Sunday, 7 January 2018

La Liga news: Suarez to Liverpool, Griezmann to Man Utd, Kane to Real Madrid updates

LA LIGA news is coming thick and fast with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all looking at strengthening during the January transfer window. Express Sport brings you all the latest.


Luis Suarez to Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly hopeful of re-signing Luis Suarez from Barcelona.

Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim the Reds manager is determined to bring Suarez back.

Liverpool are on the lookout for new attackers after selling Philippe Coutinho to Barca for a huge £142million.

And though Roberto Firmino has excelled in a no9 role this season, Liverpool want Suarez back to lead the line.

The Uruguay international swapped Anfield for the Nou Camp in 2014 after hitting 31 Premier League goals during his final season on Merseyside.



Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United
ESPN journalist Mark Ogden thinks Manchester United could sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico this month.

“Manchester United looked at Antoine Griezmann last summer,” Ogden told ESPN FC.

“They kind of pulled out of the race because they said their priority was a centre-forward, they signed Lukaku.

“Diego Simeone has admitted Griezmann will probably leave Atletico Madrid this year.

“He’s got an escape clause in his contract which is around £85million.

“He’s a player that United like, he scores goals, his future at Atletico Madrid is uncertain so it’s a deal that could be done in January.”

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/901492/La-Liga-news-Luis-Suarez-Liverpool-Antoine-Griezmann-Man-Utd-Harry-Kane-Real-Madrid

Manchester United may take full advantage of Barcelona's Coutinho transfer from Liverpool


As far as weekends go, it was a pretty quiet one for Manchester United ahead of their trip to Dubai.

With FA Cup progress secured, the squad enjoyed a rare Saturday off. Daley Blind headed back to Amsterdam, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard wore matching jackets in Paris while Ander Herrera paid his favourite London restaurant a visit.

But, away from Carrington, there was a development which could yet have a huge bearing on United's summer and, indeed, Jose Mourinho's tenure.

Barcelona finally announced the signing of Liverpool talisman Philippe Coutinho for a whopping £142m, making him the second-most expensive footballer of all-time. Sorry, Paul.

Coutinho has been signed as the heir apparent to 34-year-old Andres Iniesta and it is hard to imagine him dislodging Lionel Messi to play in the left-wing role he excelled in at Liverpool.

With Ousmane Dembele fit and firing again, following a hamstring injury, Coutinho looks set to take up a role in Barcelona's midfield three with Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

Having made £197m from the world-record sale of Neymar last summer, Barcelona have since spent £35m on Paulinho, £93m on Dembele, a fee which could yet rise to £124m, and now a further £142m on Coutinho.


But they will not stop there, as they put together the most feared frontline in world football, and Antoine Griezmann is top of their list.

Barcelona director Guillermo Amor only admitted last month that 'there may well have been an approach' already. Those comments have landed the Catalan giants in hot water after Atletico Madrid reported the alleged approach to FIFA earlier this month, but that will not dissuade them.

Griezmann's release clause stands at £178m until July 1 and it is unclear, officially, whether it reverts back to the original £84m figure after that. If so, expect teams to wait in a summer where the World Cup will take centre stage.

Read More: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-barcelona-coutinho-14123807

Messi marks new milestone



Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga with the opening goal as Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday, AFP reports.

Messi’s 365th goal in Spain’s top flight came inside 12 minutes, with Luis Suarez adding the second before the interval and Paulinho completing the victory late on as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid.

The Catalans are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and have Philippe Coutinho to come in, with the Brazilian expected to be officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Monday following the announcement of his 160m-euro move from Liverpool.

The 25-year-old Brazilian, whose transfer is the third-biggest in football history, was not in attendance at the Camp Nou as the club’s previous record recruit Ousmane Dembele started.



The Frenchman, signed for 105m  euros from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the campaign, was included in the line-up for the first time since tearing his hamstring nearly four months ago.

He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, including from one 20-yard strike that was beaten away by Levante’s ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Oier Olazabal.

But it was Messi who broke the deadlock from a Jordi Alba assist, a combination that has proved fruitful on so many occasions this season.

The Argentine’s flighted pass found Alba, and the left-back headed the ball down for Messi, arriving in the area, to finish first-time in off the far post for his 16th league goal of the campaign.

The second goal arrived seven minutes before the interval, as Suarez controlled Sergi Roberto’s fine ball into the box before firing home.

Read More: http://punchng.com/messi-marks-new-milestone/

Saturday, 6 January 2018

Barcelona news: When will Philippe Coutinho make his debut after Liverpool transfer?

PHILIPPE COUTINHO is expected to complete his move to Barcelona at some point today, but when will he be able to make his debut for the Catalan club?


The Brazilian finally got his dream move to Barcelona when it was announced yesterday Liverpool had agreed a deal worth £142million.

Coutinho made it clear in the summer he wanted to leave but Liverpool stood firm and released a statement that the player would not be sold.



However, six months later and an improved offer from Barcelona with ‘achievable’ add-ons as opposed to the ones offered in the summer left Liverpool with little choice but to sell.

Coutinho arrived in Barcelona yesterday and is expected to be in attendance for the club’s match against Levante this afternoon.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/901185/Barcelona-Philippe-Coutinho-Liverpool-transfer-La-Liga-debut-Nou-Camp-Celta-Vigo

Liverpool delay Wales starlet Ben Woodburn's loan to Sunderland due to Philippe Coutinho sale



Liverpool have moved to block Ben Woodburn's move to Sunderland on loan ahead of Philippe Coutinho 's move to Barcelona.

The Reds agreed to sell the Brazilian to the La Liga giants for £142m with the Wales starlet already set to join the Championship club and link up with Chris Coleman again.


But Jurgen Klopp is now having second thoughts, report the Mail, as Mo Salah is currently injured.

Coleman is desperate for reinforcements and wants Woodburn to help fire the Black Cats away from the relegation zone.

The 18-year-old may now have a role to play at Anfield in Coutinho's absence.

Read More:http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-delay-wales-starlet-ben-11808344

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

Wednesday, 3 January 2018

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