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Barcelona successfully register Vitor Roque with La Liga

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Barcelona have registered new signing Vitor Roque with La Liga in time for the 18-year-old forward to make his debut against Las Palmas on Thursday.

Barca secured Roque’s transfer from Athletico Paranaense in July in a deal worth just over €60m (£52m) in total. His arrival in Spain wasn’t initially planned until the start of the 2024/25 season amid spending restrictions, but that timeframe was brought forward to January.

Roque was unveiled by his new club at the end of December, but speculation earlier this week claimed questioned Barca’s ability to register the transfer with La Liga. Xavi expressed optimism when he spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon, with registration given the green light just a matter of hours later. Roque will now be eligible to face Las Palmas at Estadio Gran Canaria.

Roque spent the 2023 Brazilian club season playing as a ‘number nine’ for Athletico, scoring 21 times across all competitions. But it has raised doubt about the role he will have in Spain given that Robert Lewandowski is virtually immovable in that position in Barca’s 4-3-3 system.

But Xavi appears confident the pair could play together, calling on Roque’s versatility to play as a wide forward and offer competition to all of the attackers in the squad.

“He can play with [Lewandowski] perfectly,” the boss insisted. “He can play wide or as a number nine. He will generate competition for all the forwards in the squad – Lewandowski, Ferran [Torres], Joao [Felix], Raphinha and Lamine [Yamal] – which is a big positive.

“We will take things step by step with him. He is a kid aged 18, so we can’t load him with responsibility now because he needs time to adapt. But he’s ready [to play] and training well. He is professional and quickly adapting to his new surroundings, but we will be cautious.”

Roque has already been taken under Raphinha’s wing as a fellow Brazilian.

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Transfers

AC Milan Vow To Sell Christian Pulisic For €60 Million-Plus Bid

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AC Milan Vow To Sell Christian Pulisic For €60 Million-Plus Bid

AC Milan will prefer not to sell Christian Pulisic next year but will entertain offers over €60 million amid his links with Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham United.

According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham United are interested in bringing Christian Pulisic back to the Premier League. However, AC Milan would prefer not to part ways with the 26-year-old, although the Serie A giants might have their heads turned by bids worth over €60 million.

Christian Pulisic has resurrected his stuttering career since joining AC Milan from Chelsea in July 2023. While the American attacker showed promising signs in his debut season with the West London club, his spell at Stamford Bridge went pear-shaped after a solid start to life as a Chelsea player.

However, Pulisic has enjoyed a stunning turnaround of fortunes, and he has contributed to 12 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this term by finding the back of the net seven times and providing five assists. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old forward’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham United.

AC Milan Vow To Sell Christian Pulisic For €60 Million-Plus Bid

The USMNT international has been on Liverpool’s radar for a long time, with the Merseyside club previously mulling over signing him when he was at Borussia Dortmund. The Reds can do with a player like Pulisic, considering Mohamed Salah faces an uncertain future after entering the final nine months of his contract. So, the former Chelsea attacker is a viable target for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s interest in Christian Pulisic is understandable. The right-wing berth remains an area of concern for the Premier League outfit. In addition, Pulisic’s versatility might appeal to Ruben Amorim, who appreciates that quality. So, the AC Milan forward is an option worth considering for Manchester United.

As for West Ham United, the former Chelsea attacker can bolster the offensive department by being an option for a central role or on the left flank. However, Pulisic will not come cheap, with AC Milan valuing the USMNT international at over €60 million.

While the Serie A giants do not want to part ways with the American forward, they will consider bids worth over €60 million. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham are ready to break the bank to bring the 26-year-old back to the Premier League.

 

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Arsenal Desperately Offer €90 million To Sign Forward

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Arsenal Desperately Offer €90 million To Sign Forward

Arsenal are ready to make a €90 million offer to sign Raphinha in January, although his current status at Barcelona will make any move difficult, as reported by The Hard Tackle,

According to Fichajes, Arsenal are ready to make a €90 million offer to sign Raphinha in January. Mikel Arteta has been looking for a critical attacker in the next window, which could take the Gunners to Barcelona’s door. However, the Brazilian’s current status and importance for the Catalans will make a move very difficult.

Arsenal are not in the most ideal situation with regard to their season so far. They have done reasonably well in the UEFA Champions League. However, it is the Premier League where they are already trailing league leaders Liverpool by nine points after eleven games on board.

The Gunners could dip into the January market for an attacker, be it a striker or a wide man. There are some links to Leroy Sane, with the German’s availability on the cheap indeed an enticing prospect for Arsenal. The report states they are willing to go all out for Raphinha.

The interest in Raphinha is nothing new, as Mikel Arteta wanted him when he left Leeds United. They have kept close tabs on the Barcelona talisman, who cost them €58 million, since then and are now willing to make a €90 million offer to test the waters.

There are reports stating Barcelona want €100 million or more to sell Raphinha, and should Arsenal make that offer, it will certainly come close to their demand. There is also the question of the Blaugrana and their financial troubles, which could make a big sale possible at some point. Whether that is the reason Arsenal are willing to shell out €90 million remains to be seen.

Signing Raphinha will be difficult for Arsenal
Arsenal are not alone in the race for the €58 million Barcelona talisman, as Manchester City are also keen on the winger. However, any of those sides will find it extremely difficult to sign the Brazilian, considering his current status and importance to the Catalan giants.

Raphinha reportedly rejected moves back in the summer, and his current performances for the club will compel him further to stay there. Hence, irrespective of what money Arsenal offers and even if Barcelona end up accepting a sizeable bid, Raphinha is likely to reject all overtures and lean towards staying with the Catalan giants in January.

 

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Man United Eye €75 Million Rated Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen To Man United? Ruben Amorin Told To Sign Nigerian Goal-Getter

Manchester United have started to show interest in Victor Osimhen, who’s producing in spades in Turkey. They are mulling offering a swap that could entice Napoli to sell the striker. They plot to propose Joshua Zirkzee and some cash consideration in return, Fanatik reports (via OneFootball).

The 25-year-old has tallied eight goals and four assists in nine seasonal appearances. His release clause will amount to €75/80M in the next transfer windows. According to the publication, Azzurri coach Antonio Conte would be open to bringing in the former Bologna star, who’s having a tough time in the Premier League.

Manchester United turned their attention toward Osimhen after Sporting CP repelled them for Viktor Gyokeres, nixing a quick reunion with his former boss Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils will have to overwhelm the resistance of Galatasaray to sign the Nigerian international. The Turkish team is determined to keep him until June, as coach Okan Buruk recently reaffirmed (via Calciomercato).

“Victor plans to stay here until the end of the season. The clause doesn’t matter, and he said that. It’s up to the player to decide.”

In addition, the Cimbom recently lost Mauro Icardi for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

 

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