CHELSEA are plotting a swoop to hijack Newcastle’s move for Joao Pedro.

Sun Sport revealed talks have begun between the Magpies and Brighton over a £60million deal for the Brazilian forward.

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is eyeing more attacking reinforcements this summer[/caption]

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The Italian is set to rival Newcastle for the signature of Brighton’s Joao Pedro[/caption]

That was after the 23-year-old’s representatives indicated he wanted to join them and be part of their Champions League push.

Toon knew that Chelsea were also keen, but now the west Londoners could be about to try and launch their own move.

Like Newcastle, Blues chiefs are huge admirers of his ability and versatility to play anywhere across the front line.

Unlike their Premier League rivals, they are yet to open negotiations with the Seagulls, but they are considering an attempt to land him and bolster Enzo Marseca’s squad.

Brighton already have Greek attacker Charalampos Kostoulas as a replacement.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is a big fan of Pedro and missed out on him three years ago when he was at Watford before eventually landing Alexander Isak.

Brighton are willing to cash in on the Samba star after he was axed for the last two games of the season by Fabian Hurzeler.

That followed a training-ground bust-up with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.

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Chelsea have only made one addition to their squad so far this summer, the £30million acquisition of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.

But Blues boss Maresca is keen to add more attacking reinforcements before they kick off their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 17.

The Italian said: “Jadon [Sancho] is not with us so for sure that is a position we need to do something.

“We have Noni [Madueke], Pedro [Neto] and Ty[rique George] only as the proper wingers.

“So something, for sure, is going to happen.”

RHIAN WILKINSON joked Sophie Ingle caused her minor embarrassment in a training session as Wales ramped up their Euros preparations.

The ex-Chelsea star, 33, has defied the odds to make it into Wilkinson’s 23-strong group despite being crocked for all of last term. 

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Sophie Inglehas been included in Wales’ squad with the team to compete in a Euros for the first time this summer[/caption]

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Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson marked the announcement of her squad for the Euros by walking to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (also known as Mount Snowdon)[/caption]

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Veteran playmaker Jess Fishlock who is Wales’ most capped international player is one of seven midfielders included in their Euros squad[/caption]

While Ingle brings considerable international experience, the 141-capped midfielder has not played a game since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament last September. 

The Wales ace sustained the injury during Chelsea’s pre-season friendly clash with Dutch side Feyenoord but has since worked her way back to fitness. 

Her return to the international squad comes less than two weeks ahead of them competing in a Euros for the first time ever. 

Head coach Wilkinson, 43, said: “Sophie made me look foolish on Wednesday, I should never jump into training anymore, it’s not good for my ego!

“We needed to make sure that Sophie Ingle was in a good place.

“She’s still on her path to full fitness but she’s in a position now where she can contribute which is important for us.”

“She has to be able to contribute in some way, that was the pre-requisite that I had.

“When she was able to meet that she was straight into the squad.”

Wilkinson was speaking earlier today after naming her Euros squad ahead of Wales’ major tournament debut next month. 

Ingle, who has 141 caps, is one of four Wales centurions included in the group.

Playmaker Jess Fishlock, 38, Hayley Ladd, 31, and skipper Angharad James-Turner, 31, are the other three in a squad who will battle Holland , France and holders England in the group stage. 

When asked what role she expects Ingle to play, Wilkinson added “I don’t want to get into that specifically because Sophie’s pushing, she’s looking really good in training.”

With Wales competing in a group with two Euros-winning sides, they will face a fierce battle to reach the European Championship knockouts. 

But striker Elise Hughes insists the Group D underdogs will be looking to win their clashes against three of the top ten national sides. 

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The Crystal Palace striker, 24, said: “It’s meant to be the best nations in Europe going to compete against each other.

“We’re definitely there to compete and we’re definitely there to win games as well.

“We’re not just there to enjoy the summer, but hopefully we do enjoy this summer and we go as far as possible.”

COTABATO CITY – Three communist rebels and a soldier were killed in an encounter in the hinterlands of Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat province just before daybreak on Thursday, the Army said. Lt. Col. Christopherson Capuyan, commanding officer of the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion, said government forces were conducting military operations in the mountains of Barangay

COMO 1907 are set to make big changes to their stadium – but they have been hit by some strict restrictions.

The Serie A club had considered building a new ground but it was deemed not necessary since the current site allows for expansion.

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A projection of what Como’s ground could look like after renovations[/caption]

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Local authorities will restrict the height of the new stands[/caption]

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New stands must be symmetrical and allow for a view of the lake[/caption]

Local authorities are keen for the stadium to maintain its community roots however, stressing the importance for architectural consistency.

That means Como will be restricted in the changes they make as they have been told to respect the landscape.

That includes maintaining views of Lake Como, situated directly next to the ground, and keeping the war memorial.

New stands must not exceed 16 metres – a reduction from the previously planned height of 22 metres.

Rules stipulate the north and south stands must have a uniform roofline, with the structures symmetrical and smaller in scale.

The project has received the backing of fans and an online petition has been launched showing support.

However a residents’ committee oppose the plans, as do a group of architects.

Como have enjoyed a resurgence since being taken over by Indonesian company Djarum Group in 2019.

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They have gone from being semi-professional in Serie D to Serie A, where they finished 10th last season, managed by Cesc Fabregas.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona star is also a minority stakeholder in the club, alongside his ex-team-mate Thierry Henry.

THE man punched by Conor McGregor in a 6am nightclub brawl is Wayne Lineker’s close pal who has “the most special heart”.

Joe Gomez was whacked twice by the ex-UFC fighter, 36, in the legendary Pacha nightclub “for absolutely no reason” on Tuesday morning.

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His identity was revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post by club mogul Wayne, 63, who said he was “disappointed” with McGregor for attacking his employee.

MMA legend Conor had been partying in Lineker’s Ocean Beach club earlier in the night before moving to the VIP section of Pacha.
Wayne’s post, to his one million followers, said: “Thought about this post a lot.

“This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I’ve known him he has never raised his voice once.

“He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason.

“Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion.

“I’ve since deleted my post of Conor at Ocean on Sunday. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.

“We at Ocean Beach Ibiza will always put our family first #wearefamily.”

One of Joe’s pals, who was in the club during the bust-up, told The Sun: “He has worked with Wayne for a long time and Wayne is very loyal to his staff.

“Conor had a great deal at Ocean – he got a table and drinks for free. Now that benefit may well be taken away.

“If you were around Conor in the club and you took your phone out, you’d be told to put it away.

“I don’t know how Joe got that close to begin with.

“Joe’s not said anything about pressing charges or making a formal complaint to the police.

“He had some time off booked after the incident anyway, but Wayne has been very good at handling it.

“Joe’s fine and there was no injury from the punches. It was obviously a shock, and he feels he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Earlier in the evening, the combat sports legend was pictured with glamour model Katie Price at Lineker’s club.

Taking to Instagram, he was seen puffing on a cigar while wearing red shorts, a sun hat and sunglasses while playing up to the crowd.

Price, 47, reshared the story to her own Instagram page with the caption: “You legend,” after McGregor tagged her in his own story and said: “Forever”.

Spurs ace Kevin Danso also shared a snap of himself with the MMA fighter.

The Sun’s exclusive footage first showed how McGregor was talking to a man on the exclusive club’s dancefloor before putting his arm around his shoulders from a platform above.

After the pair chat for less than ten seconds, McGregor strikes the man, who appears to be Mr Gomez, next to his pal with his left hand.

The first punch failed to cleanly connect, but less than a second later, the “Notorious” lands a clean left hook as the startled party-goer falls to the floor.

McGregor, wearing a black and white shirt and tight white trousers, is then shielded from other club-goers by his own friends, who stormed the booth he was standing in.

Revellers in the nightclub revealed that after the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out, while the Irish fighter kept drinking.

One told The Sun: “Clearly something’s been said to annoy him and he’s reacted very badly.

“The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away.

“There [didn’t appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn’t see him again.”

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After the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out[/caption]

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The brawl happened just before 6am[/caption]

The short but violent scrap unfolded at 5:53am after McGregor, who hasn’t fought since 2021, had spent the night partying with his huge entourage.

Another club-goer said: “He had his arm around someone who looked like his mate.

“Someone came up to them and when Conor hit him, about five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back.

“It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken by the hits.

“About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club, because he had annoyed Conor.

“It was right before close anyway. There was no messing around, they just removed him.

“Conor left through the garden a bit later, he didn’t look very happy that they got into a fight.”

Wayne Lineker and McGregor’s representative were asked to comment.

JEREMY Clarkson leads the rest of the Diddly Squat gang as the show returns for its fourth season.

While Diddly Squat Farm and Farm Shop have been somewhat of an attraction since the show’s debut in 2021, the unveiling of Jeremy’s new pub has made a lot of people wonder if they can visit.

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Clarkson’s Farm started in 2021 and was an instant hit with fans[/caption]

Where is Clarkson’s Farm and can I visit Diddly Squat Farm Shop and the Farmer’s Dog pub?

Diddly Squat Farm Shop and the Farmer’s Dog are both open to visitors!

After a brief closure to the Farm Shop earlier this year, fans can now visit again and make a trip to the idyllic Cotswolds.

The exact location of the Farm Shop is 5-12 Chipping Norton Road, Chadlington, Chipping Norton, OX7 3PE.

Once there, fans will be able to experience some of the key locations featured on the Clarkson-fronted show.

While visiting the site, many will hope to catch a glimpse of the rising stars of the show, including fan favourite Kaleb Cooper, straight-man and farm management consultant Charlie Ireland, the humorous Gerald Cooper, plus farm shop front-woman and Jezza’s partner, Lisa Hogan.

The iconic shop has become a public attraction since it opened, with thousands flocking to it each year, much to the dislike of some of the community.

For visitors coming from outside the Cotswolds, the trip can take two hours from central London by car, or two and a half hours by public transport.

If fans are staying nearby there is the X9 bus from The Bell Hotel in Charlbury that will take them straight past the 1000 acres site and near the Farm Shop.

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Queues are a common feature at the popular farm shop in the Cotswolds[/caption]

Previously, the farm also had a functioning restaurant on location called The Big View Café, but this was shut down due to excessive traffic.

In response, this series of the hit show followed the former Top Gear presenter’s trials and tribulations of trying to open a pub.

Viewers watched each episode as Jeremy struggled to find a suitable pub for his new venture, despite the sheer number of venues available.

Finally, Jeremy found a pub, which was formerly known as the Windmill, and renovated and renamed it to the Farmer’s Dog.

The latest weapon in Jeremy’s farming armoury is located off the Asthall Barrow Roundabout, Burford OX18 4HJ.

As it is a working farm, visitors are best to stick to the Farm Shop and Pub – so do not expect to see Jeremy riding around in his infamous Lamborghini tractor.

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The renamed pub opened last year and is already a popular destination[/caption]

What can you expect at The Farmer’s Dog?

The pub, which champions British farmers, is sure to be on top of fans’ bucket lists.

Jeremy’s main reason behind opening the pub was that he wanted everything to come from British farms within a certain radius, so don’t expect to see any Heinz ketchup on offer.

Instead, visitors to the pub can treat themselves to the steak pie, ham hock terrine, rhubarb crumble, and a wide range of other menu items, all knowing that it has come from local farmers.

Since the pub opened, it has been extremely busy, and after the show aired, its popularity has soared.

And so, for fans hoping to pay a visit in the near future, you may have to wait a while.

Bookings for the new Oxfordshire landmark open each month but get snapped up fast, with forums set up on social media helping fans get their chance to visit.

TV star Donna Air’s daughter Freya Aspinall looks just like her mum as she cuddles a huge lion in Africa.

The 21-year-old conservationist is seen cuddling two lions in a recent video before releasing them into the wild with her dad Damien.

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Donna Air’s grown-up daughter Freya is a conservationist[/caption]

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Freya has grown up around lions and gorillas in kent[/caption]

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She works for her father’s conservation charity The Aspinall Foundation[/caption]

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Freya’s parents Donna Air and Damian Aspinall[/caption]

Freya works with The Aspinall Foundation, a charity run by her father, Damian Aspinall, and founded by her grandfather, the late John Aspinall.

Freya rests her head on a lion in one photo on Instagram, and penned: “My beautiful ZEMO on the day we released him in Africa. I can’t wait to see him soon.”

Freya spent much of her childhood surrounded by animals at Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks in Kent.

She now boasts 1.5m followers on Instagram, where she shares videos and pics of her life, and she says conservation is in her DNA.

“I grew up with animals and couldn’t imagine my world without them,” she recently told the Financial Times.

“This is in my blood – I’ve always known what I wanted to do.”

However, she has inherited Donna’s striking features and is also very close to her TV star mum.

It’s been more than three decades since Donna shot to fame as a child star on Byker Grove, alongside Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.

She later swapped acting for presenting, landing gigs on shows including MTV UK and The Big Breakfast.

A string of cameo film roles followed before she participated in reality shows Splash!, Celebrity MasterChef and the tenth series of Dancing On Ice.

Donna, 45, is also known for having an on-off relationship for four years with Kate Middleton’s brother James Middleton.

Freya’s parents, Donna and Damian, were introduced in 2000 at a dinner party by their friend Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

Donna was 21, Damian 40, and their relationship and parenting style quickly made headlines.

Shortly after Freya’s birth, the couple famously said they planned to place their baby in a gorilla enclosure at Howletts, allowing her to be carried off by a female gorilla.

The move was a tradition Damian carried out with his eldest daughters when they were babies.

In another video Freya feeds a gorilla snacks from her pocket.

She says: “Animals don’t belong in a cage in zoos they belong in the wild. We hate zoos.

“Kifu is at our sanctuary because his wife’s who are a little bit older than him need medical attention 3 times a day and wouldn’t survive the journey back to Africa.

“Gorillas live in a family group, so it would be completely unnatural to send him alone and separate him from his family.

“It’s the same as humans if we were sent away never to see our family again we would all be so unhappy.

“So for him we give him the best life possible sadly at our sanctuary but his 5 sons are happily free in the wild where they belong.

“It’s important to highlight any animal that can go back to the Wild should go back to the Wild and those that 100% can’t should be given the best life possible, but this shouldn’t be an excuse for zoos to keep all animals behind a bars for their business.”

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