Tottenham Hotspur

THERE are just four days to go until the new Premier League season kicks off.

Champions Liverpool wasted no time in dropping nearly £300million to bolster Arne Slot’s squad ahead of their title defence.

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But as managers across the division make their final preparations ahead of this weekend, chairmen will be trying to get some more players in through the doors in time for the curtain-raisers.

SunSport rounds up ten mega-money transfers that could get done THIS WEEK…

ALEXANDER ISAK

The Newcastle striker’s future has been one of sagas of the summer – will he stay or will he go?

Liverpool had a £110m offer rejected as the Toon want £150m but how helpful could a sulking, unhappy Isak be for Eddie Howe?

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SAVINHO

The Brazilian winger only joined Manchester City a year ago – seen as very much the replacement for Riyad Mahrez.

But Tottenham have entered talks over the wide man – although City would not entertain offers under £50m.

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MARC GUEHI

The Crystal Palace captain led his side to a second Wembley trophy in three months on Sunday – but could line up for opponents Liverpool this season.

Steve Parish admitted the Eagles will sell if the right bid comes in as Guehi enters the final year of his deal. Newcastle have also been interested.

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YOANE WISSA

The mass exodus at Brentford this summer may not be over just yet if Wissa follows Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Mark Flekken out of the Gtech.

Newcastle reportedly had a £25m bid turned down but look set to go back in for the DR Congo international, with Liverpool monitoring the situation.

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KEVIN

Another Brazilian winger, this time it is Kevin who could be on the move – and heading to the Premier League.

Fulham submitted an offer of £32m but Shakhtar Donetsk are trying to hold out for £43m.

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CARLOS BELEBA

Manchester United want to bring in another midfielder before the window closes – and would love Baleba in time for the start of the new season.

The Cameroon star is only 21 but Brighton will not let him go on the cheap, so much so that the Red Devils may well need to pay a record-breaking £115m-plus for the holding midfielder.

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XAVI SIMONS

Chelsea are after a young, exciting attacker – again. This time it is Xavi Simons being lined up.

RB Leipzig will want at least £60m but the Blues may try and strike a deal which sees Christopher Nkunku return to his former club – plus Tyrique George.

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ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

Copy and paste from above – but this time it is Alejandro Garnacho who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge with talks underway.

He is part of the ‘bomb squad’ deemed surplus to requirements by United gaffer Ruben Amorim, who will happily see the back of the Argentine wideman who was left out of the USA pre-season tour.

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NICOLAS JACKSON

But with all the incomings at Chelsea – including strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap – there may be a major exit, too, with Jackson third-choice No9.

Jackson would prefer a switch to Newcastle, but the Toon will only bid for him should Isak leave – and they are determined not to let that happen.

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EBERECHI EZE

Just like his skipper Guehi, Eze continues to be linked with an exit away from Selhurst Park.

With the Ademola Lookman deal seemingly off the cards, Arsenal may swoop for the Palace talisman in a package worth £55m to £60m – although Tottenham may attempt to hijack the transfer if they can’t get Savinho.

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Already the home of Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles is now also the home of South Korea’s Shohei Ohtani.

Like Ohtani, Son Heung-min has been the most popular athlete in his home country by a wide margin for close to a decade. Like Ohtani, Son has a pleasant disposition that has endeared him to people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Son was introduced as the latest addition to LAFC at a news conference on Wednesday at BMO Stadium, and he was everything he was made out to be.

He came across as sincere.

He was warm.

He was funny.

“I’m here to win,” Son said. “I will perform and definitely show you some exciting …

“Are we calling it football or soccer?”

None of this means Son will turn LAFC into the Dodgers overnight, of course. By this point, Major League Soccer and its teams understand that profile players aren’t transformative figures as much as they are building blocks. Son will be the newest, and perhaps most solid, block that will be stacked on the foundation established by the club’s first designated player, the now-retired Carlos Vela.

Outside of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there might not be a player in the world who could be of a greater value than Son to LAFC, which continues to fight for relevance on multiple fronts. There was a reason the transfer fee paid by LAFC to Tottenham Hotspur of England was the highest in MLS history, a reported $26 million.

“Son’s arrival marks a new chapter, not just for LAFC but for the league and for football in the United States,” general manager John Thorrington said. “He brings not only incredible quality on the field but a magnetic presence off it, someone who inspires millions around the world and now will do so here in Los Angeles.”

The most talented Mexican player of his generation, Vela forged an immediate connection with the community, carving out a place for LAFC in the congested Los Angeles sports market. Son will do the same, as this city is home to a large Korean community.

Supporters of Mexico’s national soccer team also share a fondness of Son because of a late goal he scored against Germany in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, which enabled El Tri to advance to the round of 16.

More than ethnic background, Vela’s success with LAFC was driven by performance. Son is expected to deliver on that front as well. Son might be 33, but he remains a world-class attacker. He should be one of MLS’ best players from the moment he steps on the field, if not the best after Messi of Inter Miami.

“We can say I’m old, but I still have good physicality, good legs and still I have good quality,” Son said.

South Korean national team Son Heung-min poses for a photo with his new LAFC jersey.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

LAFC has become a model franchise in MLS not just because of how it markets itself. The club makes smart soccer decisions and Son is the latest.

What will distinguish Son from Vela is the opportunity he will present LAFC to build its global brand.

“From the early days of building this club, we’ve dreamt of building a club that would win trophies and make a major positive impact in our community and Los Angeles, but also make a mark on the world stage of global football,” lead managing owner Bennett Rosenthal said.

As much success as it has enjoyed domestically, as much attention as it received for participating in the recent Club World Cup, LAFC doesn’t have as much international name recognition as Inter Miami, which employs Messi; or the Galaxy, for which David Beckham played; or even the New York Cosmos, which made its name by signing Pele in the 1970s.

Son played 10 seasons with Tottenham, and by one estimate, the club had 12 million supporters in South Korea — or about one in four people in the country. Koreans traveled to London to watch Son play for Tottenham, just as many Japanese people travel to watch Ohtani at Dodger Stadium. Korean companies sponsored the Spurs.

The eyes of South Korea have shifted to LAFC. The team scheduled Son’s introductory news conference for 2 p.m. local time — or 6 a.m. in South Korea. An estimated 40 Korean journalists were issued credentials to cover the event.

Son acknowledged that as he prepared for life after Tottenham, LAFC was “not my first choice.” A conversation with Thorrington after the season changed his mind.

“He showed me the destination where I should be,” Son said.

Son attended LAFC’s Leagues Cup victory over Tigres of Mexico on Tuesday night and received a loud ovation when he was shown on the video scoreboard.

“It was just insane,” he said. “I just wanted to run into the pitch.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass presents new LAFC star Son Heung-min with a certificate of recognition during an introductory news conference on Wednesday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Son will be reunited with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham.

“He’s back to [being] my captain,” Son said. “So I have to say something good about him because otherwise in the locker room, he’s just going to kill me.”

Son laughed.

His personality will play in Los Angeles, just as it did in London. He will make LAFC a known commodity in South Korea, perhaps beyond. He will further enhance a structure that was built by Vela, ensuring the team’s next star will have an even greater platform on which to perform. He won’t be as prominent locally as Ohtani or Luka Doncic, but he doesn’t have to be.

TOTTENHAM star Son Heung-min was cradled like a baby by a 7ft 2in former MMA star at an open training session earlier today.

The South Korean superstar and his team-mates took part in the session at the home of Anyang FC in Seoul.

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After training, Son was joined pitchside by Korean ex-MMA fighter Choi Hong-man.

The enormous wrestler competed in MMA between 2006 and 2016, and even fought arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time Fedor Emelianenko.

During the interaction, Choi picked Son up and began cradling him.

The Tottenham captain, not exactly small at 6ft, was in fits of giggles while being picked up, even sheepishly covering his face.

Spurs will take on Newcastle in front of 66,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium, home of the South Korean national team, tomorrow.

The match is likely to be Son’s last for Tottenham, after he announced that he will be leaving the club after 10 years earlier today.

Sitting alongside manager Thomas Frank, Son began an emotional press conference by saying: “I’ve decided to leave the club in the summer.

“And respectfully, the club is helping me with my decision.

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“So I just want to share this information before we start the press conference.”

On how he came to the decision, Son added: “It was the most difficult decision of my football career.

“I’ve been here ten years at a beautiful club with beautiful fans and having such amazing memories.

“And after all that, it was so hard to make this decision. But as I said, I feel like I need a new environment and to push myself.

“And to get more of me, I feel like I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a lot of time when you’re thinking about it.

He added: “I came to London as a kid. 23-years-old, a very young age, [and] a young boy came to London who even didn’t speak English.

“And [I’m] leaving this club as a grown man. This is a very, very proud moment.

“So I just wanna say thank you to all of the Spurs fans that gave me so much love.

“I felt like it was my home. But yeah, it was, it was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made.”

A MODERN DAY LEGEND

Son signed for Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 aged 23 in a deal worth around £22million.

The popular forward went on to score 173 goals in 454 appearances for the North Londoners, placing him fourth on the club’s all-time list of goalscorers.

Son was appointed club captain by former boss Ange Postecoglou in 2023.

The Tottenham legend went on to lift the Europa League trophy in May, as the club ended its 17-year drought.

On the timing of his White Hart Lane exit, Son said: “The goodbye is always also in a good timing. But I think it’s the right time to make this decision.

“I hope that everybody understands my decision and I hope that everybody respects that.”

Son has been strongly linked with a move to MLS side LAFC.

The switch would see him reunite with his predecessor as Spurs captain Hugo Lloris.

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ANTHONY HARTIGAN was once taught a tough lesson at Wembley by Tottenham “beast” Victor Wanyama as a skinny 17-year-old.

But the Barnet captain is hoping to put that and all his EFL experience to good use as the Bees return to League Two on Saturday after a seven-year absence when they host Fleetwood.

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Hartigan, 25, clocked 118 appearances in League One for AFC Wimbledon and another 20 for Newport (on loan) and Mansfield in League Two before dropping into non-league with Barnet.

And he has also played at Wembley twice — including taking on Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in 2018 with the Dons while their new stadium was being built.

He told SunSport: “We got drawn away against Tottenham in the FA Cup so I had a unique chance to play at Wembley. It was an incredible experience to take on Premier League stars live on TV.

“I was only 17 and it was my breakthrough year. I’d only made my senior debut that season so to be walking out under the arch alongside the likes of Harry Kane was surreal.

“Tottenham had a great team then. They also had Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, Kieran Trippier, Mousa Dembele, Son Heung-Min, Victor Wanyama, players like that.

“I was up against Alli and Wanyama. I’ve got a photo of me trying to get the ball off Wanyama, which is funny because I’m like a skinny little boy and he was just a beast! I didn’t stand a chance!

“Our manager Neal Ardley told us the next morning, ‘That’s the standard you must reach if you want to make it to the top.’

“They just do everything so well technically, tactically, physically and mentally. It’s frightening how big a gap it is from our level.”

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Hartigan was also on the losing side in the 2021 League Two play-off final with Newport when they were beaten after extra-time by Morecambe.

Not only was the day soiled by the result but the crowd number was limited to only 9,083 because of Covid restrictions.

Hartigan feels he has unfinished business in the EFL, having played regularly for the Dons.

But when he joined Mansfield three years ago, a shoulder injury wrecked his first season there before he was loaned for a year to Barnet, a move he made permanent last July.

However, he has found a home at the Hertfordshire club, starting 89 of his 90 league appearances — and winning the National League title in May.

Now he cannot wait to get his EFL career motoring again with the Bees.

He said: “I had a bit of bad luck going to Manfield. It was the right club for me at the wrong time — but Barnet has definitely proved to be the right team at the right time.

“I’ve excelled here because there are good people around me, I’m getting games under my belt again and the whole environment has been excellent.

“We don’t fear the jump into League Two because this team deserves to be here.

“On a personal level I want to reach the highest level I can and enjoy my football. I’m enjoying my journey with Barnet.”

JAMES MADDISON and his long-time girlfriend Kennedy Alexa have heartwarmingly revealed they’re expecting a second set of twins.

The couple started dating in 2020 and welcomed their first child, son Leo, into the world the following year.

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England international Maddison and his model other half had twins – Delilah and Rome – just days after the midfielder joined Tottenham in the summer of 2023.

And they’ve remarkably conceived a second set of twins, the odds of which are a massive ONE IN 50,000.

They revealed they’re expecting again in a touching holiday montage video on both their Instagram accounts.

In the video, Alexa, 30, proudly showed off her bump, which her little ones adorably kissed, as she dipped her toes into the sea.

The video ended with Maddison, 28, writing “twins again” and “Maddison twins part 2” in the sand.

Their joint caption read: “Beyond blessed! Bring on the chaos.”

The couple were showered with well-wishes seconds after sharing the video.

One of their followers wrote: “I’M CRYING!!!!! KENNEDY!!! Congratulations!!!!!!! You look like an angel.

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“Ahhhh, omg literal tears so happy for you and your beautiful family.”

Another said: “Maddison X5 LOVE LOVE LOVE, congratulations both!!”

And another said: “OMG INCREDIBLE. Congratulations!!!!! Xxx”

One remarked: “So excited!! The chaos will be worth it.”

Another chimed in: Maddison’s 5-a-side invitational.”

Several of Maddison’s club and international team-mates chimed in, including Jude Bellingham, who wrote: “Congratulations.”

Jordan Henderson commented: “Congrats, sheriff.”

Jack Grealish also commented, writing: “Congrats both. Unbelievable.”

Dominic Solanke chimed in: “Beautiful chaos!”

And Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven both chimed in with love heart eye emojis.

KYLE WALKER angered Manchester City fans after admitting he would sacrifice one of his Premier League medals to have been part of Tottenham’s Europa League triumph.

The Etihad club captain left Pep Guardiola stunned when he asked for a move away in January — when City were right in the middle of a crisis.

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He joined AC Milan on loan but the Italians turned down the option to sign him permanently.

And boss Pep left the 35-year-old right-back out of his Club World Cup squad, meaning he is free to find a new club.

But City fans were angry when Walker revealed on his BBC podcast he would have loved to have been with former club Spurs as they ended their 17-year trophy drought.

Walker has won six Premier League titles at City and was part of their Treble-winning side in 2022-23.

He said: “I’d probably give up one Premier League title, not the first, to have won that Europa League with Tottenham because I know what it means.

“Probably my second — although that was the ‘Four-midables’ [when they won all four domestic trophies].

“It’s hard to give one away but for what that moment meant, to say I was in that Spurs squad that won a trophy.”

City fans slammed Walker, with one saying: “Just ban this guy from the Etihad and get it over and done with. He’s already freely hating us, why protect whatever is left of his relationship with the club.”

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Another added: “Mental. I could never ever imagine John Stones, Nathan Ake, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez ever coming out and saying they would give up even a Community Shield to win a trophy at a former club.”

Tottenham supporters were delighted to see that he still loves the club, as one commented: “Great to hear you say ‘we’ when referring to Spurs.”

A second said: “As a Spurs fan, it was really heartwarming to hear Kyle’s words and his feelings connected to the Europa League final. I was gutted when he left for Man City, but I’ve always been happy seeing him win trophy after trophy.”

Walker — who spent eight years on Tottenham’s books — admitted he was a bag of nerves watching his old club beat Manchester United 1-0 last month.

He added: “It was the first time in a long time I’ve been nervous — and I wasn’t even playing.

“I was there with my iPad and I couldn’t sit and watch it. I was walking up and down my room.

“We reached a lot of finals but against better teams who knew how to win.

“They’ve always been a club that nearly got over the line but not quite. I’m buzzing for them.”

Walker joined City from Spurs in July 2017 and has a year left on his deal.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce are the latest to show an interest in him.

THE Under 21 Euros kick-off today – bringing a whole host of new stars.

England are the holders and some of their winners from two years ago are now in the senior squad.

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The likes of Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and James Trafford have been with Thomas Tuchel‘s party over the last week.

Premier League clubs will surely be interested ahead of the proper transfer window opening on June 16.

So, here is SunSport’s five to watch – although one of the names will be familiar…

NICK WOLTEMADE (Germany)

Stuttgart’s 6ft 6in striker is anything but a target man and arrives full of confidence after making his senior bow against Portugal last week.

The £34million-rated star’s 17 goals this season have alerted a host of Prem clubs, including Everton.

Woltemade, 23, could now earn himself a big-money move by firing the Germans to Euro glory.

CONRAD HARDER (Denmark)

Sporting Lisbon brought the hotshot, 20, to Portugal for  £16m last summer and now value him at nearly FOUR TIMES that amount.

Harder had seven goals and 16 assists this term — with Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus all watching him closely.

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YEREMAY HERNANDEZ (Spain)

Deportivo winger was playing third-division football in Spain a year ago — but now has a host of top clubs eyeing him.

The 22-year-old led them to promotion with 15 goals and five assists.

His electric pace and dribbling make him one to watch.

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JORREL HATO (Holland)

Despite being just  19, the classy defender has been named Ajax vice-captain.

Even though the Dutch giants suffered title agony, Hato was named the Eredivisie Talent of the Year.

Arsenal and Liverpool are among clubs eyeing the teen star.

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ETHAN NWANERI (England)

Arsenal’s attacking sensation, 18, aims to announce himself on the international stage this month.

Nwaneri produced 11 goal contributions for Mikel Arteta’s men in a breakout campaign.

Equally happy out wide or centrally, Nwaneri is arguably the Young Lions’ biggest threat.

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ANGE POSTECOGLOU sent a heartwarming text message to Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The Aussie boss was sacked on Friday – just 16 days after leading Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years as they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.

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However, a woeful Premier League campaign which saw the club finish 17th and record 22 losses meant his position was ultimately untenable.

Many of the Tottenham squad – including captain Son Heung-min and James Maddison – were quick to post emotional messages of gratitude to Postecoglou.

And Bissouma has now revealed his own WhatsApp exchange with his former manager on Snapchat.

The conversation begins with Postecoglou writing: “Hi Biss. Sorry I missed your call. I am very proud of you.

“It was an honour to share a dressing room with you and appreciate how much you believed in what we were trying to achieve. 

“I wish you only the best for the future. I will always be following. Much love from my family to yours.’

Bissouma replied just over an hour later with: “Thank you gaffer and thank you really much for everything on and off the pitch I’ll always be grateful.

“The way you believed me and trusted me was incredible. I’m gonna miss you but it’s football life.

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“Got a lot to be said but I think you know what I’m thinking about you already so I’m just wishing you all the best for the future and may God protect you and your family. #bigboss love.”

The exchange ended with the 59-year-old responding: “Always by your side Biss 🙏.”

Bissouma was one of the best players on the pitch during Spurs’ Europa League final win 16 days before Postecoglou was axed, and has the former Celtic boss saved as ‘Big Ange’ in his phone.

The heartfelt farewell exchange indicates how popular Postecoglou was with his players who are reportedly furious with the decision to sack him.

SunSport exclusively revealed that Brentford manager Thomas Frank has agreed to replace Postecoglou.

Spurs will have to pay a hefty compensation fee for the Dane, and are also interested in taking Bryan Mbeumo with him.

Frank is set to be Bissouma’s third manager since he joined Antonio Conte’s Spurs from Brighton in June 2022.

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CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has turned his back on extending his Premier League stay – insisting: I’ve done my time in England.

The Denmark international is a free agent with his Manchester United contract expiring, and there is top-flight interest in the midfielder.

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But Eriksen, 33, declared his aim to play in another country after spending over ten seasons in the Premier League.

Signed from Ajax, he had a seven-year stay with Tottenham before leaving for Inter Milan in 2020.

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on national duty in June 2021, but went on to have a six-month spell with Brentford in early 2022.

United signed him that summer, and he went on to score eight goals in 107 Red Devils appearances.

Eriksen told Danish TV: “I would rather get away from the Premier League.

“I feel like I’ve taken my turn in the Premier League, so I’m looking outside the English borders.

“It has been a great place for me and my family, and we have been there for many years.

Tour miss

Eriksen, like fellow Scandinavian Victor Lindelöf, was absent from United’s chaotic post-season tour.

Some reports suggested the pair refused to travel to Asia for the money-spinning trip.

The Dane playmaker stayed to tie the knot with long-time partner Sabrina Kvist Jensen. Whilst, Lindelof’s wife Maja is currently heavily pregnant with the pair’s third child.

He added: “When I moved from Tottenham to Inter, it wasn’t my plan to go back to England either.

“After that I’ve been there for three and a half years again, so you should never say never.

“But my priority is that I have to leave.”

Danish bookies installed home-country club Odense as favourites to be Eriksen’s next employer.  He spent three years in their youth ranks.

But the midfielder insisted: “It’s football’s rumour mill.  I hope no-one has put money on it being now, because then they will lose.

“Right now there is nothing.  There is interest all around, but there is nothing where I am close to signing.

Eriksen’s move to Manchester United was brought about after his cardiac arrest in the 2021 European Championship prevented him from playing football in Italy due to the implantable defibrillator inserted in his chest.

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His Inter contract was subsequently terminated following the ruling from of the Italian Football Association and he joined Brentford on a short-term deal before signing for United.

The installed defibrillator means that Eriksen is still unable to play football in Italy therefore sign for an Italian club.

“My focus is on playing international matches, and then go on a good summer holiday,” he concluded.

“Then we will see how long the holiday will be.”

NOTTINGHAM FOREST would have earned a Champions League spot at the expense of Newcastle if VAR did not exist.

And the Magpies’ escape from any consequences for their home defeat by Everton is put into even starker content as they would have missed out on European football altogether without the technology.

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SunSport have analysed all 380 Prem matches this term and worked out how the table would have looked if the original on-field decisions had not been overturned after intervention by the Stockley Park video booth.

Our number crunchers found that Eddie Howe’s men were by far the biggest beneficiaries of VAR changes. 

Newcastle had a staggering 13 decisions changed in their favour, with just five reversals hurting them.

That brought a net figure of +8, with Aston Villa and West Ham next in the benefits column with each having four more interventions in their favour than against them.

Our analysis, which assumes every penalty that was initially awarded and then wiped was scored, suggests that without VAR Newcastle would have picked up four fewer points – dropping them to eighth in the table – and conceded seven more goals.

Forest, whose home defeat by Chelsea left them in the Conference League slot, would have finished fifth in our “No VAR” table.

And Bournemouth, ninth in the actual table, would have been preparing for a first continental campaign in the Europa League without the technology changes.

Andoni Iraola’s side had 11 VAR changes against them and just three in their favour, costing the Cherries EIGHT points and seven goals.

The study of the 111 changed decisions cannot determine definitively what would have happened in real life if the initial decisions had not been overturned.

But one of the most contentious calls saw Dango Ouattara’s last-gasp “winner” against Newcastle in August chalked off for a handball PGMOL chief Howard Webb subsequently conceded was wrongly overturned after the VAR intervention.

Over the course of the season there were 12 goals and 25 penalties awarded through VAR intervention – with 21 of those spot-kicks converted – compared to 48 goals and 11 penalties disallowed.

Liverpool’s 10-point advantage over Arsenal at the top of the pile would have been reduced to just two without VAR, as the Gunners lost eight points from the six overturns against them – including “winning” goals against Chelsea, Fulham and Aston Villa.

Chelsea and Manchester City swap places, with the Londoners up to third, with Villa down one to take the Conference League slot.

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THE final day of the Premier League is here, and there is so much still to be decided!

Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are the FIVE teams in the mix for the remaining three Champions League spots.

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TOTTENHAM fans will welcome home their Europa League winners back to North London TODAY.

The Spurs faithful have flocked onto the streets to witness Ange Postecoglou‘s side parade the European trophy that ended their 17-year wait for silverware.

The parade will run from Edmonton Green, past the stadium, loop around Northumberland Park and then return to the ground.

• Start time: From 5.30pm BST
• FREE live stream: Tottenham’s official YouTube channel

Follow our live blog below…

TOTTENHAM stars are set for a big payday after their Europa League triumph.

Brennan Johnson created history by scoring the only goal in Bilbao to beat Manchester United.

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And in doing so he pocketed some extra cash for himself and his team-mates.

The Spurs squad have earned a big bonus for winning the Europa League.

Boss Ange Postecoglou will receive £2million for his role in the famous win, report the BBC.

While the squad will be given £3m to be divided between each player.

Some stars will also earned a pay rise if they have a Champions League qualification clause in their contract.

Tottenham will compete in Europe’s elite competition next season for the first time since 2022/23.

That means there could be an extra £100m in the coffers thanks to prize money, TV revenue and additional sponsorships.

Spurs’ Europa League win saw them scoop a £10.95m cash prize from Uefa.

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Tottenham’s qualification mean there will be six English teams competing in the Champions League next season.

Liverpool and Arsenal have booked their place which means Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will fight it out for the final three spots on Sunday.

MANCHESTER United and Tottenham Spurs fans are guzzling pints and partying on the streets of Bilbao in the run up to the season-saving Europa League final.

Up to 70,000 footie fans have flocked from the UK to sunny Bilbao where spirits are at an all-time high – despite some taking a 32-hour ferry ride to get there.

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Bilbao bars have been flooded with Brit fans chanting and drinking ahead of the anticipated final tonight.

Both sets of supporters have been pictured marching through the streets, chanting songs with drinks in hand as they gear up for the Europa League final.

Images show one Spurs fan playing the trumpet for gargantuan crowds, while Man United supporters hold up their beers to cheers.

Footage taken by The Sun showed fans filling the streets, with around 70,000 fans thought to have flocked to Spain – despite the stadium being at 53,000-capacity.

Some have braved an epic 32-hour-plus ferry ride which set sail at 10pm on Sunday evening and didn’t arrive until this morning.

With flights to Spain rocketing over £1,000 after the Prem teams sealed their final spots, many took advantage of the cheaper sea-route option, which set them back £260 for a cabin.

The sky-high air prices are due to just six direct flights from Britain to the Basque region’s industrial port city each day.

And with only 65 hotels in Spain’s tenth largest city, accommodation has been fully-booked for weeks.

Each club has millions of fans across the globe, but since there are just 14,000 tickets allocated to each team, bagging a seat to the showpiece event has been a tricky task.

On Sunday night, precious tickets to the big game were selling on the black market for up to £10,000.

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EasyJet was charging £1,823 to fly from Gatwick to Bilbao on Wednesday morning and return on Thursday morning, while the cheapest hotels for Wednesday night cost around £1,200.

But for those fans who managed to snap up the golden tickets, footage has shown them enjoying themselves.

Despite dismal Premier League seasons – United finishing 16th in the table and Spurs in 17th, perilously close to the relegation zone – die-hard supporters were emptying their bank accounts and flocking to Bilbao.

Aside from European glory, the victorious team qualifies for next season’s cash-riddled Champions League, worth a cool £100m to the club lifting the prized trophy.

The travel chaos endured by thousands of footie fans has mirrored the 1987 American road trip comedy movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles starring Steve Martin and John Candy.

Spurs fan John Affleck of Enfield, Herts., was today enjoying local delicacy pintxos – snacks on a slice of bread resembling an open sandwich – washed down with Sangria.

He told The Sun: “I flew to Madrid then got the train down. There are no hotel rooms so I’m bunking up with a pal on his hotel floor.

“The trip will cost me more than £5,000. I’m broke, but I really don’t care. We just need to win.”

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Frank Johns, a Red Devils season ticket holder, jetted out yesterday from Heathrow via Schiphol in Amsterdam.

He said: “It has been a pitiful season but none of that will matter if we lift the trophy.”

Under-fire Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou face the chop if they don’t prevail in the final – cruelly dubbed “El Crapico” by rival fans and pundits.

Amorim masterminded Manchester United’s 7-1 semi-final demolition of ten-man Athletic Bilbao.

And Postecoglou guided his Tottenham team to a 5-1 triumph over Norwegians Bodo/Glimt in the other to set up the all-English final.

Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, while Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final in the same year.

United beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final and Spurs KO’d Wolves to win the 1972 Uefa Cup.

Tottenham have already beaten the Manchester outfit on three occasions this season – twice in the league and once in the Carabao Cup.

They are looking to end a trophy drought that dates back to 2008 and has hung over the club – to the delight of opposing fans.

United meanwhile have continued to be dire in the Prem with Amorim claiming his side are “not ready” to be competitive domestically and in the Champions League.

Footie fanatics get the party started early

By Sun man in Bilbao, Dave Courtnadge

IT’S barely midday in Bilbao on the day before the Europa League final between Manchester United and Spurs – but it’s already getting lively.

I arrived in the city at about 9am after a 32-HOUR ferry ride from Portsmouth.

And the first thing a lot of fellow fans planned to do was find a pub for a well-earned drink.

Walking around the area around the San Mames stadium this morning, a fair few others had the same idea.

Many have had long journeys, stopping off overnight in another city to keep down the soaring cost of getting here, with some direct flights over £1,000.

So it’s no surprise many are already getiing the party started, or the Bilbao leg of the party anyway.

Spurs fan Gary, who flew out from London before an overnight stay in a Madrid hotel resembling a “prison cell”, joked as he supped a pint in the sun: “I’m just getting some practice in for tomorrow.”

The atmosphere has been brilliant so far, and hopefully that will continue.

There had been claims that Spurs fans are set to outnumber United fans by 5 to 1, with an estimated 50,000 supporters of the two English sides expected to arrive.

One Tottenham follower I spoke to joked that they had bought all the flights out of London to keep the Reds out.

Based on the number of Spurs shirts I’ve already seen, he might be right.

BRUNO FERNANDES has opened up on how he “convinced” he was destined to join Tottenham.

Spurs take on Fernandes‘ Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao this evening.

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But in another reality, the 30-year-old could have been lining up for the north London club.

Six months before a January transfer window deal took Fernandes to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon for £47million, Spurs were deep in discussions to sign the midfielder.

There had been five meetings between the two parties with Fernandes’ camp left impressed by their structure and Sporting all set to accept the bid.

Of the talks, a source involved in the talks told the BBC: “They were absolutely next level when it comes to detail.

Even the rooms at the training ground – each one was decorated just like the players’ bedrooms at home, the ones they share with their partners.

“The bed was exactly the same. Even the flowers in the garden gave off a scent that’s meant to be beneficial – it was mind-blowing.”

However, the deal fell through when the Sporting board decided to hold out for an offer twice the size which ultimately never arrived, before selling Raphinha to Rennes instead.

Indeed, Fernandes had been so convinced he would be leaving that when club president Frederico Varandas tried to explain the situation he told him to go away.

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In an interview in January 2020 before he joined Man Utd, Fernandes said: “It was the team that wanted me the most and was the only one I agreed to talk with, because there were other clubs that didn’t interest me or whose project was not up to my expectations.

“Tottenham fit into everything I wish I had at that moment. It is an appealing championship. Knowing that Tottenham would be willing to pay for me and make every possible effort to take me, leaves a player eager to take that step.”

But five years later, the “Portuguese magnifico” has become the heartbeat of the Red Devils.

In the last five years, no outfield player has made more appearances (288) or played more minutes (24,747) across Europe‘s top five leagues than Fernandes.

The all-action club captain has almost single-handedly kept the team afloat this season with 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.

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That includes 12 goal contributions in the Europa League, featuring a hat-trick in the last-16 against Real Sociedad, a penalty in the 5-4 win at Old Trafford over Lyon and a brace in Spain against Athletic Bilbao.

Earlier this month, he had said: “The manager and physio say that I need to relax and rest, but I say no. When I die, I will have a lot of time to lay down and rest.”

Fernandes is one of five players still at Man Utd who was in the matchday squad when the club fell to defeat on penalties against Villarreal in the final in 2021.

He, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof all started the game under then boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire were unused subs with the latter missing the clash through injury.

Man Utd have lost to Spurs three times this season – twice in the Prem and once in the League Cup – but have the chance to salvage the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish with a European trophy and a spot in next season’s Champions League.

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Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash

WATCH the shocking moments a brawl erupts between Manchester United and Tottenham fans as punches get thrown ahead of the Europa League final.

Up to 70,000 Man Utd and Tottenham fans have flooded the streets of sunny Bilbao in good spirits and with drinks flowing.

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However, the mood took a dark turn with footage surfacing on X of a brawl between the two sets of supporters.

In the shocking video, a large group of football hooligans are seen brawling as they throw objects and punches at each other.

Residents alerted authorities at around 9.20pm after they witnessed violent behaviour on Fermín Calbetón Street.

Witnesses say the fight broke out when two large groups of supporters began shouting and hurling insults,

It quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl, with both Man Utd and Spurs fans grabbing whatever they could to throw at each other.

One hooligan overturned a terrace table and used it as a weapon against the other group.

Drinks and bins were also hurled, creating a chaotic scene that posed a serious risk to local businesses and passersby.

Several local police patrols rushed to the scene after reports of the brawl and quickly restored order.

No arrests have been made so far, but officers have stayed in the area to keep the situation under control.

An ambulance was also dispatched, with several people treated at the scene.

However, after further assessment, staff determined no one needed to be taken to the hospital.

It comes as tens of thousands of Brits landed in Bilbao ahead of the highly anticipated final.

Some are braving an epic 32-hour-plus ferry ride which set sail at 10pm on Sunday evening and won’t arrive until 8am on Tuesday morning.

With flights to Spain rocketing over £1,000 after the Prem teams sealed their final spots, many took advantage of the cheaper sea-route option, which set them back £260 for a cabin.

The sky-high air prices are due to just six direct flights from Britain to the Basque region’s industrial port city each day.

And with only 65 hotels in Spain’s tenth largest city, accommodation has been fully booked for weeks.

Each club has millions of fans across the globe, but since there are just 14,000 tickets allocated to each team, bagging a seat to the showpiece event has been a tricky task.

Last night, precious tickets to the big game were selling on the black market for up to £10,000.

EasyJet was charging £1,823 to fly from Gatwick to Bilbao on Wednesday morning and return on Thursday morning, while the cheapest hotels for Wednesday night cost around £1,200.

But for those fans who managed to snap up the golden tickets, footage has shown them enjoying themselves.

A Bilbao bar was flooded with Brit fans chanting and drinking ahead of the anticipated final.

Spurs fans were also seen welcoming the team bus as it arrived in the city one day before the clash.

Footage taken by The Sun showed fans arriving to fill the streets of Bilbao about 40 hours before kick-off.

Both sets of supporters have been pictured marching through the streets, chanting songs with beers in hand as they gear up for the Europa League final.

Footie fanatics get the party started early

By Sun man in Bilbao, Dave Courtnadge

IT’S barely midday in Bilbao on the day before the Europa League final between Manchester United and Spurs – but it’s already getting lively.

I arrived in the city at about 9am after a 32-HOUR ferry ride from Portsmouth.

And the first thing a lot of fellow fans planned to do was find a pub for a well-earned drink.

Walking around the area around the San Mames stadium this morning, a fair few others had the same idea.

Many have had long journeys, stopping off overnight in another city to keep down the soaring cost of getting here, with some direct flights over £1,000.

So it’s no surprise many are already getiing the party started, or the Bilbao leg of the party anyway.

Spurs fan Gary, who flew out from London before an overnight stay in a Madrid hotel resembling a “prison cell”, joked as he supped a pint in the sun: “I’m just getting some practice in for tomorrow.”

The atmosphere has been brilliant so far, and hopefully that will continue.

There had been claims that Spurs fans are set to outnumber United fans by 5 to 1, with an estimated 50,000 supporters of the two English sides expected to arrive.

One Tottenham follower I spoke to joked that they had bought all the flights out of London to keep the Reds out.

Based on the number of Spurs shirts I’ve already seen, he might be right.

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TOTTENHAM and Manchester United will meet in Bilbao on Wednesday for a Europa League date with destiny.

The Premier League strugglers both hold a golden opportunity to salvage their season by seizing glory in Spain.

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Languishing 17th and 16th in the Prem respectively, Spurs and United have endured woeful league campaigns.

But several omens suggest that it could be a glorious end to a difficult season for either side.

TOTTENHAM

It’s been well documented that Spurs have not won a trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008.

Ange Postecoglou has come under fire for his side’s awful league campaign.

But Juande Ramos and George Graham being Tottenham’s most recent trophy-winning managers suggests that it’s not necessarily their best or most popular bosses that can get them over the line.

Spurs can also take heart from seeing teams on far longer trophy droughts than them breaking their ducks.

In March, Newcastle upset the odds to beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final – earning their first silverware since lifting the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

And just last week, Italian side Bologna won the Coppa Italia – beating AC Milan 1-0 in Rome to end a 51-year wait for a trophy.

Former Tottenham hero Harry Kane recently won the Bundesliga at the second time of asking, scoring 26 goals along the way to earning the first trophy of his career.

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Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash

Most recently, Crystal Palace upset Manchester City in the FA Cup final to lift the first major silverware in their entire history.

It’s been the season of fresh trophy winners – and Spurs will be hoping to join the party by earning their third Europa League triumph, having won its former iteration, the Uefa Cup, in 1971 and 1984.

MAN UTD

The Red Devils’ mid-season managerial change is yet to bear fruit.

Erik ten Hag oversaw a dismal start to the campaign and was sacked following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in October.

In came Ruben Amorim, but the 40-year-old has managed to mastermind just six victories in 26 Premier League matches at the helm.

Ahead of Wednesday night, however, United fans can cling to what happened the last time that they won the Europa League.

The Red Devils beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm eight years ago, courtesy of goals by Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

On that occasion they were managed by a Portuguese in Jose Mourinho, who had replaced a sacked FA Cup-winning Dutchman in Louis van Gaal.

Amorim is a Portuguese boss and replaced sacked Dutchman Ten Hag, who lifted the FA Cup last season…

In addition to this, United’s rivals Manchester City last went trophyless in 2017.

By losing to Palace on Saturday, Pep Guardiola‘s side were condemned to their first season without silverware since the 2016-17 campaign.

United fans will be hoping that these omens can work in their favour come Wednesday night.

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Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash

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FABIO PARATICI’S return to Tottenham is set to be confirmed as the Italian looks to line up Ange Postecoglou’s successor.

Spurs boss Postecoglou is expected to leave the club this summer regardless of whether he wins Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United or not.

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Italian Paratici, 52, was Spurs’ managing director of football between 2021-23.

But he was forced to resign in April 2023 after being hit with a two-and-a-half-year worldwide ban by Fifa due to financial malpractice at previous club Juventus.

That suspension ends at the end of next month, freeing him up to come back to his role at Spurs.

Paratici will have an influence on who Tottenham go for next in the dugout provided there is no emotional U-turn on Postecoglou if he is triumphant in Europe.

That is not expected to happen given the team’s disastrous league campaign.

Spurs have racked up a record 21 defeats and are languishing in 17th place.

Paratici is understood to have close ties to Simone Inzaghi.

But the Inter Milan chief is set to stick with the Champions League finalists next season.

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Paratici is also tight with Massimiliano Allegri, but the former Juve boss does not speak English and is believed NOT to favour a move abroad.

One Italian who is in the frame is Francesco Farioli.

Last weekend Farioli saw his Ajax side miss out on the Eredivisie title on the final day despite beating FC Twente 2-0.

The 36-year-old is a former disciple of ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

He is highly-regarded for his work on a shoestring budget at Nice and returning Ajax to the Champions League.

Fulham gaffer Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner remain on Spurs’ list of candidates.

TOM CLEVERLEY is reportedly in talks with a Premier League club just days after being sacked by Watford.

The former Manchester United star was axed by the Hornets earlier this month after missing out on the Championship playoffs.

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Cleverley, 35, took over at Vicarage Road in March 2024 as he replaced Valerien Ismael.

But he could be set for a quick return to the dugout with Southampton interested.

The Guardian have claimed that he is one of the leading candidates to take over at St Mary’s next season.

It is suggested that he has a “strong chance” of being appointed as the new Saints boss.

Cleverley has taken charge of 59 first-team games, winning 20, drawing 14 and losing 25.

The Southampton team is currently playing under caretaker Simon Rusk, who took charge after the sacking of Ivan Juric.

They are a top-flight club for two more games, which come against Everton and Southampton.

Juric was only in charge for 14 Premier League games after replacing Russell Martin.

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Cleverley does face competition for the job from fellow Englishman Will Still.

Still has left Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens following the end of the season in order to move back to England.

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The manager wants to spend more time with his Sky Sports presenter partner Emma Saunders.

His exit came just one season into a three-year deal.

Reports have claimed that Still is in “advanced talks” with Southampton over the vacant manager role.

In his final game, Lens beat AS Monaco 4-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Neil El Aynaoui netted twice while Adrien Thomasson and Anass Zaroury wrapped up the scoring.

The victory sealed an 8th-placed finish in the Ligue 1 table.

Still has also had interest from Hull City and has previously turned down Rangers.

Sheffield Wednesday‘s Danny Rohl is also believed to be in the running for the job.

Meanwhile, Watford have already replaced Cleverley with former Real Valladolid boss Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan becomes the 22nd manager to take charge of the Hornets since Gino Pozzo’s takeover in 2012.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? You’re having a laugh.

We’ve all heard it. The derisory chant from opposition fans when one of the so-called ‘big guns’ is having an off day.

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For example, Southampton supporters had every right to aim it at the multi-billionaires of Manchester City last weekend, when they couldn’t find a way past the worst team in the Premier League.

Only now what was once a mildly amusing terrace jibe sums up perfectly what the leading club competition in the world has become. A joke.

Next season there will be a record SIX English teams in the Champions League.

Almost one third of the entire Premier League will be waved straight into the bizarre league phase by Uefa’s welcoming doormen at an empty small town disco on a wet Tuesday night.

Anyone can come in. From Liverpool who finished top, right down to hapless Tottenham or abject Manchester United hovering above the relegation zone.

It is time to officially ban the phrase ‘elite competition’ whenever the Champions League is mentioned on TV and radio or written in print.

There was a time when you had to win your domestic league to progress into the highest level of European football the following season.

Simple as that.

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We are now at a point where English Premier League teams have to work harder to stay out of the modern Champions League than to get in.

Spurs and Man United, regular participants in the past, have done spectacularly well trying to cock up their seasons. Yet

by virtue of winning the Europa League one of them will be alongside Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the already declared winners of their respective leagues.

Erratic Chelsea, under the guidance of boss Enzo Maresca, have lost to Ipswich, Fulham and Brighton.

From winning five Premier League games in a row, they went winless in the next five and couldn’t string a pass together.

They lag 20 POINTS behind the bona fide champions of England from Anfield and are fifth.

Don’t bet against them being in next season’s Champions League.

The constant tinkering and chiselling away at a once simple game has led to Uefa getting its knickers in a right old twist.

Fifth in this year’s Premier League grants a free pass into the treasure trove of the Champions League thanks to the coefficients which measure success where once it was about winning.

A whole page is devoted to thrill-a-minute ‘coefficients’ on the governing body’s website to explain how a system that would baffle Stephen Hawking’s much cleverer cousin actually works: “Uefa calculates the coefficient of each club each season based on the clubs’ results in the  Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League and Uefa Conference League.

“The season coefficients from the five most recent seasons are used to rank the clubs for seeding purposes (sporting club coefficient).

“In addition, the season coefficients from the ten most recent seasons are used to calculate revenue club coefficients for revenue distribution purposes only.”

And that’s just the overview.

There’s a gag in there somewhere about how many coefficients does it take to ruin a game of football? Only I can’t see a funny punch line.

There was a time back when the world was black and white in the 1950s when two imaginative French journalists took inspiration from South America and came up with the idea of the best clubs from each country competing for a trophy on our continent.

Ironically, it wasn’t called the Champions League back then. It was the plain old European Cup. A cup fought over by teams in Europe. Simple eh?

Liverpool’s first steps into the European Cup came in 1964, our sole representatives having won the league the previous season under Bill Shankly.

Next season they share the honour with five other English teams and some of them are pretty ordinary.

If Spurs win the Europa League and follow it up by winning the Champions League next year, the champions of Europe will come from a team currently 17th in England’s top division.

You can argue it won’t happen. Yet somehow a side which has lost more league games than it has won this season is in a European final next week.

That’s cup football for you and it’s a wonderful lottery. Qualification for the Champions League is not. It’s a boring carve up.

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