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      Barcelona CRISIS as they are forced into fire sale to slash wages by £57m while facing threat of European ban

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      BARCELONA’S crisis situation looks set to go from bad to worse after the club were told by LaLiga they will need to slash their salary bill by £57MILLION.The Spanish giants have underwhelmed in the league this season, sitting in third place behind Girona and eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
      Barcelona saw their salary permit reduced by LaLigaCredit: Getty
      It means they will need to sell players to steer clear of a penaltyCredit: Getty
      The likes of Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski could all be sold as a resultCredit: Getty
      But that gap may stretch over the next few years after Barcelona’s financial situation got even worse amid a feared exodus of players.
      LaLiga announced the Blaugrana would be having their permitted salary limit cut down from £231m to 174m for the 2024/25 season.
      With the club’s real squad cost – the total of salaries and transfer amortisations – for this season officially budgeted at £421m, they are some way over budget and will need to make significant cuts.
      Add to this the fact Uefa are not accepting Barcelona’s plea to accept future media sale revenues in their FFP calculations, which could yet land the club a Champions League ban, and you have a far-from-ideal scenario.
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      It means Barcelona will need to sell a host of their most valuable players to stay in line with the rules or face a transfer ban.
      And all this will happen while having to also convince a new manager to come in and take the reigns after club legend Xavi Hernandez announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
      Big names who have been linked with the exit door include but are not limited to Frenkie de Jong – who remains on a colossal wage – Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Raphinha, Ronald Araujo and Pedri.
      De Jong was linked with a summer departure to Manchester United two seasons ago before the move fell flat due to the Dutchman’s lack of stomach for a move.
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      However, recent reports suggest the 26-year-old has changed his tune and is now open to an Old Trafford switch.
      With his contract up in 2026, Barca still have £65m to amortise when considering the transfer fee they paid to Ajax and the remaining value on his contract.
      Iconic stadium looks unrecognisable as new footage reveals crane on pitch and every single seat removed
      So if Man Utd come calling again they will smell a chance to make some money back, though De Jong is also said to be settled in Spain.
      Robert Lewandowski seems to have finally hit the other side of the mountain in his remarkable football career.

      He has been average this season despite four goals in his last three league games, and according to The Athletic “multiple sources” at the club would accept an offer for the 35-year-old forward.
      The Pole is reported to be earning a cool £22m a year, wages Barca would love to shift for a star on the decline particularly if Saudi Arabia were to reignite their interest in him.
      However, like De Jong Lewandowski is said to be happy in Catalonia.
      The likes of Pedri and Gavi are among the club’s most valuable assets.
      Selling even one of them would likely go a long way in easing the crippling situation Barcelona find themselves in.
      Who will be Barcelona’s next managerWHEN even a club legend like Xavi Hernandez feels he has to get out of the Nou Camp kitchen because he cannot take the heat any more, you do have to wonder if Barca are now a basket case.
      Whoever comes in will have to deal with a cash crisis that could yet see the Catalan giants banned from the Champions League next season – Uefa are still refusing to allow Barca to count the sale of future media revenues in their FFP calculations.
      Mikel Arteta emphatically denied suggestions that he was ready to leave Arsenal for his homeland. But, in the words of a famous ex-model: He would do, wouldn’t he?
      Win the Prem – or the Champions League – with the Gunners and Arteta might feel he has accomplished all that is possible in N5.
      However, Barca will also be looking at Alonso and De Zerbi, as well as former Bayern and Germany coach Hansi Flick.
      And there is at least one, potentially two, Champions League-winning managers who might fancy the challenge…

      Gavi, 19, has already been linked with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain after Kylian Mbappe confirmed once and for all that he was leaving this summer.
      His £855m release clause likely won’t be triggered and Barcelona do see him as “unsellable”, but when the chips are down in football, money talks.
      Former Premier League star Raphinha seems to be a no-brainer sale option for the club given his dwindling importance after the emergence of Lamine Yamal and the form of Ferran Torres.
      The ex-Leeds star has already been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd, who could come knocking once again if they find out he is available in the summer.
      Araujo can consider himself unfortunate to be arguably the club’s most lucrative defensive asset.
      It is not that he is not wanted at the Camp Nou, far from it, but it is that there are far too many options already in the position.
      And with a host of clubs including Bayern Munich sniffing around at the 24-year-old’s availability, it may end up coming down to a financial call from the club’s point of view.
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      Premier League clubs will no doubt be keeping tabs on the situation in case any other stars become available.
      Add to all of this that Real Madrid will be able to spend almost £450m more in wages next year, and you have a recipe for domination likely does not feature Barcelona being the top dog. More

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      Forgotten Premier League star joins League One promotion chasers Derby on free transfer after three weeks unemployed

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      PROMOTION chasers Derby County have signed veteran striker Dwight Gayle until the end of the season.The 34-year-old was a free agent after leaving Stoke City when the transfer window closed at the start of this month.
      Dwight Gayle has joined Derby on a free transferCredit: Getty
      Rams boss Paul Warne has added him to his squad in the hope that he will supply the goals which will earn Derby promotion to the Championship.
      Gayle started out in the Arsenal academy.
      But he cut his teeth at Dagenham & Redbridge before his goals for Peterborough earned him a move to Crystal Palace in 2013.
      The former Eagles, Newcastle United and West Brom striker has bagged 147 goals in 389 career appearances.
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      Of those, 34 strikes came for the Magpies during his six-year stay at St James’ Park.
      Despite being a regular starter for Stoke City last season, former FA Cup finalist Gayle fell out of favour under Stephen Schumacher.
      He only made ten league appearances for the Potters this season.
      Gayle’s last appearance for Stoke was on January 1 in the goalless draw at home to Ipswich Town.
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      Derby currently sit second in League One.
      They are six points off leaders Portsmouth having played a match less.
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      However, Bolton are hot on their heels in third, three points behind Derby with two games in hand.
      Peterborough are the division’s top scorers.
      But the addition of Gayle could change things as Derby try and secure a return to the second tier following their 2022 relegation under Wayne Rooney. More

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      Man Utd set Mason Greenwood price tag as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid prepare for transfer battle

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will demand around £34million for Mason Greenwood this summer, according to reports.The winger, 22, has spent this season on loan at Getafe.
      Mason Greenwood looks on during Getafe’s 1-1 draw at VillarrealCredit: Getty
      Greenwood has played 21 times in LaLiga, scoring five goals and laying on a further five assists.
      The Red Devils academy graduate has attracted interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
      He remains under contract at Old Trafford until 2025 but will not play for Man Utd again.
      According to German outlet Fussball News, the Red Devils are hoping to receive around £34m for Greenwood when they sell him this summer.
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      The one-cap England international has not played for Man Utd since January 2022.
      He joined Getafe on loan last summer, seven months after charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped.
      His loan club recently complained to Spanish authorities over an alleged slur aimed at Greenwood by Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham.
      They have accused Three Lions favourite Bellingham of calling their loan player a “rapist”.
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      LaLiga chiefs are said to have been “surprised” by Getafe’s unusual decision to take a matter that was not included in the referee’s notes further.
      Nonetheless, the matter was subsequently referred to the Spanish football federation, with a judge appointed to investigate the claim.
      Mason Greenwood reveals ‘best feeling so far’ in rare interview after Getafe aces ‘take Man Utd loanee under their wing’
      If found guilty, Bellingham, 20, could face a ban of between four and ten games.
      Greenwood last featured on Friday, playing the full 90 minutes as Getafe drew 1-1 at Villarreal.
      Greenwood and Jude Bellingham faced each other earlier this monthCredit: Getty More

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      Former Premier League star makes shock return to England seven years after revealing Sunderland ‘broke my heart’

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      WEST BROM have confirmed the signing of former Sunderland star Yann M’Vila.The Frenchman, 33, has penned a short-term deal with the Baggies until the end of the season.
      Yann M’Vila poses in his new West Brom gearCredit: Getty
      The midfielder has joined the Baggies on a short-term dealCredit: Getty
      M’Vila last played in England during the 2015-16 season with the Black Cats.
      The midfielder spent a year on loan at the Stadium of Light from Rubin Kazan, and later admitted to being “heartbroken” when the move wasn’t made permanent.
      He subsequently spent two more years at Rubin Kazan before joining Saint-Etienne in 2018.
      Following a pair of seasons with the French club he signed for Olympiacos, where he played under current West Brom boss Carlos Corberan.
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      “It was a pleasure to work with him and I’m really pleased to be back with him again now,” M’Vila told West Brom’s media team upon signing.
      “He contacted me and asked me to come here and straight away, I said yes.”
      M’Vila has earned 22 caps for his country and even featured for Les Bleus at Euro 2012.
      He has been without a club since leaving Olympiacos last summer, however, and will take time to bed into Corberan’s team at the Hawthorns.
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      Upon getting his man, the Baggies boss, 40, said: “We’ve picked up an injury to Jayson Molumby and that left us without as many options as we would like in the middle.
      “Yann is a really positive option to have. He arrives with plenty of experience and with plenty of desire and motivation to help us.
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      “We will need to be patient with him from a fitness point of view as he has been a free agent since the summer, but we know he has the determination to be ready for what will be an important few months.”
      On his decision to return to English football, M’Vila added: “I had one year playing in England before at Sunderland and I really enjoyed it.
      He will be one of the best coaches in the world in the next few yearsYann M’Vila
      “I had calls from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but I wanted to play one more time in England.
      “Carlos is a very good coach. For me, he is so, so smart when it comes to the tactical and technical side of the game.
      “For me, he will be one of the best coaches in the world in the next few years because he is so detailed in everything he does.”
      West Brom sit fifth in the Championship table despite losing 2-0 to Southampton on Friday night.
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      The Baggies are due to face M’Vila’s former side at the Hawthorns on April 13.
      M’Vila played for Sunderland during the 2015-16 seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything

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      LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema. The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
      Luis Suarez infamously bit Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Karim Benzema was close to joining ArsenalCredit: Rex
      And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
      But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
      He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
      He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
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      “They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
      “With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
      “In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
      Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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      It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
      Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
      Watch moment star gets booked for throwing Luis Suarez’s boot off the pitch as former Liverpool star rolls around
      He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
      And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
      But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
      “I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.
      Suarez opened up on retirement after signing for Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters More

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      Sweden star keen on transfer to England after starring in shock win over Liverpool

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      SWEDE Gustaf Nilsson fancies a move to England after starring at Union Saint-Gilloise.Striker Nilsson, 26, who scored for the Belgians in the Europa Conference League last week, is on a handful of Championship sides’ radar and would pick them over interested clubs in Europe.
      Gustaf Nilsson is attracting interest from several Championship clubsCredit: Rex
      He has been in terrific goalscoring form this season with ten goals in 21 league games.
      The 6ft4 striker would offer teams an aerial threat and his physical prowess would likely prove to be a handful in the EFL.
      Nilsson spent much of his career in the Swedish lower leagues after initially coming through at Falkenbergs.
      A transfer to top-flight Bronby followed but the move did not work out as Nilsson found game time difficult to come by.
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      He joined Danish side Silkeborg on loan and his form saw him win two caps for Sweden in 2018 – a tally he has not been able to add to since.
      Just two years ago Nilsson was playing in Germany’s third tier for Wehen Wiesbaden.
      But a return of 14 goals in 30 games led to attention from Union Saint-Gilloise, who were quick to snap him up.
      His form has sparked interest once again with fellow Belgian Pro League club Gent reported to have been monitoring the forward last month.
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      That came after he starred in Union Saint-Gilloise’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Europa League.
      Nilsson is understood to have just one year remaining on his contract, although his club could trigger a one-year extension clause.
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      Chelsea ‘ready to trigger Victor Osimhen’s astonishing £111m transfer clause as Todd Boehly steps up striker search’

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      CHELSEA are set to trigger Napoli star Victor Osimhen’s staggering release clause ahead of the summer transfer window.Osimhen, 25, has been the Blues’ top target to boost manager Mauricio Pochettino’s frontline next season for quite some time.
      Chelsea are willing to meet Napoli star Victor Osimhen’s release clauseCredit: Rex
      According to transfer insider Rudy Galetti, the West Londoners are willing to meet the striker’s whopping €130million (£111m) asking price.
      In fact, Chelsea wish to “speed things up” in order to beat off interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
      PSG are rigorously looking for someone to replace Kylian Mbappe up front ahead of the France international’s imminent departure in June.
      The Premier League giants will soon meet up with Napoli officials to discuss a payment structure.
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      Pochettino’s side remain “relaxed” even after Osimhen signed a new lucrative contract with the Partenopei.
      The Nigeria international put pen to paper on a new deal tying him up to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium until 2026.
      Despite a rocky start this season due to a hamstring injury, the centre-forward is still shining bright in Naples.
      Osimhen has registered a total of eight goals and three assists in 18 appearances throughout this campaign.
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      Osimhen will cost Chelsea a staggering £111million to sign from Napoli
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      The ex-Lille star led Napoli to their first Serie A title after 33 years last term.
      The Nigerian star has amassed a total of 67 goals and 17 assists in 119 appearances since joining Napoli in 2020.
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      Pochettino is desperate to add firing power to his frontline in the summer.
      Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has already splashed over £1billion in transfers alone since taking over in the summer of 2022 but is set to push for a striker at the end of the season. More

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      Kylian Mbappe set to take legend’s shirt at Real Madrid and be forced to give up No7 jersey because of Vinicius Jr

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE will be handed Real Madrid’s legendary No10 jersey if he completes a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.Mbappe, 25, has informed Paris Saint-Germain he won’t trigger an option to extend his contract by another year and will thus leave in June as a free agent.
      Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will get Real Madrid’s No10 shirtCredit: Rex
      Vinicius Jr currently occupies Mbappe’s signature No7 shirt at Real MadridCredit: Rex
      Mbappe will take Luka Modric’s shirt number at Real MadridCredit: Rex
      Europe’s elite has taken notice with Premier League giants, such as Arsenal and Liverpool, monitoring the situation but the star striker is reportedly “leaning towards” Real.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, Los Blancos are trying to sweeten the deal by offering him the same shirt number wore by past legends, such as Ferenc Puskas, Luis Figo and Clarence Seedorf.
      That means the France international will have to give up his signature No7 shirt, which he currently wears at PSG.
      That is because Vinicius Jr has proven he can wear it with the same class as legendary predecessors, like Raul, Emilio Butragueno and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.
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      Luka Modric currently occupies the No10 shirt but is expected to put an end to his glittering 12-year career in Madrid once his contract expires in the summer.
      The same report claims Real are planning to officially announce Mbappe’s arrival before he links up with France for Euro 2024.
      However, there are still several formalities that need to be ironed out before the ex-Monaco star puts pen to paper.
      One major issue that stands in the way is the Frenchman’s staggering wages.
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      However, reports suggest Mbappe is willing to accept a huge pay cut to finally move to Real.
      The La Liga giants are hoping to pay the forward less than his £42.8million – around £827,000 a week – starting point.
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      However, he is still expected to become the club’s highest-paid player, surpassing England star Jude Bellingham by a significant margin. More