Monday’s Top Football Stories and Transfer Rumors from Newspapers
The Sun
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Jose Mourinho Rejects Saudi Club’s Lucrative Offer
– Jose Mourinho has reportedly turned down a lucrative proposal from Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab. The Portuguese manager, who is currently without a club after leaving Roma at the end of last season, was reportedly offered a staggering £12 million-a-year contract to take charge of the Saudi Pro League outfit. However, Mourinho is said to have rejected the offer, citing his desire to remain in Europe and compete at the highest level.
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Tottenham Rejects Cristiano Ronaldo’s Club’s Bid for Emerson Royal
– Tottenham Hotspur has rejected a bid from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club for right-back Emerson Royal. The unnamed club, believed to be Al Nassr, reportedly offered £20 million for the Brazilian defender, but Tottenham are said to be holding out for a fee in the region of £30 million. Royal has been a regular starter for Tottenham this season, making 21 appearances in all competitions.
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Daniel Munoz Seeks Move to Crystal Palace
– Right-back Daniel Munoz is keen on joining Crystal Palace and will push his current club, Genk, to facilitate a deal. The Colombian defender has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time, and he is now said to be ready to force through a transfer this month. Munoz has made 18 appearances for Genk this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
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Middlesbrough Faces Uncertainty Over Key Players
– Middlesbrough is uncertain about the availability of captain Jonny Howson and defender Isaiah Jones for their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea. Howson missed the first leg at Stamford Bridge with a thigh injury, while Jones was forced off with a knock in the second half. Both players are undergoing treatment, and their fitness will be assessed ahead of the game at the Riverside Stadium.
Daily Star
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Omar Berrada Placed on Gardening Leave
– Manchester United’s incoming CEO, Omar Berrada, has been put on gardening leave until summer due to his abrupt resignation from Manchester City. The decision was taken by United to prevent Berrada from leaking sensitive information about transfer targets and contract offers to City. Berrada, who is expected to take up his role at Old Trafford in the summer, was previously City’s chief operating officer.
Daily Telegraph
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Newcastle Rejects Sale of Trippier and Wilson
– Newcastle United has made it clear that neither Kieran Trippier nor Callum Wilson is for sale, thwarting any attempts to acquire them this month. The Magpies are determined to keep hold of their key players as they push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Trippier has been linked with a move to Manchester United, while Wilson has been the subject of interest from Arsenal.
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Government Denies Discussion on Man City’s Financial Charges
– The government firmly denies that Manchester City’s Premier League financial charges were discussed during a meeting between the club and the sports minister last spring. The meeting, which was held in April 2022, was reportedly attended by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano. However, the government has stated that the charges were not discussed and that the meeting was focused on other issues, such as fan engagement and stadium safety.
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Emma Hayes Addresses Misogynistic Comments
– Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has condemned misogynistic remarks made against female pundits, attributing them to a sexist culture within English football. Hayes spoke out after Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney was subjected to online abuse following her analysis of Chelsea’s recent defeat to Manchester United. Hayes said that such comments are “unacceptable” and that they need to be challenged.
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Jamie George Aims to Improve England’s Home Record
– New England rugby union captain Jamie George has expressed his desire to bolster the team’s home record and make Twickenham an intimidating venue for visiting teams. George, who took over the captaincy from Owen Farrell, said that he wants England to be “unbeatable” at home. England has lost just one of their last 10 matches at Twickenham, but George wants to improve that record even further.
The Guardian
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Bayern Munich Considers Improved Bid for Trippier
– Bayern Munich is expected to test Newcastle’s resolve by submitting an improved offer for right-back Kieran Trippier. The German champions have been linked with a move for Trippier for some time, and they are now prepared to increase their initial bid of £20 million. Newcastle are reluctant to sell Trippier, but they may be tempted to cash in if Bayern offer a significant fee.
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Aston Villa Rejects West Ham’s Bid for Duran
– Aston Villa has turned down an offer from West Ham United to sign Jhon Duran on loan with an option to buy. The Colombian striker has been in impressive form for Villa this season, scoring four goals in 10 appearances. West Ham are keen to add a striker to their squad, but they will have to look elsewhere after Villa rejected their bid.
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Ivan Toney Stays at Brentford Until Summer
– Ivan Toney intends to remain at Brentford until the end of the season, prioritizing a summer move as he enters the final year of his contract. The English striker has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but he is now set to stay with the Bees until at least the summer. Toney has scored 14 goals in 21 appearances for Brentford this season.
Daily Mirror
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Manchester United to Loan Out Dan Gore
– Manchester United plans to send Dan Gore on loan, over a year after his training ground altercation with Anthony Martial. The young midfielder has made just one appearance for United’s first team and is now set to be sent out on loan to gain some experience. Gore was involved in a heated exchange with Martial during a training session in January 2022, which resulted in both players being sent home.
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Bayern Munich Fans Respond to Tuchel’s Criticism
– A section of Bayern Munich supporters voiced their displeasure over manager Thomas Tuchel’s criticism during their 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen. Tuchel had criticized his players for their lack of intensity and focus, and some fans responded by booing him and chanting “Tuchel raus” (Tuchel out). Tuchel has been under pressure in recent weeks following a poor run of form, and the defeat to Bremen has increased the calls for his dismissal.
Daily Mail
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John Stones Returns to Manchester City Training
– Manchester City received a boost with the return of John Stones to training after recovering from an ankle injury. The English defender has been out of action since November, but he is now back in contention for a place in the City team. Stones’ return is a timely boost for City, who are facing a busy schedule in the coming weeks.
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John Terry Assesses Chelsea’s Situation
– Former Chelsea captain John Terry acknowledges that the club is far behind Manchester City and Liverpool, but he expresses confidence in Mauricio Pochettino’s managerial abilities and emphasizes the need for time to transform the team. Terry believes that Pochettino is the right man to lead Chelsea back to success, but he says that the club needs to be patient and give him time to implement his ideas.
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Jordan Henderson Faces EU Departure Rule Hurdle
– Jordan Henderson’s Ajax debut may be delayed due to a rule stemming from the UK’s departure from the European Union. The new rule states that British players must have played a certain number of games for their national team in order to be eligible to play in the Netherlands. Henderson has not played for England since November 2022, so he may not be eligible to play for Ajax until he has accumulated the required number of caps.
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Aston Villa Improves Bid for Morgan Rogers
– Aston Villa has submitted an improved bid for Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers after their initial offers were rejected. Villa are keen to add Rogers to their squad, and they are now prepared to pay a fee of £10 million for the 21-year-old. Rogers has scored three goals in 18 appearances for Middlesbrough this season.
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Businesses Seek New Premises Near Everton’s New Stadium
– Local businesses near Goodison Park are exploring new premises close to Everton’s upcoming stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. The new stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2024, is expected to attract a large number of visitors, and businesses are keen to capitalize on the increased footfall. Several businesses have already expressed interest in moving to the area, and some have even started looking for new premises.
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Chelsea Winger Returns from Lyon Loan
– Chelsea winger Diego Moreira will return to the club after cutting short his loan spell at Lyon. The Portuguese winger has struggled to make an impact at Lyon, and he has now returned to Chelsea in order to find a new club. Moreira has been linked with a move to Everton, but no deal has yet been agreed.
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Everton Faces Bid for Doucoure
– Everton anticipates a bid from Al Ittihad for midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Saudi Arabian club is keen to add Doucoure to their squad, and they are prepared to pay a fee of £20 million for the French midfielder. Doucoure has been a regular starter for Everton this season, making 20 appearances in all competitions.
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Sheffield United Nears Deal for Grbic
– Sheffield United is close to securing a £2m deal to sign goalkeeper Ivo Grbic from Atletico Madrid. The Croatian goalkeeper has been on loan at Lille this season, but he is now set to move to Sheffield United on a permanent deal. Grbic has made 10 appearances for Lille this season, keeping two clean sheets.
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Churlinov Set for Schalke Loan
– Burnley winger Darko Churlinov is poised to join former club Schalke on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent for £3m. The North Macedonian winger has struggled to make an impact at Burnley, and he is now set to return to Schalke, where he spent the 2021-22 season on loan.
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Curry Suffers Injury Ahead of Six Nations
– England’s Six Nations preparations face another setback as Ben Curry sustains an ankle injury while playing for Sale Sharks. The flanker is now a doubt for England’s opening match of the Six Nations against Scotland on February 4. Curry has been in impressive form for Sale this season, and his injury is a blow to England’s hopes of winning the tournament.
The Times
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Richard Thompson Predicts Saudi Investment in Cricket
– Former ECB chairman Richard Thompson anticipates Saudi Arabia’s investment in global cricket, potentially in tournaments like The Hundred or the Indian Premier League, before establishing domestic competitions. Thompson believes that Saudi Arabia is the most likely country to invest in cricket in the coming years, and he says that it could have a major impact on the sport.
Daily Record
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Doidge Uncertain About Hibernian Future
– Christian Doidge expresses uncertainty about his future beyond the current season at Hibernian. The striker’s contract expires in the summer, and he is yet to agree on a new deal with the club. Doidge has been linked with a move to several clubs in England and Scotland, and he says that he will consider all of his options before making a decision about his future.
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Rangers Nearing Mohamed Diomande Deal
– Rangers are close to signing midfielder Mohamed Diomande from Danish club Nordsjaelland. The Ivorian midfielder has been impressive for Nordsjaelland this season, and he is now set to move to Rangers for a fee of £2 million. Diomande is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Scottish club.
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Bell Wanted by Ferguson and Other Clubs
– Dundee full-back Cammy Bell is a target for Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson, but he faces competition from other Championship clubs. Bell has been in impressive form for Dundee this season, and he is now attracting interest from several clubs. Ferguson is keen to add Bell to his squad, but he will need to move quickly if he wants to secure the player’s signature.
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Smal Faces Contract Decision at FC Twente
– Potential Rangers target Gijs Smal has reportedly been given an ultimatum by his club, FC Twente, to make a decision on a new contract. The Dutch defender’s current contract expires in the summer, and Twente are keen to tie him down to a new deal. However, Smal is yet to make a decision, and he is now free to negotiate with clubs outside the Netherlands.
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