Barcelona transfer news

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      Pep Guardiola ‘convinced’ Barcelona can lure Raheem Sterling from Man City amid transfer interest

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has admitted he could lose top players to Barcelona amid their interest in Raheem Sterling.The Catalan giants have been long-time admirers of Sterling and rumoured to be lining up a transfer offer.
      Raheem Sterling could be lured by Barcelona, his manager Pep Guardiola admittedCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Pep Guardiola conceded the lure of Barcelona is still there for playersCredit: AFP
      Barcelona have just appointed Xavi to be their new head coach and want new faces to help rebuild after a miserable start to the campaign.
      Sterling, 26, would be an ideal option to fit into the club’s 4-3-3 system.
      And City boss Guardiola admitted: “If Barcelona are interested in any of our players, I am convinced that they can get them.
      “Barca continues to be an attractive club, more than attractive. The city, the club, the history and this for the trainers, for the players always seduces a lot.
      “If Barcelona interests one of our players, they will set up the machinery into operation, it is a liner.
      “Barca can use their media to influence signings. That’s the thing about Barcelona; they can do what they want, good or bad.”
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      Sterling isn’t a first-team regular under Guardiola and has scored twice this season in 15 appearances.
      He recently admitted he would be open to leaving the Etihad in a bid for more playing time.
      Sterling told Financial Times: “If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it at this moment in time.
      “As I said, football is the most important thing to me — challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well.
      “As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I’ve always thought you know maybe one day I’d love to play abroad to see how I would come up against that challenge.”
      Catalan outfit El Nacional yesterday claimed there could be a player swap deal for Sterling and Barcelona star Frankie de Jong.
      Guardiola is said to be an admirer of De Jong, who hasn’t had the influence in Barcelona’s midfield that they hoped for since his move from Ajax.
      De Jong is valued at £60m Euros by the Catalans while Man City have a £43m price tag on Sterling.
      That would mean Sterling plus £17m would be the price Pep has to pay if he wants to bring 24-year-old De Jong to Manchester.
      De Jong joined Barcelona in a £65m deal from Ajax in 2019 and came with high expectations.
      Guardiola reacts to Man City’s huge step towards knockout stages after 4-1 win against Brugge More

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      Xavi draws up five-man Barcelona transfer wishlist including Man Utd star Cavani and Arsenal striker Lacazette

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      NEW Barcelona boss Xavi has drawn up a five-man shortlist as he prepares to bolster his squad over the next 12 months.The legendary Spanish midfielder was confirmed as Ronald Koeman’s replacement in the early hours of Saturday morning.
      Cavani has largely had to settle for a place on the Man Utd bench in recent weeksCredit: Getty
      Lacazette’s Arsenal contract comes to an end in the summerCredit: Getty
      And, with Barcelona currently languishing down in ninth place in LaLiga after just four wins from their opening 11 games, the 41-year-old has a huge job on his hands to turn the Catalan giants’ fortunes around.
      According to Sport, Xavi has identified five players he is interested in bringing in to enhance the 4-3-3 formation he will vehemently stick to.
      With Sergio Aguero out for three months, a proven No9 will be right at the top of Barca’s wishlist in the January window.
      Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani and Arsenal man Alexandre Lacazette are both turning the head of Xavi as he looks for a player to lead the line.
      Cavani and Lacazette’s current deals come to an end in the summer, meaning they can sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere as early as January.
      The Uruguayan has been forced to play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford so far this season, while Lacazette has started just two of the Gunners’ 10 Premier League games in the 2021-22 campaign.

      Sterling has been left out of Man City’s starting line-up for much of the season so farCredit: Getty
      Adeyemi has been superb for Salzburg at the start of the 2021-22 campaignCredit: Getty
      Coman could be looking for a way out of Bayern Munich in the summerCredit: Getty
      If neither of those come off, Barca may look to acquire RB Salzburg teenager Karim Adeyemi.
      The German sensation has already netted 14 times in 18 games for the Austrian side this season, following in the footsteps of ex-Salzburg man Erling Haaland.
      However, unlike Cavani and Lacazette, Adeyemi’s contract does not expire until 2024.
      I SPY STERLING
      Another area Xavi will be looking to improve is on the flanks as he seeks to provide a new No9 with some added creativity.
      And that could come in the form of Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling.
      The 26-year-old has fallen out of favour with Pep Guardiola over the summer and been forced to play a bit-part role for the Prem champions.
      Meanwhile, if Sterling is unwilling to consider Barcelona then Xavi may opt instead to try and sign Bayern Munich man Kingsley Coman.
      The Frenchman, who scored the winner for the German side in the 2020 Champions League final, has only appeared once in Bayern’s starting XI in the Bundesliga so far this season.
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      Man Utd want to poach City wonderkid James McAtee – dubbed the ‘Salford Silva’ – but face transfer battle with Barcelona

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly interested in luring highly-rated teenager James McAtee away from rivals Manchester City.The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has enjoyed a sensational start to the season for City’s youth side.
      The teenager netted three times for Man City against Club Brugge on WednesdayCredit: PA
      McAtee has attracted a great deal of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubsCredit: Getty
      The Englishman has netted 15 goals in 14 games, a run which includes three hat-tricks.
      The latest of those came on Wednesday night when he netted three times for Man City in their 5-3 UEFA Youth League defeat to Club Brugge.
      His supreme talent has seen him dubbed the ‘Salford Silva’ for his likeness to Man City legend David Silva.
      But it remains to be seen whether or not McAtee will be able to ply his trade in Pep Guardiola’s side.
      The Spanish coach has declared his admiration for the youngster, however The Mail are now reporting that both Man Utd and Barcelona are keen to snap him up.
      The Red Devils have a history with McAtee as he was a part of their set-up as a young boy.

      But he left Old Trafford and was taken in by the Sky Blues where he has blossomed into a superb talent.
      Yet his contract with Man City continues to tick down and he now has just 18 months left on his current deal.
      Along with United and Barca, Ajax, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool are all also interested in the Salford-born attacker.
      McAtee may choose to look at Jadon Sancho for inspiration to leave the Etihad.
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      The England winger departed Man City and joined Borussia Dortmund where he developed into a European star.
      Then in the summer he made the £73million transfer back to England as he joined Man Utd.
      McAtee faces stiff competition at defending champions City from the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and Jack Grealish. More

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      Barcelona ‘ready to accept Newcastle’s Philippe Coutinho transfer offer with mega-rich Toon interested in loan’

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      BARCELONA are ready to accept an offer from Newcastle United for Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.The move is said to be a loan deal with a compulsory permanent switch included.
      Coutinho could be heading back to the PremCredit: Rex
      The 29-year-old Brazilian is expected to be one of the first players through the door in January, following the Toon Army’s £300m takeover.
      Coutinho has been on the bench in the two games since the departure of Ronald Koeman.
      The playmaker has struggled to fit in the Barca side since his £121million switch from Liverpool in 2018.
      Irregular appearances and a loan move to Bayern Munich have led to constant rumours about a return to British shores and Newcastle’s takeover is set to spark an offer.
      Spanish newspaper Sport states that Barcelona are ready to transfer him ‘once and for all.
      The view from the Nou Camp is for Coutinho to go out on loan as soon as the January transfer window opens.

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      With a total of 54 goals and 45 assists in 201 games for Liverpool, he is well respected, not only in Merseyside, but throughout the English game.
      Coutinho is a two time La Liga champion, Bundesliga champion and Champions League winner.
      The ‘Little Magician’ could vastly improve a Newcastle side who are yet to win a league game and sit in the relegation zone.
      A manager remains the club’s top priority, with Eddie Howe rumoured to be the favourite for the job after Unai Emery stated that he will stay at Villareal. More

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      ‘Laporta’s words hurt me’ – Lionel Messi slams Barcelona president and insists he was never asked to play for free

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      LIONEL MESSI has slammed Barcelona president Joan Laporta for suggesting he could have played for free as he insisted he was never asked to.The 34-year-old departed the Nou Camp in August on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after 21 years spent in Catalonia.
      Argentine forward Lionel Messi swapped Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summerCredit: Getty
      Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated earlier this month he was surprised Messi didn’t offer to play for freeCredit: AFP
      Messi had wanted to remain with the Blaugrana and had agreed to lower his salary by 50 per cent, only for LaLiga to impose a salary cap on the crisis club.
      Speaking earlier this month, Laporta revealed he thought that Messi would have offered to play for nothing instead of linking up with Les Parisiens.
      That is despite Spanish law making it legally impossible for a player to represent a team for free, with the rule in place to avoid financial manipulation.
      Laporta, 59, told RAC1: “With Messi I do not get angry because I appreciate him.
      “I know he had a huge desire to stay, but also a lot of pressure because of the offer he had.
      “Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer. We knew from Messi that they had a very good offer.”

      Before adding: “I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say that he would play for free. I would have liked that and he would have convinced me.
      “I understand that the league would have accepted it. But we cannot ask that of a player of his level.”
      And Messi has now broken his silence over Laporta’s comments as he declared he has been left ‘hurt’, with the forward stating he did everything possible to stay.
      He told Sport: “The truth is that, as I explained on my way out, I did everything possible to stay, never at any time was I asked to play for free.
      “I was asked to cut my salary by 50 per cent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more.
      “The desire of me and my family was to stay in Barcelona. 
      “Nobody asked me to play for free but at the same time, it seems to me that the words said by the president are out of place.
      “They hurt me because I think he doesn’t need to say that, it’s like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things. 

      “This makes people think or generates a type of doubt that I think I do not deserve.”
      Messi has also declared he does intend to return to Barca in the future, though only when his playing days are over.
      The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is planning to become the club’s ‘technical secretary’ – a role designed to bridge the gap between the boardroom and dressing room, as well as helping to sign players and hire coaches.
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      Barcelona ready to compete with Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe as cash-strapped Catalans target free transfer

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      BARCELONA are ready to take on Real Madrid in the battle for PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe. Despite being in dire straits financially, the Catalans believe they can make ‘one great signing’ before next season.
      Lionel Messi’s arrival at PSG has not convinced Mbappe to stay at the Parc Des PrincesCredit: Getty
      And according to Spanish outlet AS, the club have emerged as a possible shock destination for the 22-year-old.
      Mbappe is out of contract at PSG next summer and is available on a free transfer, but any club wanting to sign him will have to pay a hefty signing on fee.
      But Barcelona are rumoured to be willing to pay up to £76million to secure a move despite their financial woes.
      And the Catalans believe Los Blancos will only offer £42million.
      As a result a much higher sum could sway Mbappe’s decision, after he was widely expected to seal a move to the Bernabeu.
      Madrid however are in a better position than their bitter rivals financially – meaning they are able to offer a higher weekly wage than the Catalans.

      And AS report that the side from the capital still have the ‘advantage’ when it comes to negotiations for the World Cup winner.
      Mbappe is allowed to start talks with clubs regarding a pre-contract agreement from January 1.
      He has publicly admitted that he wants to move to Real Madrid, but Barca still remain determined to ‘hinder the operation’ which was seemingly all but done.
      Los Blancos reportedly made two bids for the superstar in the summer, both of which were rebuffed by Les Parisiens.
      And according to president Florentino Perez they could even sign him in January, rather than wait until the summer and have to compete with rival clubs.
      Rumours linking Mbappe to Barcelona come after former president Josep Bartomeu revealed the club could have signed the Frenchman in 2017.
      But then manager Ernesto Valverde and his coaching staff instead recommended that the club sign Ousmanne Dembele.
      Bartomeu told on Esport3: “[Mbappe’s] signing was on the table, but the coaches preferred Dembele because they wanted a player to open the field.”
      Dembele was signed from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £138m, and has just 30 goals in 118 appearances in four years at Camp Nou.
      Kylian Mbappe jumps after being scared by referee testing whistle in tunnel before PSG vs Leipzig More

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      Man Utd joined by Liverpool in Ousmane Dembele transfer race with Jurgen Klopp hoping to snatch Barcelona star on free

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      LIVERPOOL are considering a transfer move for Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele, according to reports.Dembele, 24, has interested the Reds for some time and could be signed to provide competition for the likes of Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota.
      Ousmane Dembele is wanted by several clubs across Europe
      The Frenchman signed for Barca in 2017 for a fee of £138million but his contract expires at the end of the season.
      That means he is affordable, and though Barcelona want to keep him they are requesting he accepts a reduction in his £200k a week wages.
      Dembele has the ball in his court as a result, with Liverpool one of several teams eyeing a free transfer, report TEAMtalk.
      Manchester United have been long-term admirers of the winger.
      Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly chasing Dembele too, as are Newcastle now they have more spending power.
      Elsewhere in Europe Juventus and Bayern Munich could also try and tempt him away from the Nou Camp.

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      Liverpool are determined to land a new wide forward however, having previously targeted West Ham star Jarrod Bowen.
      Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is another player who has interested them in the past and would represent a much cheaper option than Dembele.
      Klopp is said to be a fan of the former Borussia Dortmund ace and there could be a transfer battle on the cards next summer. More

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      Donny van de Beek and Tanguy Ndombele among ‘four transfer options’ Barcelona are exploring in bid to improve midfield

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      BARCELONA have reportedly set their sights on four midfielders they are interested in signing in the January transfer window.The Catalan giants saw a host of players depart in the summer including Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Miralem Pjanic.
      Van de Beek has struggled to settle since arriving in ManchesterCredit: Getty
      Ndombele wanted to leave Tottenham in the summerCredit: Getty
      And, according to Sport, under pressure boss Ronald Koeman has identified Manchester United man Donny van de Beek as someone he would like to add to his squad.
      The 24-year-old Dutchman struggled to make any sort of impact during his first campaign at Old Trafford last season.
      And things haven’t improved much at the start of the new season as he has started just one of Man Utd’s seven Premier League games.
      A move to Barca could give Van de Beek a second chance to rediscover the form he showed at Ajax.
      Another man who Koeman’s side are looking at closely is Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele.
      The Frenchman arrived in North London for a club record fee of £55million in 2019 but has found it difficult to sustain a lengthy period of consistency.

      Brozovic is another man the Catalan giants could pursueCredit: Getty
      Ndombele enjoyed some good form last season but then handed in a transfer request in the summer.
      He was offered to Barcelona as Spurs looked to offload him, but the Spanish side could not afford the 24-year-old due to their financial problems.
      Two other midfielders the club are looking at currently reside in Serie A and are set to become free agents in the summer.
      Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie both have contracts that expire at the end of the season.

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      And Barcelona could look to take full advantage of that situation by snapping them up in January.
      Koeman’s side have suffered a very tough start to the season, winning just three of their first seven LaLiga games.
      They have also been beaten 3-0 in both their Champions League matches by Bayern Munich and Benfica.
      Kessie is another man who could be approached by BarcelonaCredit: Getty More