April 2017 - Soccer Wiretap

Barcelona Hoping To Spend Over $100M On New Transfers

Apr 30, 2017 3:05 PM

Barcelona hopes to raise €100 million ($109 million) to improve their roster this summer.

Barcelona is seeking two young full backs and a central midfielder.

Arsenal's Hector Bellerin and Atleti's Theo Hernandez are the top candidates for the left.

Philippe Coutinho and Marco Verratti are candidates for Barcelona's midfield.

Moises Llorens/As.com

Tags: Barcelona, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Dele Alli: Spurs Dominated Arsenal From Start Of MAtch

Apr 30, 2017 2:47 PM

Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal 2-0 in a match they controlled throughout.

"I have to blame myself a bit for my header at the far post -- I was kicking myself for missing that -- but we dominated from the start," said Dele Alli.

"It's a huge win for us and the fans. We just have to keep looking to improve. We fell off at the end of last season, so it's important we continue to build on what we're doing."

Harry Kane told Sky Sports: "We wanted to finish the last North London derby on a high note. What a day."

ESPN

Tags: Tottenham Hotspur

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Sunderland Secure Relegation To Championship

Apr 29, 2017 12:16 PM

Sunderland has been relegated following their 1-0 loss at home against Bournemouth.

Joshua King scored the only goal of the game in the 88th-minute, a strike that, coupled with Hull’s draw at Southampton, condemned David Moyes’s side to a 23rd league defeat of the campaign.

Sunderland have won just five matches all season.

Sunderland were promoted from the Championship in 2006.

The Guardian

Tags: Sunderland

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James Still Hoping To Stay With Real Madrid

Apr 28, 2017 9:49 PM

Even though Zinedine Zidane has asked Real Madrid to find a buyer for James Rodriguez, the Colombian continues to fight for a future with the club.

The emergence of Marco Asensio has further reduced the odds of James staying with Madrid.

James has scored nine times to go with 13 assists in just 1,583 minutes, proving to be very productive.

James joined Madrid from Monaco in 2014 following an excellent World Cup.

Sergio Santos Chozas/As.com

Tags: Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Bayern Told Martin Odegaard To Stay In Norway

Apr 28, 2017 9:43 PM

When Martin Odegaard was deciding where to sign late in 2014, he narrowed his options to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

"We recommended that he stayed there for at least one more year, because the club thought that he wasn’t ready yet," revealed Björn Andersson, Bayern’s scout in Scandinavia.

Andersson said Odegaard may need a new start somewhere else.

Odegaard is still only 18 and is under contract at Real Madrid until 2018 even though he verbally agreed to a three-year extension.

Carlos Forjanes/As.com

Tags: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Robert Pires Predicts Arsenal Will Sign Kylian Mbappe

Apr 28, 2017 9:26 PM

Robert Pires is predicting that Kylian Mbappe will sign with Arsenal.

Pires is a club legend and current assistant.

Mbappe is considered one of the best teenage talents in the world. Mbappe has elicited comparisons to Thierry Henry.

"The comparison is unnecessary, he's not ready to be compared to Thierry," Pires told Bwin. "Mbappe is a very similar player but to compare the two players would be unfair.

"I hope that Kylian can follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, he has the same profile as Thierry -- quick, strong and a great finisher -- but he's very young so I would hold off on comparisons just yet."

Mbappe could command a nine-figure transfer fee, which would be difficult for Arsenal to afford.

Pires said: "I do think Arsenal will sign him. The problem is how much. Mbappe has the potential to play for Arsenal and Wenger is the right manager to manage him. Monaco and Arsenal are very similar clubs, so it won't be much of a transition."

ESPN

Tags: Arsenal, Monaco, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Spurs To Demolish WHL, Play All Matches Next Season at Wembley

Apr 28, 2017 2:44 PM

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed they will play all of their home matches at Wembley Stadium next season.

Spurs will demolish White Hart Lane after 118 years and build a new £800 million stadium.

The decision means that Sunday's match against Arsenal will be the last North London derby at White Hart Lane.

Dan Kilpatrick/ESPN

Tags: Tottenham Hotspur

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Davinson Sanchez Viewed As Long-Term Answer For Barca At Center-Back

Apr 27, 2017 11:38 AM

Barcelona have interest in signing center back Davinson Sanchez of Ajax.

Sanchez is a 20-year-old Colombian international. 

Ajax have set a fee of €25 million for Sanchez. Barcelona sses Sanchez as a potential partner for Samuel Umtiti long-term.

Javier de Paz/As.com

Tags: Ajax, Barcelona, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Barcelona Prepared To Loan Jordi Alba To Atleti In Deal For Theo

Apr 27, 2017 11:34 AM

According to a report from Spanish radio, Barcelona are prepared to offer Jordi Alba on loan to Atletico Madrid in order to sign Theo Hernandez.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Marseille have interest in Theo, who is one of the game's best young left backs.

Theo has a release clause of €24 million. Barcelona are prepared to meet that clause and offer Alba as an add-on.

As.com

Tags: Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Loan, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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Bayern Make Loan Of Kingsley Coman From Juve Permanent

Apr 28, 2017 2:45 PM

Bayern Munich have triggered an option to sign Kingsley Coman from Juventus permanently.

Coman is in his second season of a two-year loan with Bayern. Coman will sign a contract until 2020.

"He is a player with huge potential," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "We're convinced that he will be of great help to us in the coming years."

Bayern's option for Coman was just €21 million. 

While Coman hasn't performed as well under Carlo Ancelotti as he did in his first season under Pep Guardiola, he remains one of the most talented young players in the game.

ESPN

Tags: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Loan, Misc Rumor, Transfer Rumor

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City Won't Try To Sign Dele Alli From Spurs
Xavi said in an interview Pep Guardiola would be interested in him but later denied even giving the interview.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Timbers Unveil Plans For $50M Stadium Expansion
The expansion is inspired in part by the famous Shakespearean Globe Theatre in London and the iconic La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires.

RealGM Staff Report

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Future With United Now Uncertain
Jose Mourinho declined to say whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic would remain with Manchester United next season.

Daniel Taylor/The Guardian

Paul Pogba Ruled Out Of Manchester Derby
Paul Pogba is suffering from a hamstring injury.

Daniel Taylor/The Guardian

United To Seek Transfer For Willian
Willian signed for Chelsea in 2013 from Anzhi Makhachkala for £32 million.

Mark Ogden/ESPN

Gareth Bale Ruled Out Of Champions League Semifinals
Gareth Bale has had 17 different injuries during his four seasons in Spain.

Dermot Corrigan/ESPN

Inter Giving Diego Simeone, Antonio Conte 20-Day Deadline
Inter is offering a five-year deal worth €11 million per season.

As.com

Joachim Low Considered Candidate For Real Madrid Job If Zidane Fired
Real Madrid could fire Zinedine Zidane if they finish 2017 without a trophy.

Joaquin Maroto/As.com

Newcastle Secures Promotion Back To Premier League
Newcastle was also relegated in 2009 and spent just one season in the Championship.

The Guardian

Pique: Sergio Ramos Deserved Red Card On Messi Tackle
Sergio Ramos said that he did not regret what had happened and insisted that he felt his challenge only merited a yellow card.

Samuel Marsden/ESPN

N'Golo Kante Named PFA Player Of The Year
N'Golo Kante is on the brink of becoming the first player to win successive league titles with different clubs.

As.com

Lionel Messi's Brace Defeats Real Madrid, Puts Barca In La Liga Chase
Lionel Messi took off his jersey and held it up to the Bernabeu crowd after his match winning goal.

Sid Lowe/The Guardian

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool Has Become More Attractive To Transfers
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, Bayer Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt and Leipzig midfielder Naby Keïta are among those on Jurgen Klopp's wishlist.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

El Clasico Generates More Than $40M In Media Value For Sponsors
Social media made up 12 percent of that figure.

The Drum

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Out Until January With ACL, PCL Tear
It is unclear if United is under an obligation to honor the extended contract of Zlatan Ibrahimovic following his injury.

Mark Ogden/ESPN

UCL Semifinals: Real Madrid/Atleti, Juve/Monaco
For the fourth straight year Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will meet in the Champions League as they have been paired in the semifinals.

RealGM Staff Report

Real Madrid Rejects $53.5M Bid From Liverpool For Marco Asensio
Zinedine Zidane is high on Marco Asensio and is willing to let Real Madrid sell James Rodriguez in the summer in order to clear space for him.

Sergio Santos Chozas/As.com

Liverpool Uninterested In Joe Hart
Joe Hart is currently on loan from Manchester City with Torino.

Andy Hunter/The Guardian

City To Make Leonardo Bonucci Top Priority
Pep Guardiola has long been enamored by Leonardo Bonucci.

Jonathan Smith/ESPN

Jose Mourinho: Anthony Martial 'Needs To Give Me Things I Like'
Jose Mourinho has warned Anthony Martial that he needs to learn from the example of Marcus Rashford if he wants to regain a spot in Manchester United's first team.

Daniel Taylor/The Guardian