La Liga
Barcelona could miss out on Chelsea star as Thomas Tuchel wants to keep him
Barcelona could miss out on signing defender Marcos Alonso with Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel keen on keeping him at all costs, Mundo Deportivo reports. The Blaugrana are likely to sell Junior Firpo in the coming days, and it was recently claimed that they could land Alonso as a replacement. The Spaniard had reportedly agreed terms last summer, but a move fell through as the Blaugrana failed to offload Firpo from their ranks. The club have revived their interest, but they are set to face a blow with Tuchel reluctant to part ways with the former Fiorentina man. Tuchel considers Alonso as a key part of his plans for next season and will ask the hierarchy not to do away with the services of the Spaniard. Sportslens view: Alonso barely played during the first half of last season under Frank La...
Barcelona star with 20 goal contributions last term, has no plans of leaving the club
Spain international Jordi Alaba has no plans of leaving Barcelona amid the reported interest from Inter Milan, Mundo Deportivo claims. Inter are interested in signing a new left-back this summer, and Alba has emerged as a potential target this month. It was recently reported that the Blaugrana would be prepared to sell the Spaniard to reduce their wage bill. However, the 32-year-old does not intend to leave the club and is keen to honour his contract expiring in June 2024. Sportslens view: The Blaugrana need to lower their wage bill to comply with La Liga rules following the arrival of four new signings this summer. It was recently claimed that they could offload one of their highest earners in Alba, with Valencia’s Jose Gaya joining as a replacement. That appears unlikely to happen w...
Report: £35m Everton target dreams of joining Liverpool, club ready to sell
Phillipe Coutinho is reportedly dreaming of a potential return to Liverpool someday. The Brazilian joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for a reported £146 million after a superb five-year spell at Anfield. His time with the Catalan club has been a disaster, and he has only managed to produce glimpses of his ability. Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Coutinho in previous transfer windows, and they are reportedly interested in signing him again this summer. Coutinho has just over two years remaining on his Barca contract, and Ronald Koeman is open to letting him go. According to Le 10 Sport, Everton are also interested in signing Coutinho, who could be sold for around £35 million. It has now been suggested that the Brazilian would like to return to Liverp...
Barcelona identify €35m star as ideal replacement for Inter Milan-linked Jordi Alba – report
Barcelona have identified Valencia defender Jose Gaya as the ideal replacement for Inter Milan target Jordi Alba, Marca reports. Alba has been with the club for the past nine years, where he has been an excellent contributor from the left-back role. However, there are suggestions that he could leave them for Inter. The club are open to negotiating his departure. They need to reduce their wage bill to comply with La Liga rules, and are willing to sell Alba, who earns £150,000-a-week. Gaya earns just one-third of those wages at Valencia. He has stood out for them despite their league struggles in recent years. Sportslens view: Gaya has been a long-term target for the Blaugrana, but they haven’t come close to landing his services from Los Che. The assurance of regular game time has been ...
Barcelona want Chelsea star as Junior Firpo’s replacement, Serie A giants also interested – report
Barcelona could revive their interest in signing Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso with Junior Firpo likely to leave the club this summer, Mundo Deportivo claims. Firpo has been linked with numerous clubs in recent weeks, and West Ham United have recently emerged as front-runners to sign him. It is now reported that the Blaugrana are braced for his exit, and could look into signing Alonso as a suitable replacement. The Catalan giants had agreed terms with the Spaniard last summer, but a deal failed to materialise after Firpo stayed put. Alonso has received more game time since Thomas Tuchel took charge, but it is suggested that the Blues would be open to his sale. Inter Milan are long-term admirers of Alonso, and they have also been credited with an interest in his services this summer. Sport...
Younger Mbappe signing could help ward off Real Madrid and Liverpool interest
Paris Saint-Germain have been in prolonged contract negotiations with Kylian Mbappe, and there has been no progress over an extension as of yet. The Frenchman has just over 12 months left in his deal, and a decision over his future will be made following the European Championships. Mbappe’s contract situation has led to constant links with Madrid, who have been long-term admirers of him since his youth days at Monaco. Liverpool are not far behind when it comes to the speculation involving the forward, but Les Parisiens remain determined to keep him. Les Parisiens president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently made a vow that the club will ‘never sell‘ Mbappe and the forward will stay next season. They are yet to hold fresh talks with Mbappe, but recently confirmed that his younger brother Etha...
Real Madrid join Arsenal in race to sign €70m star excelling at Euro 2020 – report
Real Madrid have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak this summer, Spanish publication AS claims. The 21-year-old had a good 2020/21 season with Sociedad, registering 17 goals and two assists from 44 appearances in all competitions. He is currently playing a leading role for Sweden at Euro 2020, and it appears that Madrid have now registered an interest in his services. Los Blancos have contacted the player’s representatives after learning that the marksman could be prepared for a new challenge. Arsenal are also interested in the young striker, who has a buy-out clause worth €70 million on his current contract with Sociedad. Sociedad are reluctant to sell him for anything less than the release clause this summer. They intend to keep him for another s...
Real Madrid and Barcelona enquire about £63m star with 17 goal contributions last season
Real Madrid and Barcelona have enquired over the situation of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, Sport1’s Florian Plettenberg claims. The Germany international had a solid 2020/21 season for the Bavarian giants, registering eight goals and nine assists from 32 games. Despite this, there remains uncertainty over his future with the club, with his current contract expiring in 12 months. The player has yet to commit to a new deal due to salary concerns, but Bayern are optimistic that they can make the breakthrough. Goretzka now has a new duo of agents, and it is claimed that Madrid and Barcelona have enquired over the possibility of signing him. Sportslens view: Bayern sanctioned the sale of Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool last summer after he entered the final year of his contract. Howeve...
Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United: Where could Ramos and Varane be playing next season?
Real Madrid recently confirmed that Sergio Ramos would be leaving the club after the expiry of his contract on June 30. The Spaniard wanted a multi-year deal with Los Blancos, but the hierarchy were only prepared to hand him a 12-month extension. The centre-back eventually changed his contract stance, but it was too late as there was an expiry date on the proposal that had surpassed. The 35-year-old is set to pursue a fresh challenge after 16 years, and he could yet be joined by Raphael Varane through the exit door. Varane has only 12 months left on his existing deal with the Madrid giants, and the club are yet to negotiate a suitable renewal with him. He will assess his future following the European Championships, and Los Blancos will be desperate to commit him to a new long-term deal. Le...
Journalist claims Spurs want title-winning Spain international versatile defender
Tottenham Hotspur are keen on strengthening their defence this summer and are looking to sign Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna. 🚨 Info : #Tottenham cherche à renforcer son secteur défensif. Parmi les profils étudiés, celui de Mario Hermoso 🇪🇸 qui plaît beaucoup aux dirigeants anglais. pic.twitter.com/eD9OVp9bQf — Santi’ FM (@Santi_J_FM) June 22, 2021 Sportslens View The North Londoners were below par last season, finishing outside of the top-six and are planning to make quality additions to their squad in the coming weeks. Spurs are currently without a manager, but it seems it has not stopped them from identifying transfer targets. Managing director Fabio Paratici has a keen eye for talents and Hermoso ma...
Paris Saint-Germain make contact to sign top Manchester United target valued at £80m – report
Paris Saint-Germain have made contact with Real Madrid over a possible summer deal for Raphael Varane, Foot Mercato claims. The centre-back has been with Los Blancos for the past decade, but he could be on the move following the European Championships. He has just over 12 months remaining on his current contract, and the Madrid giants have so far been unsuccessful in renewing his deal. Manchester United recently failed with an opening bid of around £50 million for Varane, and it appears that they are set to face competition. Les Parisiens have made contact with the Madrid giants for the 28-year-old. Sportslens view: Varane is widely regarded as one of the world’s best defenders. He has amassed over 350 appearances during his time in Madrid. Los Blancos are eager to keep hold of him, b...
Barcelona reach agreement with Marseille for sale of versatile winger, medical next week – report
Barcelona have reached an agreement with Marseille for the sale of teenage winger Konrad de la Fuente, RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi reports. The 19-year-old made his debut for the Blaugrana last term, but he was restricted to just 36 minutes across three appearances. They had the option to extend his contract (expiring June 2022) for another two seasons but have decided to cash in on his services. Les Phoceens have agreed a package worth €3.5 million with the Blaugrana. De la Fuente has agreed terms over a four-year deal. The transfer will be formally completed following his medical next week. Sportslens view: De la Fuente showed promise with Blaugrana B, registering nine goals and five assists in 29 appearances in all competitions. He now has the chance to establish himself ...
