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Barcelona transfer news LIVE: Club to trigger £29m release clause after Man Utd enquiry
Barcelona transfer news, gossip and updates are coming thick and fast and Express Sport has all the latest from the Nou Camp.
Barcelona: Todibo trains with squad ahead of final match of 2019
Barcelona transfer news LIVE updates from the Nou Camp
Monday, January 6
- Manchester United are looking to sign Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez
- Barcelona want Red Bull Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann top replace Nelson Semedo
- Barcelona are willing to let forward Ousmane Dembele leave the Nou Camp
- Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in the Frenchman
Reinier to Real Madrid
Real Madrid are on the verge of signing Flamengo attacker Reinier.
Goal claim the Brazilian forward will officially join Zinedine Zidane’s side in January for £29million.
Real have supposedly beaten off competition from La Liga rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to sign the 17-year-old.
It’s said the two clubs will wait until Reinier turns 18 on January 19 to announce the deal.
The shortlist
Barcelona have compiled a four-man wishlist to replace Gerard Pique.
Pique, 32, is into his 12th season at the Nou Camp and chiefs are busy eyeing long-term successors for the Spanish international.
Publication AS claim the Catalan giants are looking at Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt, Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, 22-year-old Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic and Sevilla talent Diego Carlos.
El Desmarque report that Carlos, 26, may be difficult to sign with Real Madrid also eyeing the Brazilian to replace stalwart Sergio Ramos.
Lautaro Martinez swap proposal
Manchester United could propose a sensational swap deal involving Paul Pogba and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez.
That’s according to the Mirror, who claim Ed Woodward and Co. are worried about losing Pogba and believe signing the Inter Milan forward would soften the blow.
Martinez, 22, is reportedly worth £80million while the Red Devils still value their want away Frenchman at £150m.
That could leave Antonio Conte’s side needing to offer a further £70m in cash to capture the former Juventus midfielder.
Lukas Klostermann for Nelson Semedo
Barcelona have found a replacement for Nelson Semedo.
Semedo, 26, has been linked with a £42million transfer to Manchester United with super-agent Jorge Mendes eager to secure his client a move away from the Nou Camp.
Forbes claim Barcelona are looking to raise £106million to ‘avoid going into the red’ and would entertain offers for the right-back.
The report claims Ernesto Valverde have already located a successor with Red Bull Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann being looked at.
Klostermann, 23, is out of contract in June 2021 and has a £29million release clause in his current deal.
Wanted: Ousmane Dembele
Liverpool are on red alert with reports suggesting Barcelona are willing to let Ousmane Dembele leave the club this month, but face competition from Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Spanish giants want to get rid of the Frenchman, who has failed to live up to the mark at the Nou Camp, according to El Desmarque.
Dembele is valued at roughly £85million, with Barcelona ready to take a loss on the £120m they paid in 2017.
That would obviously be a huge outlay for any of Liverpool, Chelsea or United, but the three are believed to be keen on making a move.
Frenkie caused damage
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde blamed Frenkie De Jong's red card for dropping two points in the derby draw with Espanyol.
Substitute Wu Lei struck in the 88th minute to earn bottom club Espanyol a dramatic 2-2 draw and leave Barcelona level on points at the top of LaLiga with Real Madrid.
Luis Suarez and substitute Arturo Vidal overturned David Lopez's first-half goal at the start of the second period, but Dutch midfielder De Jong was sent off for a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.
"De Jong's red card did us damage," Valverde said. "We had three chances to kill the game off and we ended up drawing from one chance.”
Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez
Manchester United are looking to sign Wolves pair Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bolster his squad in the January transfer window as Manchester United seek Champions League qualification.
Goal claim Wolves will consider selling Jimenez, 28, if their £51million valuation is met.
The Red Devils have also made contact with the agent of 22-year-old Neves to ‘test the water’ regarding a possible January deal.
Kalidou Koulibaly to West Ham?!
West Ham have emerged as shock contenders to sign Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly.
Koulibaly, 28, has previously been linked with Manchester United and Manchester City.
But Express Sport understands David Moyes’ Hammers are in the running to secure his signature.
The Senegal international, who has featured in 20 matched across all competitions for Napoli this season, is likely to cost £70million.
Bruno Fernandes latest
Manchester United have revived old interest in Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal international was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer but ultimately ended up staying with the Primeira Liga outfit.
Now, Goal claim United are looking at the prospect of bringing the 25-year-old to Old Trafford during the transfer window.
The report says United are contemplating an official bid for the Sporting star amid Solskjaer’s eagerness to bolster his midfield.