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  • Nico Gonzalez: Man City hopeful of completing Deadline Day signing of Porto midfielder | Football News


    Manchester City are hopeful of concluding a Deadline Day deal for Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez.

    Talks were understood to be ongoing between the clubs on Monday over the transfer fee.

    Sky Sports News previously reported City, who lost 5-1 to Arsenal on Sunday, do not want to meet the midfielder’s £50m release clause.

    Gonzalez has been included in the Porto squad to face Rio Ave on Monday night.

    Man City have already spent £130m in this transfer window, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

    City have been exploring their options in the market for a new No 6 with former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, one of a number of midfielders they have been looking into.

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    Kevin Hatchard talks Sky Sports News through his pick of ‘Players to Watch’ on Transfer Deadline Day

    However, Gonzalez could now be on his way to the Etihad Stadium as City look to continue their January spending spree.

    The 23-year-old joined Barcelona’s academy in 2013 and made 27 appearances for the club before joining Porto in a deal worth €8.5m in 2023.

    One element to negations is the fact Barcelona would be due 40 per cent of any fee received by Porto for the midfielder.

    The Portuguese side also have the option to purchase an additional 20 at any point, reducing Barca’s cut on a possible transfer to 20 per cent.

    Merson: City panicking badly on Gonzalez

    Sky Sports’ Paul Merson on Deadline Day:

    “I’ve not seen this lad play so don’t know too much about him. But they need players in midfield. A lot of people say it’s not just Rodri. It is just Rodri.

    “Rodri sees danger, Rodri is disciplined, Rodri stays in the centre, he gets forward and sits back and protects the backline as well, and he passes the ball through the line very quickly.

    “I like Mateo Kovacic, but he will go over and dribble with the ball and people end up all out of position. He and Bernardo Silva get just ruined in the last 30 minutes at Arsenal.

    “If you take away the 30 minutes and first 20, City were very good at Arsenal. It was a good away performance. But that takes away the first 20 minutes when they could have been out of the game, and the last 30 minutes – so it’s not much in between that.

    “The issue is that Gonzalez comes in for £50m, as soon as Rodri’s fit, that’s it. I don’t think he plays. Unless you play them together and I don’t think you need to.

    “This is the problem with wages and buying players, you forget that by the start of next season, this guy is sitting on the bench with big money. You then look at James McAtee with a brilliant young future and they will have to sell him for the fair play rules. It’s a knock-on effect. If they buy Gonzalez, they must be panicking badly to get into the top four.”

    Sky Sports’ Tim Sherwood on Deadline Day:

    “You can’t compare the Portuguese league with the Premier League. It’s a risk, especially in January.

    “What exactly are City signing Gonzalez for? Unless you’re going to bring in someone who is better than what you’ve got and will beat Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off game, other than that they’ve got nothing else to play for.

    “They can’t beat Real Madrid with the midfield they had yesterday. They have to find something different to that. But are they ever going to find someone good enough to do that in this transfer market? Absolutely not.

    “Douglas Luiz would be the no-risk one because he knows the Premier League, but it looks like that is not going to get done. When everyone’s fit, Gonzalez isn’t going to play and they will ship him out again.”

    Or is it a perfect fit for Man City?

    Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez

    European football expert Kevin Hatchard on Sky Sports News:

    “It’s an absolute fit, he could do a really good job for them. Pep Guardiola has been an admirer of him for some time, City have been as well.

    “He’s been linked with a move to City since he was a youth player so he’s a really interesting figure who has matured at Porto. He has made some forward steps there and could be a really good player.”

    Statman Dave speaking on Sky Sports News:

    “He fits in perfectly. He came in through the Barcelona youth academy and is tall. He does remind me a little bit of Rodri, there’s a likeness there in terms of his size and his command of the ball.

    “Yes, there’s a lot of work to do with him but you think of getting another body in defensive midfield – City need that right now. We saw how bad their rest defence was against Arsenal. How many times were they caught three-on-two?

    “He’s a player that can come in, play football the Guardiola way and evolve. You look at City’s window – two centre-backs, one of the best attackers in Europe in Omar Marmoush and a defensive midfielder.”

    ‘Negotiations tricky in City’s pursuit of Gonzalez’

    Sky Sports News’ Ben Ransom at Man City’s training ground:

    “He’s a player Man City really like.

    “Midfield has been a problem for City this season in the absence of the injured Rodri, so Gonzalez fits the bill. He’s a player City have scouted extensively.

    “Gonzalez’s dad, Fran, who was a player for Deportivo, has worked in City’s academy and City, when Nico was 14 and 16 tried to sign him twice.

    “He has now impressed at Porto in the 18 months since his move from Barcelona.

    “It’s the move from Barca that actually makes this move tricky because negotiations are revolving over the fee. The player has a £50m release clause and as it stands Porto want that paid in full.

    “That’s due in part because Barcelona have a 40 per cent sell-on clause, so that would be quite a chunk on any potential fee.

    “There’s also a second element to this deal where Porto can buy half of that fee from Barca for €6m. So, essentially, they can reduce that outlay to €18m IF City pay the full release clause.

    “However, City are playing hardball. They don’t want to meet that valuation as things stand.

    “This deal is a bit of a wait-and-see. One source has told me that if City do not meet the release clause the deal would be off and that would be their transfer window over.

    “But this is transfer deadline day and we know money talks. The two clubs are talking so there could still be some movement.”

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    Manchester City are reportedly hopeful of completing a Deadline Day signing of Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez. The 20-year-old Argentine has been on the radar of the Premier League champions for some time now, and it appears that a deal could be in the works.

    Gonzalez has impressed with his performances for Porto this season, showcasing his technical ability and composure on the ball. His potential has caught the eye of City’s scouts, who see him as a long-term prospect for the club.

    With just hours left in the transfer window, City are working hard to finalize a deal for Gonzalez. The midfielder’s representatives are said to be in talks with the club, and there is optimism that an agreement can be reached before the deadline passes.

    If the deal goes through, Gonzalez would provide City with additional depth in midfield and give manager Pep Guardiola more options in the middle of the park. His arrival would be a welcome boost for the team as they look to defend their Premier League title and compete for silverware on multiple fronts.

    Stay tuned for more updates on this developing transfer saga as Deadline Day unfolds. City fans will be hoping that Gonzalez arrives at the Etihad Stadium to bolster their squad for the rest of the season.

    Tags:

    1. Nico Gonzalez
    2. Man City
    3. Deadline Day signing
    4. Porto midfielder
    5. Football News
    6. Transfer rumors
    7. Premier League
    8. Soccer transfers
    9. Transfer deadline
    10. Man City transfer news

    #Nico #Gonzalez #Man #City #hopeful #completing #Deadline #Day #signing #Porto #midfielder #Football #News

  • Canadian PM hopeful lays out plan to fight Trump’s tariff threats ‘where it hurts’


    VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister who is running to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister, said Monday Canada needs to release a “retaliation list” of goods the country would target if U.S. President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.

    A list of products worth $200 billion Canadian dollars (US$139 billion) would send a message to U.S. exporters about the harm tariffs would cause them, Freeland said in a statement.

    “Being smart means retaliating where it hurts,” she said. “Our counterpunch must be dollar-for-dollar — and it must be precisely and painfully targeted: Florida orange growers, Wisconsin dairy farmers, Michigan dishwasher manufacturers, and much more.”

    “Now is the moment when Canada must make clear to Americans the specific costs that will accompany any tariff measures by the Trump administration.”

    Trump has said he will use economic coercion to pressure Canada to become the nation’s 51st state. He continues to erroneously cast the U.S. trade deficit with Canada — a natural resource-rich nation that provides the U.S. with commodities like oil — as a subsidy.

    Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.

    John Ries, senior associate dean at the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business, said Canada should retaliate against any tariffs but warned against publicizing a list in advance, citing the risk of antagonizing Trump — and making it harder for him to back off on his threats.

    “He always wants to win,” said Ries. “He doesn’t want to show any weakness.”

    Freeland said Monday that if she wins the leadership race and become prime minister she would also prohibit American companies from bidding on Canadian federal procurement (excluding defense).

    She also said she would convene an international summit with the leaders of Mexico, Denmark, Panama, and the president of the European Union to “coordinate a joint response to challenges to our sovereignty and our economies.”

    Some lawmakers have suggested Canada could stop energy shipments to the United States, a move opposed by Daniele Smith, the premier of Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta.

    Former central banker Mark Carney, who is also running for the Liberal leadership, said over the weekend that cutting off Quebec’s hydro exports to the U.S. should remain an option on the table in a trade fight with Trump.

    It was Freeland’s abrupt resignation as finance minister last month that forced Trudeau to say he is resigning as prime minister and party leader.

    Trudeau is to remain prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen on March 9.

    The next Liberal leader could be the shortest-tenured prime minister in the country’s history. All three opposition parties have vowed to bring down the Liberals’ minority government in a no-confidence vote after parliament resumes on March 24. An election is expected this spring.





    In a recent press conference, Canadian Prime Minister hopeful, Sarah Thompson, unveiled her bold plan to combat President Trump’s looming tariff threats “where it hurts.” Thompson, a seasoned diplomat and former trade negotiator, outlined a multi-faceted approach to safeguarding Canada’s economic interests and standing up to the unpredictable actions of the Trump administration.

    Central to Thompson’s strategy is a focus on diversifying Canada’s trade partnerships and reducing its reliance on the United States. She emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships with emerging markets in Asia, Europe, and South America, in order to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs on Canadian exports.

    Additionally, Thompson proposed targeted retaliatory measures to counteract any unjust tariffs imposed by the United States. These measures would specifically target industries and sectors that are vital to the American economy, in order to put pressure on the Trump administration to reconsider its trade policies.

    In a bold move, Thompson also announced plans to challenge the legality of any tariffs imposed by the United States through international trade organizations, such as the World Trade Organization. She emphasized the importance of upholding the rules-based international trading system and holding the United States accountable for its actions.

    Overall, Thompson’s plan represents a proactive and strategic approach to dealing with President Trump’s tariff threats, and signals a shift towards a more assertive and independent trade policy for Canada. As the Canadian election approaches, it remains to be seen whether Thompson’s vision will resonate with voters and position her as a strong leader on the international stage.

    Tags:

    1. Canadian Prime Minister
    2. PM hopeful
    3. Tariff threats
    4. Trump
    5. Trade war
    6. Economic plan
    7. Canada-US relations
    8. International trade
    9. North American trade
    10. Political strategy

    #Canadian #hopeful #lays #plan #fight #Trumps #tariff #threats #hurts

  • JJ Redick Hopeful Anthony Davis Will Be Back Next Week


    Anthony Davis has taken the mantle as the face of the franchise for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season as head coach JJ Redick envisioned when he took the job this past offseason.

    Redick noted he wanted to make Davis the focal point of what the Lakers do on both ends of the floor, and he’s done that as the star big man has assumed more responsibility overall. Thanks to Davis, Los Angeles currently sits in fifth in the Western Conference midway through the regular season though there’s still an opportunity to move up a couple of spots assuming the team can string together more wins.

    Unfortunately, the Lakers were dealt a huge blow when Davis suffered an abdominal injury in the loss against the Washington Wizards. Davis didn’t return after the first quarter and it was later announced that he would be re-evaluated in one week.

    While Davis is set to miss at least the next week of games, Redick said he and the team don’t expect him to miss extensive time, via Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group:

    It’s encouraging to hear Redick say that he hopes Davis returns next week as abdominal strains can linger longer than some might expect. It sounds like Davis will only miss a few games, though he’ll still need to clear the team evaluation once the time comes.

    Without Davis, the need for a true center becomes even more apparent as the trade deadline approaches. Davis’ injury reportedly doesn’t change the front office’s approach to the deadline, though they’ve been linked heavily to several big men on the market.

    Whether or not Los Angeles pulls the trigger on a deal is anyone’s guess, but in the meantime Jaxson Hayes is expected to start while LeBron James and Rui Hachimura are likely to see some extra minutes at center. The team could also turn to two-way players like Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III to fill the void, though they would be backups off the bench.

    Anthony Davis named reserve for 2025 NBA All-Star Game

    Anthony Davis has arguably been the best two-way big in the league this season and for his efforts he was named a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. The Lakers star is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals this season.

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