La Liga
Where Next For Barcelona’s Superstars?
The last 18 months at Barcelona have been turbulent to say the very least. A rare trophyless season, humiliation in the Champions League for the third year running, Lionel Messi’s transfer request, mass protests against the club president, three different managers. And, at the end of it all, a worrying financial situation. Last summer, several of the club’s biggest names departed, including Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The upcoming transfer windows are expected to be no different, with a number of players rumoured to be nearing the exit door. Of course, the question remains: where will they go? Let’s have a look. Lionel Messi Messi almost left the Camp Nou last summer Lionel Messi dropped a bombshell on the world of football last summer by announcing that he wanted to leave Barcelona. Ho...
FIFPro Announce 2020 World XI Nominees
The shortlist for the 2020 FIFPro World XI has been announced. Every professional footballer around the world was invited to vote for the best player in each position. The ones with the most votes made it into the 55-man shortlist. The goalkeeper with the most votes, as well as the top three defenders, midfielders, and forwards, will be inducted into the FIFPro World XI. The remaining spot will go to the outfield player with the most votes. Bayern Munich are the most represented team in the shortlist, boasting 11 players. Title winners Real Madrid and Liverpool come in joint-second with eight players each. Bayern completed the treble with a win over PSG in August Despite going trophyless last year, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur both make it into the top five, with six and five candidates...
Bayern Munich Plotting Move For Barcelona Midfielder
Bayern Munich are eyeing up a move for Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo. De Jong joined Barcelona from Ajax in the summer transfer window of 2019. Since then, he has had a mixed time at the Camp Nou, often showing flashes of brilliance without ever consistently producing his best stuff. Nonetheless, there is no denying that the Dutchman has immense potential, as proven by his stellar performances at Ajax. De Jong has impressed on the international stage and at Ajax Treble winners Bayern Munich are said to be interested in the 23-year-old, with Mundo Deportivo claiming that he could be sold in order to raise funds during financially unstable times for Barcelona. Barcelona’s financial situation is no secret, with interim president Carlos Tusquets ...
Report: Wolves eyeing 24-yr-old linked with Arsenal, after Raul Jimenez injury blow
Valencia striker Maxi Gomez could be allowed to leave the club in January. According to Daily Mail, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal are keeping tabs on the Uruguayan international. Valencia are under financial stress due to the Coronavirus crisis and they could look to sell the player in order to raise some funds when the transfer window reopens next month. The player was heavily linked with a move to West Ham United at the start of this season but the 24-year-old ended up staying in Spain. Maxi Gomez has a release clause of £125 million but Valencia are prepared to sell him for less than that in order to cope with their financial losses. According to reports, Arsenal have been watching the forward over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers needs to sign a striker in...
SL VIEW: UEFA 2020 Fans’ Team of the Year
Earlier this month, UEFA revealed their 51 nominees for the Team of the Year and it was unsurprising that Bayern Munich had the most players on the list. The Bavarian giants won the Bundesliga, DFL Pokal Cup and Champions League treble for only the second time in their history last term and they did so in stunning fashion with a 30-match unbeaten streak which included 29 wins. Since 2001, UEFA have allowed fans to vote for their Team of the Year on their official website. As always, the final result will be announced in January and here are my picks for the 2020 Team of the Year. Formation: 4-3-3 Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich: The 34-year-old was almost ever-present for Bayern between the sticks as they went on to win another treble. The club-captain kept 23 clean sheets in his ...
Report: Everton keen on 27-yr-old La Liga player who could be available in January
Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti could be allowed to leave the club when the transfer window reopens in January. The French World Cup winner has fallen down the pecking order at the Spanish club after recovering from his knee problems and the La Liga outfit are looking to get his wages off their books now. According to Sport, Everton are interested in signing the defender. The Toffees could use some depth in the centre back position and Samuel Umtiti would be a handy signing for Carlo Ancelotti. Currently, Everton have Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey as their centre back options. Samuel Umtiti was considered as a world-class talent when he moved to Barcelona and the player still has his best years ahead of him. Carlo Ancelotti is a top-class manager who might be able to help the ...
Centre-Back Duo Return For Barcelona Ahead of Juventus Clash
Centre-backs Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo have been named in the matchday squad for Barcelona’s final Champions League group stage fixture against Juventus. La Blaugrana have suffered a bit of a defensive crisis of late, losing several central defenders to injury. Veteran Gerard Pique was the latest casualty, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury which is expected to keep him out for most of the season. Pique suffered an ACL injury against Atletico Madrid For a while, manager Ronald Koeman was left with Clement Lenglet as his only senior available centre-back. Youngster Oscar Mingueza had to be fast tracked into the starting XI, while midfielder Frenkie de Jong also deputised in defence. But now it looks like the backline worries are coming to an end, with both Samuel Umtiti an...
Luka Modric Enters Contract Talks With Real Madrid
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric is set to begin discussions with Real Madrid over signing a new contract at the club. Modric joined the Spanish giants in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur. After a tough opening year, the Croatian has become a superstar at the Bernabeu, peaking in 2018 when he won the Ballon d’Or. Modric was key to one of Europe’s most dominant sides At 35 years of age, it was thought that the World Cup finalist was nearing the end of his time at Los Blancos, especially with the much younger options of Martin Odegaard and Federico Valverde breaking through. However, the midfielder is still very much in favour at Real Madrid, starting 12 out of a possible 16 this term in all competitions. Despite his side’s mixed start to the season, Modric is still performing to an exceptionally ...
Manchester United tracking La Liga duo for Aaron Wan-Bissaka backup
Manchester United have been linked with moves for Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier, as well as Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly looking for another option in the right-back spot. Aaron Wan-Bissaka currently holds that position, with the alternatives being Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Brandon Williams – both of whom aren’t specialists in that position – and Ethan Laird, a young talent who needs time to develop. Wan-Bissaka has started all but two of Man Utd’s games this season in all competitions. The packed schedule and likely deep runs into domestic and European competitions make rotation a necessity. Wan-Bissaka is Man Utd’s number one right-back Reports are now saying that the Red Devils will look to La Liga for a second option on the right side of th...
Miralem Pjanic Admits Frustration at Playing Time
Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic has spoken out about his game time at Barcelona, admitting that he is unhappy with the situation. Pjanic arrived at the Camp Nou during the last transfer window from Juventus, in a move which saw Brazilian midfielder Arthur move in the opposite direction. He has made just one start in La Liga so far this season, although he has been in the starting XI for all five of Barcelona’s Champions League games. La Blaugrana play their sixth and final Champions League group stage game on Tuesday – against Pjanic’s former club, no less. If the Catalan giants can avoid defeat by two or more goals, then they will finish top of their group. Pjanic’s move to Barcelona has not gone to plan Ahead of his reunion with his former teammates, Pjanic spoke to La Gazzetta Dello S...
Atletico Madrid to Fight Premier League Duo for Arkadiusz Milik
Atletico Madrid are preparing to battle it out with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton for the signature of Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik (AS). Milik came to Napoli in the summer transfer window of 2016 from Ajax. Injuries and the form of Belgian forward Dries Mertens have seriously limited his game time at Gli Azzurri. Despite this, he has an impressive goalscoring record, netting 28 from 46 starts in Serie A over the last two seasons. However, the Poland international has fallen out of favour with manager Gennaro Gattuso and was left out of the Napoli squad for the 2020/21 season after refusing moves to Roma and Fiorentina. Milik is out of favour at Napoli Milik is out of contract next summer, leaving him free to talk to other clubs in January. And, according to Spanish outlet AS, Atletico M...
Former Tottenham manager touted by Marca as potential Zidane replacement
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is the leading candidate for the Real Madrid manager’s seat, should the club get rid of current boss Zinedine Zidane (Marca). Zidane has had an immensely successful return to the Bernabeu, winning two league titles and three Champions Leagues over two managerial spells. However, a below-par start to the season has left Los Blancos in fourth place in La Liga, and on the verge of an embarrassing group-stage exit in the Champions League. This has cranked up the pressure on Zidane, who reportedly has just four games to save his job. Zidane Looking on as Shakhtar defeat Madrid Spanish publication Marca are now saying that Real Madrid have two replacements lined up should Zidane get the sack, with Mauricio Pochettino currently ahead of club le...
