Luis Suarez says Karim Benzema was on brink of Arsenal move before late change of heart- Paper Talk – Sky Sports
Transfer Centre
Plus: Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to join Real Madrid when he leaves PSG in the summer but his entourage also met with figures at Man City – hours before dropping the bombshell that he would be exiting
Monday 19 February 2024 07:38, UK
The top stories and transfer rumours from Monday’s newspapers…
DAILY MIRROR
Luis Suarez has revealed that Karim Benzema was due to sign for Arsenal before a late change of heart dashed their plan.
Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to join Real Madrid when he leaves PSG in the summer but his entourage have also met with figures at Manchester City – hours before dropping the bombshell that he would be exiting.
Jordan Henderson was handed the captaincy on just his fourth appearance for Ajax – but suffered injury-time heartbreak after being on the cusp of his first win as NEC Nijmegen scored a 95th-minute equaliser.
Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has seen his opportunities limited at Anfield and the Dutchman has accepted he may need to move to pastures new next term.
Idrissa Gueye has revealed he continued to watch Everton games – often on the phone alongside Kylian Mbappe – during his time with Paris Saint-Germain.
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THE ATHLETIC
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City Football Group (CFG) has announced a “football collaboration agreement” with Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
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Dan Ashworth could be prevented from taking up a role at Manchester United until 2026 unless they fork out a £20m compensation fee to allow him to start work as their new sporting director much sooner.
Shane Rose, a three-time Olympic medallist show jumper, has been stood down by authorities for wearing a mankini on horseback in a fancy dress competition.
Ben Stokes has offered England a ray of light as they look to salvage their series in India by suggesting that he could bowl in the final two Tests.
DAILY MAIL
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Dan Ashworth has now told Newcastle he wants to leave the club – but he must wait for Manchester United to buy out his contract.
Ex-Fulham captain Danny Murphy claims his former boss Roy Hodgson said he was feeling fine following the health scare that led to the 76-year-old’s hospitalisation on Thursday.
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Anel Ahmedhodzic disagreed with the decision to send his Sheffield United team-mate Mason Holgate off for his challenge on Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, claiming it was a “fair tackle”.
Everton’s buyers 777 Partners are implementing a major staff cost-cutting programme with the aim of reducing headcount across the business by around five per cent.
Eden Hazard has revealed Antonio Conte was the one Chelsea manager he didn’t enjoy working under but credits the Italian for producing some of the best form of his career.
QPR club doctor Imtiaz Ahmad is set to make a move across London to become head of sports medicine at Crystal Palace.
THE TIMES
Mason Holgate, with a contender for the worst foul of the season, is set to be fined by his team after he helped condemn Sheffield United to 80-plus minutes with 10 players and a defeat that edged his loan club a step closer to a likely relegation.
Everton boss Sean Dyche has revealed he was in a bar having a beer with a mate when he received a message from Kevin Thelwell, the director of football, about half an hour before news of the club’s 10-point deduction was announced.
THE GUARDIAN
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Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England’s crucial Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday with a knee injury, dealing Steve Borthwick a major setback as he plots his side’s first Calcutta Cup win in four years.
Ben Stokes said England will not let their bruising defeat against India in the third Test eat up his side for the remainder of the series, even if, for the second loss in a row, the captain left the ground unhappy with technology.
Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko was jeered by some of the crowd after finishing second in the women’s 400m medley on the closing day of the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar on Sunday.
DAILY EXPRESS
Kyle Walker has revealed Pep Guardiola did not mince his words with the Manchester City squad after they trailed Chelsea at half-time on Saturday.
Manchester United’s interest in Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee has reportedly “diminished” but he could still end up playing in the Premier League next season, with other leading clubs also linked.
THE SUN
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged Gareth Southgate to pick Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in his next England squad.
Crystal Palace supremo Steve Parish held a “secret” meeting with Oliver Glasner in a London hotel hideaway – but the exchange was spotted by guests, including the Sheffield Wednesday squad.
Five players and a coach have been hospitalised after fan trouble saw a firework thrown towards the dugout. The incident occurred as Mura welcomed Maribor in the Slovenian PrvaLiga.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is focused on staying in Spain as he continues to seek an end to his footballing exile.
Kalvin Phillips waited around for half-an-hour to speak to referee Tom Bramall to try and find out why he was sent off during West Ham’s defeat by Nottingham Forest.
Wales are sweating on the fitness of skipper Aaron Ramsey for their Euro 2024 play-off bid next month after he suffered a calf injury playing for Cardiff at the weekend.
Sunderland boss Michael Beale has apologised for snubbing Trai Hume as the defender was coming off after being substituted against Birmingham on Saturday.
A Premier League footballer was shocked to find out a tenant living in one of his properties had been forced to turn it into a drug den by a criminal gang.
Gareth Southgate is planning another media day, with England’s squad members available for interview before they fly out to Germany for Euro 2024.
DAILY RECORD
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Chris Sutton put the blame for Celtic’s descent towards crisis at Brendan Rodgers’ feet – and reckons anyone who doesn’t understand where fans are coming from simply doesn’t get the Scottish game.
Celtic Women defender Caitlin Hayes took aim at Rangers for “letting women’s football down” by locking away fans out of Sunday’s derby.
Baffled St Johnstone boss Craig Levein reckons it’s time to slash refs’ wages after claiming too many whistlers are waiting for VAR to do their job for them.
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