Latest news with #PhilippeCoutinho
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Where Liverpool transfer spend is coming from after 'rage' about £300m outlay
Among the many stunned responses from supporters of Liverpool's rivals online this week, one account in particular was moved to ask if oil had been found underneath Anfield. Such has been the incredulity, in fact, over a remarkable window so far that Reds fans are continuing to ironically peddle the theory that this summer's near £300m outlay has been brokered by the 'last of the Coutinho money'. That will be the same Philippe Coutinho, of course, who left for Barcelona in January of 2018 and his £142m switch to Barcelona was spent almost immediately on recruiting Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. The raging online about Liverpool's apparent new spending prowess, however, has been enough for more than a few of a Reds persuasion to indulge themselves in the meltdown. READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai faces new challenge as Liverpool transfer sparks dramatic change READ MORE: Alexander Isak to fly out to Far East after Liverpool interest as Eddie Howe claim speaks volumes The £79m addition of Hugo Ekitike takes the club's spending, inclusive of the £29m agreement for Giorgi Mamardashvili which was agreed last summer with Valencia, to an eye-watering £294m on seven new arrivals. The club-record pursuit of Florian Wirtz, at £116m, came hot on the heels of Jeremie Frimpong's £29m release clause being triggered at the start of June before long-standing target Milos Kerkez joined at £40m from Bournemouth alongside goalkeepers Armin Pecsi at £1.5m and Freddie Woodman, whose free transfer from Preston North End sees him add home-grown competition in goal. On the face of it, this exorbitant, spendthrift summer is a considerable departure from the prudent, risk-averse approach of years gone by under owners Fenway Sports Group, but looking at these transfers through the prism of one single window is a view that is not shared inside Anfield itself. Prior to this summer, Liverpool had bought one first-team player in nearly two years in Federico Chiesa, whose £10m arrival from Juventus last summer was viewed as a low-risk gamble that could give Mohamed Salah the opportunity to rest up at key junctures. Before the Italian's August 2024 addition to the squad, you have to go back to Ryan Gravenberch's signing, 12 months earlier from Bayern Munich, as the most recent senior capture, meaning Liverpool's outlay, for a club of its size, had been minimal prior to this June. It's why Liverpool's powerbrokers will be relaxed at the £300m ballpark figure of 2025, even with the potential for further additions. Supporters may see transfer windows as their own separate and entirely individual entities but the player trading months do not exist in a vacuum where a club's more general financial health is concerned. Perhaps the source of the real consternation is how Liverpool have been able to dip into the market with such ease without having the dubious whiff that follows some of their rivals around when similar splurges are undertaken. The Reds aren't having to sell their women's team or club-owned hotels to show such ambition, nor do they have any historical spending charges hanging over them. They are not bankrolled by the impossible wealth of a nation state and have no issues when it comes to Profit and Sustainability Regulations. Liverpool's ability to finance this history-making spend has been facilitated by their own good practices across all departments. The discipline shown last year has helped, while the bounty that comes from being Premier League champions must also be factored into the mathematics. A new agreement with kit suppliers Adidas, which kicks in on August 1, is worth a reported £60m a year, and the new-look Champions League saw Arne Slot's team finish top of the group stage at a time when the competition has never been so lucrative. A money-spinning tour of Hong Kong and Japan will also boost the bottom line and sales this summer have so far brought in over £60m with more expected to head for the exit door. If some believe this is the end of the age of (relative) Anfield austerity, the more likely scenario is Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are building a squad that will last, much in the same way Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards did all those years ago when the January 2018 capture of Van Dijk was followed in the summer months by Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri. That gave Liverpool's squad a new look about it and led to the eventual golden period that saw the club win every top-level trophy available between 2019 and 2022. The same sort of haul will now be the target for Slot and co, but a repeat of this summer's spending won't be desired inside the club itself this time next year. This is a team being built to win now, meaning another eye-watering splurge in 2026 won't be necessary. No, there are no oil reserves underneath the turf at L4, this is simply the result of a well-run club who are more than content to flex their muscle and strengthen while on top.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barca linked with 17-year-old Flamengo winger Ryan Roberto
Barcelona are being credited with interest in 17-year-old Flamengo winger Ryan Roberto. The teenager has shone with the Brazilian team's Under-17 side, scoring 20 goals and 14 assists in 33 matches so far in 2025. According to Globo, his form has seen him attract attention from both Barcelona and Dutch giants Ajax. Roberto is also expected to be called up to Brazil's Under-17 team for the World Cup where he will have another chance to shine. There's also a suggestion Roberto could be handed a call-up to Flamengo's first team squad soon. The Brazilian team are currently managed by former Atletico and Chelsea star Filipe Luis who has been happy to give youngsters a chance this year. Roberto is known for his pace and skill as well as his ability to score goals. He plays out wide on the wing but loves to cut inside and attack. More from Ivan Rakitic endorses Aleix Vidal's potential move to Sevilla FC Barcelona News: 8 January 2018; Barcelona Ease Past Levante, Philippe Coutinho Ruled Out 3 Weeks After Medical Barcelona confirm Philippe Coutinho out for around three weeks How the papers reacted to Coutinho's Barcelona move Sergi Samper to undergo surgery after suffering horror injury Valverde coy on whether Dembele will start for Barcelona against Espanyol Arda Turan refuses to leave Barcelona - report
Metro
07-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
United hover as potential Emi Martinez buyers after Villa hit by Uefa fine
Every football club has to balance its books but Aston Villa will have to be even more careful than usual with their transfer business after being hit with a £9.5million fine for breaching Uefa' financial rules. Without going into excessive detail, Villa fell foul of Uefa's sporting cost ratio – that's the difference between incomings and outgoings – while playing in last season's Champions League. They missed out on a second straight season in Europe's elite club competition when they lost at Manchester United on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign, leaving Villa contemplating Thursday night football in the Europa League instead. Unai Emery's side also have a £4m penalty hanging over their heads if they breach the Uefa spending rules in any of the next three seasons but, despite the need to cut the payroll, club insiders haves insisted there will be no firesale. Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has signed for Brazilian club Vasco da Gama, but that hasn't stopped Manchester United being linked with a bid for Ollie Watkins while they also have interest in outstanding Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The erratic form of United No.1 Andre Onana raised concerns last term, especially when he made a couple of howlers against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals, before being bailed out by his team-mates. He was also at fault during his side's Champions League run the previous season and additional errors in the top-flight mean the ex-Ajax shot-stopper is likely to be replaced between the posts. United could try to frustrate Newcastle with a late move for Burnley prospect James Trafford while Brighton's Bart Verbruggen has also performed well since being signed from Anderlecht a couple of years ago. But Martinez, who was exceptional in helping Argentina win the last World Cup, is the clear-cut choice especially with a cloud appearing over his Villa future at the end of last season when it emerged he is seeking a new challenge. Villa won't want to let the 32-year-old leave even if they receive a gigantic offer and bet365 go 2/1 he stays where he is, but with United 6/4 with the same firm to lure him up the M6 to vastly improve the position for the foreseeable future. Cameron Norrie dug deep to beat Nicolas Jarry and clinch a quarter-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon. It looks like this will be the end of the line for the last Brit standing at the All England Club, though, as the defending champion from Spain is back to his best, playing some exquisite tennis as he replied to losing the first set in his fourth-round test against Andrey Rublev by taking the next three in style. The No.2 seed, reigning French Open champion and King of Queen's can scent another trophy and Ladbrokes, Coral, bet365 and Bet Victor look to have it spot on by pricing Alcaraz at 4/6 to win in straight sets. More Trending Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, is closing in on the women's title and the world No.1 appears to have played her way into her best form when beating spirited Emma Raducanu in straight sets in the third round. She backed that up by beating Elise Mertens on Sunday and Sabalenka's next task is against surprise package Laura Siegemund, who eliminated Madison Keys before another straight-sets success against Solana Sierra on her way to the last eight. Despite the German's impressive form, Sabalenka is a big step up in class and she can also triumph with the minimum of fuss by winning by over 6.5 games at evens with Sky Bet. MORE: Chelsea set asking price for Man Utd to sign Christopher Nkunku MORE: Manchester United tracking Valencia midfielder but face competition MORE: Mikel Arteta warned about two 'problems' with new Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Ex-Villa playmaker Coutinho completes move to Brazil's Vasco da Gama
BIRMINGHAM, England — Former Brazil international Philippe Coutinho has completed a permanent move to Vasco da Gama from Aston Villa. The clubs reached a deal for the playmaker to return to his boyhood club on a permanent basis after Coutinho was on loan with the Rio de Janeiro-based side last season, Aston Villa said on Friday. Coutinho joined Villa in 2022 and made 43 appearances with the team, scoring six goals. Coutinho started his professional career at Vasco in 2009. Coutinho's former clubs include Inter Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munch. He joined Barcelona in 2018 from Liverpool for a fee of up to 160 million euros (then $192 million). He won two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, and the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020. Coutinho won the Copa America with Brazil in 2019 and played in the 2018 World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Villa playmaker Coutinho completes move to Brazil's Vasco da Gama
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Former Brazil international Philippe Coutinho has completed a permanent move to Vasco da Gama from Aston Villa. The clubs reached a deal for the playmaker to return to his boyhood club on a permanent basis after Coutinho was on loan with the Rio de Janeiro-based side last season, Aston Villa said on Friday. Advertisement Coutinho joined Villa in 2022 and made 43 appearances with the team, scoring six goals. Coutinho started his professional career at Vasco in 2009. Coutinho's former clubs include Inter Milan, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munch. He joined Barcelona in 2018 from Liverpool for a fee of up to 160 million euros (then $192 million). He won two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, and the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020. Coutinho won the Copa America with Brazil in 2019 and played in the 2018 World Cup. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
