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TOTTENHAM CLOSING IN ON ANTONIO CONTE AFTER SACKING NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: New Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte poses for a photo at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 01, 2021 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new boss after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo.

Spurs fired Nuno after just four months on Monday morning following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United where the fans turned on him.

They moved quickly to find a successor, renewing interest in former Chelsea boss Conte, who was close to getting the job before Nuno in June.

The two parties were in advanced discussions on Monday, the PA news agency understands, with the Italian believed to be in London ahead of a possible announcement.

A deal would see Conte, who has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan at the end of last season, return to the Premier League where he guided Chelsea to the title in 2016-17, adding an FA Cup the following season.

Conte, who delivered the Scudetto to Inter before departing, had previously been in advanced talks with Spurs about becoming Jose Mourinho’s successor in June, but they broke down after the two parties were at odds over key issues.

However, managing director Fabio Paratici is now in position at the Premier League club and has a strong relationship with the 52-year-old, having worked with him at Juventus.

And it looks like any differences will be overcome, with chairman Daniel Levy turning to the serial winner to turn Spurs back into a force in English football.

Nuno was relieved of his duties after Levy and Paratici met on Sunday to discuss his future, with the news delivered early on Monday morning.

The Portuguese was a condemned man following the loss to United at the weekend, where fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and roundly booed him at full-time.

And a statement from Tottenham on Monday morning read: “The club can today announce that Nuno Espirito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.”

Paratici said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision. Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”

Nuno’s appointment on June 30 ended a 72-day managerial search following Jose Mourinho’s sacking six days before the Carabao Cup final.

The former Wolves boss was previously discounted from the role by Levy for his pragmatic style of play, but after the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rogers, Erik Ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino and Conte proved elusive, the chairman was eventually persuaded by Paratici to appoint Nuno.

It started well as, amid the backdrop of Harry Kane’s summer transfer saga, they won their first three Premier League games, including an opening day 1-0 victory over Manchester City which helped win Nuno August’s manager of the month.

However, they lost five of their next seven games and the style of play flew in the face of Levy’s demands for “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining football”.

The losses to West Ham and Manchester United in their last two Premier League matches have seen them go two hours and 16 minutes without having a shot on target.

Conte could be in charge for the Europa Conference League clash with Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday night, with a Premier League trip to Everton following on Sunday.

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Hazard could head back to Chelsea as Juve eye Prem duo

Chelsea are exploring the possibility of re-signing Eden Hazard from Real Madrid.

Hazard, 30, cost Real more than £100million when he swapped Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu in 2019.

But he has failed to live up to expectations and would be allowed to leave if a suitable offer came in.

Reports in Spain say Blues owner Roman Abramovich is convinced Hazard would become a world beater again back in the familiar surroundings of West London.

He made 310 appearances during seven seasons at the Bridge, scoring 110 goals as he lifted the Premier League and Europa League twice, as well as the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

The problem is Real would want to recoup as much of the fee they paid as possible — but Chelsea are unlikely to offer more than £40m for a player who has been beset by injury and fitness problems.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is a big fan of Blues full-back Reece James and the suggestion is the Spanish giants may try to factor him into any deal.

James, 21, has not nailed down a regular starting spot since Thomas Tuchel took charge last season but it is unlikely Chelsea would want to sell the England international.

Juventus are ready to raid Manchester as they look to win back the Serie A title.

Max Allegri’s side have made a poor start to the domestic campaign after failing to win the league for the first time in 10 years in 2020-21.

Now reports in Italy suggest they want to sign both Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek in January.

Silva, 27, has been one of City’s best players this season but wanted to leave the Etihad before the summer transfer window slammed shut.

Whether or not his starring role in the past two months has changed matters remains to be seen — and Pep Guardiola will not want to lose the Portuguese maestro.

For Van de Beek, 24, it has been a miserable 15 months since swapping Ajax for Old Trafford.

Only four of his 17 starts for United have come in the Premier League and he was linked with an exit throughout the window.

Both deals would be loans, though the suggestion is they may come with obligations to buy at the end of the season.
In other news

Manchester United are interested in Leicester midfielder Wilfried Ndidi, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

The Sun say United will make Jesse Lingard available for £15m in January if he fails to extend his stay at Old Trafford, with his contract expiring next year.

Alexandre Lacazette has no intention of signing a new deal at Arsenal, according to Football.London, with his current contract running out at the end of the season.

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JAMES RODRIGUEZ LEAVES EVERTON FOR QATAR CLUB AL RAYYAN

Qatari club Al Rayyan have confirmed the signing of James Rodriguez from Everton.

The Toffees say the Colombian has left for an undisclosed fee, having joined on a free transfer last season and with just one year left on his deal.

He leaves almost exactly a year since he joined Everton to great fanfare and much excitement.

The playmaker sparkled in his early performances, scoring three goals in his first five appearances, the kind of Rolls-Royce player Evertonians have been starved of for years.

But sadly those performances tailed off as time went on, with a series of niggling injuries meaning he was frequently absent from the side.

He made 26 appearances during the 2020-21 season, scoring six goals, but Evertonians were hopeful for more with a full pre-season behind him.

Sadly his fate was sealed the moment Carlo Ancelotti left for Real Madrid. James openly admitted he only joined Everton because of the Italian, so his departure made an exit almost inevitable.

Rafa Benitez’s appointment as Ancelotti’s successor further pushed him towards the exit door, with the Spaniard having endured a difficult relationship with James during their time at Real Madrid.

But with a reported wage of £200,000 a week there were predictably few takers in a market still reeling from the financial devastation of Covid.

James quickly became a huge drain on resources and an awkward topic of conversation in press conferences, with Benitez blaming Covid isolation then lack of fitness for his exclusion from the first team so far this season.

Moves to Portugal and Turkey collapsed before the August transfer deadline, raising the prospect of James staying here until at least January. But the Qatar window was still open – and he is now finally on his way.

The overriding feeling for me is one of huge disappointment. James is a genuine world-class talent who would ordinarily come nowhere near our club. His fitness record plays a part in that of course, but Ancelotti’s willingness to indulge him made it look a risk worth taking.

Sadly it was a fragile relationship that collapsed as soon as Ancelotti left. James then suddenly became a financial burden at a time where the club was scrambling to keep in line with profit and sustainability rules.

With Benitez wanting to build a team prepared to scrap for every point, James quickly became a luxury we didn’t need or could afford.

The Colombian didn’t help himself at times either, saying he didn’t even know who Everton were playing before last month’s trip to Leeds was revealing.

We don’t know the exact details and likely never will, but it is clear a move away is the best for all concerned.

The cruel irony is that James departs without having ever played in front of a Goodison crowd.

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Liverpool lining up club-record £80m Jude Bellingham swoop

Liverpool are reportedly preparing to launch a club-record £80m bid for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham.

The 18-year-old continues to impress for club and country since making the move to the Bundesliga from Birmingham City last year and remains contracted to BVB until the summer of 2025.

However, Bellingham’s impressive breakthrough has supposedly led to interest from top clubs such as Chelsea, who are said to be plotting a swoop for the teenager in 2022.

Now, the Daily Star claims that Jurgen Klopp has earmarked Bellingham as the perfect addition to his midfield, with the Reds failing to replace Georginio Wijnaldum in the most recent transfer window.

The report claims that Liverpool are ahead of Manchester United in the race for the England international, who remains content at Dortmund but is aware that a Premier League move may be inevitable.

Bellingham has already scored one goal and set up two more in three Bundesliga appearances this season, and he garnered significant praise for his performance in England’s 4-0 thrashing of Andorra at the weekend.

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Eduardo Camavinga “very happy and proud” to join Real Madrid

French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has said that he has realised a childhood dream by joining Real Madrid.

The 18-year-old’s future was the subject of much speculation over the summer transfer window, with a number of clubs said to be interested in signing him from Rennes.

Real Madrid completed a move for the France international just before the deadline, though, with the midfielder penning a six-year contract at the Bernabeu.

Camavinga, who made 88 appearances during his time at Rennes, has said that he is “very happy and proud” to have made the move to the Spanish capital.

“My move to Real Madrid was done very quickly. I am very happy and proud,” Camavinga told reporters. “But I don’t want this announcement to change my work with [France’s] under-21s. Whether I play at Rennes or at Real Madrid I will continue to give my best, and of course I dream of the senior team, but step by step.

“Now I’ll go to Rennes to pack my bags, I’ll move to Madrid and I’ll continue on my journey. It’s a dream I had when I was a kid. I can’t wait to discover the stadium, which is very impressive. I hope to play there as soon as the building work is finished.”

Camavinga could make his debut for Los Blancos against Celta Vigo on September 12.

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Paris Saint-Germain yet to respond to latest Real Madrid offer for Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly yet to respond to Real Madrid second offer to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.

An opening bid worth around £137m was rejected, but the La Liga giants have since given the Parisian outfit an ultimatum as they have tabled a final offer worth £145.6m.

Mbappe has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Parc des Princes, and with the Frenchman yet to agree terms for a new deal, PSG are at risk of losing the 22-year-old for free next summer, if they are unable to sell him.

According to Marca, PSG have been given a 6pm deadline on Monday to respond to Real Madrid’s latest bid.

If an agreement cannot be reached before this deadline, then Los Blancos are prepared to cancel plans to complete the transfer in this window and wait until January to negotiate a pre-contract agreement to sign the player in the summer of 2022.

Mbappe, started and scored a brace in PSG’s 2-0 victory away at Reims on Sunday, increasing his goals tally for the club to 135 in 175 appearances across all competitions.

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Cristiano Ronaldo passes Manchester United medical

Cristiano Ronaldo has passed his medical ahead of his blockbuster return to Manchester United.

The Red Devils confirmed on Friday that they had reached an agreement with Juventus to bring the fan favourite back to Old Trafford, 12 years after he left the club for Real Madrid.

The news came just hours after it emerged that Man United were even in the running for his signature, with cross-town rivals Manchester City having previously been expected to bring the 36-year-old back to the Premier League.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will pay just £12.9m up front for the club legend, with a further £6.7m in add-ons.

Man United’s announcement confirmed that the deal was subject to personal terms, a medical and a visa, but two of those three issues are now understood to have been resolved.

Sky Sports News reports that Ronaldo has now completed his medical, having undergone it in Lisbon over the weekend.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also agreed personal terms on a two-year deal which will see him take a £6m pay cut, but still become the highest-paid player in Premier League history.

Gaining a visa is also not expecting to be a problem, paving the way for Ronaldo to finalise his vaunted return to Old Trafford before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Ronaldo will join up with his new teammates after the international break, and could be in line to make his second debut for the club against Newcastle United on September 11.

The Portugal international scored 118 goals in 292 games during his first stint at Old Trafford, helping the club to three Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and the Community Shield

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Lautaro Martinez accepts new Inter Milan contract

Serie A champions Inter Milan have reportedly reached an agreement with Lautaro Martinez to extend the striker’s contract this summer.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal of the new season as the Nerazzurri came from behind to beat Hellas Verona 3-1 away from home last weekend.

Following the departure of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, Inter have been desperate to keep hold of the Argentine, who was set to see his contract expire in 2023.

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Martinez has now agreed to extend his contract by four or five years, worth around £6m per season plus bonuses.

The report states that there is a full agreement between both parties and only the player’s signature is missing for the deal to be finalised.

Martinez has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal believed to have expressed their interest, but he is now set to commit his future with the San Siro giants.

The former Racing Club striker enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 campaign for the Scudetto champions, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions.

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Adama Traore determined to push for Tottenham Hotspur move

Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Carabao Cup Second Round Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers warms up ahead of kick-off during the Carabao Cup match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, Nottingham, UK on 24th August 2021. Nottingham England United Kingdom fletcher-nottingh210824_np4pZ PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Adama Traore has reportedly urged his agent to push through a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the closing stages of this summer’s transfer window.

The 25-year-old has been on Tottenham’s list of potential targets this summer since Nuno Espirito Santo – his manager at Wolves – took over in North London.

Wolves’ asking price of at least £40m has so far proved to be a major sticking point in any negotiations, and new boss Bruno Lage recently insisted that no key players would be allowed to leave the club before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.

However, Spanish outlet Cadena SER claims that Traore has instructed his agent Jorge Mendes to secure a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so that he can reunite with Nuno.

Wolves remain reluctant to lose their star man, and are unlikely to lower their demands for a player who still has two years remaining on his contract at Molineux.

Traore has been one of the team’s standout performers in their three Premier League games so far this season, despite Wolves still searching for their first point and first goal of the new campaign.

The Spain international has previously been linked with Liverpool, Chelsea and Leeds United, but Spurs are now considered the clear front-runners for his signature should he leave Wolves.

Wolves, meanwhile, are understood to be considering a move for Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes as a replacement for Traore.

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Manchester United submit official bid for Cristiano Ronaldo

News broke earlier on Friday that the Red Devils had hijacked Manchester City’s move for the 36-year-old, leapfrogging their local rivals in the race for his signature as City ended their interest.

Talks between Man United and Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes only began on Thursday evening, while a series of messages from the Portuguese forward’s former Old Trafford teammates helped to sway him towards a move back to the red half of Manchester.

The 36-year-old had looked destined to join United’s local rivals Manchester City in a £25m deal, after telling current club Juventus that he wants to leave before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

However, in a remarkable turn of events Man City have since pulled out of the running to sign Ronaldo, with United now the clear front-runners for his signature.

Talks between the two parties only began on Thursday night, but they have advanced quickly and ESPN reports that a series of WhatsApp messages between Ronaldo and a number of his former teammates at Old Trafford helped to convince him to return.

The report claims that Ronaldo was warned that his Manchester United legacy and the esteem in which he is held by the club’s fans would be irrevocably damaged if he joined their cross-town rivals.

A contract proposal has also been sent to Mendes, with Man United offering Ronaldo a two-year deal until June 2023.

While none of the ex-teammates have been named, now-Derby County boss Wayne Rooney hinted on Thursday that Ronaldo joining Man City would damage his reputation as a Man United legend.

The Red Devils are now confident of pulling off a sensational return for the forward on a two-year deal for the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Ronaldo made 292 appearances for Man United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals and helping the club to three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League crown.

With the five-time Ballon d’Or winner now pushing for a return, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Man United have submitted a formal offer of €25m (£21.4m) plus add-ons to Juventus, who are understood to be holding out for a fee of around £25m.

Since leaving for Madrid, the prolific Portuguese attacker has netted 551 times at club level, while Man United’s leading scorer in the same timeframe is Rooney with 156