Why the NBA Should be More Like Soccer and Adopt the Transfer Window

The free agency power demonstrated by LeBron James in the summer of 2010—orchestrating the creation of the Big 3 in Miami—had never been done before. It turned out to be the forerunner, or influencer, to the power plays made by star players in today's NBA that some might call "pre-agency."

In the past two years, the league has seen five superstar players declare their free agency intentions with multiple years left on their contracts: Kyrie Irving with the Cavs, Paul George with the Pacers, Kawhi Leonard with the Spurs, Kristaps Porzingis with the Knicks, and Anthony Davis with the Pelicans. All five declared a desire to take control of their basketball lives by putting their teams on notice that they would like or intended to go play somewhere else as soon as possible.

Fans have often struggled to digest these requests, with teams' reactions often swift and heavily scrutinized (Knicks fan will never forget where they were on Jan. 31, 2019). The most jarring part of processing the news is simply the fact that the demands or requests come so unexpectedly. Trading a star player should happen when they're on an expiring contract, and the feeling is clear that they are going to leave, or the team feels the star can no longer help it achieve its ultimate goal. But to have the franchise player declare their intention to leave, with multiple years left on their contract, is like having a ton of bricks dropped on you.

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So imagine a world where the Lakers could put $200 million on the table and see if the Pelicans flinch. Rather than go back and forth with trade packages, New Orleans could simply name their price to break their contract with Davis.

Soccer fans are unimpressed by all this hoopla. Superstars declaring their desire to move on from clubs, with two, three, or even four years left on their contract is pretty common. Why, you ask? Because soccer uses a different system for dealing with trades and free agency. And, honestly, the NBA, and other American sports, should look to adopt some of soccer's best practices.

The "transfer window," as it's called in soccer, essentially removes trading as we know it and replaces it with cash-swap deals. FIFA's rules state that in order to get a player, you pay their team a sum of money equal to their value (in the club's eyes). Once you've agreed on the fee, the club breaks the contract with the player, and the player is free to negotiate with a new team. In just the past two years, two of the biggest superstars in the sport have moved teams, in Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, and countless other stars have swapped jerseys as well.

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Manchester United's superstar midfielder, Paul Pogba, recently created a flurry of headlines when he casually told reporters before an international friendly, "Like I've always said, Real Madrid is a dream for anyone, it's one of the biggest clubs in the world...For now, I'm at Manchester. We don't know what the future holds. I'm at Manchester and I'm happy." These comments were plastered over the front pages of sports newspapers across Europe because of the potential fee Pogba could go for. Soccer fans get used to these rumors between superstar players and other clubs because transfers happen so frequently (just ask Chelsea supporters about their superstar winger Eden Hazard).

So imagine a world where the Lakers could put $200 million on the table and see if the Pelicans flinch. Rather than go back and forth with trade packages, New Orleans could simply name their price to break their contract with Davis. The market would determine the value of individual players, but with a hypothetical asking price of $200 million. The Pelicans would make back what they've paid AD to date and have some profit to boot.

The value for the Pelicans is that they get to decide their own future. Rather than suffer through re-uniting L.A.'s young "stars" in New Orleans, the Pelicans can take the money and spend it on players they want to build around in the future. Gone would be the days where you take another's team's mediocre assets in a trade just so that you don't lose your superstar for nothing.

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This would have made sense for the Knicks as well. Porzingis walks into the general manager's office for five minutes, and the next thing you know, you've got to trade him or risk losing him as a restricted free agent. Instead of taking on Dallas's trade assets, that were highlighted by Dennis Smith Jr., they could have taken straight cash for The Unicorn. Buying Smith could still be in their plans, but they wouldn't have to buy-out Wesley Matthews or pay DeAndre Jordan to be a highly compensated tutor to Mitchell Robinson. Then, whether they shop around before the deadline or hang onto that money to use with their top five lottery pick, the Knicks can control their roster moving forward.

Of course, a few things would need to be tweaked in the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement in order to implement soccer's best practices. In order to control the spending that teams would now enjoy, the salary cap would need to be adjusted to limit the total spending of a team in a single season, avoiding all out fire sales to simply buy a new team. In soccer, it takes way too much money to re-haul an entire team in a season, but basketball only has five players that you really need to worry about, so these rules would ensure that teams aren't blown up after every failing season.

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Soccer also designates certain times for these deals ("windows"), so the NBA could simply swap out the trade deadline for a January transfer month, just like soccer uses in most of the world, in addition to the NBA's highly popular offseason free agent frenzy every July.

This change would free up small market teams, such as New Orleans, to bring in revenue through developing players and then cashing in on them once they want to move on. It also empowers them to spend that cash when they get a new draft prospect in, so that they have a chance to keep them as they enter their prime. The Pelicans are projected to get a lottery pick this year, but tanking for a top 10 pick next year would also benefit them. Once they have two young prospects on their team, they'll want to start spending that money they received.

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Ultimately, in a time where there is little parity in the league, these changes would help restore it. Superstars will inevitably partner up in search for championships, but these changes would allow the small market teams, often left on the wrong side of deals, to control their destiny moving forward. Players won't lose out because teams aren't going to put up money if they aren't willing to negotiate with them, so there won't be deals made against a player's will. The devastation to a franchise of having a star player force their way out of town would dramatically drop as teams would be able to get "fair compensation" in return.

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This Business Is Promising To Shake Up Soccer Transfers

Victor Orta, Director of Football at Leeds United, speaking at the latest TransferRoom summit.

TransferRoom

An online "matchmaker" that connects clubs with potential new signings says it is creating "more transparency" in soccer's global transfer market.

TransferRoom is an online platform that shows clubs which players are available for transfer or loan. It allows club decision makers to communicate directly through a messaging system and to pitch players to teams searching for a specific profile.

Aimed at club executives, TransferRoom.com was launched in 2017 and has helped facilitate more than 200 transfers during the last three transfer windows. More than 500 clubs from 41 countries and 70 leagues are using the marketplace—which they pay a subscription to access—including Manchester City, Juventus and Roma.

In 2016, Jonas Ankersen, founder and CEO of TransferRoom.com, traveled across Europe to meet sporting directors and discuss their frustrations with striking deals in the transfer market. Clubs often rely on networks of agents and other intermediaries to identify potential signings or promote players for sale.

"In today's transfer market, there is a lack of transparency and credible market information. Buying clubs have no credible information on which players are available," Ankersen told me.

Sevilla sporting director Monchi says TransferRoom's platform "simplifies processes, creates transparency and thereby saves us time".

TransferRoom

"Most clubs have limited resources in their scouting department and therefore their market access is very limited. What happens when you only see a fraction of the players available? You end up paying too much.

"At the same time, selling clubs have no credible information on which player profiles buying clubs are looking for. For years football clubs' market access has been restricted, but TransferRoom.com is changing this.

"When selling a player, you want to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, and when buying you want to be exposed to as many relevant options as possible."

TransferRoom also organizes summits, where key club stakeholders can meet face to face to discuss potential player transfers.

"It's like speed dating," Ankersen said. "Duration is 15 minutes, and clubs sort out their own meetings in advance via our platform."

At the most recent summit, held earlier this week in Barcelona, 150 clubs from 28 countries were represented. Officials were present from clubs including Manchester City, Everton, Leeds United, Juventus, Roma, Napoli, Barcelona, Sevilla, River Plate and Boca Juniors.

Victor Orta, director of football at Leeds United, who has worked for top division clubs in Spain, Russia and England, told the summit he had completed five deals in one transfer window with the help of TransferRoom.com.

"It is definitely the future with more synergy between clubs," Orta said.

"When clubs are sharing information in an honest way, TransferRoom can help clubs save a lot of time, which is very important both in football and in life. It is a very modern way of working."

The record for a club pitching a player on TransferRoom.com to receiving interest in the player from another club is 1 minute 52 seconds. 

"Online marketplaces have already changed many industries and made them more efficient—for example, the housing market and the entire retail industry," Ankersen said. "It is the same transition we are now driving in the transfer market in football."

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FIFA to hear Chelsea’s transfer ban appeal next month

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) FIFA will hear Chelsea's appeal against a one-year transfer ban on April 11.

[ MORE: Mourinho "preparing" for next job; expects to start "in June" ]

FIFA says Chelsea has received written reasons from its disciplinary panel for the one-year ban, and why a request to freeze the ban during the appeal process was rejected.

Chelsea can approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an interim ruling halting the sanction pending the appeal to FIFA. CAS says Chelsea has not applied for such a provisional measure.

[ VIDEO: Spurs' U-18s christen new stadium with goals galore ]

FIFA banned Chelsea in February from registering new players for two transfer periods — after this season and in January 2020 — for breaking rules protecting teenage players. The club denies wrongdoing.

FIFA says Chelsea violated rules in 29 cases, and imposed a fine of $600,000.

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Bayern confirm $90 million transfer for Atletico Madrid’s Hernandez

After failing to sign some of their transfer targets last summer, Bayern Munich isn't even waiting for the next transfer window to open to complete a big-money deal.

[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]

FC Bayern announced on Wednesday that it had signed France World Cup winner and Atletico Madrid left back Lucas Hernandez on a $90 million transfer. Hernandez has signed a five-year contract that begins on July 1, 2019 and goes through the end of the 2023-2024 season.

Interestingly, Bayern was so set on Hernandez that it completed the deal despite a medical exam finding damage to Hernandez's MCL in his right knee, which needs surgery. However, he's expected to be ready for the start of the next season, though he's likely to miss the rest of this campaign for Atletico.

"This is a really important day in my footballing career," Hernandez said in a statement. "FC Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I'm proud to be able to fight for all possible titles with Bayern. I'd like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my teammates and the fans for 12 wonderful years. Atletico will always remain a part of me. Now I'm looking forward to taking the next step with FC Bayern."

Coming soon… 🇫🇷@LucasHernandez #ServusLucas pic.twitter.com/6KcbXPfmDi

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) March 27, 2019

Born to a French father of Spanish descent, Hernandez has spent nearly all of his adult life in Madrid, and has been a part of Atletico Madrid either in the youth team or first team since 2007. Since making his first-team debut in 2014, Hernandez has played 67 times in La Liga, with additional appearances in the Copa Del Rey and both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Last year he truly broke into the Atleti squad and his defensive sturdiness helped him push into the France starting lineup, where he helped keep the backline steady as France let its pacey squad counter-attack at will during the 2018 World Cup.

Perhaps more important than his history is the significance of this move today. It's a sign that Bayern Munich is willing to spend money, as it absolutely shattered the club's previous transfer record of around $45 million for Javi Martinez, though that was way back in 2012. Bayern Munich has struggled mightily this season compared to its previous highs in the middle of this decade, and while it still could catch Borussia Dortmund and win the Bundesliga, it's clear that a number of changes had to be made.

The signing of Hernandez also reunites him with international teammate Benjamin Pavard, who's signing for this summer from Stuttgart was confirmed by Bayern in January. Plus, it raises the market for left backs and defenders around the world, with one transferring for as high a sum as $90 million.

Bayern has realized if it wants to be one of Europe's top clubs again, it has to reach deep into its pockets to sign top players. Wednesday was the latest sign that it is willing to do so.

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Tyler Adams leaves US soccer team, returning to German club

Updated 3:04 pm CDT, Friday, March 22, 2019

DAVENPORT, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Adams left U.S. soccer training camp Friday to return to RB Leipzig of the Bundesliga and will miss Tuesday's exhibition against Chile at Houston.

Adams played right back rather than midfield in Thursday's 1-0 win over Ecuador in Orlando, Florida, new U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter's first game with his full player pool.

Leipzig has five wins, no losses and three draws since Adams made his debut Jan. 27 following a transfer from sister club New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. Leipzig is home against Hertha Berlin on March 30.

Fellow 20-year-old Weston McKennie was to travel with the U.S. to Houston. The Schalke midfielder injured his left ankle in the second half and was stretchered off the field. The U.S. Soccer Federation said Friday he will be further evaluated.

Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez will return to Dallas for its MLS match against Colorado on Saturday, then rejoin the national team.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Mountain grown: G-Men boys soccer aims high habitually

 BLUEFIELD, Va.  â€"  Being so close to the mountaintop generates huge motivation to climb to the peak again.

That sums up the resolve of a talented group of Graham High School boys soccer players, who will get another early-season rematch against a nemesis, the Giles Spartans, this evening at East River Soccer Complex.

For the last six springs, the G-Men have reached the state quarterfinals in Class 2 soccer. That span includes four district championships, two trips to the regional finals, and even a coveted spot in the final four.

“Our goal, every year, is to get back to the final four,” head coach George Aiello said on Monday. He said his squad “worked extremely hard in the off-season. I think they work extremely hard during the regular season. I think it’s their hard work that has helped them progress to get into the state quarterfinals in each of the past six years.”

“I’m really excited,” the veteran coach said. “This is probably the most skilled (group of) soccer players that I’ve had in my seven years, now, of coaching here. It’s by far the most depth I will have ever had on the bench. I’ve got a lot of great, talented players.”

That includes Drew Baker, 2018 player of the year in the Southwest District and Region D as well as a first-team all-state selection. Defender Conner White made second team all-state.

But it doesn’t stop with returnees from last season’s team. It includes numerous players who have had experience before they even donned a varsity jersey.

“Our freshman class has seven boys in it this year, and all of them have played at a higher level, club soccer,” Aiello said. “A lot of these boys are invested in soccer. They play a lot of soccer in the off-season; they prepare themselves. It’s a sport that they’ve grown up loving.”

“We’ve got a lot of talented freshmen,” he said. “My junior class is loaded, with several players returning that received awards for being on the all-region team and all-district team.”

“Our biggest loss from last year is probably Emil Curto,” Aiello said. Curto, an all-state second-team performer on defense, “was a true competitor, and he was really invested in the soccer program. He gave everything he had,” Aiello said.

A powerful strike force of returnees including Baker, Craig Hrovatic, brothers Alexander and Benjamin White and Joey Dales “accounted for over 60 of our goals last year,” the coach said.

There should be an asterisk beside Dales’ name, since he got hurt during Graham’s successful basketball season that also ended in the state quarterfinal round. Aiello said, “We’re hoping he can make it back, because I think he can make some real contributions to the team.”

The fluid Graham formation constantly swaps midfielders into forward formations. This year, in addition to the five top scorers, the midfield options include a foreign exchange student from France, Malo Freard, and freshmen Carter Nipper and Ben Morgan.

“You want to win the game in the midfield,” Aiello said.

The coach said that in the back third, Graham has “a lot of solid defenders,” beginning with Conner White. The line includes seniors Mark Cleary and Jaden Hearn and sophomore Luke Stowers.

Ian Repass, a junior, was a transfer student into GHS last year and “will be able to play with us this year,” Aiello said. “Freshman Braden Surface will probably pick up some time back there as well.”

Another freshman, Nick Knowles, is this year’s starting goalkeeper, though he missed the first match of the season with the flu, Aiello said. Giles won that game 4-3 in Pearisburg.

The coach said, “Zach Dales stepped up and was willing to go in there (at goalkeeper), and did a fantastic job for us. Zach is a player that I can use anywhere, (but) he’s definitely more valuable on the field than he is in the goal.”

The G-Men’s 2018 postseason quest ended with a 7-0 loss at Giles last June. The Spartans have been the state runner-up in both of the past two springs. Aiello did not hesitate to schedule Giles again, essentially back-to-back, to start this year’s regular season.

He said about the choice of dates, “Most schools like to get those out-of-conference games done early, and not have them during the regular (district) season.”

He said there were extenuating circumstances during the March 14 loss to the Spartans that opened Graham’s season.

“I’m not sure that we really played our best,” Aiello said. In addition to using a substitute goalkeeper, he said, “It was our first time getting outside on grass. The field conditions were not the best. I had several boys who had ‘super-MACC’ (academic team competition) the night before. So I don’t know that we were the best prepared.”

That doesn’t diminish his trust in his team’s potential as the season plays out.

“I like what we have this year,” he said. “I feel pretty confident. Last year, we lost three times to Giles, and they were the state runner-up. We lost twice to Galax, and Galax was the (Class) 1A champion. We lost twice to Virginia High, and they ended up in the final four for 2A soccer as well.”

“I feel pretty confident about what the boys are going to have to offer this year,” he said. “They’re just as excited (as ever). They know the talent they have.

“Obviously, their first goal is to win the district. They want to win the region. They want to make it to the final four â€" and they want to be the first (boys soccer) team at Graham to play in a championship game. And I think they’ve got the talent to do it.”

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Paul Pogba set to leave Man United for Real Madrid, Juventus?

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Pogba set to leave Man United?

With help from former Tottenham and Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli, we show you a step-by-step guide to a transfer.

FIFA have banned Chelsea for a period of two transfer windows. But what did they do wrong and how will the punishment play out?

FC Exclusives

Just when you thought you were out of rumours about Paul Pogba leaving Manchester United, they drag you back in.

One might have thought that an upturn in form, coupled with Jose Mourinho's departure and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival, would lead to Pogba finally being happy in Manchester.

Not so, says AS, which makes the massive claim that the France midfielder wants to leave in the summer after three seasons at Old Trafford.

AS reports that "his agent, Mino Raiola, a specialist in hard bargaining, is already working on finding his client a new club." And, of course, Real Madrid and Juventus are ahead of the chasing pack.

Real would appear to be Pogba's first choice, given his recent comments, but Juve are working out how they can afford to bring him back. Welcome to the saga of the summer, folks.

LIVE BLOG

13.59 GMT: Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has said reports that Juventus want to sign the Magpies' Slovakia international goalkeeper Martin Dubravka are not a surprise to him. "Obviously they can talk about him, but any team could see him as a good keeper," Benitez told the Chronicle.

13.47 GMT: PSG star Neymar may have been linked with Real Madrid or a return to Barcelona, but he is in talks about a new deal with the French champions, his father has told UOL.

"Neymar is in the second year of his contract, so he has three more to run. We are already discussing an extension with PSG," Neymar Snr said. "The probability that he does not leave is great."

13.23 GMT: Mega-money bid alert: France Football reports that Real Madrid "have made Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe their number one transfer target and will offer €280m for him, claiming Madrid president Florentino Perez has approved the move.

So maybe Bayern Munich's Uli Hoeness was right when he said: "I would pay €100m for Kylian Mbappe, but for that I would only get his left tibia."

13.07 GMT: Eden Hazard is not the only Chelsea player to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, with reports suggesting that midfielder N'Golo Kante is also a target for Zinedine Zidane. But the London Evening Standard reports Kante as saying: "I am at Chelsea, and I still have aims here -- what is said elsewhere is not important."

12.44 GMT: As Brendan Rodgers prepares for his first transfer window in charge of Leicester, the city's Mercury newspaper reports that Getafe defender Djene Dakonam is among his potential targets. It says the Foxes would have to pay £30m to trigger his release clause.

12.17 GMT: Bayern Munich full-back Rafinha has dismissed reports that he has agreed terms with Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, saying on Instagram that he will only announce his next move once his Bayern contract has expired in the summer.

11.48 GMT: France striker Olivier Giroud has told Telefoot he doesn't believe this season will be his last at Chelsea, but said he wants more playing time and going back to Ligue 1 is "a possibility," with Lyon his club of choice.

11.25 GMT: Arsenal are reported to be interested in Charlton midfielder Joe Aribo, but Football London says the League One playoff contenders remain hopeful that he could yet agree a new contract.

11.02 GMT: L'Equipe claims PSV's 17-year-old Belgian sensation Heritier Deyonge could join Lyon rather than PSG. The full-back has impressed at youth level and is expected to make the step up this summer.

10.35 GMT: Benfica want to increase the release clause in Joao Felix's contract in order to fend off interest from a number of clubs, president Luis Filipe Vieira has said.

Felix, who has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, was promoted to Benfica's first team in the summer and has been linked with Manchester United, Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"Right now we are not interested in selling Joao Felix, and soon we will increase his release clause," Vieira told Tuttosport. "He is one of the best products to have emerged from Portuguese football since Cristiano Ronaldo."

10.07 GMT: Barcelona are optimistic that they will win the race to sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt this summer, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC, and Sport claims they have a plan to tempt the Dutch club into a sale.

Barca are reportedly willing to loan 19-year-old French defender Jean-Clair Todibo next season as part of a €60m offer that would see De Ligt arrive.

09.50 GMT: Paul Pogba may be taking the headlines but Marca reckons Zinedine Zidane has another No. 1 target in mind: Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.

The report mentions a fee of €85m but, given that Philippe Coutinho cost €160m when he was sold to Barcelona, they might want to consider saving up a bit more cash.

09.25 GMT: A Bola reports that Benfica are interested in Inter Milan defender Joao Miranda. The Brazilian has not signed a contract extension with Inter and becomes a free agent in the summer.

Benfica have reportedly joined the race to sign the 34-year-old, also a reported target for Monaco. But A Bola says, Miranda wants to continue to play in Europe for a few more years before returning to Brazil to play for Flamengo.

09.12 GMT: PSG are still looking for a few new faces and Il Mattino reckons Napoli's Allan, who would cost around €75m, remains a target.

Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, says PSG are keeping tabs on Fiorentina's Jordan Veretout.

08.40 GMT: Confronted with a report in the Sun which said Jadon Sancho's agent, Emeka Obasi, had met Manchester United representatives, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told Bild: "I have no knowledge of that. And it's not relevant."

Dortmund's stance has been they won't sell Sancho this summer, but an offer in the €130m region could break their resistance.

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ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti rates the likelihood Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe arrive and Gareth Bale departs Real Madrid this summer.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Zidane closes door on Asensio move

In a setback to Jurgen Klopp's plans, the Mirror reports that returning Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane appears to have squashed any chance of Liverpool -- or anyone else -- signing midfielder Marco Asensio.

Asensio had been out of form under previous Madrid bosses Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, with the club seeming keen to offload the 23-year-old, but Zidane appears to get the best out of him and has said he sees him as "fundamental to the team."

Asensio won two Champions League trophies under Zidane and played the full 90 minutes of the second game of the coach's return against Celta Vigo.

De Ligt to Camp Nou?

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has been linked with top clubs on an almost daily basis, and now it looks as though his future is closer to being concluded.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is travelling to Holland to seal a deal for the 19-year-old centre-back, according to The Sun.

The news will disappoint Liverpool, who had been looking to partner De Ligt with his compatriot Virgil van Dijk at Anfield.

Barca have reportedly made a bid of £51 million, having already added Frenkie de Jong to their ranks in January.

Bartomeu had previously said that De Ligt was on manager Ernesto Valverde's wish list, saying the Netherlands international's name was "on the table."

Tap-ins

- Juventus are reportedly contemplating replacing their entire back line.

With Alex Sandro expected to leave in the summer, Marcelo remains the preferred replacement at left-back. However, Juve are also eyeing up moves for Alex Grimaldo and Emerson Palmieri, according to Calciomercato.

- Speculation about the future of France striker Antoine Griezmann continues, with Barca defender Samuel Umtiti telling Marca there would be plenty of room for his compatriot in their strike force.

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Transfer trouble, military parents are frustrated with student's education

Military families face student transfer issues, 10 News spoke with SDUSD on the issue.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Military families sent 10News letters discussing a myriad of issues their students faced when they transferred from out of state into San Diego Unified School District.

One student, who didn't want to be identified, sent a letter that read in part, "I would dread getting up everyday knowing that this was going to be a continuous process," explaining he didn't get the same treatment in an assistance program here, compared to where he previously lived.

Another letter discusses a woman's special needs children, "It took over a week to even get my children placed in classrooms to start school with no updates as to why. After calling several times we were able to get placements for our children. I know that special needs children have to be placed in certain classrooms and things like that, but for it to take that long is a little excessive." She continued stating in the letter, "two of our children are waitlisted (with no foreseeable date of service) for speech therapy with a letter stating that it is because there is a "lack of available therapists" in the area."

Erika Bradley said her daughter had trouble transferring AP and Honors credits, and once she was pulled out to be home schooled, she was told her daughter couldn't participate on the Varsity Soccer team.

"It put her in a tailspin... We had many instances of panic attacks," she said.

"We have upwards of 8,000 military dependent students within our district," Jennifer Coronel, Program Manager of Children and Youth in Transition at SDUSD said. That's about 7% of the district's student population.

On SDUSD's website, you can find numerous resources for military families.

The district gets anywhere from $8,000,000 to $10,000,100 in military student funding per year. "We have four Intervention Counselors that work out of the Department of Children and Youth in Transition and all of them have a specific area within San Diego Unified and assist with all matters related to military students," Coronel said. She says rules and maybe even federal laws need to change to make a smoother transition for military students.

Bradley says many military families pull their students for homeschooling to get around transfer issues, but Bradley says she wants more oversight to ensure military families are taken care of in the future.

Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Pulisic wants foes to fear US soccer team

DAVENPORT, Fla. — Christian Pulisic has a vision of a transformed U.S. soccer team, a red-white-and-blue power that gives opponents sleepless nights similar the nightmares that plague players on the eve of facing Brazil or Germany.

"I want them to fear them like a big team," he said Tuesday, quickly acknowledging "obviously, we still feel we have a long way to."

The midfielder from Hershey, Pa., is with the national team this week for the first time since he became the most expensive American player. Chelsea agreed in January to buy Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for 64 million euros (then $73 million), then loaned him back to the German club for the rest of the season.

In their first training camp with new coach Gregg Berhalter, a trio of emerging 20-year-olds could start together for the first time: Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.

"There's a lot of things that we talk about, that we need to be leaders, we need to show everybody what we're about," Adams said. "A lot of times I feel that in the U.S. we talk about how many good young players we have and stuff like that, and there's a lot of players that end up falling off or not being heard about again. And you don't want to be one of those players."

Pulisic was 17 when he made his Bundesliga debut in 2016 and became a regular with the national team. When the U.S. lost at Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017, failing to qualify for the World Cup, he was the image of defeat. Pulisic crouched on the field, steadied his body with his right hand and covered his face with his left. The emotional pain was intense.

"Ever since that happened, it makes you want to be in a World Cup that much more," he said. "So, yeah, definitely it motivates me."

A regular with Dortmund the past two seasons, he struggled with a torn calf muscle last fall and a thigh injury this winter. He lost his starting job to 18-year-old English winger Jadon Sancho.

Pulisic's start against Hertha Berlin on Saturday was just his sixth in the league this season, but he scored as a sub against Stuttgart on March 9, his second league goal this season and first since September. He played in both Champions League round of 16 matches against Tottenham, though he struggled to be effective in the first leg.

"I feel very confident right now," he said. "I'm feeling very good. I feel like I'm at the top of my game. So I want to play as much as I can over there over in Dortmund. I'm not there to just finish out my time. I want to fight and they know that."

Chelsea wanted to acquire Pulisic during the January transfer window because it anticipated discipline from FIFA, which in February banned the club from signing players for the next two transfer windows. FIFA concluded the team violated regulations on the registration of young players, a penalty the Chelsea has appealed.

Pulisic long dreamed of playing in the Premier League, the most watched soccer league on U.S. television. Chelsea needs a playmaking midfielder in case Eden Hazard leaves this summer.

Knowing his time at Dortmund will end in two months does not make Pulisic feel awkward.

"My teammates are all professionals," he said. "They understand how this business works. I wanted to move and they're all very happy for me and the club is, as well."

After starting the season with 12 wins and three draws in its first 15 matches, Dortmund has two losses and three ties in its last nine games. After opening a seven-point lead in early February, it is tied with Bayern Munich atop the Bundesliga at 60 points with eight matches left, in second place on goal difference.

Dortmund last won the title in 2012 and is seeking to end Bayern's streak of six straight championships.

"We started off so strong, and unfortunately I've had some injuries kind of on and off throughout the season, which has been a low point for me," Pulisic said. "I've been working on that and trying to keep myself healthy for the rest of season. ... Obviously I'm super-excited to be there the rest the season and fight for the title."

While Dortmund uses Pulisic as a wide player, Berhalter envisions him as an attacking central midfielder, paired with McKennie.

"I don't mind where I play on the field," Pulisic said. "I just like to be in an attacking area where I can create and help the team score goals because that's where I feel I am at my best. And so I'm happy. I like the style that he has, and I like that position a lot."

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Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Man City close to summer Saul deal

Barcelona and Ajax have always had a good relationship with each other, but recent events have seen the teams open a dialogue over an even closer bond regarding transfers, according to Sport.

The report claims that Frenkie de Jong's move - and the ongoing talks for Matthijs de Ligt - have prompted the clubs to consider giving each other first refusal on upcoming talents.

In Barca's case, they would be offered any breakthrough players from the Dutch side's academy, while Ajax would be given the pick of La Masia as the Catalan side look to prepare their own hown-grown talents for European football.

The proposal is said to be being looked at favourably by both sides and the signing of De Ligt could be the final push to get it over the line.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Dortmund to sell Sancho to Man United, buy Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi?

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Dortmund to sell Sancho, buy Hudson-Odoi

With help from former Tottenham and Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli, we show you a step-by-step guide to a transfer.

FIFA have banned Chelsea for a period of two transfer windows. But what did they do wrong and how will the punishment play out?

FC Exclusives

Promising Borussia Dortmund attacker Jadon Sancho could be heading to Old Trafford this summer, as The Express say that his former club Manchester City did not include any clause on the player preventing him from joining another club when he was sold for just £8m back in 2017.

City do have a buy-back clause on Sancho, but if United are willing to spend up to £80m then there's nothing the blue half of Manchester could do about it.

Dortmund meanwhile have their own plans for when Sancho departs, according to the Mirror, namely to sign another young Englishman who has been making waves: Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The winger has been the subject of a few bids from Bayern Munich with his contract running down and no plans to extend it. But if Dortmund can go higher than £35m, they would land ANOTHER teenager superstar and stick the boot into their main rivals in one fell swoop.

LIVE BLOG

09.44 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain left-back Juan Bernat expects teammates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to remain at the club next season.

"Rumours are always going to be there but I think and I hope that they will remain," Bernat told Superdeporte. "The two are under contract with PSG and we trust they will remain with us a long time because they are very important players that help us a lot.The project that we have is a very exciting one and I hope it remains the same."

09.17 GMT: Renato Sanches says he is "not happy" at Bayern Munich and could leave the club he joined as a European champion in 2016.

"I work a lot, but I am not allowed to play," the Portugal international told kicker. "I want to play more, maybe at another club. I must give thought to this now."

With Bayern coach Niko Kovac playing Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and Leon Goretzka over him in his 4-2-3-1 formation, there is not much room for the 21-year-old after his ill-fated loan with Swansea last summer.

08.28 GMT: Gazzetta dello Sport report that PSG remain in the hunt for Fiorentina's Federico Chiesa. Juventus are also keen and could raise some funds by selling winger Douglas Costa.

08.00 GMT: Mauro Icardi's standoff with Inter Milan appears set to end amid reports that he will return to training with the club on Thursday.

The Argentine forward has not been on the field in more than a month, since being stripped off his captaincy amid protracted contract negotiations. The 26-year-old Icardi has said he has a knee injury, although the club has said that tests did not reveal any particular problem.

A meeting between Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta and Paolo Nicoletti, Icardi's lawyer, on Wednesday apparently resolved the differences.

After the meeting, Icardi made three Instagram posts featuring black-and-white photos of him wearing Inter's shirt and the captain's armband.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd) Spurs enter tussle for Gomes

Discussions between Everton and parent club Barcelona are ongoing when it comes to the long-term future of loan star Andre Gomes, but now a third party appears to have now entered the equation. While Everton have been benefiting from the midfielder's services this season, Tottenham are now thought to be interested in securing the signature of the 25-year-old for the 2019-20 campaign and beyond, according to The Sun.

The prospect of Spurs being able to offer more Premier League football, combined with Champions League action and a shiny new stadium, could be enough to thwart the Toffees' plans and tempt Gomes away from Merseyside to the capital.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Gomes kept his cards close to his chest on the subject of his future, adding that he's enjoying his football again and wants "to give the best performances" he can.

Richarlison's price too high

While on the subject of Goodison Park, another man who could be on the way out is Brazilian star Richarlison, if reports from MilanNews are to be believed.

That's if an agreement can be made on an appropriate transfer fee between Everton and AC Milan. The Italian side have expressed a longstanding interest in the forward, stretching back to his time at Brazilian outfit Fluminese. However, Milan aren't willing to splash as much as £60 million on Richarlison, which is the fee the Toffees have put on the table.

Richarlison signed for Everton from Watford for almost half of that figure, £35m, last summer. With Everton having won just two of their last 11 matches, and Milan potentially being able to offer European football next season, the San Siro could provide a suitable backdrop for the 21-year-old.

Moreno to find game-time in Lazio?

Out-of-favour Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno might be on his way to Lazio in the summer, according to The Independent.

The Spaniard would join former Liverpool teammates Lucas Leiva and Luis Alberto should the deal go through. Game time has been sporadic for Moreno this season thanks in no small part to the magnificent form of Scottish international Andrew Robertson.

The Independent understands that Lazio are close to signing a pre-contract agreement with Moreno, but they may have to compete with AS Roma for his signature.

Tap-ins

- Inter Milan are inquiring for the services of Valencia's Rodrigo Moreno, according to Marca, citing Corriere dello Sport. The Brazilian-born Spain international is under contract until 2022 and has a €120m buyout clause, but the Serie A side see him as a way to bolster to their attack.

- Tanguy Ndombele could be bound for Paris, if you believe what the Lyon president has to say, according to The Mirror. Ndombele is one of European football's hottest prospects, with a host of clubs falling over themselves for his signature. And supremo Jean-Michel Aulas has suggested he'd sell to moneybags Paris Saint-Germain if they match his £90m estimation.

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Christian Pulisic wants opponents to fear U.S. soccer team, knows it will take time

DAVENPORT, Fla. — Christian Pulisic has a vision of a transformed U.S. soccer team, a red-white-and-blue power that gives opponents sleepless nights similar the nightmares that plague players on the eve of facing Brazil or Germany.

"I want them to fear them like a big team," he said Tuesday, quickly acknowledging "obviously, we still feel we have a long way to."

The midfielder from Hershey, Pennsylvania, is with the national team this week for the first time since he became the most expensive American player. Chelsea agreed in January to buy Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for 64 million euros (then $73 million), then loaned him back to the German club for the rest of the season.

In their first training camp with new coach Gregg Berhalter, a trio of emerging 20-year-olds could start together for the first time: Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.

"There's a lot of things that we talk about, that we need to be leaders, we need to show everybody what we're about," Adams said. "A lot of times I feel that in the U.S. we talk about how many good young players we have and stuff like that, and there's a lot of players that end up falling off or not being heard about again. And you don't want to be one of those players."

Pulisic was 17 when he made his Bundesliga debut in 2016 and became a regular with the national team. When the U.S. lost at Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017, failing to qualify for the World Cup, he was the image of defeat. Pulisic crouched on the field, steadied his body with his right hand and covered his face with his left. The emotional pain was intense.

"Ever since that happened, it makes you want to be in a World Cup that much more," he said. "So, yeah, definitely it motivates me."

A regular with Dortmund the past two seasons, he struggled with a torn calf muscle last fall and a thigh injury this winter. He lost his starting job to 18-year-old English winger Jadon Sancho.

Pulisic's start against Hertha Berlin on Saturday was just his sixth in the league this season, but he scored as a sub against Stuttgart on March 9, his second league goal this season and first since September. He played in both Champions League round of 16 matches against Tottenham, though he struggled to be effective in the first leg.

"I feel very confident right now," he said. "I'm feeling very good. I feel like I'm at the top of my game. So I want to play as much as I can over there over in Dortmund. I'm not there to just finish out my time. I want to fight and they know that."

Chelsea wanted to acquire Pulisic during the January transfer window because it anticipated discipline from FIFA, which in February banned the club from signing players for the next two transfer windows. FIFA concluded the team violated regulations on the registration of young players, a penalty the Chelsea has appealed.

Pulisic long dreamed of playing in the Premier League, the most watched soccer league on U.S. television. Chelsea needs a playmaking midfielder in case Eden Hazard leaves this summer.

Knowing his time at Dortmund will end in two months does not make Pulisic feel awkward.

"My teammates are all professionals," he said. "They understand how this business works. I wanted to move and they're all very happy for me and the club is, as well."

After starting the season with 12 wins and three draws in its first 15 matches, Dortmund has two losses and three ties in its last nine games. After opening a seven-point lead in early February, it is tied with Bayern Munich atop the Bundesliga at 60 points with eight matches left, in second place on goal difference.

Dortmund last won the title in 2012 and is seeking to end Bayern's streak of six straight championships.

"We started off so strong, and unfortunately I've had some injuries kind of on and off throughout the season, which has been a low point for me," Pulisic said. "I've been working on that and trying to keep myself healthy for the rest of season. … Obviously I'm super-excited to be there the rest the season and fight for the title."

While Dortmund uses Pulisic as a wide player, Berhalter envisions him as an attacking central midfielder, paired with McKennie.

"I don't mind where I play on the field," Pulisic said. "I just like to be in an attacking area where I can create and help the team score goals because that's where I feel I am at my best. And so I'm happy. I like the style that he has, and I like that position a lot."

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Chelsea transfer ban: Why FIFA sanctioned Blues & what is the appeal process?

Chelsea have been slapped with a two-window transfer ban and a fine by FIFA, meaning they will now have to make alternative plans when it comes to their immediate recruitment approach.

The game's world governing body announced the sanction, which relates to breaches concerning the transfer of players who are under 18, on Friday and the Premier League club are now be formulating their response.

The Stamford Bridge outfit are expected to exhaust every avenue that is available to them as they seek to challenge the decision and preserve their reputation.

So why have the sanctions been imposed and what can they do about it? Goal takes a look at how it all works.

Why have Chelsea been hit with a transfer ban?

According to FIFA, the ban is being imposed on Chelsea because the governing body found the club to be in breach of regulations relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.

Specifically, the Blues were found to have breached article 19 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players in the case of 29 minors.

The club was also found to have breached article 18bis (which concerns third-party influence on clubs) in connection with two agreements that were reached concerning minors.

It is not clear which players the breaches in question are related to.

https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/c6/ff/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-2019_15x0x4d8dlx8c126tj5q8stria.jpg?t=347753425&w=500&quality=80

As well as a ban, FIFA has issued a fine of 600,000 Swiss Francs (£460k/$600k) and the Blues have been given a period of 90 days to "regularise the situation of the minor players concerned".

Furthermore, not only have Chelsea been sanctioned by FIFA, so too have the Football Association (FA).

FIFA fined the English governing body 510,000 Swiss Francs (£390k/$510k) for breaches and imposed a six-month period in which to "address the situation".

Can Chelsea appeal the transfer ban? https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/4d/59/chelsea-eden-hazard_1j6iodkwa68y41mmhl1jw7lbo2.jpg?t=-659383088&w=500&quality=80

Yes, Chelsea can contest the decision reached by FIFA by bringing their case before the FIFA Appeal Committee.

Indeed, the club have indicated that they will be appealing the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

"Chelsea FC categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and will therefore be appealing the decision," an official statement said.

"The club wishes to emphasise that it respects the important work undertaken by FIFA in relation to the protection of minors and has fully cooperated with FIFA throughout its investigation.

"Initially, Chelsea FC was charged under Articles 19.1 and 19.3 in relation to 92 players.

"We welcome the fact that FIFA has accepted that there was no breach in relation to 63 of these players, but the club is extremely disappointed that FIFA has not accepted the club's submissions in relation to the remaining 29 players.

"Chelsea FC acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and will shortly be submitting its appeal to FIFA."

While the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee is "final and binding", should Chelsea not be satisfied with the outcome they can make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

How long does an appeal take?

The duration of the appeal process varies depending on the case, but it can take up to two or three years, sometimes longer.

As you might expect, such things require a lot of paperwork and legal representations and there is a natural processing period for each step.

The club must first lodge their appeal with the FIFA Appeal Committee and, based on previous cases, it can take roughly three to four months for a decision.

After that, if a club is not satisfied with the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee, a case can be made to bring the issue before the CAS in Switzerland.

Again, the duration of the CAS appeal process also varies, depending on the court's schedule among other things, but it will generally take a number of months.

How long will the Chelsea transfer ban last? https://images.performgroup.com/di/library/GOAL/f7/2c/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-2019_15qhdd696jso31u7ltcy3hh5pb.jpg?t=356331489&w=500&quality=80

As mentioned, the transfer ban that has been imposed on Chelsea is scheduled to last for the next two consecutive registration windows.

The windows in question are the upcoming 2019 summer window and the 2020 winter window. That means they won't be able to complete transfer deals until the summer of 2020 at the earliest.

However, in the event of an appeal process being set in motion, the ban can be temporarily suspended until the outcome of the final appeal is reached.

In effect, what that means is that clubs can buy themselves some time in which to create a contingency plan by signing players to minimise the effect of a ban.

For example, Barcelona were granted a temporary suspension of their transfer ban in 2014, which allowed them to recruit the likes of Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Thomas Vermaelen.

As mentioned, Chelsea have indicated that they will be appealing the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, so the looming ban may yet be delayed.

What other clubs have had transfer bans?

Chelsea are by no means alone when it comes to this sort of breach and some of the world's biggest clubs have previously been implicated.

Liga giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were all sanctioned by FIFA for similar regulation breaches, with the governing body imposing similar two-window bans.

However, while Chelsea's breaches concern the cases of 29 minors, the cases of the Spanish clubs involved many more players. In the case of Barcelona, 31 minors were investigated and Real Madrid's case saw the investigation of 70 minors. However, Atletico's breaches involved more than double the Clasico pair combined, with 221 investigations.

Each of the cases involving the Spanish clubs took a number of years to be completed. From start to finish, Barcelona's case concluded in two years, Atletico's lasted just over three years and Real's was approaching four years.

In each of the aforementioned cases, the FIFA-imposed transfer bans were upheld, though the transfer ban was reduced to just one window in the case of Real.

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Soccer: PSG win legal battle with UEFA over FFP investigation

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group C - Crvena Zvezda v Paris St Germain - Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia - December 11, 2018 Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe with Neymar after the match REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain have won a legal battle against UEFA after European football's governing body tried to reopen its investigation into the French club's spending on transfer fees and wages.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Tuesday it had upheld PSG's appeal against UEFA on the grounds that the body took too long to review its own decision to clear the French champions of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

The judgement is separate to an ongoing investigation by UEFA regarding PSG's 2017-18 finances — the season in which the club signed Neymar in a world record 222 million euros ($252 million) deal from Barcelona and Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco.

In June last year, the Investigatory Chamber of UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) cleared PSG of breaking UEFA's break-even rules, yet later that month, the CFCB chairman ordered the Adjudicatory Chamber to review the decision.

The Adjudicatory Chamber then ruled in September that the case should be referred back to the Investigatory Chamber for further review.

PSG's appeal to have that decision annulled was upheld by CAS.

The club successfully argued that UEFA missed the deadline set out in the CFCB's Procedural Rules, which allow for a 10-day period during which any review should be instigated and completed.

UEFA said in a statement it would consider amending or clarifying its rules to avoid the same happening in the future.

Reporting by Joseph Cassinelli; Editing by Toby Davis

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NESN Soccer Podcast: Will Zinedine Zidane Save Real Madrid Again?

He's baaaaaack.

Zinedine Zidane on Monday sensationally returned to Real Madrid as head coach, 10 months after he resigned in the aftermath of their third consecutive UEFA Champions League triumph. However, the legendary player and coach inherits a Spanish giant in crisis following recent eliminations from the Champions League and Copa del Rey and ongoing disappointment in La Liga.

While the Frenchman probably won't work miracles over the final two-plus months of the 2018-19 campaign, club president Florentino Perez reportedly has given him free rein to re-shape the squad as he sees fit and a massive €350 million (£300 million/$394 million) transfer budget to fund his looming revolution. The expectation will be an assault on every major trophy next season and beyond.

NESN.com's Marc DiBenedetto and Marcus Kwesi O'Mard reacted to Zidane's Real Madrid return on this week's episode of the "NESN Soccer Podcast." They also preview the Milan derby and other games of the weekend. Listen to the latest episode below on SoundCloud or here on the NESN Podcast Network.

Thumbnail photo via Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports Images

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Transfer Talk: Man United to pursue Sancho over new centre-backs

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Sancho is a go for Man United

Manchester United's centre-backs have come under scrutiny over the course of the Premier League season, but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to give them his renewed backing after telling Old Trafford bosses of his wish to get stronger in other areas of the pitch.

The right-wing position appears to be the Norwegian's priority, and atop his shopping list is Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho. The 18-year-old has been a revelation in the Bundesliga since his £8 million move from Manchester City last summer, and United could be set to splash out more than 10 times that fee to secure their man in the close season, according to The Sun.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are continuing to keep tabs on long-term targets plying their trade in Serie A. Juventus' Douglas Costa and Ivan Perisic of Inter Milan remain on the United radar as Solskjaer looks to sharpen his attacking options while counting on his coaching staff to improve his current crop of defenders.

LIVE BLOG

23.59 GMT: That's going to bring Wednesday's live edition of Transfer Talk to a close. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with the latest gossip pulled from Thursday's back pages.

21.22 GMT: AC Milan lead the race for 17-year-old Newell's Old Boys prodigy Juan Sebastian Sforza, according to Calciomercato, with Roma, Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City all chasing the central midfielder's signature.

19.45 GMT: Looking increasingly likely to be handed the Manchester United manager's job on a permanent basis, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the Red Devils board the club needs strengthening in four positions -- right-back, left-back, right wing and attacking midfield -- and that he'll be handed a £200m transfer kitty this summer, the Metro reports.

18.08 GMT: According to Calciomercato, Barcelona have told 25-year-old centre-back Samuel Umtiti, who has missed nearly five months this season with a knee injury, that he's free to leave the club, with Manchester United and Manchester City reportedly interested in the France World Cup winner.

16.31 GMT: NYCFC are closing on a striker, but the club are being coy about who that might be -- perhaps because the player will be stepping into the sizeable boots left by David Villa.

"He's a good player. That's all I could say," NYCFC director of football operations Claudio Reyna told SBI. "We're excited and we have to be a little bit patient and there was always a lot of targets and finding the right one but we feel good. We feel, first of all, with the group we have now, until the player comes in, that we can get results.

"But he's only going to add more depth and competition into the team and obviously someone who can score goals."

15.49 GMT: When Paul Pogba was rubbish, Man United were keen to sign Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic. Now the Frenchman is good again, they've cooled their interest, say the Evening Standard.

15.14 GMT: Porto striker Moussa Marega has been in good form recently with six goals in the Champions League and another 10 elsewhere, and that has attracted the interest of Leicester and West Ham, according to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha.

Marega, 27, won't need convincing as he told SFR Sport last summer: "For me, I think this is perhaps the best time to try my luck elsewhere, to live a new experience, to know a new championship, the Premier League, for example."

Better luck this time around.

14.27 GMT: Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG are all reportedly interested in Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne, but his father has played down talk of a move.

"Lorenzo is doing very well in Naples and does not intend to go anywhere else," he told Napolimagazine.com. "The captain's armband is a source of great pride for him and for our entire family."

13.51 GMT: Defender Jacob Mensah, who plays for Ramsgate FC and has been compared to Manchester United's Chris Smalling (presumably because they both played non-league football), is set to sign for Crystal Palace ahead of Wolves, according to Football Insider.

12.42 GMT: Chelsea defender David Luiz looks set to sign a new contract with the club.

The 31-year-old said when asked if he would still be at Chelsea next season: "I think so. We are talking with the club. Everybody knows I love this club, I feel comfortable here and am happy here. I am doing my job very well so I think a lot is going to happen. I have the job best job in the world so I have to be motivated every single day. I love football, if I didn't love football I would not be playing anymore."

12.17 GMT: Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski, who has previously been linked with a move to Major League Soccer, said he thinks the German champions will be his last European club.

Lewandowski said he is unlikely to join another side in Europe, with his wife having previously admitted she hoped her husband would end his career with a club in Los Angeles.

"I can imagine it [Bayern being my last European club], because it's a great city, a great club that will develop even more from next season," Lewandowski told Przeglad Sportowy. "I want to break more records. The thought that I could make my mark on the pages of history could make me stay in Munich."

11.43 GMT: Borussia Dortmund have been watching to see how loanee Jeremy Toljan has been getting on at Celtic, but the Guardian maintain they have been getting a bit distracted by Kieran Tierney's performances on the other side of the pitch and are now looking to sign him.

10.52 GMT: Anyone else getting a little bored of who Real Madrid will sign?

According to El Chiringuito TV, Real want Lazio and Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The 24-year-old was one of Europe's hottest properties this time last year but a series of underwhelming performances have seen his transfer value drop. So while he was once a €100m, he might be available for around €50m now. Oh football, you're so fickle.

10.03 GMT: Speaking of Bale, according to AS, Tottenham are keen on loaning the Wales winger as long as Madrid pay the majority of his wages.

Of course Bale would probably be delighted with that as he used to play for Tottenham, but we're not so sure that Madrid will go for it. They'd rather recoup some of the €100m they spent on him back in 2013.

09.43 GMT: Contrary to reports in England, Barcelona are not thinking about signing Alexis Sanchez from Manchester United.

Sanchez played at Camp Nou from 2011-14 before leaving for Arsenal. But Mundo Deportivo claim they aren't interested in him now.

Perhaps a swap deal with Gareth Bale at Real Madrid should be on the cards? That would be something!

09.13 GMT: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has had something to say about reported Real Madrid interest in Kylian Mbappe this summer.

He told Canal+: "We have him -- that is the difference."

And then on beIN Sports, he was asked about Neymar and Mbappe's futures after Zinedine Zidane's return to Real Madrid. "I have nothing to say about these rumours. Zidane is back at Real, so they will be harder to beat next season. We have contracts with the players -- there is nothing else to say."

08.42 GMT: TyC Sports report that Atletico Madrid are prepared to make a €30m move to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Argentinian striker Lucas Alario this summer.

Alario has scored three goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances, although the 26-year-old has only started in seven league games and would be open to leaving Bayer this summer in search of more playing time.

08.00 GMT: See above that Jadon Sancho is one again in the thoughts of Europe's top clubs. And quotes from Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc will certainly give them some encouragement.

"Jadon will play for Borussia Dortmund in the coming season. We are planning with him," he told Sport Bild. "Even though all that touting, specially coming from the English clubs, will grow stronger if he continues like that. He will not retire at Borussia Dortmund. That's also part of the truth. I am far from attaching a price tag on him. But I maintain: Even the biggest clubs in the world would not be able to stem his transfer."

PAPER TALK Mourinho wanted four for Real Madrid

It's all a moot point given that Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema reportedly vetoed the appointment of Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid but El Chiringuito report that the Portuguese had some interesting transfer plans.

Namely, he would have ditched Thibaut Courtois and signed former Man United charge David De Gea, while also dipping into the Premier League for Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen. Which would have probably cost about £400m in total.

The Mirror report that Eriksen is the club's top target under Zinedine Zidane -- and of course Eden Hazard is a priority too. It will certainly be an interesting summer in Madrid.

Arsenal's bargain hunt leads to Brazil

Arsenal may be set for a summer of prudent spending, and manager Unai Emery appears to be looking to the Brazilian fourth tier as a source for up-and-coming talent. The Gunners have asked about Brazilian teenage forward Gabriel Martinelli, who has been impressing for Sao Paulo-based Ituano, according to The Daily Mail.

It's not just the Gunners who are keen on Martinelli, with Manchester United and Barcelona also keeping an eye on the youngster.

Meanwhile, Emery remains keen to acquire the services of Argentine left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, but only if they can fight off competition from Atletico Madrid for the Ajax man. Tagliafico has been a mainstay in the Dutch side since his arrival in January 2018, and was part of the team that dismantled Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.

Tap-ins

- AC Milan's pursuit of Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin is in the balance, after scouting reports from the Rossoneri revealed doubts about the Frenchman's character, per reports in Italy. The Parisian-born wide man had previously impressed Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso with his pacy displays in Ligue 1 this season.

- Newcastle United and Southampton are leading the chase for highly-rated MK Dons striker Recoe Martin, who has been dubbed "the new Dele Alli." Championship high-flyers Norwich are also keeping track of the 18-year-old, who caught the eye following a five-goal blitz in just 17 minutes in a youth league win over Leyton Orient last week.

- Zinedine Zidane's return to Spain could spell an end to Juventus' pursuit of Real Madrid's out-of-favour left-back Marcelo. The 30-year-old Brazilian is currently being kept out of the team by academy graduate Sergio Reguilon, but Zidane looks set to offer the full-back a fresh start at the Bernabeu.

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Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Real Madrid step up Icardi chase

[unable to retrieve full-text content]He has not started a match since, however, and if he continues to be left out by Manuel Pellegrini then he will likely ask for a transfer. Jermaine Jones has become the latest former U.S. national tea...

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FIFA denies request from Chelsea to freeze transfer ban

FIFA denies request from Chelsea to freeze transfer ban | FOX Sports

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The Transfer Process

Prior to 10  |  First Registration  |  Minors  |  ITC Request BACKGROUND

Per FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, the international clearance process is required when any foreign-born player over the age of 10 is attempting to register with an affiliated club in the United States, regardless of that player's ability or citizenship. U.S. Soccer is responsible for properly obtaining that clearance on behalf of these players before they can register and participate in an affiliated league.

INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE OPTIONS

Under FIFA's rules, there are four options by which a player born outside of the U.S. can register with an affiliated league.

Proof of Entry Prior to 10 – Players who have entered the U.S. prior to the age of 10 (regardless of their current age) and have been continuously living in the country since moving, can supply a copy of an official document to prove that fact (e.g. report cards, doctor records, etc.).

First Registration

U.S. Citizens – U.S. citizens born outside the U.S. (regardless of current age) may simply complete and sign the First Registration form attesting that the player has never been registered at any level to play soccer in any other country. U.S. Soccer can immediately clear the player upon receipt of this document.

Non-U.S. Citizens – A player born outside of the U.S., who is currently over the age of 18, may also complete and sign the First Registration form. U.S. Soccer will contact the foreign association for confirmation and will clear the player once that is received.

Minors Process – Any player currently between the ages of 10 and 17 who is NOT eligible for one of the preceding methods must prove to U.S. Soccer that he/she meets one of the following exceptions:

The player has moved with his/her parents to the U.S. for reasons other than playing soccer (e.g. parent's work).

The player lives outside the U.S., but no further than 30 miles from the national border. In addition, the U.S. Soccer-affiliated club with which the player wishes to be registered is within 30 miles of that same border.

Once verified, U.S. Soccer will request either the player's First Registration clearance or International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the foreign association, depending on which process is applicable.

ITC Request – Any player over the age of 18 who has been previously registered to a club in another country cannot be registered to a club in the United States until U.S. Soccer has received an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the player's former association. To initiate this process, the player must complete and submit an ITC Request form to U.S. Soccer, who will then request the ITC from the national association with which the player was most recently registered.

The chart below explains which process should be used, depending on the player's age:

*Any foreign-born players under the age of 10 should also submit 'Proof of Entry Prior to 10' documentation to U.S. Soccer in order to receive immediate clearance.

Please contact U.S. Soccer Registration Department with any questions.

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Arsenal midfielder Zelalem joins Sporting KC on free transfer

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The 22-year-old American has joined the Major League Soccer club after an injury-hit stretch in England's Premier League The 22-year-old central midfielder has struggled to get his career going since ...

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FIFA refuse to freeze Chelsea’s transfer ban; club ‘astonished’

Chelsea's transfer ban now seems slightly more definitive than it did a few days ago.

FIFA have confirmed that they will not suspend Chelsea's ban on signing and registering new players while the club appeal their one-year transfer ban.

Our partners at Sky Sports have more on the developing situation.

Chelsea have released a statement on the decision, saying they are "astonished" that this decision has been made.

"Chelsea Football Club is astonished by the FIFA Appeal Committee's decision not to suspend its sanction pending completion of the appeal process. The club acted in accordance with the relevant regulations and has already notified FIFA of its intention to appeal against the Disciplinary Committee's decision and sanction. As a matter of procedural fairness and equality of treatment, and Swiss law, the Club's right to an appeal process must be afforded, before any irremediable sanction takes effect.

"So far as the Club is aware, in all previous cases where a registration ban has been imposed by FIFA, a decision has also been made to suspend the sanction until the appeal process has been completed. In this case, Chelsea considers that it is being treated inconsistently in comparison with other European clubs. We will consider our next steps once we have received the written reasons for this decision from FIFA. The Club notes the Appeal Committee's statement that it has the right to appeal to CAS. In the meantime the Club will continue to fully cooperate with the proceedings."

In previous cases involving Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, an appeal led to clubs buying plenty of players in their final transfer window before they were banned. In a way, stockpiling talent to counteract a ban on transfers.

However, Chelsea will not be able to do this and their transfer ban will kick in for this summer and the January 2020 window.

"We can confirm that the Chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee has rejected the application for provisional measures filed by Chelsea FC in relation to the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee," FIFA said in a statement.

Chelsea can still appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but unlike the Spanish clubs they will now have to prepare to not sign a single player until the summer of 2020.

The Premier League club were banned from signing new players for the next two transfer windows (so, until the summer of 2020) for allegedly breaking FIFA's laws around signing overseas players under the age of 18.

Chelsea previously released a statement saying they "categorically refutes the findings of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and will therefore be appealing the decision."

Chelsea are accused of breaking FIFA's rules over 29 players they signed under the age of 18.

The results of a three-year investigation into the signing of players under the age of 18 led to FIFA imposing the two-window transfer ban on the west London club, while they have also been fined $600,000 along with the English Football Association who have been fined $509,000.

It is illegal under rules for clubs to sign foreign players unless their family move for non-soccer reasons, the club is within 100km of the players' home or if the clubs they are transferring to are both in the EU and the player is aged 16-18. In the latter case there are several guidelines which must be followed including housing, education and living fees.

Follow @JPW_NBCSports

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English Soccer’s Highest-Paid Mystery

Arsenal has always been convinced that Mesut Özil is a soccer genius. The club was sure enough that it tripled its record transfer fee to acquire him in 2013 and remained certain enough to make him its highest paid player with a contract extension last year.

But after investing over $100 million in him over the years, Arsenal is grappling with a much more perplexing question than whether or not Özil is supremely gifted. (For the record, he is.) The more pressing question is whether the most talented player in their squad...

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ESPN’s Jon Champion embraces ‘a new challenge’ with move to Major League Soccer

WASHINGTON — After spending decades as a globally-known voice of the English Premier League, Jon Champion began a new era of his broadcasting career this past Sunday as ESPN's lead voice of Major League Soccer.

Before kickoff of his first game, D.C. United vs. Atlanta United, Champion spent a few minutes chatting with the Inquirer about why he made the move, and what's to come. The conversation has been edited lightly for clarity.

How does it feel to be getting started with this?

Really exciting. After 35 years of doing top-level football in the U.K., it's just nice to be facing a new challenge. To have different thought processes to get through, different people to get to know, different contacts to make. And also, I think, an interesting and potentially exciting story to tell with the development of the league at the moment.

Was that part of what motivated you to come over here? Just to do something different?

Yes, it was. And also to be part of something that's growing. I've been fortunate that my time working in broadcasting in the U.K. has coincided with the birth and then the immense growth of the Premier League, from an interesting concept to a worldwide powerhouse in sports. I've been coming here now for five seasons, doing the occasional MLS game. And even in that time, I've seen the steep trajectory that the league is heading on. So I just thought now is a really good time to come over.

This has been mooted for about four or five years, after I did the World Cup in 2014 for ESPN. They took me out for lunch in London in December of that year and said, "Hey, how about it?" And it just wasn't right for family reasons at the time. The kids were the wrong age. But this year was the first year when it really was right. And also, in that time, I've seen the game and the sport move on here. So it ticked all the boxes. It just seemed the right time to make the move.

[Champion and his wife have four children, ages 23, 21, 19 and 26. The oldest is working, the middle two are in college, and the youngest will finish high school in Boston after moving to the U.S. in the summer.]

Which MLS venues have you been to already?

Red Bull Arena, Toronto, Seattle, Sporting Kansas City, Gillette [New England], Orlando, Portland. I loved Portland. That just seemed the perfect football ground to me. I was lucky enough to call Seattle-Portland at Providence Park. That was another of the reasons that I'm here now, really, because that was a thrill.

Did it make a difference for you that ESPN was the network inviting you over here, instead of, say, a startup looking to make a splash?

Yes. And don't forget that I've had a fairly lengthy relationship [with the network]. From 2009 to 2013, I was the lead announcer on the Premier League when they had their U.K. operation, showing live Premier League games there [and in the U.S. too].

Then when that stopped, they were very quickly in touch to invite me to do the World Cup in 2014. And then they gave me a contract to come and do 15, 20 appearances off the back of that, with this thought that eventually, there would be some form of succession and I would come over.

They've been very good to me. They've always made me extremely welcome here. I enjoy working with Taylor [Twellman, the network's lead analyst] and the production crew. So it just felt right in every respect.

Which is not to denigrate any of the other broadcasters over here. I know all the NBC people very well, [coordinating producer] Pierre Moossa and company, because of my work for the Premier League on their broadcasts. I know quite a few of the people at Fox as well. But ESPN are the company that I've already effectively worked at for 10 years. So it was a natural fit.

If someone had said to you five years ago that you'd be calling Wayne Rooney's games in MLS, what would you have thought?

Well, I suppose there was always a chance. But I'm delighted he's here. And slightly surprised at how well he's done. But I think he's loving just being allowed to concentrate on playing football, which is the thing that's always driven him. He was a street footballer growing up in Liverpool. That's all he wanted to do from first light until dusk: just play football in the streets. He's never happier.

And of course here, he has the role that he's always cherished, which is being the main striker — the one that English clubs, latterly at Everton and before that at Manchester United, decided that he was no longer capable of playing. And arguably, he's proving them wrong here.

There's been a big move in the other direction, too: Miguel Almirón from Atlanta to Newcastle United. Were you able to take in any of his arrival over there before coming over here?

My last game that I called for the Premier League around the world was Newcastle-Manchester City, Newcastle's famous win at the end of January. That was the night when Newcastle rushed out the news of Almirón's signing before the game. They were facing insurrection that night because of the lack of transfer activity in the market. I got a taste of it then.

And obviously I've been aware of Almirón through watching the broadcasts in the U.K. of MLS, and I've been really impressed by him and his relationship with Josef Martínez. Of his three appearances so far for Newcastle, two have been excellent. He was rather anonymous at West Ham, but his displays at St. James' Park, he's certainly warmed to that, and they've certainly warmed to him.

Will Almirón's success help knock down some more of the barriers that American soccer has faced in trying to earn respect in Europe?

Yes, but I think those barriers have been being knocked over for a while. It helps that the league now has a regular window on Sky television late on Saturday and Sunday night, because it's a time when there is no other football on TV. So the viewing figures are actually pretty solid and pretty good for those, and growing. That's been good in growing awareness of the league.

The fact that Rooney's here, the fact that [Zlatan] Ibrahimović is here, obviously helps. But I think the most positive thing is the fact that the league is now producing players who are being sold for fairly significant sums to European clubs. Not just Almirón, but we look at Tyler Adams going [to RB Leipzig], we look at Alphonso Davies going and immediately getting into the first team picture at Bayern [Munich]. Step by step, those preconceptions, I think, are being shown to be unfair, and people are starting to look at MLS in a much more positive light.

I was slightly concerned when my announcement was made in December that I was coming over here, leaving behind a very nice job over there. I was a bit concerned as to whether there might be some negativity in terms of the wider public perceptions of that. I can honestly say that without exception, everyone has come up to me, slapped me on the back, been extremely kind, and said, "What a fantastic opportunity." So that perhaps gives a little idea of how soccer in America, and its potential, is now being viewed.

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LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United to splash £120m on Paulo Dybala if Romelu Lukaku goes

The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world's media and set correspondents loose to see what's on the agenda for the summer.

TOP STORY: Man United to turn to Dybala if Lukaku leaves?

Could Paulo Dybala be on his way to Manchester United? He certainly could if Romelu Lukaku exits this summer.

That's according to The Sun, which reports that United are lining up a bid for the Argentinian who emerged as one of European football's hottest targets in recent seasons.

Lukaku has struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford since arriving from Everton, and the 25-year-old Dybala has been singled out by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a player who can help United close the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

But will Juventus sell Dybala? Flash £120 million and that might be enough, says The Sun.

LIVE BLOG

09.19 GMT: The agent of River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios says he is in talks with Inter Milan with a view to the player joining in the summer.

Palacios, who was a target of Real Madrid in the winter transfer window, sustained a fractured fibula last month.

"We don't have a definite agreement with Madrid," said Palacio's agent to FcInternews.it. "We had many meetings with them but the negotiation was never completed. We were about to complete it but then, because of this small fracture in the fibula, we didn't get it done. Now negotiations (with Madrid) have cooled off. We shall see. In the meantime, I can reveal that certain executives from Inter have shown an interest in the player.

"Exequiel would be honoured to sign for Inter that is what I told (Inter vice-president) Javier Zanetti. His release clause is €15m. Real Madrid would have paid a little bit more in order to erase the player's departure from River. Real Madrid want to wait and see how my client fully recovers. But if they don't make a move then we will see what is out there. Exequiel is only 20 years old. He would be just as happy playing for the Nerazzurri. "

08.55 GMT: PSG midfielder Marco Verratti has spoken to Le Parisien about his contract extension talks. Mainly to say he won't be speaking about them.

"These are things that I do not speak about," he said. "I know that my agent [Mino Raiola] and the club are in contact from time to time. However, nothing is signed yet. I am still under contract for a number of years [until 2021]. I have no problem signing a new contract here. I will be 27 soon, and if I sign, that will be another four, or five, years. I could finish my career here, if the club wants that to happen. Whatever happens, I will always be grateful to PSG."

08.00 GMT: The Daily Telegraph claim that Manchester City may have to have to break the world record transfer fee of £75m for a defender if they sign Leicester City and England left-back Ben Chilwell this summer.

Sources have told ESPN FC that City are keen on the 22-year-old but it seems they will have to part with a hefty fee.

PAPER TALK (by Richard Edwards) Man City to clean up on Sancho

The Sun also reports that Manchester City will coin it in if Jadon Sancho leaves Borussia Dortmund for big money this summer.

Pep Guardiola's side could make £15m if Sancho leaves for £100m, which might ease the pain for a club that let him go for comparative peanuts in 2017.

Sancho refused to sign on the dotted line at City but the club inserted a cheeky little 15 percent sell-on clause in the expectation that Sancho would develop at a rapid pace in the Bundesliga. They also have the chance to match any price that the likes of Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain come up with.

The player was on the receiving end as Spurs demolished the German giants 4-0 over two legs in the Champions League round of 16, but his performances in the Bundesliga have won him a host of admirers across the continent.

It's just the latest piece of negotiating genius from City, who also inserted a "United clause" in its recent deal involving Brahim Diaz with Real Madrid. That clause would see them enjoy 40 percent of the profits of any deal that sees the player move to Old Trafford from the Bernabeu.

Molde growing on Solskjaer's contract in Norway

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is yet to be confirmed as the new Manchester United boss, but it looks increasingly unlikely that he'll return to Molde.

That's according to the Fotballklubben podcast (via FourFourTwo), with the Norwegian suggesting that his contract with his previous club had expired.

"I'm not sure how it works," he said. "I think the contract is expired and that I'm now under contract with Manchester United. I think we need a new contract there [at Molde]."

After transforming the fortunes of his former club, though, chances are that he won't be returning to Molde any time soon. According to Press Association Sport, Solskjaer has signed a deal with United until the end of the season, despite signing a three-year deal to extend his second spell with Molde just weeks before he returned for his second coming at Old Trafford.

It has been a case of so far, so good in the northwest for Solskjaer. And the chances of him returning to Molde look remote.

Tap-ins

- Tiemoue Bakayoko is still in the dark over his future at Chelsea -- and AC Milan. That's according to France Football (via the Daily Mail), with the former Monaco star saying: "When I think of my future, it is a total blur. I cannot empty my head."

- Meanwhile, at Leicester, Brendan Rodgers is bracing himself for a triple raid on Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell and James Maddison. The Mirror reports that Rodgers, newly arrived from Celtic, is prepared for the interest in his three prize assets. But he has no plans to let any of them leave any time soon.

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Maurizio Sarri must navigate and survive Chelsea's two-window transfer ban

It all stemmed from a misunderstanding, according to both Maurizio Sarri and Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Chelsea keeper provided one of the defining moments of the European soccer season in refusing to be subbed off before penalties during Chelsea's loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Arrizabalaga, offering a distinctly modern apology by sharing an Apple note on Twitter in both Spanish and English, explained that he was trying to relay to Sarri that he fought off his cramp and didn't need to be taken off. 

Video of Sarri's reaction, and the ensuing memes, only exasperated the moment. Cutting through the noise, John Terry did not buy the explanation in his post-match analysis, saying that both comments were made to protect the media from investigating into underlying issues. 

Despite Sarri's attempt to divide dressing room dynamics with public perception, Arrizabalaga was fined a week's wages and benched for their match against Tottenham days later in what the Italian manager described as "a message" that the side was bigger than just one player. Willy Caballero, in veteran fashion, saw the confrontation as an opportunity for learning — at least publicly. He stated, "Sometimes these things pull players apart, but in this case, we are more together than ever." And Chelsea did beat Tottenham, 2-0. 

The public spectacle was embarrassing, but it was just the second-most damaging revelation of Chelsea's week. The club also received a transfer ban across two windows for violating rules related to signing players under 18 years old. It was found guilty of Article 19 — playing youth players without proper registration — in 92 out of 100 investigated cases. The findings presented another look into how top sides navigate the rules in the battle for global talent. Lyon striker Bertrand Traore, who signed for Chelsea a day after his 18th birthday, was photographed playing for its youth side in a "non-competitive" match when he was 16. In unofficially moving from Auxerre to Chelsea, the club paid for Traore's schooling in England while making a $200,000 payment to his mom, further signaling a world of unspoken agreements and handshakes. 

Though with Chelsea appealing, a ban likely will not be in place until later transfer windows. (A Twitter poll asking who the club should sign this summer shows the side's level of concern.) And while the ban seems damning on the surface, there are ways to navigate out of the predicament with proper planning. Before Barcelona's transfer ban in 2014, it spent $200 million on Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, all of whom make up the current side's backbone five years later. Atletico Madrid found creative ways to get past its transfer ban in signing Vitolo from Sevilla, then loaning him out to Las Palmas. Although, Chelsea may lack what both La Liga sides had in stability and an overarching style. 

"I never really speak to him, so I'd be happy to speak to him," said Sarri of Roman Abramovich following Chelsea's 6-0 loss to Manchester City. Sarri added that he "didn't know what to expect" when it came to whether he would remain as manager. But he could have been talking about Chelsea's future during the transfer ban as well.

---

It may have been the single most expensive WhatsApp group in history, made up by the 33 players Chelsea had on loan in 2015, a place for player bonding while in exile. Weekend highlights were circulated throughout the chat, although Patrick Bamford, then on loan at Crystal Palace at the time, observed that "sometimes it drains your battery when everyone is messaging each other." Another absurd, yet telling, detail surrounding the chat was how goalkeeper Matej Delac, who had been loaned out 10 times in his seven seasons at Chelsea while not making single appearance for the senior side, became the club's longest-serving player in 2017. Attempts to dominate European soccer follow their own unique rabbit hole.

Although, the club trimmed down to just 22 players on loan this season. How many of these names were eventually responsible in Chelsea getting its two-window transfer ban? It is reminiscent of a current college basketball scandal revolving around recruiting: Doesn't every team in the world blur the boundaries when it comes to adding talent through unspoken agreements? Manchester City is currently being investigated for how it signed Jadon Sancho from Watford by giving his agent a "scouting contract" to help sway the player to the club. With the increasing focus on global branding and attention, there seems to be a tacit understanding that this is just how things happen behind the scenes. The only crime is in getting caught.

Ironically, we may find that Chelsea will have to use its extensive, on-loan youth talent to thrive during the ban, especially if Eden Hazard leaves for Real Madrid, as per speculation. Terry echoed the sentiment that Chelsea's struggles this season, combined with the transfer ban, was an opportunity for Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to gain valuable playing experience, adding, "Let's blood the younger players and see what we've got." With an uncertain future ahead, now would be the time for players of Chelsea's system to define the personality and identity of the side. 

Chelsea was of its time during the turn of the decade with the emphasis on signing players on loan and feeding them to clubs throughout Europe for development and an eventual sell. It looked good on paper and in spreadsheets, and it was effective. But as the older generation of personalities who defined the side's backbone — from Terry to Frank Lampard turned — there was no leader to regain control of the team's emotion. Besides, buying players is passe — the current movement is about buying clubs under a portfolio like the City Football Group. (Is the next step for a conglomerate to purchase an entire league?)

I initially thought that the transfer ban could end up being a blessing for Sarri as the club strives for continuity. It could be an opportunity for Sarri to settle down with a group of players and mold them into his quick, passing vision. Yet even if Sarri eventually takes the fall, the mentality and pestilence brought on by instability looks to set Chelsea into a culture of short booms like Mourinho and Antonio Conte initially experienced, followed by an inevitable decline regardless of the manager. After beating Tottenham and knocking that side out of the title race, Sarri tried to put the previous month in perspective, saying that any manager would be under pressure after two or three losses. He did concede that the pressure may be more scrutinized at Chelsea.

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