Man City chase "extraordinary" £205k-p/w star as potential Grealish upgrade

Manchester City are chasing a deal for a new winger this summer and have already stumbled across their man, according to reports.

Pep's winger conundrum

It has been a tough season for wingers at Manchester City. Though they scooped the Premier League title, Jack Grealish managed just 10 starts across the campaign and his most noteworthy moment came when he nearly fell off the open top bus during the trophy parade.

His lack of form and Pep Guardiola's decision to leave him on the bench on a regular basis has led to speculation that he could be sold this summer, though finding anyone to offer an acceptable fee three years on from his £100m move to the Etihad could be easier said than done.

bryan-gil-jack-grealish-tottenham-opinion

Publicly, the Manchester City boss has backed Grealish to recover his form though.

“He will be back," said Guardiola. "He’s struggled this season and Jeremy [Doku] has made an incredible step forward as everyone has seen in the last games. But Jack will be back at the level of last season, I'm pretty sure."

Jeremy Doku started 19 times but the 22-year-old managed to find the net on just three occasions, though he did add eight assists to his tally.

Man City favourites to sign £100m sensation who's "similar to Rice"

He has been a key man in the Premier League this season.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 30, 2024

Phil Foden enjoyed an excellent campaign, but his least productive time came on the left wing, with three goals in eight appearances coming courtesy of a hat-trick against Brentford. With Kevin de Bruyne's future beyond this summer unclear, the Englishman may finally be offered the central role that he has always craved under Pep Guardiola.

And should that happen, a space will open up in the Manchester City wide berths.

Manchester City "tempt" Brazilian winger

That comes with recent reports linking the Cityzens with a move for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, whose recent comments have caused a stir at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Brazilian has been an important part of Carlo Ancelotti's side in recent season, but with the impending arrival of superstar pair Endrick and Kylian Mbappe as well as the status of Vinicius Jr, he is the most likely candidate to make way from their first choice attack. However, Ancelotti remains a big fan.

“Rodrygo’s match today wasn’t even as good as other matches because he has played some spectacular ones,” the Italian explained after a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the 2023 Champions League. “But his effectiveness was extraordinary."

Rodrygo vs Jack Grealish 23/24

Rodrygo

Jack Grealish

Appearances

34

20

Goals

10

3

Assists

5

1

Minutes per goal contribution

159.4

250

But in a recent interview, Rodrygo seemingly opened the door to a departure from the club.

"Of course, I want to stay here for many years. I want to be here as long as I feel that I help and I’m important to the team," he said. "And from the moment when I see that I’m no longer important, maybe it’s time to look for another place."

Now, Manchester City have been credited with an interest in the £205,000 a week winger, and the idea of playing for Manchester City "tempts" the Brazilian, according to reports coming from Spain.

They add that though Rodrygo wants to stay at Real Madrid, he is "waiting to see what will happen" this summer, while Real Madrid will not stand in his way if he does want to leave the Spanish capital following Mbappe's arrival.

Rodrygo further fuelled the flames by admitting that City were the best side in the world earlier this week, despite his Real Madrid side having beaten them in a penalty shoot-out en-route to the Champions League final.

"To be honest, we knew they were better [than us]. For me, they are the best team in the world, the one that plays the best football," admitted the Real Madrid forward.

If things go south in Madrid, perhaps he will be calling them his side in the years to come.

Steidten now eyeing West Ham bid to sign £325,000-a-week star for Lopetegui

West Ham United are thought to be keeping an eye on a £325,000-a-week attacker ahead of a potential London Stadium transfer.

West Ham transfer rumours

The summer transfer window officially opened on Friday, and the Hammers have already made a start on their business with the acquisition of Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras. West Ham will pay an initial €23m fee for Guilherme, with a deal including €7m in add-ons and a 20% sell-on clause.

Sporting director Tim Steidten strongly wanted Guilherme, who could be the first of many to arrive ahead of Julen Lopetegui‘s first season in charge.

West Ham transfer to sign defender in "dream" move now off

A £15m deal had initially been agreed.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 11, 2024

Celta Vigo forward Jorgen Strand Larsen has reportedly been at the centre of an approach from West Ham, with a deal possibly setting the Irons back more than £25m. Meanwhile, Juventus winger Matias Soule is also a target.

A new attacker who has plied his trade in the Premier League for his entire career is now believed to be on Steidten’s radar, according to a fresh report.

West Ham eyeing Raheem Sterling move

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for TBR, West Ham are eyeing a move to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea. It is believed that the Blues are looking to move Sterling on from Stamford Bridge this summer following the arrival of new head coach Enzo Maresca, however, the Englishman is in no rush to leave.

Raheem Sterling

In fact, Sterling has already turned down approaches from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, with West Ham now keeping an eye on the situation ahead of a potential transfer. The 29-year-old is comfortably Chelsea’s biggest earner, picking up £325,000-a-week.

Rank

Player

Gross pay per week

Gross pay per year

1

Raheem Sterling

£325,000

£16,900,000

2

Reece James

£250,000

£13,000,000

=3

Wesley Fofana

£200,000

£10,400,000

=3

Ben Chilwell

£200,000

£10,400,000

5

Christopher Nkunku

£195,000

£10,140,000

6

Enzo Fernandez

£180,000

£9,360,000

7

Marc Cucurella

£175,000

£9,100,000

8

Moises Caicedo

£150,000

£7,800,000

Since moving to Chelsea from Manchester City in 2022, Sterling has made 81 appearances for the Blues, scoring 19 times and providing 12 assists. He’s also come in for praise from West Ham forward Michail Antonio, who hailed Sterling’s pace following the Irons’ 3-1 win over Chelsea last August.

“He was unreal. After the game, we were calling him ‘Sonic’ because I’ve not seen a man move that quickly with a football. It was madness. He was driving everywhere. It’s the best game I’ve ever seen him play, he was on fire. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing team at all.”

Antonio may therefore be excited if Sterling was to move across London, but due to the forward’s huge salary, any deal could be a complicated one over the coming months.

'Like Jurgen Klopp' – Pep Guardiola says Man City resembled Liverpool with controversial late winner vs Wolves in cheeky dig at former rival

Pep Guardiola took a cheeky swipe at former adversary Jurgen Klopp after Manchester City snatched victory at Wolves in the 95th minute.

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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The champions needed a 95th-minute goal from John Stones to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Molineux against Wolves. The Premier League's bottom side gave City a real fright and Stones' goal was shrouded in controversy as it was initially ruled out for offside against Bernardo Silva before being awarded after a VAR review. The City boss was pleased with the goal but was at pains to point out that his side do not normally have to rely on late shows, unlike Klopp's great Liverpool side.

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    WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

    Guardiola told the: "We are not used to winning games at the end, like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool it happened many times. It is a good flavour for us."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Although their teams had a fierce rivalry on the pitch due to the three title races they contested, Guardiola and Klopp always had a jovial relationship and showed the greatest of respect for each other.

    Guardiola felt City fully deserved to win the game. He added: "With 11 [Wolves] players in the penalty spot literally it is so difficult. The way we have done many years, the teams have decided to play in that way [against us]. But we were patient. They had some transitions, they have pace up front and physicality in the middle, they are so strong. But we were patient. Still we are who we are and that is so nice."

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    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

    Guardiola's side set a club record of 31 Premier League games unbeaten, last tasting defeat in December 2023 against Aston Villa. They turn their attention to the Champions League next, hosting Sparta Prague on Wednesday. Their next league game is on Saturday at home to Southampton, who are second-bottom.

Clement must cash in on Rangers star who earns more than Lammers

Glasgow Rangers face a summer filled with plenty of transfer activity as Philippe Clement looks set to totally rejuvenate a playing squad which failed to win either the Premiership or Scottish Cup last season.

It was perhaps no surprise to see the likes of James Tavernier and Connor Goldson fail to lift the club in the dying weeks of the season, having failed to inspire the Gers in recent years.

Connor Goldson and James Tavernier

Steven Gerrard remains interested in signing the duo this summer, and it could be a tempting prospect should an official bid actually arrive from the former Light Blues boss.

If Clement does sell the pair, it could be the catalyst which heralds in a fresh era at Ibrox. Others will be sold this summer too, with Sam Lammers one player who most certainly will be departing the club.

Why Rangers will sell Sam Lammers this summer

According to the Rangers Review at the end of last month, Lammers will be sold during the summer transfer window in order to raise funds for Clement.

Much was made of his arrival in June last year as Michael Beale looked to bolster his attacking options. Six months later, it looked as though it was £3m down the drain as the Dutchman had found the back of the net on just two occasions.

Sam Lammers for Rangers

The former Atalanta man was often played out of position as a number ten, which meant he failed to showcase his talents in front of goal, and it was clear he was surplus to requirements by Clement when January rolled around.

Indeed, no sooner had the window opened that Lammers joined FC Utrecht on a six-month loan spell in a bid to secure regular game time, and it proved to be a solid move for the player.

In just 20 games for the Dutch side, Lammers managed to net 11 goals while registering three assists as he looked comfortable in his homeland.

Not only will Rangers be looking to recoup the £3m they paid for him last year, but to also get his £18k-per-week wages off the bill in a bid to free up some funds.

He won’t be the only player to leave having spent a period out on loan last term, as Ianis Hagi’s future looks increasingly in doubt, especially after his latest comments.

Ianis Hagi’s future at Rangers

Hagi spent the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Spanish side Deportivo Alaves in a bid to recapture the form which made him a fan favourite at Ibrox prior to suffering a serious knee injury in 2022.

The Romanian played 28 times, scoring only twice as the loan spell failed to really ignite his confidence. He will return to Rangers at the end of Euro 2024, where he will represent his nation in Germany, but for how long?

He delivered an update on his future last week, saying: "My focus is on the Euros. I had talks with my agents and the pressure is on them.

"They know what I want for my future, it's a pretty important summer for me from all points of view. I told them before going to the national team what I wanted.

"I expect them to work as well as possible, to find the right team and the right manager for me. I can't say if I'll be at Rangers or somewhere else. My future depends on my agents."

This is hardly the comment of a player who is expecting to remain with his current side and if an offer arrives this summer, Clement may well cash in on the 25-year-old.

Ianis Hagi’s Rangers statistics

The 6 foot playmaker first joined the club in January 2020 on an initial six-month loan from Belgian side Genk, and he made an instant impact at Ibrox.

His brace against Braga in the Europa League last 16 clash will be fondly remembered among the Ibrox faithful as it allowed the Gers to turn a certain 2-0 defeat into a 3-2 win.

That summer, Steven Gerrard signed him on a permanent deal ahead of the 2020/21 season, one in which he shone. The Romanian scored eight goals and registered 15 assists as the club won their first league title in a decade, and it appeared as though Hagi had a bright future at Rangers.

Gerrard even dubbed Hagi an “absolute dream to work with” during that title-winning campaign, but things soon turned into a nightmare for the former Genk attacking midfielder.

Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.

In a Scottish Cup tie against Stirling Albion in January 2022, Hagi suffered an injury which has stalled his progress, keeping him out for around a year, and he hasn’t quite been the same since.

The 25-year-old – who earns £21k-per-week at Ibrox, more than Lammers – is a prime candidate to be sold this summer given how poor he was in La Liga, and it could give Clement some much-needed funds to work with in the transfer window.

The Belgian could save nearly £40k-per-week by moving on both Hagi and Lammers in the next few weeks. Considering that the manager is looking at signing younger talent ahead of the 2024/25 season, this could give the club some financial flexibility.

Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi.

That moment in January 2022 is certainly a sliding door moment for Hagi and his career since. If he doesn’t get injured, there is a good chance he plays a positive role in the club’s run to the Europa League final, potentially even making the difference against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Unfortunately, Hagi failed to really impress Beale during the Englishman’s spell in charge of the club, which led to him departing on loan.

Clement may decide that he will give the player a chance to impress during pre-season, yet it depends on how far Romania go in Euro 2024.

Bad news for Hagi: Rangers could land £1m dream Danilo partner

Rangers could sell Ianis Hagi this summer and replace him with a talented Mexican gem

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 14, 2024

The likelihood is that Hagi leaves the Light Blues. If he does, he will leave with the best wishes of everyone at the club.

'It's a sad indictment' – Phil Parkinson 'disappointed' by England's appointment of Thomas Tuchel as Wrexham boss bemoans lack of opportunities for homegrown coaches

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson believes the FA should have hired an English manager, calling Thomas Tuchel’s appointment a “sad indictment”.

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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Tuchel’s appointment as the new England head coach has been labelled a “sad indictment” by Parkinson, who believes English managers aren’t getting opportunities at the highest level of the game. Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were linked with the post vacated by Gareth Southgate, but the FA turned to former Chelsea boss Tuchel.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The German has signed an 18-month deal to lead England through the 2026 World Cup. Parkinson isn’t the only person to question the decision, with Jamie Carragher saying “it doesn’t feel right” that the role went to a foreign coach. Ultimately, the FA chose the manager they believe gives them the best opportunity to end England’s lengthy wait for World Cup glory.

  • WHAT PARKINSON SAID

    “Ideally, I would like an Englishman to manage England; I don’t think anyone would steer away from that," Parkinson told William Hill. "However, there wasn’t an obvious English candidate and I can understand why the FA made the decision to go with Thomas Tuchel. He’s managed in the Champions League, he’s got silverware to his name, and he’s been on the touchline in those top-end games, making key decisions when it matters most. I think he’ll be a good appointment, but everyone is a bit 50/50 between respecting that he’s a good manager and also being disappointed for the English managers.”

    The 56-year-old added: “Our coaching courses and St. George’s Park are revered around Europe and around the world. It’s a little bit of a sad indictment that we haven’t got enough English managers at the top end of the game. Eddie Howe is a good example, he’s got a really big job now with Newcastle. But there’s still not enough opportunities for English managers at the top level. Nothing is given to you in football, though, you’ve got to earn those jobs.”

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    WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

    Tuchel won’t take up his new position until January 1, with interim coach Lee Carsley overseeing England’s November fixtures. The first time that the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach will lead his new side in a match will be in March.

Erik ten Hag to 'retreat to Austrian hideaway' after Man Utd sacking with potential destination of next managerial job revealed

Erik ten Hag is likely headed to a retreat in Austria as he looks to unwind following his sacking as Manchester United manager.

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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Manchester United parted ways with Ten Hag earlier this week following the Red Devils' disappointing 2-1 loss to West Ham at London Stadium. The defeat meant that Ten Hag's side had only won four matches in their first 14 games of the season. He had been linked with a departure in the summer but was kept on by INEOS following the club's FA Cup victory. However, United are now set to sign Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim to serve as the Dutchman's replacement.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The now report that Ten Hag is 'expected to retreat to his Austrian hideaway' in the coming few days as he looks to recuperate after what was a gruesome few months to start the season. As he had signed a contract extension until 2026 over the summer, Ten Hag is expected to land around £15 million ($19m) in compensation.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    The report from the has suggested that despite his largely poor spell with United, Ten Hag is still seen as a 'strong' figure in Germany due to his successful two-year stint in the Bayern Munich setup. As such, a move to the Bundesliga could be on the cards for the Dutchman in the future.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

    The Red Devils are set to play their next three clashes under Ten Hag's assistant, legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, before Amorim's notice period with Sporting ends and he is able to join the club. United will be back in action when they take on Chelsea on Sunday.

Celtic star who lost the ball 17x was Scotland’s weak link v Switzerland

Scotland’s hopes of progressing to the last 16 at Euro 2024 are still intact, but only just after a tense encounter against Switzerland that finished 1-1.

The draw means a win against Hungary will put Scotland on four points, which could be enough to seal a place in the knockout stage – the first time ever for a Scottish side at a major tournament.

It wasn’t pretty, far from it, but it gives Steve Clarke’s men a fighting chance on Sunday in Stuttgart.

The level of performance was much better than what it was against Germany last Friday, but several players still need to improve massively for the third and final group game.

Anthony Ralston endured a nightmare on the opening night of the competition, and he wasn’t much better against the Swiss.

Anthony Ralston’s game in numbers vs Switzerland

The Celtic defender lost possession 11 times, completed just 15 of his 21 attempted passes and failed to even succeed with a dribble or make a key pass against the hosts in what was a dismal display during match day one.

It perhaps wasn’t much of a surprise to see Clarke unleash him in the same role on Wednesday night given the limited options available to him, but the first half of the game showcased his limitations.

Anthony Ralston's stats vs Switzerland

Accurate passes

16/27

Touches

51

Total duels (won)

15 (8)

Dribble attempts (successful)

1 (1)

Dribbled past

2

Possession lost

17

Error leading to goal

1

Via Sofascore

He was at fault for Xherdan Shaqiri’s stunning leveller after Scott McTominay opened the scoring for the Scots after just 13 minutes and was given a torrid time throughout.

He was given the lowest Sofascore rating out of the entire starting XI (6.3) along with completing just 59% of his passes (16/27) – eight fewer than goalkeeper Angus Gunn – taking 51 touches and losing possession a staggering 17 times during the match.

The right-back also won just 50% of his ground duels and was dribbled past twice. The question for Clarke now is, will he start him again on Sunday?

Players who could replace Anthony Ralston

The most realistic option would be Kieran Tierney. The Arsenal defender, however, had to be stretched off during the second half, and he will miss the tie against Hungary.

Ross McCrorie could be offered an opportunity at either right-back or right-wing back depending on the formation that Clarke goes with.

Of course, this is a massive gamble considering he has played a grand total of 90 minutes at international level, against Gibraltar no less, suggesting that throwing him in ahead of one of the most important matches Scotland have played this century could be a major risk.

Scotland

Hungary are currently bottom of the Group A table having suffered two defeats from two matches, yet they could still pose a key threat against Scotland on Sunday evening.

Clarke will need to summon up another positive performance, but he will be keen for his side to be more effective in front of goal, especially considering they had 12 shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Will Clarke break new ground for the nation? Or will it be a repeat of Morocco in 1998? Come Sunday evening, history could be made in Germany.

Euro 2024 Group A: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Everything you need to know about Germany, Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland ahead of Euro 2024.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Jun 9, 2024

Sky Sports: Man Utd and INEOS open talks with £60m star who’s at Euro 2024

Manchester United are believed to have opened talks with a £60m-rated Euro 2024 star ahead of a summer move to Old Trafford, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils simply must kick on after a disappointing 2023/24 season, even though it culminated in them winning the FA Cup after a superb victory over Manchester City in the final at Wembley. Erik ten Hag may need to improve in the Premier League after the backing from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, and fresh faces could be needed in order for his team to find another gear.

The United manager has reportedly personally held talks with Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, as they look to snap up the Dutchman ahead of next season. He could provide ideal competition for Rasmus Hojlund, who is still maturing as a player and can't be relied on to start every week.

Manchester United transfer target Joshua Zirkzee in action in Serie A.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte is another player who has been linked with a move to the Red Devils in the current transfer window, being seen as an ideal foil for Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park. The Uruguayan is thought to be keen on making the move to Old Trafford.

Centre-back is another position that clearly has to be improved upon at United this summer, too, and Barcelona ace Ronald Araujo is seen as a strong option to bring in, and an even better addition than Zirkzee. If he doesn't come in, at least one other central defender is required, following the exit of Raphael Varane, with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans arguably not representing elite options. Now, a new update has emerged regarding their pursuit of a player in that position.

Man United open talks with Euro 2024 star

Writing on X, the reliable Plettenberg claimed that Manchester United have now started talks with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt over a summer switch, with the Bundesliga giants wanting £60m for his signature:

"We’ve been told that Manchester United have opened talks about Matthijs de Ligt on player‘s side now! Understand that MUFC have gathered more information about the 24 y/o in recent days as he can leave Bayern with a suitable offer as revealed. De Ligt, ready to leave Bayern and open to join ManUtd as he will not become the central defender No. 4 or 5. Still no contact between the clubs yet."

De Ligt

De Ligt has the talent to be a great signing for United, even though his stock may have fallen slightly since emerging as a prodigiously talented teenager at Ajax, who he helped reach the Champions League semi-finals back in 2018/19.

Still only 24 years of age, the Dutchman has now won 45 caps for the Netherlands, and he is part of his country's squad at Euro 2024. Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has described him as a "monster", and he could be the perfect centre-back partner for Lisandro Martinez moving forward.

Matthijs de Ligt's 2023/24 Bundesliga stats

Total

Appearances

22

Starts

16

Goals

2

Assists

0

Clearances per game

2.4

Tackles per game

0.7

Pass completion rate

94%

There is a slight risk element in signing De Ligt, considering Bayern appear willing to sell him for a reason, but given his age, this feels more likely to be a success than signing an ageing player who is past his best – something United have done far too often in recent years.

Barcelona U-turn on decision to split from Nike & as they announce hugely lucrative new kit deal contract with sportswear giant

Barcelona have renewed their relationship with kit manufacturer Nike, as the terms of a massively lucrative new contract are revealed.

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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    After increasing speculation that Barcelona and Nike would end their relationship in 2028, when their current agreement expires, the club, on Saturday, announced that steps have now been taken to tie the two world-renowned corporations together for the next decade-and-a-half.

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  • WHAT BARCELONA SAID

    The official statement from the club read, "FC Barcelona and Nike, two leading brands in the sport industry, are pleased to announce a new start with a multi-year partnership agreement, starting effective this season, that brings a new collaborative strategic partnership model between the two organizations. This new partnership consolidates Nike as a Main Partner of the Club and Official Technical Partner across all professional and amateur teams, bringing a unique model that strengthens the brands association and fuels the global retail and licensing business growth. Nike has a key strategic role in the Club’s Retail Operations and together with Barça Licensing & Merchandising will join forces in the development of specific plans related to product creation, supply chain and global distribution.

    "FC Barcelona and Nike signed their first sponsorship agreement in 1998 and together they have shared a deep commitment to innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence, both on and off the pitch and experience extraordinary football in four different decades in which the Club has won 4 Champions Leagues, 12 league titles, 7 Copas del Rey, 3 World Club Cups, 3 European Super Cups amongst others. For their part, the Barça Women’s team have consolidated their position as a leader in women’s football, winning 9 league titles, 3 Champions Leagues and 9 Copas de la Reina in this span. In the Club’s four other professional teams, Barça has won 58 leagues, 25 European Cups, 47 Copas del Rey amongst others."

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Barcelona and Nike have been in partnership since 2000, in one of the longest club-kit manufacturer relationships in Europe's top five leagues. However, their relationship has not always been harmonious, and reports in March of this year stated that Barca president Joan Laporta had "terminated" the deal with the American sportswear giant.

    However, according to , Nike responded with a number of compromises that were enough to keep the contract intact, and have now negotiated their way to a hugely valuable, long-term contract.

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  • DID YOU KNOW?

    The reported contract includes a €158 million (£131m/$169m) signing bonus for Barcelona, which will be paid over the course of the 14-year agreement. The Catalan club are also set to make an extra €127m (£105m/$136m) on average per year from the agreement, adding up to around €1.7 billion (£1.4bn/$1.8bn) over the course of the contract.

    This new agreement has been reached after Barcelona were granted permission by Nike to go to market and assess their options. Puma made their interest concrete, submitting an official and binding offer. However, the Blaugrana forwarded the bid to Nike, and the response was a matching offer – removing the need to change manufacturer and avoiding the upheaval this would cause.

Spurs make contact for "unstoppable" £180k-p/w forward Conte wanted to sign

Tottenham have reportedly made contact to sign a player wanted by Antonio Conte during his time in north London in a move that could finally come to fruition under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs hunting additions

The lowest scorers in the Premier League's top seven sides last season, Spurs are on the looking for reinforcements to bolster Ange Postecoglou's ranks ahead of the new campaign.

They have already added two players, with Timo Werner re-joining the club on another loan from RB Leipzig after a successful six months in north London and Archie Gray arriving in a deal worth £30m from Leeds United.

But the Lilywhites are still keen to strengthen in attack before the new campaign kicks off, with the club back in the Europa League for the first time since the 2020/21 season.

Their next Kane: Spurs targeting 'one of the best strikers' in the world

Spurs could sign their best centre forward since Harry Kane.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 15, 2024

Postecoglou himself admitted that his frontline was an area requiring reinforcement earlier in pre-season: "You saw the way we finished the season. We obviously lost Richy and Timo as well with injuries but we're fairly light in that area.

"We started last season with Manor [Solomon] and [Ivan] Perisic and we were quite healthy in that front third in terms of numbers, but as the year went on it became pretty evident that we need to bulk up. We're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen."

Tottenham's options in attack

Player

PL Goals 23/24

Timo Werner

2

Heung-Min Son

17

Richarlison

11

Dejan Kulusevski

8

Manor Solomon

0

Brennan Johnson

5

Tottenham try for Conte target

Reports in Italy now claim that Spurs have made contact to try and sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa this summer. The Italian was one of the most highly-rated players in Europe but suffered a cruciate ligament tear in 2022 which he has struggled to recover from.

Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.

At the end of 2023, he was singled out for praise by former teammate and Azzurri icon Giorgio Chiellini, who labelled him "unstoppable" in a 1v1 situation.

"He's not the type of player that links the team, like a number 10, not a player that likes to have the ball and connect passes with team-mates, but one against one, he's unstoppable.

"We have to use that in the space, one against one, starting from the edge and trying to shoot or cross into good positions.

"That's the player that Chiesa is and that makes the difference. He would be good for Bayern, he would be good for Juventus and also many other teams all over Europe because these skills are unique and he's very good at that.

"He's maybe not able to do other things but in those skills, he's very, very, very good."

Conte was keen to sign the Italian back in 2022 but was priced out of a move for his services, but now Juventus are willing to let him leave cheaply.

Chiesa, who found the net 10 times last season for the Turin side, is entering the final 12 months of his £180,000 a week deal with the Old Lady. As a result, Juve are willing to let him leave for around 25m euros (£21m) according to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, with Tottenham having "made contact" over a potential move for the winger.

Roma and Chelsea are also both credited with an interest, but Chiesa has put the Italian side on hold as he eyes up a move to the Premier League, the report continues, with Chiesa keen to leave Italy.

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