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JACK GREALISH REPORTEDLY AGREES PERSONAL TERMS WITH MANCHESTER CITY

Aston Villa attacker Jack Grealish has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a potential move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The England international is believed to be a leading transfer target for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are also being linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

According to report, Grealish has been offered a lucrative contract by the Premier League champions, and the attacker has now reached an agreement over personal terms.

The report claims that the 25-year-old is not prepared to force a move away from Villa, but Man City are hopeful of agreeing a transfer fee in the region of £90m.

Dean Smith’s side could yet hand Grealish a new and improved deal at Villa Park, though, despite the fact that he only penned an extension with his current side last September.

The attacker, who is still on holiday following his involvement in this summer’s European Championship, scored seven times and registered 12 assists in 27 appearances for Villa during the 2020-21 campaign.

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LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE LEWIS BATE SIGNING FROM CHELSEA

Leeds United are pleased to announce the signing of Lewis Bate.

The midfielder joins the Whites from fellow Premier League side Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

Bate, who attracted interest from a number of clubs, has penned a three-year-deal at Elland Road, running until the summer of 2024.

The 18-year-old has been part of the Chelsea youth setup for the last 10 years and captained the Blues in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final.

Last season he made the step up to Under-23s football, making 20 appearances as Chelsea finished runners-up in Premier League 2 Division 1.

He has also won caps at youth level for England at both Under-17 and Under-18 level.

Bate becomes Leeds’ fifth signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Junior Firpo, Jack Harrison, Sean McGurk and Amari Miller.

He will initially link up with Mark Jackson’s Under-23s for the forthcoming season.

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MANCHESTER UNITED ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF JODAN SANCHO

Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Jadon Sancho, subject to international clearance, keeping him at the club until June 2026, with an option of a further year.
Sancho, 21, scored 50 goals and registered 64 assists in four seasons with Borussia Dortmund. The England International was part of the squad that reached the final of Euro 2020.

Jadon Sancho said:

“I’ll always be grateful to Dortmund for giving me the opportunity to play first team football, although I always knew that I would return to England one day. The chance to join Manchester United is a dream come true and I just cannot wait to perform in the Premier League. This is a young and exciting squad and I know, together, we can develop into something special to bring the success that the fans deserve. I am looking forward to working with the Manager and his coaching team to further develop my game.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:

“Jadon epitomises the type of player I want to bring to the club, he is a forward player in the best traditions of Manchester United. He will form an integral part of my squad for years to come and we look forward to seeing him blossom. His goals and assists records speak for themselves and he will also bring tremendous pace, flair and creativity to the team.

“Old Trafford will give him the platform he needs to release his untapped talent and perform at the highest level. For a player of his age, Jadon has already achieved a great deal and showed the courage to go and prove himself abroad. We all look forward to welcoming Jadon to the squad as we prepare for the new campaign.”

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EVERTON NEW SIGNING DEMARAI GRAY VOWS TO HELP THE TOFFEES GET BETTER

Demarai Gray has vowed to help Everton compete with the Premier League’s big boys after completing his move to Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old former Leicester winger has signed a three-year deal and has the option of a fourth with the Toffees as he leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee after just six months in the Bundesliga.

He follows fellow wideman Andros Townsend and keeper Asmir Begovic to the blue half of Merseyside with new manager Rafael Benitez and director of football Marcel Brands wasting little time in re-shaping the squad for the season ahead.

Gray told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League at such a big club and I’m excited to play with the team and get to work.

“Speaking to the manager and Marcel Brands, I had a really good feel for the club and I feel this is a place where I can continue to develop.

“The manager, with his ambition and what he has won in the past, is important and we’ll look to push forward and compete with the top clubs. I think a club of this magnitude has all the potential to be right up there.

“Collectively with what Marcel and the manager have said to me, everything fits, including the club’s ambitions and goals. Everton are a very big club and the main objective is to be pushing and competing back up there in the table.

“I want to work hard on the training pitch and work my hardest for the club on the pitch.”

Birmingham-born Gray, who will wear the number 11 shirt, began his career with his hometown club before making a £3.5million switch to the Foxes in January 2016, and was a Premier League winner at the age of 19.

He has been capped by England up to Under-21 level and is confident he can renew his acquaintance with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose 21 goals last season helped Everton finish 10th, to good effect.

He said: “I’ve played with a few of the boys for England Under-21s, so it’s always nice to see a few familiar faces.

“Dom’s kicked on massively with his goals and, for me, as a winger, that’s the type of player you want in the box. My job is to feed him for him to put the ball in the net.

“We’ve got top international players in the squad and I think we have a good balance. It’s an exciting time.”

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EX-BOLTON WANDERERS GOAL KEEPER, REMI MATTHEWS JOINS CRYSTAL PALACE

Former Wanderers goalkeeper Remi Matthews has joined Premier League side Crystal Palace on a free transfer.

Matthews has signed a two-year deal at Selhurst Park, becoming Patrick Vieira’s second signing since taking charge.

The goalkeeper arrived at the UniBol in 2018, initially on a loan deal from Norwich City before making the move permanent five months later.

He made 58 appearances for the Whites before leaving the club in the summer of 2020 at the end of his contract.

Following a season in League One with Sunderland, the 27-year-old is now heading to the Premier League.

Matthews’ latest move is no surprise given the Eagles were keen to sign him from Wanderers back in 2019, but the move was blocked by the club’s administrators.

“I can’t wait to get started,” the goalkeeper told Palace TV.

“I’m excited to work with Dean Kiely again because he helps me improve, and I’ve got two great goalkeepers to look up to in Vicente Guaita and Jack Butland.

“It’s great to be a part of it, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Matthews joins the London club following the departure of Welsh international Wayne Hennessey, who spent seven years at Selhurst Park.

Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “Remi brings plenty of Football League experience with him and we are really pleased to add him to our goalkeeping ranks, where he will continue to develop under the tutelage of Dean Kiely alongside Vicente Guaita and Jack Butland.”

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WATFORD SIGN NIGERIAN MIDFIELDER ETEBO ON LOAN

Watford have announced the signing of Nigeria central midfielder Peter Etebo on a season-long loan from Stoke City.

The 25-year-old moves to Watford in a deal that contains an option to make the signing permanent.

Etebo joined Stoke in 2018 and made 52 appearances for the Potters, scoring twice, while also spending time on loan at Getafe in 2019/20 and with Galatasary last season.

He has been capped 38 times by Nigeria, scoring twice, and becomes the Hornets’ eighth new arrival this summer after forward Dapo Mebude joined from Rangers earlier today.

Etebo will hope to make his Premier League debut when Watford host Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.

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PSG CONFIRMS THE SIGNING OF SERGIO RAMOS FROM REAL MADRID

French giants, Paris Saint German have confirmed the signing of Serigo Ramos from Real Madrid

The Spain International reflected on “a day I will never forget” as he completed his much-anticipated switch to Paris St Germain after ending his 16-year stay with Real Madrid last month.

Ramos has been at the forefront of Real’s success in recent years, helping the club to five LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns in his time at the Bernabeu, but injuries restricted his involvement last season.

He made just 21 appearances in all competitions in 2020-21, the fewest games he has played over the course of a campaign in a Real Madrid shirt, while he was at loggerheads with club president Florentino Perez over a new deal.

The 35-year-old Spaniard departed Madrid after 671 appearances and 101 goals, and has signed a two-year contract with Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG, tying him to the French capital club until June 2023.

“I am very happy to join Paris St Germain,” said Ramos on the club’s official website. “This is a big change in my life, a new challenge and it’s a day I will never forget.

“I am very proud to be a part of this ambitious project, to be a part of this squad with so many great players.

“Paris St Germain is a club that has already proven itself at the highest level. I want to continue to grow and improve at Paris and help the team to win as many trophies as possible.”

A number of niggles and a knee injury that required surgery have limited the veteran defender to just seven appearances in total for club and country in 2021, and he missed out on a Spain squad place at Euro 2020.

Ramos, part of the Spain sides that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, was one of the hottest free agents on the market this summer but PSG have won the race for his signature.

“Today, Paris welcomes one of the greatest players of our era,” said PSG chairman and chief executive officer Nasser Al-Khelaifi “We are delighted to announce that Sergio Ramos has joined us.

“Sergio is a complete footballer, one of the best defenders in the history of the game. He is a born competitor, a leader and a true professional. His vast experience and ambition is in perfect synergy with those of the club

“I am proud to see him in a Paris St Germain jersey and I know our supporters will reserve a fantastic welcome for him.”

Ramos is PSG’s third summer signing following the arrivals of Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan and Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool.

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SERGIO RAMOS SET FOR PSG MEDICALS ON TUESDAY

Sergio Ramos will undergo a medical in Paris on Tuesday ahead of joining Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, sources say.

Sources added that the veteran defender agreed to join the Ligue 1 giants on a two-year deal.

Ramos, 35, announced last month that he would leave Real Madrid after failing to reach an agreement to extend his 16-year stay in the Spanish capital.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich had shown an interest in acquiring the Spain international, but the experienced centre-back preferred PSG’s project.

Ramos didn’t strike an agreement with Madrid due to discrepancies over the length of the deal. Los Blancos were only willing to offer one year and by the time Ramos agreed to accept the club’s proposal he was told the deadline had expired.

Ramos had wanted a two-year deal. His wages at PSG are set to be lower than what he was earning in Spain and what he would have earned had he stayed at the Bernabeu.

Ramos will land in Paris just hours after the arrival of his former Real Madrid teammate Achraf Hakimi. Hakimi, 22, is expected to join PSG on a €70m transfer from Inter Milan, sources have told ESPN.

The Morocco international posted a message on Twitter on Monday hinting that he was on his way to the French capital.

The arrival of Ramos and Hakimi will further strengthen Mauricio Pochettino’s squad that already includes defenders Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos and Thilo Kehrer.

Pochettino was eager to strengthen his defensive line that proved to be their weak spot last season when they were eliminated by Manchester City in the semifinal stages of the Champions League.

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SCOTT PARKER APPOINTED NEW BOURNEMOUTH BOSS

Scott Parker has been appointed head coach of Sky Bet Championship side Bournemouth on a three-year deal.

Fulham announced earlier on Monday that the 40-year-old had left the west London club, and less than four hours later he was confirmed as the new Cherries boss.

Parker replaces Jonathan Woodgate, who was told earlier this week that his short-term contract would not be renewed.

“I believe this is the perfect fit for both parties,” Parker told afcbTV. “I’m familiar with Bournemouth because of my relationship with Harry Arter.

“It’s a football club I know well from watching him over the years.

“The ethos, the reputation, the journey and the challenge here is something that’s very exciting for me and my staff.

“We want to build a team the fans can be proud of and one they feel represents them. We can’t wait to get started.”

Parker is bringing Matt Wells (assistant head coach), Rob Burch (first-team goalkeeping coach), Alastair Harris (head of performance), Charlie Moore (lead physical performance coach) and Jonathan Hill (first-team head analyst) with him to the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth’s chief executive Neill Blake said: “It has been a long process but I am delighted to finally get our man.

“Scott has always been our number one choice for this role and someone whose coaching career we have taken a keen interest in since his first steps in Tottenham Hotspur’s academy.

“Over a period of time he has proven himself as one of the best young head coaches in the country; someone who has a clear philosophy on how he wants to play and knows what it takes to win promotion from the Championship.

“Scott is fully invested in the long-term project in front of us here, and this is the start of an exciting new period for this club.”

Parker took caretaker charge of Fulham – his first senior managerial role – in February 2019 on a temporary basis, but was unable to keep the club out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

After being appointed manager on a permanent basis in May that year, the Cottagers secured promotion back to the top flight after beating Brentford in the play-off final.

However, their Premier League return lasted less than a year as their relegation was confirmed following a 2-0 home defeat to Burnley last month.

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NIGERIAN FORWARD, EMMANUEL DENNIS JOINS WATFORD

Newly-promoted English Premier League club Watford FC made an official announcement on Monday that they have reached an agreement with Belgian side, Club Brugge for the transfer of Nigerian striker, Emmanuel Dennis.

Other details around the length of the contract and the financial implication are yet to be fully disclosed by the two parties.

The statement on Watford website Monday night read: “An agreement with Club Brugges has been reached for the transfer of exciting young forward Emmanuel Dennis, Watford FC is delighted to confirm.”

Dennis, 23, spent part of last season on loan in Germany’s Bundesliga with FC Köln but he failed to impress

The Nigerian forward first joined the Belgian top-flight side in the summer of 2017.

A scorer of 27 goals in less than 100 club appearances for Brugges, Dennis has featured in both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League where he scored some famous goals; including against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to Watford, they are currently finalising ‘personal terms’ with the pacy striker – so far capped twice by Nigeria.

Born in the Northern Nigerian town of Yola, Dennis began his footballing quest in the country’s capital city with the Abuja Football Academy.

It was from the Abuja Academy that Dennis headed out to Europe for a professional football career in 201a 6 as he settled for the modest Ukrainian side, Zorya Luhansk despite the reported interest from a handful of othasclubs.

Watford have a rich history of Nigerian players with the likes of William Troost-Ekong and Isaac Success presently playing for the Hornets while Odion Ighalo can pass for a club legend at Vicarage Road.