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    Barcelona agree to RIP UP Memphis Depay’s contract after just one year amid Juventus transfer interest

    BARCELONA have reportedly agreed to rip up Memphis Depay’s contract.But a free transfer to Juventus is still yet to be completed as the two parties remain locked in talks.
    Barcelona are ready to terminate the contract of Juventus target Memphis DepayCredit: Alamy
    Fabrizio Romano claims Depay is no longer wanted by Barcelona.
    The Catalans need to free up funds so they can register new signings including Jules Kounde.
    And one player Xavi Hernandez is happy to sacrifice is Depay.
    The Dutch ace only joined Barca a year ago from Lyon on a free transfer.
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    His Nou Camp deals runs for one more season until 2023.
    But Barcelona want to move Depay on as soon as possible.
    Tottenham were reportedly interested in the former Manchester United winger.
    Chelsea have also been linked as they pursue teammates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong.
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    Barcelona are now ready to terminate Depay’s contract for a clean break.
    But it’s Juventus who are in pole position as Max Allegri looks to boost his attacking options.
    It was reckoned the fallen Italian giants had already reached an agreement on terms with Depay.
    However, it’s now transpired they remain locked in talks over his salary and other details.
    Even so, the decision over Depay’s future lies with the player and Juve, as Barcelona have now given the green light to tearing apart his deal.
    Depay played 38 times for Barca last term, scoring 13 goals.
    But the arrivals of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, plus Ousmane Dembele’s contract renewal and Ansu Fati’s return from injury, have seen him plummet down the pecking order.
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    Should he join, Depay would become Juventus’ sixth summer signing.
    Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria joined on free transfers, while Andrea Cambiaso, Filip Kostic and Bremer were snapped up for a combined £55million. More

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    Bizarre clause in Jules Kounde’s deal means he can quit Barcelona for FREE if he’s not registered before end of window

    THERE remains a chance that Jules Kounde does not become a Barcelona player this season due to a clause in his contract, according to reports.The bizarre claim has been made by Spanish journalist Adria Soldevila who reports that he could walk away on a free transfer if the club don’t register him soon.
    Jules Kounde has only featured in pre-season games for Barcelona so farCredit: Getty
    Kounde, 23, has agreed to join Barcelona from Sevilla in a deal believed to be worth around £50million.
    However, the centre-back is currently nursing an injury so has therefore not been officially registered as a Barca player.
    Therefore it is reported that if he isn’t registered by the end of August he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer.
    The speculation further suggests that Barcelona would have to pay him £2million in contract clauses if this happens.
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    LaLiga banned the club earlier this summer from registering new players until they met spending regulations.
    Kounde was not in the squad for their season opener at home to Rayo Vallecano and it remains to be seen whether he is available for the second match versus Real Sociedad this weekend.
    The Catalan giants reportedly therefore have less than two weeks to sort out the deal or he could depart.
    This unusual saga could become music to Chelsea’s ears after they were desperate to bring him to West London only for their £55million deal to be hijacked by Xavi’s side.
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    With Barcelona battling financial difficulties the last thing they’d want is for the deal not to go through and lose a sizeable amount of money.
    Barca have spent heavily this summer bringing in the likes of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, who both have been registered after delays.

    More players could be set to arrive at the Nou Camp with Marcos Alonso, Hector Bellerin and Bernardo Silva some of the players linked with moves.
    There could be departures too with Frenkie de Jong, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sergino Dest all rumoured to be of interest to Premier League sides. More

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    Robert Lewandowski has luxury £59,000 watch stolen outside Barcelona training ground… before chasing after thief

    Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski chased a thief who stole his £59,000 watch as he signed autographs.Before an evening training session, the Poland hitman stopped to greet fans outside the club’s Ciutat Esportiva complex.
    Barca supremo Joan Laporta unveils star signing Robert LewandowskiCredit: Getty
    But one crafty thief used the distraction to open Lewandowski’s car door and make off with the high-end time piece.
    The striker sprinted after the culprit, who was eventually caught by police and the watch was then returned to a grateful Lewandowski.
    The 33-year-old joined Barca from Bayern Munich despite the Catalans being in financial turmoil which forced them to offload players before registering new signings.
    Chelsea and Manchester United both want Barca’s Dutch playmaker Frenkie de Jong.
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    While Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is also keen to link up with former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
    But Lewandowski admitted he struggled in his La Liga debut against Rayo Vallecano.
    He said: “I was surprised when I saw six players inside their area and one of them marking me. This does not happen in the Bundesliga.
    “This way of playing is anti-football. I hope it’s the only team in the league that plays like this.”
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    Barcelona’s financial woes have not stopped them raiding the Prem for Leeds Brazil star Raphinha and Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen.
    But there is also movement looking likely in the other direction, with Manchester United eyeing LaLiga for Real Madrid star Casemiro and Atletico’s Yannick Carrasco. More

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    Man Utd ‘agree four-year contract with £60m Real Madrid star Casemiro and will pay midfielder £290K A WEEK’

    MANCHESTER UNITED have agreed a four-year contract with Casemiro, according to reports.And the Red Devils will splash out a whopping £290,000 per week on the midfielder.
    Casemiro is on the brink of completing his big-money move to Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    Casemiro, 30, looks set to complete the move away from Real Madrid where he has won every trophy available including five Champions Leagues.
    It is understood United will pay around £60million for the Brazilian who is keen to explore a new adventure.
    And respected Italian football journalist Nicolo Schira says the two parties have sorted out his contract.
    Casemiro will earn around £15.2m per year until 2026 – which works out as just north of £290,000 a week.
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    He will be reunited with Raphael Varane at Old Trafford after their spell together in Madrid.
    United initially bid £50m for the former Porto loanee.
    However, Los Blancos were determined to push the fee up for the player they signed from Sao Paulo in 2013 – especially because he has three years remaining on his Bernabeu deal.
    The 63-cap international’s place in the squad, though, is under threat following the big-money arrival of Aurelien Tchouameni this summer.
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    Casemiro was not on new boss Erik ten Hag’s initial list of transfer targets in his first transfer window at Old Trafford.
    Frenkie de Jong was the No1 name.
    However, despite agreeing a fee of around £74m with Barcelona, United were unable to convince the Dutchman to move.
    And the shocking defeats to Brighton and Brentford meant drastic action was needed for the bottom-of-the-league United and Ten Hag identified a new holding midfielder as an absolute necessity.
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    It is reported United still want another midfielder, a forward, a right-back and a back-up goalkeeper.
    There could be major change off the field, too, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe eyeing up a sensational plot to buy the club.
    Current owners the Glazer family are said to be open to selling a minority stake in the Premier League crisis club, which has a reported total value of £5billion.
    And billionaire Ratcliffe, one of the richest people in Britain, would jump at the chance to invest in the Old Trafford side and take “full control”. More

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    Real Madrid want Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes as transfer replacement if Casemiro heads to Man Utd

    REAL MADRID are reportedly targeting a move for Bruno Guimaraes if Casemiro leaves for Manchester United.The Magpies midfielder has been a revelation since joining from Lyon for £43million in January.
    Bruno Guimaraes is a reported transfer target for Real MadridCredit: Getty
    The Spanish giants want to replace Casemiro with Guimaraes if the former joins Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    His form has led to interest from Real Madrid, according to Spanish outlet AS.
    Guimaraes is reported to be top of the list of potential replacements for Casemiro.
    Manchester United are keen on the Real Madrid veteran and are reported to have offered Casemiro the chance to DOUBLE his wages with a switch to Old Trafford.
    And Casemiro is claimed to be open to leaving the club.
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    But a swoop for Guimaraes would not come cheap.
    It’s believed Newcastle would demand more than double the £43m they paid to sign him in January to let the midfielder leave.

    The 24-year-old has established himself as a key man on Tyneside, and is a key part of Eddie Howe’s project going forward.
    So it would take a mega-money bid in order for Toon to even consider parting ways with one of their prized assets.
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    Guimaraes has also forced his way into starting contention for the Brazil national team in recent months.
    And Guimaraes is the man Los Blancos chiefs want to replace his Brazilian team-mate if Casemiro does jump ship this summer.
    Real Madrid are set to bank around £50m if Casemiro does leave for Old Trafford.
    The Red Devils are in desperate need for midfield additions, having pulled out of a deal to sign Adrien Rabiot because of his wage demands. More

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    Man Utd set to offer Casemiro mega five-year contract and double his Real Madrid wages to £8.4m AFTER tax

    MANCHESTER UNITED have offered Casemiro the opportunity to DOUBLE his wages if he joins the club. The Red Devils are desperately seeking new midfielders, and having struggled to land their main summer target Frenkie de Jong they now look set to try and land Real Madrid’s Casemiro.
    Casemiro has won the Champions League five timesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The Brazilian veteran has won a plethora of trophies with Los Blancos, including five Champions League titles.
    But now the 30-year-old could leave behind his trophy-laden days in Madrid in favour of a far-more lucrative contract at Old Trafford.
    According to journalist Fernando Burgos, Casemiro has been offered the chance to go from £4.2 to £8.4million a season over a five-year deal.
    However, United are yet to submit an offer for the defensive midfielder.
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    Previous reports have indicated Casemiro is ‘open’ to the transfer.
    But Madrid value him at £50m, given his overall importance to the team.
    The Red Devils interest in him was first reported when United football director John Murtough was present in Madrid to discuss a deal for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.
    United have already seen a £110m bid for the attacker rejected, with his release clause at the Wanda Metropolitano set at a whopping £295m.
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    The season could not have gotten off to a worse start under Erik ten Hag, with an opening day defeat to Brighton followed up by a humiliating 4-0 loss to Brentford.
    Up next for United are hated rivals Liverpool, and while Jurgen Klopp’s side are also winless in the Premier League so far, it is difficult to see United coming out of the game with anything based on the way they have played so far.
    The game could also be marred by a mass boycott from fans, who are set to “#EmptyOldTrafford” in protest of the Glazer ownership.
    Recent figures have revealed the Glazers have taken an estimated £1.1billion out of the club, excluding the sale of shares which would take this figure to £1.6bn.
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    However, the Glazer ownership of United could soon come to an end, with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe said to be interested in buying the club.
    He is estimated to worth around £11bn and following the reports, United supporter’s group MUST released a statement saying they look forward to any prospective discussions. More

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    Eden Hazard lined up for shock Galatasaray transfer with Real Madrid open to selling former Chelsea star

    EDEN HAZARD is a shock transfer target for Turkish giants Galatasaray, reports suggest.The 31-year-old has failed to fire since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for £103million.
    Eden Hazard is a reported transfer target for GalatasarayCredit: Getty
    And he is now being lined up for a switch to Turkey, according to Turkish newspaper Fotomac.
    Galatasaray are currently claimed to be preparing an offer for Hazard.
    The club are also reported to be optimistic about their chances of signing the forward.
    Hazard himself is not thought to be planning on leaving Real, but the club are open to selling if a suitable offer arrives.
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    The winger was handed a new role by Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in the weekend’s win over Almeira.
    He starred while playing through the middle alongside Karim Benzema in the 2-1 comeback win.
    But Galatasaray are looking to continue a good transfer window by bringing in the Belgian international.
    Their business includes signing Lucas Torreira from Arsenal and Dries Mertens from Napoli.
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    Galatasaray are also said to be hoping Mertens will be able to help persuade his Belgian pal to leave Real Madrid.
    Although a switch to the Istanbul-based side might be a controversial one on one side of the city.
    Last year it was claimed Hazard had vowed to play for Galatasaray’s sworn enemies Fenerbahce before he retires.
    Former Fenerbahce club chief Hasan Cetinkaya said on Hazard: “He had incredible sympathy for Fenerbahce and gave me his word: ‘Hasan, one day I’ll play for Fenerbahce, I just do not know when that will be.” More

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    ‘Most toxic situation in world football’ – Barcelona outcast Dest warned against ‘career-derailing’ Man Utd transfer

    SERGINO DEST has been warned his career could be derailed if he joins Manchester United.The Barcelona full-back has been told he has no place in Xavi’s plans going into the season, with the Spanish club ready to let him go for £17million.
    Sergino Dest has been warned Man United are the most toxic situation in world footballCredit: Getty
    Manchester United are currently the front-runners to sign him despite interest from the likes of Chelsea.
    However, Dest has been warned his career could be derailed if the joins the ‘toxic’ environment currently present at Old Trafford.
    Major League Soccer veteran Herculez Gomez told ESPN he would be better off staying at Barcelona to sit on the bench rather than joining United this summer.
    He said: “There is no more toxic situation in all of world football like Manchester United.
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    “A career derailer if you will for most, no for all. Cristiano Ronaldo has his career derailed at this very moment, what hope does Sergino Dest have.
    “I understand you have a centre-back playing your position right now if you’re Dest, but listening to Xavi it almost feels like he’s leaving the door open (to force his way back in).
    “I don’t think it’s that grim for him at Barcelona compared to what it could be like at Man United.
    “You may get paid better and you may all of a sudden play, but if things don’t go well where do you go from there.”
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    Barcelona are already eyeing up Dest’s replacement, and have drawn up a list of candidates including Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin.
    Barca lost out on first-choice target Cesar Azpilicueta after he signed a new two-year deal with Chelsea.
    However, along with Bellerin, Barcelona are also looking at the prospect of signing Tottenham flop Juan Foyth, but will need to pay his £35m release clause to current club Villarreal. More