Liverpool and Manchester United in a three-horse-race for the signature of top American youngster

Liverpool are facing competition from Manchester United and Bayern Munich in their quest to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Christian Pulisic. The 19 years old American is one of the most scouted players in world football at the moment and has always been in the limelight since he burst onto the German football scene as a 17 years old. Liverpool remains favourites to sign him, having been the most persistent of his suitors despite seeing their bid for his signature rejected at the beginning of last season. However, according to Sun Sports, the Reds now face serious competition from Manchester United and Bayern Munich. The Red Devils are looking to add some young attackers to their ranks and they see Pulisic and Ajax’s Justin Kluivert as the perfect youngsters to lead their attack in the future. Jose Mourinho has also decided to go for quality rather than quantity when he is making signings next summer, and he considers Pulisic a top player. Bayern Munich have a history of signing all the best players in other German sides, and after clinching Schalke’s Leon Goretzka, the Bavarians want to sign Pulisic next.

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PSG want to sign Alvaro Morata

PSG are preparing a shock bid for Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata as they bid to boost their attacking ranks further. The Ligue 1 side have one of the best-attacking players in Europe at the moment following the arrival of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last summer, but they want to add more quality to their team next season and according to Sun Sport, Morata is the next superstar they want to sign. They are currently top of the Ligue 1 table and look likely to win the league, but the club owners want more than league glory and are targeting European dominance within the next couple of seasons. Morata is currently struggling badly from a combination of injuries and bad form, and the Spaniard is looking to get away from the bad press his performances have brought him, just six months after moving to London. He has netted 13 times for club and country this season but he has not scored for the Blues since Boxing Day last year. Several of the club’s fans have grown frustrated by the goal scoring chances he keeps missing, and they hope Olivier Giroud can come into their first team and put him on the bench with a better performance.

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Samuel Umtiti racially abused in Barcelona’s game against Espanyol

Barcelona played out a 1-1 draw against Espanyol on Sunday. The game was very tough for the Catalans both on the pitch and off it, and Samuel Umtiti was reportedly racially abused by an opponent. The French defender was seen on Camera being held back by GerardPique as he attempted to confront the opponent who racially abused him. It is still unclear who is the Espanyol player that had rained the abuse on him, and the player may go unpunished if the referee did not see the incident. Pique netted the equalizing goal for the Catalans on Sunday, but he was booed for much of the game, after claiming that Espanyol was a small town club in the pre-match press conference. Ernesto Valverde decided to start Lionel Messi from the bench, and it was only when the Argentine had come on that Barcelona finally scored having gone a goal down in the 66th minute, courtesy of a Gerard Moreno header. This win leaves Barcelona at the top of the league with 12 points separating them and second-placed Atletico Madrid.

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Teenage Spanish footballer dies while playing for the under 14 age group

Reports in Spain are claiming that a young Spanish footballer named Nacho Barbera has died after suffering a Cardiac arrest while playing for his club, UD Alzira. The young football was said to have suddenly fallen ill and was taken to a hospital where attempts to save his life ultimately proved unsuccessful. La UD Alzira está de luto. Esta tarde ha fallecido durante un partido en Ontinyent su futbolista Nacho Barberà. D.E.P. Quedan suspendidos todos los partidos de los equipos del fútbol base, tanto en casa como de visitantes. pic.twitter.com/Zr1cdWk85Q — UD Alzira (@UDAlzira) February 3, 2018 He had been training all week, and the club confirmed that he had never suffered any symptom to suggest that he had such a health problem before his demise. Based in Valencia, UD Alzira were playing against CD Esport Base Ontinyent when the incident occurred and all of the club’s games for the weekend has been canceled. #LaLiga lamenta el fallecimiento de Nacho Barberá, futbolista del @UDAlzira, y muestra sus condolencias a sus familiares y allegados. — LaLiga (@LaLiga) February 3, 2018 El FC Barcelona desea expresar sus condolencias a la familia y a la @UDAlzira por la pérdida del cadete Nacho Barberà. Descanse en paz — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) February 4, 2018 Several La Liga sides have offered their condolences including Sevilla and Alaves, while some football stars in the La Liga have also put up messages of condolence for the youngster’s family.  

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Klopp accuses match official of wanting to take the attention after Liverpool’s draw with Tottenham

Liverpool drew a high profile game against Tottenham on Sunday, but it was a game full of drama late on with the referee decisions taking centre stage. The Reds appear to have won the game after Mohamed Salah scored what looked like the winner in the 91st minute. However, in the 94th minute, the Lilywhites were awarded a penalty for a very soft challenge by Virgil van Dijk on Erik Lamela. The centre referee, Jon Moss did not appear to be convinced at first, but his lineman had his flag up for a foul and he awarded it. After the penalty was taken, Jurgen Klopp appeared to sarcastically clap for the linesman. Immediately after the final whistle, the Liverpool manager rushed to confront the linesman, and he had to be held back by even his opposing number Mauricio Pochettino. When asked if he had gotten an explanation from the referee about the goal, the enraged German claimed: “Did you ever hear? I am not allowed to go in their room until half an hour after. “It was clear offside, unbelievable, I don’t know what they were discussing. “Yes, Virgil van Dijk touches him, but we all know Lamela wants the touch and we all know there were some hard fouls in the first half and we didn’t get any fouls. “That was the level for the game today, but then a situation in the last minute like that? Wow. He wanted to be middle of interest and he is.” He added.

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Liverpool want Jack Wilshere to replace Emre Can

Liverpool are ready to sign Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on a free transfer next summer if the Gunners fail to agree on a new contract with the England man. Wilshere is currently in talks with the Gunners, but he is been offered terms that would see him take a pay cut to his current £90,000 per week due to his injury history. While it remains unclear if he would accept such terms, Liverpool are ready to match his current deal with the Gunners should he decide to look elsewhere. The Reds are currently set to lose Emre Can for free after this season as the German has refused to sign an extension to his current deal which has only 5 months left. Can claims he could still sign a new deal but there is not enough optimism about him remaining and the Reds have decided to move on. Naby Keita is set to arrive after this season, but Liverpool want more bodies in their midfield should Can leave, as they have already lost Philippe Coutinho. The Reds poached Alex-Oxlaide Chamberlain from the Gunners last summer, and they would be hoping he can help them convince Wilshere to join them.

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Manchester United target Everton’s Jordan Pickford as David de Gea’s replacement

It has become almost an annual occurrence for Real Madrid to try and sign Manchester United goalie David de Gea and the Red Devils are always preparing for the worst. The former Premier League champions know that de Gea would eventually have his head turned by the lure of playing for Real Madrid one day, but they don’t quite know when that time would be. In anticipation of the move possibly happening this summer, they have identified Everton’s  Jordan Pickford as a replacement for the Spain international. Pickford has impressed Manchester United since he made his 30 million pounds move from Sunderland last summer and they believe he would be the perfect long-term replacement for de Gea when the Spaniard finally leaves for Spain. Pickford would cost United in the region of 50 million pounds, that would not be too much for the Red Devils as they expect to make as much as 60 million pounds from the sale de Gea. Pickford remains one of England’s best goalkeepers at the moment and looks set to beat Joe Hart to the number two spot in their English national team just behind Jack Butland.

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Chelsea want Joe Hart to replace Thibaut Courtois who is heading to Real Madrid

Chelsea have begun to plan for life without Thibaut Courtois as the Belgian’s future continues to look likely to be at Real Madrid. Courtois has just 18 months left on his current deal, but has been very unwilling to sign a new contract, sparking rumours that he is looking to move back to Spain with Real Madrid. Los Merengues are looking for a new long-term number one and they have had their eyes on Courtois and Manchester United’s David de Gea over the past couple of seasons. Chelsea have offered Courtois a new deal that would make him the highest paid goalkeeper in the world, but the Belgian has asked for talks of a new contract to be shifted until after the season at least. It is believed he is expecting Real Madrid to pounce when his deal would remain just 12 months. However, Chelsea have begun planning for life without him and the Blues believe Manchester City’s Joe Hart is a capable replacement. Hart is out of favour at the Etihad and has found himself in a similar position at West Ham since the appointment of David Moyes. The England number one would have just a year left after his loan switch to the Hammers, and Chelsea want to bring him to Stamford Bridge knowing he would be cheap at that time.

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Italy set to name Chelsea boss as their new manager

The Italian FA is looking to name Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as their new boss after failing to qualify for this year’s world cup in Russia. The Italians are looking to name the best man for the job and have shortlisted former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte as their preferred choice. Conte currently has two-and-half years left on his current Blues deal, but he looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge this season after criticizing the club’s transfer business. Although he has continued to insist that he wants to see out his Chelsea contract, it is getting clearer by the day that he may be sacked or walk out on the Blues. Ancelotti has been out of work since he was sacked by Bayern Munich and may be interested also. However, one man who has not been considered for the job is Roberto Mancini. An Italian FA official was asked if Mancini was in the running for the job and he replied by saying they already have their top targets. Chelsea may have been preparing for life without Antonio Conte as they have reportedly approached Diego Simeone, but the Argentinian rejected their approach.

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Diego Simeone rejects chance to replace Antonio Conte but he would love to manage Manchester United

Chelsea have been knocked back in their efforts to bring in Atletico Madrid’s manager as a replacement for Antonio Conte after this season. The Blues are currently looking for a replacement for Conte after the Italian manager fell out with the club’s board and some players like David Luiz. Italy has offered Conte the job of their national team manager back, but he has told them to forget the idea of bringing him back as he is only looking to continue his good work with the Blues. However, Sun Sport is claiming that Chelsea have begun searching for his replacement and they have sounded out Simeone. Per the report, the Argentine rejected their offer as he is reluctant to learn English and prefers the Latino lifestyle. Simeone however, is interested in managing Manchester United at some point. The Red Devils sounded him out during the turbulent reign of David Moyes before they settled for Louis van Gaal. His current deal at the Wanda Metropolitana expires in the year 2020 the same time Mourinho’s current deal would expire. However, Simeone may not finish his contract with the former La Liga champions as he is expected to move to Italy sooner rather than later.

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