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Barcelona have made Liverpool winger Luis Diaz their top priority for this summer, with Director of Football Deco maintaining interest in the Colombia international from last summer. Hansi Flick and Deco seemingly believe that he would be a way of strengthening their forward line, and now Barcelona are taking steps to make the deal happen.
On Wednesday it was revealed that Liverpool were ‘perplexed’ by all of the stories emerging about Diaz, having not heard from the player himself, and from Barcelona. However that situation has now changed, according to a report from The Athletic, who say that the Catalan giants have now been in contact with Liverpool.
Liverpool reject Luis Diaz approach from Barcelona
Their information is that on Wednesday, Barcelona made formal contact with Liverpool regarding Diaz. And were met with an unequivocal response: Diaz is not for sale. They have told Deco that they have no intention of selling a player in Arne Slot’s plans for next season.
Diaz has also received interest from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Manchester City last summer. They say that the Saudi pursuit of Bruno Fernandes has ‘helped to establish a market value’ for Diaz. The same outlet previously noted that Al-Hilal were willing to pay €95m for Fernandes.
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‘Furious’ Tottenham out for blood as Daniel Levy seeks to return favour to PL rivals in kind
Tottenham Hotspur are keen to disrupt Nottingham Forest transfer plans after Morgan Gibbs-White saga Tottenham Hotspur’s return to the Champions League in the 2025/26 season has filled us with pride and hope. By defeating Manchester United in the Europa League final, we not only won a trophy but also proved ourselves once again on the big stage of Europe. The new season has started with the appointment of Thomas Frank, who will try to bring the same stability he showed at Brentford to Spurs. This time, the club have entered the transfer window with an aggressive mindset, and the presence of Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel has made our attacking line more dangerous. Tottenham has progressed in the last few years, but always remained one step away. The team never managed to stabilise during the time of Antonio Conte and after that. Now, under the leadership of Thomas Frank, the team have embarked on a new path. The arrival of a player like Mohammed Kudus makes it clear that Spurs no longer want to just play for a top-four finish; they want to win trophies. However, amid that build-up, an old name and a new controversy have made headlines around the club. Gibbs-White row and Jacob Ramsey discussed Spurs sent in a £60 million offer for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs thought they had activated a release clause, but Forest threatened legal action, saying Spurs had obtained the information incorrectly. Eventually, Gibbs-White signed a new contract with Forest. Following the controversy, it is now reported by Football Insider that Tottenham are targeting Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey to teach Forest a lesson – the very player Forest wanted for their midfield. “I’m already seeing Spurs now targeting other players that Forest have got their eyes on, like Jacob Ramsey at Villa. “They’re furious, they’re going to say, you’re going to block us on Morgan-Gibson White, we’re going to block you on some of your other deals. So all these little tit-for-tat battles in football emerge. It’s just the way that people’s egos get bruised. “Often it’s best not to have these battles. Without being taken advantage of, you can still make your point and move on in a positive way. But it’s an interesting one to say the least. “Mr. Marinakis is testing the boundaries again. He’s standing up for himself, I get all that, but would it have been wise to have moved on and then gotten your own back another way? That’s probably the way I’d have looked at it.” Jacob Ramsey: An emerging talent Jacob Ramsey is one of the Premier League’s young, technical midfielders. His ball progression, driving runs and goal threat can be beneficial to any team. The 24-year-old’s growth at Villa has been remarkable. If Spurs do sign him, it could be a smart move from a footballing perspective, but if the motive behind it is revenge, it could cause problems. Tottenham are a big club, or at least bigger than Nottingham Forest. They should make their transfer moves based on need, not emotion. Spurs did suffer in the Morgan Gibbs-White saga, but it would not be wise to respond by putting obstacles in Forest’s way. Jacob Ramsey is talented, but if the reason behind signing him is just revenge, it could upset the club’s plans. Spurs now have a chance to play in the Champions League and also reach the top of the Premier League. In such a situation, emotional transfers can harm both squad depth and salary structure. A manager like Thomas Frank needs to fit the right players into the right system, not make moves to respond to Forest. Tottenham now needs to focus on one thing – preparing to win, not settling old battles.
Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
Steelers Might Be The Legitimate Reason Terry McLaurin Wants Out Of Washington
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking move early in the 2025 offseason. In a bold and unexpected trade, the team acquired star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, instantly changing the outlook of their offense. Shortly after the deal, the Steelers committed long-term, signing Metcalf to a five-year contract worth $150 million, with four new years and $132 million in fresh money. At $33 million per year, the Steelers made it clear they believe Metcalf is a rare talent worth every dollar. While the Steelers were focused on boosting their offense, their move has caused problems elsewhere in the NFL. The Washington Commanders now find themselves in a difficult position with their own star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that McLaurin "wants considerably more than" the $33 million per year that Metcalf received in Pittsburgh. That revelation has sparked questions about whether the Commanders are prepared to meet McLaurin’s growing demands. The Steelers may not have intended to impact other teams' contract negotiations, but their deal with Metcalf is now being used as a measuring stick. McLaurin, who has consistently been one of the most reliable wideouts in the league, is looking to cash in at a level that reflects his value. Pittsburgh’s decision to pay top dollar has inadvertently put pressure on Washington, who must now decide whether to match or exceed those terms to keep their top receiver happy. The Commanders find themselves in a difficult position as the NFL continues to see critical positions like wide receiver experience rapid increases in market value. As star players across the league sign massive deals, it becomes increasingly challenging for teams to build balanced rosters while also keeping their top talent and maintaining consistency from one season to the next. Washington is now facing that exact challenge with McLaurin. It makes perfect sense that Metcalf’s massive extension with the Steelers is being used as a comparison. This is a common pattern in the NFL. One player gets paid, and others in the same position group see it as their opportunity to cash in. McLaurin, after watching Metcalf land a $33 million per year deal, likely sees this as the perfect moment to get the contract he believes he deserves. It is not about being greedy. Players understand the business side of the league and know their value can shift quickly. When the opportunity comes, they have to take advantage of it. Steelers' Omar Khan Has A Chance To Do Something Crazy At Wide Receiver The bigger question is whether McLaurin could become available if things continue to stall in Washington. While the Steelers might seem like a potential landing spot, they are already investing heavily in Metcalf. Paying McLaurin even more than Metcalf would be incredibly difficult under the current financial structure. However, if General Manager Omar Khan were somehow able to make it work, it would completely reshape how the rest of the league views Pittsburgh entering the 2025 season. For now, both sides appear to be stuck, and that uncertainty could eventually lead to McLaurin’s name surfacing in trade talks, even if his price is far too high for Pittsburgh to realistically consider. While it’s highly unlikely the Steelers would make another major move at wide receiver, Khan has shown a willingness to get creative with the salary cap, so nothing can ever be completely ruled out. With the right cap maneuvering, there’s always a slim chance something unexpected could happen. Though the idea of the Steelers making McLaurin higher paid than Metcalf certainly sounds very unlikely at this point.
LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
The Los Angeles Lakers could make yet another addition to their roster this offseason. After a poor postseason run, the Los Angeles Lakers have been active this summer in hopes of bolstering their roster. In fact, general manager Rob Pelinka has already made some key additions to the roster, including Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart. Signing an elite center was arguably the most important task for Pelinka this offseason, and he fulfilled it with the arrival of Ayton. However, one could argue that the Lakers still need a quality backup center. Luka Doncic could recruit Nikola Vucevic to the Los Angeles Lakers While the Lakers re-signed Jaxson Hayes, a player of Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic’s caliber would undoubtedly be a major upgrade. Moreover, with Vucevic being on the Lakers’ radar for years, it means that the organization rates him highly. Previously, the Bulls didn’t indulge in a trade with the Purple and Gold around Vucevic. It has led to Vucevic’s trade value diminishing so much that he is expected to complete a contract buyout with the Bulls. The Laker Nation would love to sign the 34-year-old, and Luka Doncic can help in this quest. How? Well, Doncic and Vucevic share the same agent in Bill Duffy. This means that if Vucevic completes a buyout, the Lakers could have the upper hand in negotiations. The 2x NBA All-Star has given the last five and a half seasons of his career to the Bulls, but it’s obvious that their time together is about to end sooner rather than later. Adding fuel to the fire were former Orlando Magic star Evan Fournier’s comments. Fournier ridiculed the Bulls while taking a shot at Vucevic after the latter called out his move overseas. Luka Doncic has already proven he can recruit stars Ahead of his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic is doing everything in his power to bring back the glory days for the Lakers. He has already undergone a massive transformation to silence his critics. Additionally, Doncic has been actively involved in recruiting players for the Lakers. Smart admitted Doncic was a huge reason behind his decision to sign with the Lakers. Ayton also acknowledged Luka’s role in his decision to join the Purple and Gold. Let’s not forget Ayton also has the same agent as the Slovenian superstar. So, Doncic has already given the inside track for one star; there’s no reason to doubt he would do the same in Vucevic’s case.
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