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Goal understands the Reds have softened their stance regarding whether they are willing to sell the Brazil international in January, with Coutinho himself keen to finally see a deal agreed. Barca have not yet made an offer but there is speculation that a bid worth an initial €110 million is being readied and that the deal could go through this month. Valverde thinks Coutinho is “a great player” but insists he does not want to talk openly about anyone outside his own squad....

And the World Cup winner, who joined Qatari side Al Sadd in 2015, is plotting an immediate transition into coaching. Barca 13/2 for the UCL The 37-year-old has enjoyed an incredible career since breaking through as a teenager at Barca, where he won La Liga eight times and the Champions League on four occasions. He also earned 133 caps for Spain between 2000 and 2014, winning the European Championship in 2008 - at which he was named player of the tournament - and the World Cup in 2010....

The 26-year-old is a product of the famed La Masia academy system, having made a senior breakthrough in his native Catalunya. He was, however, to make just two first-team appearances for Barca before moving to England to link up with Chelsea. His efforts since then have taken him to Southampton and sparked talk of a potential second stint at Camp Nou, but Romeu insists he is happy at St Mary’s and unaware of any interest from afar....

Two goals from Luis Suarez and Paulinho’s late strike helped the Catalans extend their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points, although Valencia can recoup the difference with victory against Espanyol on Sunday. 12/5 for draw in Madrid derby But one of the most striking aspects of Barca’s play this season is their ability to shut out other teams, and so it proved again. Another clean sheet for Marc Andre ter Stegen means the goalkeeper has conceded just four goals in Barca’s opening 12 games, a club record in La Liga....

The champions failed to capitalise on La Liga leaders Real Madrid surrendering a late lead against Atletico Madrid as goals from former Barca forward Sandro Ramirez and Jony secured maximum points for the hosts at La Rosaleda. Barca had Neymar sent off in the second half, the Brazil star earning a second booking for a strong challenge on Diego Llorente after he had earlier been cautioned for delaying a free-kick by tying his laces....

The Brazilian forward sat out of the Reds’ opening game of the season, a 3-3 draw at Watford, having handed in a transfer request ahead of the opening weekend of the Premier League weekend. Liverpool 15/2 to beat Palace 2-1 Klopp, who has been open about his disappointment with Coutinho pushing to leave Liverpool, refused to be drawn on the 25-year-old’s attitude as he continues his attempts to force an exit....

The Catalans were well beaten by Los Blancos, 5-1 over two legs, but will now turn their attentions to La Liga and the visit of the Andalusian side. The Blaugrana begin the league season at Camp Nou as they aim to win back the title they lost to Madrid in 2016-17. Sunday’s fixture will be a first for coach Ernesto Valverde as Barca boss in La Liga and here, Goal takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of the Camp Nou clash…...

Videos of police beating citizens in the street emerged on Twitter as those around the region attempted to cast their ballots in a vote that the Spanish government has declared illegal. The issues throughout the region have caused concern over the game at Camp Nou and, less than an hour before the game was scheduled to kick off, the gates had not been opened to let fans in after Barca requested the match be called off for safety reasons....

A disappointing 0-0 draw midweek for the Catalans will not damp spirits too much around Camp Nou, as they remain nevertheless on course to qualify in first place from their Champions League group. It is to domestic matters that attentions turn this weekend, with an intriguing clash against Eduardo Berizzo’s men one of the first big tests the Blaugrana have faced this Liga season. TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on Sky Sports Football or by stream via Sky Go....

The Catalans won the game 2-1, but an injury sustained by Lionel Messi in the eighth minute – a knee ligament problem which will keep him sidelined for at least two months – dealt the club another crushing blow. The Blaugrana’s squad is already lacking depth following the sale of Pedro to Chelsea and Rafinha’s injury, while their transfer ban means new signings Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan aren’t eligible until January....

Bearing in mind that the Frenchman joined Juventus on a free transfer, the money involved was obviously an agent’s fee, but no matter what way one looks at it, it was a price worth paying for one of the most talented teenagers in world football. However, at the time, Perez wasn’t interested in bargain buys, allegedly telling Toril, “€100,000? Come back to me when he costs €100 million!” Essentially, signing an unproven, relatively unknown Pogba didn’t conform to Real’s business model – which was based on that of the Disney corporation....

Of the invitees, 17 are on NBA rosters, nine play professionally overseas, two are still on American university teams, and one is with a G League team. Along with NBA veterans such as Cory Joseph, Jamal Murray, Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell, and Tristan Thompson, there are four first round NBA picks from this summer’s draft. RJ Barrett was the highest, going at No. 3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was chosen at No....

“I think right now with the attention put on so much on injuries and concussions it really takes a special person be able to sell football to a community,” Alvarez said. “We’ve seen a drop in numbers in the years, and it takes someone who can get out and do the right thing and sell the program and teach football in a safe manner." Alvarez recognizes that. He is working with U....

Switzer — the Sooners’ coach from 1973-88 — participated in an Allstate giveaway in Norman, Okla., ahead of Oklahoma’s appearance in the Sugar Bowl against Auburn on Jan. 2. He shared his thoughts on the playoff debate. MORE: How much is enough for playoff? “I’ve always advocated eight teams,” Switzer told Sporting News on Friday. “Everyone is going to disagree on who is four. The only way to settle that is, no one even gives a damn who is eight....

There is a limited-time Barstool Sportsbook Ohio promo that prospective Buckeye State bettors can take advantage of ahead of the app’s launch on Sunday. Players who sign up early with promo code NEWSWEEKOH5050 will receive two bonuses totaling $100. Unlock $100 in pre-registration bonuses through our limited-time Barstool Sportsbook Ohio promo. The code NEWSWEEKOH5050 allows new customers to receive $50 in sportsbook bonus cash, plus another $50 in mycash on launch day....

At some point last week, a number-coded envelope bearing a number-coded ballot with my signature at the bottom began its journey. From a humble mailbox in Charlotte, N.C., via the good graces of the U.S. Postal Service, I like to imagine that envelope went straight into a briefcase handcuffed to the wrist of a clean-cut, sharp-eyed gentleman in a well-tailored suit at the offices of Ernst & Young in New York....

Heyman, who joined CBS Sports following the 2011 winter meetings, will continue his role for MLB Network as a baseball insider as well as contributing to WFAN Radio in New York. He took to social media on Saturday afternoon to thank those who showed their support. Before joining CBS Sports, Heyman was a senior writer and columnist for Sports Illustrated, Newsday and, in 1999 and 2000, Sporting News.

His life will begin to change irrevocably that evening. The hot breath of impending graduation will be blowing against the back of his collar. “I’m not really scared about going out into the job field,” Bryce insists. He doesn’t call it entering the “real world,” the way a lot of us did when we were students, because his reality always has been real enough.
The first big chunk of the remarkable universe Bryce has created for himself at Evansville will break away when the Drake game ends: gone forever, or never the same....

Ella Gross is an 11-year-old Korean-American actress and model who starred in the recent TV reboot of Heathers. She also has more than 3.2 million followers on Instagram. In the 30-second commercial aimed at a Korean audience for new ice cream flavors, she is wearing a pink sleeveless dress and savors “Pink Star” ice cream in various poses. The video was released on Friday but immediately sparked debate online as to whether her poses were too suggestive....

dabblebet: Back Chelsea to win the league! The man who continually made such an impact as a substitute for Real Madrid last season had to wait until the 63rd minute before being introduced into Tuesday’s International Champions Cup clash with Bayern Munich. It’s doubtful that he ever bore witness to such dreadful defending during his two separate stints at the Santiago Bernabeu, or indeed his two-season spell with Juventus....