COUTINHO PUSHES FOR RECORD BARCA DEAL
Philippe Coutinho has repeated his insistence to trade Liverpool for Barcelona in a potential deal that would comfortably surpass the British transfer record.
Barca’s long-term vision of building around the virtuoso is too attractive for him to ignore and, having won no trophies during his spell at Anfield despite coming close, he believes he owes it to himself to take the next step in his career – a decision encouraged by family members.
The 25-year-old is determined not to pick up an injury playing for the Reds, and as a result, will play no part in their January fixtures as he seeks a move to Camp Nou during the current transfer window.
Coutinho last played for Liverpool on December 30, as Jurgen Klopp’s side defeated Leicester City 2-1 thanks to a Mohamed Salah double. He then sat out their 2-1 victory at Burnley on New Year’s Day.
MESSI WANTS ALLI AT CAMP NOU
Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to put a deal in place for Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, claims Diario Gol .
The Liga giants are aware of the need to reinforce in that area of the field, but know the bidding will start at around the €100m mark.
SAUL FLATTERED BY BARCA INTEREST
Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez is proud to have been the subject of Barcelona interest but wants to stay and win trophies at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atleti CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin claimed last month he received an enquiry from the Catalans about Saul’s availability, only to be put off by his reported release clause of €150million.
The 23-year-old says it is always encouraging to know other clubs are watching but insists he extended his contract in July last year with the intention of enjoying a spell of success in the capital.
BARCA WILL HAVE TO PAY €180M FOR COUTINHO
Liverpool have set Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho’s price at €180 million, according to Onda Cena Radio .
The Brazilian has long been linked with the Catalans, with Jurgen Klopp’s side apparently willing to sell if they receive the fee they are looking for for one their star names.
BARCA FENDING OFF UMTITI INTEREST
Barcelona are planning contract talks with Samuel Umtiti in an effort to fend off interest from Manchester rivals United and City, reports Marca . The France international is a man in demand after seeing Liverpool put a £75m deal in place for Dutch centre-half Virgil van Dijk.
MAN UTD STEP UP ANDRE GOMES CHASE
Manchester United are preparing to step up their efforts to land Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes, according to Il Bianconero . The Red Devils have already seen one £35 million approach for the Portugal international knocked, but are refusing to give up the chase.
MOURINHO WANTS GRIEZMANN IN JANUARY
Jose Mourinho is ready to pull out all the stops to land Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann in January, according to the Daily Star . While the plan was to go after the France international in the summer, with Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both sidelined, Mourinho needs reinforcements up top immediately.
Mourinho is willing to offer Griezmann £300,000 a week to get him to leave Atletico and snub Barcelona, who are also after the attacker.
GORETZKA FUTURE NOT YET SEALED
Leon Goretzka has not told Schalke that he wants to leave the club, according to the Bundesliga outfit’s sporting director Christian Heidel. Goretzka has been linked with a number of European giants, with Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich said to have joined the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for the Germany international’s signature.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who starred for his country at the 2017 Confederations Cup, is out of contract this summer and has said that he will make a decision in January.
BARCELONA PLOT CHRISTENSEN BID
Barcelona are considering a bid for Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, according to the Daily Mirror . The centre-back has usurped David Luiz as one of Antonio Conte’s most trusted lieutenants, and Ernesto Valverde is in the market to sign a world-class central defender.
Barca have been monitoring Christensen since his ascent into the first team, and are keen to lure him away, with the Blues set to offer him a new deal to ward off any potential interest.
DONNARUMMA ALLAYS AC MILAN EXIT FEARS
Gianluigi Donnarumma has moved to allay fears he will engineer a move away from AC Milan in January by insisting he is happy at the club.
The teenage goalkeeper has been jeered by Milan fans since reports emerged claiming his agent Mino Raiola was trying to terminate the four-year contract he signed in July.
Donnarumma is seen as the heir to Italy and Juventus icon Gianluigi Buffon and is believed to have drawn interest from La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
COUTINHO DEAL IN THE WORKS?
With Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk for a world record fee for a defender, £75m, the rumor is that the lane could be opened for FC Barcelona to sign Philippe Coutinho. The sale has long been rumored and it would help finance the Reds’ capture of the Southampton defender. Of course, we have heard many rumors before, so there’s every chance it still won’t happen.
DI MARÍA OPTION REOPENED
Barcelona had been close to a deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Ángel Di María before, and it could be back on, if the site ParisFans is to be believed. The offer would cost around 45 million euro, plus a 15 million bonus. The winger’s sale would help PSG’s financial fair play problems, but the question is whether Di María would be sold in the winter of if PSG would only let him go next summer.
ARTHUR TALKS TO BEGIN
According to Diario SPORT, Grêmio midfielder Arthur Melo only wants Barcelona, and the Catalans are sending representatives to Brazil to complete the signing. And Brazilian outletEsporte Interativo says that Barcelona will be sending negotiators to Brazil in the first week of January to get the deal done.
SEVILLA WANTS ALEIX VIDAL BACK
Sevilla are reportedly interested in re-signing former player Aleix Vidal from Barcelona in January but could face competition from Atletico Madridand Valencia.
According to ABC de Sevilla (via Football Espana), Los Rojiblancos lead the race to snap up the 28-year-old for around €10 million, but there are fears about Atleti and Valencia’s increasing interest.
It is little surprise Vidal looks set to leave Barca in the winter window as his career has stalled at the Camp Nou.
He signed for the Blaugrana for €18 million in June 2015 but was unable to make his debut for the club until January 2016 due to the Catalan club’s FIFA-imposed registration ban.
The right-back then suffered a dislocated ankle in February 2017 that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign and ended his first run of fine form in a Barca shirt.
Since recovering, Spaniard Vidal has failed to work his way back into the first team, starting just three La Liga games in 2017-18 with Sergi Roberto having nailed down the right-back berth.
YERRY MINA IS WANTED BY BARCELONA
The Spanish giants are keen on bolstering their squad ranks, especially in defence. Mina’s cheap deal would be made even better by the fact he would be available for Barcelona in the Champions League.
Barca are facing old European foes Chelsea in the next round. Mina also has an eye for goal, with three for his country Colombia in his last nine appearances.
MESUT OZIL IS A JANUARY TRANSFER TARGET FOR BARCELONA
According to Spanish newspaper Marca. The Catalan giants, who are currently setting the pace in La Liga, are reportedly lining up a cut-price deal for the Germany international.
World Cup winner Ozil is out of contract at the end of the season and the Gunners risk losing him for nothing at that stage if they cannot convince him to sign an extension.
But the report from Spain indicates that Barcelona will seek to utilise that situation to land the former Real Madrid player on the cheap next month.
While losing in-form Ozil mid-season would be a blow for Arsenal, it would allow them to recoup at least a small transfer fee while also avoiding the danger of him joining Manchester United on a free transfer next summer.
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