Barcelona transfer news

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      Barcelona finally register four transfers by selling shares in TV company but no room yet for one huge new signing

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      BARCELONA have managed to register four of their new signings with LaLiga ahead of their opening game – but Jules Kounde still cannot play.The Catalans take on Rayo Vallecano at home on Saturday but faced a race against time to get their recent additions registered.
      Robert Lewandowski and three other of Barcelona’s new signings have been registered for LaLigaCredit: Getty
      The club still need to raise extra capital to get Jules Kounde registeredCredit: Rex
      Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen finally got the green light just 24 hours before kick off.
      However, defender Kounde cannot play as Barcelona still need to free up more of the wage bill in order to get the Frenchman registered before the end of the month.
      The star is still recovering from a pubis operation and was unlikely to feature at the Nou Camp anyway, but the club remain confident they will get it over the line in time.
      Barcelona sold a further 24.5 per cent of Barca Studios today which, after the Spanish League’s Economic Control department reviewed the details, enabled them to confirm the four new players in their squad.
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      And both Sergio Roberto and Ousmane Dembele, who each signed new contracts this summer, were registered aswell.
      The head of the Orpheus Media company, Jaume Roures, that purchased part of Barcelona’s in-house production company had stated he believed the club would be able to field all of their big names.
      He said: “I would not have interrupted my holidays if it were not to ensure that we can see all the best players (in the first game of the season).”
      Barcelona are still trying to bring in extra revenue before the end of the month in order to get Kounde registered.
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      They are also looking to complete a move for Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso.
      Barca are trying to offload more members of the squad to raise more cash.
      And they have also managed to convince Gerard Pique to accept a pay cut while they still try to convince Sergio Busquets and Frenkie De Jong to do the same. More

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      Barcelona living in Never-Never Land as financial mayhem sends once-proud club’s reputation down the pan

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      IF BARCELONA played football in the way they manage their financial affairs, they would soon be in Spain’s fourth tier.The club’s glorious reputation is in decline on the field and already destroyed off it.
      Lewandowski joined Barca despite the club’s financial situationCredit: Getty
      Barca also splashed out on Frenchman Jules KoundeCredit: Rex
      Ex-Leeds ace Raphinha was another summer marquee signingCredit: Rex
      Nou Camp attendances are dropping alarmingly, a position caused partly by the loss of Lionel Messi and other stars but more by the behaviour of its most recent presidents who, it seems, couldn’t run a tapas bar in Las Ramblas.
      These are the chumps who favoured — and still favour — a European Super League, presumably because they reckon it would rescue them from themselves.
      You can see why they are seeking redemption by the way they are conducting their headquarters business.
      No fewer than four first-teamers are arguing they are owed millions of pounds because they agreed to do the club a favour by postponing pay rises.
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      For a reason that is beginning to escape me, one of the quartet, Frenkie de Jong, is hanging on to his job there rather than moving to Manchester United.
      I guess he wants his £17million back-pay first.
      Club president Joan Laporta appears to live in Never-Never Land, a wonderful country where his football team can owe well over £1bn, with a net loss close to half that.
      Imperfect circumstances for the purchase of new players? Not for Laporta who — take a deep breath here — has in this transfer window acquired Brazil ace Raphinha from Leeds, Poland super-scorer Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich and France centre-back Jules Kounde from Sevilla.
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      Andreas Christensen (ex-Chelsea) and Franck Kessie (ex-AC Milan) were free transfers, which doesn’t mean they were free from costs.
      That little lot added up to £117m in transfers and there are a couple of other likely acquisitions, too.
      The structure of the club looks like democracy in action, supporter-members electing a president for five years, Laporta replacing his adversary Josep Bartomeu, who began the madcap  dealings in 2017.
      Theirs isn’t democracy, though. It is much closer to the so-called “constitutional authoritarianism” of former President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines — and not only because his wife Imelda collected expensive shoes like Barca’s bosses collect expensive players.
      No player ever will fill the shoes left by Messi.
      His departure, and the recent failure to win  much while rivals Real Madrid march on to LaLiga and European titles, has now been reflected in Nou Camp attendances falling from 70,000-plus to just 54,000 last  season.
      The pandemic has not helped either.
      An odour of panic hangs over the Nou Camp.
      Laporta and manager Xavi are prepared to pay out-of-proportion sums for the best players and still they are beaten to top whack by Gulf State-sponsored Manchester City and PSG.
      They note, too, that the Premier League is now the world’s biggest domestic competition, able to reach TV contracts beyond those of the leading continental competitors.
      Indeed, this is why the two Spanish giants and Italians Juventus cherish thoughts of the ESL.
      Barcelona are looking for saviours.
      This amounts to borrowing money on a major scale — £550m to restructure debts is a recent loan — but rivals are becoming wary about transfer dealings.
      A former CEO of the club said recently they were “technically bankrupt” while Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann said: “Barcelona, the only club that has no money but then… buys every player they want. I do not know how. It’s kind of weird, kind of crazy.”
      The fall has been traced back to the £200m sale of Neymar to PSG five years ago.
      That money was blown in months and the madness hasn’t stopped.
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      Now waiting in the gloom is the threat of Financial Fair Play.
      It is almost certain they’ve breached the rigid Uefa rules — but we are all wondering if there will be consequences? More

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      Crystal Palace hoping to get Conor Gallagher on loan transfer again if Chelsea steal Frenkie de Jong from Man Utd

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      CRYSTAL PALACE will hold out until near the end of the transfer window to see if they can pick up a bonus loan.The feeling at the South London club is that there could be a number of exciting players available to borrow by then as the bigger boys complete their own summer business.
      Crystal Palace are hoping they can sign Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher on loanCredit: Getty
      Crystal Palace believe Conor Gallagher can rejoin them if Frenkie de Jong signs with ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Conor Gallagher, for example, is one Palace have their eye on should his game time be further impacted at Chelsea if Frenkie de Jong arrives from Barcelona.
      England midfielder Gallagher, 22, shone on loan at Selhurst Park last season, netting eight goals and grabbing three assists in the Premier League.
      It is believed Eagles chief Patrick Vieira would be interested in borrowing him again should the chance arise.
      Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another Chelsea player and former Palace loanee who may be of interest if the Blues are willing to farm him out.
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      But SunSport understands Palace are not interested in borrowing Gallagher and Loftus-Cheek’s club-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi.
      While a move to bring back academy product Aaron Wan-Bissaka on loan from Manchester United looks increasingly unlikely, following the arrival of Chris Richards from Bayern Munich.
      Palace feel they have enough cover at right-back now with Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Ward, Nathan Ferguson and Richards.
      A new striker is also not thought to be on the agenda, despite Christian Benteke moving to DC United, the MLS side managed by Wayne Rooney.
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      De Jong continues to pose as a top target for Chelsea and United, who are looking to strengthen in midfield.
      However, Barcelona don’t seem keen on selling him despite their financial woes. More

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      Barcelona ‘must pay Ousmane Dembele HALF of transfer fee if sold’ with new release clause at £42MILLION after pay cut

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      BARCELONA will reportedly have to pay Ousmane Dembele HALF of any transfer fee should they sell him within the next two years.The French star, who had been linked with Chelsea, looked set to depart the Nou Camp this summer after an injury ravaged five years there since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
      New details of Ousmane Dembele’s Barcelona contract have been revealedCredit: Rex
      However, he ended speculation over his future by recently penning a new two-year contract rather than leaving as a free agent in June.
      Now Spanish publication Sport have released details of his mega new package.
      The 25-year-old will allegedly earn around £17million a year.
      Dembele will pocket at least £13.5m gross for each year of his contract and could net a further £3.4m through bonuses each campaign.
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      That means that the attacker could earn nearly £34m across his contract over the next two seasons.
      And the ex-Rennes player will also receive 50 percent of any transfer fee should he be sold – with his contract including a release clause of £42m.
      That could tempt Dembele to leave before the end of his contract with the potential to bank an extra £21m on top of his salary.
      Dembele cost Barcelona a whopping £120m back in 2017 but he has struggled to make an impact due to a number of injury problems.
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      However, his form improved following the arrival of Xavi in the dug-out as he produced a goal and 13 assists in 15 LaLiga starts under the Spaniard last term.
      He has continued his good form into pre-season, and Xavi was full of praise for the ace after he bagged a brace in a recent friendly against Juventus.
      He said: “He has shown what he is capable of. He is different, special.
      “There are not many of this type. He gives us a lot with the way we play.
      “Not everyone has the ability to make a difference in the world of soccer and he does. He is involved and he shows it.
      “I don’t know the Dembele from before November, I don’t know him. I am very happy with this one.” More

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      Holland boss Louis van Gaal begs Frenkie de Jong to ditch Barcelona for Man Utd or Chelsea transfer before World Cup

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      LOUIS VAN GAAL has urged Frenkie de Jong to leave Barcelona before the World Cup kicks off in November.De Jong, 25, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer.
      De Jong has been linked with a move away from BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Van Gaal has urged him to leave the club before the World CupCredit: Getty
      Manchester United have been pushing to sign him since the transfer window opened in June, but the midfielder has made it clear that he does not want to make the move to Old Trafford.
      However, Barcelona chiefs are attempting to force him out of the club, suggesting that he should reduce his wage demands or leave.
      The Catalan giants already owe De Jong around £17million in unpaid wages after he agreed to defer the payment of his salary during the Coronavirus pandemic.
      Club officials now believe that negotiating a move away for the Dutchman would resolve any financial differences.
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      But, Holland boss Van Gaal is concerned that the situation at Barcelona could destroy De Jong’s chances of breaking into the World Cup squad.
      According to Dutch outlet AD, the 71-year-old has claimed that the midfielder must be given the chance to play regularly in order to properly prepare for the World Cup.

      De Jong will likely have to seek a move away in order to get more game time, but a move to Chelsea could now be on the cards.
      The Blues are reportedly close to striking a £67.6m agreement with Barcelona for the Dutchman, who is understood to be willing to make the move to Stamford Bridge.
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      Van Gaal has also expressed the same concern for out-of-favour forward Memphis Depay.
      The former Man Utd star has been informed by Xavi that he will have no place at Barcelona this season.
      Tottenham are claimed to be in advanced talks to sign him on a free transfer, but Juventus are still in the race to complete a deal. More

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      Barcelona sell another 25 per cent of in-house production company for £85m to ‘free up funds to register new signings’

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      BARCELONA have sold another 25 per cent of their in-house production company in order to register their summer signings.Barca face dire financial issues and have yet to declare recent arrivals Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Ousmane Dembele, who signed a new deal.
      Barcelona have yet to register summer signings, such as Robert LewandowskiCredit: Rex
      Barcelona want to declare Jules Kounde before their LaLiga openerCredit: The Mega Agency
      Manager Xavi wants this to be sorted before Saturday’s LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp.
      However, the club is confident the matter will be dealt with after the recent agreement that saw them raise £85million.
      According to Football Daily, the deal will allow them to register “a number” of their new players this week.
      According to the Mail, the Blaugrana activated their fourth “economic lever” after they signed a deal with Socios.com to sell off 25 per cent of their stake in Barca Studios last month.
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      And the Catalan giants’ most recent deal has been agreed with Orpheus Media.
      Barcelona released the following statement: “With this investment the strategic partners in Barca Studios show confidence in the value of the project and the future of digital content in the world of sport.”
      Barcelona have been unable to register their new signings because they are currently too close to their spending cap.
      The Spanish outfit needed to generate additional funds by selling key players, trimming their wage bill or activating “economic levers” by selling parts of their domestic TV rights or offloading sections of Barca Studios.
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      Barcelona faced the dilemma of either selling Manchester United and Chelsea target Frenkie de Jong or offloading another 25 per cent of Barca Studios to Orpheus Media.
      In the end, they opted to sell another section of their production hub. More

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      Hector Bellerin ‘offers himself to Barcelona on free transfer’ as right back negotiates Arsenal contract termination

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      ARSENAL right-back Hector Bellerin has reportedly offered himself to Barcelona on a free transfer as he looks for a way out of the Emirates.The Gunners defender spent last season on loan at Real Betis, making 32 appearances for the LaLiga outfit.
      Right-back Bellerin is expected to leave Arsenal this summerCredit: Getty
      It seemed as though a permanent move to Betis was on the cards after he helped them win the Copa del Rey in April.
      But it has now emerged that the club are suffering from major financial problems, which makes registering new players a difficult task.
      And according to Mundo Deportivo, Bellerin is now open to looking at other options, with a move to Barcelona thought to be among the top priorities.
      The Spaniard came through Barca’s youth set-up before leaving for Arsenal in 2011.
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      Now he could be set to return to the Catalan giants as he looks to have his Arsenal contract terminated.
      Bellerin has one year left on his current deal with the North London outfit.
      However, Arsenal have shown in the recent past that they are willing to allow big players to leave for free – with Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both having their contracts ripped up.
      If he is allowed to depart then that would enable Barca to afford him despite their own financial crisis.
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      Xavi is said to be in the market for a right-back but missed out on Cesar Azpilicueta after he agreed a new deal with Chelsea.
      Now Bellerin could fill that void and – as a bonus – also join a club playing in the Champions League.
      He has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and Roma, but Betis and Barca remain the frontrunners.

      Bellerin has made 239 appearances for Arsenal across ten seasons at the club.
      He has won the FA Cup three times and also reached the League Cup final in 2018. More

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      Man Utd offer Diogo Dalot to Barcelona in swap transfer as Red Devils bid to beat Chelsea to Sergino Dest

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are set to offer Barcelona a swap in order to sign right-back Sergino Dest.The Red Devils hope to use Diogo Dalot as a makeweight to sign Dest.
      Sergino Dest joined Barcelona in 2020 but could soon be on his way outCredit: Getty
      Diogo Dalot was one of the players who disappointed in Man United’s opening day loss to BrightonCredit: Getty
      United want to steal a march on Premier League rivals Chelsea, who also want to sign the American.
      However, Barcelona don’t want to do a swap deal, and prefer a cash option of £17million.
      According to Spanish outlet Sport, Dest is on the club’s for sale list after failing to convince since his move from Ajax in 2020.
      Dest broke into the Ajax first team under Erik ten Hag’s tenure, so it makes sense why United would harbour an interest in him.
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      However, United’s attempts to swap Dalot with the American are set to fall flat due to Barcelona having no interest in the Portuguese defender.
      United cannot recruit another player at right-back without first getting rid of one of the two they have.
      For this reason, United have added Dalot to their for sale list, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been on this list for some time, and is rumoured to be courting interest on a loan move to Crystal Palace.
      Barcelona have seen a well-documented pursuit of Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta end in failure after the Spaniard signed a new two-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
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      Earlier today the club announced they were selling off a further 24.5 per cent of Barca studios in order to raise £85m.
      However, they are desperate to see the back of a number of players, with La Liga refusing to allow them to register several squad members who have either signed contract renewals or who are new arrivals.
      The Blaugrana are currently far in excess of La Liga’s wage rules, and it could consequently mean the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ousmane Dembele might not be able to be registered.
      Indeed the situation is so bad they may be forced to release Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen after the pair signed on free transfers over the summer.
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      It is why the club have reportedly given Frenkie de Jong an ultimatum to either leave the club in a deal to join either Manchester United or Chelsea or told him to cut his wages.
      They have even threatened legal action against him if he doesn’t revert back to his pre-2020 contract with the club after the new board allegedly found “evidence of criminality” from the old board. More