Barcelona prepare ‘extensive’ package to sign Haaland

Julian Alvarez is poised to sign for Manchester City, River Plate have confirmed, but the forward will return to Argentina on a loan that could yet be extended into next season.

Forward Alvarez enjoyed an outstanding 2021, scoring 24 goals in 46 games in all competitions for River.

That form saw the 21-year-old break into the Argentina senior squad and has also now earned him a big move to Premier League champions City.

A deal reportedly worth £15.4million (€18.5m) is set to be completed before Monday s transfer deadline in England, but Alvarez will then head back to River at least until July.

And River president Jorge Brito hopes a run in the Copa Libertadores could see City agree for their newest recruit to continue his loan into the second half of 2…

Stefano Pioli declared that league titles are not won in December but challenged Milan to raise their game when they face Napoli on Sunday.

Inter moved four points clear of the Rossoneri at the top of Serie A by hammering Salernitana 5-0 on Friday.

The champions have soared to the summit with six consecutive victories, while Milan dropped to second after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Udinese, after crashing out of the Champions League with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

Pioli says it is too early for talk of Inter running away with it, highlighting that Milan topped the table for much of last season before falling short.

The Milan head coach said in a press conference on Saturday: I don t think we can talk about an escape, I think Inter a…

Friday s visit of Bologna will show Clarence Seedorf the mental strength of his Milan side after his first league defeat on Saturday.

The Dutchman had led his charges to Serie A victories over Hellas Verona and Cagliari and a draw against Torino before his side s league resurgence was ended by Napoli.

Adel Taarabt looked to have set the visitors on their way to what would have been an impressive victory with a debut goal but Gokhan Inler struck three minutes later before Gonzalo Higuain s second-half brace condemned Milan to defeat.

It ensured Milan dropped back into the bottom half of the table and brought home the task Seedorf faces to salvage anything from their season.

Victory could move them ninth if results involving Genoa and Lazio go their way and the …

Georginio Wijnaldum has joined Roma s squad for a training camp in Portugal after missing the World Cup with a broken leg.

Wijnaldum joined Roma on a season-long loan in August after spending a single campaign with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The Netherlands international played just 11 minutes for the Giallorossi before breaking his right leg in training later that month, causing him to miss the Oranje s trip to Qatar – which ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina in the last eight.

However, Wijnaldum will hope to play a significant role in the second half of the season after being seen out on the pitch at Roma s Trigoria training ground on Thursday.

Wijnaldum then joined Jose Mourinho s squad in travelling to Portugal for a trai…

Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini has played down reports linking him with a return to Inter.

Various newspapers in Italy have tipped Mancini to move back to the San Siro after reports suggested the club had expressed an interest in the Italian.

Walter Mazzarri s position as coach of Inter has come under scrutiny after a run of four games without victory in Serie A, despite reassurances from president Erick Thohir.

Inter are fifth in the standings, 14 points adrift of the final UEFA Champions League spot with six games remaining.

But Mancini, who guided Inter to three consecutive Serie A titles between 2005 and 2008, intends to see out his contract with Galatasaray, having only replaced Fatih Terim on a three-year deal in September.

My work here at Galatasa…

Barcelona head coach Xavi says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is like a gift from heaven after the striker hit the ground running following his arrival from Arsenal.

The Gabon international was on target in Barca s 4-0 win over Osasuna on Sunday to make it six goals in nine appearances for the Catalan giants in all competitions.

That is two more goals than next-best Ferran Torres has managed among Barca players since Aubameyang s first outing on February 6 in a 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid.

He is averaging 0.96 goals per 90 minutes in all competitions for the LaLiga club, compared to 0.57 across his 15 games with Arsenal prior to officially swapping clubs last month.

And with Barca enjoying their best run of league form since April 2021, Xavi has been impr…

Chelsea are interested in signing Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea are willing to pay €60 million in transfer fees for the Serbia international striker in the middle of the season.

Vlahovic has scored four goals and given one assist in four Serie A matches for Juventus so far this season. Last season, the 23-year-old striker made 22 starts and five substitute appearances in the league for Juventus. Vlahovic scored 10 goals and gave two assists in those games.

Chelsea are 14th in the Premier League table at the moment with five points from five matches, four points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Juventus currently find themselves …

Cristiano Ronaldo has little doubt Real Madrid will prove to be too strong for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the race for the LaLiga title this season.

Madrid last won the domestic crown in 2011-12 and have had to play second fiddle behind their rivals since.

Nevertheless, they have made a fine start to the 2016-17 campaign and have already taken a lead over both Barca and Atletico, much to Ronaldo s delight.

I want to win all possible trophies and would love to win LaLiga, the attacker told reporters.

It is a title that we will be going after and the team is looking good and solid. We ve started well and I hope we can continue to do well.

It is a long competition, but I am convinced we will win it this year.

Recent reports suggest…

Manchester City may never have a better chance of overturning a two-goal deficit against Barcelona than at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

After seeing Martin Demichelis sent off shortly before the hour mark, City slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie with Barca at the Etihad Stadium last month.

While Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot, having been fouled by Demichelis, it was Dani Alves who struck the hammer blow in stoppage time to hand City an almighty task to progress.

Barca have reached at least the final four of the competition in their last six attempts, lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2011.

Yet the Catalan giants come into Wednesday s game off the back of a surprise La Liga defeat to struggling Real Valladolid, which put …

that Arsenal are considering a move for French midfielder Lassana Diarra.

The 29-year-old can be signed on a free transfer having left Lokomotiv Moscow earlier this summer, and he was on the verge of joining QPR on transfer deadline day.

However, he could still be returning to English Premier League, with former club Arsenal reportedly keen on his services.

While signing a central defender is a priority for Arsene Wenger, the manager recently admitted he was still on the lookout for a holding midfielder and there is a chance the Professor will offer a contract to his compatriot.

Lassana Diarra has enjoyed a six-month spell with the Gunners during the 2007/2008 season, making 7 Premier League appearances before leaving for Portsmouth.

The experie…