Barca could miss out on Nolito
La Liga champions Barcelona look set to miss out on top target Nolito, .
It is no secret that coach Luis Enrique has made signing the 29-year-old the priority in the January transfer window, but the deal is starting to look unlikely.
Namely, having splashed out over €50 million on the likes of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, the club management cannot afford Nolito s €18 million release clause at the moment.
Having been obliged to reduce the club s huge debt, the Catalans will not have money to spend in the winter transfer window.
As a result, they have proposed to sign Nolito on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy for €9 million, but it is clear that Celta will not agree to such an arrangement…
Atletico Madrid are up to second in La Liga after Koke s early goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Betis.
Koke pounced after Fernando Torres seventh-minute shot was saved and the 2013-14 champions sit four points behind leaders Barcelona and two ahead of city rivals Real Madrid, who were humiliated 4-0 at home in El Clasico on Saturday.
Antoine Griezmann was particularly culpable as Atletico missed a host of chances to secure a more comfortable victory, but Betis could not find a response in the face of a brave defensive effort led by Diego Godin.
Levante and Granada claimed their second wins of the season to ease their relegation fears.
All of Levante s goals in a 3-0 win at Sporting Gijon came before half-time, with a brace from Deyverson coming …
Are Barcelona set to make a splash in 2022?
After losing Lionel Messi on a free transfer due to their crippling debt, Barca are busy planning for next season.
Franck Kessie and Youri Tielemans are believed to be on the radar at Camp Nou.
TOP STORY – BARCA EYEING PAIR
Barcelona are targeting Milan star Franck Kessie and Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to reports.
Kessie is out of contract at the end of the season and he is yet to re-sign at Milan amid links with Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Mundo Deportivo claims LaLiga giants Barca are considering a move for the Ivory Coast international, as well as Tielemans – who is reportedly wanted by the likes of Manchester United and Liv…
Tite has slammed Dylan Bronn s challenge on Neymar during Brazil s win over Tunisia, claiming it was a move to take a player out of the World Cup .
The Selecao completed their preparations for Qatar with a commanding 5-1 victory in Paris, with Neymar among the goals as his penalty took him to 75 at international level.
But the Paris Saint-Germain forward was subjected to a heavy challenge in the 42nd minute by Tunisia defender Bronn, who was sent off.
And while Tite welcomed the competitive nature of the friendly with Jalel Kadri s side, who were unbeaten in seven games, the Brazil coach was far from pleased with the treatment of his talisman.
We were in an atmosphere where most of the fans were from Tunisia, he said. At some points, I tried to locate ou…
Hull City manager Steve Bruce is not resting on his laurels despite Saturday s 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men as early as the third minute when Wes Brown was dismissed for a professional foul on Shane Long just outside the area.
Long and new strike partner Nikica Jelavic duly punished Sunderland by each scoring a header to bring their opponents back down to earth with a bump following their 3-0 derby success over Newcastle United last week.
It was a sweet return to the Stadium of Light for Bruce, who was sacked as Sunderland manager in November 2011, but he insisted there was still a lot of work for his side to do if they are to avoid relegation back to the Championship.
We re four points off the bottom three but we are ten…
Turkish police were on Thursday questioning 45 suspects, among them footballers from the country s top league, in connection with a match-fixing probe, officials and media reports said.
The Turkish Football Federation confirmed that an investigation was under way, but said it was not related to a Europe-wide match-fixing scandal involving Turkey that broke out last year.
Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin said 46 suspects were detained Wednesday in 26 provinces and that the probe is targeting (a total of) 53 people.
One suspect, a player from first-division club Sivasspor, was released after questioning late Wednesday, Anatolia news agency reported.
Among those who remained in police custody Thursday were two former internationals Arif Erdem, now a co…
Marko Grujic has struggled to make his mark at Liverpool but is wanted on loan at Dinamo Zagreb.
Grujic was the first signing of the Jurgen Klopp era, joining from Red Star Belgrade in January 2015 and remaining there on loan for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old Serbian has been dogged by injury in his maiden campaign at Liverpool and has made just five appearances in all competitions.
His lack of football has not dampened the interest of Dinamo, however, who would be interested in securing his services on a temporary deal.
I wanted to bring Andrija Zivkovic in from Benfica for €5million, but I failed, Dinamo adviser Zdravko Mamic told Serbian publication Blic.
Now I want to get Marko Grujic from Liverpool on loan.
The news may…
Blackburn Rovers have rejected an approach from West Bromwich Albion for midfielder Bradley Dack, according to Sky Sports.
The Baggies had made a £5m approach for the twenty-four-year-old though Rovers have no interest in parting company with their top scorer from last season.
Dack’s eighteen goals during the 2018/19 campaign were integral in Tony Mowbary’s side clinch automatic promotion to the Championship while he has also played a key part in their opening league fixtures this term.
He scored in the 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season and got the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win at Hull City two weeks later.
His brace in the 5-1 win at Carlisle United in the first round of the EFL Cup take his tally to twenty-tw…
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Desperate to try and find a Champions League boost on Tuesday night, Liverpool will welcome Scottish giants Rangers to Anfield.
Liverpool
Starting with the hosts, marking their return from September s international break with another worrying display, it is fair to say that Liverpool find themselves in the midst of a rather public struggle. Eventually playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw at home against Brighton at Anfield, it appears there is some growing pressure on Jurgen Klopp s shoulders. While the European heavyweights might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with their sights set on mounting another domestic title charge, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is desperate for his side to try and find some stability. Picking up just a sing…
Jose Mourinho will be back in management next season after landing a three-year deal at Roma just 15 days after being sacked by Tottenham.
The Portuguese will take the helm at Roma for the 2021-22 campaign after the Serie A club announced the 58-year-old as Paulo Fonseca s replacement.
It will be the next chapter in a career that has yielded major silverware across Europe, but one that has taken a notable downturn after a trophy-less spell at Spurs.
The cracks had already started to show for Mourinho prior to his Spurs exit on April 19, which came following a series of comments from the former Inter boss that hinted at significant unrest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Here is a selection of the quotes which capture the Special One s descent into igno…