August 2020 – Football Flame

Month: August 2020

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Dani Ceballos to make Arsenal return for second loan from Real Madrid

Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal , Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal and Dani Ceballos of Arsenal pose with the FA Cup Trophy after their teams victory in the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England. Dani Cebollas is set to rejoin Arsenal on a season-long loan from Real Madrid this week after spending the 2019-20 campaign at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta called to the 24-year-old to convince him it would be best for him to return to the Premier League for another year.  The Gunners put in three bids with La Liga champions Real Madrid before coming to an agreement with the club. Ceballos has happy memories from his time in England, having been a key component in the Arsenal team which defe...
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LALIGA

Messi could face suspension by Barcelona

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Lionel Messi could be suspended and have a portion of his salary seized by Barcelona if he continues to refuse to attend official club events. Messi did not show for Sunday's coronavirus tests and it seems clear he will not attend new coach Ronald Koeman's first training session as coach on Monday. Both of those indiscretions would represent his first and second 'serious offences' and as both La Liga and the club believe that he is still under contract, this represents a breach of the collective agreement for players and clubs in the division. If he were to refuse to attend a further training session, this could ...
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LALIGA

Ronald Koeman hires new fitness coach for FC Barcelona

Barcelona's new Dutch coach Ronald Koeman poses during his official presentation at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 19, 2020. Ronald Koeman has hired a new fitness coach as he attempts to rebuild FC Barcelona, and it is understood previous staff will either be re-assigned or fired. Albert Roca, who was the fitness coach under Frank Rijkaard in the Dutchman’s reign at Barcelona, will return to the Catalan club. Edu Pons and Antonio Gomez, who were previously in charge, will have to find new jobs - perhaps still with the club, perhaps not, according to reporting. Pons was usually in charge of training on the pitch, while Gomez was in charge in the weight room. The club has hired Lluis Til, most recently of AS Monaco, to be the new head doctor. He was also in the staf...
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TRANSFERS

Chelsea ‘complete signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz’

Kai Havertz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks  on during the DFB Cup quarterfinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Union Berlin at BayArena on March 4, 2020 in Leverkusen, Germany.  Chelsea have reportedly completed the €100m (£90m) signing of Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and are preparing to make an announcement. The Blues have already made five signings this year and are looking to further strengthen their squad ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. Havertz has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge in recent weeks and, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a deal is now over the line. Romano claims that the Germany international agreed terms with Chelsea last week and the Premier League side have matched Leverkusen's valuation. However, ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City will move for Napoli centre-back once deal for Barcelona star is completed

Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli gestures during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio San Paolo on August 1, 2020 in Naples, Italy. For several months, Pep Guardiola's side have been heavily linked with 29-year-old Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly.  It was the biggest transfer story of the summer at the Etihad - that is, until last week, when Lionel Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona.  Since then, the Argentine wonder has overshadowed everything else in world football, and news about Koulibaly has run dry for City fans.  Now, though, journalist Alfredo Pedulla is reporting that the defender will move to Manchester - once there's more clarity regarding Messi's situation. Koulibaly, who made the Serie A Team of the Season in four c...
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NEWS

Neymar wants to create Champions League history at PSG

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. Neymar insists he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and create history by guiding them to their first ever Champions League triumph. PSG have dominated Ligue 1 in recent years, save for a single league win for Monaco, but their owners have injected significant funds into the club hoping to dominate Europe, too, wth the Champions League now representing a 'holy grail' of sorts. The acquisition of Neymar was meant to be the signing which propelled them into Europe's elite, but it took them to the 2019/20 season to reach as late as the semi-final, which they would win to p...
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TRANSFERS

Report: Crystal Palace and Southampton want Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck of Watford takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Watford FC at London Stadium on July 17, 2020 in London, England. Crystal Palace have already made a statement signing this summer by landing Eberechi Eze from QPR ahead of a host of potential suitors. The Eagles paid £19.5m to sign Eze last week. And now, they’re looking to secure two more signings this summer. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Palace are considering a move for Watford forward Danny Welbeck this summer. The former Arsenal forward joined Watford last summer. He managed three goals in 20 appearances for the club, but couldn’t prevent Watford from getting relegated. Several key players of Watford are attracting i...
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LALIGA

Argentine President Tells Messi To End Career At Newell’s Old Boys

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Lionel Messi's future remains unclear as the Argentine looks determined to bolt Camp Nou. Though there are several clubs linked to the 33-year-old footballer, a sensible place to go to maybe at his homeland. Argentine president Alberto Fernandez sent a message to Messi, calling on him to return and end his career with Newell's Old Boys. Even at his age, many feel that Messi can still compete at a high level and Argentinians are dreaming of a possible homecoming. Fans of the Argentine club took the streets recently, holding a parade that could hopefully convince Messi to come home. However it may take more than that alth...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool Star Sadio Mane Lauded Could Replace Barcelona Captain, Reports Say

Sadio Mane of Liverpool FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Liverpool star Sadio Mane has become the new favorite to replace Lionel Messi in Barcelona as the Argentine’s exit looms, reports from Spain said. The Catalan club is already preparing for a future without its longtime superstar, and the names of several highly-rated players have emerged as candidates to fill his shoes. But although replacing Messi is indeed difficult, Mane could be up for the challenge of filling the massive void the Barca captain would leave behind.  In fact, the Liverpool star has already been “offered to Barca,” Mundo Deportivo reported. Following a successful...
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LALIGA

Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid May Benefit In the Future For AS Monaco Defender

Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi of AS Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and AS Monaco on August 30, 2020 in Metz, France. The expectations are high for Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid and one player that the club has gained interest in in the future is AS Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile.  Spending for a big deal this year is out of the question but that hasn’t hindered the organization in scouting for the years to come. With everything that Badiashile offers Real Madrid has already put Badiashile as a possible 2021 signing per Fansided’s The Real Champs.  Considering the way Zidane’s team has been playing, having someone of Badiashile’s caliber will greatly complement the club’s dynamic.  The defensive intensity of the rising star has the potential to play w...
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LALIGA

Arturo Vidal: Barcelona must ‘change a lot of things’

Arturo Vidal of FC Barcelona controls the ball during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Arturo Vidal has been talking about where it’s all been going wrong for Barcelona on the pitch and how the team can improve. The Catalan giants are coming off the back of a difficult season where they lost La Liga to Real Madrid and were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Vidal says a lot needs to change at the Camp Nou and offered his thoughts on what needs to happen. “Barcelona first have to change their way of thinking because football has evolved a lot, their DNA is already lagging behind and other teams are improving in other aspects; football at the moment is more physical, with more ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Arteta’s youngsters encapsulate new mentality

Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta lifts the FA Community Shield with Kieran Tierney after the FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 29, 2020 in London, England. The Arsenal of Mikel Arteta appears increasingly like a team unencumbered by fear.  For all their developments in a tactical sense under Arteta, it is this change of mentality that feels most significant at the start of the Spaniard's first full season as a head coach. Unai Emery, in his own words, tried to fix the mentality problem he inherited from Arsene Wenger.  He was unable to do so, with the final months of his reign best summarised by the terror and panic in the eyes of his defenders every time the opposition had the ball. So far at least, Arteta is succeed...
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TRANSFERS

Manchester United close in on €44m Ajax star Van de Beek

Donny van de Beek of Ajax seen during the pre season match Ajax v RKC Waalwijk on August 8, 2020 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Manchester United have agreed to sign Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek for €44 million. Talks escalated quickly over the weekend after the 23-year-old was withdrawn from the Ajax squad who were due to play Eintracht Frankfurt in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. Ajax coach Erik ten Hag claimed the omission was linked to Van de Beek's future and United pressed ahead with a formal bid to try to ensure other clubs do not come in for the player. De Telegraaf in the Netherlands have reported that personal terms have already been agreed with the Netherlands international, who is expected to have a medical this week ahead of signing a five-year deal. Unite...
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Uncategorized

Kai Havertz absent from Bayer Leverkusen fitness tests as Chelsea transfer move edges closer

Kai Havertz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt at BayArena on March 7, 2020 in Leverkusen, Germany. Kai Havertz reportedly missed Bayer Leverkusen’s pre-season fitness tests this weekend as he closes in on a big-money switch to Chelsea.  Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has been intent on making up for lost time in the wake of the club’s two-window transfer ban, signing Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva already this summer.  The Blues are now focussing their efforts on finalising their move for Havertz after weeks of discussions to lure the 21-year-old attacking midfielder to Stamford Bridge. Reports earlier this month claimed Havertz had said yes to a five-year ...
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Uncategorized

Barcelona willing to pay Luis Suarez to leave the club

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona looks dejected, gestures during the LaLiga match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on September 28, 2019 in Getafe, Spain. Barcelona are willing to pay Luis Suarez £12m to terminate his contract with the club, reports suggest. Goal have stated that the Uruguayan, who has been told that he surplus to requirements by arriving coach Ronald Koeman, will be given a handsome package to allow him to negotiate terms as a free agent elsewhere. Suarez is a huge earner on Barca's spiralling wage bill and the club are set to take extreme steps this summer in order to free up transfer funds. The ongoing soap opera with Lionel Messi is set to continue for some time yet, with the Argentine having made it clear that he sees his future away f...
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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski voted Germany’s Footballer of the Year after triumphant season

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Stamford Bridge on February 25, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was voted Germany's Footballer of the Year on Sunday. The 31-year-old Pole was the runaway winner of the title awarded by the football magazine Kicker, following a vote by journalists. Lewandowski received 276 votes, well ahead of two other members of Bayern's triple-winning squad: Thomas Muller (54 votes) and Joshua Kimmich (49). "I'm very proud," Lewandowski told Kicker. "Expectations are getting higher and higher and every year I try to surpass them." The striker amassed 55 goals for Bayern, finishing top scorer in ev...
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TRANSFERS

Fabrizio Romano backs up claims Leeds are in talks to sign star playmaker, could cost £31m

Rodrigo De Paul of Udinese Calcio controls the ball during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on July 2, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Fabrizio Romano has become one of the more reliable names when it comes to transfers – and he has provided Leeds United fans with something to get excited about. The Whites have had a busy weekend, adding Valencia striker Rodrigo in a club-record deal, before then signing German international defender Robin Koch from Freiburg. Leeds are still in the market for more new signings though, and with Rangers refusing to budge on Ryan Kent’s future, Marcelo Bielsa may have found a new target. The Telegraph report that Leeds are interested in signing Udinese playmaker Rodrigo De Paul, with Bielsa seeking to add his compatriot. ...
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LALIGA

BREAKING – La Liga release official statement on the Lionel Messi situation

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona warms up prior to the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. La Liga have released an official statement on the  contract saga that is currently the most important issue in Lionel Messi's future - and they have sided with FC Barcelona, reports Fabrizio Romano. This morning, Messi failed to attend the PCR tests at Barcelona - a clear signal of his desire to leave the club and an attempt to put pressure on the board to reach a resolution. Additionally, it has been reported that Messi's camp believe that his release clause of €700m no longer applies, and that the Argentinean is effectively a free agent and can sign for any club he wishes. However, La Liga have waded into the...
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TRANSFERS

Arsenal handed Thomas Partey transfer blow as new club join race for his signature

Thomas Teye Partey of Atletico de Madrid controls the ball during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Betis Balompie at Wanda Metropolitano on July 11, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey but now faces a battle as Inter Milan have entered the race for his signature.  The Gunners are looking to strengthen in midfield as they look to close the gap on Liverpool in the Premier League. Arsenal are believed to be the frontrunners for Partey but Inter entering the race is a complication Arteta would not have wanted. The Gunners have already completed deals for Willian and are close to agreeing a new contract with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Arsenal are struggling to raise the funds to complete...
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SERIE A

Ibrahimovic ready to sign new contract at AC Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan reacts during the football match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan. Internazionale won over AC Milan 4-2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back in Italy and ready to sign a new contract with AC Milan. “Finally everything is in place and finally I can return to where I feel at home,” Ibrahimovic said upon his arrival at Milan’s Linate airport late Saturday. The 38-year-old Ibrahimovic is expected to sign a one-season deal worth 7 million euros ($8.3 million). Ibrahimovic began his second stint with Milan in January on a six-month contract and helped turn the Rossoneri’s season around with 10 goals in 18 Serie A matches. Seven-time European champion Milan finished sixth in the Italian league and earned a Europa League spot. “As I’ve always said, I’m n...
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