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Sebastien Haller’s return to Utrecht hangs in the balance amid a bitter dispute with Borussia Dortmund over a multi-million euro severance package.

BVB want to part ways with Haller this summerContract runs until 2026 but termination talks ongoingStriker earns around €10m annually at the clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Dortmund are locked in talks with Haller over ending his contract, which runs until 2026, a year early. According to , the club have offered a €2 million severance package, but the striker is demanding €6m, over half of his annual salary, before agreeing to the move.

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Haller’s exit would free up significant wages, with Dortmund’s pursuit of Fabio Silva, currently a hot candidate for a move reportedly depend on reaching an agreement with the Ivorian. The 31-year-old would also gain the chance for regular football again. Injuries, illness and dips in form have defined his Dortmund spell, with the striker falling behind Serhou Guirassy and Niklas Fullkrug in the pecking order. Both parties previously agreed on a termination, but the size of the payoff has now become a stumbling block.

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Haller joined Die Schwarzgelben from Ajax for €31m (£27m/$36m) with high expectations but faced a life-changing cancer diagnosis soon after arriving. After returning, he enjoyed a strong second half of the 2022-23 season, but his missed penalty against Mainz on the final day saw Bayern clinch the Bundesliga title. A later loan spell at Leganes failed to reignite his form, though a return to Utrecht, where he played last season, remains his most likely next step.

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IMAGOWHAT NEXT?

Negotiations between Haller and Dortmund will continue in the coming weeks. If a severance deal is reached, he is expected to sign for Utrecht, but unless the financial gap closes, his future could remain in limbo heading into the new season.

Newcastle are eyeing Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen as they seek reinforcements up front while the saga surrounding Alexander Isak rumbles on.

Newcastle keen on Strand LarsenSearching for possible Isak replacementNorwegian scored 14 goals last seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Newcastle hold a keen interest in Wolves star Strand Larsen as they search for reinforcements up front. The Magpies are dealing with uncertainty around the future of star striker Isak, who wants to leave St James' Park for Liverpool, and it is thought they want to bring in an immediate replacement for the Swede if he does leave as well as a back-up option.

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The report claims talks have taken place between intermediaries rather than the two clubs. Strand Larsen is not thought to be agitating for the transfer but is open to a move late in the window after impressing during his first season in England. The 25-year-old enjoyed a productive year in the Premier League during 2024-25, netting 14 times in 35 appearances as the Wanderers produced a positive run of form towards the end of the campaign to edge away from relegation danger.

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Larsen is not the only striker on the Magpies' radar. They have been heavily linked with Brentford ace Yoane Wissa, who recently removed all mention of the Bees from his Instagram account in protest of their asking price, which was recently increased to £60 million (€69.4m/$81m). 

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR NEWCASTLE?

It's sure to be a dramatic end to the summer transfer window for Newcastle, who have managed to complete a flurry of deals in recent weeks. The most recent arrival was Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa, with that announcement coming after Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale relocated to St James' Park. After their goalless draw with Villa, the next fixture for Eddie Howe's side is a huge clash with Liverpool on Monday night.

Tottenham and Aston Villa could move for Adrien Rabiot while AC Milan explore a move following the French midfielder's exile at Marseille.

Milan exploring reunion with Rabiot under AllegriSpurs and Villa also showing interestMarseille value the Frenchman at €15mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The midfielder has been frozen out after a clash with Jonathan Rowe in the dressing room and the French club are looking to sell him. Marseille are demanding €15 million (£13m/$16m) for him, with multiple clubs circling, reports . Tottenham and Villa are both in talks with his representatives, Fabrice Hawkins reports, with Spurs particularly keen if Yves Bissouma completes his expected move to Galatasaray. 

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Meanwhile, Milan are exploring a reunion between Rabiot and Massimiliano Allegri, under whom he flourished at Juventus, after being turned down in their pursuit of Bologna's Giovanni Fabbian, reports. However, the 30-year-old has not indicated that he is open to a move to San Siro.

Marseille are already preparing for life without the former Paris Saint-Germain star, identifying Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos and Benfica’s Florentino Luis as potential replacements. With the window closing in days, Rabiot’s future may depend on which club moves fastest and whether his mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, gives her approval.

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Rabiot has reportedly not given up on staying and repairing his relationship with Marseille. Coach Roberto De Zerbi has attempted to downplay tensions, but an interview given by his mother has angered the club as the president Pablo Longoria and sporting director Medhi Benatia are refusing to back down on their decision to banish and sell him.

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Spurs' next step hinges on finalising Bissouma’s sale, while Villa are weighing whether to submit a formal offer before deadline day. Milan, though keen, must find common ground with Marseille’s €15m demand and overcome Veronique Rabiot’s firm stance in negotiations.

Wrexham have said goodbye to a club legend as the Championship side confirmed the release of Ollie Palmer on Friday, with the striker joining Swindon.

Wrexham release strikerPalmer joins SwindonSpent three-and-a-half years with Welsh sideFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham have confirmed that Palmer has left the club after an historic three-and-a-half-year spell at the StoK Cae Ras. The club legend joined in January of 2022, when the club were still in the National League. He scored 46 goals in 156 appearances as the Welsh side rose through the leagues and up to the Championship. 

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Now, Palmer has completed a move to Swindon Town, signing a two-year contract, and will continue his career in League Two. He has played 288 times in the fourth-tier of English football, scoring 61 goals. 

WHAT PALMER SAID

Palmer told Swindon's website: "I’m really excited to sign for a club of Swindon’s stature. The ambition here is clear, and I want to play my part in helping the team push up the table and compete for promotion. I’m looking forward to meeting the lads, working with the manager, and getting started in front of the fans at the County Ground.

"When I spoke with the manager, his vision for the club really stood out. The way Swindon finished last season shows what this team is capable of, and I can’t wait to be a part of it."

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Wrexham begin life without Palmer this weekend against Millwall. They have yet to win a Championship game this season, drawing one and losing two of their three games.

Harry Kane reportedly has a clause in his Bayern Munich contract that will allow him to return to England, potentially at Manchester United, in 2026.

Left Tottenham in summer of 2023Has broken trophy curse in GermanyPremier League return being mootedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ex-Germany international Dietmar Hamann – who spent time in the Premier League and with Bayern in his playing career – claims that prolific frontman Kane is eager to head home after next summer’s World Cup.

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It is claimed that terms in his deal at the Allianz Arena will allow such a transfer to be agreed, with Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer ready to return to his roots after breaking his trophy curse with Bundesliga and Super Cup triumphs in Germany.

WHAT HAMANN SAID

Hamann has told : “I think Harry Kane has a clause that allows him to leave for a certain amount next summer. I believe the reason Bayern Munich wanted to bring Nick Woltemade in this summer was because many within the club think Kane wants to go back to England after the World Cup.

“Whether that's the case, I don't know, but potentially it could be his last season in Munich if someone pays the fee he can choose to leave next summer.

“Whether someone pays £50 million or £60m for him next summer, I don't know. Obviously, a lot will depend on what happens this season in the World Cup. But yes, I think a lot of people, I don't know where they get it from, but many seem to believe that he may want to return to England next summer.”

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Spurs have the option to match any bids that are lodged for Kane, but Hamann believes the 32-year-old striker could end up at Old Trafford. He added: “I can see Harry Kane at Manchester United next season, and I think he'd do well for them.

“Having said that, I always felt that as a London boy, sometimes they don't really like to go to the north. Having played for Spurs, obviously Chelsea and Arsenal might be tricky, but then again, you never know, if they give him a chance to win the Premier League.

“I always felt or thought that a London club would be more favourable than a northern club, but obviously United is probably still the biggest club in England, and if they were to ask for his services, I think it would be fantastic to see him as their number nine.”

Eight single figure scores in his last 11 innings the catalyst as NSW face South Australia in the final Sheffield Shield round trying to avoid a winless season

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-2023New South Wales have made the bold decision to drop their captain and two-Test batter Kurtis Patterson from their Sheffield Shield team for the final match of the season against South Australia as the Blues try and avoid a winless season.Since starting the Shield season with scores of 72 not out, 3, 40, 25 and 122 not out, Patterson has scored just 155 runs at an average of 14.09 in his last 11 innings with one half-century. Eight of those scores have been single figures including 1 and 9 in NSW’s last Shield loss to Victoria in Albury.Stand-in coach Greg Shipperd, who took over from Phil Jaques in late November after the former Test opener was sacked following a horror start to the season, made the bold decision to drop Patterson alongside the NSW chairman of selectors and head of male cricket Michael Klinger.”Our batting group have been inconsistent recently in delivering the runs necessary to establish the match positions we were looking for,” Shipperd said.”We recognise it is a difficult decision to pass on your captain but we are confident Kurtis will regather and draw purpose from this call into the future.”It was decided to support consistent and inform batters in this season’s last fixture, with the currency being runs.”Moises Henriques will stand in as captain for the match against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval.The Blues look set to make five changes. Blake Nikitaris has also been dropped while Trent Copeland has retired. Daniel Hughes has a calf injury and Liam Hatcher is out with a foot issue.Jason Sangha, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley and Ben Dwarshuis have been included in the squad while last week’s 12th man Blake MacDonald is in-line to make his Shield debut.Shipperd emphasised the selection changes were based on performance at the lower levels.”Ryan Hackney has been in the Blues team previously and has averaged over 65 in Second Xl this season,” Shipperd said.”Blake MacDonald was in the squad with us for the last match, although he didn’t play. He has had a phenomenal summer, scoring consecutive Second Xl centuries for ACT / NSW Country as well as 177 not out against the touring West Indies side. This week in the match between NSW Metro and NSW/ACT Country he scored in the 90’s twice.”He was given feedback earlier in the season and asked to score more runs and he has more than done that. Those two guys completely demanded selection.”Similarly, Jason Sangha was left out of our last match and went away and scored plenty of runs in this week’s Second Xl match.”Ryan Hadley is another who has put the form on the board with an extremely dominant Premier Cricket season.”NSW Shield squad vs South Australia: Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Moises Henriques (c), Hayden Kerr, Blake MacDonald, Jason Sangha, Chris Tremain

Enzo Maresca insists Enzo Fernandez will remain a Chelsea player next season despite persistent links with Real Madrid.

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Fernandez linked with Real MadridMaresca rules out Chelsea exitStresses his importance for BluesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 24-year-old sent fans into overdrive after admitting he "always" plays as Real Madrid on EA Sports FC, at a time when the Argentine has been credited with interest from the Spanish giants. However, Blues head coach Maresca seemed to suggest the former Benfica man is going nowhere this summer.

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When asked if Fernandez would be staying at Chelsea, he replied: "Yes."

Maresca added: “It’s a main player for us. He’s one of the captains, he’s one of the leaders. This season he has been very good. He can be even better next season, starting from the first day. Nothing to say about speculation. His focus is on us and this is the most important thing."

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This also comes when reports suggest Fernandez has been spotted house-hunting in Madrid. However, the Argentine still has a Chelsea contract until 2032 and if they did let him leave, they would likely ask for more than the £106.8 million ($143m) they paid to Benfica back in 2023.

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Aside from transfer speculation, Chelsea round off their regular season away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday – as they aim for a Champions League spot next term – before taking on Real Betis next Wednesday in the Europa Conference League final.

Home side bat out final day to make up for paltry first-innings effort

ECB Reporters Network14-May-2023Kent 95 (Fuller 5-21, Abbott 3-23) and 259 for 4 dec (Leaning 68*, Crawley 56, Compton 54) drew with Hampshire 373 (Dawson 84, Weatherley 58, Fuller 51)A brilliant defensive display by Kent earned them a draw with Hampshire, after an engrossing final day in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury. It was a textbook rearguard action by the hosts, who closed on 259 for 4, having batted out 113 overs before the captains shook hands, even though Kent were still 18 runs behind.Ben Compton and Zak Crawley had given Kent hope with an opening stand of 122 and although Hampshire’s hopes were ignited by a spell of three wickets for four runs, they were frustrated by Jack Leaning and Jordan Cox, whose unbeaten stand of 77 took out 43.2 overs.Keith Barker and Liam Dawson took two wickets apiece, but it was an exasperating final day for the visitors. The hosts will be far happier with the draw, having been bowled out for 95 in their first innings, before Hampshire posted 373 in reply.The visitors had looked heavy favourites, but Kent were 66 without loss overnight after 26 overs of stoicism from Compton and a restrained Crawley. Batting conditions looked significantly easier in a Spitfire Ground that looked and felt warm for the first time this season, and both openers eased their way to fifty, but after over an hour of resistance, Dawson made the breakthrough with two wickets in an over.Crawley was caught behind for 56 and four deliveries later Tawanda Muyeye fell for a duck, held by Fletcha Middleton at silly point.When Keith Barker subsequently had Compton lbw for 54 Kent were reeling on 126 for 3, but Leaning and Sam Billings survived till lunch and for nearly an hour after it before the latter was lbw for 29 to Barker.That was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session, with Kent reaching 202 for 4 at tea. Cox played with admirable restraint and when Mohammad Abbas did find his edge it bisected the slip cordon and his next delivery fell just short of second slip. They were isolated alarms for the hosts.Leaning reached 50 when he pulled Barker to square leg for a single and an exhausted Hampshire side tried nine different bowlers before giving up the ghost with nine scheduled overs remaining. Leaning ended on 68 not out from 206 balls, with Cox unbeaten on 30 from 130.

The new signing from Ipswich will wear the infamous jersey during his debut season at Stamford Bridge after completing his £30m move

So many of the greatest strikers in world football have worn the No.9 shirt for club and country – from Alan Shearer to Ronaldo, Gabriel Batistuta to Robert Lewandowski.

At Chelsea, however, the No.9 seems to carry more weight than most. Players throughout the Premier League era at Stamford Bridge having struggled while wearing the iconic number, with former manager Thomas Tuchel even going as far to agree with the assertion that "it's cursed".

Liam Delap, then, is a brave man after the new £30 million ($41m) signing chose the No.9 jersey for his first season in west London after arriving from Ipswich Town. He will become the first player since the 2022-23 season to don the jersey, so can the England Under-21 international be the man to break the curse?

So which players have worn the shirt and how bad has it really been? GOAL runs down those who have worn the infamous jersey in recent times…

GettyThe early EPL years (1992-2000)

The first player to wear the No.9 in the Premier League era for Chelsea was Tony Cascarino, between 1992-1994. He set the unfortunate precedent for players to don the jersey, though, as the Ireland international scored just six league goals across two seasons.

However the following two players enjoyed rather more success in the No.9 – Mark Stein wore it between 1994-1996, knocking in a respectable 25 goals across 63 games in Chelsea blue. This was when they were a mid-table side in the pre-Roman Abramovich era, remember.

Stein was followed by Gianluca Vialli, who achieved legendary status at Chelsea in his time as the No.9 from 1996-1999. He won the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup – before becoming manager in 1998.

However the No.9 curse was firmly re-established in the 1999-2000 season by Chris Sutton, who scored only one league goal all campaign after arriving in a £10 million move from Blackburn Rovers.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2000-04)

Before the stinkers, let us salute a Chelsea great and arguably the greatest No.9 for the club in the Premier League era.

A club-record signing for £15m from Atletico Madrid, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored on his debut on his way to bagging 26 goals in his first Blues season, and 29 in 2001-02. His goal tally fell slightly in his final two Stamford Bridge campaigns, but he formed a key part of the final pre-Abramovich era team, before being sold to Middlesbrough in 2004.

GettyMateja Kezman (2004-05)

The 2004-05 season was historic for Chelsea fans, as they swept to the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho, on the back of several star signings.

However, for every Frank Lampard, there was a Mateja Kezman. The Serbian arrived with a big reputation from his time at PSV, but scored just four goals in 25 games and was sold on to Atletico Madrid at season's end.

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Getty Images SportHernan Crespo (2005-06)

Hernan Crespo took over the vacant No.9 after Kezman left – and despite those who claim Crespo was an underwhelming Chelsea player, he was actually integral in their second-straight league crown.

Crespo scored 13 goals in all competitions – however he and his family never settled in England, which meant Blues fans never saw him at his peak. He was loaned to Inter the following season and saw out his Chelsea contract in Italy.

Opposite number Suzie Bates also shone with a half-century but didn’t have enough support

Andrew McGlashan19-Mar-2024In a game of two captains’ innings, it was Heather Knight who came out victorious as England took the opening T20I of the five-match series in Dunedin by 27 runs.Knight, who opted out of the WPL to lead England from the start of this tour, put together a superbly-paced 63 off 39 balls to steer the visitors to 160 for 4 with handy contributions from Sophia Dunkley and Maia Bouchier.Related

Heather Knight: No regrets about missing RCB glory for England duty

Devine: 'There's not much depth coming through'

Suzie Bates, standing in for Sophie Devine as she returns from the WPL where she won the title with Royal Challengers Bangalore, did her best to carry the chase with 65 off 51 balls but a batting line-up without Devine and Amelia Kerr couldn’t provide enough support at a high enough tempo.New Zealand should be boosted by the return of the two stars for the next match in Nelson while England’s WPL players – Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Danni Wyatt – won’t enter the series until after the third game.Dunkley provides early impetusTammy Beaumont returned at the top of the order for her first T20I in more than two years and the 100th of her career. She was given an early life on 1 when Hannah Rowe couldn’t hold onto a chance above her head at mid-on and then there were some positive signs for Beaumont before she found mid-off against the left-arm spin of Fran Jonas.Either side of the powerplay ending, Dunkley hit her stride having initially reached 11 off 14 balls. She twice found the boundary in the sixth and seventh overs against Rowe and Rosemary Mair as 27 runs came to give England’s innings a shot in the arm. Dunkley was starting to motor when she picked up her sixth boundary, but Lea Tahuhu struck back the next ball with a short delivery that was top-edged behind.Knight goes through the gearsAt the midway point, England were 72 for 2 with Knight and Bouchier working to give themselves a platform. It took Knight a little time to get going and she was 8 off 10 balls before collecting her first boundary with a thumping straight drive off Jess Kerr. Then she was up and running.Suzie Bates carried New Zealand’s chase•Getty ImagesThe England captain needed just another 23 deliveries to bring up her half-century from 33 balls which included taking Tahuhu over wide long-on for six in the 18th over that cost 18 runs. At that point, 170 was well within sight for England but New Zealand clawed the innings back well in the last two overs, leaking just 11 runs.The third-wicket stand of 91 off 64 balls ended when Knight walked past a full delivery from Jess. Bouchier, who had been dropped on 26 and 37, the first a sitter by Maddy Green at mid-on, ended with a career-best in T20Is but, unlike Knight, couldn’t elevate her scoring rate in the same way.Too much left to BatesLauren Bell struck in the first over of the chase to have Izzy Gaze caught at cover second ball (she could have been run out off her first) but stand-in captain Bates ensured New Zealand remained level-pegging to what England have achieved in the powerplay – 44 for 1 compared to 41 for 1.Bates took on the opening over of debutant quick Lauren Filer with three boundaries – a strong clip, a big top edge to third and a bludgeon over the on side – to lay down the gauntlet. But England’s spinners, including Knight, proved harder work and there wasn’t the required scoring rate from the other batters.George Plimmer showed glimpses before skying Sarah Glenn to short fine leg then Green was becalmed early in her innings as the asking rate grew. Green’s stay was ended in somewhat unfortunate circumstances when Bates crunched a straight drive into Charlie Dean which ricocheted onto the non-striker’s stumps with Green well short.Bates just about kept New Zealand alive before picking out deep square leg for 65 off 51 balls at which point 52 were needed off the last three overs. The trio of Plimmer, Green and Brooke Halliday managed 56 off 61 balls between them.