Roberto Firmino: Liverpool forward agrees to join Barcelona on free transfer in summer - Paper Round
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Updated 22/04/2023 at 11:34 GMT+1
Roberto Firmino will leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer and join Barcelona, while Zinedine Zidane could return to management at Juventus. Elsewhere, Manchester United could see David de Gea and Harry Maguire leave along with 15 other first team players, while Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is now attracting interest from title challengers Arsenal.
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Firmino agrees Barcelona switch
The Daily Mail reports that Roberto Firmino will join Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
The Brazilian forward’s contract with Liverpool runs out at the end of the season and he has already made it clear he wants to move onto a new challenge.
“Roberto Firmino has agreed a deal to join Barcelona when his Liverpool contract ends in June,” the paper begins.
“It will bring to a close his glittering eight-year stay at Anfield, where he is no longer a regular starter in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
“Klopp has made it clear he would have liked to keep Firmino, 31, but the Brazilian has made up his mind to move on to a new challenge.”
Zidane could return to Juventus
Before his career-defining move to Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane was a hero at Juventus, and with the Italian side struggling in Serie A under Max Allegri, Spanish newspaper Marca believes he could step in as manager.
However, one problem is the length of Allegri’s contract.
The paper explains: “Next May it will be two years since Zinedine Zidane last coached a football team, a long enough time for anyone to miss out on the most important coaching jobs.
“However, the former Real Madrid coach is not just anyone. He can wait for the right moment and wait for the best vacancy.
“The main stumbling block on Zidane's possible path to Juventus would be, without going any further, the current tenant: Max Allegri. His contract with Juventus runs until 2025, and he earns 7 million euros net per year. If he were to replace him with another coach, they would have to pay him 20 million. And given the state of the Bianconeri accounts, the issue is far from trivial.”
United set for massive clearout
Following the defensive nightmare against Sevilla in midweek, The Sun states that Erik ten hag could see 17 players leave Manchester United to overhaul his squad.
The sales and exits could raise £208 million with Ten Hag looking for replacements across positions in his squad.
"Erik ten Hag is set to spearhead a mass overhaul of his squad at the end of the season,” the report starts.
“Among them includes keeper David de Gea and captain Harry Maguire - with the pair suffering nightmare displays in the Red Devils' defeat to Sevilla on Thursday evening.
“Midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay are two more players in danger of being shown the exit door, along with right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“Anthony Elanga, Victor Lindelof, Donny van de Beek and Brandon Williams, as well as Eric Bailly and Alex Telles - who were loaned out this season - could all be off.
“Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are out of contract, while Dean Henderson could leave after two seasons on loan at Nottingham Forest.
“Rounding out the departures, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer are set to return to parent clubs Burnley and Bayern Munich.”
Arsenal want Mount
Along with other Premier League sides and Bayern Munich, The Mirror believes that Mason Mount is a target for Arsenal this summer.
The 24-year-old is unlikely to sign fresh terms at Stamford Bridge, so Chelsea could let him go at the end of the season rather than lose him for nothing.
The report states: “Arsenal have held talks over a potential move for Chelsea star Mason Mount this summer.
“Mount, 24, has just over a year left to run on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and could be allowed to leave at the end of the season. The Blues need to sell players to balance their books after crashing out of the Champions League, and Mount might be one of those sacrificed.
“Arsenal have now joined the race to sign the England international. Mikel Arteta is set to strengthen his squad in the summer and Mount is someone they are monitoring ahead of a possible move.
“Mount has rejected several contract offers from Chelsea in recent months and is closing in on an exit from the club, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich all linked. The former Derby midfielder is out of contract in 2024 and turned down a fresh offer of around £200,000 per week earlier this year.”
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