Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Angel Di Maria and Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona have reportedly had a bid rejected for Paris Saint-Germain schemer Angel Di Maria, even supposing financial fair play concerns may force Les Parisiens to sell.

Despite the occurrence, liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho remains Barca's prime target ahead of Di Maria. The Blaugrana square measure even planning a fourth bid for Brazil international Coutinho.

Another offer for Coutinho is sensible since PSG rejected a £32.4 million bid for Di Maria, according to Spanish publication AS (h/t Tom Bodell of soccer Whispers, via Sky Sports).

Whether Barca and PSG, whose relations are frosty since the Neymar transfer, might strike a deal for Di Maria is another matter. The 29-year-old attacking midfielder would be an excellent work at the Camp Nou despite previously taking part in for the Blaugrana's bitterest rivals, Real madrid.

At his best, Di Maria is a creative talisman within the final third. He possesses aptitude, guile and pace from both the flanks and central areas.
Di Maria would be an ideal match because the chief provider for fellow Argentina international Lionel Messi and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez.

However, no one is convinced Barca's interest in Di Maria is real. Catalan source Ara believes the Camp Nou club is acting interested in the player to do to force down Liverpool's asking price for Coutinho (h/t James Benson of the Daily Star).

Liverpool have remained steadfast in their refusal to sell Coutinho, however that hasn't deterred barcelona. The Blaugrana square measure "prepared to stay making an attempt so as to do to force through a move," per Mundo Deportivo (h/t Bodell).

In fact, Barca are ready to make a fourth bid for Liverpool's No. 10, value £138 million, according to another report from Solhekol.

Landing Di Maria or Coutinho would facilitate barcelona offset the loss of Neymar. The club would also be able to make up for the dwindling inventive influence of the 33-year-old Andres Iniesta.

Di Maria would be the cheaper and more experienced possibility, however doing a deal with liverpool could also be easier than negotiating with PSG following the Neymar saga.

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Conte's selection questions for Everton as Chelsea build momentum

Chelsea welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with no one knowing quite what to expect. Losing 3-2 at home to a Burnley facet that won just the once on the road last season was by no means in the script for the defending champions. providing debacle, it had been nearly as stunning to see the Blues visit Tottenham and defeat a team that went the full of the previous campaign undefeated on their own patch.


The success at Wembley was predicated on the momentum gained from the second half performance on the opening day even though it absolutely was a different form of display. The aim should so be to keep up the current trajectory against Ronald Koeman's men with a cohesive and intelligent approach from back to front.

After the strange look to the side that took on Spurs, the team that starts on Sunday ought to be a lot of recognizable. Despite his middle role, David Luiz can almost certainly return to defence, which is able to leave Antonio Conte to choose whether or not to retain Antonio Rudiger or Andreas Christensen.

 The young Dane has been the a lot of spectacular performing artist of the 2 however is that the junior man and would need to be affected from the central position that Luiz has created his own. it'd be encouraging to examine Christensen given the nod aboard the Brazilian, however, with ability being an important plus whereas learning from the person presently in possession of the sweeper role would even be priceless.

One call that must sure enough be a simple one for the manager to create is to give Alvaro Morata a second consecutive start. The club record language hardly lit up wembley last weekend and was blameworthy of a fearful early miss although his assimilation into Chelsea and English soccer is just aiming to return by spending precious time on the pitch.


But while Everton are sensible, they are not nearly as dangerous as pep Guardiola's side. Chelsea can therefore be comfortable taking the game to their opponents just like the champions they're.

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Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Real Madrid this month

Cristiano Ronaldo might leave Real Madrid before the tip of the month, a source close to the player has unconcealed.

Ronaldo is presently serving a five-match ban for his crabby reaction to being sent off within the 1st leg of the Supercopa de espana this month - a choice he branded 'incomprehensible' earlier in the week.

"For now, he’s simply concentrating on playing," the source was quoted as expression in the Manchester Evening News.

"He is angry concerning the five-game ban, however he's working just as hard with the team. However, we have a tendency to cannot guarantee whether or not he can keep or leave.

A come to Manchester United is believed to be the foremost possible destination for the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

But Mourinho has claimed any attempts to try to bring Ronaldo back to old Trafford eight years once he left in an £80 million deal would constitute “mission impossible” which he would be doing United a ill service by asking the club’s hierarchy to pursue a deal.

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Barcelona left behind? How Real Madrid became the superior side

The title race might have gone right right down to the wire last season however, once Real Madrid's Spanish Super Cup success last week, it already feels like there's an enormous gap gap up between Real Madrid and port.

Even the port players admit it. contemplate what Gerard Pique had to mention once his side's 5-1 mixture defeat within the Super Cup.

"In the 9 years that I even have been here, it's the primary time that I feel inferior to Real Madrid."

Of course, Spanish capital be nice credit for their success. Winning 3 Champions League trophies in four seasons could be a testament to their qualities. However, the sensation persists that port have contend a giant half during this La Liga power shift.

Look back to 2015 and Barca were those in a very position of strength. They were champions of Europe having won the treble.

But that convert Juventus was Xavi's last game for the club and Pedro was oversubscribed in August despite them being unable to field any new signings till Gregorian calendar month. Aleix Gore Vidal and Advanced Research and Development Activity Turan did arrive however had to take a seat out till the winter break.

Last summer additional cash was spent on Andre Gomes, prophet Umtiti, George Lucas Digne, opaque gem Cillessen and Paco Alcacer. Some have shown promise however none have really taken the team forwards.

Real Madrid's 2015 business appeared ordinary however has tried necessary.

Casemiro came from port on loan. film writer Vazquez was bought back from Espanyol for €1m. Marco Asensio - whose move from Mallorca went through that summer - was loaned out and came a stronger player in 2016.

While Danilo and Alvaro Morata have since been bought and sold-out on, Real sanely preserved Isco and therefore the result's that they need a lot of choices. the facility of Casemiro, the thrust of Asensio and therefore the power of Isco, likewise because the passing of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

And that's all while not mentioning the B-B-C.

This is necessary. Cristiano Ronaldo remains a key player at Real Spanish capital and he scored twenty five goals in La Liga last season.

But the Super Cup success showed the team doesn't deem him anyplace close to the maximum amount as port deem Lionel Messi.
Messi was La Liga's prime scorer last season with thirty seven goals. the matter is that the team doesn't operate while not him. Barcelona lost 2 of the six games they'd to play while not Messi. It value them the title.

In distinction, Zinedine Zidane's Real capital of Spain won all 9 of the matches they contend while not Ronaldo.

After losing to Real capital of Spain last week, Pique aforementioned the team should keep approximate and keep moving forward. however ar they very moving forward?

The team is obtaining more and more weaker defensively. Barcelona a lot of} conceded more goals throughout Luis Enrique's 3 years accountable.

There ar problems in midfield too. Andres Iniesta's injury issues counsel that not an excessive amount of ought to be expected of him, however where is his successor?

La Masia has thus typically crammed these gaps within the past however it's currently Madrid's youth system that seems to be the more practical.

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