Month: January 2018

Barcelona are reportedly reserving their No.7 shirt for the club’s summer target Antoine Griezmann.

The La Liga leaders are expected to make a move for Griezmann next summer when his buyout clause at Atletico Madrid drops to €100m, Sky Sports reports.

According to the report, Barca are already planning for the arrival of the Frenchman by reserving their No.7 shirt, which is now vacant following the departure of Arda Turan to Istanbul Basaksehir.

Recent speculation had suggested that Philippe Coutinho might occupy that shirt, but the Brazilian will near the No.14 instead once Javier Mascherano completes his transfer to Hebei China Fortune.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane whose side have been increasingly linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has had his say on the Brazilian and why he is a player who football fans can enjoy.

Zidane in an interview on Los Blancos’ website ahead of their La Liga showdown against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday was reluctant to speak about other teams’ players but he offered a quick opinion on the 2016 2io Olympic gold medalist.

“I don’t speak about players that aren’t mine. Everyone in the world of football likes Neymar. He’s a great player.” said Zidane

Zinedine Zidane’s side enter Sunday’s clash with no intention of catching Barcelona but to build form, finish the season strongly and see how far the team can go in the Champions League.

The 19 point gap between themselves and the league leaders is basically unassailable, of the 19 remaining matches the Blaugrana would have to lose at least six matches and Los Blancos would need to win their six matches on the same matchdays just to even draw level.

Unwanted Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan is to undergo an Arsenal medical in less than 48 hours, according to Sky Sports.

However, as of Saturday evening, the paperwork on every aspect of the deal was yet to be signed off.

If the transfer happens, it will be a straight swap deal with Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.

Meanwhile, sources close to Man Utd playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan have told Sky Sports that the Armenia international is “excited” about his imminent arrival at Arsenal.