Barcelona are ready to offload Andre Gomes (right)
BARCELONA NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Latest on Leon Goretzka, Lucas Lima, Lionel Messi and more…
Saturday September 23
Messi to start
12:06: Lionel Messi will start for Barcelona at Girona today, manager Ernesto Valverde has confirmed.
Messi scored four goals in the 6-1 win over Eibar on Tuesday night.
But Valverde admits Luis Suarez may be rested.
“Rotating Messi? When I’ve had a player score four goals, I’ve never dropped them for the next game,” the boss said ahead of tonight’s 7.45pm kick off.
“Suarez? We’ll see how he responds in training, but we think he’ll pull through.
“That’s the idea.
“The game against Girona is very important, it’s derby, with an emotional attachment to it."
Goretzka plan
07:44: Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is planning to replace midfielder Andre Gomes with Leon Goretzka in January.
Barcelona tried to sell Gomes in the summer but no club matched their valuation.
But Valverde is hopeful a deal can be struck with Monaco that would see Portugal international Gomes end his frustrating stint at the Nou Camp.
That is according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who claim Schalke’s Goretzka will come in to replace the former Valencia gem.
Friday September 22
Man Utd told to bid for Andre Gomes
20:20: Real Madrid have reportedly told Manchester United to bid for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes this summer.
Gomes was widely expected to leave Barcelona this summer after struggling for form under Luis Enrique in La Liga last term.
Tottenham were being tipped to sign him on transfer deadline day but the Portugal international ultimately ended up staying at the Nou Camp.
Despite that, Manchester United are being linked with him with manager Jose Mourinho determined to sign a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick, who is expected to retire at the end of the campaign.
And Spanish outlet Don Balon claims Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has urged Jose Mourinho to rescue the midfielder from his Barcelona pain
GETTY
Barcelona Transfer News: The Catalan side are eyeing a January swoop for Leon Goretzka
Aubameyang: Dortmund’s players were scared
14:20: Barcelona left Borussia Dortmund’s players “scared” when they signed Ousmane Dembele in the summer for £138million.
That is according to Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who claims Dembele could have handled the transfer much better.
"Everyone was a little bit scared by his departure," Aubameyang told RMC.
“He had an agreement with the club that if Barcelona came, they would not prevent him from leaving. Afterwards, everyone said it was not the best thing that he did (to go on strike).
“I think this is true, since he had only to speak first with Dortmund to know if they were going to let him go. If they had said no, I could have understood what he did. I think he did it a little too early.
“But hey, it's my buddy, so I will not smash him! [laughs] I understand it totally because it's his dream (to move to Barcelona). He has realised it now and I'm very happy for him."
Rafinha setback
11:45: Barcelona star Rafinha will be sidelined until November at the earliest, reports claim.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who missed the tail-end of last season, is still recovering from a serious knee injury.
But not everything’s been going according to plan.
Spanish newspaper Sport claim he’s suffered a setback after being forced to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to resolve an injury to the internal meniscus.
"At midday on Friday local time the first-team player Rafinha underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to resolve an injury to the internal meniscus. The operation was carried out by Dr Ramon Cugat and Dr Ricard Pruna. The player will be out for around four months," an official Barcelona statement said.
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United rival Barca for Lima
11:00: Manchester United have hijacked Barcelona’s swoop for Santos star Lucas Lima, according to the player’s agent.
The Catalan giants were reportedly monitoring the talented attacking midfielder, 27, who’s netted once and provided nine assists in 24 appearances this season.
But the player’s agent, Luccas Badia, says Jose Mourinho’s side want to sign him.
“Inter, Roma and Barcelona are keeping close tabs on Lucas, Manchester United want him” Badia told Turkish newspaper Haberturk.
“I think we would be well suited to the Serie A but we will see. His contract ends on 31 December and there are many clubs interested but I am not sure what Santos is trying to do.
“Crystal Palace made a €15 million offer while Fenerbahce made a €20 million bid but for some reason neither has been accepted.”
January swoop for Goretzka
10:00 Barcelona are growing confident of signing Schalke star Leon Goretzka for a cut-price fee in January, reports claim.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are determined to sign Goretzka and have already opened talks with his representatives.
Goretzka, 22, is out of contract in the summer and will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club outside Germany in January.
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the situation as Schalke struggle to keep hold of their valuable asset.
Dybala move possible
09:00: Juventus boss Beppe Marotta has suggested Paulo Dybala will be free to leave the club for Barcelona if he so chooses, according to The Sun.
Without a release clause, Barca will have to be prepared to battle for the 23-year-old, but Marotta said it is up to a player to decide his own fate, the paper reports.
Dybala, 23, has enjoyed an incredible start to the season.
The Argentine international has netted 10 goals in seven appearances, including two hat-tricks against Genoa and Sassuolo.