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      David Alaba ‘wants Real Madrid free transfer from Bayern Munich’ and set to begin talks over move in January

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      DAVID ALABA wants a free transfer to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in January – and talks are set to begin soon, according to reports.
      The left-back’s contract runs out at the end of this season and it is believed he already has his sights set on his next destination.

      The Marca headline links Alaba with a free move to Real Madrid

      Alaba reportedly has requested wages of £260kCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But the situation is far from wrapped up with other European giants like Juventus, Manchester City and Barcelona prepared to offer big money to lure the 28-year-old to their clubs.
      Marca report that Real Madrid are very much the favourites and the Spanish club are getting ready to pounce.
      The article says Los Blancos are ‘counting the days’ to begin negotiations of Alaba’s pre-contract.
      They are hopeful discussions can proceed amicably following previous deals with Bayern, including Toni Kroos and Xabi Alonso.

      And the deal could prove to be good timing for Madrid with their long-serving defender Marcelo under fire for poor performances and Sergio Reguilon sold to Spurs in the summer.
      The rumours of his move comes just days after reports emerged that Alaba was planning a way out of the German club after they failed to meet his wage demands.
      The Austrian is reportedly looking for a bumper package of £260k-a-week with Juventus in the mix to secure his signature.
      Whoever secures Alaba will have to deal with his agent, who Bayern have previously branded a ‘greedy piranha’.

      Club president Uli Hoeness did not take kindly to Pini Zahavi and slammed the agent in a TV interview in September.
      He said: “If you only knew what Mr. Zahavi demands only for himself for David’s signature for an eight-figure sum.
      “That is not at all possible. The arguments that are exchanged there defy belief.”

      David Alaba demonstrates his home workout for Bayern Munich fans More

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      Mauricio Pochettino will NOT reject Barcelona if manager job is offered to ex-Spurs chief for third time despite rivalry

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO is reportedly still open to becoming Barcelona coach, even if he has rejected the LaLiga giants TWICE.
      As a former Espanyol player and manager, the Argentine’s past is thought to have ruled him out of the running for the Camp Nou job.

      Thursday marks a year to the day since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by TottenhamCredit: Reuters

      However, according to Evening Standard, he was asked to take over on two separate occasions in the past year.
      Barcelona controversially sacked Ernesto Valverde in January and, although Xavi was the favourite, Pochettino is said to have turned down the job before Quique Setien was hired.
      Ronald Koeman then came in to replace Setien after the disastrous 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the summer.
      Once again, Pochettino reportedly rejected the opportunity and is now a year out of a job.

      It is said that the 48-year-old fears accepting one imperfect chance to return to the game, just as the ideal role comes along.
      Barcelona are currently mired in a financial crisis, with talk of pay cuts and even bankruptcy surrounding the club.

      Poch knows exactly what he wants to do. Football is his life, so he’s been watching everything and he likes to talk about football.
      Ossie Ardiles

      Sat eighth in LaLiga, the Blaugrana travel to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
      Pushing back up the table could be key to convincing Lionel Messi to remain at the club, the striker’s contract expiring in the summer following his recent attempt to force a move.

      Pochettino has been linked with a number of clubs since being sacked by Tottenham.
      Manchester United, Athletic Club, Juventus, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are just some of the sides touted in the past 12 months.
      Fellow Tottenham and Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles has recently claimed that Pochettino’s mind is made up over his next role.
      The 68-year-old stated: “[Pochettino] has had a few offers, but for one reason or another it’s not happened.

      Will Ronald Koeman or Pochettino be able to persuade Lionel Messi to stay?Credit: EPA

      “He’s just waiting and he’s in a very good position, he can more or less choose where to go.
      “He knows exactly what he wants to do.
      “Football is his life, so he’s been watching everything and he likes to talk about football.
      “He’ll take his time and, before long, he’ll be working again.”

      Rio Ferdinand demands Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be respected and blasts Man Utd links to Mauricio Pochettino More

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      Barcelona ‘pull out of Adama Traore transfer race’ but Wolves winger also eyed by Liverpool and Real Madrid

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      BARCELONA are not interested in signing Wolves winger Adama Traore, according to reports in Spain.
      It has been suggested that Traore is becoming frustrated with a lengthy spell on the bench amid contract extension talks at Molineux.

      Adama Traore continues to be linked with a move away from WolvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      A host of European clubs, including Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as Liverpool, have been linked with the player.
      But one side who will not bid for Traore is former team Barcelona.
      That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who report on the move being seen as ‘unfeasible’ at the Camp Nou.
      Wolves are said to want a fee as high as £90million for the 24-year-old.

      However, Traore has not started a game since September and is in the midst of a long spell on the bench.
      Despite being dropped, the Spain international is still thought to be discussing a contract extension past his current deal to 2023.

      The Catalonia-born star began his career with Barcelona, joining at the age of eight before making just a handful of appearances with the first-team.
      After leaving for Aston Villa in 2015, the bulked-up player finally showed his full potential with a stunning run in the Wolves side last season.

      Reports linking him with a return to Barcelona came amid the LaLiga giants’ financial crisis.
      Players are being asked to take a second round of pay cuts following a summer of sales.

      Arturo Vidal, Luis Suarez, Nelson Semedo and Rafinha were among the stars moved on in a bid to lighten the wage bill.
      Limited funds meant late bids for Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay failed to come off, with Ousmane Dembele’s exit also falling through.
      Barcelona are thought to be keen on finally signing the duo in January.

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      Real Madrid join Barcelona and Inter Milan in transfer race for Liverpool ace Georginio Wijnaldum with contract expiring

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      REAL MADRID have joined Barcelona and Inter Milan in the race to sign Georginio Wijnaldum, according to reports.
      The Liverpool midfielder, 30, is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and continues to refuse in committing his future.

      Real Madrid are hoping to rival Barcelona and Inter Milan to land Liverpool midfielder Georginio WijnaldumCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      According to Corriere Dello Sport via Sport, Los Blancos want to battle it out with their arch rivals Barca as well as Antonio Conte’s Inter for his signature.
      Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane craves another option in the middle of the park.
      And it is thought the Premier League and Champions League winner fits the bill.
      Barcelona appeared to be in pole position to land the Liverpool star with former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman looking to reunite with the Dutchman.

      But the two clubs could not agree a deal over the summer as Wijnaldum entered the final year of his deal.
      Asked about his future during the international break in which he scored his first three goals of the campaign, he again did not pledge his loyalty to Anfield.
      The 70-cap midfielder said: “I can’t say anything about that (my future).
      “Just ask Liverpool those questions. Don’t they answer?

      “I cannot say anything about it, including whether or not there is talk of a new contract between me and Liverpool. Sorry.”
      And that opened the door for Inter to try and swoop with CEO Giuseppe Marotta placing Wijnaldum on his wish list – although no official approach has yet been made.
      Wijnaldum can enter negotiations over a pre-contract agreement for a summer free transfer in January.
      But if he is not going to sign a new contract, Liverpoool may prefer to sell in the New Year and at least get a fee.
      Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is understandably keen to keep the ex-Newcastle midfielder, who has 19 goals in 199 Reds appearances.
      It is thought he has been offered a 40 per cent pay rise from £75,000 to £105,000 to stay at Anfield.
      But after winning the two biggest trophies available with the Kop club and now in his sixth season in England, he may be ready for change.

      The Dutchman is into the final year of his contract at Anfield and has refused to commit his futureCredit: EPA

      Inside Real Madrid’s new £500m Bernabeu redevelopment as roof goes on but capacity is reduced by one More

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      Xavi ‘can be Barcelona’s Alex Ferguson’ says presidential hopeful Victor Font as pressure mounts on Ronald Koeman

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      XAVI can become Barcelona’s Alex Ferguson with a glorious long reign, according to Nou Camp presidential frontrunner Victor Font.
      Barca legend Xavi, now coach of Qatari side Al Sadd, is tipped to return next year, although initially he could work WITH current boss Ronald Koeman.

      Qatari side Al Sadd’s chief Xavi could be back at Barcelona next year, having been one of their greatest ever midfielders in 17 years as a playerCredit: AFP or licensors

      Victor Font says he would fight to keep Lionel Messi and push for Spain icon Xavi to return, if he is elected Barcelona president in JanuaryCredit: Reuters

      Xavi won the Champions League four times and LaLiga on eight occasions during arguably their greatest ever eraCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And Font wants Xavi to emulate Fergie’s Manchester United dynasty rather than Pep Guardiola’s much shorter Nou Camp stint.
      Telecommunications entrepreneur Font, the favourite to succeed interim president Carles Tusquets in Barca’s January elections, also hopes to keep star player Lionel Messi beyond the end of his contract next summer.
      The 48-year-old told Reuters: “We decided some years ago the best person to help us build our organisation is Xavi.

      I have told Xavi we cannot afford to have another case like Pep Guardiola.
      Victor Font

      “Ideally we can have Xavi as a general manager for many years like Alex Ferguson was at Manchester United.

      “But if he needs to play a different role, he can be flexible. Few people have the leadership qualities he has.”
      And Font hopes Xavi will not do a Pep, who quit after three LaLiga titles and two Champions League successes in four years as manager.
      He said: “I have told Xavi we cannot afford to have another case like Pep Guardiola.
      “Pep coached the first team very successfully for a few years then he moved on and went to the competition (Bayern Munich and now Manchester City).”We need to have Xavi in the club for the next 10 years.”

      Meanwhile, Koeman has struggled since replacing sacked Quique Setien in August, with Barca seventh in the Spanish top flight.
      But Font said of the Dutchman’s future: “That’s a decision the sporting directors will have to make, but we’re thankful to Ronald for taking on this challenge at a difficult time.

      “We’re happy to see him making bold decisions and empowering the young players who have potential.
      “Xavi has a very long term perspective. He’s only 40, he was telling me the other day his professional career as a coach has many years ahead of him.”
      Xavi won 133 Spain caps, lifting the 2010 World Cup, as well as four Champions League triumphs and eight LaLiga crowns in 17 years as a Barcelona playmaker.

      Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font say Messi is critical to the club’s future More

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      Barcelona target double transfer swoop for Depay and Garcia but cash-strapped club must flog FOUR stars first

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      BARCELONA want to sign Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia in January but they must sell FOUR players first, according to reports.
      Barca boss Ronald Koeman is keen to land the Lyon and Manchester City stars but the cash-strapped Catalans need to raise money to fund the moves beforehand.

      Barcelona want to sign Man City star Eric GarciaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Catalans are also keen on Memphis Depay but will have to sell FOUR players if they have any chance of landing the pairCredit: Rex Features

      Victor Font is favourite to win the next Nou Camp presidential elections and he has already ruled out a move for Neymar on economic grounds.
      And with club legend Carles Rexach having been sacked from his advisory role, nobody in Catalonia is in any doubt about the dire state of the club’s finances because of coronavirus.
      They have been heavily linked with Dutchman Depay and City’s 19-year-old centre-back Garcia.
      But neither will have any chance of signing unless Barca can offload Samuel Umtiti, Junior Firpo, Martin Braithwaite and Matheus Fernandes, according to the Mail.

      Covid-19 saw a £269million drop in Barca’s income last season.
      And talks over a £171m wage-bill cut have ground to a halt.
      So as things stand, only playing squad departures will see funds freed up to allow Koeman to land the players he thinks he needs.
      Garcia was at the centre of a tug-of-war between the two clubs during the previous transfer window, before he eventually stayed at the Etihad.

      But with his contract running out next summer, Barca believe City’s weakened negotiating positioning means they can get him on the cheap in January.
      Manager Pep Guardiola said last month: “He wants to leave but maybe we can seduce him to extend his contract with us.”
      And Garcia said: “It is true, I have told the club I do not intend to extend my contract beyond 2021.
      “But I will return to Manchester when I am finished on international duty with Spain.
      “I am focused on next season with City.”
      Juventus and Roma are ready to pounce if Barca fail to land Depay.
      But Lyon insist he will not be sold.

      Man City plot Lionel Messi transfer pursuit when window opens in January after failed summer swoop More

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      Man Utd have ‘opportunity’ to sign Raphael Varane in huge transfer with Real Madrid star costing less than £100m

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have the opportunity to sign Raphael Varane for well below £100million, according to stunning reports.
      The Real Madrid centre-back, 27, is considered one of the top centre-backs in world football.

      Manchester United could make a spectacular approach for Raphael Varane according to reportsCredit: Rex Features

      But the Manchester Evening News claim Los Blancos would be open to selling the Frenchman.
      United tried to sign Varane way back in 2011 under Sir Alex Ferguson but were pipped when Zinedine Zidane – then working behind the scenes at the Bernabeu – intervened.
      So as the Lens teenager joined Real Madrid, United bought Phil Jones from Blackburn.
      Varane’s name was put forward again after winning the World Cup in 2018 but Jose Mourinho did not think he could get him so called off the pursuit before the Red Devils splashed £85m on Harry Maguire last year.

      But they could make a sensational move to try and land him a decade on when the transfer window reopens.
      Varane will have 18 months left on his current deal and would plug a gap as both an elite centre-back and strong leader in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
      He did switch agent to join Base Soccer in September – a company United have a good relationship with – and is in the ideal age bracket for a defender.
      However, the rumoured interest may just be the work of Varane’s new agent to broker an improved deal with the LaLiga champions.

      Here’s who Manchester United have signed since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down

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      Not that Varane has done too much to earn it lately.
      His nightmare in the Champions League last 16 saw Real crash out to Manchester City.
      And his poor form has continued into this season, despite missing just one match so far and playing 90 minutes in the other ten.
      Varane has shipped 15 goals, one of which was his comical own goal in the 4-1 thumping against Valencia.
      His recent performances led Karim Benzema’s former agent Karim Djaziri to tweet: “Since the Manchester City match, [Varane] has been a shadow of himself.”
      To make matters worse, Varane – as well as Real Madrid centre-back partner Sergio Ramos – were both forced off on international duty this week with hamstring injuries.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      2018 World Cup-winner Varane snubbed Old Trafford and chose the Bernabeu where he developed into one of the best centre-backsCredit: AFP or licensors

      He is going through a difficult patch at the moment with poor form and scored a comical own goal against ValenciaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Man Utd set to offload four outcasts in January transfer window including Jones and Fosu-Mensah to lower wage bill More

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      LaLiga president Tebas ‘ready’ for Lionel Messi transfer exit as he slams Man City for ‘competing outside rules’

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      JAVIER TEBAS claimed he is ‘ready’ for Lionel Messi’s transfer exit from Barcelona.
      And the LaLiga president also slammed Manchester City, claiming the Etihad club are ‘competing outside the rules’ as they prepare to sign the Argentine hero.

      Javier Tebas is confident LaLiga will cope if Lionel Messi leaves the league as Manchester City prepare to make a moveCredit: AFP – Getty

      Messi came close to leaving his boyhood club in the summer when he handed in a transfer request following a fall-out with the Nou Camp board.
      He made a dramatic U-turn to stay with the Spanish giants and see out the remaining year on his contract before he can leave for free at the end of the season.
      But as revealed by SunSport, Manchester City are ramping up plans to make a move to land the 33-year-old in January.
      Tebas, though, says his league will cope if the six-time Ballon d’Or winner does go – just as they did with Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo’s respective departures to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and Juventus in 2018.

      He said: “We would prefer Messi to stay in LaLiga but Ronaldo and Neymar left and we have not noticed any difference. We are ready.”
      City’s fresh approach to land Messi would be a sure sign of their commitment to boss Pep Guardiola, who is yet to agree a deal to stay at the Etihad beyond next summer.
      Any contract offer for Messi, though, is likely to mean eye-watering wages stumped up by the four-time Premier League champions.

      And Tebas was quick to take another swipe at City after previously criticising their structure and financial doping – before the club were cleared of serious Financial Fair Play breached by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on appeal in July.

      He added: “It seems the only club in Premier League that talks about registering Messi is Manchester City, who compete outside the rules.
      “I am not the only one saying this. I am not too worried about them.
      “I have criticised what they do so many times. Doing it one more time makes no difference.
      “City is neither affected by Covid or pandemics or anything because they are financed differently and it is impossible to fight against that.”
      Barcelona were dealt another blow this week when Tebas confirmed their wage limit for the 2020-21 season was slashed by 43 per cent after club debt rose to £437m as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
      Last season, Barcelona were allowed to pay £601.5m on wages but for the 2020-21 campaign they are restricted to £343m, a drop of £258.5m.

      Manchester City fans will be hoping this is a familiar sight next year

      Man City plot Lionel Messi transfer pursuit when window opens in January after failed summer swoop More