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Barcelona face battle with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea for Amadou Onana - Paper Round

The Editorial Team

Updated 11/02/2024 at 08:46 GMT

Barcelona hope to sign Amadou Onana from Everton but they might not be able to afford a player also wanted by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, and they could sell Frenkie de Jong this summer. Elsewhere, United are linked with four talented teenagers in Argentina, and Liverpool are facing a potential exodus of players when manager Jurgen Klopp leaves.

Amadou Onana of Everton during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 4, 2024 in London, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

Barca face huge competition for Onana

Barcelona are competing with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea for the signing of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
The 22-year-old midfielder could cost £51 million - which would price Barcelona out.
“Barcelona will join the race to sign Amadou Onana - but only if Everton drop their £51m asking price,” The Sun reports.
“Like the cash-strapped Toffees, Barcelona have their own financial issues and cannot afford to go beyond £34m as things stand.
“But the Spanish giants are monitoring the midfielder’s situation closely.
“Everton will hope to generate an auction for Onana this summer.
“Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all among the clubs to have him on their shortlist.
“The 22-year-old Belgian international arrived at Goodison Park from Lille for £33.5m after snubbing West Ham in August 2022.”

De Jong linked with Barca exit

As well as struggling to afford Onana, Barcelona could now choose to sell Frenkie de Jong, with the Mirror suggesting the Dutchman is open to a move.
The player is wanted by Manchester United, and Erik ten Hag may now get his man.
“Frenkie de Jong has been linked with a move to Manchester United ever since the summer of 2022 when Erik ten Hag took the reins at Old Trafford,” the paper reports.
“United's Dutch manager is well versed in what De Jong's main strengths are, given the pair worked closely during their shared time at Eredivisie giants Ajax. Now at Barcelona, De Jong is often a name that crops up on the transfer wishlists of Premier League clubs
“He has hardly set the world alight since his switch to the Camp Nou in 2019, but that would have been difficult considering the number of obstacles the club has faced on and off the pitch in that time. Regardless, in the past De Jong has pledged his loyalty to Barcelona.
“However, it seems like something has changed in the six months that have passed since those remarks from De Jong. Half a year later, it appears that the technically gifted midfield maestro is now more open to the idea of leaving Barcelona as speculation over a move to Manchester rears its head once again.”

United chase Argentine quartet

The Express believes that Manchester United are interested in four young Argentine players plying their trade in South America.
However, clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and rivals Manchester City could be interested too.
The paper writes: “Four starlets have reportedly been identified as targets, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and City also touted as suitors.
“United are following the progress of the nation's quartet Franco Mastantuono, Aaron Anselmino, Ian Subiabre and Tomas Parmo.
“Mastantuono, 16, made the headlines by becoming the joint-second youngest goalscorer in Argentine football history in River Plate's 3-0 win over Excursionistas on Thursday.
“Parmo, another midfielder, joins Mastantuono on United's watchlist after catching the eye at age 16 at Independiente.
“As has Subiabre, a 17-year-old winger, who made his senior debut for River Plate last week after scoring three goals in 20 appearances for Argentina's U17s.
“United are also said to be keeping tabs on the defensive market, with Anselmino on the club's radar.”

Six players may quit Anfield

Six players - Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Thiago, Cody Gakpo and Konstantinos Tsimikas - could move on in the summer, according to the Daily Star.
Liverpool are preparing for Jurgen Klopp’s departure, and there could be further upheaval.
: “Liverpool are on the precipice of a major transformation.
“Jurgen Klopp's end-of-season departure is set to shake the foundations of the club, and finding the right successor will be harder than a diamond-incrusted anvil. Not only that, the knock-on effects of the German's exit could be just as significant with several senior stars facing exits.
“The Reds, who went top of the Premier League again on Saturday with a 3-1 win at home to Burnley, will head into next season with a brand new philosophy for the first time in nearly a decade and some axe-swinging could be on the cards over the summer to accommodate the new regime. Even players untouchable under Klopp could be facing the chop.”
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