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    Chelsea, Man City and Barca on transfer red alert as ‘next Lionel Messi’ confirms he WON’T sign new River Plate contract

    CHELSEA, Manchester City and Barcelona have received a huge boost in their pursuit of Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri.River Plate forward Echeverri, 17, attracted interest following a sensational U17 South American Championship back in April.
    Claudio Echeverri could be set for a move to Europe in JanuaryCredit: Getty
    Echeverri wears the No10 shirt for Argentina’s U17 side, like Lionel Messi does for the senior teamCredit: Getty
    The teenager, who wears the No10 for Argentina’s age group side, scored five goals and provided three assists in eight games at the tournament as his country finished third.
    Now he could be set to follow in the footsteps of iconic Argentine No10 Lionel Messi by moving to Europe.
    That is after he confirmed he will NOT be signing a new contract with River Plate.
    He told ESPN: “I’m NOT going to renew my contract at River Plate.
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    “I’m going to play for the next months and then we see what happens.”
    Echeverri’s deal expires in December 2024, with his release clause set at £21.6million.
    This will increase to £26m in the final days of the January transfer window.
    Manchester City are leading the way in their attempts to sign the attacker – with the Treble winners keen to agree a deal before loaning him back to River for the remainder of the season.
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    This would mirror the transfer made between River and Man City for Julian Alvarez last year.
    But Chelsea are also pushing to secure his services.
    According to Sky Germany journalist Sarah Wieczorak, Mauricio Pochettino’s men want to sign the youngster and then loan him out to Strasbourg – who are also owned by American Todd Boehly.
    Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are among the other huge clubs sniffing around Echeverri.
    Both Chelsea and Man City are yet to make a formal offer to River Plate. More

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    Man Utd ‘want controversial swap transfer for former Leeds star’ in bid to offload Jadon Sancho

    MANCHESTER UNITED are eyeing a shock swap deal with Barcelona involving Jadon Sancho, according to reports.The Red Devils are open to sending the exiled winger to Spain in order to sweeten a deal for Raphinha.
    Jadon Sancho is looking for a Man Utd escape routeCredit: Alamy
    Man Utd are supposedly open to replacing him with Barcelona’s RaphinhaCredit: Getty
    Man Utd want to sell Sancho in January with him yet to feature since his public fall out with Erik ten Hag.
    The England star has not played since claiming the manager treats him like a “scapegoat” after being left out a matchday squad on September 3.
    And having refusing to apologise to Ten Hag, Sancho is currently banned from first-team training.
    There was interest in the 23-year-old from Juventus, who have since reportedly pulled out the race.
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    RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Saudi Arabian clubs remain possible destinations.
    But speculation from Spanish outlet SPORT says that Barcelona could join the battle for him.
    The Catalan giants want to offload Raphinha with Man Utd keen and they are willing to offer Sancho and cash in a deal for the ex-Leeds star.
    However, the Brazilian currently does not want to leave the Nou Camp despite struggling for form this season.
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    Raphinha has scored just two goals in 16 matches this season.
    Claims also suggest that a Saudi Arabian club could tempt him to the Middle East if a return to the Premier League does not materialise.
    The 27-year-old has previously been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham. More

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    Ex-Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong’s agent slams ‘nonsense’ claims star faked illness to miss Barcelona clash

    BARCELONA star Frenkie de Jong’s agent slammed “total fake news” suggesting his client faked an illness to miss Wednesday’s Champions League game.Barca lost 3-2 to Royal Antwerp at the Bosuilstadion in their final match in the group stage which didn’t cost them as they still finished top of the table.
    Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong’s agent slammed rumours suggesting he faked an illnessCredit: Rex
    Barcelona star De Jong has repeatedly been linked with a move to Man UtdCredit: Rex
    However, De Jong couldn’t travel with the rest of Xavi’s side due to an illness.
    A report from RAC1 claimed the Blaugrana’s sporting director Deco spoke with the midfielder on the phone and doubted the legitimacy of the player’s excuse.
    However, the Netherlands international’s representative Ali Dursun lambasted those “nonsense” rumours and insisted his client is a “model professional”.
    Dursun told  De Telegraaf: “Total fake news.
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    “It is the biggest nonsense that has been released around Frenkie in a long time.
    “The player is just sick. He has symptoms of fever and has been unable to travel and play.
    “This boy is a professional through and through. Just a model professional.
    “Just don’t touch Frenkie’s reputation, because he always delivers.
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    “There was no shouting over the phone as claimed, no question marks.
    “Things are being created now in a false way. The relationship with Deco is simply good and stable.”
    De Jong had been repeatedly linked with a move to Manchester United.
    United attempted to sign the 26-year-old in a £70million transfer last year in the summer, but Barcelona refused to let him go. More

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    Xavi ‘fighting for Barcelona job and under maximum pressure’ after back-to-back defeats against Girona and Antwerp

    XAVI is reportedly fighting for his job at Barcelona following back-to-back defeats.Barcelona have just suffered losses to Girona in LaLiga and Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.
    Xavi’s job at Barcelona is reportedly under threatCredit: Getty
    Barcelona have lost back-to-back gamesCredit: EPA
    The defeat in Europe did not prove costly as the Catalonians still topped Group H.
    However, the loss to LaLiga leaders Girona has left Barcelona seven points off the pace and slumped down in fourth.
    Spanish outlet AS, has claimed that the loss to Antwerp has “stained the club’s image in Europe”.
    The report has suggested that Xavi, 43, has been left in a “weak position” and that he “knows” he has lost the confidence of all six members of the club’s sports commission.
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    The commission is made up of president Joan Laporta, Deco, Rafael Yuste, Joan Soler, Enric Masip and Bojan.
    Deco has recently had a disagreement with Xavi as he denied being consulted about a late call-up to the team.
    He told Movistar Plus: “The call-ups are a matter for the coach. We did not come to a consensus on anything.
    “There was a change of plans regarding travel and we have decided that everyone should travel.
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    “It is an issue that was discussed for management reasons.”
    After the defeat to Antwerp, Xavi admitted that he was “worried”.
    He said: “The feeling is not good. We’ve had misfortune, from a 2-2 draw. We could have gotten more. We’re on a rough patch.
    “I’m worried, it’s normal. The team is not comfortable. We’re on a bad run, we’ve had two negative results.
    “We have to be critical of ourselves. We have to improve. The opposing team generates chances, but it’s hard for us to do so.
    “We have to improve and know that we are not on a good run.”
    Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is Ladbrokes’ favourite to replace Xavi should he be sacked.

    Roberto De Zerbi – 5/1
    Rafael Marquez – 6/1
    Julen Lopetegui – 6/1
    Ruben Amorim – 7/1
    Michel – 7/1
    Unai Emery – 8/1
    Pep Guardiola – 12/1 More

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    Barcelona ’emphatically reject Jadon Sancho after being offered swap transfer by Man Utd for ex-Premier League winger’

    BARCELONA have ruled out a swap deal involving Jadon Sancho and Raphinha, according to reports.Sancho has been frozen out of the Manchester United squad since his public fall-out with Erik ten Hag in September.
    Barcelona have rejected United’s proposal to swap Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty
    Raphinha is not going anywhere, claim BarcaCredit: AP
    SunSport reported that United approached the LaLiga giants regarding the possibility of exchanging Sancho for Raphinha.
    Raphinha, 26, spent two years with Leeds United, and scored 16 Premier League goals.
    But Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo have since claimed that Barcelona are not at all interested in Sancho.
    The report also claims that Raphinha is considered ‘untouchable’ in the January window.
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    Barca would only consider selling next summer if they received a significant fee for the Brazil international.
    He joined Barcelona in a £55million deal from Leeds in 2022 and has 12 goals and 17 assists in 65 appearances for the Spanish champions.
    Meanwhile, Sancho remains exiled with the winger refusing to make peace with Ten Hag.
    The January transfer window provides a potential solution for United, who are currently getting nothing out of their £73m player who earns around £300,000 per week.
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    While Barca have rejected the proposal, his former club Borussia  Dortmund could consider a swap involving Sancho and Donyell Malen.
    The England international contributed 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games for Dortmund between 2017 and 2021 before heading to Old Trafford.
    Ahead of Man Utd’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, Ten Hag reiterated that the ball is in Sancho’s court if he wants to be reintegrated into the squad.
    He said: “So it is about a culture and every player has to match certain ­standards and it was about that.”
    United face their bitter rivals in league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, which will hold a record attendance following the opening of the new Anfield Road Stand.
    United- who are sixth in the table – have failed to win away at Liverpool since January 2016, when Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal. More

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    Man Utd ‘offer to double Barcelona defender’s wages as Ten Hag seeks transfer replacement for out-of-favour Varane’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are interested in signing Ronald Araujo, according to reports.Erik ten Hag is keen to bolster his defensive options and United reportedly have a number of targets in mind.
    Manchester United are prepared to double Ronald Araujo’s wagesCredit: Getty
    Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have featured more often than expected due to injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
    So United are lining up targets for January which includes Araujo, according to Mundo Deportivo.
    The report adds the Red Devils would be prepapred to double the defender’s wages – he is believed to earn around £125,000-a-week at Barcelona.
    However it could prove tricky to land the Uruguyan as Bayern Munich have made him one of their transfer priorities, reports transfer guru Florian Plettenburg.
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    And the German champions are prepared to spend £85million on Araujo.
    Barcelona could demand an even bigger fee since Araujo is under contract until 2026 with an £860m release clause.
    If United miss out on Araujo they could focus their efforts on signing long-term target Jean-Clair Todibo who has impressed at Nice this season.
    The Ligue 1 side are understood to value Todibo at around £50m.
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    Araujo has impressed for Barcelona this season
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    But United’s main transfer target is believed to be Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva, who has an £85m release clause.
    United are also in the market for a midfielder with Monaco star Youssouf Fofana targeted, while Timo Werner could arrive to boost the attack.
    Antonio Silva is believed to be United’s number one target
    Jean-Clair Todibo is a long-term target for United More

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    Bruno Guimaraes linked with swap transfer to Barcelona as Spanish giants hope to tempt Newcastle into deal

    NEWCASTLE’S Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a sensational transfer to Barcelona.And that’s despite committing his future to the Magpies until 2028, after signing a new contract with the club in October.
    Guimaraes is top of Barcelona’s wishlistCredit: Getty
    According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, though, that hasn’t put Barcelona off making him one of their top transfer targets.
    The club are keen to sign a holding midfielder and have reportedly put Bruno Guimaraes top of their list.
    Alongside the Brazil midfielder on their wishlist is Youssouf Fofana of Monaco and Everton’s Amadou Onana.
    Barcelona are obviously cash-strapped after years of financial struggle so will not be able to fund the deal through typical means.
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    The report said Barcelona are prepared to include several players as part of the deal as they “really like” Guimaraes.
    They did not specify on what players Newcastle might like, however.
    The report claims that Guimaraes has a £100million release clause in his new contract but Barcelona would be unable to pay this.
    Guimaraes has one goal and one assist in his 14 games played so far this season.
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    Bruno has been impressive this seasonCredit: The Sun
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    Newcastle will be reticent to lose him given that they are already short of midfielders and looking to bring one in.
    Sandro Tonali’s ban for illegal betting means the Magpies are already in the market for a new central midfielder.
    And Newcastle could lean on their Saudi owners to bring in Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal either on loan or on a permanent basis. More

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    Marcus Rashford ‘could make shock Barcelona swap transfer with ex-Chelsea and Arsenal target moving to Man Utd’

    BARCELONA are considering a swoop for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, according to reports.Rashford, 26, scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists for the Red Devils last season but has struggled to replicate that form this term.
    Barcelona are interested in signing Marcus RashfordCredit: PA
    Erik ten Hag dropped him from the starting line-up ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
    And now the forward is being linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
    Calciomercato claim Barcelona are considering a shock move for Rashford.
    A potential swap deal could also be on the cards, with the La Liga champions allegedly willing to send Raphinha the other way.
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    United were linked with a move for the Brazil international in 2021 alongside Chelsea and Arsenal.
    The two London sides then battled it out in a bid to sign him, but he instead decided to join Barcelona from Leeds instead.
    He has since made 64 appearances for Xavi’s side, scoring 12 goals.
    Meanwhile, Rashford signed a bumper five-year United contract worth £325,000-a-week just five months ago.
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    Rashford has struggled to match last season’s form
    Raphinha has started just four La Liga games so far this season
    However, fans have been far from impressed with him in recent weeks.
    Club legend Paul Scholes criticised the England international following his poor performance against Newcastle last week.
    Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: “Marcus last year was brilliant and he’s got ability, there is no doubt about that.
    “But when you decide to walk back like he was, and he comes off and behaves like that, I do not think it’s good for the team.
    “And he’s one of the most experienced players now. He’s a player that players look up to. Mainoo looks up to him. Garnacho looks up to him.” More