Football transfer news

Lionel Messi is no stranger to being in the headlines, but in the 2020/21 season he was there for all the wrong reasons.

Sure, he was doing bits on every football pitch he graced, but that was nothing new. Instead, people were more bothered about his contract and his future. He’s never faced this level of speculation and there has even been plenty of criticism towards his enormous financial demands.

His failed move away from the club last summer has distracted from his talents. For the first time in years, the concept of ‘Messi’ was not just footballing royalty, but rather pure, unadulterated chaos, and that clearly took its toll in the early months of the campaign.

Between September and December 2020, Messi scored in just three of his nine La Liga games. He wasn’t himself at all. Was he even worth all the fuss anymore?

Well, judging by his form in 2021, he’s arguably worth even more than ever before.

In front of a chaotic backdrop, Messi has absolutely dominated the globe over the past seven months. He has put together a laundry list of ridiculous performances, stealing the show for both club and country with alarming regularity.

At club level, it’s safe to say that 90% of the reason Barcelona have enjoyed any optimism over the past few months is because of Messi. 23 goals and eight assists in 21 games led Barcelona back into the La Liga title battle and had them within weeks of the most unlikely triumph in years.

For Argentina, he has reached a new height, ripping it up at the Copa America in the hope of finally winning his first major honour with his country. This could finally be the year.

Barcelona would not have been in the La Liga title picture without him, and Argentina’s chances of Copa America glory would be slim if he wasn’t there. No player in the world has been more important to their club and their country than Messi.

#CopaAmérica ?

¡Bombazo! Lionel Messi la clavó de tiro libre para el 3-0 final de @Argentina sobre @LaTri

?? Argentina ? Ecuador ??#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/FcvQrHuRka

— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 4, 2021

He’s looked like a man possessed at times, seemingly determined to make up for the time lost towards the end of 2020. Messi knew he blew the chance to win his seventh Ballon d’Or last year – though the award was ultimately not handed out – but he’s going all-out this time around.

This time last year, the idea of Messi winning his seventh shiny gold ball was crazy. He was underperforming, visibly distracted and some fans even suggested he was finished.

Now, he has to be seen as one of the favourites to win the award, and the lack of silverware at club level shouldn’t make any difference.

It speaks volumes of Messi’s talents that he has managed to turn things around so emphatically. Life could hardly have been worse for him when he started 2020/21, and he needed just four months to figure himself out, rediscovering superstardom and looking like he hadn’t skipped a beat.

His reward for all his hard work may not have been a La Liga title or Champions League glory, but it absolutely should be yet another Ballon d’Or. Messi has been absolutely unplayable in 2021, taking the kind of importance even he isn’t used to.

There are a lot of players who have done their best to match him – Robert Lewandowski and N’Golo Kante both look like early candidates – but what Messi has been doing is otherworldly. It’s Ballon d’Or material.

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Manchester United are expected to hand the club’s iconic number seven shirt to Jadon Sancho once his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, which is officially agreed subject to a routine medical, is complete. But that will mean Edinson Cavani will need a new number.

Sancho would have been given United’s number seven last summer had the club reached a deal with Dortmund at the first attempt. But United’s refused to meet a £108m valuation and Dortmund refused to compromise, leaving negotiations at a stalemate.

It meant that when Cavani signed a free agent in October, seven was available for him to take. The veteran Uruguayan had previously worn it for Palermo and Napoli earlier in his career, as well as for his country at the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Olympics.

But Cavani, having agreed to extend his contract for another season until 2022, will have to vacate United’s number seven shirt now that it is going to Sancho instead.

The 34-year-old scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, improving as the campaign progressed and becoming a fan favourite in the process.

Plenty of United supporters would love to see Cavani don the number shirt this coming season. It was his number for seven years at Paris Saint-Germain and he scored 200 goals.

The issue with that, however, is that nine at United is occupied by Anthony Martial. The Frenchman had it taken off him once before in 2016, a move that seemed to rub him up the wrong way until it was eventually returned three years later. The club may be unlikely to strip him of his favoured shirt again, but Martial could yet be sold this summer if a suitable offer is made.

Aside from seven and nine, the other shirt that has been long associated with Cavani is 21. He has worn it for the majority of his international career with Uruguay, including at two World Cup and five Copa America tournaments since 2011.

The number 21 shirt at United currently belongs to Daniel James. But the Wales winger typically wears 20 at international level so were current number 20 Diogo Dalot to move on following his loan at AC Milan last season it could see James move and free up 21 for Cavani.

Other United shirt numbers that are available but hold little in the way of significance for Cavani are 12, 16, 22, 24 and 25. Numbers 14 and 15 could also yet become available if Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira respectively secure permanent moves away from Old Trafford.

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Atletico Madrid are open to selling midfielder Saul Niguez to Liverpool, who have him earmarked as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Dutchman joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after his contract at Anfield expired at the end of the 2020/21 season – spurning offers from Barcelona and Bayern Munich to head to the French capital.

Liverpool’s pursuit of a successor to Wijnaldum has seen them linked with a number of different midfielders from all over Europe, with Spain international Saul the latest name thrown in the mix.

La Razon report that Atletico are ‘willing to negotiate’ with Liverpool over a potential transfer as they look set to wrap up the signing of Udinese and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

Saul is open to leaving the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, and is ‘seduced’ by the idea of playing in the Premier League, a possibility that Liverpool could present him with.

However, it’s noted that Liverpool retain an interest in Hoffenheim and Austria star Christoph Baumgartner, who impressed with his performances at Euro 2020.

Saul, who turns 27 in November, has made 337 appearances for Atletico in all competitions, and was part of the side that pipped rivals Real Madrid to La Liga’s title last season.

He’s also won two Europa Leagues with the club, as well as one Copa del Rey, one Supercopa de Espana and UEFA Super Cup. He rose to international fame with a stunning solo goal against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016, though Atletico were beaten by Real in the final.

Despite making 19 appearances for Spain’s national team, he was overlooked for a place in their Euro 2020 squad, with head coach Luis Enrique even opting to take only 24 players in his squad despite having the option to take 26.

Denmark’s dream summer could get even better with a victory over England in the Euro 2020 semi-final on Wednesday.

This tournament got off to the worst possible start for Denmark but have been on an incredible run of form since losing their first two games at Euro 2020. Victories over Wales and the Czech Republic in the knockout stages were impressive, but Denmark might have to step it up to another level against England.

Here’s how Kasper Hjulmand could set his side up.

Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – Kasper’s father Peter was part of the Denmark side that won Euro 1992, so a good performance here would take the younger Schmeichel one step closer to emulating him.

Andreas Christensen (CB) – The Chelsea man is enjoying the best run of form of his career and is a vital cog in the Denmark machine.

Jannik Vestergaard (CB) – Vestergaard’s height could be crucial against an England side who thrive off set-pieces. Someone has to mark Harry Maguire.

Simon Kjaer (CB) – The epitome of what it means to be a captain, Kjaer has been excellent all summer and will be keen to take his country one step further.

Daniel Wass (RM) – Jens Stryger Larsen is in with a shout to start after impressing against the Czech Republic, but expect Daniel Wass to return to the starting lineup.

Thomas Delaney (CM) – Outstanding against the Czechs, Delaney is as close to a guaranteed starter as you’ll find.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) – The emotion on Hojbjerg’s face when Denmark reached the semi-final was something truly special. He really wants this.

Joakim Maehle (LM) – With Leonardo Spinazzola out injured, Maehle is in a straight shoot-out with Luke Shaw for the honour of being the best left-back still standing (even though he’s a right-back).

Mikkel Damsgaard (RW) – The young winger has been one of the breakout stars of the tournament and Damsgaard could add another zero to his price tag with a good performance here.

Kasper Dolberg (ST) – With two goals against Wales and one against the Czechs, Dolberg isn’t going to lose his spot in the starting lineup.

Martin Braithwaite (LW) – Whether he’s on the left or the right, Braithwaite has to start. He is one of the few members of this Denmark team who know what’s needed in these big games.

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AC Milan could give Philippe Coutinho the chance to leave Barcelona this summer as Ronald Koeman looks to free up space on the wage bill.

Barça’s financial struggles have been well documented over the course of the pandemic, with the club still trying to renegotiate Lionel Messi’s mammoth contract after his most recent deal expired last week.

Coutinho, who turned 29 in June, has failed to impress at Camp Nou since making the nine-figure switch from Liverpool at the start of 2018. He’s made 90 appearances in all competitions across three seasons, and spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich.

According to Tuttosport (via Mundo Deportivo), Kia Joorabchian – Coutinho’s agent – has been tasked with finding a new club for the Brazil international.

Milan are eyeing a replacement for Hakan Calhanoglu, who recently moved to rivals Inter on a free transfer, and could move for former Nerazzurri man Coutinho after he was offered to them by Joorabchian.

While Coutinho would be available for just €25m, he is currently still recovering from knee surgery he underwent at the start of the year, but Barcelona are confident that he will return to full fitness before the end of the transfer window and that he would be able to successfully be able to undergo a medical elsewhere.

Coutinho has been heavily touted to return to the Premier League ever since swapping Merseyside for Catalonia. Tottenham and Arsenal are two clubs who have continually been linked with the midfielder, while Everton have also emerged as a potential destination in the last few months.

Current Toffees midfielder James Rodriguez is another name that Milan have been linked to in their search of a Calhanoglu replacement. The Colombian made just 23 Premier League appearances in his maiden campaign in England, struggling to stay fit and hold down a place in the side.