Soccerpeddia

    Barca romped to the Liga title last season but after a number of exciting summer purchases will be looking to make an impact in Europe this term   Having reinforced their squad smartly over the summer,  Barcelona  will prove a formidable adversary to  Real Madrid , Atletico and any other challengers to their La Liga crown. While securing their 25th La Liga title and 30th Copa del Rey were huge positives from a 2017-2018 campaign that saw them go 36 games unbeaten in the league, there was still a sense of lingering disappointment about Ernesto Valverde's first term at the helm. Indeed, this stemmed from their shattering UEFA Champions League loss against AS  Roma  in the quarter-finals, where they remarkably blew a 4-1 first leg lead to bow out in a forgettable away leg in the Italian capital. So with this in mind, achieving big things in Europe will be a key target of the Catalan giants, as they'll look to well and tru...

The Barcelona president was asked about the Man Utd star following his side's Supercopa de Espana victory against Sevilla on Sunday Barcelona  president Josep Maria Bartomeu refused to discuss links with  Manchester United  star Paul Pogba, though he did leave the door open to a possible move before the transfer window shuts. La Liga champions Barca have emerged as strong suitors for  France  midfielder Pogba amid uncertainty over the World Cup winner's future at Old Trafford. Pogba – who wore the captain's armband and scored in United's Premier League season-opening 2-1 victory over Leicester City – has endured a strained relationship with manager Jose Mourinho and the Frenchman raised further doubts over his time in Manchester when he claimed he would be fined if he said what he wanted to following Friday's clash. While the Premier League window closed on August 9, Spanish clubs have until August 31 to complete deals. Asked abou...

The Argentine wizard now has more crowns than any other Blaugrana player in history, as he marked his first game as official captain with a win Lionel Messi became the most successful player in Barcelona in history on Sunday as he helped the Catalans to a thrilling Supercopa victory over Sevilla. The Argentine took the field for the first time since the World Cup to lead Barcelona in the traditional curtain-raiser, played overseas for the first time in Tangier, Tunisia  . And that lack of playing time seemed to take its toll on Messi and his team-mates early on, when Pablo Sarabia converted to give Sevilla the lead. Barca hit back, however, with Leo in the thick of the action as usual. The captain's free-kick rebounded via the woodwork into the path of Gerard Pique, who turned in to level the scores at the end of the first half. Ousmane Dembele later made it 2-1 with a thumping long-range finish, while Sevilla squandered a golden chance to equalise when Wissam Ben Y...

Lionel Messi has been named as the new captain of Barcelona following Andres Iniesta's departure from Camp Nou. The Argentina international, who already wears the armband for his country, takes over from Iniesta following his move to Vissel Kobe at the end of the 2017-18 campaign. Messi has skippered the Blaugrana on numerous occasions before having been the official vice-captain since 2015, but will now lead the Liga champions out on a permanent basis. Sergio Busquets takes over as vice-captain while Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto have joined the four-man leadership team, with the quartet all having come through La Masia before graduating to the first-team. Messi will be hopeful of lifting his first trophy as captain on Sunday as Ernesto Valverde's side take on Sevilla in the Spanish Supercopa. And with silverware having again evaded his grasp at international level during the World Cup, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be keen to be lifting more trophies over th...

  Stop moaning, start coaching Jose Mourinho has been urged by Tim Sherwood and Liam Rosenior to stop complaining about Manchester United's transfer policies and make the best out of the players he has. "I'm looking over at Man City and seeing what Guardiola is doing with Otamendi who didnt play anywhere near the level until Guardiola came in,” Rosenoir said. “Part of coaching is getting the best from your players and I need to see that from Manchester United.”     Benitez & Lascelles praise Newcastle business   Rafa Benitez and Jamaal Lascelles have joined managing director Lee Charley in penning a letter praising Newcastle's summer business. Benitez had been critical of the club earlier in the summer window but has since changed his tune, stating that he is happy with the Magpies' signings.   Perisic still hopeful of Modric signing.   Ivan Perisic has appeared to remain hopeful that Inter will sign Luka...

*Memphis Wants to Move to a Bigger Club* Memphis Depay has added weight to the rumours linking him with a move away from Lyon by expressing his desire to join "a bigger club". The 24-year-old, who signed for Lyon from Manchester United in January 2017 for an initial €16 million (£14m/$18.5m), is reportedly a target for AC Milan after a successful 2017-18 season at Groupama Stadium. Memphis scored 19 goals in 36 Ligue 1 appearances to help the club finish third and earn a return to the Champions League, but he is keen to leave Bruno Genesio's side and find success with one of Europe's top teams. "I'm happy at the moment," Depay told reporters after Lyon's International Champions Cup match against Chelsea. "Of course I want to make the step to a bigger club but we will see when that is." Memphis was disciplined by Lyon after failing to report for pre-season training on time, leading to increased speculation over his future. *Witsel T...

  Dane in the frame to replace Modric Real Madrid have made Christian Eriksen their top transfer target should they lose Luka Modric to Inter, according to  The Mirror . They face a fight to retain the services of the 32-year-old Croatia international, who was the Golden Ball winner at the World Cup. President Florentino Perez has said he will not be allowed to depart for less than his €750 million release clause, but is lining up a move for Eriksen. Spurs' inability to find a replacement, however, could prove problematic.

The Blues are on the verge of completing the signing of the Athletic Club goalkeeper, with their Belgian No.1 heading to Real Madrid   Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga having activated the goalkeeper's €80 million (£71m/$92m) release clause. The player's representatives and lawyers travelled to La Liga headquarters in Valencia to pay the fee, with Kepa now due to travel to London to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms. Athletic confirmed that the release clause had been paid on Wednesday, issuing a statement that read: "The player Kepa Arrizabalaga has met the requirements for the valid unilateral termination of the contract that linked him to Athletic Club.   "The aforementioned certification indicates that the player has expressed his desire to terminate and unilaterally resolve the relationship that had joined him with the club since the 2004-05 season and that the amount of the compensation established in t...

The goalkeeper had been unsettled at Stamford Bridge and will now return to the Spanish capital, with a World Cup finalist moving the other way   Chelsea have confirmed the sale of Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, with Mateo Kovacic coming to Stamford Bridge as part of the deal. Courtois has been at the west London club since 2011, and wrested the No. 1 jersey from club favourite Petr Cech after shining during a loan spell with Atletico Madrid as a youngster. In recent months, however, the Belgian has become increasingly unsettled, while he has long been linked with a return to the Spanish capital where he spent three sparkling seasons. And he will now line up at the Champions League holders after Madrid agreed a reported €35m (£31m/$40m) fee that will also see Kovacic spend a year on loan in London. "Chelsea and Real Madrid have tonight agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Thibaut Courtois subject to the agreement of personal terms and passing ...

Smalling targets Man United stay   Chris Smalling intends to be part of Manchester United’s future despite seeing the club heavily linked with the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire. Jose Mourinho is back in the market for centre-half additions having brought in Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof during the last two summers, but Smalling hopes he can stick with the club for the long term.   Pep: Sterling still wanted by City   Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Manchester City still want Raheem Sterling despite drawn out contract talks. "There's no doubt we want him. He knows, his agent knows. We want him," the manager said of his young winger.   Emery expects more exits than additions at Arsenal   Unai Emery has suggested that Arsenal’s recruitment business is done, with departures more likely than arrivals before Thursday’s deadline. Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis Papastatho...

The defender's move to Old Trafford appears to be dead while long-reported suitor Everton has also pulled out   Yerry Mina has been left without a Barcelona exit route after a transfer to Manchester United has collapsed with the Red Devils nearing a move for Toby Alderweireld. The Colombia international has been in the market for a move away from the La Liga champions all summer after a disappointing time at the club following his midseason arrival. Mina failed to break into Ernesto Valverde’s plans, playing just five times in the league after his January move from Palmeiras   Despite a strong World Cup performance that saw him score three goals in Russia, the defender has been pushed further down the Barca depth chart with the arrival of Clement Lenglet. A move to Everton had long been thought to be in the cards, but Mina had emerged as a target for Manchester United in recent days as the  Red Devils looked for an alternative after Le...

The Chilean midfielder will sign a three-year contract with the Blaugrana and have a medical to complete his move after the clubs agreed a fee   Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich on a three-year contract. The 31-year-old is set to complete his move following a medical over the coming days, in  a deal understood to be worth in the region of €20 million (£18m/$23m) . While Inter and Milan were also offered his services, Barcelona have now closed the deal for Chilean star. "FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Arturo Vidal," read a statement on Barca's official website. "The agreement with Arturo Vidal is for the next three seasons and is pending medical review that the player will pass in the coming days. "FC Barcelona will soon inform of the arrival of the player and the agenda of the presentation." Vidal had reportedly already agreed to return to Se...

Hart closing on £4m Burnley move   Keeper set to leave Man City permanently Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is closing in on a £4 million transfer to Burnley, reports  The Sun . Injuries to Nick Pope and Tom Heaton have left Burnley looking for a new keeper and they have lined up a deal for Hart. The England international is now due to undergo a medical ahead of finalising his move to Turf Moor.   West Ham back in for Bernard   West Ham are back in the race to sign former Shakhtar Donetsk winger Bernard, reports  The Guardian . Bernard is available on a free transfer after leaving Shakhtar, with the Brazil international also wanted by Chelsea and AC Milan. His £200,000-a-week contract demands had initially put West Ham off a deal, but the Premier League club are now considering an approach amid reports Bernard is ready to lower his demands.   Guardiola: City only want special signings Pep Guardiola admits to stil...

Barcelona and Sevilla have reached an agreement for the transfer of Aleix Vidal,  Sport  reports. The Spanish outlet claims the teams have been negotiating for weeks and have finally struck an accord on a deal worth somewhere in the region of €8.5 million (£7.5m/$10m), plus €2m in variables. The full-back is now expected to leave Barcelona's tour of the United States, while, coincidentally, Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal is set to travel to Catalunya.

The Red Devils are unwilling to pay £75m for either of the Premier League pair, and may end up landing the Colombia international instead   Manchester United have turned their attention to Yerry Mina after deeming Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire too expensive. The Red Devils have been looking to upgrade the centre-back position this summer, and identified the Tottenham and Leicester City defenders as their top two options. But it was reported last week that  United were put off the chase for Maguire after Leicester demanded a sum in excess of £75 million  ($99m) for the 25-year-old. Spurs are also asking for at least £75m for Alderweireld, a figure United are similarly unwilling to pay. With time and their available funds both presenting issues, Jose Mourinho's side have been forced to look toward the 23-year-old Barcelona defender instead of their preferred duo. Mina has been offered to United and with the clock ticking ahead of the August 9 tra...

While he had initially been linked to Inter, the Chilean could now line up at Camp Nou after being offered to the Liga champions   Arturo Vidal is close to becoming Barcelona's latest arrival in the summer transfer market, with the Blaugrana set to snap up the Bayern Munich star for less than €20 million (£17.8m/$23.2m). The Catalans have already landed Brazilian pair Arthur, from Gremio, and Malcom,  the latter coming despite first agreeing a move to Roma from Bordeaux . Clement Lenglet has also arrived at Camp Nou from Sevilla , while Barca are also bolstered by Rafinha's return after a loan spell with Inter. And while Inter had reportedly agreed a deal with Bayern's Chile midfielder , Barca could once more jump in to hijack the move.  It c an be confirm that Vidal has been offered to the Blaugrana by his agent, Fernando Felicevich. While Inter and Milan were also offered his services, Barcelona have shown great interest in the star and have ...

Manchester United have cooled their interest in Leicester defender Harry Maguire and turned their attentions to Barcelona's Yerry Mina. It was  reported last week that United had made an approach to sign Maguire, who they value at £65m, but Leicester are adamant the central defender will not be sold. It now looks like Maguire will stay at King Power Stadium. Leicester are expected to open talks over an improved contract in the coming weeks. It is though United could seal the deal for Mina from Barcelona for as little as £30m, just seven months after they signed him from Brazilian club Palmeiras for £10m Mina but has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp after struggling for a place in Ernesto Valverde's starting XI appearing just four times in La Liga. He was more successful at the World Cup this summer, where he scored three goals in as many games for Colombia - including the last minute equa...

Napoli prepare fresh Damian bid   Napoli are preparing a fresh bid for Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian, according to the  Daily Mail . The Serie A outfit want to take the Italy international on loan but have already had one offer knocked back by the Red Devils. Should they fail with their second bid then they will turn their attentions towards signing Tottenham full-back Serge Aurier.   Bournemouth closing in on Lerma Bournemouth are in advanced talks over a club-record move for Levante midfielder Jefferson Lerma, according to  Sky Sports . The Colombia international, who handed in a transfer request last week, is closing in on a move to the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries are set to pay £27 million ($35.4m) to bring him to the Premier League.   Stoke want Williams on loan   Stoke City are in talks to sign Everton defender Ashley Williams on loan, according to  BBC Sport . The Wales international struggled f...