Bayern Munich Sporting Director Matthias Sammer has revealed that there is a 'verbal agreement' between the club and Atletico Madrid over the sale of striker Mario Mandzukic. The Croatian forward will cost around £18.5m and replace the void left by outgoing strikers Diego Costa and David Villa. Mandzukic, 28, made his desire to leave Bayern public earlier in the summer after the club announced they had signed Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski. Atleti have fought off competition from various teams, including reported interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, for the striker. He … [Read more...]
Atletico move for Benfica’s Oblak
Atletico Madrid have spent big to bring in a replacement for Thibaut Courtois by paying Benfica around €20m for goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The Slovenian international had an incredible season with the Eagles last year and will replace the void left by the now departed Courtois. Having already brought in Miguel Angel Moya from Getafe, Diego Simeone has been able to spend a large proportion of Diego Costa's transfer fee to bring in Oblak. According to local sources, Oblak was in Madrid on Monday completing a medical ahead of the imminent transfer. It is expected that an official announcement will … [Read more...]
Bernat makes move from Valencia to Bayern
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of highly-rated Valencia full-back Juan Bernat on a five-year deal. Bernat, 21, joins Pep Guardiola's side for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around €10m, after an impressive season with Los Che in 2013/14. The Spanish Under 21 starlet made 49 appearances for Valencia last season having come up through their academy system, as they made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League. He now joins compatriots Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez in Bayern's multi-talented and multi-cultural squad. Bernat only switched to full-back in 2013 but has since … [Read more...]
Valdes a target for United and Arsenal
Victor Valdes could be heading to the Premier League after failing a medical with Monaco this week. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are keen on the Spanish goalkeeper, who left Barcelona this summer after spending almost 20 years with the club. Valdes was due to move to the principality after announcing he would not be renewing his contract with Barca, but a knee ligament injury made matters difficult. He failed the medical this week and now could be the subject of a head-to-head battle between two English giants. New United boss Louis van Gaal would apparently be keen on Valdes, having … [Read more...]
Pellegrini raids Malaga for Willy Caballero
Manchester City look set to tie up a deal for Malaga's number one Willy Caballero within the next 24 hours. The goalkeeper would cost City around £10m who will use him as cover for Joe Hart following Costel Pantilimon's departure to Sunderland. Argentinian stopper Caballero, 32, would link up with former boss Manuel Pellegrini once again after the two worked together before the Chilean took over at the Etihad Stadium last season. Pellegrini tried to lure Isco away from Malaga during the summer last season but lost out to Real Madrid, but has had no such troubles with Caballero. Having played … [Read more...]
Sanchez prefers Arsenal move over Liverpool
Barcelona's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez looks to be on his way out of the Nou Camp, with Arsenal leading the race to sign him. Liverpool are also keen on Sanchez, and wanted to take him to Anfield as part of the Luis Suarez transfer, but Spanish media are reporting that the striker's preference is a move to London. With Barca continuing to negotiate with Liverpool for Suarez, they too would be happy for Sanchez to choose Liverpool in a bid to cut the expected £63m fee. However, Sanchez is said to want to move to either Arsenal or Juventus, with both clubs reluctant to enter into a bidding … [Read more...]
Barcelona and Liverpool to discuss Suarez transfer
Negotiations between Barcelona and Liverpool will begin this week over the potential transfer of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan, who faces a four month ban from football for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, is likely to cost Barca in the region of £60m. Suarez issued an apology for the incident on Monday, and key figures at Barcelona have been quick to praise the striker for his humility. "He plays for a rival team," said President Josep Bartomeu. "But what I can say, as a football person, is that apologising has been to his credit, because when you make a mistake you should … [Read more...]
Xabi Alonso: Spain Have Not Valued Our Success
Ahead of the final World Cup match for several Spanish stars, Xabi Alonso says that Spain may have not valued their success as it should have been. Success came in abundance for Spain in the last six years, but the air of invincibility has been taken away from them after just two defeats. The Spanish team would have been experiencing a multitude of emotions in the past few days. Sadness will be inevitable, but that is likely to be accompanied by reminisce as well. Alonso appears to be going through it. He has been speaking a lot about the ‘end of the era’ aspect – especially because he is … [Read more...]
Barcelona bring in keeper Bravo
Barcelona have agreed a deal with Real Sociedad for goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. The 31-year-old Chilean will join Barca after the World Cup for a fee which has not yet been revealed. He has signed a four-year-deal with the club and will link up with fellow new custodian Marc-Andre ter Stegen and fight for the number one spot. The long-serving Victor Valdes left Barcelona at the end of the season whilst back-up stopper Pinto was not given a new deal at the Nou Camp. It is thought that Bravo's signing will help ease the pressure on ter Stegen following his big move from Borussia Monchengladbach … [Read more...]
How does the World Cup work?
With the World Cup group stages coming to a close, those without wallcharts handy can be forgiven for feeling a little lost at this point. From Saturday, the rest of the games in the tournament will be settled by extra time or penalties as the knockout rounds get into full swing. This infographic from TopBet.eu will help give you a better understanding of how the tournament format is configured, and how one team will be crowned World Champions on the 12th July. … [Read more...]