La Liga
Manchester United identify their No.1 transfer target, ready to pay £40m to sign him
Manchester United have identified Raphael Varane as their top target for the summer transfer window, a report from The Mirror claims. Varane has been with Los Blancos for the past decade but could move with his contract expiring in June next year. The Spanish champions have been in negotiations with the centre-back, but they have failed to make a breakthrough over a renewal. It is now reported that Varane is United’s top summer priority, and they are prepared to bid around £40 million for his services. United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants another elite defender who can show leadership duties alongside Harry Maguire. Sportslens view: United recently committed Eric Bailly to a new long-term deal, and it appeared that could end their pursuit of a new central defender. However, this doe...
La Liga Preview: Barcelona remain hopeful but title likely to stay in Madrid
The penultimate matchday of the 2020/21 La Liga season beckons with some spicy fixtures at both ends of the table. The keenly-contested race with two matchdays remaining leaves almost no room for dropped points as four sides can mathematically win the title. Real Madrid remain firmly in contention after a 4-1 thumping of Granada on Thursday kept them within two points of leaders Atletico Madrid. Following back-to-back draws with Atletico and Levante, Barcelona are lagging four points behind Los Colchenors and are probably out of the race. Even though the prospect of Sevilla winning the race looks far-fetched, the Andalusian giants are still sniffing around the ultimate prize. Meanwhile, the relegation battle rolls on. A thin five-point gap separates the bottom six, with basement boys Eibar...
Barcelona targeting 21-year-old striker as Haaland alternative
Barcelona are weighing up a move for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak as a possible alternative to Erling Haaland, writes Marca. Haaland has become one of football’s hottest properties in the last 18 months since his move to Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian has hit a staggering 55 goals in 57 appearances for the Black and Yellows, including a brace in Thursday’s DFB Pokal final victory over RB Leipzig. Haaland has been exceptional for Borussia Dortmund His performances in Germany have attracted the attention of several of Europe’s top clubs. One of those clubs is Barcelona, who met with the 20-year-old’s agent and father back in April to discuss a possible transfer. However, the Catalan giants have racked up over €1 billion in debt, making a move for Haaland this summer near-impossible...
Barcelona considering Ajax boss to replace Ronald Koeman
Barcelona are reportedly lining up Erik ten Hag if they replace current manager Ronald Koeman. Koeman returned to Barcelona this summer, having spent six incredibly successful years at the club during his playing career. In those six years, he won four La Liga titles, one European Cup and one Copa del Rey. The Dutchman arrived at an incredibly turbulent time at Camp Nou. The club had been plunged into financial turmoil by then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, they had just ended the season without a trophy, Bayern Munich had humiliated them 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals, and star man Lionel Messi had handed in a transfer request. Koeman helped Barcelona end their mini trophy drought Koeman had a difficult start to life as manager of La Blaugrana, but managed to somewhat turn th...
Memphis Depay will join Barcelona this summer on one condition
Memphis Depay has agreed to join Barcelona this summer if they can meet one condition. Depay has been one of Lyon’s main men since signing from Manchester United in January 2017. In his first full season in Ligue 1, he was the league’s joint-third top goalscorer with 19 – a tally beaten only by Edinson Cavani and Florian Thauvin. Depay has been excellent for Lyon The forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December 2019 which put him out for the season, but he has bounced back from this and returned to his best form. This term, he has 19 goals and 10 assists in the league, making him one of only nine players from Europe’s top five leagues to hit double figures in both categories. Depay was one of Ronald Koeman’s main transfer targets when he first arrived at Barcelona. How...
Zinedine Zidane prepared to leave Real Madrid this summer – Juventus and France interested
Zinedine Zidane will quit his job in charge of Real Madrid this summer, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Zidane first took charge of his former club back in January 2016 following the dismissal of previous manager Rafa Benitez. The Frenchman had worked with the club’s B team for the two years prior to his appointment. In his managerial debut season, he helped the club win the Champions League, defeating local rivals Atletico Madrid in the final on penalties. He followed this up with another European title the next season, becoming the first club to ever win back-to-back Champions Leagues. In the same season, he secured the club’s first La Liga title since 2012. Zidane has won three Champions Leagues as a manager The next year, he won a third straight Champions League trophy, beatin...
Barcelona board give green light to sign £22.5m-rated star, player ‘crazy’ to join the club
Barcelona’s hierarchy have given the green light over a summer move for Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, Mundo Deportivo reports. Aguero is expected to leave the Cityzens when his contract expires in June, and the Blaugrana have been touted as favourites to sign him. It was recently reported that the club had made contact with his representatives, and the board have now given the go-ahead for the free transfer. The 32-year-old is ‘crazy’ about the prospect of joining the Catalan giants, where he would be reunited with close friend and compatriot Lionel Messi. Aguero is prepared to take a pay-cut on his €12 million annual salary. The Blaugrana believe the arrival of Aguero will convince Messi to prolong his stay. Messi’s current deal expires at the end of next month, but talks are p...
Zinedine Zidane ready to walk away from Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane will almost certainly leave Real Madrid at the end of this season, regardless of whether the team wins LaLiga. They face Granada tonight and if they pick up a win they will still be just two points behind Atletico Madrid with two games to go. But the 48-year-old coach, who has won two league titles and three Champions League crowns in less than four seasons, has all but made up his mind to walk away after the final game of the campaign at home to Villarreal on May 23. Zidane will be an immediate target for Juventus and for the France national side if they make a change after the Euros this summer. Madrid president Florentino Perez will be under pressure to promote Raul to replace him. He currently has the club’s youth team on the verge of promotion but Perez could also turn...
Barcelona contact Tottenham’s reported manager target about replacing Koeman
Barcelona have contacted the representatives of Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick to ask about his availability this summer, according to ESPN. The Catalans could replace Ronald Koeman at the end of the season after what has been an underwhelming campaign, and they have also been linked with former midfielder Xavi. However, the Al Sadd SC manager signed a new two-year extension yesterday, potentially ruling out a return to Camp Nou. 🗣 Xavi: “I’m proud to continue at Al-Sadd. We achieved a lot together, scored goals, won matches and titles, and we are all very proud of this success. Getting this kind of support is the best thing any coach can get.”#AlSadd #XAVI2023 pic.twitter.com/lFpXrjofGP — 🏆 #75 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) May 12, 2021 Landing Flick is also n...
Big two dwarf £470m star on rich list – move to Madrid or Barcelona would have fuelled jump
Three of football’s biggest superstars have retained their places in the top 10 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. According to Forbes, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are raking in massive amounts of money every year. Messi and Ronaldo have swapped places on this year’s list, but they lag miles behind Conor McGregor’s $180 million annual earnings. However, while the big two have seen their income increase over the past 12 months, Neymar has suffered a slight reduction. Sportslens takes a look at the three high-earning footballers. Lionel Messi – Barcelona – $130 million Messi has edged back in front of Ronaldo in the standings, pocketing a staggering $130m to claim second spot on the list. A lucrative lifetime endorsement deal with adidas helps to keep Messi’s bank bala...
Barcelona interested in Chelsea star with swap deal an option
Spanish outlet Sport has reported that Barcelona are interested in a move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho this summer. The Italian international has enjoyed a change of fortune since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in the Chelsea dugout in January, reclaiming his place in the heart of the Blues midfield. However, it is claimed that the La Liga giants could offer Miralem Pjanic to sweeten any deal struck with the London club. Pjanic has fallen out of favour with Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, with the Bosnian playmaker restricted to just six La Liga starts this campaign, despite a £54 million move from Juventus last summer. SL view – Would Jorginho’s departure be a miss for Chelsea? Jorginho played a vital role in Chelsea’s success over Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-f...
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona stars could beat Lewandowski for 2021 Ballon D’Or
The Ballon d’Or is arguably the most prestigious individual award in modern football, celebrating the beautiful game’s best player from the previous year. Now it is worth noting that the Ballon d’Or is not the be-all-and-end-all of football. It’s often biased towards those who shine in the Champions League. Media hype, big moments, and trophies won usually take precedence in the voting over individual performances. In fact, all Ballon dOr winners since 2007 has either won the Champions League or been the competition’s top goalscorer, and all since 2007 have reached at least the semi-finals stage. With no obvious standout, however, this summer’s international tournaments could be decisive. Lionel Messi and co. will compete in the Copa America, while Europe’s finest battle it out at the Euro...
