Barcelona are pushing hard to have a deal for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia sewn up by the start of the second summer transfer window. The La Liga champions have made it clear that they want the 24-year-old to be their new starter, replacing Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the process.
Garcia has already decided that he wants to join Barcelona. He was Espanyol’s standout player last season, and a hero to those in the stands as his exploits single-handedly won the club points at times – but if the move goes through, he will not be viewed favourably by Los Pericos’ supporters.
Amid the speculation surrounding Garcia, Espanyol CEO Mao Ye Wu has provided an update to the club’s supporters. As per MD, he reiterated that there are no plans for negotiations to be held with any club, with the activation of the player’s €25m release clause is the only way that he can join Barcelona.
“There has been no official contact, neither from any club nor from the player. We have been clear about it from day one. The formula for executing the clause, the procedure is known by all clubs. We don’t have to teach anyone.
“The player is an Espanyol player today, and he has his clause, updated to the IPC. It is his right to choose his professional career, you have to understand the personal decision of each one, but the contract is the contract and we have to respect what is signed. We have no intention of negotiating the clause – not with Barcelona or with anyone.”
Barcelona are determined to finalise a deal for Garcia, whom they expect to be registered despite having had problems in doing so with Dani Olmo and Pau Victor throughout last season. But for now, there is still work to be done before everything is completed.
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Liverpool had their opening offer for Alexander Isak firmly rejected by Newcastle, but they’re expected to go back in with another attempt for the Swedish striker before the transfer window closes on 1 September. The Reds’ bid of £110m was rebuffed by Tyneside chiefs (The Guardian), but the cat has since been placed among the pigeons by reports that the 25-year-old views his Magpies career to be over and has even moved out of his residence in the northeast. Whether those developments will make the St James’ Park outfit more open to a sale is uncertain, but a potential chain reaction involving two other Premier League clubs could yet work in the Merseysiders’ favour. Liverpool ‘waiting’ for green light to submit new Isak offer Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT, Alex Crook said that Liverpool are biding their time until getting a signal from Newcastle that there could be a willingness on their part to sell Isak, on the proviso that Eddie Howe’s side land a transfer target of their own. The journalist outlined: “They’re waiting for the nod from Newcastle, who’ve got a replacement lined up, and therefore they’ll come in with a fresh bid. “Some dominoes are starting to fall into place. Bournemouth are looking for a replacement for Dango Ouattara. That would enable Ouattara to join Brentford and free up Yoane Wissa to make that move to Newcastle.” Liverpool may be hoping for domino effect to break their way In the ever-volatile landscape of the football transfer market, it’s never as simple as one deal automatically triggering another. Even if the Cherries sign a forward to duly cover off Ouattara leaving for west London, with Wissa duly getting his move to the Magpies, it doesn’t mean the Tyneside club will immediately sanction an exit for Isak. Irrespective of the apparent breakdown of relations between the striker and his employers, St James’ Park chiefs wll surely still hold out for a fee in the region of their £150m asking price for a striker who’s scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for them over the past three years. However, if the domino effect does materialise and Wissa ends up at Newcastle, that might give Liverpool sufficient encouragement to try again for the Sweden international and at least get closer to the Magpies’ valuation of him. Isak has made it unmistakably clear that he wants to join the Reds, and unless there’s to be a thaw in his relationship with the NUFC hierarchy, it seems that he’ll be left in a state of limbo. One way or another, it’s hard to imagine that a resolution won’t be found by the time the transfer window shuts. You can be sure that Richard Hughes will do everything in his power to ensure that the saga ends with the 25-year-old being part of the Premier League champions’ squad three weeks from now.
The Washington Commanders are currently dealing with some wide receiver issues heading into the season. An NFL analyst poured more fuel on the fire by proclaiming that Adam Peters will regret a huge call earlier this offseason. Terry McLaurin is not practicing and hasn't for months as his contract battle with the Commanders goes on. Others lower down the depth chart are coming in for increasing criticism, which leaves general manager Adam Peters with a potential problem on his hands if they cannot turn the tide before Week 1. The Commanders' wideout regeneration began by letting Dyami Brown walk in free agency. Although the former third-round pick displayed much-improved performances down the stretch and into the playoffs, it wasn't enough for Peters to give him an extended stay. NFL analyst believes Commanders could regret letting Dyami Brown walk Brown ended up signing a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that includes $9.5 million guaranteed. He's made his presence felt over the summer, drawing praise from quarterback Trevor Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen. This is the time of year he always flourished in Washington, but putting it together in a competitive setting was far more challenging. That didn't stop Brock Vereen of CBS Sports from labeling Brown as a sleeping giant ready to take over in 2025. The analyst thought his stock was low right now, but the Commanders could be kicking themselves for letting him go when it's all said and done. Stock right now is low on him because, 'Oh, Washington got rid of him. They replaced him with Deebo Samuel. He only landed a one-year deal.' This is a sleeping giant. Liam Coen knew exactly what he was doing. Dyami Brown is a versatile weapon. He can take handoffs, he can catch the ball, he can line up anywhere on the field. He even has pass attempts over his career. He can do everything and will be probably the most forgotten offensive weapon coming off of the Travis Hunter hype.Brock Vereen via SI Brown always flattered to deceive in Washington. He had every physical tool imaginable to be successful, but consistency never got close to the required standard. Peters takes sentiment out of every equation. The front-office leader didn't think the North Carolina product was worth what Jacksonville was willing to pay. And he pivoted accordingly. There probably won't be much regret around Brown's departure, regardless of whether he performs well with the Jaguars or not. He had countless chances to establish himself as a long-term option and almost always failed to deliver. If he'd done so, the Commanders would have rewarded him with a new deal. That wasn't the case. And there are still more questions than answers around Brown despite his promising start in the Florida sunshine. More Commanders news and analysis
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.
Money burned through NFL front offices this offseason, with billions spent on extensions and free agents. Most of the big-money signings — including extensions given to edge-rushers Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt — are easy to justify even with the exorbitant price tags attached. However, others appear to offer exceptional value relative to their costs. Below are signings from five defensive positions (tackle, edge, linebacker, cornerback and safety) this offseason that already look good and have a decent chance of becoming more attractive in the coming years. Here's our list of the five best offensive value signings. Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa Contract: Four years, $80 million ($52M guaranteed) Odighizuwa started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season for the third consecutive season. He had a career-best year, ending 2024 with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and ranked No. 12 among defensive tackles in ESPN's pass-rush win rate rankings, his second consecutive season ranking in the top 20 in the metric. In 2023, he finished fourth. Odighizuwa's extension pays the 2021 third-round pick $20M annually (AAV), which ranks No. 12 among interior defensive linemen. While the Cowboys have botched negotiations with outside linebacker Micah Parsons, who requested a trade earlier this month, Odighizuwa's extension serves as the crown jewel of their offseason. And with uncertainty surrounding the two-time first-team All-Pro edge, Odighizuwa could be even more important to the Cowboys defense this season. Kansas City Chiefs edge-rusher George Karlaftis Contract: Four years, $93M ($62M guaranteed) The edge market exploded this offseason, with Crosby, Garrett and Watt all at one point signing record-breaking contracts, the latter two becoming the first $40M per year defensive players. Sliding further down the scale was Karlaftis, whose rookie extension places him 11th among edge-defenders. Last season, Karlaftis, the No. 30 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, ranked fifth among edge-rushers in total pressures, per Pro Football Focus data, finishing the regular season and playoffs with 76. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner Contract: Three years, $63M ($56.7M guaranteed) The 49ers have benefited from a league-wide devaluation of linebackers, extending four-time All-Pro Warner to a contract that will pay him $21M annually through 2027. He's the highest-paid linebacker on a per-year basis and well worth it based on his production. Warner ranks fourth in tackles since entering the league in 2018 and is the only active player currently on an NFL roster with at least 10 career sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles apiece. New York Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo Contract: Three years, $54M ($38.5M guaranteed) Adebo's signing largely flew under the radar this March. But during an offseason when corners Ahmad Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jaycee Horn signed extensions with an average $82.1 million guaranteed, the Giants got excellent value. From 2023-24, Adebo tied for sixth among defensive backs in passes defended (28). Since entering the league as a 2021 third-round pick, he's one of 11 corners with at least 10 interceptions, a category New York finished 31st in last season with five. Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre Contract: Three years, $39M ($29.156M guaranteed) The 2022 second-rounder was fitting nicely into his role as a nickel corner last year before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 12. He hasn't reached the heights of his great rookie season (when he had five interceptions and 147 total tackles) in the years since, but at $13M per year (tied for the 12th-highest among safeties), that's a reasonable price to pay for a player who might just be coming into his own.
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