
Top Premier League referee drafted in for Linfield's Windsor Park battle with Shelbourne
Linfield's Champions League showdown with Shelbourne at Windsor Park has been given a Premier League flavour with officials from England's top-flight drafted in to take charge.

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Daily Mirror
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Tottenham transfer got ‘cancelled by angry club' after medical due to clause row
Tottenham were on the verge of signing Fulham striker Moussa Dembele in January 2016, but the deal was dramatically cancelled at the last minute despite the player wanting the move Tottenham were once close to signing Fulham's Moussa Dembele - only for the transfer to be scrapped at the eleventh hour after the forward had already completed his medical. In January 2016, Spurs were hot on the heels of rivals Arsenal and surprise Premier League contenders Leicester City in their pursuit of a first Premier League title. Spurs had Harry Kane in their ranks following his incredible breakthrough 18 months earlier. Yet club chairman Levy identified the need to strengthen the side's attacking options and provide support for Kane as they sought to compete in the second half of the season. Fulham 's promising striker, Dembele - not to be confused with Spurs' own dynamic midfielder at the time - was subsequently targeted as Spurs' main January target. Levy negotiated a bargain £6million deal with Fulham for the then-19-year-old, whose contract was due to run out that summer. Dembele even passed a Spurs medical two days before the January transfer deadline, with the move seemingly a done deal. However, the West Londoners were keen for their talented youngster to return to Craven Cottage until the end of the 2015/16 season due to their efforts to battle relegation and a transfer embargo that left them unable to sign any replacements in January. They hoped to agree a deal that would still see them receive a fee for Dembele despite him becoming a free agent at the end of the season. Spurs, however, were unimpressed by Fulham's demands and insisted he be allowed to join their squad immediately. The Guardian reported that the disagreement led to Fulham 'angrily' cancelling the deal with Tottenham. Negotiations were not revived, and the forward was said to be left bitterly disappointed. The Lilywhites didn't end up buying a player in January and finished third that season, while Leicester City remarkably clinched the league title with a ten-point margin. In the following summer, Spurs signed Moussa Sissoko and Vincent Janssen, while Dembele joined Scottish giants Celtic on a four-year contract. He had two successful seasons there, scoring 51 goals in 94 appearances and winning two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. In 2018, Dembele returned to his home country, signing for Lyon where he netted 70 goals in 172 appearances between 2018 and 2023. He then joined the influx of former big names moving to the Saudi Pro League in July 2023, signing for Al-Ettifaq as a free agent. Despite a disappointing season for the team, Dembele, having been one of Steven Gerrard's first signings, scored 14 goals in 26 appearances. Still just 28 years old, he registered seven goals and four assists in 21 games for Al-Ettifaq in 2024/25. The team finished seventh in the Saudi Pro League, with the ship steadying following Gerrard's departure after the side had been left just five points clear of the relegation zone.


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Sunderland agree club-record £30m deal for Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra
Sunderland have stepped up preparations for life in the Premier League by agreeing to sign the Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra for a club-record £30m, according to reports. The Black Cats have moved swiftly to head off interest from Leeds in the Ligue 1 side's captain and replace Jobe Bellingham, who has joined Borussia Dortmund for an initial £27.8m. The 21-year-old Senegal international scored in the 3-1 defeat of England at Wembley earlier this month. Sunderland opened their summer transfer business by signing Enzo Le Fée in a £20m deal from Roma and sold their English winger Tom Watson to Brighton for £10m. Rérgis Le Bris' Championship playoff winners are also reported to be interested in the Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, who had stints at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Sassuolo's French winger Armand Laurienté. This story will update


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Enzo Maresca drops huge bombshell as he admits every Chelsea player could leave
Enzo Maresca admits that he can't guarantee the future of any Chelsea player, with the Blues set for another busy summer transfer window both in terms of incomings and outgoings Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed that there's a chance of every player leaving Stamford Bridge before the end of the summer transfer window. The Blues are currently preparing for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup in the USA, having won two and lost one of their group games. Maresca's side secured Champions League football on the final day of the Premier League season and there's expected to be less churn in the squad compared to previous summers under chairman and owner Todd Boehly. But that doesn't mean it won't be busy summer at Chelsea, with the futures of defensive duo Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong still uncertain. Chalobah, 25, was recalled from a loan spell with Crystal Palace halfway through the season and helped the Blues secure a fourth-place finish, but he's been linked with a permanent exit. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Acheampong is reportedly the subject of interest from Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund, despite the right-back signing a new long-term contract with Chelsea late last year. Quizzed on the pair's futures in west London, Maresca admitted that he can't guarantee the future of any Blues player. "In this moment all the players that are with us I don't want to lose them, but we have said many times that when the transfer window is open many things can happen, to buy a player or to sell a player," the Chelsea manager explained. "Trevoh came back to us in January, if we did a Champions League spot and top four spot it's also because of Trev, he helped us a lot. In this moment he also plays some games for us, we are happy with him. Anything can happen but not only for Trev but all 25 players in the squad." When Maresca was asked directly about reports of Newcastle and Dortmund's interest in Acheampong, he replied: "The clubs that you mentioned like Josh but we also like Josh. All the good players any club like good players. "My plan with Josh is quite clear. I think potentially he can be a top defender for this club, it's on him to also have the right timing to do the things. Which players should Chelsea sell this summer? Let us know your picks in the comments section. "We are full of young players full of talent, even defenders. The best plan for Josh is to be with us and I'll be very happy if he is with us." Maresca's focus is currently on facing Benfica in the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Should they advance past the Portuguese giants, they'll play one of two Brazilian sides, Palmeiras or Botafogo, in the quarter-finals before a potential clash with Manchester City.