Barcelona
West Ham United agree fee for 56-cap international, personal terms being negotiated – report
West Ham United have finalised a transfer fee with Barcelona for the potential signing of Martin Braithwaite, Spanish publication Sport reports. The Denmark international has been heavily linked with the Hammers this summer, and they have eventually agreed a €15 million sum with the Catalan giants. A deal is still far from complete as they need to negotiate personal terms with the forward. The 30-year-old is reportedly dissatisfied with the salary proposal. The Hammers are likely to secure an agreement if they make an improved contract offer. Several clubs are keeping tabs to pounce on an uncertainty. Sportslens view: Braithwaite has not been a regular goalscorer throughout his career, but he has impressed with his strong aerial presence and tireless work rate. He has been restricted ...
Barcelona have put £212,000-a-week star on shop window, keen to offload him – report
Barcelona are putting Samuel Umtiti in the shop window by playing him regularly in pre-season, Spanish publication Sport claims. The France international has fallen down the pecking order over the past couple of seasons amid regular knee injury concerns. He is now deemed surplus to requirements by manager Ronald Koeman, and the club are keen to offload him in the coming weeks. Umtiti recently played 45 minutes of the club’s friendlies against Nastic and Girona. The club are hoping to attract transfer interest. They still have a major stumbling block as the defender’s hefty wages of £212,000-a-week could put off clubs from signing him. Sportslens view: It was recently revealed that the club need to slash their wage bill by a staggering £171 million to come within the La Liga salar...
€60m-rated star makes Barcelona transfer decision, prefers to join only one club – report
Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann only wants to join Atletico Madrid this summer, Spanish publication Sport claims. The Frenchman has been tipped to leave the Blaugrana as they look to reduce their surplus wage bill to meet the La Liga salary cap. They recently offered him in a swap deal for Atletico’s Saul Niguez, but the talks broke down after a disagreement over various reasons. The Blaugrana valued Griezmann higher than Saul. They wanted some cash included in the move that would see the Frenchman return to Atletico. While Griezmann was prepared to take a pay-cut, Saul wanted a hike on his current wages that did not seem feasible for the Catalan giants. It is now reported that the Blaugrana have not held talks with any foreign clubs for Griezmann as the forward is only focused on Atle...
Barcelona outcast willing to take pay cut to return to former club
Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic is willing to accept a pay cut in order to get a move back to Juventus, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. Pjanic enjoyed four strong seasons at Juventus from 2016 through to 2020. He made 178 appearances for the Old Lady, winning four Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia trophies, and finishing as runner up in the 2017 Champions League. Last summer, he made the switch to Barcelona, with Brazilian midfielder Arthur heading in the opposite direction. He made just six league starts last season, often finding himself stuck behind the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, and Pedri. The midfielder is one of a few players that the Catalan giants are desperately looking to offload this transfer window in order to meet La Liga’s salary cap. As of n...
Barcelona and Real Madrid linked with promising Bundesliga defender – Report
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Matthias Ginter is gathering interest among Europe’s top clubs. According to Sky Sports, the centre back is wanted by the top clubs in Spain, Italy and Germany. Ginter was one of the bright sparks in Germany’s European Championship 2020 campaign., with commanding performances alongside Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger. FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid have all expressed their interest to sign the 26-year-old. “It’s true that it’s the turn of the top clubs,” said Sky reporter and transfer expert Marc Behrenbeck at the Transfer Update show and explained: “We already reported during the Euros that FC Barcelona had asked about him. “ Barcelona and Real Madrid are looking to replace Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos, respectively. Meanwhile...
Barcelona eyeing up sensational swap deal for Juventus forward
Barcelona are lining up a deal for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala with Antoine Griezmann heading in the opposite direction, reports the Daily Mail. Griezmann’s time at Camp Nou has not gone as planned. He joined in 2019 from Atletico Madrid for a nine-figure fee, with the intention of winning the biggest trophies. This hasn’t panned out, and he has only a Copa del Rey to his name since joining La Blaugrana. Meanwhile, his former club lifted the La Liga title last season. In addition, his performances have not lived up to the price tag. In 99 appearances for the Catalan giants, he has scored 35 goals in all competitions – an admirable return, but way off the 135 in 257 he got for Atletico Madrid. Barcelona are in a financial crisis right now and need to reduce their wage bill to meet La Liga...
Ronald Koeman set to introduce 19-year-old into the first team
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is set to give youngster Nico Gonzalez his debut with the first team in a friendly against Segunda Division side Gimnastic de Tarragona, reports Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. Despite Barcelona’s recent drop off, La Masia is still producing several talents that have made it into the first team. Ansu Fati was given his first team debut back in 2019 by Ernesto Valverde, and the likes of Riqui Puig, Oscar Mingueza, and Ilaix Moriba made an impact under Quique Setien and Koeman. Fati has shown incredible potential over the last couple of years However, Moriba appears to be falling out of favour with the Dutchman, despite impressing in the latter stages of last season. The teenager has just under a year left on his contract, and negotiations over a new deal are ...
Barcelona interested in 23yo Ligue 1 midfielder as Saul alternative – report
FC Barcelona are interested in signing Renato Sancho from Lille OSC. According to Spanish news outlet Diario AS, the Catalonian club is reportedly chasing the Portuguese’s signature to bolster their midfield. If the reported swap deal with Atletico Madrid for Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann doesn’t occur, manager Ronald Koeman is looking to bring in the 23-year-old who would be the perfect midfield recruit. Sanches is a versatile and dynamic midfielder who fits the bracket of what Koeman is looking for. The failure to land prime target Georginio Wijnaldum meant that the Spanish giants were forced to look elsewhere. Jorge Mendes, Sanches’ agent, could negotiate a loan deal with an obligation to buy next season, which would alleviate Barcelona’s economic situation. The Spanish club is in a...
Messi’s new contract and expected Barcelona lineup after a busy transfer window
Lionel Messi has reached a verbal agreement to sign a five-year contract extension at Barcelona. According to Sky Sports, his salary will be halved under the terms of the new deal. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was officially a free agent as of July 1. He failed to agree terms over a renewal before his previous contract expired at the end of June. Five-year contract One of the more interesting aspects of the deal is that the Spanish club intends to keep Messi for two years only. The five-year contract allows him to remain an ambassador of the club even after he leaves the Nou Camp. He may well join an MLS club – Inter Miami have been linked previously – while still being paid by Barcelona. It is also possible that Messi has spread out his two years’ wages over a five-year contr...
Barcelona plan to get rid of two attacking players to reduce surplus wage bill – report
Barcelona plan to get rid of Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho this summer as they look to reduce their wage bill, Spanish publication Sport claims. The Catalan giants have been permitted to register Lionel Messi, but they have given assurances to La Liga that they will bring their wage bill within the new salary cap. For this to happen, they may need to offload several high-profile players, and Griezmann and Coutinho are among the top candidates who look set to be offloaded. It was recently claimed that Griezmann has been offered to return to Atletico Madrid in a part-exchange deal that could see Saul Niguez move to Camp Nou. Negotiations are still ongoing between the clubs, and it is now reported that the Blaugrana would prefer to sign Joao Felix in a straight swap deal for the Fre...
Barcelona friendly cancelled after dispute over location
Israeli club Beitar have cancelled a friendly with Barcelona after the Catalan giants refused to hold the event in Jerusalem, reports Dawn. Three weeks ago, the Times of Israel reported that the two clubs had agreed to play a pre-season friendly on August 4 – less than two weeks before the La Liga season was due to begin. However, La Blaugrana have refused to hold the event in Jerusalem due to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, demanding to play elsewhere instead. Beitar owner Moshe Hogeg viewed the demand as a political gesture and has cancelled the game as a result. Speaking on Facebook, as quoted by the Times of Israel, Hogeg said: “With great sorrow, I had to cancel the game against Barcelona. “A game against Beitar Jerusalem should take place in Jerusalem. This is a very ...
Barcelona man could be set for €15m Premier League move
Barcelona are confident that they will sell Martin Braithwaite in the next few days, according to Spanish outlet Sport. Braithwaite arrived at Barcelona in February 2020 for a €18 million fee from Leganes. The club had to be granted special permission from La Liga to sign him outside of the transfer window, following an injury crisis in forward areas. Braithwaite at Euro 2020 The Danish striker has often been a bit-part player at the Camp Nou, making more appearances as a substitute than as a starter. In his 53 outings for La Blaugrana, he has scored eight goals, including a winner in last season’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Sevilla. With the arrivals of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay, the 30-year-old is moving further down the pecking order. As a result, it is looking increasingly l...
