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As revealed by Goal, Barca are preparing a bid of up to €100 million for the midfielder, who is open to the idea of making the switch to the Camp Nou. All the latest transfer rumours PSG failed to win Ligue 1 for the first time in five years in 2016-17 and suffered a humiliating Champions League last-16 collapse at the hands of Barca. But Verratti is seemingly prepared to give the French side a chance to keep hold of him, suggesting that he could be willing to remain in Paris if they can sign some of the world’s top stars....

The Blaugrana won last week’s first leg 1-0 at the Camp Nou, meaning they just need to avoid defeat in the semi-final second leg at Mestalla on Thursday. Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has opted for Andre Gomes instead of Coutinho, who has yet to register a goal or an assist over four appearances with the Blaugrana thus far. Gerard Pique makes the starting line-up after shaking off a knee problem, and he will start alongside Samuel Umtiti in the centre of Barca’s defence....

Luis Enrique’s side are three points behind at the top of the table after Los Blancos won their game in hand at Celta Vigo on Wednesday, but the Catalans will win the title if the two teams finish level on points due to their superior head-to-head record in the two Clasico clashes in 2016-17. Barcelona’s new kits for 2017-18 leaked? Barca are at home to Eibar on Sunday evening, with Madrid in action at Malaga at the same time....

Ernesto Valverde’s side, who edged out Sporting in the Champions League by a single goal in Lisbon on Wednesday, will look to make it seven out of seven in the Primera Division ahead of the forthcoming international break. Barca 6/10 for La Liga title So far, Barca have beaten Betis, Alaves, Espanyol, Getafe, Eibar and Girona in their first six fixtures in La Liga, scoring 20 goals and conceding only two....

With new signing Ousmane Dembele facing a long time on the sidelines, the South American double act take on responsibility up front as a duo. Barcelona 4/11 to score first v Sporting The pair will be backed up by a packed midfield, with Andres Iniesta looking likely to push furthest forward of the quartet fielded by Ernesto Valverde. Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets are all handed starts in the middle, while Paulinho drops to the bench alongside Denis Suarez....

Lionel Messi volleyed in Dani Alves' pass to open the scoring in the 23rd minute, only for Lafita to level after a rare attack for Getafe in the 37th. Substitute Cesc Fabregas appeared to have put Barcelona back on track when he initiated a move that ended with Alexis Sanchez scoring in the 67th. But Barcelona's brittle defense again betrayed it in the final moments when Lafita charged in to head home a cross and grab a draw that silenced the Camp Nou stands....

Gio’s Mexico role still ambiguous The midfielder joined the Spanish champion from Atletico Madrid in 2015 but endured a difficult start to life at Camp Nou, fueling speculation he could be set for a quick exit from the club. Several players flocked to China in the January transfer window including Ramires, Jackson Martinez, Alex Teixeira, Gervinho and Fredy Guarin. Arda claims he was also the subject of interest from a Chinese outfit, but says Barcelona turned down the lucrative bid as did not want to ditch him after just six months....

The Blaugrana fell behind in Madrid and lost Ousmane Dembele to a serious injury but a late Paulinho winner delivered the three points and saw them record their fourth league win out of four. They face another quick turnaround ahead of Tuesday night’s return to Camp Nou to face Eibar. TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM In the UK, the match will be available to watch live on television on Sky Sports Mix and by stream via Sky Go....

The Catalan side booked their place in the last eight by beating Chelsea in the round of 16 and they will attempt to put one foot in the semi-finals by winning at home ahead of next week’s second leg in Italy. Barca come into the game having rescued a point away to Sevilla in La Liga at the weekend, with Lionel Messi emerging from the bench to help his side snatch a 2-2 draw, thus preserving their unbeaten record in the Primera Division....

Robert Lewandowski scored his first Camp Nou goal as a Barcelona player and assisted both ends of Pedri’s first-half brace in the win. Ousmane Dembele also found the back of the net as Barca deservedly led 4-0 at halftime against a disorganized and shell-shocked Mexican club. In the second half, after Xavi made wholesale changes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong put the cherry on top in a brilliant performance that will give Blaugrana fans plenty of optimism for the coming season....

Mina, 23, has been linked to the La Liga giants, who have an option to buy the defender after the World Cup. However, Mattos said Barca were keen to land the nine-time Colombia international in January, although Palmeiras want to keep the centre-back until the off-season. “It’s true that Barcelona came for Mina with another offer but also that Palmeiras want Mina to stay here,” he said. “We are going to wait for him to arrive in Sao Paulo and we will talk....

What Is A Bare Root Plant? A bare root plant is a plant that is sold without dirt around the roots. Bare root plants are dug up at the nursery, have their roots rinsed and treated to remove the dirt, and then are carefully stored in a cooler until being shipped to their final destination. Why You Haven’t Heard Of Bare Root Plants Before Most people don’t know about bare root plants because they aren’t sold in local garden centers, nurseries or hardware stores....

MORE FANTASY BASEBALL: Top 25 for 2014 | Top prospects | 2014 Draft Kit While the Brewers' version may never keep pace with the Orioles' version in the power department over a full season, he's one to watch if he gets more playing time. That HR frequency (at-bats per home run) is an important stat to track when searching for power in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. The hitters below also had efficient AB/HR marks last year, though their HR totals may not stand out because they didn't play a full season....

Leicester stunned the sporting world with their remarkable title triumph last season, but Claudio Ranieri’s men have found it difficult in 2016-17 after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Everton on Monday as the defending champions flirt with relegation. A second defeat in three matches left Leicester in 16th position, just three points above the relegation zone. “They’re not the team they were this time last year,” Barry said....

Barry’s speech may be part of a last-ditch strategy for a defendant who faces a maximum penalty of $1.85 million in fines and 26 years in prison. By all accounts, investigators have a strong case, including testimony by more than a dozen former associates that Barry used cocaine. So far his lawyers have had no luck negotiating a plea bargain. With the mayor’s promise to leave quietly, they may now hope to persuade prosecutors to drop the three felony charges for perjury....

Had Bonds gotten a chance to continue playing for multiple years, he would have had a legitimate shot at 800 career home runs, rather than ending his career with 762. Had he just played in 2008, he could have helped a team’s lineup with a boost of on-base ability and power. Bonds never got that shot, though, and now he is alleging collusion by MLB teams is the reason why he didn’t....

Starr, 82, had two strokes in 2014 and isn’t in the best health, so his wife described the incident that took place nearly 60 years ago. According to her, Starr was beaten in the back as part of a paddling tradition to initiate Starr into the university’s A-Club for varsity lettermen. MORE: Top 10 Tide players, all time | Ranking Nick Saban’s Alabama teams The news that there was an injury to Starr’s back isn’t new information....

There has been criticism of the way Bartomeu and his colleagues have run the club since taking charge in 2014, with the Catalans caught up in a number of scandals. Bayern take legal action over Kimmich Barcelona have been involved in court cases over irregularities surrounding the transfer of Neymar from Santos in 2013, while they also received a transfer ban from FIFA following the illegal signing of underage players....

The former MLB players being inducted this year are outfielder Tim Raines Sr., first baseman Jeff Bagwell and catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig and front office executive John Schuerholz are also being inducted. MORE: John Smoltz offers induction advice to 2017 HOF class The 2017 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is being broadcast on MLB Network at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 30. There will also be a live stream of the ceremony on baseballhall....

The Hall of Fame voting/ballot process is far from perfect, though, and in my third year with an official ballot, I again did my best to work within the constraints of the 10-player maximum. Maybe one day we’ll just be allowed to decide which players are Hall of Famers and which players aren’t worthy of the Hall, without ranking and maneuvering them against other players who happened to retire in the same time frame (sigh)....