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    Man Utd could sell ANOTHER starlet in double swap deal for Declan Rice as they consider entering transfer race

    MANCHESTER UNITED could part ways with ANOTHER prodigy in an effort to sign Declan Rice.With Rice being the subject of two bids from Arsenal and expected to be the subject of one from Manchester City, United are behind in the race to land the West Ham star.
    Man Utd are willing to offer two players to get Declan RiceCredit: Getty
    Anthony Elanga could be set to leave as part of a cash-plus-player dealCredit: Getty
    However, Erik ten Hag may look to change these odds by offering cash and TWO players in a deal.
    According to the Daily Mail, United have enquired for Rice in recent days.
    This has come with a view to offer West Ham £40million plus Harry Maguire and Anthony Elanga.
    Elanga, 21, managed just 702 minutes of action under Erik ten Hag last season, frequently finding himself coming off of the bench.
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    The winger was a particular favourite of Ralf Rangnick, who revealed he thought Elanga was “really good” after watching YouTube videos of him.
    Rangnick’s managerial skills may have not been up to scratch during his time as the club’s interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, but his talent ID remains highly revered.
    Elanga’s departure from Old Trafford would come after Zidane Iqbal confirmed he was leaving earlier today.
    Reports broke on Tuesday of United accepting a bid worth just shy of £1m from FC Utrecht for the 20-year-old.
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    And today Iqbal, who made history as the first British South Asian to play for United, penned a heartfelt exit in a letter to fans.
    He said: “Manchester United has been my home since I was 5 years old.
    “I have so many incredible memories of my 15 years associated with his amazing club… There are too many people to thank.
    “The Academy is a special place that makes dreams com true for so many. That was certainly the case for me.
    “I’ll never forget standing on the touchline at the Theatre of Dreams waiting to come on for my debut. That feeling of pride will live with me forever.”
    He concluded: “I’ll always be a United fan and i’ll always love this football club.
    “The time is right to go and take on a new challenge… This is a perfect opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”
    It comes after a Manchester Evening News report stating Ten Hag is playing a more “active role” in the academy.
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    However, their report adds that only stars matching the Dutchman’s high standards will be given first team opportunities.
    The likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo appear to be two stars who the ex-Ajax boss rates, with both being given time in the first team across last season. More

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    Fulham set eye-watering price for Palhinha transfer with West Ham wanting him to replace Arsenal-bound Declan Rice

    FULHAM have set their price for star man Joao Palhinha amid interest from West Ham.The Hammers are reportedly exploring the idea of signing Palhinha with Declan Rice looking increasingly likely to leave for Arsenal.
    Joao Palhinha had a stunning first season for Fulham and is of interest to West Ham
    West Ham are looking to replace captain Declan Rice who is being chased by Arsenal
    But it won’t be an easy task to sign the Portuguese star with Fulham slapping a massive price tag on their prized midfielder.
    According to the Mail Online, Fulham will demand a whopping £90million.
    It’s suggested that West Ham are not willing to splash that much cash on the Portugal international, but could test Fulham’s resolve with an offer around £50million.
    Palhinha, 27, only signed for The Cottagers last summer, but has impressed since his £20million transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
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    He made 40 appearances for Fulham in his debut season, scoring four times and racking up more yellow cards in the Premier League than any other player.
    Palhinha was widely considered one of the top players in the league last season and was vital to Fulham’s success.
    It is reported that Fulham have used West Ham’s £100million valuation of Rice as the benchmark for Palhinha’s price.
    Rice has been the subject of two bids from Arsenal over the past week, but both have been rejected by The Hammers.
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    The latest offer, which was understood to be £90million package, still fell short of West Ham’s valuation of their star man.
    The Gunners are rumoured to be lining up a third bid for Rice, but could face competition from Manchester City who are also said to be interested in the England star. More

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    Man Utd considering hijacking Arsenal’s transfer move for Declan Rice by offering two players and cash

    MANCHESTER UNITED are considering hijacking Arsenal’s move for Declan Rice by offering TWO players and cash.Arsenal have seemed like the favourites to sign Rice this summer but have so far seen a pair of bids rejected by West Ham United.
    Manchester United are considering a player-plus-cash bid for Declan RiceCredit: Rex
    The Gunners’ failure to meet West Ham’s £100million valuation is set to open the door for other clubs, including United.
    And, according to The Telegraph, United are eyeing up a move.
    But they won’t pay either, instead offering a player-plus-cash deal.
    Such a move would reportedly involve either Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay, who are both up for sale at Old Trafford.
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    However, Maguire’s wages are believed to be a potential issue, whilst it is unclear whether McTominay wants to join the Hammers.
    United’s interest in a potential swap deal comes after Arsenal saw their second bid for Rice rejected on Tuesday.
    Mikel Arteta’s side had lodged another offer as they chase Rice’s signature, but it again fell short of West Ham’s sky-high valuation.
    The bid is said to have been worth a total of £90million, consisting of £75m plus £15m in add-ons spread over five years.
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    Despite the bid being rejected, Arsenal are still hopeful, with personal terms not an issue, and are expected to return with a third bid.
    Manchester City have also been rumoured as a possible destination for Rice, but the treble winners are yet to make an approach.

    Their cross-city rivals United could bid, though, as Erik ten Hag looks to overhaul his midfield.
    Rice’s pal Mason Mount is also linked with the Red Devils, who are thought to be preparing another bid for the Chelsea star.
    Departures are also expected in the position, with Fred the latest to be linked with a move amid interest from Fulham. More

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    West Ham REJECT Arsenal’s club record second bid for Declan Rice and hold firm on £100m valuation

    WEST HAM have rejected Arsenal’s second bid for Declan Rice.The Gunners tabled an offer worth £90million on Tuesday morning
    West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s second bid for RiceCredit: Getty
    The proposal was worth £75m with £15m in add-ons, but West Ham officials immediately turned it down as they want at least £100m guaranteed for their captain.
    The Gunners had another bid pushed back by the Hammers last week.
    Rice is Arsenal’s priority transfer target this summer.
    The Gunners have been preparing a swoop for the midfielder since January and they are hoping to bring him to North London before the start of pre-season next month.
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    Personal terms have already been agreed, with Rice understood to be eager to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.
    Manchester City are also interested, but they are yet to bid due to the midfielder’s desire to join Arsenal.
    The Gunners are also pursuing a deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
    The Blues have already rejected a bid for the Germany international, who is keen on the prospect of a move to Arsenal, but they could be tempted to let him go for £60m.
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    Jurrien Timber is another name on Arteta’s transfer wishlist.
    Arsenal launched a £30m bid for the defender last week, but Ajax want around £50m.
    The Gunners also want to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, although the Saints want a club-record fee for the young midfielder. More

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    Arsenal ‘very confident of signing Declan Rice AND Kai Havertz’ in huge summer transfer spree

    ARSENAL are “very confident” of completing deals for both Declan Rice and Kai Havertz as part of their summer transfer spree this summer.The club remain confident of completing a deal for Rice, 24, despite having a transfer offer worth £90million rejected by West Ham last week.
    Declan Rice is Arsenal’s highest priority this summerCredit: Getty
    Havertz emerged as a surprise transfer target for Arsenal last weekCredit: Getty
    West Ham owner David Sullivan confirmed that Rice will leave the club this summer following the Hammers’ Europa Conference League victory this month.
    And despite Arsenal having their initial bid rejected for Rice last week, Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenburg reports that the club are in advanced stages to capture the midfielder’s signature.
    It is believed that Arsenal will pay a fee of £100m to secure the England man.
    Plettenburg also reports that Arsenal are in advanced negotiations to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.
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    Fabrizio Romano yesterday reported that Arsenal had agreed personal terms with the German forward, 24.
    Arsenal will match Havertz’s current wages at Chelsea by offering him a £220,000-per-week contract.
    But there remains work to be done between Arsenal and Chelsea regarding a fee for the player – with the Blues reportedly demanding £70m.
    Arsenal have so far only offered £60m but Chelsea are keen to recoup the £70m they paid to sign the forward from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020.
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    While Havertz has largely played as a striker for Chelsea, Mikel Arteta sees the German as a player that can bolster his midfield options.
    Arsenal face competition from Bayern Munich to sign Havertz, with the Bavarian club keen to sign the German international as a successor for Robert Lewandowski who left for Barcelona last summer.
    Chelsea hope that Bayern’s interest will see Arsenal offer closer to their asking price for the German.
    It is shaping up to be a busy summer for outgoings at the Bridge, with Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech all close to agreeing moves to the Saudi league.
    Mason Mount and Romelu Lukaku are also expected to leave the club this window. More

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    West Ham star to agree new contract despite being linked with Merseyside move where he is building a house

    AARON CRESSWELL is ready to sign a new West Ham contract.The left-back has been linked with a return to his native Merseyside, where he is building a house, but the Hammers are keen to hold on to him.
    West Ham ace Aaron Cresswell has been linked with a move to MerseysideCredit: Getty
    Cresswell is set to sign a new West Ham contract during the summer transfer windowCredit: Rex
    Cresswell, 33, has played 331 Irons games since a £4million move from  Ipswich in 2014.
    But the three-cap Englishman will face stiff competition next season from Emerson Palmieri.
    Emerson got the nod ahead of Cresswell for West Ham’s Europa Conference League final triumph.
    West Ham are set for a significant revamp at the London Stadium during the summer transfer window.
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    The Hammers are prepared to lose Declan Rice with owner David Sullivan confirming he has played his last match for the club.
    Arsenal appear to be in pole position for Rice’s signature despite having a £90million bid turned down.
    The Gunners are now ready to splash out a whopping £100m for the midfielder.
    The East Londoners want the guaranteed part of the offer for the England international to be paid in two instalments before 2025.
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    And the North Londoners’ new proposal is expected to guarantee West Ham a fee in the region of £90m plus extra payments worth an additional £10m.
    West Ham are currently looking for possible replacements to fill in for Rice.
    Reports suggest David Moyes is keen on Fulham star Joao Palhinha as well as Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe. More

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    West Ham chasing former Arsenal wonderkid with David Moyes sending scouts to monitor centre-half

    WEST HAM are keeping tabs on Sunderland’s Northern Ireland defender Daniel Ballard.The centre back was watched by Hammers’ Head of Recruitment Rob Newman at the most recent international in March – a 1-0 home defeat by Finland.
    Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard has won 15 caps with Northern Ireland and is on the radar of West HamCredit: Pacemaker
    David Moyes has an eye on Ballard as he looks for bargainsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Former Arsenal trainee Ballard, 23, is currently out of action with a hamstring injury.
    But West Ham boss David Moyes is watching developments as he plans for next season.
    Sunderland reached the Championship Play-Off semi finals last season before losing to eventual winners Luton.
    Ballard has admitted he was a late developer.
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    But he’s reaped the rewards from three loan spells before switching to the Black Cats in June 2022.
    However, his first temporary spell was a nightmarre.
    He lasted just three games with Swindon in 2019 as a serious knee injury left him needing five months to recover.
    But Ballard then helped Blackpool win promotion from League One and shone in Millwall’s surprise challenge for a Championship play-off spot in 2021-22.
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    Now he’s just done the same with Sunderland.
    And he told Sunsport last year how he’s grafted to completely overturn what he saw as flaws in his game.
    Ballard said: “Naturally I like hard work. That comes easier to me than some people and that’s perhaps because football has never been easy for me, it’s always been tough.
    “So I’ve had to work hard otherwise I’d not be in the position I am today.
    “I was a late developer. Even at 18, I still wasn’t a centre-back because I wasn’t tall enough. I was one of the slowest, couldn’t move my legs and I wasn’t a technically gifted player.
    “Yet I’ve always been naturally good at defending but compared to the other lads with the ball I was always below the curve whereas now my body is stronger, I feel comfortable on the ball and all that work at Arsenal has worked out better in the long run.”
    Stevenage-born Ballard had three loan spells while with first club Arsenal until joining Sunderland permanently in June 2022Credit: Getty

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    Arsenal ‘preparing £100m transfer bid for Declan Rice’ after having earlier £90m package rejected by West Ham

    ARSENAL are reportedly preparing a fresh bid worth £100million for Declan Rice.The Gunners had an offer rejected by West Ham earlier today, which was believed to be worth around £90m including add-ons.
    Arsenal are ready to submit another offer for RiceCredit: Reuters
    But they are now ready to submit an improved bid, according to Sky Sports.
    West Ham want the guaranteed part of the offer for Rice to be paid in two instalments before 2025.
    And Arsenal’s new proposal is expected to guarantee West Ham a fee in the region of £90m plus extra payments worth an additional £10m.
    The Mail also report that that the Gunners are willing to give the Hammers first refusal on outgoing players later this summer.
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    SunSport previously reported that David Moyes is keen on the possibility of signing Emile Smith Rowe.
    The Hammers have also expressed an interest in Eddie Nketiah in the past.
    Rice is understood to be Arsenal’s top transfer target this summer, but Mikel Arteta’s side face competition from Manchester City for his signature.
    West Ham are likely to to want a large chunk of the eventual transfer fee up front, while Arsenal are trying to structure the payments over longer, which could make a compromise difficult.
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    The Gunners are also being linked with a move for Chelsea’s Kai Havertz.
    The Germany international reportedly comes with a £70m price tag, but Arsenal are hoping to sign him for less. More