Author Archives: Feargal Brennan

Athletic Bilbao set for summer clear out

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AthleticBilbao-Lekue

Athletic Bilbao are on the verge of releasing some of their La Liga stalwarts, as new manager Gaizka Garitano looks to refresh his first team squad ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Garitano, who took over the reins at the club in December 2018, following the departure of Eduardo Berizzo, turned their league fortunes around sufficiently enough to be handed the job on a permanent basis.

He has been fairly quiet in the transfer market so far this summer, however he is now beginning to put his own stamp on the club, by showing some experienced campaigners the door at San Mames.

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Barcelona need De Jong influence in De Ligt deal

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La Liga champions FC Barcelona are becoming increasingly concerned that their deal for Ajax skipper Matthijs De Ligt has derailed, due to interest from rival clubs in the teenage defender.

De Ligt enjoyed a fine season at the heart of the Dutch side’s defence, as they secured the domestic double, and reached the Champions League semi final stage.

However he has been clear in his preference to move on from the Johan Cruyff Arena this summer, with a queue of top sides looking to gain an edge in the race to sign him.

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Atletico Madrid show transfer intent before 2019-20 campaign

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Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are wasting little time in preparing for the 2019-20 La Liga season, with Diego Simeone already active in the transfer market.

The Argentinian boss reaffirmed his commitment to the club at the end of the season, despite the departures of key players and the reported lack of financial backing from the board.

However, the former Inter Milan midfielder has responded with his usual mix of pragmatism and tactical nous to quickly address the areas in his side that need strengthening.

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Keita Balde set for Serie A exit

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keita

With Inter Milan now on the lookout for a new manager following Luciano Spalletti’s exit, the Serie A side could also be in line to lose players before their new manager even arrives.

Former Italy and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is widely tipped to be the man coming in to replace Spalletti, and the fiery former midfielder could wield the axe in pre-season.

With talisman Mauro Icardi committing himself to the club prior to Spalletti’s departure, the incoming boss is unlikely to make Keita Balde’s loan move permanent.

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AC Milan move for Simone Inzaghi is a logical step

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Simone Inzaghi

The Serie A managerial mery-go-round has started even earlier this summer, with three of the top five sides in Italy parting ways with their managers, just weeks after the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Max Allegri brings to an end his five year term with Italy’s dominant force, Juventus, whilst Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti has been fired, despite securing a top four finish.

However, former AS Roma boss Spalletti will not be the only managerial change at the San Siro this summer, with rivals AC Milan having already dispensed with head coach Gennaro Gattuso.

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Atalanta set for big spending summer ahead of Champions League challenge

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Atalanta’s top four finish was one of the stories of Serie A 2018-19, with consistency in the final weeks of the campaign ensuring a first ever crack at the Champions League in 2019-20.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s has turned the club into the biggest threat to the established powers in Italian football, and their performances in 2018-19 means there is no dramatic return to Europe’s premier competition for AC Milan, or Champions League regulars AS Roma.

Gasperini is likely to have a decent transfer war chest to spend ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, but he will also have to fight off interest in some of his own key players.

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Eibar quick off the mark ahead of the 2019-20 La Liga season

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Eibar

With the 2018-19 La Liga season over, sides are already putting in place transfer plans and looking to tie up contracts for important figures.

The key in these situations is often getting your business done early to avoid last minute panic buys and upsetting the balance of your squad before the season kick off.

Eibar secured their top flight status will weeks to spare in 2018-19, extending their La Liga stay into a sixth consecutive season – a feat that would have seemed almost impossible following their first ever campaign back in 2014-15.

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Espanyol need to spend to keep key pair

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Rubi Espanyol

Espanyol’s final day heroics changed the make up of La Liga’s European qualification in dramatic fashion.

Rubi’s side won 2-0 at home to rivals Real Sociedad to overhaul the Basque side in the race for the Europa League, with Athletic Bilbao also losing at Sevilla, to leave the path clear for the Catalan side.

Roberto Rosales and Wu Lei were the heroes against Imanol Alguacil’s side, and the significant cash injection that European football brings will need to be smartly invested in order to prevent the vultures circling over Espanyol’s key players.

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Girona stars to exits following La Liga relegation

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Real Madrid v Girona

Girona could suffer a double blow following their relegation from La Liga, with the top flight’s side circling for their key players.

Eusebio Sacristan, who has since been fired, as unable to stem the tide as the Catalan side’s poor form dragged them deeper into danger, with rivals Celta Vigo and Villarreal heading in the opposition direction.

With their two-season stint in La Liga, Girona are now preparing for life in the Segunda Division. A task made harder by the lack of a first team manager, and the potential that their key players could also be on the way out.

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Simeone to splash the cash in Atletico Madrid rebuilding project

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Simeone

The La Liga Big Three look set for major changes this summer, with defending champions FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all in line to make big moves in the transfer market.

Ernesto Valverde will look to add to the signing of Frenkie De Jong, with one or two big names, as he looks to ease the growing pressure on his position, while Zinedine Zidane has been essentially offered an open cheque book by club president Florentino Perez as he looks to make Los Blancos competitive again.

However, across the Spanish capital, Diego Simeone faces the biggest rebuilding challenge of his managerial career ahead of the 2019-20 season.

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