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The form of Mo Salah at Liverpool has served as a cruel reminder of what might have been for Chelsea.Â

First Chelsea were made to rue their decision to offload Kevin de Bruyne and now they find themselves staring at another Premier League superstar who they let slip through the net.ÂIt’s becoming an unwelcome trend at Stamford Bridge in an era in which both De Bruyne and Salah would easily command transfer fees in excess of £100 million.

But have Chelsea learned their lesson? Well, a genuine answer to that particular question will only emerge as time passes, but the decision to part with £58 million for Christian Pulisic hints that a familiar mistake could be in the offing.

Indeed, in light of Chelsea’s decision to sign Pulisic, journalist Daniel Storey revealed that Callum Hudson-Odoi may well seek a £25 million transfer as competition for a place in Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI continues to intensify.

Chelsea’s apparent refusal to lend opportunities to aspiring young players has been an unwanted theme at the core of their recent history, one which is in stark contract to Liverpool’s youth policy.ÂThat the likes of Raheem Sterling, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all risen through the ranks and into the senior squad at Anfield speaks volumes about their willingness to trust in genuine talent.

If Hudson-Odoi is indeed available for £25 million, that policy may well play into their hands. Whether Liverpool would be interested in the 18-year-old wonderkid is another story altogether, but considering the enormity of his raw talent and his attractive price-tag it’s fair to say Jurgen Klopp should be strongly considering a move.

Hudson-Odoi is a left-winger by trade with the ability to play as a number ten or on the right-wing, where he can utilise his blistering speed and tight ball control to bypass opponents and unsettle defenders with flair and incisive vision. Anybody who has seen him in full flow will be acutely aware that he is a talent Chelsea simply cannot afford to lose, but the decision to sign Pulisic implies that something is afoot for the England youth international.

Salah’s unprecedented success at Liverpool has served to rub salt into Chelsea wounds so far this season but the Reds could yet inflict further misery onto their title rivals by clinching a deal for one of the most exciting prospects to emerge at Chelsea in recent memory.

Liverpool and Chelsea fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Lots of Tottenham fans have been giving their verdict on the goalkeeper situation, and a surprising amount of fans want Hugo Lloris to lose his place.

Lloris returned to the starting eleven for Tottenham’s huge clash against Barcelona, and the World Cup winner took just two minutes to make a dreadful mistake.

The 31 year-old is the club captain and for good reason, producing plenty of magical moments through his time in North London.

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However, his mistake at Wembley on Wednesday reminded fans just how mistake-prone he can be, as it was not the first time his lapses of concentration have led to a goal.

Lots of fans are now calling for Paulo Gazzaniga to take over in goal, as the 26 year-old was fantastic against Brighton and Watford.

Gazzaniga was only given the nod for those two matches thanks to an injury for Michel Vorm, but Lloris’ mistakes have got fans wondering if it’s time to pass the reigns.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Leeds United and Nottingham Forest target Britt Assombalona will be sold if they meet Middlesbrough’s £15million valuation, according to The Sun as cited in Leeds Live.

What’s the story?

The 25-year-old striker joined Boro last summer from Nottingham Forest for £15million and the lethal finisher had a flying start to the season under Garry Monk but wasn’t favoured so much by new manager Tony Pulis.

He made 34 appearances over the course of the season, scoring 15 goals.

He has been linked this summer with a move back to the City Ground and Leeds are reportedly also interested in a move, but Boro boss Tony Pulis has said they want to recoup all of the £15million the club spent last summer on the striker.

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Is he worth it?

£15million is a substantial sum for a player who is very good at Championship level but has never progressed beyond that.

Has this been the best World Cup ever? Tell us here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

He does guarantee goals and at 25 could still improve but with Leeds currently relying on loan signings and Forest already having done a lot of transfer business this summer, it seems unlikely that this transfer will come to fruition.

They’d finished third the season previously in their first season back in the top flight, but it’s easy to forget that Newcastle United spent most of the 1980s and the early 90s either floating around the lower half of the top division or floundering in the second one.

So when Kevin Keegan decided that the time was right to sell Andy Cole to Manchester United in February 1995 there was dismay around the club.

As a huge club in a devoted city, Newcastle have always had the set-up for success, but it rarely worked that way. And selling Cole, a man they bought when still in the second tier, seemed more than a little bit negative. For a club with ambition, it was the wrong move.

Even if, before the turn of the new year, Kevin Keegan’s side were out of the title race, perhaps winning the league was still slightly beyond a team who had just come up from Division One just over a year ago. But after a third-place finish in their first season back, they had to avoid becoming just another flash in the pan.

Even after selling Cole to United, the striker still finished as the Magpies’ top scorer in all competitions with 15 goals until his sale. Newcastle slumped to sixth that year, and the decline seemed inevitable.

It’s an event that probably shows that, in football, you can’t have everything. Cole was clearly Newcastle’s most effective player, but if a newly-promoted club – perhaps Newcastle themselves this season – came third in their first Premier League season, you’d probably expect their best striker and top scorer to end up at a club like Manchester United.

It was probably also a rude awakening to a new financial reality for many fans. Newcastle had missed out on the first Premier League season as they were in the second tier, and as a result, they’d missed out on a lucrative season in a league that was formed almost solely for financial gain.

And so when Manchester United were prepared to break the British record to sign Cole for £6m plus Keith Gillespie, Newcastle had to try to persuade the fans that if it was a step backwards, the idea was to get a running start.

But perhaps the most tragic aspect, looking back, was the Gillespie element. Persuading your fans that the sale of your best player is actually in the club’s best interests is a tough sell at the best of times, but sometimes getting a player in exchange just makes things worse. After all, there’s a reason Gillespie was offloaded by Alex Ferguson – he didn’t want him.

Such exchanges rarely work out, probably because the player you’re getting is never as good as the player you sold. Antonio Nunez came to Liverpool as part of the deal that took Michael Owen to Real Madrid, but rather than star for his new team, he became the subject of ridicule more than anything else.

Gillespie, however, wasn’t that ineffective, and Newcastle weren’t about to flop.

A sixth place finish without Cole meant narrowly missing out on a place in the UEFA Cup, and perhaps the lack of European football was a blessing in disguise for the Magpies. The summer saw the signings of David Ginola and Les Ferdinand, who would team up with Alan Shearer and serve as the ideal replacement for Cole.

Kevin Keegan’s side, in the end, didn’t really lose out by selling their best player, and in some respects they gained, as evidenced by their two second places in a row – their best Premier League finishes ever and their best league finishes since 1927 when they actually won the league for the last time.

Gillespie, too, played over 100 games for the club, assisting two of Faustino Asprilla’s three goals against Barcelona in the Champions League, a game which surely takes pride of place in the memories of Newcastle United fans when they look back on that period of time when Kevin Keegan had taken their club to dizzying heights and shown the footballing world that a newly-promoted team could play entertaining, attacking football and succeed – even if Manchester United somehow managed to overcome the Magpies with a frustrating regularity – and the arrival of Arsene Wenger relegated Newcastle to the supporting cast role in the Premier League.

The idea of selling your best player is always a tough one to take, even when transfer records are broken in the process. But being able to get a running financial start at building a side which could keep the pace at the top of the table for an entire season and possibly even win the league (as Newcastle should have done the next season) is smart business if done right.

When Newcastle sold Andy Cole, that’s what they did, and when Keegan resigned in 1997, the club couldn’t reach those heights again as losing the manager was more problematic than losing their striker.

Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley is on the verge of finalising a loan move to Watford, reports Sky Sports News.

What’s the word?

The 13-capped England international has failed to hold down a place in Everton’s first team.

In fact, the 27-year-old has started just four Premier League games under Ronald Koeman this season.

He has made 10 appearances altogether in the top flight, and two in the EFL Cup, but it seems as though his role as a squad player could change.

Sky Sports claim that the midfielder will have a medical today after Everton and Watford agreed on a loan deal, which could turn permanent at the end of the season.

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Cleverley joined the Merseyside outfit from Manchester United in June 2015 and made 22 league appearances, scoring two goals and creating four assists in his first season.

Does Cleverley suit Watford?

Well, for one, he will get more game time at Vicarage Road and consistency from him could help the Hornets retain their top-flight status.

At Manchester United and Everton, Cleverley struggled to become first choice, meaning that he had brief spells in the team, which can stunt development.

At the age of 27, the Englishman should have the ability to perform, but he has not been given much of a chance by Koeman.

Expectations are high on any homegrown talent coming through the ranks at United, and it was no different for Cleverley, but he made the right call in leaving when he realised his game time was limited.

He seems to be in a similar situation at Goodison Park, so a fresh start at Watford could be what he needs, particularly as he has played for the Hornets before.

Cleverley won the player of the season award after making more than 30 appearances during a loan spell at Watford during the 2009-10 campaign.

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Arsenal are exploring the possibility of luring Jese Rodriguez to north London from Real Madrid in January following Alexis Sanchez’s hamstring injury, according to reports from Don Balon.

Arsene Wenger’s decision to risk his Chilean superstar against Norwich on Sunday backfired when the ex-Barcelona man limped off in the second half and it’s expected that he’ll be out of action for at least the rest of the year.

This has come as a real blow for the Gunners, who are also without Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck, and reports claim that the club are eager to boost their options with a move for Jese when the looming transfer window opens.

The 22-year-old is seen as a back-up option at the Bernabeu, which may tempt him to move on either on loan or permanently, with regular playing time likely to open up the outside chance of making Spain’s EURO 2016 squad.

Jese can play on either flank, as a ‘No.10’ or as a striker.

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Thomas Muller joked that Harry Kane must be running out of room to keep his match balls after scoring another hat-trick for Bayern Munich.

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• Kane scored hat-trick in Bayern win
• Has netted three trebles in Germany
• Team-mate Muller made joke

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English striker fired in three goals as the German giants ran out 4-0 winners against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

  Shortly after Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring just four minutes into the clash in Dortmund, Kane doubled their advantage. He added a third after 72 minutes and then rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The treble is Kane's second in a row for Bayern, having fired in three when they ran out 8-0 winners against Darmstadt last week, including an effort from his own half.

  It is his third hat-trick since joining the German giants and he is the first player to score three in his first ever Klassiker match.

  He is also the only Bundesliga player in history to score 15 goals in his first 10 matches.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Kane's growing collection of match balls after his latest hat-trick prompted a joke from co-star Muller, who came up to him after the game and said: "Your hotel room gets smaller and smaller now, huh?"

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Kane will hope to continue his goalscoring form on Wednesday when his side face Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti could leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season and there are several possible replacements…

Carlo Ancelotti hasn't done much wrong as Real Madrid coach. Since arriving for the second time 18 months ago, he has won La Liga and the Champions League – and could win the latter again this season.

He has revived an ageing squad, helped Karim Benzema become a Ballon d'Or winner, and developed Vinicius Jr into a world-class winger.

But now, his job is being called into question. Barcelona are running away with La Liga and with Ancelotti increasingly linked to the Brazil national team gig, it appears his days in Spain could be numbered.

That leaves Madrid potentially looking for a new manager this summer, and they can likely get whoever they want.

Such is the pull of the club, and the relentlessness of President Florentino Perez, that Los Blancos are very hard to turn down. Still, this could be a particularly appointment to make.

In Ancelotti, Madrid had the right kind of character for the job. The famously sound man-manager has brought the team immense success on confidence alone, allowing a world-class squad to play to their own beat.

But Madrid have become predictable, and perhaps need a more astute tactical mind. The board are reportedly starting to realise this.

Indeed, the experienced squad that grinded their way to a European-domestic double is on their way out, while a wave of youth talent could still do with moulding and guidance.

The current options, though, are mixed. Thomas Tuchel was the most obvious candidate before he was snapped up by Bayern Munich last week.

Still, there are a few managers of interest on the market, including reported top candidate Mauricio Pochettino.

GOAL takes a look at who could take the helm next at the Santiago Bernabeu…

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  Mauricio Pochettino

  Numerous outlets are reporting that the former Tottenham and PSG man has piqued the interest of Madrid's board. And he certainly meets some of the criteria.

  Pochettino's sides try to play exciting football, and he has the charisma and energy of a manager capable of leading a big side. His domestic success has been admittedly limited, but he took Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, and also won Ligue 1 with PSG in 2022.

  At Tottenham, he worked wonders with a relatively small budget and Spurs were among the most entertaining teams in Europe on their day.

  With creative players such as Dele and Christian Eriksen playing behind an ever-improving Harry Kane, Pochettino pieced together a side that finished second in the Premier League in 2016, and knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League in 2019.

  It's not hard to see him doing something similar with a young squad in Madrid – especially if Los Blancos sign a certain English midfielder to bolster the ranks.

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  Raul

  Madrid don't mind an internal replacement. It's brought them plenty of success in the past, notably with the promotion of Zinedine Zidane from reserve side Castilla. The club legend went on to win two league titles and a trio of Champions League winners' medals at the helm.

  And Raul could be next in line. Zidane's former team-mate's managerial path is remarkably similar to that of the former Madrid boss.

  Raul took over the Madrid U15s in 2018, and was made manager of Madrid Castilla less than a year later. The B team have enjoyed success under the club legend's tutelage, with the academy side third, and four points behind Alcoron in the Primera Federacion.

  Players such as Rodrygo, Alvaro Rodriguez and the soon-to-return Fran Garcia have all cracked into the senior side after developing under Raul, too.

  Leeds were reportedly interested in hiring him, and a handful of German clubs were also sniffing around. But he spurned all interest, presumably with his eyes on a different job…

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  Julian Nagelsmann

  Nagelsmann was recently let go by Bayern Munich, and is reportedly determined to take a few months off before returning to management. If he's refreshed by this summer, he could be a shrewd appointment for Los Blancos.

  The German was hailed as a young tactical mastermind when he was hired by Bayern 18 months ago. But he never quite worked out at the club.

  Although Bayern won the league during his first season in charge – and could still do so this year – Nagelsmann had a tricky relationship with the board. Valid, but perhaps harsh concerns over the style of football and consistency of the side saw his tenure end prematurely.

  But that shouldn't put other teams off. Indeed, Nagelsmann lost Robert Lewandowski, turned Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting into a top-class striker, and before his firing, had Bayen in the last eight of the Champions League. That isn't an easy thing to do.

  Madrid would present a different challenge, but one Nagelsmann certainly has the brain to approach.

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  Xabi Alonso

  Alonso has worked wonders at Bayer Leverkusen. The German side were fighting a relegation battle when the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder took over. A few months later, they are fighting for a European spot.

  This is no accident. Alonso has a young, energetic side playing to its full potential thanks to a number of shrewd tactical moves. He has given the talented Florian Wirtz licence to create, utilised the pace of Moussa Diaby, and reinforced what was a leaky back line.

  That this is his first senior management job makes it all the more impressive.

  Alonso is a product of the Madrid coaching system, taking over the U14s before moving to Real Sociedad B in 2019, and, after spending some of his best years as a player at the Santiago Bernabeu, he certainly has a strong connection to the club.

  As is the case with Raul, it is largely assumed that Alonso will take the Madrid job someday. Is now the right time?

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos divulgou nesta segunda-feira o desligamento de 4.800 membros do programa Sócio Rei, devido a falta de identificação do CPF. O processo de recadastramento iniciou em janeiro de 2019 e identificou que aproximadamente 8.000 sócios não possuíam o documento em seu cadastro. Menos da metade dos identificados regularizaram a situação.

Apenas associados cadastrados anteriormente a 2017 foram desligados, já que a partir de 2018 o informe do CPF para novos sócios passou a ser obrigatório.

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O cancelamento dos cadastros sem CPF não significou um grande abalo financeiro ao clube, já que 95% deles eram remidos ou especiais, portanto, isentos de pagamento. Durante um ano e dois meses, o Peixe buscou algumas medidas para recadastramento desses membros, como bloqueio na entrada em dias de jogos, contato via telefone, e-mail, correspondência e até mesmo comunicado através de um jornal da região.

Foi identificado que grande parte dos sócios desligados registravam nascimento anterior a 1940, sendo alguns, inclusive, já falecidos. Além disso, muitos não tinham endereço nem telefone registrados.

A medida em ano eleitoral visa eliminar problemas como na última eleição, em 2017, como carteirinhas com “sócios fantasmas” e “laranjas” aproveitando-se da vulnerabilidade da identificação dos associados.

MatériaMais Notícias

De volta ao comando do time sub-20 do Corinthians após uma rápida passagem pelo CT Joaquim Grava entre os meses de novembro e janeiro, o técnico Dyego Coelho divulgou a lista dos 30 atletas inscritos para a disputa da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior do ano que vem.

TABELA
>Confira como ficaram os grupos da Copa Libertadores 2020

Maior vencedor do torneio, o Corinthians vai atrás de sua 11ª conquista da Copinha em 2020. O Timãozinho está no Grupo 11, ao lado de Francana-SP, Fluminense, do Piauí, e Retrô, do Pernambuco, A estreia do Alvinegro será no dia 3 de janeiro, às 21h30, diante da equipe de Recife.

Entre os nomes chamados por Coelho destaque para o lateral Lucas Piton, que estreou como profissional no último jogo desta temporada, contra o Fluminense, e para os campeões da Copa do Mundo Sub-17: o goleiro Matheus Donelli e o meio-campista MatheusAraújo.

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Os inscritos do Timão na Copinha:

Goleiros: Guilherme, Yago e Matheus Donelli
Laterais: Daniel Marcos, Lucas Piton, Gabriel Gallegos e Murillo
Zagueiros: Ronald, Felipe, Léo Paraíso e Kelvin
Volantes: Xavier e Du Queiroz
Meias: Vitinho, Matheus Araujo, Ruan Oliveira, Rafael, Adson, Lucas Pires e Gustavo Mantuan
Atacantes: Thalisson, Gabriel pereira, Léo Pereira, Sandoval, Juan David, Walisson, Caue, Pablo, Richard e John Kleber