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The impossible is slowly but surely turning into likely or even expected – Lionel Messi is set to leave Barcelona after almost 20 years of service and playing under the same banner his whole career. And Manchester City are waiting to take him to the Premier League.

The Argentine has now missed the initial pre-training tests at the camp and is likely to also miss Ronald Koeman’s first training session today as well. All of this certainly points towards an almost definite separation.

But Man City should also be really optimistic because according to Terry Gibson, Barcelona themselves would love nothing more than to actually sell the Argentine in the ongoing summer transfer window.

Here’s what he said for Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast: “It’s a sign now that there is going to be a war between Barcelona and Messi. If you’re asking me what is going to happen eventually, I think Manchester City are the favourites now. But part of me thinks (Josep) Bartomeu and Ronald Koeman want to see Messi out of the door now.

“They want to eradicate his wage bill, Luis Suarez’s wage bill, the team needs rebuilding. If Barcelona can get the transfer fee from Manchester City, get Messi off the wage bill and try to pin the blame on Messi, that’s the outcome which suits Bartomeu, Ronald Koeman, and the outcome that will suit Manchester City.”

The Catalans have been struggling with their wage bill and do have enormous financial issues. Selling Messi, however weird that may sound, could potentially throw them a lifeline.

Of course, Pep Guardiola is just waiting for that to happen and then he’ll pull the trigger.

Verdict

There have been various different discussions of whether Messi would fit in at Man City. He’s 33 now and doesn’t exactly run too much and the Citizens are all about intensity, speed and aggression.

But are we really discussing whether adding the world’s best player to a team would indeed make that team better? It does seem like a no-brainer.

Inter Milan have signed Alexis Sanchez from Manchester United on a three-year deal, reports say. 

Sanchez, 31, has spent the past season on loan at the San Siro since joining the Serie A side in August 2019. The 132-cap Chile international scored four goals for Antonio Conte’s side in all competitions.

Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he will move to Milan on a permanent deal.

Speaking after United’s Europa League win over LASK, Solskjaer said the deal would be announced today.

According to the BBC’s Simon Stone, Inter expect to be able to use him for the Europa League last eight. Goals from former Premier League players Romelu Lukaku and Christian Eriksen saw the Nerazzurri reach the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

“I can confirm that he’s agreed and we’ve agreed,” Solskjaer said. “Alexis enjoyed his time there.

“They’ve liked him, so of course that’s a good move for him. Wish him all the best. He’s a top player, that we want to see play his best football.

“For whatever reason we didn’t see the best of Alexis, but he’s a top professional and we just wish him all the best.”

The Chilean will receive a payout from the Red Devils for cancelling his contract at Old Trafford, which still has two years left to run in theory.

His departure will bring to an end the long-running saga which has plagued the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for years.

United beat Manchester City to his signature, signing him from Arsenal on a four-and-a-half year deal with wages worth £400,000-a-week.

Sadly Sanchez failed to live up to expectations, having only scored five goals in 45 games for the Red Devils, and the board will be glad to get him off the books for good.

The veteran was involved in a bust-up with academy graduate Mason Greenwood during pre-season training (The Sun).

However, Sanchez has shown early signs of a revival under Conte, scoring in the 3-0 victory over Genoa last month.

Regardless, finally ridding themselves of a player who has done more harm than good could pave the way for United to sign Solskjaer’s top target Jadon Sancho instead.

United fans, are you happy to see Sanchez leave? Let us know down below!

Newcastle United could well be in for a huge windfall if their prospective takeover goes through.

The Saudi Royal Family have been linked with the purchase of the north-east outfit for the last few months, and should the deal go through, it would see the Toon become arguably the richest side on the planet. The transfer rumour mill has been going into overdrive, and the Magpies have been linked with a whole host of world class players – Kylian Mbappe and Kalidou Koulibaly are to name but two.

However, Dan Barlaser does not seem too fazed by the speculation – he appears to be relishing the chance to return to St. James’ Park. He has been playing for Rotherham this term in League One, and has impressed with an average WhoScored rating of 7.24, and he has taken to Instagram to share that this was the best year in his career and that he is leaving the club as a better player.

The Chronicle has picked up on the post and asked their supporters whether they believe Barlaser has a future at the club – the Toon supporters don’t appear to think so.  One even said that there ‘must be no takeover’ if Barlaser is being considered – they are probably right in as much as the midfielder probably wouldn’t get an opportunity if the new owners came in.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

A lot of Celtic fans were reminiscing over former player Brian McClair after a fan posted a picture of him on Twitter.

The Scottish international played both in attack and in midfield for the Hoops and made 198 appearances for the side, scoring an impressive 122 goals during his four years at the club, as per Soccerbase.

He also came away with a league title and a cup winner’s medal, and clearly a lot of this was due to his performances as he also received the personal accolade of Scottish PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 1987 and also Scottish Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in the same campaign.

He had a quite successful four-year stint at the club and it did not go unnoticed as English giants Manchester United signed him for £850,000 from the Hoops, and he went on to score 129 goals for the Red Devils. It is worth wondering how much a player with such a good goal record would cost in today’s market.

Here is what some Celtic fans had to say following the tweet:

Celtic fans, just how good was McClair in his time at the club? Comment below with your views!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players’ fitness.

Macauley Bonne has been cleared to play in Charlton Athletic’s match against Cardiff City, as reported by London News Online.

What’s the story?

The 24-year-old striker had been forced to pull out of international duty with Zimbabwe due to what he referred to as “unforeseen medical grounds” on Twitter.

He has had cardiac tests since releasing his statement, which have cleared the Charlton man to carry on playing, though he will continue to be checked on.

Charlton’s statement on the matter, via London News Online, stated: “The club’s medical team can confirm that Macauley Bonne underwent some planned cardiac investigations last week following a recent routine cardiac screen.

“The results of these investigations have been discussed with the sports cardiologist and the player will continue to play and train as normal. The club will continue to regularly screen his heart as recommended, as we do with all our players from U15 through to the first team.”

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Vital inclusion

Bonne has become a vital player for Charlton, having signed from Leyton Orient in the summer and coming to prominence in the absence of Lyle Taylor.

The 24-year-old has made 8 Championship starts this campaign, coming off the bench twice, scoring 5 goals, including the only strike of the game in a victory against Leeds United.

He has dealt with the step up from the National League to Championship football admirably and he can definitely play his part against Cardiff.

It is uncertain whether or not Taylor will be able to feature in the game, as he looks to make his return from injury, but Bonne should be able to impact the game regardless of whether that is from the start or off the bench.

More importantly though, they will be relieved to know that Bonne is okay and able to carry on with his career without any potential health issues looming over him.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur earlier last week and was very quickly replaced by Jose Mourinho.

This mammoth news is bound to send shockwaves through English football, and this move could directly affect Leeds United.

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Of course, we’re talking about the possibility that Jack Clarke could be recalled in January.

There has been plenty of speculation around the winger in recent months, and Phil Hay has outright stated that he expects him to return to Spurs once the winter window opens. Even though it was already likely, the chances of that happening may have just skyrocketed.

It was made very clear that Pochettino simply didn’t want Clarke as a part of his squad this season, and that his signing this summer was ultimately Daniel Levy’s call.

However, the new manager may fancy having a closer look at Clarke, and when you consider that his recall was already looking likely, the sacking of Pochettino may have been the final straw for the teenager’s Leeds United career.

Reports suggest that Levy never even wanted to loan the teenager back to Leeds this summer, and it’s clear that the chairman is an admirer of the youngster.

It’s unknown whether or not Mourinho has ever even seen Clarke play, but he may want to take a look at him in more detail by recalling him, especially if Levy gives him a glowing review.

The new Spurs boss has already said he’s excited about getting to work with Tottenham’s academy players and given Clarke is only 18, this might speed up his potential return to north London.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers.

Marco Silva says Mason Holgate’s return to the starting XI is fully deserved after watching the 23-year-old training.

What did he say?

Holgate has found some rare game time this past week, starting against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford. Manager Silva has had nothing but praise Holgate for his actions thus far and even claimed he visited his office for advice.

Silva told Everton: “Mason understood our defensive idea really well from the first day I came. He is a clever player.

“But it is one thing if you know [what is required], another if you practice every single day.

“Mason came to my office not just because he wasn’t playing, he wanted to know what he should do in a different way to improve.

“It is easy for Mason to understand the job we have been doing with the central defenders since we [Silva and his staff] joined the Club. We will do the same with Mason.

“Sometimes it is up to them to work every single day in the way I think is best to perform and develop football players.

“Mason has a very good profile as a central defender, in my opinion, he has the talent and quality.”

Time for a permanent role

Holgate may have come back into the side because of injuries, but he has applied himself better than most this season. The form of both Michael Keane and Mina has been questionable all season, as the club still sits just two points above the drop zone.

Keane has also been at fault for goals conceded on international duty, as he put in poor performances for England. Indeed, all of these signs point towards a starting role for Holgate in replace of either Keane or Mina.

The former Barnsley defender has also pitched in on the goals since his return to the side. His smart assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin against the Seagulls gave Everton the lead at that time. Plus, in midweek, his first goal for the club broke the deadlock against Watford, helping progress the club to the next round.

It is clear with yet another injury scare to Mina that he needs rest, so maybe it is time for a permanent starting role for Holgate.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Leeds United have been linked with a move for West Brom’s 19-year-old full-back Nathan Ferguson this week as Football Insider have reported that the club are compiling a dossier about the defender.

The Baggies man has started 11 matches for Slaven Bilic’s side already this term, and with West Brom losing just one game so far this campaign it’s fair to say that he’s had a good start to life in the senior team at The Hawthorns.

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Makings of a top player

The defender has all the makings of a top player. The fact that he’s reportedly being watched by Juventus and Atletico Madrid tells you all you need to know, and his manager has been full of praise for him this season.

“Nathan is talented: he reminds me of Declan Rice, ” Bilic said. “He is only 18 on paper but his head and mind is like he’s 25 or 27. He’s a kid in a positive way in that he is not afraid to play.

“That’s the good thing about being young because he is thinking positively. It’s our job, and his family’s, to keep him humble and then there is no doubt that he has an extremely bright future and great career in front of him.” the Croatian manager noted.

Dilemma

Of course, signing a player with so much touted potential is an exciting prospect, but it will leave Marcelo Bielsa with a dilemma if he were to join the club.

Why are Leeds fans the best in the country? Find out in the video below…

Full-back is a position where Leeds have a lot of cover with Barry Douglas, Ezgjan Alioski, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas all capable of playing that role to a high standard.

It’s already tough enough for the Argentine to choose between those four players on a weekly basis at the moment, but if you add Ferguson to the equation, it becomes an almost impossible task.

After all, Ayling’s return to the side has seen Dallas have to move into the middle of the park, such are their options in wide defensive roles.

The teenager would be a great addition to the squad, particularly if they beat some of the names in for him, but if Bielsa wanted to incorporate him into the team right away, he would have a very tough decision to make.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Xherdan Shaqiri is not too far away from returning to training following a calf problem.

Shaqiri has been on the sidelines since last month with the issue. However, Klopp is hopeful that the Switzerland international will soon be available for selection.

There is no question that it has been a frustrating season for the 28-year-old.

Indeed, he has only played 11 minutes of Premier League football during the 2019/20 campaign, in addition to just three minutes of Champions League action.

As expected, the injury update led to a number of Liverpool fans responding.

And the vast majority are absolutely desperate for the former Bayern Munich ace to be given the chance to make his mark upon his return to fitness.

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Liverpool’s squad is certainly not as deep as Manchester City’s, and it will be interesting to see whether Shaqiri can play a part this season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to the fitness update can be seen below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After starting his career at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Bukayo Saka has progressed through the ranks at the club and now finds himself in a position where he can become a first-team regular. However, once upon a time, the same was once expected from Alex Iwobi as a youngster breaking through the academy and into the first team.

Saka, 18, has made a name for himself in a short space of time. His performance against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League placed his name on the footballing map after he scored his first goal since signing a professional contract for Arsenal.

The youngster also provided two assists in Germany as the Gunners’ cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Commerzbank-Arena.

Saka finds himself in a similar situation to where Everton forward Alex Iwobi was at the age of 20. The exciting, dazzling and intricate forward-thinking player looked set to provide a breath of fresh air at the club. Fleeting injections of exuberance had the Arsenal fans speculating over how high he could rise, a feeling that was at least partly manufactured by murmurs from inside the club.

Former manager Arsene Wenger hinted that his quality exceeded his youthful years and that he would continue on an upward trajectory, per Arsenal.com.

“The trick about him is that you forget how old he is when you seem him play. You never imagine that he’s 20 years old.

“I believe as well, looking back where he was one-and-a-half years ago and where he is today, what is very interesting with Alex Iwobi is that he is consistently moving upwards.”

Up, up and up, all the way to Everton. Wenger’s words do not represent the prophetic tale of progress that they represented back in January 2017, with his £40m summer switch representing a notable step down away from the big-six.

The media simply fuelled the hype, with Paul Merson gushing over Iwobi after an impressive performance against FC Basel in the Champions League.

While speaking to Sky Sports’ The Fantasy Football Club (via the Daily Express), the pundit drew comparisons with two of Arsenal’s most prestigious and internationally renowned talents.

“He was outstanding again against Basel on Wednesday night. He’s got a very good football brain. That’s what I like about him.

“He is playing with people whose football brains are at the top of their game, in the likes of Sanchez and Ozil.

But Iwobi has never quite managed to reach the heights that were once expected of him, and the fact he now plys his trade for a club who have finished in the top-four just once during the Premier League era underlines how much he still has to prove.

Saka, meanwhile, is at a similar junction to the one Iwobi found himself at when he was breaking through. Filled with promise, poise and expectation, the youngster has made a bright opening to the season.

His performance at Old Trafford stood out to Gunners’ fans during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The links between Saka and Iwobi are clear: they are both attacking midfielder products of an Arsenal academy that have been hailed for their ability to organically produce high-class footballers.

The youngster who could yet become the player Iwobi was once expected to become has already scored one goal and provided three assists in five games this season, stats that suggest a success story is simmering beneath the surface.

Significantly, the club need to learn from the mistakes they made with Iwobi.

Too much was expected of the Nigeria international and his failure to mirror the hyperbole spreading through the media soon led to criticism from fans, with their expectations remaining much higher than what could reasonably be expected of an inexperienced flair player looking to make his mark at a top-four chasing outfit.

Saka needs to be nurtured, given the time to mature in order to get used to the physicality of the Premier League.

Having experienced players around him will quicken the process and help him to thrive at the top level.

Pundits will naturally sensationalise his ability in light of his most outstanding performances, but the lesson of Iwobi’s career so far should serve as a telling reminder for fans to not expect too much too soon.