Barcelona vs Levante, La Liga: Team News, Match Preview

Barça play their first La Liga match of 2018 looking to stay light-years ahead of the rest
Things are looking pretty good for Barcelona right now. The team is playing well again, the results have been fantastic, we dominated El Clasico and we now have Ousmane Dembélé and Philippe Coutinho to partner Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi to kind of destroy the rest of Spain.

But one result is all it takes to bury all the positivity, and that’s especially the case with this weekend’s match, the first in La Liga in 2018. Levante come to Camp Nou in poor form, with only one win in their last six matches and sitting just three points above the relegation zone.

Levante have a young and hungry squad filled with talented players who can cause problems to any team regardless of form or momentum. They’ll surely come to Camp Nou looking to upset the leaders and virtual champions, so Barça have to play their best football to make sure that things continue to look pretty good for the Catalan giants.

Read More: https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2018/1/7/16858874/barcelona-levante-team-news-possible-lineups-preview-prediction

Barcelona players inform Josep Maria Bartomeu to complete signing of Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona players are reportedly confident that Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho will complete a switch to Camp Nou in the January transfer window.

According to Spanish publication Sport, Ernesto Valverde's men are delighted the Catalan club are further strengthening the squad for the second half of the 2017/18 season by adding the former Inter Milan man.

The heavyweights inside the Camp Nou dressing room have already made their decision known to the La Liga giants' president Josep Maria Bartomeu. They want Barcelona to secure the services of Coutinho after last summer's disappointment.

Liverpool star has been a transfer target for the Spanish outfit even before the season started. Barcelona's multiple approaches were turned down by the Merseyside club, with their last bid believed to be around £118m ($160.4m) and included add-ons worth £36m ($48.9m).

The 25-year-old also handed in a transfer request to leave the club, but his request to leave Anfield was rejected by the Reds. He was then promised by Liverpool that he will be allowed to complete his dream move to Barcelona.

Liverpool's league win over Leicester City is believed to be Coutinho's last match for the Premier League outfit, reports The Times. He missed the tie against Burnley due to a minor thigh injury and is expected to miss the derby clash against Everton in the third round of the FA Cup.

Read More: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/barcelona-players-inform-josep-maria-bartomeu-complete-signing-liverpool-star-philippe-coutinho-1653690

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino gives Harry Kane transfer update amid Real Madrid interest

TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino insists Harry Kane is not for sale - but admits he will not stand in his way if he asks to leave.

The England international has won the Premier League golden boot two seasons running and is in pole position to make it a hat-trick, having notched 18 Premier League goals so far this campaign.

His stunning form has attracted attention from European heavyweights Real Madrid, who boast Spurs alumni Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in their ranks.

But Pochettino is desperate to keep hold of his talisman and will fight off any interest during the transfer window.

"If you look at it from a the personal side, if the player asked to go like Modric or Bale, we would have to see but today that has not happened," he told El Chiringuito de Jugones.

Read More: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/671340/Tottenham-Harry-Kane-Mauricio-Pochettino-Real-Madrid-Gareth-Bale-Luka-Modric

Madrid-bound Vinicius soars with Nene and Rockets

Real Madrid-bound Vinicius Junior spent some time with countryman Nene and NBA franchise the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Before soaring with Spanish and European giants Real Madrid, teenage sensation Vinicius Junior is taking off in the NBA.

The 17-year-old Brazilian, who will officially become a Madrid player upon his 18th birthday on July 12 in a deal reportedly worth €45million, spent some time with countryman Nene and NBA franchise the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Vinicius watched the Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 116-98 in Houston, before later rubbing shoulders with Brazilian center Nene as the pair exchanged jerseys.

The Madrid-bound star is in the midst of his off-season after Flamengo – where he will remain on loan for the duration of Madrid's 2018-19 campaign – finished sixth in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Read More: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/madrid-bound-vinicius-soars-nene-and-rockets

SERGIO AGUERO: HARRY KANE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM PLAYING FOR REAL MADRID

The Manchester City star believes that players like the Tottenham forward would fit in with any team
Sergio Aguero doesn't believe that Tottenham forward Harry Kane would have any problems fitting in with Real Madrid.

Rumours have been floated of a possible deal that would see Kane move to the La Liga giants, with Gareth Bale heading back to his old club in part-exchange.

Kane has been a goalscoring machine for Spurs, setting a Premier League record for goals in a calendar year with 39 in 2017, and his manager Mauricio Pochettino has come out to say that it would be impossible to put a price on his star man.

But with transfer season in full swing, the 24-year-old will undoubtedly continue to draw links with the likes of Madrid, and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero doesn't think he would have any issues playing for the biggest clubs in the world.

"The truth is that players of this quality, I think they wouldn’t have a problem playing for such an important club as Real Madrid is," Aguero told reporters after scoring in his side's 3-1 win over Watford on Tuesday.

Aguero, who sits four goals back of Kane in the Premier League top-scorer race, dropped another hint about his future away from City, but says what the Spurs man decides to do is none of his concern. 

"I don’t know what he is thinking but that’s not my problem, it’s his," the Argentine said.

Aguero and City are enjoying a memorable season, while Kane and Tottenham are fighting for a Champions League spot.

Read More: http://www.goal.com/en/news/sergio-aguero-harry-kane-would-have-no-problem-playing-for/4sibyb7fnclv1nshrnfmzlv5u

Liverpool 'target Real Madrid star Dani Ceballos' as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos.

The Spaniard has grown frustrated with a lack of game time at the Bernabeu and has reportedly fallen out with Zinedine Zidane.

Diario Gol reports Ceballos has five offers to leave the club - with one coming from Liverpool.

Ceballos is believed to be a target, if Philippe Coutinho does leave for Barcelona.

Will he be an adequate replacement?

Philippe Coutinho has reportedly told Liverpool he does not want to play for the club again.

The Brazil star missed his side's 2-1 win at Burnley on Monday with a thigh strain but is expected to be the subject of a £130million bid from Barcelona this month.

Liverpool are expected to hold out for £160m with Barcelona officials due in London on Wednesday to continue talks.

And according to Sport , Coutinho has told Liverpool he does not want to put the move in doubt by playing for Jurgen Klopp's side.

On Sunday, Barcelona's kit manufacturers Nike advertised the club's kit with Coutinho's name on the back.

Read More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-target-real-madrid-star-11786478

Liverpool name Coutinho’s price to Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho hopes to seal a move to Barcelona after Liverpool named their price for the playmaker.

Anfield chiefs maintained a not-for-sale stance on Coutinho last summer by rejecting three bids from the Catalan giants including a final one of £114 million.

However that position has altered with the Brazil international’s refusal to commit his long-term future to the Reds as he aims to secure a switch to the Nou Camp.

Barca are expected to renew their approach for Coutinho during the January transfer window, with Liverpool finally ready to set the player’s valuation.

Nike, who hold sponsorship deals with both Barca and Coutinho, falsely claimed the 25-year-old had moved to the La Liga champions-elect.

Read More: http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/24393-liverpool-name-coutinhos-price-to-barcelona/