La Liga
Report: West Ham in contact with Barcelona over January move for 24y/o
According to ESPN, West Ham United have sounded out a move for Barcelona left-back Junior Firpo as manager David Moyes looks to bolster his defence this month. Arthur Masuaku is currently out injured, leaving Aaron Cresswell as the only available option in the position for the Hammers. Firpo is keen to leave Barca after struggling for playing opportunities this term, and the Spanish giants are open to letting him leave if a replacement can be brought in. AC Milan are also interested in recruiting the services of the 24-year-old, but they are only keen on a loan deal. However, West Ham could be willing to sign him permanently, but they might have to part with a fee close to the £18 million Barca paid for his signature in the summer of 2019. Sportslens View Firpo played 21 times across the L...
AC Milan join race for Barcelona’s Junior Firpo
AC Milan have become the latest club to show interest in Barcelona defender Junior Firpo, according to ESPN. Firpo joined Barcelona in the summer transfer window of 2019 after two seasons in Real Betis’ first team. Since then, he has struggled to nail down a spot in the starting XI, finding himself stuck behind Jordi Alba in the pecking order. Firpo’s time at Barcelona hasn’t gone as hoped It was hoped that the 24-year-old would be Alba’s long-term replacement, given that the former Valencia man is now in his 30s. However, this has not materialised, and he has since begun to seek a move away from the Camp Nou. Now ESPN are reporting that Serie A table-toppers AC Milan could set him free from his time at Barcelona. Stefano Pioli’s men have been flying this season. They currently sit at the ...
Barcelona plot next MSN-style trio without Lionel Messi in it
With the MSN trio on the verge of a permanent break-up, Joan Laporta wants to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a quick replacement. Barcelona housed one of the world’s greatest attacking trios ever – the MSN. With Luis Suarez and Neymar now departed, Lionel Messi remains the final one of the trident. The Argentine’s departure appears to be imminent. According to Diario GOL, Joan Laporta is not wasting any time and has made plans for his successor. The 58-year-old is the favourite to win the club’s presidential elections. He already has two players of similar profiles in the squad. Ansu Fati and Pedri are the players in question, and they have made massive strides in recent times. Fati, 18, is already breaking records whereas Pedri is also showing signs of maturity in his first season. Whi...
Report: Paris Saint-Germain eye Barcelona superstar to replace Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain have shortlisted a sensational Barcelona forward to replace Kylian Mbappe. Todo Fichajes states that Antoine Griezmann has been identified as their key target. Mbapppe is under contract until 2022, but an exit could be on the cards this summer with the Frenchman is linked with Real Madrid. Los Blancos are eager on signing the mercurial forward and, with one year left on his contract, PSG may be forced to cash in. If the 22-year-old forward leaves, then manager Mauricio Pochettino will go all out for Griezmann. SPORTSLENS VIEW – WOULD GRIEZMANN BE AN IDEAL REPLACEMENT? Griezmann was once arguably amongst the top five best players in the world. The French forward has performed exceptionally well in all competitions including the Champions League, Euro 2016 and FIFA World ...
Report: Benzema argues with Zidane in Real Madrid dressing room
Real Madrid’s disappointing defeat against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup has raised plenty of questions over Zinedine Zidane’s decision-making. Diaro GOL reports that Karim Benzema was not happy with Zidane’s substitutions. The Frenchman was taken off in the 87th minute with Madrid searching for an equaliser. SPORTSLENS VIEW – Did Zinedine Zidane make the correct decision to substitute Benzema? Benzema did not start the game on a bright note. The 33-year-old French striker was livelier in the second half after scoring Madrid’s goal. He became more involved thereafter and was unfortunate not to level the game when he had an equaliser chalked off by VAR for offside. However, Zidane’s decision to replace Benzema with Mariano Diaz in the 87th minute was baffling with Madrid nee...
Real Madrid forward stabs Zidane in the back and wants him sacked
One of the players who admired Zinedine Zidane now wants him to be sacked on the back of some terrible decision-making. Real Madrid crashed out of the Spanish Super Cup earlier this week thanks to a 2-1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao. Los Blancos looked short of ideas in the final third and Eden Hazard was one of the side’s worst performers, raising questions over his continued involvement in the team. One of the players who feels hard done at the moment is fellow winger Vinicius Junior, as per Diario GOL. The Brazilian international has been one of Madrid’s better players this season, but his minutes have been limited lately. Zidane and Vinicius have reportedly fallen out of favour due to the latter texting during a team talk. The young forward now aims to take drastic action against the ...
“Here we go”: Journalist provides update on potential transfer from Man City to Barcelona
Reliable football journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided Barcelona and Manchester City fans with some transfer news, by suggesting Eric Garcia will sign for the Spanish giants from Manchester City, this month. Eric Garcia will join Barça as a free agent, ‘here we go’ as said weeks ago. 🤝 Guardiola about the chance of Eric leaving this month: “I hope not but maybe Barcelona knows better than me. I don’t know what’s going to happen but maybe it’s going to happen..” 🔵 #mcfc @City_Xtra — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 15, 2021 The 20-year-old played for Barcelona at youth level, before switching to England to join Manchester City in 2017, but it now appears that Garcia will return to his hometown club. The player is expected to return to the Camp Nou on a free ...
Report: Haaland makes three key demands to sign for Real Madrid
Erling Braut Haaland is on the radar of Real Madrid and Barcelona, with both clubs eager to secure his services. The Norwegian marksman has established himself as one of the world’s most in-demand players after producing some sparkling performances for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 35 goals in 34 games (stats from TransfrMarkt). His release clause is 75 million Euros, although that is not due to come into effect until the summer of 2022, which means any side trying to sign him this summer would need to pay more. Haaland is thought to be in favour of joining Los Blancos and has made three clear demands which will prove decisive in the transfer negotiations. Diario GOL claims that the main request is from his agent, Mino Raiola, who has asked for a commission of 20 million Euros for his client’...
10 former Manchester United players who went into management
For 26 years, Manchester United were managed by one of, if not the greatest coach to ever touch the game. Sir Alex Ferguson guided the Red Devils to 13 league titles, two Champions Leagues, and many other domestic trophies. You’d think that those who played under him would have picked up a thing or two from his tutelage, and gone on to be successful managers themselves. Well, football isn’t always that simple. Wayne Rooney is the latest of Fergie’s disciples to take the leap into management, taking charge at Derby County. How will he fare? I guess we’ll find out. But here is how other former Man Utd players have done during their managerial days. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Solskjaer is currently in charge at Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over at Old Trafford during a turbulent spel...
Luka Jović’s torrid time in Madrid
Luka Jović was hot property after the 2018/19 season when he had scored 27 times in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt, including 10 in 14 Europa League outings as his side reached the semi-finals. With many top clubs including the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona showing an interest in the striker at some point, it was almost certain that he was going to leave Germany in the summer of 2019. He did just that by signing for Real Madrid for a reported €60 million on a six-year-contract, with the plan being that he would compete with Karim Benzema for a starting spot. That plan clearly did not work. Fast forward a-year-and-a-half, and now Jović has returned to Frankfurt on a loan till the end of the season after absolutely flopping in Spain. A number of things went wrong for him, and ...
Former Man Utd target in Barcelona’s crosshairs, but might be too expensive
Barcelona are being linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland, as reported by Spanish publication Sport. The Norwegian burst onto the scene last season, scoring 28 goals in 22 games for RB Salzburg. This form earned him a January transfer to Borussia Dortmund, where he has continued to find the net, bagging 35 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions for BVB. Haaland has quickly risen to stardom Naturally, this has attracted attention from all over Europe, with some of the world’s biggest clubs looking to secure the 20-year-old’s services. Manchester United were heavily linked with the Leeds-born forward prior to his move to the Bundesliga. Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had previously worked with the player at Molde. Barcelona are another club who are ...
Luka Jovic set for return to former club
Real Madrid outcast Luka Jovic is set to return to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, reports journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter. Jovic has endured an underwhelming spell at Los Blancos following his €60 million transfer in the summer window of 2019. He has scored just twice for the Spanish giants in all competitions, making just six La Liga starts in the last 18 months. Jovic has not captured his best form at Real Madrid However, prior to his move to the Bernabeu, the Serbian was one of the world’s most sought after young strikers, bagging 27 goals in 48 appearances for Frankfurt. And now it looks like Jovic is set to return to the club where he made his name, with transfer expert Romano confirming on Twitter that a deal had been agreed to send him back to the Bundesliga side on loan. T...
