Vesper

Barcelona in a worse financial position than expected - Joan Laporta https://www.espn.co.uk/football/barcelona-espbarcelona/story/4414990/barcelona-in-a-worse-financial-position-than-expected-joan-laporta Joan Laporta has said Barcelona are in an even worse position than he imagined when he was elected as president in March. Laporta, who was previously the Barca president between 2003 and 2010, is having an audit carried out on the club's accounts and has been surprised by some of the findings. Barca's gross debt is close to €1.2 billion, with the club urgently needing to reduce the wage bill, with a €100m bank loan needed in May to help pay salaries to the playing squad. There are also anomalies related to the "Barcagate" scandal, with payments made by the previous board to third-party companies who are part of a police investigation. "The club's in a worse state than I expected -- and I knew I was coming into a difficult situation," Laporta told La Vanguardia. "There are contracts which condition how much we can do. There are things that must be explained [by the previous board] and I don't rule out taking some sort of action. We will explain everything because if not, we will be complicit. "We've encountered a squad with old-fashioned contracts and we will have to work out what to do. The existing contracts can be changed or restructured. After that, there are more drastic measures that we hope we don't have to adopt. "But nothing's ruled out if it's for the good of the club. Between salaries and amortisations, it's about €650m [annually], which is more than the club's revenue. These salaries are out-of-step with the current market." To help reduce the wage bill, sources have told ESPN that Barcelona are open to offers for several players, including Neto, Samuel Umtiti, Junior Firpo, Philippe Coutinho and Martin Braithwaite. Despite having to reduce costs, Barca remain optimistic they can convince Lionel Messi, whose four-year contract is worth over €500m, to sign an extension to his terms at Camp Nou. Messi's deal expires on June 30 and Laporta urged him to make a decision on his future to help Barca plan for the future.

Manuel Locatelli HATES Coca-Cola 😹

or Locatelli

Graeme Souness says national team should be built around Chelsea playmaker for next decade https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/graeme-souness-says-national-team-should-be-built-around-Chelsea-playmaker-for-next-decade/

Chelsea close to first summer transfer after days of contact with £55.8m star's agent https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/report-Chelsea-close-to-first-summer-transfer-after-days-of-contact-with-55-8m-stars-agent/ Chelsea are on verge of completing their first transfer deal this summer after days of talks with Inter Milan star Achraf Hakimi’s representative, according to Calciomercato. As widely reported before, the Italian outlet claims that Hakimi’s transfer saga is a two-horse race between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. While many would think that a transfer of such scale would take some time, Inter’s financial situation means a deal could be struck in the next 10 days. The Serie A champions will reportedly have to sell one of their stars and balance their accounts by June 30. At the moment, Hakimi seems to be the closest to leaving Inter, the report added. Chelsea in pole position after negotiations with both Inter and Hakimi’s representative Calciomercato claims that Chelsea have “gained a considerable advantage” over PSG and are “close to the finish line” after several days of contacts with Hakimi’s agent. The Blues have reportedly tabled an offer of €60million (£51.5m)plus one of either Marcos Alonso, Emerson Palmieri, or Andras Christensen for Hakimi. Alonso is the one Inter are reportedly focusing. The report further added that their new manager Simone Inzaghi has even given the green light for the 30-year-old as he sees him as an “ideal” player.

Controversy at Scrabble World Championship after ‘cockwomble’ not accepted https://www.dailysquat.com/controversy-scrabble-world-championship-cockwomble-not-accepted/

no No NO would rather go for Dusan Vlahovic or Isak or Jonathan David than those two especially Jovic, he has been a HUGE bust (DCL is too expensive I fear)

I think he does really prefer PSG, which is fucking stressing me to no end, as he and Håland are the only two transfers I am 100000% emotional invested in getting other than (no real links) Mbappe there just are not that many younger super super players out there who are actually available (at least 27yo max, preferably younger, and I am certainly not interested in buying hugely expensive players who are 29 or older already (save for GKers, and there the prices drop for all but Oblak) its a short list at that level (25 players and many on here are not 'really' available with insane money dropped to convince the other club to sell, and some are gambles on potential) Donnarumma just came off it, as he went on a damn free to PSG Mbappe (my huge fear is he renews if PSG get Hakimi and Camavinga in (plus others, and they now already have bloody Donnarumma on a fucking free), and then next year, if we fail now, they use all those new and existing WC players to pull in Håland and make a superclub that would dwarf even a non WC CF-fronted Citeh (that assumes Citeh fail at Kane and Lukaku), and perhaps then end up pulling de Ligt and/or Bastoni in circa summer 2023 or so We laugh at Poch sometimes, but ffs, if he gets THAT level of squad to run with, well eeeeeeeeeeeeek) Håland Sancho (surely is soon a Manure player) Jan Oblak (insanely expensive for a GK and due to age and length of contrat demands, plus wages, his window closes after next summer, as he turns 30yo 4 monthst after the 2022 summer window closes) Declan Rice (insanely overpriced at £100m) Nicolò Barella (not even sure what it would take to get Inter to sell) Jack Grealish (another insanely costly one due to the English tax, just like Rice) Achraf Hakimi Alessandro Bastoni (same as Barella, no clue what it would take to get Inter to sell) Matthijs de Ligt (no clue what it would take to get Juve to sell) Bukayo Saka (would LOVE to have him, but again, we are talking £90-100m to wrench him away from Arsenal, which is just ridiculous) Eduardo Camavinga Theo Hernández Jude Bellingham (I think wait on him for at least 1 more year, he is still only 17yo, turns 18yo in 9 days) Youri Tielemans (Leicester will want around £80m I wager) João Félix (massive gamble to shell out the cash AM would demand, and IF he finally explodes, he will cost even more) Sergej Milinković-Savić Dominic Calvert-Lewin (another £100m price tagged English tax player) Richarlison Manuel Locatelli Paulo Dybala (clock is running out for hum, he turns 29yo a few months into the season after this coming one, so summer 2022 is the last window he makes any of my lists, I do not do 30+ players unless it is a free or a GKer Dusan Vlahovic Alexander Isak Saúl Ñíguez Ryan Gravenberch

World class hype World class self-promotion World class egomania World class football? Not so much. For Pogba, from me, it will always be a

Germany's Robin Gosens Got Back At Cristiano Ronaldo With Masterclass Against Portugal https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-germanys-robin-gosens-got-back-at-cristiano-ronaldo-with-masterclass-20210619 Robin Gosens dropped a masterclass in Germany's 4-2 win over Portugal - and he'll no doubt have been pleased to have taken the headlines away from Cristiano Ronaldo. The Atalanta star was named 'Star of the Match' by UEFA after capping off a marauding display up and down the left flank with two assists and a goal. The 26-year-old was the man everyone was talking about after the six-goal thriller at the Allianz Arena and you get the feeling he will have enjoyed it even more because of an embarrassing moment he had involving Portugal talisman Ronaldo in the past. Gosens has lined up against Ronaldo in Serie A and on one occasion, asked the Juventus superstar for his shirt. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was not in the mood for swapping shirts and Gosens was left feeling "ashamed" and "small". He recalled the story in his biography 'Dreams are worthwhile.' "After the game against Juventus, I tried to fulfil my dream of having Ronaldo jersey," Gosens wrote, as per Goal.com, "After the final whistle I went to him, having not even gone public to celebrate ... but Ronaldo did not accept. "I asked: 'Cristiano, can I have your shirt?' He didn't even look at me, he just said: 'No!' I was completely blushed and ashamed. I went away and felt small. "You know that moment when something embarrassing happens and you look around to see if anyone noticed it? That's what I felt and tried to hide it." Hilariously, Gosens' Atalanta teammate Hans Hateboer gifted him a Ronaldo shirt and captured his priceless reaction as he opened the present in the dressing room. After Saturday's outing, however, it really ought to have been Ronaldo asking for Gosens' shirt. This time, the former Heracles Almelo did not make a request for Ronaldo's shirt after the game and instead collected a much deserved award for a wonderfully energetic performance. "I didn't ask him for his shirt, as I want to enjoy the victory and this evening,"Gosens told Sky Sport Italia post-match.

please god NO POGBA

this coming season is his last sub 30yo one I was speaking of their general mid to long term decline, not just their present state of shite

agree on most but I have a few thoughts to add you also left out wingers first, we obviously need to finish off 2 crazy hard deals to begin with (Hakimi and especially Håland) if both fall through then we are in scramble mode next Guehi is not Chels CB level IMHO harsh, but just my current stance that MAY change, but ATM I am not buying into it, especially due to his height IF we were to keep him, Zouma leaves (I am all for that) and then (a nightmare buy for me) were to buy Kounde, that leaves us with only TWO CB's over 6 feet tall (AC and Rudiger) on the squad, and so does your list as well Silva leaves next year 99% likely as well (he is 6 feet on the nose) and if another nightmare occurs, and Rudiger leaves on a free, we are down to ONE, unless we buy another (surely we would). That is why I am so so against Kounde, he is not only outrageously overpriced, but is a dwarf. Listed as 5-10 and I think that is a lie. Maxence Lacroix (1.90m) is out there now for £25m (confirmed by Wolfsburg). There are others too, including some young giants like Botman (1.95m) IF Alonso leaves, that is more height gone as even a limited option. we also, will soon need a DMF Aurélien Tchouaméni or Locatelli for me, bit it may have to wait (in which case Locatelli will be gone)

some EPL club will snatch him up

Martial and van de Beek Man Utd could swap two players for Raphael Varane after opening transfer bid rejected Manchester United have reportedly had an initial offer for Raphael Varane rebuffed by Real Madrid. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1451452/Man-Utd-Real-Madrid-Raphael-Varane-Donny-van-de-Beek-Anthony-Martial-SNT According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, United have made an initial £50m bid for the France international. However, Madrid are said to be holding out for a fee of around £80m. The report states that United are 'reluctant' to meet that asking price and they remain in talks with the La Liga side in the hope of reaching 'a compromise over the fee'. One way United could reach that compromise is by offering Madrid some of their players in a swap deal. snip €93m for a player who turns 29yo this coming spring, AND who is NOT renewing and leaves on a free in 2022 is a shit tonne of cash in this market I so hope Manure do NOT bail out Real (who are now over 1 billion euros and growing in on the actual football operations books debt) by giving them a pile of money, IF they are going to make a deal, I hope it is a swap

it has to be very low, as the Belgian press say Miazga was too expensive for them SOTON paid almost £15m for Hoedt, so they are going to lose a big chunk of cash (for them)

Arsenal is so so so depressing to follow, same for Spuds North London is clueless at this point in history (other than the new Spuds stadium, but that seems overkill given how far they could very well fall after Kane and Son leave).

I do not understand what Villa are doing, loading on on old and/or mediocre (in Engel's case) players

Chile covers Nike logo on their kits amidst contract dispute https://theathletic.com/2661013/2021/06/18/chile-nike-copa-america/ While Nike and Adidas battle for supremacy in Euro 2020, the former is in the middle of a legal battle that has spilled over into Copa America. As a result, Chile’s kits for the South American tournament have undergone a sudden and significant edit. For Friday night’s Group B match against Bolivia, the Nike logo on Chile’s jerseys was covered with a patch of the Chilean flag. Chile’s coaches and staff covered the Nike logo on their shirts and pants with tape. It was all part of a subtle protest related to an ongoing contract dispute between the sportswear company and the Chilean football federation. For the remainder of the tournament, the team will play without a visible kit sponsor, as Chile’s National Association of Professional Football (ANFP, by its Spanish acronym), fights Nike in court. According to Chilean outlet La Tercera, the ANFP alleges that Nike abruptly ended their million dollar agreement two weeks ago. “Nike canceled the contract unilaterally,” an ANFP spokesperson told La Tercera. “This will be a court battle.” Chile’s kit in their Copa America opener against Argentina (left) and in their second match against Bolivia. (Douglas Magno, AFP via Getty Images) According to the report, Nike withheld payments, including those for merchandise sales, for the period of July 2019 to July 2020 since Chile’s senior national team did not play the minimum of 10 matches per year stipulated in their contract. Chile played its final match of 2019, a friendly against Guinea in Spain, on October 15, 2019, but between social unrest that took hold in Chile that month and the subsequent spread of COVID-19, they did not play again until their World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2020. Nike and the ANFP, which alleges it is owed about $6 million of a $7 million per year deal, have been involved in court proceedings since March of this year, according to AFP. Tape covers the Nike logos on Chile manager Martin Lasarte’s clothes. (Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images) Nike and Chile had an eight-year contract with a total of $56 million that began after Copa America 2015 and was supposed to run through the end of the 2022 World Cup. La Tercera says the ANFP first sued Nike in civil court in Santiago, Chile. From there, the case moved to the International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of Arbitration in New York. Before partnering with Nike, Chile made a reported $2.5 million per year over five years from a kit deal with Puma. Chile drew 1-1 with Argentina in their first 2021 Copa America match, then beat Bolivia 1-0 in their second. They previously won the competition in 2015 and 2016, most recently finishing fourth in 2019. Prior to Chile entering Brazil for this edition of Copa America, there was a “drone skirmish” during one of their training sessions in Santiago when team officials spotted an airborne device they suspected of being an Argentine spy camera. Chile manager Martin Lasarte reportedly ordered a drone of their own be sent to investigate the suspicious machine. The two drones collided and were retrieved. It was later learned that the “invading” craft belonged to the local power company, which was checking nearby street lights. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPi1Q6srmG5/

lol, delusional Real Madrid fanbois think they will get Håland, Mbappe and Camavinga in summer 2022 for a total of 60m euros, Mbappe and Camavinga on frees

Banter FC

Lol, he is almost 35yo. Serie A is truly becoming grandpa CB league. It is just crazy. I am still just staggered that Bastoni barely even made the Italian Euro 2021 squad. He was literally the last one chosen and he is a top 5 to 7 or so CB on the planet. All the ones above him on the Italian national side are in their 30's, some deep into it. I guess it helps that it is only 7 games max.

Spuds are a runaway clown car.