120m

AMBITIOUS plans to turn a region into “Europe’s Silicon Valley” are on track with architects releasing the first images of an “essential” new railway station.

The station is a huge £120m boost to a world-famous city – and central to an American billionaire‘s massive £10 billion investment in the area.

This week, architects Foster + Partners released the first images of Littlemore Station, one of two new stations in Oxford set to be delivered with the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line.

The line has been out of service to passengers since 1963.

It is currently used by cargo trains going to and from the BMW mini plant but as previously reported is set to reopen.

The Government has pledged £120m in funding for the project to reopen the line.

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It is part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the “European Silicon Valley”.

Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was “finally going to become a reality”.

She said it would make a “massive difference to local residents, slashing travel times and reducing congestion”.

The update has also been welcomed by the Ellison Institute, funded by American billionaire Larry Ellison, which is investing £10 billion in the region.

In a statement, Lisa Flashner, EIT’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re delighted to hear the Cowley Branch Line will be reopened to passenger traffic. 

“It’s a great example of what can happen if Government and the private sector join forces and both contribute to a common goal. 

“It will help us attract world-class talent to EIT by linking up key innovation hubs with Central London via direct train services. 

“It will also facilitate a closer alliance between EIT and Oxford University with faster journey times.”

A second station will be built at Oxford Cowley, and the reopened line will connect Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to central Oxford in under 10 minutes.

Services will then go directly twice-hourly to London Marylebone.

The Government has said that reopening the line will create up to 10,000 new jobs.

Cowley is an industrial area home to Plant Oxford, which is owned by BMW and is the largest industrial employer in Oxford, employing more than 4,300 people.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that the Government has huge plans for the “Oxford-Cambridge corridor”.

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Oxford City Council has said it will work to identify the additional infrastructure needed to connect the stations to local communities.

This could include new bridges, cycles routes and links to bus networks.

MANCHESTER UNITED are so desperate for a new midfielder that one fan has launched a GoFundMe to raise money to sign Carlos Baleba.

United have reportedly made contact with Brighton to explore a potential deal for Baleba though it will prove difficult.

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Brighton could potentially ask for as much as £100m for Baleba, who still has three years remaining on his contract.

Other Cameroonian reports have suggested Amex chiefs want £87m on the table to even consider opening talks over Baleba.

The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive season for the Seagulls, featuring 34 times in the Premier League and scoring three goals for Fabian Hurzeler‘s side.

According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have expressed their interest in the central midfielder.

And, while United may be struggling for money as they flirt with PSR amid the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for £133m combined, one fan has taken things into his own hands to try and raise some cash.

Supporter Ian M organised the fundraiser on Wednesday night, titled Baleba to ‘Man Utd fund’.

Alongside a picture of Baleba in a Brighton shirt, the description reads: “We need this to happen we need this to happen we need this to happen we need this to happen.”

The post set an ambitious target of raising 120million.

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At the time of writing, there has been one £5 donation from an anonymous user.

United will need all the help they can get ahead of the pending £74million arrival RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Although a No9 is a clear must, many fans think new midfielder is an even bigger priority.

United are on the hunt for a dynamic midfielder to go in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 pivot after unconvincing displays by Manuel Ugarte in pre-season, with his display against Everton facing scrutiny.

Baleba was one of the Premier League’s top ranked midfielders last season for tackles, blocks, interceptions and recoveries, while his progressive carries and forward passing numbers were also impressive.

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His stock is rising fast, and he’s already been linked with Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Brighton star’s journey is nothing short of remarkable so far. Just three years ago, he was still in Cameroon, uncertain about his future. 

When he finally got his breakthrough move to Lille, tragedy struck, he lost his mother, he says it was sudden and quick. It’s a pain that still drives him.

Baleba previously told SunSport: “It was very difficult for me because I didn’t see my mum. I wanted her next to me, but when I signed for Brighton, she wasn’t here.

“That’s why the first season was really hard. I thought about her a lot. But I vowed that I would be the best version of myself and go as far as I can in my career.”

Brighton have made an incredible profit off the traditional ‘Big Six’ in recent years.

A switch to United would see Baleba follow in the footsteps of midfield stars like Alexis Mac Allister, Yves Bissouma, and Moises Caicedo – who all left the Amex for Prem giants.

More on Isak

The dramatic move came as Liverpool REJECTED Bayern Munich’s initial £58.6m bid for Colombian winger Luis Diaz while they are trying to encourage a high-price auction between AC Milan and Saudi money-pots Al-Hilal for Uruguayan Darwin Nunez.

But it is the stunning stepping up of the Reds’ long-term interest in Alexander Isak that has caught Newcastle on the hop, especially as boss Eddie Howe was hoping they were looking to play France under-21 star Etitike alongside

Liverpool chief Arne Slot has led the club’s mourning over the tragic loss of Portuguese star Diogo Jota following his car crash death earlier this month.

Slot and the Anfield hierarchy, though, are also aware that the start of the new Prem season is now less than a month away and that putting together a squad able to retain their crown is critical.

Newcastle are believed to value Isak at £150million, a sum that would be prohibitive even for Liverpool.

But a record-breaking bid, freeing up funds for Howe to bolster his squad ahead of a Champions League campaign in addition to the domestic demands might make Toon bosses think again.

Frankfurt are willing to sell Etitike but their starting price is £85m, although there may be wriggle room for negotiations.

Liverpool’s response to Bayern’s Diaz offer – the German champions fear they will be without Jamal Musiala for the entire season after his horror leg break in the Club World Cup – was a flat rejection although they are looking to offload Nunez.