LIVERPOOL FC 4 FC BARCELONA 0 | (4-3 AGG) CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINAL RESULT

Historical night of UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Football & for English Club LIVERPOOL FC after managing to turn around the semi-final from an away 0 - 3 aggregate deficit to a hammering 4 - 0 victory over FC BARCELONA at Anfield. The final result is a 4-3 aggregate semi-final ticket for Liverpool FC which goes onto the Madrid Champions League Final against tomorrow's winner from the Ajax-Tottenham semi.

Everything was against Liverpool FC, a deficit of 3 goals from the 1º leg game plus injuries to star players SALAH & FIRMINO. Coach Klopp put forward the above starting 11 with huge pressure on lesser names like ORIGI & SHAQIRI.

FC BARCELONA put forward their starting 11 which was basically the same team as in the 1º st leg match. They felt confident, but as we were to witness the ghost of the past & of AC ROMA returned to hover over them again tonight.

LIVERPOOL FC had a clear plan, take the initiative, pressure up front, force mistakes & pull from emotion. This latter part was supplied by the home crowd which was their 12th man tonight with non-stop chanting & support. The dream become a possible reality when a Jordi Alba mistake lead to the Liverpool FC opener through ORIGI in the 7th min.

Liverpool FC looked for more goals but their overzealous adventures upfront nearly cost them goals. But there was - for me - the MAN OF THE MATCH, Liverpool goalkeeper ALISSON who made 4 crucial & match turning saves tonight, three of them in the 1st half.

The first 45 min ended with Barça controlling the best they could the English "fire" & it seemed they would continue to do so in the 2ºnd half. However, all to the contrary, LIVERPOOL overran Barça with two quick goals - again Barça defensive mistakes - through substitute GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM in the 54th & 56nd min. Liverpool suddenly had their dream in their hands as FC Barcelona were rattled & seeing the nightmare of AC ROMA returning to haunt them again.

Barça Coach Valverde reacted making changes by putting on Semedo for Coutinho, moving Sergi Roberto into midfield & taking off Barça´s best until then ARTURO VIDAL for Arthur.
Then the miracle appeared from a corner that could all the Barça defense wrong footed finding ORIGI alone to hammer home his 2nd & the 4th for Liverpool FC in the 79th min. The English Club  was now winning the semifinales tie & had a foot in the upcoming final.

Liverpool FC then held their winning advantage with tooth, nails & blood holding off Barça in their desperate attacks until the referee finally blew the whistle to give Liverpool the victory. Absolutely historical achievement for Liverpool FC, a night they will never forget.

As for Barcelona a disaster. There worst match possible with the big names disappearing at the crucial moments. Too many defensive errores, especially Alba, & perhaps a bit too much overconfidence coming into this match. With their elimination Spanish Football loses their only representative which is a big negative after so many years of European domination. 

FINAL RESULT: LIVERPOOL FC 4 - FC BARCELONA 0 | LIVERPOOL WINS SEMIFINAL ON A 4-3 AGGREGRATE RESULT

Congratulations to Liverpool FC, good luck in the upcoming Champions League Final.

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID 3 - LIVERPOOL FC 1 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Spanish Football Club REAL MADRID CF defeated 3 - 1 LIVERPOOL FC in the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2018 Final in Kiev tonight. Real Madrid continues to make history with their 13th European Cup Title & their third consecutive Champions League, something never done before by a Club under the version of Champions League.

The final had some crucial moments we will discuss later, & an unexpected protagonist in Welshman & Real Madrid forward GARETH BALE. The player was left out of the initial line-up & was visibly affected by the decision of his Coach Zidane. However, Zidane substituted Isco for Bale in the 60th min & the Welshman turned the match around to give Real Madrid the edge & the eventual victory. Plus he was awarded MVP for only 30 minutes of play!

The second goal of Real Madrid in the 64th min by BALE was a spectacular overhead goal that blew the room off the stadium. His goal is currently exploding online & on TV around the World as it was brilliant. Gareth Bale then repeated putting his team further ahead & in the 83rd min he took the initiative to attempt a long range shoot which saw how Liverpool goalkeeper KARIUS fumbled & allowed the ball into the net. A terrible mistake that will haunt Karius for a long time, but an important 3rd goal that shut the door for Liverpool & secured the victory for Real Madrid

Earlier in the 51st min Karius again made another dreadful mistake to allow BENZEMA to tap in the first Real Madrid goal when the Liverpool goalkeeper was passing the ball to his team-mate defender. Benzema reacted quickly and managed to stick his foot between the goalie pass & score the goal. 

The Liverpool FC goalkeeper Karius has a nightmare game, but the unfortunate other incident was the injury to star Liverpool FC SALAH in the 25th min. A disputed ball with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos saw both players locked & in the fall Salah dislocated his arm. The Liverpool forward could not continue & this broke the whole Liverpool game plan which up to this point had Real Madrid struggling & on the back foot. Liverpool lost their main reference upfront & never found again the groove allowing Real Madrid to regroup & regain control of their Football.

However, Liverpool bravely continued to pressure & was rewarded with their only goal in the 55th min when MANE equalized after the Benzema opener. Mané later hit the post & Liverpool FC created some good opportunities, but Real Madrid also grew stronger in the later part & also hit the bar (Isco) & had many goal opportunities. 

A deserved victory by Real Madrid & an excellent & brave performance from Liverpool FC who showed their spirit. 

To end, the celebrations brought a "Bomb Announcement" when CRISTIANO RONALDO was interviewed. Questioned about his future, the Portuguese 5 time Champions League winner answered that shortly he will announce his future & the it WAS wonderful to have PLAYED with Real Madrid. The past tense response has oponed up all types of speculations that has Media interpreting this as a possible "Goodbye". No doubt we will be hearing more in coming weeks.

To end, the other big winner is SPANISH FOOTBALL with Spanish Team Atletico de Madrid EUROPE LEAGUE Champions & Real Madrid Champions League winners.

Tweet

Share

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE | SEVILLA FC CHAMPIONS

Spanish Football Club Sevilla FC won its 3rd consecutive UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE Final & its 5th Europa League Championship after defeating English Club Liverpool 1 - 3 tonight. Extraordinary feat for any Club & maintains Spanish Football at the top of the European Football powers. 

The Final in Basilea had two parts, the first half went to Liverpool FC which opened the scoring through Sturridge in the 35th min, while the 2º half was for Sevilla FC which scored three goals. The moment that broken the game in favour of the Spaniards was the "psychlogical" goal scored in the 46th min by Gamiero who equalized for Sevilla FC.

The equalizer lifted the spirits of the Spaniards, while doubts came into the minds of the English side. Slowly Sevilla FC took control through their ever-present & influential midfielder Banega, & began to create goal opportunities.

Sevilla FC Captain Coke then became protagonist scoring in the 64th min & again in the 70th min to take his team onward. The rest of the match had the Spaniards controlling things & keeping Liverpool FC at bay & away from danger. 

Congratulations to Liverpool for being a worthy finalist & Sevilla FC for another European Title.

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID & LIVERPOOL FC SHARE SOME COMMON INTERESTS

Luciano Vietto is exploding this season in Spanish Football. The 21 year old Argentine forward with Villarreal is scoring goals & has become an important piece in his teams set-up. The youngsters 2º half performance against Real Madrid last Sunday caught the eye of Club Directives, so much so, that the players agent Jorge Cysterpiller has gone public saying that Real Madrid likes his player.

The youngster has a contract release clause of 10M€, relatively accessible for the big Clubs like Real which is combing the market for a player to complement-substitute Karim Benzema. The current player doing this at Madrid, "Chicharito", is not up to the standards desired by the technical team. Vietto may enter the profile that is desired.

However, Real Madrid is not the only Club following Vietto. From England news comes that Liverpool FC is very keen on the young Argentine & could be a serious competitor in a "signing war"

Staying at Real Madrid news from England hints that Liverpool FC has Asier Illaramendi in its agenda for next season. The young midfielder has lost the confidence of Coach Ancelotti in favour of new signing Lucas Silva & may have the door open to find new opportunities. 

In both cases very early days still & both are just speculation. Will be interesting to keep an eye on developments in the coming months.

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID - AT BILBAO - ILLARAMENDI CONNEXION

The "Winter Transfer Market" has shut for Spanish Football. The figures indicate that around 45M€ (+/-) have been spent by Clubs to strengthen their squads. However, while we will see soon all the new faces in action in upcoming Liga games, there is one name that has been mysterious, Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illaramendi, who most thought would end up at Athletic Club Bilbao. The reality is, he will line-up today with Real Madrid against his old Club Real Sociedad. 

Local Football observers acknowledge that Athletic Club Bilbao made a 24M€ offer for Illaramendi. The youngster is not being a regular at Real Madrid were his position is highly contested, & to add, Real Madrid has signed 21 year old Brazilian Lucas Silva. The Real Madrid Directives looked favourably in selling to Bilbao & recouping some of the 32M€ plus investment, apart from filtering a "non-existent" Arsenal FC offer to spice up things. So what happened?

1. Asier Illaramendi said NO. He simply did not wish to move, especially to the eternal rival of his beloved Real Sociedad,
2. Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti did not wish to sell, or at least face the rest of the upcoming season without a player that will help in case of emergencies.

Said this, the future of Asier Illaramendi is still uncertain at Real Madrid. He may have avoided this first sell attempt but things indicate that he may face a similar situation at the end of the season. This time the Club which is really interested is English Club Liverpool FC & they are expected to "pressure" this summer.

Will Illara say yes this time around ? Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

LIVERPOOL FC INTERESTED IN DANI ALVES OF FC BARCELONA ?

Brazilian International & FC Barcelona right-back Dani Alves has been in the news in past season for everything apart from his Football. Outspoken (more a foot in the mouth personality) & a aficionado of outrageous fashion, the personality of the Footballer has worn thin the Barça fans & Club Directives. 

The player was "cocky" enough to say that he had plenty of offers & that Paris St Germain would most likely be his next destination before flying of to Brazil for the World Cup. His prediction has fallen through & Alves finds himself back at Barcelona with his tail between his legs ready to start pre-season with a Club & Coach that do not count with him for next season. 

However, English Football Club Liverpool FC may solve the upcoming problem for Barça. According to English media sources Liverpool FC could have made an offer to FC Barcelona for Dani Alves. The English Club knowing that Barça does not wish to keep the Brazilian has made a 6M€ offer which beforehand is very low but understandable under the circumstances Alves & Barça find themselves in. The other "floating" option is the speculated interest from another English Premier League Club Arsenal FC.

Lastly, allow me to remind you that the player wanted by FC Barcelona for the right-back position is Colombian International & Fiorentina player Cuadrado. The price has been put around 50M€ by the Italian Club, & although high for Barça the player has not been discarded.

Stay tuned, Liverpool could have soon a new "fashion trend setter".

Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA ANNOUNCE LUIS SUAREZ SIGNING

FC Barcelona has announced officially that the Spanish Football Club has come to an agreement with English Premier League Club Liverpool FC to transfer Uruguayan International forward Luis Suarez. The player needs to pass the regular medical exam & could be presented in Barcelona as soon as next week. 

The 27 year old player signs for the next 5 years with Barça & the Club communicates that the transfer fee is 81M€ (others say 75M€). However English sources differ & comment that the figure could be more than 90M€. FC Barcelona is creating suspicion with its differing figures, as everyone still remembers that Neymar transfer. Back then, Barça said one thing & the official figures said something much higher & totally different. The "gap" caused indirectly the resignation of Barça President Sandro Rosell.

If Luis Suarez cannot change his FIFA suspension of 4 months (& from all Sporting fields), the forward will not be able to do pre-season with his new Club & would only then be active Football wise at the end of October.

Welcome Luis Suarez to Spanish Football!

Tweet

Share

LOOKING FOR A STRIKER | FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID CF

Leaving aside the Luis Suarez "biting incident" & his severe FIFA sanction, the news is that FC Barcelona remains interested in signing the Uruguayan striker. The Barcelona based Spanish Sports papers are very adamant that Luis Suarez has given his OK to FC Barcelona & that the latter now only needs to begin negotiations with Liverpool FC. Barça from their end wish to take advantage of the Luis Suarez "biting rage" & force Liverpool to lower their initial asking price of around 85M€ to around 50M€. The Spanish Football Club feels that Liverpool FC is in a "must sell" phase after Suarez sank his teeth into Italian defender Chiellini.

However, other Football observers claim that Luis Suarez is NOT the Nº1 priority of FC Barcelona for their forward line. It is claimed that Napoli & Argentine International Gonzalo Higuain is the main target. It is claimed that Barça retired Captain - & now Club Nº2 Football Director - Carles Puyol shut an agreement with Higuain weeks back, & that it was now a case between Clubs to negotiate. Plus, Coach Luis Enrique & Club Directives want to keep Messi "happy" after losing "best mate" Pinto & Cesc Fabregas, with his current Argentine team-mate.

Luis Suarez, with this news piece, is the alternative for Barcelona, & some Club Directives are questioning the signing option with all the fracas associated with Suarez.  

The other option for Luis Suarez to play in Spanish Football is Real Madrid. The Spanish Football Club is patiently watching events as their main objective is to renew the contract of Karim Benzema. The Club is satisfied with their current forward line-up of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale & Benzema (the BBC). There is talk that Alvaro Morata may leave for Juventus FC & if so Real Madrid may sign a "young talent" instead of a consolidated striker. 

It is rumoured that neither Coach Ancelotti nor Cristiano Ronaldo feel comfortable with the possible arrival of Luis Suarez as his inclusion may ruffle feathers at the dressing room level. Said this a new forward has entered the picture - again - in the name of Monaco & Colombian International Radamel Falcao. 

Falcao seems to be confident that Real Madrid will make an effort this summer to sign him for next season. It has been written that Falcao has told Colombian (squad) friends that he is really close to Real Madrid for next season. 

In any case,  there is plenty of time to shut all these deals. I would think that the mayor Clubs will allow time to expire & thus make nervous players & their respective Clubs. Once nerve set in, the pretending Clubs can better leverage their position & bargaining strength to get their way.

Stay tuned, very interesting weeks ahead for Higuain, Suarez & Falcao.

Tweet

Share

THE LUIS SUAREZ BITING INCIDENT A PLAN TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL FC?

Everyone knows that Uruguayan International & Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez wants to leave English Football. Football insiders comment that Suarez included a "listen to offers" clause on his renovated contract with Liverpool last year precisely to allow his wanted exit.

There is one place that Luis Suarez wants to play, & that is in Spanish Football. The only two Clubs that the Liverpool FC forward aims at are Real Madrid CF & FC Barcelona. The former has shown interest but is debating about Karim Benzema & if Suarez is really needed. Real Madrid is currently in tough negotiations with Benzema to renew contract & perhaps right now is not the best moment to make a move on another forward. FC Barcelona has thus taken advantage of the "vacuum" left by Real Madrid & has approached Suarez showing interest to sign him for next season. The "big brake" is the 85M€ transfer figure that Liverpool FC places on their player, thus Barça wants to included players like Pedro, Tello & Alexis into the operation.

In Barcelona the local press are already claiming that Luis Suarez has given his OK to FC Barcelona, however other Football insiders claim that the real desire of the player is Real Madrid CF & Suarez maybe pressuring the latter to finally make a move & get out of the shadows to proclaim their interest. 

Whatever the real reasons or negotiation strategies going on, the 85M€ price figure is a serious handicap for Luis Suarez & both Real Madrid & Barça have the advantage to wait until the 30th of August to make a move if they decide to do it.

But what about the "biting incident" with Italian defender Chiellini? It´s the third time, a repeated "disgusting" & unsportsmanlike behaviour that has capture the Worlds attention & seriously blemished the reputation of the player. Obviously, the mentioned Spanish Football Clubs will now reconsider if Luis Suarez is a risk, in fact FC Barcelona has already discussed this issue internally. 

But there maybe another explanation, a far fetched theory that although unlikely due to its risks cannot be discarded. What if the "biting incident" was "planned" to ease & accelerate his exit from English Football & from Liverpool FC. The reaction to the Suarez-Chiellini biting incident has been savage in the UK with hard criticism from the media, Football players & general public opinion. Liverpool FC now sees Luis Suarez as a "problem" for next season & are more receptive to help in the players exit than to hold on to & extend possible negotiations. Another season of English Football for Luis Suarez would be unbearable, thus an exit is now a certainty. 

Will all this lower that initially asked 85M€ by Liverpool FC? If both Real Madrid CF & FC Barcelona wait, it may well force a lowering of price to get the player out of England & Liverpool FC as soon as possible. A far fetched theory? 

I leave it for your thought & realise its "risk level" makes it unlikely. Apart it is very Machiavellian & I doubt that Luis Suarez or his representative (the brother of Bayern Munich Coach Pep Guardiola) would have the nerve to think it. But what about the pretending Clubs? As an idea?

While the Football World awaits the FIFA decision on Luis Suarez, what the "incident" in itself has achieved is to guarantee that the Uruguayan will not be in England next season, nor will he be playing at Liverpool FC. The Football asset for Liverpool FC has now become a "hot potato"  & Real Madrid CF & FC Barcelona know it.

LATEST: FIFA has just handed in an exemplary sanction for Luis Suarez:

• 9 match suspension
• 4 months banned from any World Football field
• 80.000€ fine

This could halt any idea of being signed by Real Madrid & FC Barcelona, as the Club that signs Suarez cannot count on his services until November.

Uruguay will appeal the FIFA decision.

If the above Luis Suarez "biting action" was a plan it has backfired enormously. The "X-File" theory goes out the window. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

LIVERPOOL FC SECURES DEFENDER ALBERTO MORENO OF SEVILLA FC

Sevilla FC & Spanish International left-back defender Alberto Moreno has come to an agreement with English Premier League Club Liverpool FC to fly over to join the Club as of next season. The 22 year old Spanish Football promise will soon sign a 5 year contract with "the Reds" with the transfer valued around the 22M€ mark. Insiders say that the player will next week be on his way to Liverpool to pass the habitual medical checks while both Sevilla FC & Liverpool FC settle the fine details of the transfer agreement. 

The youngster has already played 3 full Internationals matches with Spain & is destined to be a regular in the future. The player has been linked to Spanish Football giant Real Madrid for months as he was seen as the substitute of Portuguese Coentrao. However, Coentrao has put in a "cracker" last end of the season & has convinced the Real Madrid technical team, leading the Club to renew-extend his contract this week. This event has liberated Alberto Moreno & Liverpool has swooped in to secure the defender.  

As always, best to wait until both Clubs involved make an official announcement. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID PREPARING A 85M€ OFFER FOR LUIS SUAREZ?

The news out from the UK, concretely the English newspaper "Mirror", is an echo of what has also been sounding here in Spain for months. The UK source informs that Spanish Football Club Real Madrid is preparing a 85M€ offer for Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez. This has been a constant rumour locally which has never gone away since last summer. This time around the speculation keeps growing in strength.

It is also added that to finance the operation Real Madrid would be willing to transfer/sell French forward Karim Benzema. Another English Club Arsenal FC is said to be very interested in the Real Madrid forward whose inconsistency & lack of decisive contribution in the big Football occasions has disappointed the Spanish Club & the Real Madrid fan-base. 

Said all this, it looks as if Luis Suarez could be this summers transfer "affair". Liverpool FC will be doing all in their hands to convince that their forward stay at their Club. While a spectacular upcoming World Cup performance from the Uruguayan may sky rocket his already elevated market price or attract other big European Clubs making the coming summer hot full of news stories & rumour.

Stay tuned! 

Tweet

Share

LIVERPOOL CLOSER TO GOALKEEPER VICTOR VALDES ?

It is no news that Spanish International & FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be leaving his Club at the end of the season. Apart from his what makes Valdes a prize to fight for is that he is free of transfer fee, a free agent, with costs that are only his salary.

With one of the World Best Goalkeepers on "the loose" European Clubs have their scouting men focused on Victor Valdes & are endeavouring to entice the player over to their Club. For months ( even last season ) French Club Monaco was the much talked about new destination for the Barça keeper. Today Barcelona based Spanish Sports paper "Sport" writes about English Premier League Club Liverpool.

According to the paper, Liverpool & Valdes have been talking for a while. In fact, "the Reds" have recently comeback with a bettered offer in order to convince the player to join them next season. Liverpool Coach Brendan Rodgers is said to have been insistent with his Club about Valdes & his desire to get him over.

As one would expect, there are talks that other Clubs are also sounding the Barça goalie, Clubs like PSG, teams in the US & Arab Clubs. However, there is another English Premier League Club that has won positions recently. According to "Mundo Deportivo" Manchester City is pressuring to convince Valdes, this is a very serious move & could be a real threat to the Liverpool aspirations. I would keep an eye on developments with City.

The player himself has been silent all this time preferring his representative do the work while he concentrates 100% on his Football & on FC Barcelona.

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA TELLO MAY GO TO LIVERPOOL FC ON LOAN

The news comes out of Spanish Sports paper "Marca" & places FC Barcelona & Spanish International Winger Cristian Tello in Liverpool FC. The operation would be put of the "Winter Market Transfer" window that opens up the 1st of January 2014 & it would be a loan.

Months back Cristian Tello made some very public announcements that if he could not get regular playing time at Barça that perhaps he should begin looking elsewhere to play. His "habitual" zone of play is currently taken up by Brazilian Neymar & even Pedro can fit in that area if asked. The other flank is current being occupied by Chilean Alexis & again Pedro can move over if solicited by his Coach.

A loan out to Liverpool FC may be the best option as it gives Tello play time opportunities & allows his Football to keep evolving. While Liverpool FC also wins as they get onboard a very talented & speedy winger which could help the Club enormously with their title aspirations.

There is no official comment as yet from Barça or Liverpool FC,  so as for now it remains just a rumour. Stay tuned!

LATEST: Apparently Barça is having second thoughts about letting go the young Winger.

Tweet

Share

THE DIEGO COSTA - LUIS SUAREZ - CAZORLA TRANSFER OPERATION THEORY

This next piece is very interesting & worth a post. Very speculative & will need to be seen, but not impossible. According to Spanish Sports newspapers - "Sport" & "El Confidencial" a 3 band transfer move could be brewing between Atletico de Madrid Diego Costa, Liverpool FC Luis Suarez & Arsenal FC player Santi Cazorla.

Here is the theory:

• A 25M€ move by Atletico de Madrid player Diego Costa to Liverpool FC
• With the fresh 25M€, Atletico de Madrid would bid for Arsenal player Santi Cazorla
• Arsenal with the 25M€ would return to make a better offer for Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez

The only unknown here is Diego Costa of Atletico de Madrid which beforehand wants to stay at Atletico. However, 25M€ is very tempting for the Club & the player would receive a salary 4 times greater than he wins now at Atletico de Madrid. The Spanish Club needs a "creative midfielder" as it is a "strategic position" for the Club & sacrificing Costa for Cazorla could occur even though the Club has officially announced that they count with Diego Costa,

Interesting speculation & days ahead. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

LIVERPOOL FC MAKES 24M€ BID FOR ATLETICO DE MADRID DIEGO COSTA

The 24 year old Brazilian-Spaniard midfielder Diego Costa has blossomed at Atletico de Madrid under Coach Simeone. So much so that he was called up last season for Brazil & now has caught the eye of English Club Liverpool FC. News out of England comment that the English Club has made a 24M€ bid for Costa & Atletico de Madrid has it on their table. Atletico de Madrid however deny that they have the offer & have said that Costa is not for sale.

Although the Brazilian-Spaniard is a controversial player for his "hard manner" of interpreting his Football, the midfielder is called on this season to be more of a protagonist. Atletico will be part of the Champions League campaign & Diego Costa has become a vital component upfront for the team. He is expected to be part of an expected exciting forward line-up that includes Spanish International David Villa & new signing Baptistao, another upcoming bright star.

Said all this however, Atletico de Madrid has an ongoing long-term financial obligation with the Spanish Tax office which "forces" the Club to come up with resources every year. The 24M€ figure is a tasty temptation & a shot in the arm for the Club in its continual balance sheet juggling. Anything thing is possible in Football & this is a "rumour" to keep an eye on in the next days & weeks. Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA SEES LIVERPOOL FC DANIEL AGGER AS THE OPTION

The search by FC Barcelona for a Central Defender seems to be coming to a safe port after weeks of "testing the market". The two candidates seem to be David Luiz of Chelsea FC & Daniel Agger of Liverpool FC.

According to Barcelona based Spanish Sports paper "Sport" , the 28 year old Danish International & Liverpool FC defender Daniel Agger is currently the best positioned for Barça. This option is not new at all as it was seriously considered months back & reported here as well.

The Agger option would bring Barça experience & what is also important an accessible price tag. The speculated price of the transfer would be around 20M€ which maybe negotiated downward as the player soon end contract.

Meanwhile, as one would expect, Barça has other names up their sleeves in case things go wrong: Kompany ( Man City ), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspurs) & Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal FC). Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID XABI ALONSO DILEMMA | SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO

From England the news is that Liverpool FC is thinking about signing & bringing "back home" Real Madrid CF & Spanish International Xabi Alonso. The idea would break Liverpool policy of not signing players above 30 years of age, but Manager Brenden Rodgers considers the Football value still left in the player far outweighs the "fears".

Xabi Alonso is possibly at another crossroads of his career after communicating to his Club that he will not renew his contract. The player has one more year left at Real Madrid & his current intention is to finish with his obligations, but with the arrival of young Real Sociedad & Spanish International midfielder Asier Illarramendi he may want to move on this season.

However, if Xabi Alonso does decide to change Chelsea FC under Coach Jose Mourinho would be in the front running. Apart from the better offer from London, Xabi Alonso considers Mourinho one of the "Best Coaches" his been under & has an excellent professional relationship. Chelsea FC would welcome Alonso with open arms, plus local Football observers speculated that perhaps something was left open & agreed before Mourinho left Real Madrid.

Alonso is currently recovering from an operation from a persistent niggling injury & his recovery will also play a factor in his decision. All these unknowns has been one of the main reasons that Real Madrid has gone rapidly after Real Sociedad midfielder Illarramendi. The position where Xabi Alonso plays is strategic for Real Madrid & Illarramendi is the closest thing to Xabi Alonso. 

Tweet

Share

REAL MADRID HAS A TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH PLAYER LUIS SUAREZ ?

Uruguayan International & Liverpool FC striker LUIS SUAREZ wishes to leave English Football & play elsewhere for reasons that most Football followers ( specially the English Premier League ) are familiar with & I don´t wish to analyse here.

Spanish Football Club Atletico de Madrid has targeted the forward to replace departing Radamel Falcao, but the 45-50M€ price tag has stopped cold this option. Real Madrid has entered the picture as the "Cavani option" has complicated itself with the arrival of new Coach Rafa Benitez to Napoles who puts as a condition the NO sale of Cavani. 

Luis Suarez has been throwing "kisses" to Real Madrid all week with press & radio comments & it seems they have made an impact. According to Spanish Sports paper "Marca" Real Madrid has come to an agreement with the 26 year old striker with a 4 year contract. The player has a "contract release clause" of 47M€ & Real Madrid will have to pay it if they wish to sign the player, because Liverpool FC it seems do not wish to negotiate at all or reduce the price.

So now its up to Real Madrid to put the cash on the table.

The thing that baffles me continuously is how Football Clubs negotiate & shut deals with players before negotiating with their paying Clubs. According to FIFA it is "illegal" to approach a player with contract, but we see that it continuously happens. Having made this observation, please keep in mind that the Football Transfer Market is very volatile & full of rumours, speculations & damn outright lies. The Luis Suarez & Real Madrid news is currently a rumour & even possibly a lie until one of the Clubs implicated - Liverpool or Real Madrid - officially make a formal comment.

Stay tuned!

LATEST : Bayern Munich may have entered the picture as Lewandowski may finish off his last year of contract left at Dortmund before going to Bayern. 

Tweet

Share

CELTA DE VIGO IAGO ASPAS CLOSE TO LIVERPOOL FC

Iago Aspas, forward of Spanish Football Club Celta of Vigo, has an important job ahead this Saturday in the last Round of Liga for this season; to help save his Club from relegation. Difficult endeavour as 4 teams will be fighting for their Spanish Liga life & the combinations of results & points makes it a "Russian Roulette".

Independently of the final outcome & the ultimate fate of Celta of Vigo, everything points that the next & new Club for Aspas next season with be English Premier League Club Liverpool FC. Local & UK media report that a deal & signing is very close, so close that in England its considered an already done deal. Liverpool FC is reported to have offered 9M€ for the Celta forward, but neither Liverpool or Celta confirm the figure or the signing interest for the moment.

Iago Aspas is a talented striker that has had the eyes of big local Clubs focused on him sometime, some being Atletico de Madrid & lastly Valencia CF. The injection of money into Celta if Aspas goes over to England will be welcomed & give the Club a boost in moments that could see the Club fall to the Spanish 2º Division. 

Tweet

Share

FC BARCELONA | VALDES TO LEAVE - LIVERPOOL FC WILL LISTEN FOR REINA IF TELLO INCLUDED

Current FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has announced that he will be leaving the Club at the end of the season & that the Club can also listen to offers. Barça Directives & technical staff have attempted to keep Valdez another year but they have not been successful.

This puts in place a "desperate" need to find a substitute goalkeeper, or at least accelerate the signing process. There are names flying around at the moment, but Spanish International & Liverpool FC goalie Pepe Reina is sounding. The man began his Football career alongside Valdes at the Barça junior Football School - "La Masia" - & knows the Club well, apart his father was also goalie for Barça in the past.  

According to English paper "Daily Mirror", Liverpool FC would accept to listen & negotiate with Barça for Reina if the Spanish Football Club includes their new star winger Cristian Tello in the operation. The Barça winger has a 8,5M GBP contract release clause, while Reina is valued around 10M GBP. This could make a swap an interesting option. Liverpool FC have been following closely Tello for sometime & made moves last summer that were not successful.

Stay tuned!

Tweet

Share