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LACAZETTE TAKES ARSENAL NO.9 SHIRT AS GUNNERS REVEAL NEW SQUAD NUMBERS Stephen Darwin 09:50 The summer signing from Lyon takes over from Lucas Perez, who is expected to leave the club, while Sead Kolasinac gets the No.31 jersey New Arsenal signing Alexandre Lacazette has taken the No.9 shirt after the Gunners revealed their list of squad numbers for the 2017-18 season. Arsene Wenger's side completed the transfer of the Lyon striker for a club-record fee in the region of £46 million. And he becomes the latest to take the No.9 jersey that was previously inherited by Lucas Perez, who now switches to No.28. Indeed, Lucas Perez is expected to leave the Gunners in the summer window, and Goal understands he has communicated his desire to move on to manager Arsene Wenger. Another new signing at Arsenal, Sead Kolasinac, has taken the No.31 squad number, previously assigned to Jeff Reine-Adelaide. Elsewhere there are no new changes to the list of numbers, with Alexis Sanchez ...

EVERTON SIGNING ROONEY REVEALS REASON HE CHOSE GOODISON PARK RETURN OVER CHINA MOVE Jack Davies 09:05 Following his return to the Toffees, the former Three Lions skipper wants to win back his place in Gareth Southgate's squad Wayne Rooney hopes to force his way back into the England squad after completing a move back to boyhood club Everton, something he believes would have been impossible if he'd moved to China. Record goalscorer Rooney has not featured for the national team since winning his 119th cap against Scotland in November, having fallen out of favour at former club Manchester United. But Rooney is not ready to give up on his England career just yet and believes a good run of form with Everton could give national boss Gareth Southgate something to think about. "As you well know, I love playing for England," said Rooney. "Gareth had to make a decision — as Jose Mourinho did — but I spoke to him. I wasn't playing the football that I like a...

LUKAKU TO MAN UTD: SO MOURINHO DOES CARE ABOUT YOUNGSTERS AFTER ALL Kris Voakes 08:48 The United manager has been castigated for his short-termism in the past but his record shows he does generally buy young “I knew that was coming… Do you know how many young players I promote to the first team from academies? Forty-nine! If any one of you is interested I can give you [a list].” Jose Mourinho came armed with notes when he first arrived at Old Trafford as Manchester United so clear was he that people were going to ask about his general refusal to give youngsters a chance. Whether at Chelsea, Inter or Real Madrid, he had failed to satiate the desire to promote youth despite delivering major trophies with regularity. Academy players were perceived not to have been given a chance as the Portuguese’s short-term approach was given precedence over the need to give the club’s young assets the chance to show their worth. Millions were spent on the likes of Ricardo Carvalho, Hernan Cresp...

TRANSFER NEWS: THE LATEST RUMOURS FROM MAN UTD, CHELSEA, ARSENAL AND ALL THE TOP TEAMS 07:57 Let's take a look at the biggest transfer stories from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and beyond ahead of the opening of the summer window CHELSEA FACING €75M JAMES FIGHT Bayern Munich and Chelsea are battling to sign James Rodriguez, with Real Madrid trying to recoup €75 million for the Colombia international, according to Marca . Former Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti worked with James for a season at the Santiago Bernabeu and has called on Bayern to press ahead with a bid for the playmaker after interest in Alexis Sanchez cooled. Chelsea, meanwhile, have already missed out on one major target this summer after Romelu Lukaku joined Manchester United, who have also been linked with James, and Antonio Conte is keen to avoid another transfer setback. MAN UTD PLOT DIER BID Manchester United are preparing to bid £60 million for Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier after completin...

CHELSEA IN FOR €70M AUBAMEYANG Chelsea have turned their attentions to Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after missing out on Romelu Lukaku, according to Marca. The Blues are apparently ready to pay €70 million to land the Gabon international and are currently ahead of PSG in the race to sign the 28-year-old forward. MAN UTD EXPECT £50M PERISIC DEAL Manchester United are confident of completing a deal to sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic for around £50 million within the next week, reports The Independent . An earlier £30m offer for the Croatia international was rejected, and United are now expected to settle on a fee between £45m and the £50m which Inter are demanding. New Inter coach Luciano Spalletti had been planning talks to discuss the future with Perisic , who has reportedly already agreed personal terms to move to Old Trafford. CARVALHO CLOSING ON PREMIER LEAGUE MOVE Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho is expected to complete ...

MAN UTD SIGN LUKAKU FROM EVERTON FOR £75M Kris Voakes 17:05 The Red Devils have snapped up the Belgian striker despite a lengthy bid by Chelsea to bring the striker back to Stamford Bridge Manchester United have completed the signing of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku for a fee of £75 million. On Saturday morning United confirmed they'd agreed a fee for the 24-year-old, who had been subject a late bid from Chelsea to steal him away from their title rivals. They've now agreed personal terms and the Belgium international has completed a medical in Los Angeles, meaning he'll link up with the team on their pre-season US tour. The 20-time English champions moved swiftly to close the deal ahead of fellow admirers Chelsea following their decision earlier this week to withdraw from talks with Real Madrid regarding their striker Alvaro Morata. The £75m fee makes Lukaku the second-most expensive player in British football history behind only United's world-record £89.5...

THE £75M QUESTIONS THAT LUKAKU NEEDS TO ANSWER AT MAN UTD Kris Voakes 17:18 The Belgian's qualities have been questioned by some, meaning his early United performances will be put under the spotlight Such are the weird and wonderful machinations of the transfer market these days, few would have guessed a week ago that Romelu Lukaku would be preparing to don the training gear of Manchester United for the first time in Los Angeles in the coming days. Monday’s confirmation of his £75 million switch from Everton completed quite the volte-face for United, with the chase for Alvaro Morata having been curtailed after Real Madrid showed signs of wanting to take them for a ride once more. They immediately moved for Lukaku and they have now got themselves one of the most fearsome attacking presences in the English game.  that doesn’t mean the 24-year-old is a finished product. He might have the size, the strength and the pace to trouble most Premier League defenders, as proven by hi...

STORMZY AIRS FRUSTRATION AT BEING MISTAKEN FOR £75M MAN UTD SIGNING LUKAKU 17:42 The grime artist has expressed his disappointment at seeing an Irish newspaper use a picture of him rather than the Belgian striker in an article Romelu Lukaku has completed his £75 million move to Manchester United, but Stormzy is not happy at an Irish newspaper’s case of mistaken identity. The UK grime artist has responded to The Herald’s use of a picture of him, rather than the Red Devils’ big-money purchase, on their back page.  The article, headlined “Lukaku is ready for work”, included an image of Stormzy – a famous United supporter. An apology was quickly issued, with editor Alan Steenson posting on the paper’s website: "Hands up, we got it badly wrong. “Earlier, we made an error with a picture of Romelu Lukaku that wasn't him. It was Stormzy. The 100 most expensive transfers ever "To be honest, we are totally embarrassed and want to say sorry to all involved and ou...

TRANSFER NEWS: THE LATEST RUMOURS FROM MAN UTD, CHELSEA, ARSENAL AND ALL THE TOP TEAMS 12:15 Goal takes a look at the biggest transfer stories from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and beyond ahead of the opening of the summer window ARSENAL WANT £80M FOR ALEXIS Arsenal have told Manchester City they want £80 million for Alexis Sanchez, according to the  Sunday Mirror . The Gunners have resigned themselves to losing the Chile international to their Premier League rivals, but City's initial offer of £50m falls well short of their valuation. BESIKTAS COULD LOAN COSTA Besiktas have emerged as a loan option for Chelsea striker Diego Costa, according to  AS . The Spain international is set to complete a move back to Atletico Madrid, and the Turkish champions have offered to sign him until January due to the Spanish side's transfer ban. PALACE EYE VERMAELEN Crystal Palace want to sign Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, according to the  Sunday People ....

 MOURINHO: ROONEY ASKED TO LEAVE... I COULDN'T STAND IN HIS WAY 13:43 The Manchester United boss admitted he's long been an admirer of the England forward, and would not stop a reunion for the player at his boyhood club Jose Mourinho will miss having Wayne Rooney at Manchester United, but says he could not stand in the way of his return to Everton. The Manchester United manager said that he felt the need to grant the 31-year-old's request to move back to his boyhood club after a 13-year tenure at Old Trafford. Rooney was officially announced by the Merseyside club on Sunday, signing a two year deal to return to Goodison Park. "It is no secret that I have long been an admirer of Wayne; he has been a model professional throughout his time at the club and will remain in the history books for many years to come," Mourinho said in a statement posted on United's official website. "It is never easy to see a great player playing less football than he w...

ROONEY: I'VE JOINED EVERTON TO WIN TROPHIES Ryan Kelly The former Red Devils captain is targeting more silverware at Goodison Park after bringing an end to a record-breaking, trophy-laden stay at United Wayne Rooney says that he wants to win trophies after completing his return to Everton from Manchester United. The Toffees confirmed the signing of the England striker on Sunday, revealing that the 31-year-old had put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Goodison Park. After finally bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden 13 seasons at Old Trafford, in which he won five Premier Leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League, the striker is now hoping to help his boyhood club win some silverware. “(Winning trophies with Everton) would be the pinnacle," Rooney told the club's official website. "I really feel now the Club is moving in the right direction, bringing the right calibre of players in. I want to be part of it and hopefully part of a success...

CHELSEA COMPLETE £34M SIGNING OF ROMA DEFENDER RUDIGER 16:02 The Germany international becomes Antonio Conte's second summer signing as he looks to bolster his Premier League-winning squad Chelsea have completed the signing of Antonio Rudiger from Roma for a reported £34 million. The centre-back had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last year and the Blues reignited their interest this summer, agreeing a fee with the Serie A side last week. He has signed a five-year deal with the Premier League champions, and will wear the No.2 shirt that was vacated by Branislav Ivanovic following his sale to Zenit in January. Rudiger spent two seasons at Roma after joining from Stuttgart, and made 26 Serie A appearances in 2016-17 as they finished second to Juventus, and he has now signed a five-year deal at the Blues. He had been contracted to Roma until 2020, but has opted for a switch to the Premier League, becoming the Blues's second summer signing following the arri...

ROONEY THANKS MANCHESTER UNITED AS CLUB SALUTE 13 YEARS OF SUCCESS Joe Wright 17:13 The former England captain has sealed a return to Everton and he has taken the time to issue his goodwill towards the Old Trafford club Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has thanked the club and their "amazing fans" after sealing a return to Everton. The forward secured a switch back to Goodison Park on Sunday, 13 years on from his transfer to United as an 18-year-old. Manager Jose Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward spoke in glowing terms about Rooney's achievements at Old Trafford, which included winning 12 major trophies and breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record as the club's leading goalscorer. And the 31-year-old sent his own personal farewell to his old team-mates, coaches and fans, writing on Instagram: "Just want to say a massive thank you to everybody at Manchester United. "Thanks to the boards over the years, the managers an...

ARSENAL PRE-SEASON FIXTURES: THE GUNNERS' COMPLETE SUMMER TOUR & SCHEDULE 20:29 Arsene Wenger's charges will travel to Australia and China before returning to London to host the annual Emirates Cup tournament on home turf Arsenal will take a long trip east to Australia and China this summer as part of their preparations for the 2017-18 Premier League season and hand Alexandre Lacazette his first match practise in a red shirt. Lacazette has joined Sead Kolasinac in penning a deal in north London and will get to know his team-mates in front of the Gunners' many fans living abroad. Unlike some of their rivals who will spend more than half a month travelling, however, Arsenal will spend the bulk of their pre-season at home in London, with the Emirates Cup closing out their schedule of friendlies as things stand. This is your complete guide to the fixtures awaiting Arsenal over the coming months before they return to competitive action. ARSENAL PRE-SEASON FIXTURE...

ARSENAL PRE-SEASON FIXTURES: THE GUNNERS' COMPLETE SUMMER TOUR & SCHEDULE 20:29 Arsene Wenger's charges will travel to Australia and China before returning to London to host the annual Emirates Cup tournament on home turf Arsenal will take a long trip east to Australia and China this summer as part of their preparations for the 2017-18 Premier League season and hand Alexandre Lacazette his first match practise in a red shirt. Lacazette has joined Sead Kolasinac in penning a deal in north London and will get to know his team-mates in front of the Gunners' many fans living abroad. Unlike some of their rivals who will spend more than half a month travelling, however, Arsenal will spend the bulk of their pre-season at home in London, with the Emirates Cup closing out their schedule of friendlies as things stand. This is your complete guide to the fixtures awaiting Arsenal over the coming months before they return to competitive action. ARSENAL PRE-SEASON FIXTURE...