SETTABLOID – Page 359

Barcelona hand first professional contract to ‘future first-team goalkeeper’

With the 2023/24 campaign recently coming to an end, Barcelona have already kickstarted their preparation for the season ahead.

While Barça are expected to bring in multiple new faces, the club are also keen on getting the most out of a flourishing youth academy that has produced many talents in recent years.

Iker Rodriguez signs professional deal

Barcelona appear to have already made a significant move in their bid to safeguard the future of the next generation of talents.

According to SPORT, the Catalans have secured a professional contract for goalkeeping prodigy Iker Rodriguez.

The 16-year-old talent was plying his trade for Barcelona’s U16 team this past season. But he will play for Juvenil B next season, marking a crucial step in the player’s bid to make a professional breakthrough.

One for the future?

Barcelona’s plans for Iker Rodriguez range beyond just the youth levels. The Catalans see Iker Rodriguez as a prospect for the future – someone who can establish himself as a first-team option in the years to come.

Although Barcelona are currently in no need of reinforcements in the goalkeeping department, it must be noted that Marc-Andre ter Stegen will soon reach the final phase of his career.

Barcelona had Arnau Tenas as an exciting future prospect, but the Spaniard opted to join PSG on a free transfer. The club, therefore, would require a new young goalkeeper in the senior team and that is where Iker Rodriguez could come into the fray.

However, these are still early days for Iker and the youngster must focus on maintaining his rapid development in Juvenil B if he is to stand a chance of making a breakthrough in the future.

Cesc Fabregas reveals Arsenal midfield target will likely move to Italy

Cesc Fabregas believes that Youssouf Fofana would thrive in the Premier League but suggests that the Arsenal and Manchester United target may be heading elsewhere. Both Premier League clubs have expressed interest in signing Fofana, who is expected to leave Monaco this summer as he enters the final year of his contract.

Fofana, who joined Monaco from Strasbourg in a €15 million move in 2020, has made 175 appearances for the Ligue 1 club. The 25-year-old midfielder has also established himself as a regular for the France national team and will be part of Didier Deschamps’ squad for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Fabregas, who played with Fofana towards the end of his career, praised the midfielder’s abilities but hinted that Arsenal and Manchester United might be disappointed in their pursuit. According to Fabregas, Fofana is likely to join AC Milan, as former Lille boss Paulo Fonseca is expected to take over at the Serie A club.

“I know him, I played with him,” Fabregas said on the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast. “Funnily enough, I never heard about Man United, I heard that he was going to AC Milan because [Paulo] Fonseca probably is going to go there from France and they know each other, so let’s see where he goes.

But he’s a very dynamic and strong player, good on the ball, a modern type of player, aggressive, can jump, he’s box to box. I really like Fofana and I think he fits very well with the Premier League style.”

Fofana recently admitted that he had discussed a summer move with Monaco but insisted he would be happy to stay if a transfer does not materialise. “I have spoken about it with the hierarchy, it isn’t a secret,” Fofana said in a press conference.

“We had exchanges and they agreed to accompany me in this new stage. If [a move] doesn’t happen, I still have a year left and I will be happy to stay. We were in agreement that we would accompany each other in this process in which everyone should be a winner, be it me or the club.”

Monaco’s sporting director, Thiago Scuro, confirmed that the club is open to selling Fofana following his standout season. “There were good opportunities for him to leave last summer,” Scuro said.

“It was his decision to stay because of his personal goals. It was a very good decision for us because he had a very good and consistent season, for him too as it was probably his best season at Monaco. He is probably one of the players that we are open to selling. We will see the opportunities that he has. It is still too early to make a decision.”

Arsenal STAR would join DREAM club ‘tomorrow’

With the transfer window opening internationally in just under a month, both players and clubs are deciding their future ahead of the upcoming campaign.

One player who would be almost certain to stay, however, is Arsenal’s centre-back, Gabriel Magalhães.

The now 26 year-old came to north London after a three and a half year spell at Ligue 1 side, Lille. Since then, both he and his centre-back pairing, William Saliba, have grown to form the arguable best defensive partnership in the Premier League.

However, just this season, the Brazilian was benched for the first three games of the league season, amid links that tied Gabriel to a move to Saudi Arabia. However, it was later reported by the ever-reliable, Fabrizio Romano, on X, formerly Twitter, that the club were never looking to part ways with their defender, and not one negotiation from another club took place for the Brazil international.

However, this summer, Gabriel has made his feelings known regarding a transfer to Corinthians, who are currently occupying a relegation spot in the Série A, after playing seven games.

Speaking to Cartoloucos on YouTube, the Brazilian admitted: “The Corinthians is since I was born. And today I don’t think it has to be any different. I keep going to the Corinthians game by train. It’s my dream, I want to play for Corinthians, I want to feel that energy.

“It’s something to be thought about. Sometimes I stop and think. ‘Do you have a dream to play for Corinthians?’. I have. ‘When would you play at Corinthians?’. For me, tomorrow I’d be at Corinthians.

“I hope not to delay because I want, as soon as possible, to feel the energy of that crowd, which is incredible.”

However, after an impressive campaign donning red and white, it would appear that Mikel Arteta will try and retain such a valuable asset ahead of another title charge next campaign.

Barcelona eyeing ‘fast and brave’ Brazilian defensive gem

FC Barcelona have a long tradition of identifying truly world-class footballing talents throughout the world, and a lot of their players, both in the youth ranks and the first team, have hailed from South America.

It is clear that the Catalans are continuing to see Brazil as a source for talent acquisition, as they signed one of the most notable talents to emerge in the country, Vitor Roque, last summer. Now, the Blaugranes have set their eyes on another talent emerging from this country.

According to SPORT, FC Barcelona have an 18-year-old defender, Rafa Venancio, in their sights, who is currently a part of the Corinthians U-20 team, but completed the last preseason with the club’s first team.

The left-footed defender, standing at 1.85 meters, has impressed with his technical quality and ability to make crucial corrections—traits that fit the profile Barcelona always seeks in their center-backs. He is both fast and brave, and his versatility allows him to play effectively as a left-back as well.

In fact, there have already been several meetings between the Catalan club and the player’s agents, who were at the Ciutat Esportiva in recent days. Barcelona have proposed a first year of training at the Juvenil A team, but in this year he would also regularly be involved with Barcelona Atletic.

However, the defender also has other notable offers from Europe and was close to landing in Portugal last winter as both Porto and Sporting Lisbon made moves to sign him. Furthermore, two Italian clubs have also approached Corinthians for Venancio in recent days.

The Brazilian club has been churning out some very valuable talents lately and only recently sold one of their midfielders, Gabriel Moscardo, who was also liked by Deco, to PSG for €20 million.

Furthermore, they have also rejected an €18 million offer from West Ham for their winger Wesley, and value him around €30 million.

As FC Barcelona would not be able to pay such high sums for players only in the initial stages of their careers, they are looking to grab Venancio while his value has not yet skyrocketed, and develop him at their own academy for the future.

Barcelona rule out summer move for Guido Rodriguez

Guido Rodriguez will not join Barcelona in the summer transfer window, with the Blaugrana ruling out a move for the 30-year-old midfielder.

According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Guido Rodriguez has been the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible Bosman move in the summer transfer window. However, a deal will not see the light of day, with the Blaugrana ruling out a transfer due to the mitigating financial issues.

The Guido Rodriguez tale

Guido Rodriguez has been a highly sought-after midfielder in the last two years. A native of Sáenz Peña, the Argentine international spent his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the River Plate youth division over a decade ago. The experienced midfielder rose in prominence during his spell in Mexico with CF America before seeing his stock soar.

The 30-year-old has gone from strength to strength during his stint with Real Betis, coming leaps and bounds in the last four and a half years. Rodriguez has turned out 173 times for Los Verdiblancos, chipping in with nine goals and four assists. However, the player has played his final game for Real Betis, as he will depart from the Benito Villamarin Stadium as a free agent in the summer transfer window.

Rodriguez’s impending free-agent status has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Premier League bigwigs have shown interest in the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner. However, a move across La Liga has been on the cards for the outgoing Real Betis midfielder for a long time.

Will a move to Barcelona materialise?

Widespread reports have pointed to Barcelona having an agreement with Guido Rodriguez over a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have scoured the market for a holding midfielder in the last few months after failing to fill the void left by the departure of Sergio Busquets.

Oriol Romeu failed to fill the gap and will likely leave Barcelona in the summer transfer window. So, Rodriguez had emerged as a viable target for the Blaugrana. However, a Bosman move for the 30-year-old will not see the light of day, with Barcelona ruling out a deal.

Other high-profile clubs are also interested in Rodriguez, meaning he might still secure an attractive move in the summer transfer window. However, Barcelona will not be the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner’s next destination.

Barcelona yet to make a move for midfield target with €65 million release clause

On Wednesday, reports emerged claiming that Barcelona have set their sights on Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino as a target for the summer window.

The 27-year-old Spaniard is seen as a ‘perfect fit’ in the system that Hansi Flick plans to use at Barça and the fact that his contract expires in 2025 makes him an attractive proposition for the Catalans.

No move made yet

While Barcelona do hold a concrete interest in Mikel Merino, Mundo Deportivo reports that the Catalans are yet to make any move to secure his services in the summer.

Indeed, the Blaugrana have not made any approach to Real Sociedad or the midfielder’s entourage to discuss the possibility of a summer transfer.

For now, the only club that Merino has negotiated with are Real Sociedad, who are trying to secure his contract renewal.

Barça see Merino as a good fit for the double pivot in Flick’s 4-2-3-1 setup, owing to his technical ability, capability to drive forward, and defensive work rate.

But, for now, there are no approaches or movements made, possibly because the Azulgrana are awaiting clarity with regard to their Financial Fair Play situation before acting on their interest.

As mentioned earlier, Merino’s contract with Real Sociedad runs until the summer of 2025 and contains a release clause worth €65 million.

Reaching such a figure could be an issue for Barcelona, although Sociedad could be forced into accepting a lower sum if the midfielder does not renew his contract, so as to avoid losing him for free next year.

Ajax forward Brian Brobbey has named Arsenal as one of his dream clubs as speculation continues over his future.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Dutch giants this summer, having only rejoined Ajax two years ago after a failed transfer to RB Leipzig.

Now back in the shop window once more, the Dutchman is likely to command a sizeable fee on the back of a season during which he scored 22 goals in all competitions despite the struggles of his side.

Brobbey’s best years could be spent in the Netherlands due to his contract expiring in 2027, though the player’s latest comments suggest he is not planning to stick around in Amsterdam for the foreseeable.

Asked to name his dream destinations by HELDEN Magazine, he responded: “Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, those are nice clubs. But, if I stay at Ajax, that is certainly not a punishment.”

Arsenal could well target a move for the youngster should they fail in their efforts to recruit Newcastle United striker, Alexander Isak.

Isak will cost far more than Brobbey in terms of a transfer sum and negotiations with Newcastle would likely prove more troublesome, too, due to buying from a Premier League rival.

The Magpies have continued to stress they have no plans to offload their Swedish star this summer despite needing to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules, which could lead to several clubs being forced to cash in on their prized asses to balance the books.

Offering an update on his future, Isak recently told Swedish outlet Fotbollskanlen: “I’m enjoying myself very, very much in Newcastle.

“I just had the best season of my career. That should not be underestimated. I love everything really about the club, the fans, the city. I actually have no thoughts of a move or anything like that. I enjoy myself fantastically well and am very happy with my life.”

Benjamin Sesko contract decision speaks volumes as Mikel Arteta hints at Arsenal transfer plan to outsmart Chelsea’s big money hijack

Benjamin Sesko is a wanted man this summer. The RB Leipzig star is attracting interest from the Premier League after an impressive season in the Bundesliga.

The 21-year-old scored 18 goals in 42 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign and that has led to links with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. The Gunners are keen to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window, football.london understands, with the forward line among the areas considered a priority to address.

Given his age and huge potential, Sesko is a player who is admired by Edu and Mikel Arteta. However, the Gunners have a fight on their hands to sign the Slovenian, who has a £55million release clause in his contract

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano the player is currently assessing all of his options and will make a decision on his future in the coming weeks. “Benjamin Sesko, taking some more days to decide his future,” Romano said on social media platform X.

“There’s still new contract proposal from RB Leipzig on the table. Meanwhile, Sesko said no to €30million net salary from Saudi. Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea have all approached Sesko since March/April.”

Interestingly, Sesko has already rejected two “crazy proposals” from clubs playing in the Saudi Pro League. This in itself perhaps speaks volumes of Sesko’s personal goals and ambition for his career.

Instead of being lured to Saudi Arabia to play with top class players in the twilight of their careers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sadio Mane, Sesko appears to see his future in Europe playing in the world’s biggest leagues. This is likely to be music to the ears of Arteta, who will be eyeing another Premier League title challenge at Arsenal next season.

The Arsenal boss was asked about the club’s summer transfer plans last week and the Spaniard gave little away. “[We] look again,” Arteta told CNN when asked about transfers. “All the margins, squad-wise, the process that we have at the football club, our methodology, especially on how we can make our players better, more competitive, more consistent and cause them to raise the level and be better than the previous season

“I think our focus has to be with what we have already in house. How can we be better? There are margins and there are players that can still develop and be better and that’s the objective that we have.

“Every decision we’re going to make is to be better, without losing who we are and everything that is taking us in the position that we are now as a football club, as a team. The ambition is there. The players, the staff. You can sense it. They want much more. They want to start lifting trophies and that’s the next step.”

The Gunners will travel to the United States in July for a pre-season tour, with games against Manchester United and Liverpool already pencilled in. Speaking in his final pre-match press conference before the summer transfer window opens, Arteta admitted he is keen for new signings to be completed as early as possible.

“That’s the ideal scenario,” he said when asked if Arsenal were hopeful of getting their business done at the start of the window. “Every club wants that, we want that as coaches and for the players especially. Then for the team and for the environment. When you do that something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum.”

With Sesko part of Slovenia’s Euro 2024 squad travelling to Germany this month, it remains to be seen when a deal could be completed. For now, this is very much one to watch.

PSG’s president is willing to spend €140 million for Arsenal’s best player as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain are ready to pay £140m for Arsenal star Bukaya Sako as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, according to a new report.

The French giants are already preparing for life after Mbappe, who will leave the club this summer when his contract expires.

Last month he was seen meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, but it was reported that any attempts to persuade the France captain to stay at PSG were not on the agenda.

Mbappe has been strongly linked with a free transfer to Real Madrid, although neither side has confirmed that a deal will happen.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the 24-year-old is holding regular talks with two former Real players – Los Blancos legend Sergio Ramos and his current PSG team-mate Achraf Hakimi – about his possible life in Madrid should he sign for the club.

PSG have launched a transfer policy aimed at bringing French talent to the Parc des Princes since the arrival of Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani and Nordi Mukiele last summer.

Other local young players such as Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola also play key roles in the squad.

But PSG are still looking for European talent – and have selected Arsenal star Sako to replace Mbappe.

That’s according to Spanish newspaper Fichajes, who claim Saka is at the top of their shortlist this summer.

They add that PSG are ready to make a bid of at least €140 million, which would make the 22-year-old winger Arsenal’s record sale.

The report also says that Arsenal naturally “do not want” to let Saka leave, especially as it would mean that Mikel Arteta’s players would have to find an effective replacement in the summer market.

Arsenal face early deadline over 14-goal sensation as £200m transfer update emerges

Any potential Arsenal move for Benjamin Sesko may have to be sealed by the end of June, Dean Jones has revealed to GIVEMESPORT. RB Leipzig are seeking a definitive answer on the 21-year-old’s future this month amid continued speculation, leaving Mikel Arteta to face an informal deadline to sign the Slovenian.

Sesko has been in the Red Bull system since 2019 following a move from Domzale’s youth side in his homeland. After formative development with Salzburg in Austria, as well as a loan to their second-string side, FC Liefering, the 6’5 forward has enjoyed a brilliant first Bundesliga season with 14 goals in 31 league outings.

The Gunners will now face a reduced time-frame, as well as competition from numerous other interested parties – Sesko has drummed up many admirers with his mercurial showings. In addition to Sesko, Arsenal are in the hunt for both midfield and defensive options this summer, and could spend around £200 million in this window, according to Jones.

Arsenal under pressure to sign Sesko

Leipzig want quick deal and other clubs are interested

With Leipzig pushing for an early deal, Arsenal may have to act swiftly to tie down Sesko’s signature.

As well as the Gunners, the commanding offensive presence of Sesko has cultivated admiring glances from a variety of other clubs. Manchester United have been strongly linked, while Chelsea have identified the forward as a primary target.

Another hindrance to Arsenal’s potential capture of Sesko alongside numerous interested parties is the fact that he has a release clause of £56 million. If Arsenal don’t swoop for the Slovenian, it’s likely another club will – knowing they can land a deal without having to negotiate with his current club.

Where Arsenal’s £200m could be spent

Sesko alternatives and targets in midfield and defence

Arsenal have quite the transfer wishlist and may need to spend in order to keep in competition with Manchester City. Jones mooted a number of potential signings in midfield and defence for the Gunners, including Amadou Onana, Bruno Guimaraes and Jorrel Hato.

Meanwhile, fellow journalist Ben Jacobs has spoken about potential strike options for the Gunners. Although they had the same goal difference at the end of the season, City bettered Arsenal’s scoring record by five, winning the league with 96 goals-for – suggesting up front is the area of the pitch that requires the most attention. Jacobs previously informed GIVEMESPORT of several strikers Arsenal are interested in:

Add in the recent emergence of wing target Viktor Tsyhankov at Girona, and Arsenal’s shopping list provides a host of exciting targets. Not all will be obtainable so it remains to be seen how Arsenal whittle their options down, but the Sesko situation could play an important part in that.

Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise then, that his future could be decided within around a fortnight of the transfer window officially opening.