:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65853201/1192710900.jpg.0.jpg)
Yes, that’s right:
Barca will accept €50m and Kimmich or Thiago for Coutinho! (elDesmarque)
The infighting among Spain’s marquee peddlers of transfer rumors just intensified — they all are gunning for Don Balon’s crown now, and the Don has been quiet of late. Now ElDesmarque has hurled a “Bomba Coutinho”!
But I digress. The scoop? ElDesmarque writes that “Barca gave Coutinho to Bayern Munich without no intention of getting him back.” His purchase option is valued at €120 million, but there is always room to negotiate between friends. Barca seemingly will permit Coutinho to sign permanently with Bayern for a mere €50, but Barca is interested in two players as part of the deal:
Barcelona will allegedly try to include either Thiago Alcantara or Joshua Kimmich “in the operation.” Thiago allegedly “wants to wear the Barca shirt again,” while Kimmich is the right-back that Leonel Messi wants on the team.
For sure Bayern will go along with that! I can think of no better way for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to ride off into the sunset of his career as Bayern’s CEO than to pay Barca €50m for a player who is currently glued to the bench and to send one of either Thiago or Kimmich to Barcelona for nothing (quite aside of the fact that the two are by no means interchangeable).
Niko Kovac to coach Everton Arsenal (Goal)
The next stop on Niko Kovac’s “fact-finding” mission on the Merry Isle is Arsenal’s game tonight against West Ham. So obviously Goal writes,
Niko Kovac wants the vacant manager’s job at Arsenal and his interest has been made known to the club’s hierarchy.
They claim to have some information from Kovac’s camp, for whatever that is worth:
...although the former Croatia boss has insisted he is only in England on a fact-finding mission, Goal has learned that he is interested in succeeding Unai Emery, who was sacked by the Gunners last month.
Kovac’s representatives have been in contact with Arsenal to express his interest in the role as the north London club step up their search for a permanent replacement for Emery.
I guess it not impossible, as everyone likes to say about football, but Kovac is supposedly not among the front-runners. I could see Kovac returning to coach Hertha Berlin after their half season with Jürgen Klinsmann comes to whatever end is appointed for it — provided they are not relegated.
Bayern celebrates Christmas (FCBayern)
Bayern Munich celebrated their Christmas party at the Alilanz Arena’s “Säbener Lounge” this weekend. The players and officials were in attendance, and the club shared some pictures.
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
-
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Fan at the center of latest Manchester City racism scandal arrested (Dail Mail)
The man seen making monkey gestures at Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Fred was arrested by authorities for questioning. The Manchester police said,
A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order (offence) and remains in custody for questioning.
You can read more about the man in question, who defended himself in profanity laced messages on social media (Daily Mail). His ex-partner spoke to the Mail, saying,
I have been in tears. I am really surprised — this is not like him — his family are black. I keep watching the footage back and I can’t say whether he’s done it or not. Has he done it or hasn’t he done it?
The man faces a lifetime ban from the Etihad if found “guilty of racial abuse.”