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Barcelona will turn their attentions to Manchester United’ Ander Herrera, if they fail to sign Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Verratti remains Barca’s number one target, but PSG are unwilling to allow the 24-year-old leave. The La Liga side have not given up on Verratti yet and will step up their efforts to force through a deal, if the player expresses a desire to leave. However, Thursday’s front page of Spanish publication SPORT — which carries a picture of Herrera alongside the headline “Plan B a Verratti” — suggests they will look elsewhere if necessary. Herrera is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal at Old Trafford, opening the door for Barcelona to consider swooping for the the former Athletic Bilbao ace.

Barcelona will re-sign winger Gerard Deulofeu from Everton after exercising a buy-back clause believed to be worth 12m euros (£10.6m). Deulofeu originally went on loan to Everton in the 2013-14 season and returned in a £4.3m deal in 2015. The 23-year-old made 13 appearances for Everton last season before joining AC Milan on loan in January. The Catalan club said they expect “terms will be agreed” on a two-year deal. After a good first season on Merseyside, Deulofeu fell out of favour and spent the final half of last season in Italy with AC Milan. He started 36 games for Everton, with a further 39 from the bench, scoring eight goals. His contract had been due to run until June 2018. The Barcelona statement read: “FC Barcelona have activated the buy-back clause for Gerard Deulofeu. “In the following days, the terms will be agreed with both Everton and the player. Deulofeu’s contract will run until 30 June 2019.”

Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez says he has decided where he will be playing next season. But the Chile forward did not confirm whether he will be lining up in club football alongside his international team-mate Claudio Bravo at Manchester City or remaining with the Gunners. Sanchez has also been linked with Bayern Munich. Sanchez, whose contract at Arsenal expires next summer, is currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup, where his manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has spoken about him being a player “every club would want to sign”. When asked if he would be joining Bravo in Manchester, Sanchez told Sky Sports News HQ: “Good question. Right now I’m focused on the Confederations Cup. When this is finished I will see if I stay or if I go. I don’t know.” Sanchez was then asked if it was clear in his mind where he would be playing next season, and he said, while laughing: “Yes it’s clear but I can’t tell you.” Then, in response to a question about the chan...

Guangzhou Evergrande have no intention of selling Paulinho to Barcelona, according to Nanfang Daily. “Up to now we haven't received anything official from Barcelona, and all the rumours were fanned by the agents," a senior club official told the paper

Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the clubs set to battle for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, according to  L'Equipe . Arsenal have seen a bid rejected for the France international while Tottenham are planning an offer of their own. But the north London clubs face competition with a series of top sides looking to set up talks with his agent regarding a move

Global tennis sensation, Venus Williams, has been involved in a car accident that led to the death of a 78-year-old man. A spokesman for the police in Florida State confirmed the incident to the BBC, saying they were investigating a fatal crash involving the Grand Slam champion. According to statements by eye witnesses, the man who died, Jerome Barson, was travelling with his wife who was driving their vehicle when Venus Williams’ car suddenly darted into their path and was unable to clear the junction in time; thereby, leading to the auto crash. “[Venus Williams] is at fault for violating the right of way of [the other driver],” the BBC report said, adding that there were no other factors like drugs, alcohol or mobile phone distractions. However, the 37-year-old tennis star reportedly told police she did not see the couple’s car and she was driving slowly. Similarly her lawyer, Malcolm Cunningham, told CNN: “Ms Williams entered the intersection on a green light. The...

Arsenal have cooled their interest in signing their number one target this summer, Kylian Mbappe. The Monaco striker was identified by manager Arsene Wenger, as the club’s priority signing ahead of the 2017/2018 campaign. But the Gunners have accepted that the chances of completing a deal for the 18-year-old are slim. Mbappe is one of the most sought-after players in world football, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool chasing his signature. Arsenal will now look to close deals for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Monaco attacker Thomas Lemar. Wenger’s first bids for the two players have been turned down.

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has predicted that he will be “a god” next season in the Premier League. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss, finished trophyless for the first time in his managerial career last season, as City finished third 15 points behind league winners, Chelsea. But the 46-year vowed on Friday: “We will be better next season. “I know always when you win you are a god and it’s good.” Guardiola has enjoyed a three-week holiday in Barcelona and says he is ready for pre-season. “I was so happy in Manchester, being manager there and that’s why I will be so delighted to return on July 10 and start again. I still enjoyed it a lot last season. “If you don’t win, during the process of 11 months together, you can still enjoy being with your staff and the players and imagining new games and new actions. “Sometimes it happens that the opponents always play good and can beat us, but the beautiful thing is the process and being there to hav...

Lionel Messi could have started his football career with Barcelona’s fierce rivals, Real Madrid, it has been revealed. The agent that took him to the Camp Nou when he was 13, Horacio Gaggioli, says Messi would have been a Madrid player if he had moved to the Spanish capital instead. “Due to life circumstances, I went to live in Barcelona and I brought him to Barca for a trial. But I was about to live in Madrid,” Gaggioli told Globoesporte . “If that had happened, I would have taken him to Madrid for a trial. That’s life, those are the details. “Today, Messi could have been a Real Madrid player, of course. The family wanted to come to Spain, to the city where I was to have some support.”