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Newcastle United targeting £55m Chelsea star

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Newcastle United are set to bolster their squad with yet another signing – and this time it’s from a Premier League rival

Newcastle United still aren’t finished in the transfer market, and preparing to make a move for a player who only signed for Chelsea last summer.

Having already signed Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento for more than £120m this transfer window, Newcastle United aren’t content with stopping there and are progressing talks to sign another player as they prepare for Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.

Eddie Howe has identified the positions in his squad which need work, too, as evidenced by the latest target they have been linked with.

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United are interested in bringing Marc Cucurella to St. James’ Park this summer, though it would likely only be a loan deal.

Cucurella only signed for Chelsea in August 2022 for £55m, potentially rising to £62m with add-ons, but the Spanish left-back could already be on his way out of Stamford Bridge after failing to appear in Chelsea’s opening day 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

While Chelsea would prefer to sell, due to financial fair play considerations and the seemingly imminent arrival of Moises Caicedo from Brighton for £115m, Newcastle are set to offer a loan deal with either an option or obligation to buy after a season.

Cucurella could join Newcastle United on loan for the season (Image credit: Getty Images)
However, the report also suggests they are interested in a similar deal for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, who looks destined to leave the Emirates this summer after falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal would also prefer to sell the Scotsman this summer, meaning any potential deal would likely head into the final week or even days of the transfer window.

If either player joins Newcastle in the remaining few weeks of the transfer window, they’ll likely slot straight into Eddie Howe’s starting XI. Though Dan Burn thoroughly impressed at left-back last season, he is still a centre-back filling in there rather than a specialist.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

‘We Know Who Deserved This’ – Vinicius Receives Widespread Support After Ballon d’Or Robbery 

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Vinicius Junior Told Ballon d'Or Triumph Would Be 'Biggest Crime In History' 

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony was expected to bring a moment of redemption for Real Madrid, especially after their tough loss to Barcelona in the recent El Clasico.

Many Madrid fans and the club itself saw the event as an opportunity for some positive recognition, with high hopes for Vinicius Jr. to claim the award for the best player in the world.

However, hours before the ceremony, it was revealed that Vinicius would not be receiving the prestigious honour.

In response, Real Madrid decided that no representative would attend the gala on his behalf, a decision that has intensified the disappointment among the club’s supporters.

Support for Vinicius

Real Madrid fans have expressed their frustration over the Ballon d’Or voting results, feeling Vinicius’ performances were deserving of greater recognition.

Notably, former Madrid star Toni Kroos stepped forward to show his support, posting two photos of himself with Vinicius on social media, accompanied by a message celebrating Vinicius as “The Best.”

Following Kroos’ lead, several of Vinicius’ teammates expressed their support on social media. Arda Guler posted a photo of himself embracing Vinicius, while teammates like Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also shared images and messages of encouragement.

“And so our world goes on, we keep going. I love you,” said the Brazil forward about his teammate.

Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde joined the wave of support, with Valverde emphasising that no award could adequately represent Vinicius’ talent and contributions on the pitch.

“You don’t need that (the Ballon d’Or). You’re already the best,” said Camavinga.

“No one will take away what you have achieved. We all know that. They are not prepared for what you are going to give them,” wrote Tchouameni

Vinicius’ national teammates from Brazil showed solidarity as well, with players like Richarlison, Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Emerson Royal, Gabriel Magalhaes, Lucas Paqueta, and Serge Aurier sending him words of encouragement.

“We all know who really deserved to win this Ballon d’Or. We are all with you brother, we will do everything so that you can win that it. I love you. BEST IN THE WORLD. Nothing against Rodri but my congratulations,” wrote Douglas Luiz

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Rodri Becomes First Man City Player To Win Ballon d’Or; Vinicius Reacts

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country.

Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.

“A very special day, for me, my family and my country,” Rodri said.

“I understand that because I have no social media, people don’t know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person.”

The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola’s side held off Arsenal’s challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England’s top tier to be crowned since Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United.

Rodri’s stiffest competition for the Ballon d’Or came from Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, who refused to travel to Paris for the ceremony after discovering that he would not take home the trophy. Jude Bellingham finished third in the voting.

Vinícius, 24, had been a leading contender to win the 2024 men’s prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, but sources told ESPN earlier on Monday that neither he nor his fellow Madrid nominees — eight in total across the various awards — would attend the event.

Madrid had been honoured earlier in the ceremony as the men’s team of the year, and Carlo Ancelotti received the coach of the year award, though no representatives of the last Champions League winners were present to accept it.

“I’ll do it 10x if needed. They are not ready,” Vini Jr. posted in Portuguese on X.

Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga made it clear what he thought of the vote, calling it “football politics.”

“FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro,” the France international wrote on X along with a photo of him and Vinicius celebrating together.

The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.

Rodri was part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024, starting every game except the third group stage match against Albania, and claimed the player of the tournament prize.

He went a world-record 74 games unbeaten for club and country from March 2023 to May 2024, avoiding defeat (other than via penalties) until City’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Rodri becomes the second men’s player born in Spain to win the sport’s most prestigious individual prize, and the first since former Barcelona star Luis Suárez claimed it in 1960.

Real Madrid’s legendary striker Alfredo di Stefano won the award twice, in 1957 and 1959, though he was born in Argentina. The past four Ballons d’Or Féminin have been won by Spanish women (Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023 and 2024).

“Today is not a victory for me, it is for Spanish football, for so many players who have not won it and have deserved it, like [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez], Iker [Casillas], Sergio Busquets, so many others. It is for Spanish football and for the figure of the midfielder,” Rodri said on stage at the ceremony.

“Today many friends have written to me and have told me that football has won, for giving visibility to so many midfielders who have a job in the shadows and today it is coming to light.”

Rodri is likely to miss the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 22. He collected the prize on crutches on Monday.

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Premier League

END OF BAD ERA! Manchester United Sack Erik ten Hag At Last

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NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Ronaldo criticises Ten Hag, says Man Utd must 'rebuild everything'

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following the club’s poor start to the season.

Ten Hag’s final game was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham that left the club 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine matches.

United are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager.

The Dutchman was informed of the decision by the club’s board on Monday morning, fewer than 24 hours after the club’s defeat by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The club triggered a one-year extension in Ten Hag’s contract following May’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City but just three months later he has been dismissed after overseeing United’s second worst start to a Premier League campaign.

More to follow.

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