Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Wednesday that Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is not for sale despite rumours of a departure to the Premier League. De Jong "is a Barca player and unless we have a need or interest in selling him, we don't want to sell him," Laporta said as the club unveiled new signing Franck Kessie. "We know he has offers. If at some moment we were interested, we would consider it, but right now, we're not selling the player," Laporta insisted. De Jong, 25, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United and a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, who is preparing for his first season at Old Trafford. Laporta revealed the club had made an offer to France international Ousmane Dembele , whose contract with Barca expired at the end of June. "Ousmane is no longer a Barca player, but we made him an offer," said Laporta. "He hasn't accepted it yet, but he wants to continue talking. "We're going to carry on speaking, at least for now." … [Read more...] about Frenkie de Jong Not For Sale: Barcelona President Joan Laporta | Football News
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Barcelona Q&A: Patient Xavi still waiting to loosen financial straitjacket in summer of transfer poker
At the heart of the Eixample district of Barcelona, a brisk 40-minute walk from La Rambla down Carrer de Mallorca, the towers of Gaudi's most famous work pierce the clear blue skyline gradually rising into the heavens. This giant, unfinished minor basilica has been under construction since 1882. After 144 years, Spain's Sagrada Familia was finally slated for completion in 2026, the 100th anniversary of the original architect's death. Gaudi said of his masterpiece, "my client is not in a hurry", with the project less than 25 per cent complete by the time of his passing. In the years since, nine architects have taken on the project only to eventually walk away due to its myriad obstacles. The trials and tribulations of Gaudi's focal point mean Catalans are used to being patient. They have known for some time how the devil is in the detail. Some six kilometres south-west down Avinguda Diagonal at the Nou Camp, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez's own reconstruction has hit a … [Read more...] about Barcelona Q&A: Patient Xavi still waiting to loosen financial straitjacket in summer of transfer poker
Eredivisie round-up: Feyenoord hit seven past Sparta Rotterdam in city derby
Feyenoord romped a record derby win over Sparta Rotterdam, stunning their rivals with a 7-0 away success. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side were ruthless at Het Kasteel, taking a four-goal lead inside half-an-hour before adding three more after half-time. Tonny Vilhena opened the scoring in the fourth minute and helped himself to a second before the break, while Dylan Vente, Jerry St Juste, Renato Tapia, Steven Berghuis and Bilal Basacikoglu also hit the target. The result lifted Feyenoord to fifth in the Eredivisie table and left Sparta level with bottom club Roda JC. Ajax won the battle of second against third, beating AZ Alkmaar 2-1 at AFAS Stadion. Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! Sterling, Ronaldo, De Jong Sterling decides to leave Man City for Chelsea Barca president tells Man Utd: De Jong is not for sale Nadal overcomes injury to beat Fritz in five-set Wimbledon thriller Man Utd transfer rumours: Barca's Laporta … [Read more...] about Eredivisie round-up: Feyenoord hit seven past Sparta Rotterdam in city derby
Brighton winger Soufyan Ahannach joins Sparta Rotterdam on loan
Brighton winger Soufyan Ahannach has signed a loan deal with Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam until the end of the season. Ahannach arrived at the club from Dutch side Almere City in August 2017, and will now return to the Netherlands for the remainder of the campaign. The 22-year-old, who has not played for the club in the Premier League, made two appearances in the Checkatrade Trophy against Oxford United and Stevenage. Brighton boss Chris Hughton told the club's website: "Soufyan was brought in initially as a member of the development squad, and to be pushing to breakthrough into the first-team squad, but he has found those opportunities limited during the first half of the season. "This loan move offers him the chance to go and play regular first-team football with Sparta Rotterdam in the top division in the Dutch League. It is a good move for all parties - the two clubs, but most importantly Soufyan, and this will help his ongoing development." … [Read more...] about Brighton winger Soufyan Ahannach joins Sparta Rotterdam on loan
Eredivisie round-up: Ajax beat 10-man Feyenoord as PSV stay five points clear
Two goals in three second-half minutes was enough for Ajax as they came out on top in a one-sided De Klassieker with a thrilling 2-0 victory over 10-man Feyenoord. The hosts dominated throughout the match with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Joel Veltman and Lasse Schone going close in an incident-packed first half which also saw four cautions. Ajax's constant pressure paid off after 50 minutes when Donny van de Deek broke the deadlock with a calm finish from a tight angle before Huntelaar powered a header home three minutes later. Things got worse for Feyenoord as they were reduced to 10 men when striker Nicolai Jorgensen received his second yellow card after 58 minutes before Ajax held on to ease to their fifth successive league victory. PSV scored a last-gasp winner to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table following a 2-1 triumph at Heracles . Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! Sterling, Ronaldo, De Jong Sterling decides to … [Read more...] about Eredivisie round-up: Ajax beat 10-man Feyenoord as PSV stay five points clear
Eredivisie: Ajax beat NAC Breda to close gap on PSV at top of table
Ajax came from behind to beat NAC Breda 3-1 on Sunday and close the gap on Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven back to seven points. Erik ten Hag's second-placed side, who drew 0-0 at FC Utrecht last time out, went 1-0 down in the sixth minute when Thierry Ambrose netted. They had turned things around by half-time, with Donny van de Beek equalising in the 25th minute and David Neres putting them in front with a fine strike in the 39th. NAC, who are third from bottom, were subsequently reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Bart Meijers was sent off following a tackle on Hakim Ziyech, whose free-kick then wrapped things up. AZ Alkmaar are five points behind Ajax in third after they were held to a 2-2 draw by second-bottom Roda JC at the AFAS Stadion. Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! Sterling, Ronaldo, De Jong Sterling decides to leave Man City for Chelsea Barca president tells Man Utd: De Jong is not for sale Nadal overcomes … [Read more...] about Eredivisie: Ajax beat NAC Breda to close gap on PSV at top of table
Eredivisie round-up: PSV go 10 points clear after victory over Sparta Rotterdam
Steven Bergwijn scored twice as Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven extended their lead to 10 points following a 2-1 comeback victory over bottom side Sparta Rotterdam. Kenneth Dougall's early header gave the home side a sixth-minute lead at Sparta-Stadion and a brief hope of moving up the table with an eye on just their second win in 13 outings. But Phillip Cocu's leaders went on to record their seventh-straight win thanks to a goal in each half from Bergwijn to move 10 points clear of second-placed Ajax, who host FC Twente on Sunday. FC Utrecht held on for a narrow 2-1 victory over PEC Zwolle to remain hot on their opponents' heels in sixth spot. Gyrano Kerk and Zakaria Labyad each scored in an exciting six-minute first-half spell before a penalty at the death from Mustafa Saymak reduced the deficit. Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! Sterling, Ronaldo, De Jong Sterling decides to leave Man City for Chelsea Barca president tells Man … [Read more...] about Eredivisie round-up: PSV go 10 points clear after victory over Sparta Rotterdam
Eredivisie round-up: AZ Alkmaar keep up pressure on Eredivisie leaders Ajax
AZ Alkmaar kept the pressure on second-placed Ajax by coming from behind to beat the Eredivisie's bottom club Sparta Rotterdam 2-1. Oussama Idrissi struck with four minutes left after Wout Weghorst had cancelled out Julian Chabot's shock 19th-minute opener just before half-time. Idrissi's late winner extended Alkmaar's unbeaten run to eight league games and moved them to within four points of Ajax, who play on Sunday against ADO Den Haag. Live Dutch Football Elsewhere in the Eredivisie on Saturday, PEC Zwolle 's wobble continued with a 2-1 defeat at Heracles . Goals either side of the break from Kristoffer Peterson and Vincent Vermeij meant a third successive defeat for Zwolle, who had equalised through Piotr Parzyszek in the 50th minute. Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! Sterling, Ronaldo, De Jong Sterling decides to leave Man City for Chelsea Barca president tells Man Utd: De Jong is not for sale Nadal … [Read more...] about Eredivisie round-up: AZ Alkmaar keep up pressure on Eredivisie leaders Ajax