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      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman plots shock transfer swoop for Everton’s Michael Keane as replacement for Gerard Pique

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      EVERTON defender Michael Keane has emerged as a shock transfer target for Barcelona, according to reports.
      Ronald Koeman is the new man in charge of the LaLiga giants and he already has his transfer targets in mind.

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      Michael Keane has emerged as a shock transfer target for BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images

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      Would Keane fit into this possible Barca line up under Koeman?
      The Dutchman is believed to have identified fellow countryman Memphis Depay and Donny van de Beek as two of his top three targets this summer.
      And OK Diario claims the England centre-back is the other.
      Koeman took Keane to Goodison Park from Burnley in 2017 in a £30m deal.
      The centre-half has since become a regular for the Toffees and featured 37 times last season.

      Now Koeman, who was sacked by Everton in 2017, wants a reunion with the ex-Manchester United ace.

      Barca are looking to revamp their aging squad after missing out on the league title before they were humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week.
      They are looking for recruits all over the park, but Koeman is believed to have identified Keane as the perfect long-term replacement for Gerard Pique, 33, who has offered to leave for the good of the club.
      The ace has played over 100 times for Everton and his performances have also been recognised at international level, winning 10 caps for the Three Lions. More

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      Luis Suarez could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus after Barcelona put him on transfer list

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      LUIS SUAREZ could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo as Juventus are reportedly interested in signing him.
      The Catalans are planning a major overhaul after their humiliating Champions League exit and the Uruguayan is one of the stars they would be happy to let go.

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      Juventus are interested in signing Luis Suarez from Barcelona

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      He could link up with Juve superstar Cristiano Ronaldo if he makes the move
      The 33-year-old has one season left on his contract but has a clause which automatically triggers a year extension if he plays 60 per cent of Barca’s games next campaign.
      But Juventus are planning on moving for him this summer, according to Italian outlet TuttoMercato.
      Ex-Arsenal star Marc Overmars is also said to be working hard to bring Suarez back to his old club Ajax.

      And David Beckham’s Inter Miami have also been linked.

      Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted: “Keep an eye on Luis Suarez situation.
      “He has not been mentioned by the president Bartomeu between the ‘untouchables’ and Barça would be ready to sell him if they’ll receive an ‘important bid’.”
      Despite the interest, Suarez wants to stay at the Nou Camp for another year, according to Ovacion.
      Barca were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich last Friday night as they crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.

      Quique Setien was sacked and has already been replaced with Ronald Koeman.
      And Lionel Messi reportedly demanded a transfer away from Barcelona this summer.
      A mass exodus is now planned after the rout highlighted deep rooted issues at the Nou Camp.
      It is said the Barca hierarchy consider Inter star Lautaro Martinez as a suitable replacement to Suarez – and he would also be cheaper.
      Only seven “untouchables” are said to be safe from the planned cull this summer.
      Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Nelson Semedo, Frenkie De Jong, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele are not for sale.

      While future talents Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig are also said to be off limits to other clubs.
      Club legend Gerard Pique has offered to leave for the good of the club.
      Suarez finished the 2019/20 campaign with 21 goals and 12 assists in 36 games in all competitions.

      PSG boss Tuchel rows with RB Leipzig coach after ‘f***ing pussy’ jibe during Champions League clash More

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      Real Madrid star Reinier Jesus, 18, joins Dortmund on two-year loan transfer to link up with Sancho and Bellingham

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      REAL MADRID youngster Reinier Jesus has joined Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal.
      The 18-year-old is yet to feature for Los Blancos’ first team but will hope to get some top flight minutes under his belt with the Bundesliga side.

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      Real Madrid youngster Reinier Jesus has signed for Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal
      The Brazilian will join up with his new team-mates – including Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham – after they returned from pre-season training in Switzerland this week.
      Both Dortmund and Jesus tweeted to announce the news.
      The German club wrote: “Borussia Dortmund borrows @ReinierJesus_19 for the next two seasons from @realmadrid.”

      And Jesus posted: “Today I start another challenge in my life! Thank you @BVB for the opportunity to wear that shirt!”

      There was no room for Jesus at Real as their three non-EU spots were taken up by his countrymen Vinicius, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.
      He started three times for Madrid’s reserves in February and March.
      And the playmaker bagged three goals in that time before Spain’s Segunda B season was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
      Madrid signed Jesus from Flamengo in January.

      The Spanish giants forked out £25.6million to sign him on a six-year deal which expires on June 30 2026.
      After he joined, Madrid described him as “one of the leading emerging stars in the world”.
      And Jesus broke down in tears of joy when the deal went through.
      The 18-year-old was touted around Europe’s top clubs after helping Flamengo win the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian top flight last season.
      Reinier said at the time: “I want to be a part of the history of this great club.
      “Today is a very happy day for me as I get to fulfil a childhood dream.”

      Reinier had been on international duty with the Brazilian Under-23s, helping them in Tokyo 2020 pre-Olympic qualifying, before being unveiled as a Real Madrid player.
      Earlier this season, the cheeky youngster was caught publicly flirting with a volleyball player on Instagram.
      The attacking midfielder was the third Brazilian teenager to join the Spanish giants in the past two years following Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

      Premier League rocked by 14 new coronavirus cases at 12 pre-season camps with fears over players holidaying together More

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      Real Madrid monitor ex-Man Utd striker Romelu Lukaku and three others as Benzema replacement after stunning Inter season

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      REAL Madrid are lining up Romelu Lukaku as a replacement for the ageing Karim Benzema, reports claim.
      The Belgian only joined Inter Milan one year ago, when he brought his two-year stint at Manchester United to an end.

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      Lukaku has scored 33 times this seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
      But having bounced back impressively in Italy, he finds himself a target of Europe’s elite clubs once again.
      According to Le10 Sport, Lukaku is one of four strikers on Real Madrid’s wishlist as they search for a long-term replacement for Benzema.
      The report also claims, however, that he is not their No1 target to fill the spot.
      Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and emerging Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland are ahead of the ex-Premier League forward in their pecking order.

      Sadio Mane, like Lukaku, is a secondary target of Madrid president Florentino Perez.
      The Belgian, however, still has one more match left to play before his mind can turn to any potential transfer speculation.
      And as well as the Europa League trophy, history could be on the line for the 27-year-old.

      Should he score in Friday’s final against Sevilla, he will match his idol Ronaldo’s 22-year-old record for most goals in a debut season for the Nerazzurri.

      And should he net twice, taking his overall tally for the season up to 35, he will earn the record outright.
      On the Brazilian whose record he could beat, Lukaku purred in an interview with ESPN: “Ronaldo changed football. He was the one you would look at.

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      Kylian Mbappe is also on Real Madrid’s wishlistCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “You would see him doing step-overs and you were thinking: ‘Who does this?’ You would see defenders falling over and you were like, ‘Wow.’
      “The goals that he scored, and at crucial times. He scored goals where you were like, ‘Oh man, this is not serious’.
      “He changed the dimension of a striker. He was fast, he can dribble like a winger, run like a sprinter, he was as strong as an ox.”

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      Erling Haaland has impressed in his first few months with DortmundCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Romelu Lukaku reveals Man Utd boss Solskjaer wanted him to STAY but ‘I didn’t have the energy’ before Inter transfer More

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      Barcelona president confirms Ronald Koeman as new boss… and says Lionel Messi is STAYING

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      BARCELONA president Josep Bartomeu has confirmed Ronald Koeman as the club’s new manager.
      And he says Lionel Messi is going NOWHERE this summer and will end his career at the Nou Camp.

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      Ronald Koeman, pictured at Barcelona airport earlier, is the new Barcelona managerCredit: Reuters

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      Lionel Messi will NOT be leaving Barcelona this summer, according to president Josep Maria BartomeuCredit: Rex Features
      The Catalans sacked Quique Setien after missing out on the LaLiga title before they were humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
      That also led to speculation over their star forward’s future, with reports suggesting he had asked to leave the club.
      But Barca’s top chief has come out fighting as he faced the media in his homeland on Tuesday night, announcing another Nou Camp icon as their new head coach before reassuring fans their talisman will still be there next season.
      Bartomeu said: “Messi wants to end his career at Barca.

      “I regularly speak to him and his father. He’s part of our project.
      “Koeman will be the new manager and he told me that Messi is a key player for our new project.”

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      Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu confirmed the news about both Koeman and Messi when facing the media on TuesdayCredit: Reuters
      Barca will have to pay compensation to the Dutch national side for Koeman, spotted earlier at the city’s airport, with his official appointment still yet to be officially confirmed.
      As well as a new boss, the Catalans have also been linked with several big-money moves as part of their rebuild.

      Former striker Neymar is continuously rumoured to be heading back to Barca while they are also believed to be linked with Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
      However, Bartomeu suggested neither of those deals will happen over the coming weeks.
      He added: “Neymar back to Barcelona? PSG don’t want to sell him on this summer.
      “We’re not in talks for Lautaro Martinez right now, we’ve stopped the negotiations with Inter at the end of June. We’ll see what will happen.”

      Meanwhile, Bartomeu also admitted he had received at least one offer for Manchester United target Ansu Fari.
      But just like Messi, he was adamant the 17-year-old is staying put.
      He added: “We have offers for Ansu Fati, but he is not for sale.
      “We are going to sell some players on this summer because it’s time for a pay cut and to start a new project for Barcelona.” More

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      Barcelona blow as Ter Stegen – one of just two ‘untouchables’ at club – faces ten weeks out after knee surgery

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      BARCELONA have been dealt a huge blow following the news that Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be sidelined for almost three months.
      The 28-year-old had been playing through the pain barrier and finally underwent surgery on a knee problem this week.

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      Barcelona have confirmed that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be sidelined for ten weeks following knee injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He had hoped to be fit in time for next season after deciding to go under the knife as a preventative measure.
      Yet Barcelona have now confirmed that the German International is expected to be sidelined for ten weeks.

      Ter Stegen had been plagued by a knee problem during the recent weeks of the extended 2019-20 season.
      And the Catalan No1 finally had the chance to clear up the issue after Barcelona’s campaign finished with an 8-2 mauling to Bayern Munich.

      Ter Stegen had written on Twitter: “The medical experts and I discussed to do this ‘clean-up’ as there were some irritations earlier this season.
      “It’s a proactive intervention in order to prevent and prepare for the future.
      “I will need some weeks to recover and to return to 100%. I’m calm and positive about the situation, I will come back soon.”
      Ter Stegen’s extended absence will prove a bitter blow for Barca, who had listed the German as one of only two ‘untouchable’ players in their squad.

      Reports in Spain name a figure of £115million that must be made up in player sales to balance the books of the Camp Nou club.
      And only star forward Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen were thought to be safe from the axe.
      The Catalans are said to be working on contract renewals for both players but those have been put on hold until the pandemic eases.
      Ter Stegen’s injury also likely ends Chelsea’s interest in signing him this summer to replace flop shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

      The former Borussia Monchengladbach ace made his 46th and final appearance in Barcelona’s disastrous Champions League exit.
      The Spanish giants suffered an 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in a result that cost head coach Quique Setien his job.
      It also meant that the Blaugrana ended the season without a trophy for the first time in 12 years.

      Is Marc-André Ter Stegen on his way to the Premier League? More

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      Barcelona sack sporting director Eric Abidal after disastrous end to season and failings in transfer market

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      BARCELONA have sacked sporting director Eric Abidal to continue their major shake-up.
      In the aftermath of the LaLiga giants’ 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Abidal becomes the second major casualty of the Barcelona hierarchy.

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      Eric Abidal has lost his job amid Barcelona’s massive overhaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      On Tuesday, the Catalans confirmed their former left-back’s exit after two years in the role.
      He follows coach Quique Setien in leaving the club at the end of a first trophy-less campaign in 12 years.
      A statement read: “FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have reached an agreement for the ending of the contract that united the two parties.
      “The Club would publicly like to thank Eric Abidal for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and the close and positive nature of his relationship with all aspects of the blaugrana family.”

      Abidal was a surprise appointment to oversee Barcelona’s transfers in 2018.
      The defender was a popular player in his first six years at the club, where he won eight major trophies while battling liver problems that eventually required a transplant.
      His first summer in charge saw little star power arrive but Clement Lenglet, Arturo Vidal and Arthur Melo were competent first-team players alongside the flop that was Malcom.

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      The appointment of Quique Setien did not go to plan for Abidal or BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
      Antoine Griezmann was the marquee signing of last summer and his £108million move has so far failed to set the world alight.

      Meanwhile, the decision to sack Ernesto Valverde and replace the two-time LaLiga winner with Setien has backfired considerably.
      After Abidal suggested the players “weren’t satisfied or working hard” under their former coach, the Frenchman was on the end of a barb from Lionel Messi.
      The Argentine stated: “The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above all own the decisions they make.

      Ronald Koeman spotted at Barcelona airport and set to replace Quique Setien as manager after ‘advanced talks’ with club
      “Finally I think that when you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it makes everyone dirty and gives air to things that are said which are not true.”
      Mundo Deportivo report that Abidal’s assistant, Ramon Planes, has been handed the reigns on an initial temporary basis.
      The club’s woes in the transfer market certainly last much longer than just Abidal with £940million splashed in the last five seasons.
      And the cracks around the Camp Nou have opened up after the shock Champions League hammering at the hands of Bayern.

      Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said after the defeat: “There are some decisions that we had already made, and others that we will make over the next few days.
      “Announcements will be made from next week, we need to make decisions after things have calmed down.
      “Today is a day for reflection. Tomorrow we will try to raise our fans’ spirits following such a heavy defeat.”
      Presidential elections are planned for next spring although Bartomeu, having served two terms, cannot stand again. More

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      Real Madrid plan to flog EIGHT players including Bale and Jovic but James Rodriguez is only outcast who will go quietly

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      REAL MADRID reportedly want to offload eight players this summer including Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Luka Jovic.
      But as they look to raise funds having been affected by the coronavirus crisis, they are finding many players are happy to remain at the Bernabeu.

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      Gareth Bale in understood to want to remain at Real Madrid until 2022Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Mundo Deportivo have released a list of the members of the first team squad Los Blancos want to get rid of.

      And they also report that only Colombian playmaker Rodriuez is willing to leave as he looks for regular game time.
      Here SunSport runs you down the eight players Real are desperate to flog.
      GARETH BALE
      It is understood the Welsh winger – who was frozen out of the side once football restarted – is willing to run his contract down until 2022.

      SunSport have exclusively revealed how Bale remains furious with Real after they blocked his move to Chinese outfit Jiangsu Suning last year.
      And it is understood that he will now only leave Madrid should they pay off his contract.

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      Bale has been frozen out of the Madrid team under Zinedine Zidane
      JAMES RODRIGUEZ
      The former Monaco magician featured sparingly for Real during the 2019/20 season as he was limited to just 14 games in all competitions.
      Commenting on where he could be playing next term earlier this week, he said: “I still don’t know; Italy, Spain, England.

      “It’s a question that I have and I don’t know, but I do want to go where I can play, where I can be happy and where I feel that I am loved by everyone.
      “[England] would be a good thing, it would be a ‘top’ league.”

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      James Rodriguez has been vocal in his desire to depart Los BlancosCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      LUKA JOVIC
      The Serbian striker has flopped following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, as he has scored just two goals in 27 games.
      it has been stated that Real are looking for £28.9million for the forward, but so far clubs are reluctant to pay that price.
      Monaco are believed to be the frontrunners in the race to prise Jovic away from Spain.
      MARIANO
      Another forward that has been limited to hardly no game time, the 27-year-old featured just five times in the Spanish top-flight this year.
      Just like Bale, the ex-Lyon marksman is in no rush to leave the club and is happy with his role in the side, despite Zidane deeming him as not good enough.

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      Luka Jovic has flattered to deceive at the Bernabeu since his switch from Eintracht FrankfurtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      NACHO
      The 30-year-old centre-back appeared in just six LaLiga matches in the previous season as he fell down the pecking order.
      Benfica are said to be trying to persuade the Spanish defender to leave, as they weigh up a £9m offer.
      OSCAR RODRIGUEZ
      The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been shipped off on loan to Leganes for the last two seasons.
      And even though he chipped in with nine goals and two assists in the 2019/20 term, Real are ready to sell him for £13.5m.
      LUCAS VAZQUEZ
      The 29-year-old has amassed over 200 appearances for Real since breaking into the team during the 2015/16 campaign.
      But his time at the club could finally be at an end with Madrid claimed to have put a £14.4m price tag on him.
      Spurs have been linked with a move for the winger as Jose Mourinho looks to bolster his attack.

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      Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid could be tempted into a move to England and the Premier League

      SERGIO REGUILON
      Despite the left-back starring on loan at Sevilla, Real are keen to cash in on him as his stock continues to grow.
      Real already are happy with Marcelo and Ferland Mendy and Zidane doesn’t believe Reguilon fits in his team.
      Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a £25m move for the 23-year-old, but it is Napoli that are believed to be winning the race to sign him.

      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘got Real Madrid youngster Manu Hernando axed’ for flooring Portuguese superstar in training More