredit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta also hopes to land Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar DonetskCredit: Getty
      And the Spaniard has three targets lined up as Arsenal look for a first Premier League title since the Invincibles.
      Arteta will be handed £50million of hard cash by owner Stan Kroenke, having already spent £130m in the summer.
      Top of Arteta’s list is Brazilian midfielder Danilo Oliveira.
      The 21-year-old has been starring at Palmeiras this year.
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      And Danilo was quickly identified by Arteta after previous target Douglas Luiz signed a new Aston Villa deal.
      It’s believed Palmeiras could accept £22million for their star man, having spurned initial interest several months ago.
      And Danilo would provide competition for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, while also being an upgrade on Mo Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
      Arsenal also hope to sign a winger to boost their forward line.
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      Top of the list is Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, 21, who is rated as one of Europe’s top youngsters.
      He scored his sixth goal of the season in last night’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Celtic.
      But Mudryk is attracting interest from some of the continent’s elite sides, with Shakhtar hoping for as much as £50m.
      That has seen Arteta also place Yeremy Pino on his wishlist.
      How Arsenal could line up in 2023
      The 20-year-old broke into Villarreal’s side two years ago.
      Pino is valued at £25m by the Spanish club, who have just lost boss Unai Emery to Aston Villa.
      Like Mudyrk, he would give Arteta more options on both sides of the attack.
      But Pino is also capable of playing as a striker, meaning Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah would have extra competition too.
      Read More on The Sun
      It now remains to be seen who Arteta plumps for after taking Arsenal to the top of the table.
      The Gunners are two points clear of defending champions Manchester City, having won nine of their 11 games so far. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo must apologise to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag TODAY in crisis meeting or stay in exile for Sheriff clash

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO faces Manchester United D-Day over a possible recall.Ronaldo will arrive at the club’s Carrington training base on Tuesday for showdown talks with manager Erik Ten Hag after being axed at the weekend for the game at Chelsea.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was axed from the side after refusing to come on against TottenhamCredit: Rex
      He stormed down the tunnel and left Old Trafford before the final whistleCredit: Rex
      Erik ten Hag watched his United side draw at Chelsea on SaturdayCredit: Getty
      And unless he shows some contrition and agrees to abide by Ten Hag’s rules then he will be continue to be exiled going into Thursday’s clash with Sheriff Tiraspol.
      Ten Hag was furious after Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute during Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham last Wednesday.
      Ronaldo walked down the tunnel before the end of the game and left Old Trafford.
      Ten Hag ordered him to train on his own and left him out of the squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge and is understood to have fined him two weeks wages.
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      All the players were given Monday off, including Ronaldo, so any talks between him and the manager have been delayed.
      But Ten Hag is not messing about as he tries to steer United on a course back towards being serious contenders at the top end of the Premier League.
      He does not want the Ronaldo sideshow deflecting from what he is trying to do.
      Ronaldo was left out of last Wednesday’s starting line-up against Spurs having been subbed in the second-half of the previous game, a goalless draw with Newcastle.
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      He had made his displeasure clear, shaking his head as he was replaced by Marcus Rashford.
      After being dropped to face Tottenham, he refused his manager’s orders to come on in the second-half.
      Ten Hag said it was “bad behaviour” and emphasised that despite Ronaldo’s achievements he cannot be afforded special treatment.
      Ten Hag said: “He has achieved a lot in his career. It is so brilliant.
      “But he has to be aware that you get judged by the moment and how you are acting today. In top sport, it is about today — it is not about age or reputation.
      “When you have top sport, you get judged by the moment and how you act. That is normal.
      “Everyone has to be aware of it and not just Cristiano. We have to be aware of it as a team, a manager and a club.”
      Read More on The Sun
      United take on Macedonians Sheriff in Europa League Group E on Thursday needing a point to qualify for the next round.
      They will be looking for a win to take their challenge for top spot with Real Sociedad into the last game against the current group leaders in Spain. More

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      Aston Villa announce Unai Emery as new boss replace Steven Gerrard but ex-Arsenal man will NOT be in dugout this weekend

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      UNAI EMERY has returned to the Premier League as Aston Villa manager.Villa appointed the ex-Arsenal boss last night to replace the sacked Steven Gerrard after triggering Emery’s £5.2million release clause at Villarreal.
      Aston Villa have appointed Unai Emery as their new boss to replace Steven GerrardCredit: Getty
      The Spaniard, who is understood to have agreed a three-year contract, will miss Saturday’s trip to Newcastle and officially start at Villa Park on November 1 once he receives his work permit.
      Caretaker boss Aaron Danks will remain in charge for the visit to St James’ Park.
      His first two games in charge will be at home to Manchester United on November 6 and a Carabao Cup third round tie at Old Trafford four days later.
      Emery, who turned down Newcastle last year, beat United in the 2021 Europa League final – one of four times he has won the competition.
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      The 50-year-old was sacked by Arsenal in November 2019 after 18 months in charge at the Emirates but has continued to take English lessons despite his return to Spain.
      And ambitious owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens made a swift move for Emery, who has unfinished business with the Prem.
      Emery joined Villarreal in 2020 and led the club to their first European title after triumphing in the Europa League in his first season.
      Villarreal beat Arsenal in the semi-final before defeating United on penalties in the Gdansk final.
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      After turning down the chance to manage Saudi-rich Newcastle, Emery continued to lead the Yellow Submarine to the Champions League semi-finals before being knocked out by Liverpool.
      Emery famously won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla between 2014-16 while also winning Ligue 1 and two French Cups while Paris-Saint Germain manager.
      Villarreal are 11th in the La Liga table after winning five and drawing three of their 11 games.
      They face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
      Emery has got most of his success from deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation, which the Villa board feel best suits their current squad.
      The club wanted to hold talks with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim but baulked at his £20million release clause and had second thoughts over his 3-4-3 system.
      The ex-Portugal midfielder, 37, is one of Europe’s most promising young bosses and has previously interested Chelsea and United after ending Sporting’s 19-year wait to become Portuguese champions.
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      Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel were also on the club’s list of candidates but the former Tottenham and Chelsea bosses are holding out for a Champions League job.
      Villa started life without Gerrard by thrashing Brentford 4-0 as interim boss Danks ripped up the former Liverpool midfielder’s tactics by dropping skipper John McGinn and changing to a 4-2-3-1 formation. More

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      Gary Neville reveals how Man Utd starlet ‘finished his career mentally’ and says he had same issues as Cristiano Ronaldo

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      GARY NEVILLE has admitted he suffered like Cristiano Ronaldo during the final years of his Manchester United career.Ronaldo, 37, has been out of favour at Old Trafford this season, starting just two of the Red Devils’ 13 Premier League games.
      Neville has sympathised with Ronaldo’s current position at Man UtdCredit: Rex
      Ronaldo’s position appears to be untenable at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
      And his refusal to come on as a substitute during the 2-0 win over Spurs led to manager Erik ten Hag axing him from the squad for their 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend.
      It has caused a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding the Portuguese legend’s future at the club.
      And while Neville has urged Ronaldo to stop “whining”, he also sympathises with his current position.
      The former England right-back, 47, made just 36 Prem appearances during his final four seasons with United.
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      And he has revealed the arrival of Brazilian youngster Rafael brought the curtain down on his 19-year career.
      Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, he said: “There were moments in my career where I thought, ‘Rafael’s gone in, John O’Shea’s gone in, Wes Brown’s gone in’.
      “I watched Brown play a full season and win a Champions League.
      “[Brown] He’s a great lad, brilliant player, and I was delighted for him, [but] of course I wanted to be in the team, of course I wanted to be out there and be captain, but I wasn’t.
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      “Then Rafael came into training. It was Rafael who actually finished my career mentally, in some ways, because I used to watch him in training, get close to players and snap into tackles, and then get up and get back out there again, and I couldn’t get my legs forward.
      “I thought, ‘I get it, I see it’.”
      Neville hung up his boots in 2011 after nearly two decades with United.
      Rafael, who arrived at Old Trafford alongside twin brother Fabio in 2008, would go on to make 170 appearances for the Premier League giants.
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      He eventually left to join Lyon in 2015, before a spell with Istanbul Basaksehir led him to Brazilian club Botafogo – where he is now plying his trade.
      Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will remain at United, with the Real Madrid icon heavily linked with a move away in January.
      And Neville feels it is best for everyone involved that Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford.
      “I hope he leaves next week so they (Ronaldo and Ten Hag) can shake hands,” he added.
      “I hope he leaves next week and says to the club thank you very much and the club says to him thank you very much and then he goes and finds a new club because I’d like to see him go and play until he’s 42 scoring a thousand goals…
      “I know it sounds crazy but you can be a better team without players who are just goalscorers, and that’s happened time and time again.
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      “Mark Hughes wasn’t the greatest goalscorer in the world but within you’re a better team then with someone you can’t hit or can’t play off.
      “Cristiano has just become a natural goalscorer – plays within the width of the box – (but) Erik ten Hag doesn’t want to play that way.”
      Brazilian full-back Rafael joined Man Utd alongside twin Fabio in 2008Credit: PA:Press Association More

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      Arsenal ‘ready to make transfer offer of £52.5m and Albert Sambi Lokonga’ for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

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      ARSENAL are reportedly “willing to do anything” to land Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.That includes having youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga as part of a package deal with £52.5million.
      Arsenal are said to be lining up a bid for Milinkovic-Savic in JanuaryCredit: Rex
      Lokonga will reportedly be part of the swap deal, along with £52.5mCredit: Rex
      Milinkovic-Savic, 27, is a wanted man as his contract expires at the end of next season.
      The Serbian midfielder is set for crunch talks with the Serie A side to discuss his future.
      He has netted four times and assisted seven in 15 games this season for the third-placed team.
      Lazio are said to have slapped a whopping £105m price tag on their prized target.
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      And according to Italian outlet CalcioMercatoWeb, the Gunners will do their very best to persuade them to agree.
      The package involving Lokonga, 23, will be worth around £74m.
      Arsenal reportedly had a £47m bid for the midfielder turned down in the summer.
      But they will return to the negotiating table again soon – much to the delight of club icon Paul Merson.
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      In his column for the Daily Star Merson wrote: “Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player I would go for.
      “I think Milinkovic-Savic is a lovely player. A really top-drawer player.
      “The way he played for Lazio last season I personally think he is the best midfield player in Italy.
      “I know Manchester United have been linked with him in the past, but why there isn’t a queue of clubs lining up to buy the Serbian, I do not know.
      “I think a lot of clubs are missing a trick.”
      One report suggested that the Serbian would prefer a move to Old Trafford over anywhere else in the Premier League. More

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      Michael Carrick confirmed as Middlesbrough boss as Man Utd legend takes first managerial job with Championship club

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Michael Carrick has been confirmed as Middlesbrough’s new boss.The 41-year-old has been appointed on a long-term deal at The Riverside as he begins his first role in management.
      Michael Carrick has been appointed the new manager of MiddlbesbroughCredit: Splash
      Carrick had been in advanced talks with the Championship club for weeks over replacing Chris Wilder.
      Negotiations stalled over the make-up of the ex-United star’s backroom team, but those issues have now been resolved.
      Boro legend and former boss Jonathan Woodgate has joined as first-team coach, with a further appointment set to be made.
      Carrick said: “I’m really excited to be here and to be part of a club with such a deep history and tradition.
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      “Middlesbrough was the first professional club I played for as a nine-year old boy, so it’s a very special feeling to be back here as a head coach.
      “Growing up in the north-east myself I’m fully aware of what football means to people. It’s a real privilege for me to be in this position and to feel all the passion and enthusiasm you’ve got for the game and for Boro.
      “I’ll give everything to help develop the team and keep moving the club forward and make you the supporters proud. I can’t wait to get started.”
      Boro chairman Steve Gibson added: “We’re delighted to welcome Michael to the club.
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      “We had identified a number of potentials for the vacancy who we spoke with, and were impressed by all, but Michael was the outstanding candidate.
      “Michael has the same values as the club, and we are very much aligned in our ambitions.
      “We see Michael as the perfect fit for us and he believes this is the right club at the right time.”
      Former England international Carrick won the Premier League five times and the Champions League during his Old Trafford playing career.
      He initially joined United’s coaching staff under Jose Mourinho.
      He was then part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom team before then getting a brief taste of management himself after the Norwegian was axed in November 2021.
      Newcastle-born Carrick had a three-game stint as caretaker.
      He led United to two wins and then a draw against Chelsea but left after Ralf Rangnick’s arrival.
      Now he is tasked with transforming struggling Boro’s fortunes after a dire start to the Championship campaign left them fourth-bottom.
      Middlesbrough have only won four of their 16 games but thumped Wigan 4-1 away from home on Wednesday.
      They followed that up with a 0-0 draw against Huddersfield on Saturday.
      Leo Percovich, a coach at the club under Aitor Karanka, Jonathan Woodgate, Neil Warnock and then Wilder, was placed in temporary charge following Wilder’s dismissal.
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      He has now been made Head of Player Pathway and Development.
      Meanwhile, Carrick will be hoping to kick-off his reign with a win when Boro travel to Preston this weekend. More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo open to stunning return to Italy with Napoli interested in exiled Man Utd striker in January

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is open to another Italian job – after being snubbed by a string of Premier League clubs.SunSport understands Napoli remain “interested” in the legendary striker, who is heading for an Old Trafford exit following his behaviour against Spurs last week. 
      Napoli are keen on Cristiano Ronaldo, who is open to a second spell in ItalyCredit: Getty
      Sources close to the Portuguese star say his advisors have sounded out Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Newcastle and Arsenal.
      But the 37-year-old is seen by United’s rivals as too risky. 
      And a return to Italy is now on the cards after Ronnie won two titles in three years at Juventus.
      A source told SunSport: “Chelsea were interested in Ronaldo over the summer, but he is no longer on their radar. 
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      “Arsenal and Newcastle realise the quality he would bring in helping them to achieve their ambitions. 
      “But both clubs worry about the wider impact his arrival could have on the clubs. 

      “The most likely destination now is Italy. Napoli were interested in Ronaldo over the summer and are still keen. 
      “Adding him to their squad is a step they believe will help in their aim to remain top of Serie A and to progress through the Champions League.
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      “But it will come down to whether the club can match the eye-watering wage demands.”
      Napoli’s current top earner, Poland international Piotr Zielinski, pockets £90k each week.
      Ronaldo had been earning £480k-a-week when he returned to United in 2021.
      But their failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League saw his salary slashed by 25 per cent.
      Ronaldo is now on a weekly wage of £360k at United.
      And he could be ready to take another pay cut to force through a move to Naples.
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      Meanwhile, United were linked with Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as a replacement for Ronaldo in the summer.
      He is valued at over £100million after scoring his fifth goal of the season in last night’s 1-0 win at Roma.
      SunSport’s story comes after Ronaldo refused to come off the bench against Spurs before storming down the tunnel. 
      Boss Erik ten Hag confirmed he’d walked off, a move which saw him dropped from the first-team squad.
      Ronaldo played no part in United’s draw at Chelsea on Saturday and was made to train alone.
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      His stance has been fully supported by the club’s hierarchy.
      But the incident was not the first time Ronaldo left a match early, departing United’s pre-season friendly with Rayo Vallecano at half-time after being substituted. More

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      Arsenal and Chelsea transfer blow with ‘Wilfried Zaha set to open talks with Crystal Palace over new long-term contract’

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      CRYSTAL PALACE will hold talks with star man Wilfried Zaha over a new long-term contract.That is according to Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who is adamant Zaha, 29, won’t be leaving for free in June when his contract runs out.
      Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has dealt Arsenal and Chelsea with a transfer blowCredit: Reuters
      Palace are set to hold contract talks with star man Wilfried ZahaCredit: Getty
      That would be a significant transfer blow for Arsenal and Chelsea who have been keeping tabs on the winger for quite some time.
      Vieira said: “Wilfried knows what the club think about him, and we know what he thinks about the club.
      “There will be discussions taking place [over a new contract] but for myself and for the club what is important is for him to play at this level and to be consistent and to help those young players around him to grow and we will see what will happen.
      “If Wilfried Zaha has a good day, the team will have a good day.
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      “He’s an important player on and off the field, he’s got the experience and today he was really good in possession and out of possession he worked really hard.”
      Arsenal, Chelsea as well as Roma were eyeing Zaha during the summer transfer window.
      The 29-year-old has long held ambition to play in the Champions League after his disappointing stint with Manchester United almost a decade ago.
      The Gunners have been keeping tabs on the Ivory Coast international since 2019 when former manager Unai Emery considered him a priority before the club opted for record signing Nicolas Pepe.
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      While Chelsea are also looking to add some more firepower to Graham Potter’s faltering attack.
      Zaha has been enjoying a stunning campaign so far with five goals and one assist in 10 Premier League matches. More