Barcelona Consider Surprise Summer Swoop For Tottenham Hotspur Outcast Juan Foyth

Barcelona are considering a shock move to bring out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth to Camp Nou this summer.

The Argentine showed early promise at the beginning of his Spurs career, but he has since dropped down the pecking order. His first-team chances have been limited even further by the arrival of new coach Jose Mourinho.

Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur – Audi Cup 2019 Semi Final

Foyth is desperate to earn some valuable game time at a crucial stage in his young career, and so Tottenham have decided to offer his services out to a number of clubs. And according to The Mirror, Catalan giants Barcelona are prepared to take a chance on the 22-year-old this summer.

La Blaugrana’s interest in the Spurs defender stems from their own centre-back issues, as the Spanish champions are set to offload big earner Samuel Umtiti and starlet Jean-Clair Todibo in an attempt to balance the books for the coming season.

And Foyth could be a cheap and effective alternative for Barça, given he can fill in at both the centre of defence and at right-back if needs be. The former Estudiantes star was highly rated when he arrived at Spurs in 2017, but his reputation has taken a hit in recent months, and he has been restricted to making only four Premier League appearances this season.

Speaking out about his future, the defender admitted that ‘the best thing will be to find another club’ if he is unable to anchor down a spot in the Tottenham backline.

Bayern Muenchen v Tottenham Hotspur: Group B – UEFA Champions League

“You always want to play to feel like a player and feel good. It isn’t easy not to play either. If I am going to have opportunities here, I will be very comfortable. And if they won’t count on me, the best thing will be to find another club.

“I would like to stay in Europe, all leagues have a high level. My wish is to play at the highest level as long as I can. The main thing is to play.”

Could this be the move that kickstarts Foyth’s faltering career?

Let’

Chelsea ‘Confident’ They Will Sign Man Utd Youngster Angel Gomes as Free Agent

Chelsea have been described as ‘confident’ of signing Manchester United midfielder Angel Gomes, who is now thought to have rejected the latest offer of a new contract at Old Trafford.

Gomes is on course to become a free agent when his current deal expires at the end of next month and United have so far failed to convince the 19-year-old to stay at the club he has been with since joining the academy at the tender age of six.

Manchester United v FK Astana: Group L – UEFA Europa League

Gomes became United’s youngest league debutant since Duncan Edwards in 1953 when he made his Premier League bow as a substitute at 16 on the final day of the 2016/17 season. He then became the youngest ever winner of the club’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, which was created in 1990 and has been won by Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Wes Brown and Marcus Rashford.

Yet further first-team opportunities have proven difficult to come by. The England youth captain, whose father was a teammate of Luis Figo and Rui Costa at the 1991 Under-20 World Cup, has only made 10 senior appearances for United in the three years since his debut.

The Daily Mirror notes that a lack of chances has contributed to his decision to turn down a new United contract worth £30,000 per week.

The newspaper reports that Gomes has also recruited super agent Pini Zahavi, who is said to have already held talks with top ranking Chelsea official Marina Granovskaia.

Rotherham United v Manchester United U21 – EFL Trophy

United recently managed to convince Dutch winger Tahith Chong, who was in a similar position to Gomes and linked with Inter and Juventus, to commit his future to the club. Gomes is proving more difficult, with the assurances he appears to be seeking simply not possible.

Given the coronavirus crisis and its severe impact on the season, it remains unclear when Gomes might leave United. The Premier League has been considering how to handle contracts due to expire this June when the season – assuming it resumes at all – will be played well into the summer.

While debate rages over neutral venues and even how players could tackle one another with their head turned away, that was one of things an agreement was reached on at the latest meeting.

Any player out of contract next month can agree a temporary extension with their club that covers the remainder of the 2019/20 season until the day of the final game, whenever that may be.

The alternatives are the agreement of a new contract until at least the end of the 2020/21 season, or no offer at all that would render players free agents upon the expiration of their existing terms on 30 June. In the latter scenario, however, players would not be eligible to play for a new club this season.

Therefore, should Gomes not agree to a permanent or temporary extension with United and agrees a free agent deal with Chelsea, he could not play for his new club until the season is over.


For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’

Every Kit at Euro 96 – Ranked from Worst to Best

Euro 96 is regarded by many as one of the greatest European Championship tournaments of all time.

Hosted on English soil, it was the first time the Euros featured a four-group 16-team format, which is – let’s be honest – by far the best – while legendary talents like Alan Shearer, Hristo Stoichkov, Jurgen Klinsmann, Davor Suker, Paul Gascoigne and Matthias Sammer lit up the summer, soundtracked by Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds.

For England fans, it was a tournament that epitomised glorious failure – with the Three Lions outplaying the Dutch, winning a penalty shootout, recapturing the nation’s hearts…only to lose to the Germans on penalties, again.

Stuart Pearce England v Spain Euro 96′

But while football didn’t actually come home, it was a run and a tournament that has lived long in the memory of English fans. And with no live football available at this moment in time (outside of Korea and Belarus), ITV have decided to re-broadcast Euro 1996 in its entirety.

It was a tournament filled with memorable moments and stars, but also (it was the mid-90s, after all) some really visually interesting kits.

Crack open a can of nostalgia, we’re ranking every kit of the tournament…


24. Russia (Home)

Karel Poborsky of the Czech Republic (left) challenges Igor Yanovski of Russia

Is there anything really wrong about this Russia strip (above right)? Meh, no, not really.

However, this Reebok effort is a little bland for a team competing in their first-ever Euros as Russia and not USSR (who consistently boasted some of the sauciest garm about).


23. Russia (Away)

Russia v Germany

Different kit, but same story.

Pretty much a direct reversal of the home kit, this Reebok design isn’t terrible but with such a high standard of competition at Euro 96, simplistic just won’t cut the mustard.


22. Denmark (Away)

Luis Figo of Portugal (R) battles with Thomas Helv

Much like the Russian kits, this near all-white design for Denmark is fine and has a nice retro feel, but for Hummel and the Danes it’s a definite low point in their often glorious collaboration.


21. Switzerland

England’s Steve McManaman is caught between Switze

Lotto had a template for the tournament, which hasn’t aged as well as others of the time.

No hipsters are paying big money for this Swiss kit on eBay to impress their mates down at five-a-side, are they?


20. Netherlands (Away)

Ronald De Boer of Holland (right) is tackled by Ciriaco Sforza of Switzerland (left)

It’s a bold look from Lotto and the Dutch, but it didn’t exactly pay off.

The fading colours on the shoulders (see also Switzerland above) has the potential to be a stunning design, but the patchiness around the shoulders looks like the work of one too many washes.

The little flags on the sleeves (and the fact that it’s Netherlands) make it at least slightly more palatable than the Swiss kit.


19. Denmark (Home)

Croatia v Denmark

A kit associated with the supremely talented Brian and Michael Laudrup.

This design was actually a move away from the more extravagant kits the Danes had been donning in the years prior.

Like the Danes defending their Euros crown, it’s just slightly underwhelming all in all…


18. Bulgaria

Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria

Perhaps a slightly conservative kit for the times, but not an altogether bad one.

Having reached the semi-finals of the World Cup just two years prior (wearing a beauty of a kit as well), the Bulgarians had high hopes coming into the tournament – but they weren’t able to make it out of the group stages.


17. Czech Republic (Away)

Czech Republic v Italy

While the Czech Republic also wore this kit for the group stage victory over Italy, it was most notably worn for the win over Portugal in the quarter-finals.

This kit will forever be associated with Karel Poborský, and his stunning winner against the Portuguese. The simple Puma design (similar to Bulgaria’s) brings out the streaks of colour on the sleeves and shorts.


16. Turkey (Home)

Turkish midfielder Ercan Abudullah(R) blocks Croat

Turkey did not hold back at Euro 96 with their kit – unlike in their football where they finished rock bottom of their group with a grand total of zero points from their three games.

This adidas home design was loud and very much of the times, with the white vertical stripes framing the falg and manufacturer logo in the centre.

It’s almost a good kit.


15. Turkey (Away)

Portugal v Turkey

Remember when we said Turkey didn’t hold back? Yeah. This.


14. Portugal

Paulo Sousa of Portugal

This kit was all about the subtle touches…at least by 90s standards.

The large embossed national crest may appear too much from close up, it is actually pretty inoffensive and adds nice detail to the jersey.

Of course, in typical Portuguese fashion, the deep red and green combine together nicely and conjure up images of a young Luis Figo.


13. Czech Republic (Home)

Matthias Sammer of Germany (L) heads the ball as C

Worn by the Czech’s at Wembley, this Puma kit was a pretty decent finalist.

A simple overall look, Puma’s flair comes in the shoulder and shorts detailing, while the crest is as beautiful as Patrik Berger’s long flowing locks.


12. England (Away)

Paul Gascoigne 1996 European Championships Semi Final v Germany

One that will divide opinion.

For a while this was the most hated garment in England, summoning memories of a distraught Gazza and slump-shouldered Gareth Southgate.

In recent years – and following even more painful and humiliating international defeats – popular opinion on the kit has been revised.

Purely aesthetically though, it’s… nice.


11. Spain (Home)

Juan Antonio Pizzi of Spain

They don’t make ’em like this anymore.

Look at that stripe, that badge, the grandad collar, the written out adidas logo! Yes, please.


10. Croatia (Away)

Igor Stimac of Croatia

It’s hard to really fault this design.

The classic Croatian chequerboard theme is visible on the shoulders, there is also a thin blue piping adding another element.


9. Scotland

England v Scotland

It’s hard to really imagine a shirt – or any item of clothing – being subtle and tartan at the same time. Yet, the Scottish managed to achieve that with their Euro 96 kit. It was stylish, it was smart, it was beautiful.

John Collins has never looked better.


8. Romania

FBL-EURO-1996-FRA-ROU

This Romanian design was one of the more outlandish kits to be worn at Euro 96, but it worked.

The centralised badge is a beaut, framed by those blue stripes.


7. Netherlands (Home)

Jordi Cruyff of Holland (left) is tackled by Stewart McKimmie of Scotland

Another top that appears to be fairly standard at first viewing, but is actually quite the opposite. The typical orange jersey has a shadow graphic with a faded image of the Dutch side of 1994 celebrating at the World Cup (which they didn’t win).

Is it tacky? Not for me, Clive.


6. Italy

Alessandro Costacurta of Italy

Italy had a tournament to forget at Euro 96, but we shouldn’t let this take away from their classic kit. This was actually the only Nike kit at the tournament, although it didn’t even feature the swoosh on the shirt.

All in all, it’s a glorious look though.


5. England (Home)

Stuart Pearce England v Spain Euro 96′

Critics will call this kit boring and therefore, but, as far as simplistic kits go, this is up there.

The white top doesn’t mess around, with the number, badge and Umbro sign all centred down the middle of the top. The overlapping collar also adds another dimension.


4. France (Away)

Christian Karembeu of France

France showed up to Euro 96 with two stunning adidas kits.

This away design sees the red and blue of the famous tricolore appear via the stripes on either side of the shirt.


3. Germany

1996 UEFA Euro Championships Final Germany v Czech Republic

Winners of the competition, Germany had a kit that was worthy of wearing in the final and lifting the trophy.

It oozed class, from the dark badge with the perfectly spaced stars to the light-coloured top, mixed with the subtle adidas lining. It was purposeful, and sure enough, the Germans did lift the trophy with it.

In terms of faults…erm, there aren’t really any. Wunderbar!


2. France (Home)

French defender Christian Karembeu(R) battles with

Two French kits inside the top five, that’s how good their designs were.

While the lateral stripes were a feature of several adidas kits of the time, they looked best in France’s colours and the collar laces were a touch.

Le sauce.


1. Croatia (Home)

Davor Suker of Croatia (left) goes round Mehmet Sholl of Germany

It’s a kit that has become as familiar with the footballing world today as Brazil’s yellow or Netherlands orange, but back in Euro 96, Croatia’s red and white checked-design was revolutionary.

In Croatia’s first tournament after gaining independence, the country opted to go with the original chess board look, replicating a key element of their new national flag.

In international football there has been nothing quite as unique since.


For more from Adam Aladay, follow him on Twitter!

Let’

Juventus to Impose Salary Cap on New Signings – Thus Killing Last Hopes of Re-Signing Paul Pogba

Juventus are thought to be implementing a self-imposed salary cap on their squad as a way of surviving the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, although it would almost certainly rule out marquee signings like Paul Pogba for the foreseeable future.

Juventus have been heavily linked with Pogba, whose future at Manchester United has remained the subject of much speculation all season. But in the event of a salary cap being introduced, the chances of tempting the Frenchman back to Turin are extremely slim.

Manchester United v Newcastle United – Premier League

The Daily Mail repeats a story originating from a local newspaper claiming the club wishes to cap annual salaries in any new contracts at €9m. That is the equivalent of around £150,000 per week.

Such measures will only affect new contracts, therefore players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Aaron Ramsey will not be forced into wage cuts. It does, however, mean that any prospective new signing would have to accept maximum terms, at least initially.

Were Pogba to join the club, he would be subject to the limit, which a little more than half of the estimated £290,000 weekly wages he currently earns at United.

Cynics might argue that €9m per year is still a huge amount of money, but footballers have every right to demand what the market dictates a player of their quality and status should be paid and that is far lower than Pogba, an elite player about to enter his peak years, is worth.

Southampton FC v Manchester United – Premier League

Real Madrid are the other club heavily linked with Pogba.

90min revealed last month that Pogba’s priority is to join Real and that the interest is mutual. Los Blancos have a France-dominated recruitment strategy overseen by Zinedine Zidane that includes plans to also target N’Golo Kante and long-term desire Kylian Mbappe.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, meanwhile, is hopeful of getting Pogba on the pitch with January signing Bruno Fernandes. The two are yet to play together as a result of the Frenchman’s injury layoff and the coronavirus-enforced suspension of football.


For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’

Paul Scholes Lifts Lid on Just How Close Man Utd Were to Signing Ronaldinho in 2003

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has explained that the club was so close to signing Ronaldinho in the summer of 2003 that the Brazilian star had already been assigned a squad number, only for him to suddenly join Barcelona instead.

A World Cup winner in 2002, Ronaldinho was moving on from Paris Saint-Germain and United were leading the chase for his signature. Barcelona were also keen, while even Newcastle threw their hat in the ring having just finished third in the Premier League.

FOOT-FRA-COUPE-PSG-BORDEAUX-RONALDINHO

It was expected at the time that Ronaldinho would inherit United’s number seven shirt that had just been vacated when David Beckham left for Real Madrid.

Ronaldinho, who went on to win the Ballon d’Or and two FIFA World Player of the Year awards in the seasons that followed, joined Barcelona instead, but Scholes has lifted the lid on how last-minute the decision to go to Camp Nou and not Old Trafford was made.

“He was away on pre-season and we were as a close as announcing him and giving him a number but I think he ended up changing his mind at the last minute and signing for Barcelona,” Scholes recalled in a BBC interview with former United academy teammate Robbie Savage.

“It’s strange really because we played Barcelona on that pre-season tour,” he added.

Sir Alex Ferguson of Man Utd with Ronaldinho

“We were all excited – Ronaldinho, what a player! I think he was coming from PSG at the time and we were all going to get to play with him and he’s going to bring something special.

“Almost like what Eric Cantona brought to the team, then three days later, we’re playing against him and all trying to kick him because he didn’t sign for us.

“It was disappointing but I was lucky enough to play with some great players and he’d have just been another unbelievable player I’d had played with but it just never happened.”

Manchester United ’99 Legends v FC Bayern Legends

Ronaldinho ended up being then Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s big marquee signing to kick off his time in office having just been elected. Laporta had earlier campaigned on a pledge to take the aforementioned Beckham to Catalonia instead and it might have been that United wouldn’t have had the same competition for Ronaldinho had the Barça chief got his way.

Later that summer, United landed a little known teenager by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo, handing him the number seven shirt instead. The club may well have pursued Ronaldo even if Ronaldinho had signed but the course of history would have been vastly altered.


For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Let’