Morning Tonic
Manchester City Drop New Puma-Designed Third Kit, Fans Think It's The Worst Thing They've Ever Seen
Manchester City and Puma have raised fans’ eyebrows by dropping the first look at the Premier League champions’ third kit for the 2021-22 season.
A Chelsea fan told Timo Werner to ‘get out of the club’ during the club’s opening training session at Stamford Bridge.
Erling Haaland's release clause is set to increase next summer.
By now it's common knowledge that the Norwegian star has a minimum £68 million (€70 million) release clause in his contract but it can only be activated from the summer of 2022.
Whether it's retro Barca jerseys or new swanky PSG kits, Lionel Messi merchandise is going through the roof right now.
The guy clearly wasn't mucking around either and stuck a hefty $1 million price tag on the tissue too because apparently it "contains Messi's genetic material".
Atlético's defence looked rock solid at Balaídos - Oblak only conceded one goal, and that came from a penalty. Strength at the back remains at the heart of the team's identity and an asset which they don't take for granted. Precisely for that reason, the club has made it clear that they are not prepared to enter negotiations with any club for Kieran Trippier. The answer from Atlético to every single enquiry about the English right-back has been a resounding No. Atleti have had to explain several times that Trippier is an important player for the team in their defence of the title and he isn't for sale. The only way for any interested clubs can prise the defender away from Atleti is by meeting his retention fee - 60 million euros. Manchester United and Arsenal are the two clubs who have shown the most interest in the player.
Liverpool are yet to make a mammoth transfer in the summer as Jurgen Klopp eyes more prudent deals after the arrival of Ibrahima Konate but there is rumours over Erling Haaland
Liverpool are the frontrunners to pull off a sensational transfer for Borussia Dortmund phenomenon Erling Haaland.
Manchester City are prepared to go to £150m for Harry Kane in the final two weeks of the transfer window, with many sources now saying that could be enough to get Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy to talk.
Jack Grealish is featured alongside Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden in the promotional material for the third kit, which City described as a “bold new progressive” top.
City’s third kit shakes things up from the more traditional look as the club’s crest has moved from the front of the shirt to underneath the collar on the back.
However, the navy blue top immediately stands out for the fact that the club’s name is featured at the heart of the third kit in a light-blue font.
The iconic Puma logo is now above the capitalised ‘Man City’ on the front, with sponsors Etihad Airways placed under the club’s name.
According to City, the third kit is meant to reimagine the “traditional football kit in a brand-new approach [by] merging football and streetwear culture.”
However, the Premier League side could hardly have imagined the backlash the Puma-designed kit would receive on social media.
One fan on Twitter savagely claimed that it looked “more like a top from Primark,” while others called it “awful” and a “training kit.”
Someone tweeted: “That might be the worst kit I've ever seen.”
While another hilariously wrote: “Paolo Maldini and [Alessandro] Nesta can't even defend that.”
And a third said: “What the hell is this? It looks like a FIFA eSports kit.”
A fourth Twitter user posted: “There’s no way they can charge the regular kit price for that!”
Meanwhile, one City fan added: “Genuinely one of the worst kits I’ve ever seen, FFS. The home and away kits are both so good as well. I just hope we never use this kit.”
City’s third kit has launched on the club’s official online store and the top is priced at £70, with the shorts retailing at £35.
The Premier League champions confirmed that the kit will launch in Puma stores, the Etihad Stadium store and other retailers from 19th August.
City captain Fernandinho told the club’s official website: “I wanted something different, and we definitely got that, I really like the design because the badge may change over time, but the name will live on forever.”
(Sport Bible)
Chelsea fan tells Timo Werner to ‘get out the club’ during open training session
The Blues showed off their new trophies and signings at an opening training session in west London on Wednesday.
The Champions League and UEFA Super Cup trophies were paraded, while the session gave Chelsea fans the chance to welcome club-record signing Romelu Lukaku back to the club.
During the training session, some fans in the stadium were asked to give their predictions for this weekend’s London derby against Arsenal over the tannoy.
But one supporter instead used the opportunity to dig out Werner, telling the Germany international to ‘get out of the club’.
It is not clear if Werner, 25, was still on the pitch when the comment was made, but he did take part in training under Thomas Tuchel earlier in the afternoon.
‘Let’s have it right, get Werner out the club,’ they said as Chelsea trained on the pitch.
Gasps were heard from other Chelsea supporters, with some leaping to the defence of Werner, who endured an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge.
On fan responded: ‘You get out! Who are you? Who do you think you are? Get out!’
Werner joined Chelsea in a £47.5m move from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2020, with the Blues seeing off competition from Liverpool to secure his signature.
But the German flattered to deceive during the 2020-21 campaign, scoring just 12 goals in 54 appearances and missing a number of big chances.
It is not clear if Werner, 25, was still on the pitch when the comment was made, but he did take part in training under Thomas Tuchel earlier in the afternoon.
‘Let’s have it right, get Werner out the club,’ they said as Chelsea trained on the pitch.
Gasps were heard from other Chelsea supporters, with some leaping to the defence of Werner, who endured an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge.
On fan responded: ‘You get out! Who are you? Who do you think you are? Get out!’
Werner joined Chelsea in a £47.5m move from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2020, with the Blues seeing off competition from Liverpool to secure his signature.
But the German flattered to deceive during the 2020-21 campaign, scoring just 12 goals in 54 appearances and missing a number of big chances.
Despite Werner’s indifferent debut season at Chelsea – and the recent arrival of Romelu Lukaku – Premier League legends Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane believe the forward has a big role to play at Stamford Bridge this season.
‘I wouldn’t write Timo Werner off because that pace that he’s got is really dangerous and I wouldn’t want to play against it,’ Carragher said on the Sky Sports Overlap show.
‘That can still be a huge asset for Chelsea. Those players who play behind the striker, a lot of them are pretty similar.
‘I’m not saying he’s going to play every week and he’s going to rip up the league, but I still see him as a dangerous player who I wouldn’t want to play against. I think he can still be a huge asset for Chelsea.
Former Manchester United captain Keane added: ‘The staff have looked at him and thought maybe he is a bit short and that’s why they’ve brought Lukaku in. But you still persevere with him.
(Metro News)
Borussia Dortmund Star Erling Haaland's Release Clause Set To Increase
The Borussia Dortmund sensation is one of the most in-demand strikers in world football, courting interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Real Madrid and Liverpool in recent times.
It looked like Chelsea were in for him this summer until they elected to re-sign Romelu Lukaku for £97.5 million.
£150 million was the figure being mentioned for Haaland but a year on and the fee will be considerably less.
However, Sport1 are reporting that the buy-out clause could rise to €90 million depending on the performances and success of both Haaland and Dortmund this season.
The larger fee has been agreed with Haaland's father Alf-Inge and his agent Mino Raiola, with the release clause valid until 2024.
Dortmund understandably want to make a significant profit on the £17.1 million (€20 million) they paid to draft Haaland in from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020.
The 21-year-old has rapidly developed into one of the deadliest strikers in the world, notching a staggering 62 goals in 61 games for Dortmund.
In three games this term, Haaland has scored five goals and assisted a further three in all competitions.
Worryingly for Dortmund, Bayern are interested in the former Molde man and could look to replicate their moves for BVB stars Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels.
(Sport Bible)
Lionel Messi's Used Tissue From His Farewell Press Conference Goes On Sale For $1 Million
But it seems one piece of memorabilia in particular has caught everyone's eye.
And with a $1 million price tag attached to it, you can imagine it's probably pretty fancy and super rare.
Well, not exactly.
For a whopping $1 million, you can get your hands on Messi's used tissue from his emotional press conference where he bid farewell to Barcelona after a decorated 21 years with the club.
That's right, a soggy old tissue.
The random (and frankly gross) item has now been listed on an international auction site for a small fortune.
According to reports from Complete Sports, an unnamed man was sitting in the front row of the press conference and somehow managed to pick up the tissue that Messi had discarded after drying his eyes.
Thinking that he was sitting on a gold mine, the bloke then posted an advertisement up on international e-commerce website Meikeduo.
According to the seller's caption online, the potential suitor willing to fork out all that cash can then use said "genetic material" to "clone" another footballer like Messi - yes, really.
By the looks of things, the ad is still live with no one willing to put their hand in their pocket - wonder why?
What is it they say: One man's trash is another man's treasure?
(Sports Bible)
Atlético tell United and Arsenal to forget about Trippier: "He's not for sale"
In the current climate, it is unlikely that any club would be willing to pay that amount for a 30-year-old right-back (who will turn 31 next month). Trippier enjoyed a good Euro 2020 with Engalnd and there are few attacking right-backs on the market with his qualities. Simeone managed to get the best out of him in a system of three centre-backs and two wing-backs. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength. Atlético suffered the most last season when Trippier was unavailable due to the ban imposed by the FA. Vrsaljko, who has struggled with injuries, is his natural substitute, although in the end it was Marcos Llorente who ended up playing in that position - as he did against Celta in the opening game of LaLiga.
(AS)
Liverpool transfer round-up: Erling Haaland "frontrunners" and Mohamed Salah contract
Liverpool fans might be forgiven for feeling a little envious of their Premier League rivals this summer.
The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal have all brought in reinforcements during the transfer window.
Some include Romelu Lukaku, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho and Ben White but the only arrival at Anfield so far is Ibrahim Konate.
The Frenchman was brought in for £35m early on in the summer but it has been all quiet on Merseyside since - but that could be about to change amid talk from a former member of Bayern Munich's hierarchy that they believe the Reds to be the favourites to snap up Erling Haaland.
Here are the latest Liverpool rumours and gossip.
Haaland "frontrunners"
That's the verdict of former Bayern Munich and Dortmund striker Michael Rummenigge, who reckons teh Norway international will dominate football for years to come alongside Paris Saint-Germain ace Kylian Mbappe.
Asked whether Haaland and Mbappe will set the standard for footballers going forward, he told Sport1 : "Yes. They could get there.
"We’ll have to wait and see where he (Haaland) goes after this season. Real and Barca have financial problems so I could imagine him moving to England.
"His father used to play there too. I could well imagine Liverpool for Haaland."
Contract decisions
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino formed a formidable attacking trio who struck fear into the heart of opposition defences with their speed and directness.
Decisions now need to be made over the future of the three players at the club, with each of their contracts expiring in less than two years - on 30 June 2023.
Salah remains one of the most lethal finishers in the Premier League, there can be little doubt that the Reds will want to tie down the Egyptian to a new deal.
This would follow similar deal for star players Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk with Jordan Henderson also set to extend, while it also remains likely that Mane is a player the club are willing to back with a new deal.
The future of Firmino appears to be less certain due to the prominence of Jota and the willingness to rejuvenate the attacking options at Klopp’s disposal.
In total, there are nine first-team squad players who are out of contract at Anfield in the summer of 2023 and decisions are likely going to be made on each of those players in the coming months - if not earlier.
A number of decisions are going to need to be made over the futures of all these players in the coming months as the club move to avoid the risk of losing any as free agents at the end of their deals.
(Mirror)
Harry Kane: Manchester City prepared to make £150 million bid to bring Tottenham to negotiating table
The Spurs chairman has privately been adamant that the striker is not for sale, and has been furious with the nature of some stories. There is an increasing feeling the situation is changing, though, with Kane's movements making him more unpopular with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium fanbase and making a sale more palatable.
(The Independent)
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