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      Barcelona owe £112m in transfers to clubs with Liverpool top of list on £26m for Philippe Coutinho deal

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      BARCELONA’S financial troubles have been laid even further bare after it was revealed they still owe a whopping £112million in unpaid transfer fees.
      The struggling LaLiga giants released their annual financial report today.

      Liverpool are still owed nearly £26m by Barcelona for Philippe CoutinhoCredit: Getty

      And it showed they still owe nearly £26m to Premier League champions Liverpool as part of the £142m deal for the Brazilian three years ago.
      They handed over £105m up front to the Reds and agreed to pay the rest in instalments.
      While Liverpool have received the majority of this, the financial report released by the club shows the Reds are still waiting for a large chunk of this.
      Coutinho has been given the chance to stay and prove himself this season but after three goals and two assists from 14 appearances, he now finds himself sidelined for four months with a knee injury. 

      The fee still owed out for the South American is by far the largest on Barcelona’s long list.
      They also still have to pay Bordeaux £8.8m for Malcom.
      Brazilian side Gremio will be receiving a further £7m for Arthur Melo, who is now at Juventus.
      Ajax still need to receive an additional £14m from the Nou Camp outfit for Frenkie de Jong.

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      Another interesting outstanding payment on the account was a fee of £4.44m to Atletico Madrid that is described as preferential rights.
      Back in October 2019 it was claimed the two clubs reached an agreement that Barca would pay Atleti around £14m in exchange for their silence over documents that revealed alleged misgivings over the deal for Antoine Griezmann that summer.
      It was also claimed the Catalans would have an advantage in the potential future signings of several stars at Los Rojiblancos.
      This could signify that there was truth behind these claims – although the ‘preferential rights’ have not been specified by Barca.
      Barcelona’s financial problems have spiralled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and their slide towards a period of austerity has been well-documented.

      According to Football Espana, Barca have asked the banks of Goldman Sachs, Allianz, Barings, Amundi and Prudential for dispensation for a delay on debt repayments so that the club can avoid insolvency
      They also reportedly have a negative working capital of £535m and a further £89m is owed out to lenders.
      Barca announced in October their debts had doubled as they published their financial results for the 2019/20 campaign.
      That led to Ronald Koeman attempting to offload a number of big earners from the books and sell to talent raise funds.
      Luis Suarez was the biggest casualty as he was forced out of the club.
      And they slashed around another £70m from the books after the sales of Nelson Semedo, Arthur, Ivan Rakitic and Marc Cucurella.

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      PSG ARE trying to sign Lionel Messi, confirms Leandro Paredes as he tells Barcelona star transfer is ‘up to him’

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN ARE trying to sign Lionel Messi, according to his Argentina team-mate Leandro Paredes.
      The PSG midfielder confirmed his club are pursuing the wantaway Barcelona star and Paredes said ‘it’s up to him’ if he joins.

      PSG ARE trying to sign Lionel Messi, according to Leandro Paredes (right)Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      PSG have been heavily linked with a move for Messi as new boss Mauricio Pochettino looks to stamp his mark on the squad.
      Messi’s Barca contract expires on June 30 this year and he is free to sign pre-contract agreements this month.
      With PSG ‘lurking like vultures’ the Catalans are said to be scared stiff Messi will leave.
      And that fear will have cranked up a notch after PSG midfielder Paredes’ comments.

      He told Corriere dello Sport: “It’s up to Leo to come to the club, because PSG are trying to convince him.
      “To be able to be coached by a coach from your country and the possibility of playing with Leo is a great opportunity. I hope it happens.”
      PSG have been planning the transfer in case Kylian Mbappe quits.
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      Sporting director Leonardo admitted they will try to sign the Argentine superstar after he told cash-strapped Barca he wanted to quit last summer.
      PSG’s starting XI would be phenomenal with Messi, Mbappe and Neymar.
      But the French side will face competition from Manchester City who have made no secret of their desire to reunite Messi with former boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad after failing to do so in the summer.

      Lionel Messi is being actively pursued by PSG

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      Pep Guardiola ‘pretty sure’ Eric Garcia will leave Man City with Barcelona preparing transfer swoop

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      PEP GUARDIOLA is ‘pretty sure’ Eric Garcia will leave Manchester City for Barcelona.
      But the City boss could not confirm whether it would be this month or at the end of the season.

      Eric Garcia is almost certain to leave Man City for BarcelonaCredit: PA:Press Association

      But Pep Guardiola said it depends on the two clubs whether he goes this month or at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The LaLiga giants have been chasing the 20-year-old for some time after he left them in 2017.
      And he has reportedly agreed to re-join them for £8.9million.
      Garcia’s contract expires in June and he has made it clear that he will not be signing an extension at the Etihad.
      Guardiola has acknowledged the player’s desire but asserted in October that he still hoped to ‘seduce’ him into staying.

      However, the City boss appears to have shifted his stance and all but confirmed Garcia will leave.
      He said: “I’m pretty sure he’s going to leave at the end of the season.
      “And [whether he leaves] now in this transfer window will depend on the clubs.
      “We’ll see until the end of the transfer window.”

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      City have reportedly lowered their asking price from £17.8m to £8.9m, making the deal far more affordable for Barcelona.
      The fee will be split into an initial sum of £4.45m, not due until later in the year, with a further £4.45m in variables.
      It is said that the Catalans are happy to push ahead with the deal having agreed personal terms and a contract to 2026.
      City are flying high and managed to get within two points of Man Utd with a game in hand at the top of the Premier League.
      And after a busy spell of fixtures Guardiola added: “We were lucky to survive this period with only two centre-backs and we win 10 in a row but it is so important we have Aymeric Laporte, Ferran Torres, Eric and hopefully Nathan Ake soon.
      “We need them all for the amount of games. It means we can rotate important players and it is so important they came back and played so well.”
      City sit two points off rivals Man Utd with a game in hand and face West Brom on Tuesday before hosting Sheffield United on Saturday.

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      Wolves seal Willian Jose loan transfer with £18m option-to-buy Real Sociedad’s Brazilian striker who Barcelona wanted

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      WOLVES have signed Real Sociedad’s Brazilian striker Willian Jose on loan until the end of the season.
      An £18million fee has also been agreed if they decide to make the deal permanent this summer.

      Brazilian striker Willian Jose has joined Wolves on loan from Real SociedadCredit: PA:Press Association

      Jose, 29, has answered the Molineux club’s SOS for an experienced hitman after winning just one of their nine Premier League matches since Raul Jimenez fractured his skull against Arsenal in November.
      Without him, Wolves have struggled to recapture the form which took them to the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.
      And Nunu Espirito Santo’s team only managed one shot on target against Northern Premier League part-timers Chorley in their uninspiring 1-0 FA Cup win on Friday.
      Now the Wolves board has backed Nuno to land the experienced Brazilian hitman, subject to a work permit and international clearance being granted this week.

      However Wolves are pessimistic about their chances of handing Willian Jose a speedy debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.  
      Jose scored 62 goals in 172 games for Sociedad, including a double in his farewell match for the Basque club’s 2-0 win over Cordoba in the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday.
      As a youngster he won the World Under-20 world youth cup with Brazil in 2011.
      And Jose has even played for Real Madrid on loan in the past, as well as Brazilian giants Sao Paulo, Gremio and Santos.

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      Wolves spent £35million in September on 18-year-old Fabio Silva, who scored his second goal of the season against West Brom last week.
      But Nuno wants an older head to take some of the burden off the teenager as he adapts to life in the Premier League.
      Silva has featured in 14 top-flight games this term, but has failed to live up to the hype surrounding him so far.

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      Barcelona ‘eye up Sergio Aguero and David Alaba on FREE transfers at end of season when duo’s contracts run out’

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      BARCELONA are reportedly looking to bring Sergio Aguero and David Alaba to the Nou Camp on free transfers.
      The Manchester City striker and Bayern Munich defender are in the final six months of their respective contracts and are free to talk to clubs abroad.

      Manchester City star Sergio Aguero could leave the club in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      David Alaba is expected to leave Bayern Munich in the summer when his contract expiresCredit: Getty Images

      SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this month that the Blaugrana were eyeing up a move for Aguero.
      The 32-year-old – who has been limited to just five Premier League games this term due to injury – is still waiting to see whether the Citizens will hand him a fresh new deal.
      Meanwhile it is believed that Alaba will run his contract down in Germany as he seeks a new challenge having won everything with the Bavarian giants.
      Barca’s rivals Real Madrid are understood to be in pole position to sign the Austria international in the summer.

      And it has been claimed that the 28-year-old has even agreed a four-year deal with Los Blancos, though Mundo Deportivo insist Barca are refusing to give up hope of landing him.
      They state that Barcelona are determined to finally secure his services having failed to prise him away from Bayern in both 2012 and 2018.
      It has been suggested that Alaba is seen as an attractive option for Ronald Koeman due to the fact he can play in numerous positions.
      As for Aguero, it has been said that Barca are on the lookout for a new centre-forward after allowing Luis Suarez to join Atletico Madrid last summer.

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      The news outlet also suggests that signing Aguero could convince Lionel Messi to extend his contract in Catalonia with the pair close friends.
      Funds are reportedly limited in the summer for Barcelona, with the club unable to make any luxury purchases, forcing them to explore the free transfer market.
      And they have identified Aguero’s City team-mate Eric Garcia, and Dutch duo Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay as other potential recruits.

      Koeman recently declared that money is tight at the club as he spoke of his desire to bring in new faces.
      He said: “My position is known: we lack people, but the economic situation of the club is an influence.
      “I think we all think the same. If no one arrives, I accept it and we continue the same, but if we want more we must sign.”

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      Chelsea line up transfer bid for Ousmane Dembele with Barcelona star set to go after refusing to enter contract talks

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      CHELSEA are interested in Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, reports say.
      The Frenchman’s deal expires next summer, and he is believed to be considering his future.

      Ousmane Dembele is reportedly considering his Barcelona future Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      According to Sport, Barca are considering selling Dembele, with neither the club or player interested in contract talks.
      Chelsea are named as one of the clubs monitoring the winger’s future, it was claimed.
      But, they will only be convinced to make a move if a ‘reasonable price’ was set for Dembele.
      The 23-year-old has also been wanted by the Blues’ Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United in the past.

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      He remained in Spain, though, with Dutchman Ronald Koeman taking over at the Nou Camp last summer.
      Dembele has since made 19 appearances, scoring six goals but his future remains in doubt.
      He joined the LaLiga giants in 2017 in a £110million deal, acting as a replacement for Neymar, who signed for PSG.

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      But Dembele has failed to live up to expectations and has also been questioned over his conduct.
      He is said to have upset the Nou Camp hierarchy in the past due to his diet, sleeping pattern and turning up late for training.
      Dembele is also competing for a place in the team alongside Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho.

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      Alaves 1 Real Madrid 4: Eden Hazard gets first goal since October to earn crucial win in Zinedine Zidane’s absence

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      EDEN HAZARD and Real Madrid got a weight off their mind as he bagged his first goal since October in a vital victory – despite manager Zinedine Zidane’s absence.
      Under-fire Hazard struck for only the second time this season as Karim Benzema’s double helped Real cut the lead on LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid to four points, albeit having played twice more.

      Ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard salutes his first Real Madrid goal in nearly three months Credit: The Mega Agency

      Eden Hazard watches only his second goal this term as he doubles Real Madrid’s lead in a 4-1 LaLiga winCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Ever-reliable striker Karim Benzema struck in each half to spearhead Real’s vital victory at strugglers AlavesCredit: Reuters

      Assistant boss David Bettoni took charge as Zidane stayed away after testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday night.
      But Real still settled quickly, Casemiro nodding home a cross from Toni Kroos on 15 minutes.
      French striker Benzema then dipped a sizzling top-corner second goal in the 42nd minute following Hazard’s neat backheel.
      And having earlier curled a shot wide, Hazard made it three with a delicate finish past Alaves keeper Fernando Pacheco just before the break.

      Joselu flashed a superb header beyond Real No1 Thibaut Courtois to give the lowly home side hope.
      But Benzema safeguarded only Real’s second triumph in six matches, cutting in from the left with 20 minutes remaining to thump home.
      Victory soothed painful memories of Wednesday’s shock 2-1 defeat at third-division Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey, as well as Real’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final loss to Athletic Bilbao by the same scoreline on January 14.
      And Benzema insisted: “This was a great performance from us and will lift our confidence 

      “We know every game is difficult, we always try to put in our best performance but sometimes it’s hard when teams defend deep. 
      “But today the goals kept flowing and that’s good for everyone, especially after the week we’ve had.”
      Nonetheless, Atletico can restore their seven-point advantage over second-placed Real with a home win over mid-table Valencia on Sunday.

      Real’s Eden Hazard reflects on his first goal since October 31Credit: Reuters

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      Raphael Varane ‘wants to QUIT Real Madrid’ as contract runs down in 2022 putting Man Utd on transfer alert

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      RAPHAEL VARANE wants to quit Real Madrid with his contract expiring in 2022, reports say.
      The Frenchman has been at the club since 2011, joining aged 17, and has since won 18 trophies in the Spanish capital.

      Raphael Varane is reportedly considering his Real Madrid future Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

      But according to SPORT, Varane feels his time with Madrid is drawing to a close, leaving him considering a new challenge.
      His contract expires next summer, meaning he is allowed to talk to clubs over a free transfer in 12 months time.
      To avoid losing the 27-year-old for nothing, Madrid need either cash in and sell him or convince the defender to stay and extend his deal.
      But, it is understood Varane, who has been linked with Manchester United in the past, will not sign a new contract.

      That is despite having a strong relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane, both World Cup winners for France.
      Zidane also faces losing club captain and Varane’s defensive partner Sergio Ramos.
      Ramos’ contract runs out in just six months time and the player is yet to commit his future to the club.
      Contract talks with Bernabeu bosses have reportedly dragged on due to disputes over the length and financial terms.

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      Sergio Ramos pictured with defensive partner Raphael VaraneCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

      They have a policy of only offering one-year contracts to players over the age of 30 but Ramos, 34, wants a two-season guarantee.
      It leaves the LaLiga champions fearing he could make a similar exit as Cristiano Ronaldo, who made the shock move to Juventus in 2018.
      Zidane said this month: “Are we going to have a Cristiano case? I don’t know what will happen with Ramos.
      “He is here with us at the moment.”

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