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LIVERPOOL SIGN BRAZILIAN GOALKEEPER.

Liverpool have signed 17-year-old goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga on a permanent deal from Fluminese.

Pitaluga was scouted with the help of Alisson Becker’s brother Muriel while the pair were at Fluminense.

The teenager, who was part of the Brazil squad which won the FIFA U17 World Cup on home soil last November, has started training at Melwood, where he will be based with the first-team group, and will play for the club’s academy teams.

I asked Ali to speak to his brother to see how it goes and how he is doing,” goalkeeping coach John Achterberg told liverpoolfc.com.

“Ali spoke to his brother and Ali went training there (during the club’s Premier League break in February).

We saw a little bit from the training and the games he was playing for the reserves in Brazil.

“He was already 16 playing in the reserve team there so you also think, ‘they trust him to play already in the reserves at 16’.

“Now he is here, we have to improve [him]. He is still young, there is no pressure because there is still a long road and we don’t want to create any pressure for him because there is still work to do.”

Pitaluga joins Becker, Adrian and Caoimhin Kelleher in Liverpool’s pool of goalkeepers. Loris Karius is also still on Liverpool’s books but has joined Union Berlin on a season-long loan.

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AS ROMA LOSE OVER €200M TO THE PANDEMIC.

AS Roma will report a loss of €204 million for the 2019/20 season, the club have revealed in a message to the stock market. The results have been published just a few months after the Italian club were taken over by the American privately held consortium of businesses and investments The Friedkin Group, who in August finalised a full purchase of the club from fellow American James Pallotta in a €591 million transaction.

“The fourth quarter of the 2019/20 financial year saw a significant deterioration in the economic and financial situation and the equity of the company and group, mainly due to the spread of Covid-19,” the statement read.

As a result of the loss, the club’s shareholders’ equity has decreased by €115 million to negative €242.5 million. Accordingly, AS Roma require financing of €140 million for the 2020/21 season.

The club saved €30 million from players and some staff foregoing wages for the months of March, April, May and June and have agreed individual incentive plans with some players for the coming seasons.

“However, despite the measures taken by the company to mitigate the consequences, this emergency situation, extraordinary by nature and extent, has had and is having significant repercussions on economic activities of the company and of the group, causing a context of general uncertainty,” the statement read.

AS Roma point out the loss has been partially offset by payments of €60 million from the club’s parent company, NEEP Roma Holding SpA, and from a capital increase of shareholder loans equal to €29.1 million.

The club, traded on Milan-based Borsa Italiana, have seen a decrease in their share price of 53 per cent to around €0.19 since the same date six months ago, and have a market cap of €115 million.

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OZIL MISSING IN ARSENAL’S EUROPA LEAGUE LINE UP.

Arsenal will not include Mesut Ozil in its Europa League lineup when the final squad is announced on Thursday, a report said. The veteran midfielder has not played a single minute since the games resumed after the lockdown.

Ozil is the highest-paid player on the club, earning an estimated $452,000 a week, BBC reported.

The Europa League only allows 17 non-locally trained players in the 25-man lineup. Goal reported that Mikel Arteta decided to leave out Ozil and defender Sokratis to make room in the squad.

Ozil last featured for the Gunners in the win against West Ham in March before the football season was suspended due to the global pandemic. Throughout the 31-year-old’s career, he’s served Arsenal in 254 games, netted 44 goals and tallied 77 assists. But while he’s been with the Gunners since 2013, he hasn’t been utilized much in 2020.

When asked why the German player hasn’t been seeing action on the field, Arteta replied by pointing out how their team is changing.

“The team is evolving, you can see the level they are achieving. This is where we are at the moment. We want to evolve more and play better and compete better,” Arteta told a news conference in September.

“You can see that the players we are changing, we are using, it’s very difficult every week not just for Mesut but for some other players as well to make the squad. Every week we try to pick the right players,” he continued.

The Arsenal manager added that he wants to give other players more time and experience as well.

“It’s difficult for others as well that aren’t involved in the Premier League and didn’t play tonight either. We have a squad of 26, 27 players at the moment and we can’t give playing time to all of them,” the 38-year-old coach shared.

“I understand and I respect your questions but I have to try to do my job as fair as possible. I try to select the players that are, in my opinion, in better condition,” Arteta concluded.

Arsenal’s Europa League campaign will start on Oct. 22 when the club faces Rapid Wien in Austria.

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MANCHESTER UNITED OPEN TALKS WITH POCHETTINO TO REPLACE OGS

Manchester United have made contact with Mauricio Pochettino following the club’s dismal start to the Premier League season.

The Argentine was United’s first choice to replace Jose Mourinho in December 2018 but Solskjaer impressed so much during his interim time in charge that the club felt compelled to prolong his deal.

Pochettino was keen on joining United and his five-year stay at Tottenham came to an end last November, with many feeling results started to downturn after he was overlooked for the United job.

United have just three points from their opening three matches this term and Sunday’s humiliating 6-1 defeat was ironically inflicted by Jose Mourinho, who preceded Solskjaer and replaced Pochettino.

Solskjaer has a little over 18 months to run on his contract at Old Trafford and sacking the Norwegian would only cost in the region of £4m, which is paltry compared to the £18m that Mourinho received.

Despite a strong finish to the previous campaign, a negative cloud hangs over United’s season and Solskjaer faces Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG and Everton in his next six matches. Pochettino is yet to take a new job after his exit from Spurs and the Mirror claim contact has been made between United and the Argentine to sound him out over replacing Solskjaer.

Pochettino has received various job offers since leaving Tottenham but he’s waiting for the right opportunity and Sir Alex Ferguson is a well known admirer of the 48-year-old.

Unlike in previous years, there’s fewer doubts about the quality of United’s first XI and more worries about the lack of coaching that the squad are receiving.

Pochettino worked wonders at Spurs with a limited budget and United are one of the few super powers in Europe to operate without a Director of Football, which appeals to the Argentine.

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XHERDAN SHAKIR JOINS MANE AND THIAGO IN ISOLATION AS SWISS TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

Liverpool forward Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for coronavirus, the Swiss football association has confirmed.

The 28-year-old is the THIRD Reds player to contract COVID-19 in the last seven days, after both Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara tested positive last week.

Shaqiri is currently on international duty with Switzerland, having only linked up with his national team on Monday, and has now entered self-isolation in his homeland.

“Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for Covid-19,” read a statement from the Swiss Football Association on Tuesday morning.

“In consultation with the health authorities, he is in isolation.

“The strict protective measures and requirements of UEFA for national teams in accordance with the ‘UEFA Return to Play Protocol’ have been strictly adhered to since the move began.

“Based on this, clarifications are currently underway with the local health authorities about how to proceed.”

Self-isolation guidelines in Switzerland differ slightly from in the UK, as people must remain in isolation for at least ten days after the point symptoms first appeared.

Shaqiri was due to be part of the Swiss team to take on Croatia on Wednesday, followed by Nations League matches against Spain and Germany on October 10 and 13.

The Liverpool winger has made just one appearance in Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, in the 7-2 victory over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup third round on September 24, where he opened the scoring.

He was linked with a departure from Anfield throughout the summer transfer window, especially having failed to even be named in a Premier League matchday squad this season.

Italian clubs Roma and Lazio were linked with an interest, but no deal materialised before Monday’s transfer deadline, and so he will remain with the Premier League champions until at least January.

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TELLES SIGNS FOR MAN UNITED

Manchester United have announced the signing of left-back Alex Telles from Porto for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old joins on Man Utd a four-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.

“I won many trophies at FC Porto and I want to continue that at United,” the Brazilian told the club’s official website. “The manager has a clear plan and direction for this team and I can’t wait to pull on the famous shirt.”

Telles will add to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s options on the left side of the Red Devils’ defence, with the new addition set to compete with Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams for a starting place.

He has spent the past five seasons at Porto, scoring 26 goals and registering more than 50 assists as an attack-minded full-back.

The defender also enjoyed spells in the UEFA Champions League with Galatasaray and Inter Milan after arriving in Europe in 2014.

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EDISON CAVANI BECOMES A ONE-YEAR DEVIL.

Manchester United have made Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani their second Deadline Day signing, on a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.

The 33-year-old, who left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, joins Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man Utd side on a free transfer after scoring 341 goals in European club football since moving to the continent in 2007.

“I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete and represent this incredible club,” Cavani told the club’s official website.

“I look forward to continuing to write my little story inside the book of football and I know that’s why my focus has to remain the same as always – work, work, work. I have had a conversation with the manager and this has increased my desire to wear this beautiful shirt.”

Cavani won six league titles with PSG and is their all-time leading scorer with 200 goals. He claimed the Golden Boot in both Ligue 1 and Serie A, having excelled in three years at Italian side Napoli.

He has also scored 50 goals in 116 international appearances for Uruguay.

Manchester United travel to St. James’s park for their next Premier League match with Newcastle United on Saturday 17 October.

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WALCOTT MAKES EMOTIONAL RETURN TO SOUTHAMPTON.

Everton winger Theo Walcott has returned to Southampton on loan until the end of the season, almost 15 years after he left his boyhood club.

Walcott progressed through Saints’ Academy and made his senior debut aged 16 years and 143 days in August 2005, before joining Arsenal in January 2006 after an impressive half-season in the Championship.

“I will probably cry, I bet, when I first play, and it means so much. All the people that made it happen, I can’t thank them enough. Honestly, I’m so pleased,” he told the club’s official website.

“I was seriously lost for words when Southampton came on the table, and for me it was such an easy decision.

“To get the chance to work with the manager as well and these young players that are coming through, I feel like I’ve made the right choice.”

The 31-year-old claimed 65 goals and 43 assists in 270 Premier League appearances during his 12 years with Arsenal, before joining Everton in January 2018.

He added 10 goals and eight assists in 77 PL matches for the Toffees.

Southampton are next in action on Saturday 17 October when they travel to Chelsea.

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THOMAS PARTEY COMPLETES MOVE TO ARSENAL.

Midfielder Thomas Partey has joined Arsenal on a long-term contract from Atletico Madrid.

The 27-year-old scored four goals in 46 appearances as Atletico finished third in LaLiga and reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last season.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta said he is delighted to finally acquire his long-time target, who joins for an undisclosed fee.

“We have been watching Thomas for a while, so we’re now delighted to add such a high quality player to our squad,” Arteta told the club’s official website.

“He is a dynamic midfielder with great energy. He brings a lot of experience from a top club that have competed at the highest level in LaLiga and the Champions League for several years.”

Partey joins fellow new signings Willian, Gabriel and Runar Alex Runarsson at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal also wrapped up permanent deals for loanees Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares this summer.

The Ghana international will wear the No 18 shirt.

Arsenal’s next match is at Manchester City on Saturday 17 October.

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BAYERN MUNICH CONFIRM THE SIGNING OF ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING FROM PSG

Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of former Stoke and Paris Saint-Germain striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a short-term contract until the summer of 2021.

Choupo-Moting has been without a club since leaving PSG in August, with his last appearance actually the 2020 Champions League against Bayern in Lisbon.

The 31-year-old Cameroon international was born in Germany and started his career with Hamburg, before later playing for Nurnberg, Mainz and Schalke.

Following a disappointing season with Stoke in 2017/18 that ended in relegation, Choupo-Moting’s switch to PSG soon afterwards was surprising enough. With only nine goals in 51 appearances under his belt, a move to Bayern now comes as an even greater shock.

But the player himself is revelling in the opportunity to play for another huge club.

“It’s a great feeling to come back to the Bundesliga – and then to the biggest club in Germany,” he told his new club’s official website.

“Who wouldn’t want to play for FC Bayern? It’s an honor to play for this club. At FC Bayern, the aim is always to win everything, and I am highly motivated to achieve these goals.”

Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic added, “I am happy that we were able to sign Eric. He gives our squad a depth on the offensive, especially in the centre, which we will need.

“Eric gained international experience at Paris Saint-Germain, he knows the Bundesliga, Eric is coming on a free transfer. It all fits together very well.”