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      Barcelona ‘get £32m tax hit after inflating value of TV rights and still haven’t registered their summer signings’

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      BARCELONA reportedly paid about £126million of their own money to inflate the value of the club’s TV rights.It happened as part of the deal to sell a 25 per cent stake of future TV rights to Sixth Street, according to Spanish radio station COPE.
      Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski was one of three big summer signings by Barcelona this summerCredit: Getty
      And it means the LaLiga giants must now pay about £32m in tax on that payment, according to the report.
      COPE claims the Catalans set up a holding company called Logksley Investments SL to facilitate the deal.
      The injection of extra cash – a perfectly legal manoeuvre – is said to have boosted the sale price from about £436m to £562m.
      Barcelona were hoping the inflated amount would count as new income.
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      However, COPE says LaLiga has only accepted the lower amount as being the value of the sale.
      The radio station says the move was made to satisfy LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules.
      Barca were required to stay within the FFP rules with their summer signings of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde.
      The trio of international stars arrived at the Nou Camp for a reported combined amount of around £130m.
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      The report also says Barca will need to sell more of their current stars to be able to make further signings within FFP rules.
      And it says player sales will also be needed to register their three big new signings with LaLiga.
      Barca’s finances have been under scrutiny since it was revealed last year they were close to £1billion in debt.
      Xavi’s side warmed up for the new season by thrashing Mexican giants Pumas 6-0 to win the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday night. More

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      Man Utd boss Ten Hag wants Marko Arnautovic transfer to ‘bring belief to dressing room’ as agent confirms £6.8m bid

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S shock interest in Bologna ace Marko Arnautovic has been confirmed by the player’s agent.SunSport revealed that United were holding talks over £6.8million deal for the 33-year-old veteran on Sunday.
      Marko Arnautovic is the subject of a shock transfer swoop by Man United – his brother confirmedCredit: Getty
      But United boss Erik ten Hag wants the 33-year-old to play a unique role at the clubCredit: Getty
      Red Devils fans have been left underwhelmed by the former Stoke and West Ham star’s impending arrival.
      Especially in the wake on Sunday’s horror 2-1 loss to Brighton in Erik ten Hag’s first game in charge.
      But United’s interest has now been affirmed by Arnautovic’s brother and agent Danijel.
      Asked about the speculation, he said: “It’s true that there’s a bid from a well-known club. I’m in contact with Bologna to see if that can be realised.”
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      Ten Hag remained tight-lipped about any move for Arnautovic when pressed by the media after United’s dismal Old Trafford defeat.
      He bluntly responded: “I don’t go into names and I think in this pre-season 250 players are involved or linked with us. So that’s it.”
      United’s front line is depleted following the departures of Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani this summer.
      And their attack is set to be further decimated if wantaway Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventually leaves the club.
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      This leaves the floundering Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford left to lead the line.
      However, club boss Erik ten Hag reckons Arnautovic can bolster attack and provide the team with some much-needed belief which has evidently been lacking in recent years, The Athletic reported.
      United legend Gary Neville was left speechless by United’s pursuit of the ex-West Ham ace.
      Upon hearing the news, Neville declared: “I don’t know. I have no comment on it.
      “I’ve got a comment on everything in the world apart from Man Utd signing Marko Arnautovic today.
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      “I’ve got nothing to say!”
      He then went on to express that United need to curb the pattern of recruiting players in their thirties like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, and Odion Ighalo, as they’ve perpetually done over the past decade. More

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      Barcelona threatening legal action against Man Utd transfer target Frenkie de Jong over trying to get him to slash wages

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      BARCELONA are reportedly threatening legal action against their OWN PLAYER Frenkie de Jong.The 22-year-old Dutch midfielder, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, has been urged to rip up the current deal he has with Barca.
      De Jong’s ongoing battle with Barcelona is continuing to rumble onCredit: Getty
      This is because the Catalan giants allege that his existing contract has “evidence of criminality” within it.
      The Athletic’s David Ornstein tweeted: “Barcelona told Frenkie de Jong on July 15 they have evidence of criminality around contract given by old board + cause for legal action vs all involved.
      “FC Barcelona asked him to annul deal & revert to previous terms.”
      Man Utd had an offer accepted for De Jong last month, but the player’s reluctance to join Old Trafford and outstanding payments he is owed by Barcelona – reported to be £14.5m – stopped the deal from going through.
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      And now there are reports that after United’s offer had been accepted by the club, Barca then wrote to De Jong telling him there was evidence of criminal actions in the contract renewal he signed on October 20, 2020.
      The two-year contract extension – taking him up to 2026 – reduced his salary for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons in order to alleviate Barca’s financial problems.
      This left £15.2million to be paid to De Jong across the following four seasons of his deal.
      Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Clement Lenglet also signed similar contracts to reduce the club’s wage bill.
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      Barca now want De Jong to revert to the terms of the agreement which he originally signed in January 2019.
      Dialogue between the club and player is also said to have included claims that De Jong’s representatives may be implicated in the alleged criminality.
      The previous management led by president Josep Bartomeu, who was replaced last year, believe the contract renewal was completely legal.
      SunSport have approached De Jong’s representatives for comment.
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      Meanwhile, reports of legal action potentially being taken come just hours after current president Joan Laporta insisted De Jong wants to stay at the Nou Camp.
      He said: “He [De Jong] is a Barca player of great quality and we want him to stay.
      “He has offers but we want him to stay and he wants to stay too.” More

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      Chelsea flop Timo Werner set for RB Leipzig transfer return as £25.3m deal is agreed after Thomas Tuchel exile

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      CHELSEA have agreed to sell Timo Werner back to RB Leipzig in a £25.3million deal, according to reports.The Blues signed the German from the Bundesliga side two years ago to much fanfare for £53m.
      Timo Werner has agreed to leave ChelseaCredit: Getty
      But having seen him flop at Stamford Bridge, the West Londoners have decided to sell him back at a near-£30m loss.
      According to Sky Sports News, the fee will be around £25.3m plus add-ons.
      Werner, 26, was not involved as Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Everton 1-0 in their Prem opener on Saturday.
      He made 89 appearances for the Blues in total, netting just 23 goals.
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      Last season he scored just four in the Prem, although he did bag a goal and an assist in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
      Werner enjoyed a far more prolific spell in Germany prior to signing for the Blues.
      He scored 90 goals and laid on 40 assists in four years with RB Leipzig.
      In his most recent Bundesliga season he scored an amazing 28 strikes in 34 appearances.
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      Werner is the second high-profile forward to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
      The Blues shunted Romelu Lukaku out on loan to Inter Milan, just a year after shelling out £97.5m to re-sign him.
      Tuchel started with Kai Havertz up front at the weekend, with Armando Broja coming on from the bench after returning from Southampton.

      The German Blues boss admitted last week that Chelsea stars believe their No9 shirt is cursed – after it was most recently worn by Lukaku.
      He said: “It’s cursed, it’s cursed — people tell me it’s cursed.
      “It’s not the case we are leaving it open for tactical reasons, for players to come in and take it.
      “There was not a big demand for No 9, like when players sometimes want to change numbers. Surprisingly, nobody wants to touch it.
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      “Everybody who has been at the club longer than me tells me, ‘Ah, you know, he had the nine and he did not score… and he had the nine and also did not score’.
      “So we now have a moment where nobody wants to touch the number nine. I’m superstitious, I can understand why players maybe don’t touch it and have other preferences.” More

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      Fulham reportedly agree sensational £17m transfer for West Ham ace Issa Diop with star penning five-year deal

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      FULHAM have agreed a £17million deal to sign West Ham centre-back Issa Diop, according to reports.The Frenchman, 25, will pen a five-year contract at Craven Cottage.
      Issa Diop is no longer a regular starter at West HamCredit: Reuters
      Boss Marco Silva bemoaned his side’s lack of defensive depth going into the new Prem season last week.
      But according to Foot Mercato reporter Dahbia Hattabi, Fulham have sealed a deal for the Hammers’ experienced centre-half.
      Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream were Fulham’s only senior centre-backs throughout pre-season.
      They signed Shane Duffy on loan from Brighton on the eve of their opener against Liverpool, with the Irishman coming on late on in Saturday’s 2-2 draw.
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      Diop was not involved as the Hammers lost 2-0 to Manchester City yesterday – despite David Moyes missing Angelo Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and new signing Nayef Aguerd.
      Ben Johnson played at centre-back alongside Kurt Zouma, with Moyes saying of Diop: “Issa didn’t put himself forward to play in the last couple of games, and we will see what happens with that in the next couple of weeks.”

      Diop joined West Ham from hometown team Toulouse in a £22m deal in 2018.
      He has gone on to make 119 appearances for the Hammers, but saw his importance wane last season.
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      The 6ft 4in ace only made 12 Prem appearances as he fell down the pecking order.
      He did help Moyes and Co reach the Europa League semi-finals, however, playing the full 90 minutes in their 3-0 quarter-final second leg victory over Lyon.
      Diop has represented France at youth level, earning six Under-21 caps but never breaking through to the senior side. More

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      Ex-Man Utd star Edinson Cavani closing in on Boca Juniors free transfer with deal entering ‘key stages’

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      EDINSON CAVANI is on the brink of sealing a return to South America with Boca Juniors.The Uruguayan striker was one of eleven stars released by Manchester United in June.
      Edinson Cavani is on the brink of completing a move to Boca JuniorsCredit: Getty
      The 35-year-old veteran’s been a free agent since then despite a slew of clubs interested in his services.
      A range of sides from LaLiga to Serie A new-boys Monza were linked to the attacker.
      It was thought Villarreal were leading the race to sign Cavani.
      Reports suggested that he had signed a pre-agreement with Unai Emery’s side.
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      But those claims have been tossed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano who alleges Boca and Cavani are in advanced talks to get a deal done.
      Boca are said to be eager to wrap the transfer up soon to thwart Villarreal’s advances.
      Borussia Dortmund were ostensibly another interested party, but that was also dismissed by Romano.
      Cavani’s expected to pen an 18-month contract with the South American titans.
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      He’ll be welcomed at the club by fellow former Man United Marcos Rojo.
      Rojo left United to join Boca in 2021 following a loan stint with boyhood club Estudiantes.
      And the defender proved his worth in the same year when he scored a goal in Boca’s domestic Professional League Cup win – which he bizarrely celebrated by smoking a cigarette on the pitch after the game concluded. More

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      Everton closing in on Conor Coady transfer from Wolves with Ben Godfrey facing months out with broken leg

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      EVERTON are reportedly about to tie up a deal for Conor Coady after losing Ben Godfrey to a long-term injury. England centre-half Godfrey broke his leg just ten minutes into the Toffees’ opening game of the season against Chelsea on Saturday.
      Wolves skipper Conor Coady is hoping to go to the World Cup with England this winterCredit: Getty
      The 24-year-old was injured in a challenge with Kai Havertz and is facing months on the sidelines.
      The Toffees also lost fellow centre-back Yerry Mina to an ankle injury during the 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
      That has left boss Frank Lampard short of cover as he bids to avoid a repeat of last season’s relegation scrap.
      Lamps has identified England’s World Cup hopeful Coady as the right man for the job.
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      The 29-year-old was an unused sub as Wanderers started their campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Leeds.
      Wolves boss Bruno Lage said in the build-up he has always valued Coady’s stellar seven-year service at Molineux but admitted he does not know if he will leave.
      And 24-hours after Godfrey’s injury, Football Daily reported Everton are close to finalising their swoop.
      The breaking football news service say he is expected to join on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.
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      Wolves skipper Coady has made 152 Premier League appearances.
      He earned the first of his ten caps in 2020, and played all 38 games of Wolves’ league campaign last season. More

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      Arsenal star Lucas Torreira finally ends Emirates hell with £5m transfer to Galatasaray who also snap-up Dries Mertens

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      LUCAS TORREIRA has finally ended his Arsenal hell by completing a move to Galatasaray.Torreira spent last season on loan with Fiorentina where he wanted to remain following a successful spell in Italy.
      Lucas Torreira has completed a move to Galatasary after months of speculation surrounding his futureCredit: AFP
      The midfielder was spotted in Instanbul draped in a Galatasaray scarf along with fellow new signing Dries MertensCredit: beINSPORTS @FabrizioRomano
      But he was forced to return to the Emirates as the Serie A side failed to trigger his release clause due to a price disparity.
      Nonetheless, the Uruguayan midfield rock made it clear there was no chance of him staying at Arsenal beyond the summer.
      This led to Galatasaray making a swoop for the disgruntled midfielder.
      He was poised to complete the move in early August after agreeing a three-year deal with the Super Lig titans.
      But the transfer was thrown into chaos when Torreira allegedly refused to board the plane taking him to Turkey.
      However, any doubts Torreira initially had have been cast aside as he was spotted at a Turkish airport draped in a Galatasaray scarf upon agreeing personal terms with the club, the Daily Mail reported.
      And he’s set to be unveiled by the club this week once his medical is completed.
      The Gunners have been appeased by the £5.5million Galatasary will pay them for Torreira, the report adds.
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      Torreira will be joined at the Nef Stadyumu by former Chelsea target Dries Mertens.
      Mertens also jetted into Instanbul to complete his switch from Napoli to Galatasaray.
      The Blues were keeping tabs on the striker, along with new signing Kalidou Koulibaly a few years ago.
      But a move never materialised, and now Mertens is poised to pen a one-year contract with Galatasaray which includes the option to extend for another term, Football Italia reported.
      The 35-year-old was also being chased by Juventus, Lazio, and Inter Milan, but opted to leave Italy as he didn’t want to play against Napoli with a rival team, it was added. More