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Wrexham's transformation from plucky underdog to real League One promotion candidates has resulted in a dip in popularity, director Shaun Harvey says.

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• Reynolds & McElhenney brought global fame to Wrexham
• Director says popularity has dropped off in England
• Red Dragons no longer 'plucky little underdog'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham have rocketed to worldwide fame since Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of the club. The success of Disney+ documentary series Welcome To Wrexham has helped the Red Dragons attract fans from around the world.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Their rise from the fifth-tier of English football to League One with incredible back-to-back promotions has backfired on the Welsh team, Harvey says, as the director feels football fans in England no longer have an affinity for them.

• WHAT SHAUN HARVEY SAID

  "Wrexham was the underdog in the UK when we started, but not necessarily because we were the poorest club," Harvey said at a supporters' event in New York. "We weren’t since Rob and Ryan came in, but the town of Wrexham was the underdog. It had been downtrodden for 15 years in terms of its football and industries had left the town. It was in despair and people wanted to get out and not get in. “We got to this position where we could be everybody's favourite second team, because nobody saw Wrexham as a challenge.

  "It was acceptable all of a sudden to be a Wrexham fan, as well as being a Manchester United fan, or a Liverpool fan, or any other club that you wanted to support. That positioning actually made us universally popular. Now, how popular we are is waning in certain places in the UK. We've gone from being this plucky little underdog, to all of a sudden we're a threat, and people don't like that as much."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Phil Parkinson's team are aiming for a third consecutive promotion to the Championship this season. They are currently third in League One and four points behind Wycombe, who have a game in hand.

Derby County fans will be counting down the days now until Championship football is back on the menu for the Rams, with a visit to Blackburn Rovers kickstarting what many will hope is a positive campaign competing again in the second tier.

Paul Warne masterminded a return back to this promised land to the relief of everyone with connections to Derby last season, clinching that final automatic promotion place alongside Portsmouth, but all the glory of that special day will feel like a distant memory now.

Derby have gone about their business effectively in the summer transfer window to date, in order to strengthen the squad ahead of the challenges to come moving up a division, with the arrivals of Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson adding in experience and nous up top, whilst out-there signings such as Kenzo Goudmijn joining from the Netherlands shows the new pull the Rams have.

There were even murmurs that Malcolm Ebiowei could be joining Crystal Palace loanee David Ozoh in through the door at Pride Park, but that looks like one signing that won't materialise.

Malcolm Ebiowei's return to Derby

The rumour mill went into overdrive when Ozoh put pen to paper on a loan switch to Derbyshire, with former Rams man Ebiowei – who is now on the books at the Eagles – wishing him well on his new adventure in the Championship on social media.

That sparked rumours that the ex-Derby youth product could be making a dramatic return on loan, but football journalist Alan Nixon set the record straight, by confirming that no such reunion was in store, with no contact ever occurring between the two parties in the first place.

Oxford United have since snapped up the Palace man on a season-long loan, with Derby setting their sights elsewhere when it comes to further additions to boost the attack Warne has at his disposal.

The newly promoted outfit have been linked with this skilful ace in the past, who lit up League One with his magical displays for Blackpool just campaign, with a hunger perhaps coming from this winger now to show he can equally strut his stuff up a division with Warne's side.

Derby could land "magic" Ebiowei alternative

Earlier this month, it was reported that Derby were keen on adding current Brest attacker Karamoko Dembele to their squad, as per journalist Darren Witcoop.

No such move has really accelerated into motion just yet, but with Oxford – who were promoted up to the Championship with Derby – winning the services of Ebiowei, that could make the Rams want to push ahead and sign Dembele away from putting in just one bid, in order to gain an upper-hand over a team who could be a relegation rival.

The ex-Celtic youngster would even be described as possessing "magic in his feet" by Tangerines boss Neil Critchley based on his dynamite season in the third tier, with a mightily impressive 15 big chances created across his impactful 39 games.

To add context, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing created just five more for the promotion winners, with Dembele potentially adding to the Rams' flair in attack next season if signed.

Ebiowei, on the other hand, has never quite come alive in the men's game in a similar way to Dembele, with his time at Derby in the first-team seeing him pick up just one goal and two assists in the Championship, across two campaigns, while he also provided no goals and only one assist for Belgian side RWD Molenbeek last season.

That early Rams form would still win him a major move to Palace, with the talk surrounding Ebiowei returning to Derby potentially sparked by the fact the 20-year-old perhaps felt as if he had unfinished business at Pride Park to attend to, after leaving somewhat prematurely in 2022.

Alas, it is at the Kassam Stadium where his short-term future lies.

Still, if Derby can win Dembele this window – who scored strikes like the one above for the Tangerines on a regular basis last season – Ebiowei will simply just be forgotten about again.

Derby plotting swoop for "fantastic" star to repeat Lawrence success

Derby County could win themselves a brand new star if this swoop gets over the line.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 25, 2024

Hansi Flick believes he was unfairly sent off as Barcelona dropped more points against Real Betis.

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• Barcelona concede late equaliser
• Flick sent off after penalty decision
• Criticises his side's performance

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Flick was sent to the stands after Betis were awarded a penalty for Frenkie de Jong's challenge on Vitor Roque. The Barcelona boss was irate following the decision, which came after a VAR review, and was shown a red card for his complaints. He proceeded to question the fourth official before eventually leaving.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Giovani Lo Celso scored the resulting penalty but Ferran Torres thought he had grabbed the winner for Barca in the 82nd minute. That was until the fourth minute of injury-time, when Assane Diao scored with a superb flick to make it 2-2. Flick was still upset when he met the media for his post-match press conference, pleading his innocence over the sending off and criticising his team's performance.

• WHAT FLICK SAID

  "I didn't say anything to anyone, it was just my reaction. It was my reaction," the 59-year-old said. "It took me a long time to decide whether it was a penalty or not. If you need that much time, it could be a question. I don't agree with my expulsion. It's never happened to me before. But maybe it's something from here. I was angry with myself, not with anyone."

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• TELL ME MORE

  Flick acknowledged that his team wasn't up to scratch at Benito Villamarin stadium.

  "We played very badly from the start," he added. "It wasn't a good game. We're a young team and we need to improve a lot. We need to be stronger, especially when we play away. We have quality, but we have to show it in every game.

  "We were slow with our passes, with a lot of long balls… it's not what we want or our strength. We have to focus on our strengths and on what we have to do."

They do say that old habits die hard…

Liverpool supporters roared in triumph as Arne Slot got off to a winning start in the Premier League, taking on the impossible job of replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout.

But a lackadaisical, disjointed first half left plenty to be desired for the Reds, who had travelled to Portman Road to clash against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, who were worth their salt as they outworked and outbattled the visitors.

That all changed after the break, however, with Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah doing the damage as fans witnessed the heady brand of football take shape.

Old habits, ay. Klopp might be gone but the spirit of the 12:30 kick-off rules eternal for the Merseysiders, who carried over some negative energy that plagued the 2023/24 campaign.

A tale of two halves

Poor opening, revivified after the break? That doesn't sound like Liverpool. Post-match, Slot repeatedly referenced the polarity in performance between the opening half and the final 45, stressing that he has inherited a first-class squad but that the unhurried nature of the opening must be eradicated.

No Premier League side recovered more points from losing positions (28) than Liverpool last season, bearing testament to their character but carrying an undercurrent that proved unsustainable in the end, evidenced by April's catastrophic slump in form.

Welcome to Liverpool, Arn'. Slow starts are something that the Dutchman will want to shake as the campaign gets going, for Arsenal and Manchester City are expected to complete imperious seasons once again and will likely establish unrecoverable distance if so.

But Slot is a "control freak" (self-professed), and his brutal decision to substitute Jarell Quansah for Ibrahima Konate at half-time offers a glimpse into the mindset of the man tasked with leading Liverpool to post-Klopp glory.

It made a convincing comment on his innate tactical understanding and willingness to make tough decisions for the good of the team. Let's not get ahead of ourselves – we're one match in – but the Redmen look like they could mount an exciting drive toward the forefront of the Premier League pack, with depth in numbers to attack cup competitions with force too.

However, it was indeed a poor first half with The Athletic's James Pearce saying that Liverpool "looked vulnerable on the counter-attack," with "far too many sloppy errors in possession."

Liverpool's midfield, in particular, was unable to assert its authority as hoped, an issue that, before their second-half rampage, cast minds to the failed attempt to sign Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi this month.

Liverpool's never-ending midfield issue

Last season, Alexis Mac Allister performed as Liverpool's deep-lying midfielder on an ad hoc basis, spreading his wings and scurrying up the field across the second half of the term as Wataru Endo, a surprise £16m signing last summer, grew into his skin as the anchor.

The Japan international offered a tenacious and composed approach. Think of him as the flour to Klopp's cake: not the most exciting part of the recipe but very much essential for success in the Carabao Cup and results that secured a route back into the Champions League.

By all accounts, though, Slot isn't a fan, with Endo playing a bit-part role throughout pre-season and failing to lift from the bench in Suffolk. Signing a sitting midfielder has been the priority this summer but Zubimendi went back on his word and rejected the Anfield side at the start of the week.

The Spanish Euro 2024 champion has been hailed as "one of the best midfielders in the world" by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente and would have been a terrific addition, with his press resistance and mastery of the basics enabling the creative success and fluency of the Liverpool attack.

Sporting director Richard Hughes will pounce on an alternative if the right opportunity arises, but the performance of Ryan Gravenberch against Ipswich on Saturday might have proved that the Premier League giants can make do without.

Why Gravenberch could be a Zubimendi upgrade

Speaking plainly, Gravenberch has been on the periphery of supporters' attention in recent months, with few positing that the 22-year-old could be a shrewd internal solution to Liverpool's central (quite literally) issue.

Saved from a stodgy spell at Bayern Munich with a £34m transfer last summer, the Netherlands native showed flashes of brilliance but didn't nail down a regular starting berth, with 12 appearances from the outset in the top flight. Scarcely used in a deeper role last year, the multi-functional midfielder might just have found a new home at the club.

It was a cultured and combative display, with Slot's countryman showcasing an athletic and steely skillset that speaks of his dynamic functionality and could even allow him to perform the role to a higher standard than Zubimendi conceivably would have.

The Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle even gushed over the effort and awarded him with an 8/10 match rating, writing: 'Some good moments on the ball and resisted press impressively but still learning when the best time to tackle. Began to enjoy himself more [sic] longer game progressed as spaces began to open up going forward. Really encouraging in deeper midfield.'

There was just so much promise about his season-opening performance, with the Dutchman's movement and fizz evidenced through his match statistics.

It's obviously difficult to draw conclusions after one match, but Gravenberch's combativeness and progressive quality can be discerned through such observations, especially when considering the scope of his technical ability when collated against Zubimendi's.

The Sociedad sensation – who makes his seasonal debut against Rayo Vallecano this evening – completed 86% of his passes in La Liga last year, averaging 0.5 key passes, 1.6 tackles, 4.0 successful duels and 5.5 ball recoveries per game.

While it's important to remember that Gravenberch operated in a different role and different system than his Basque-born counterpart, there's a clear advantage in passing and a more aggressive defensive game too.

What, exactly, does that mean? Well, Gravenberch basically has what it takes to perform Zubimendi's role. With a little more defensive discipline and a streamlined focus, a depletion in carries and take-ons could be met with a rise in ball recovery and tackling output.

Gravenberch will face tougher tests yet in midfield, but he proved that he has what it takes to succeed as the ball-playing deep-sitter in Slot's midfield, stroking ranged balls forward and with energetic and intelligent mobility besides.

Zubimendi would have performed such a role with aplomb; there's a reason Liverpool threw the kitchen sink at landing his signature.

But the most effective solutions do not always come from afar in football, and Gravenberch has demonstrated some exciting pliability that could see Slot hammer him into shape as a holding player.

It was by no means a perfect performance from the £150k-per-week talent, who faced his boss's baying in the first half due to some errant positioning that led to a slick Ipswich counter slicing through Liverpool's line, but there's something, something, there.

Press-resistant and technically proficient, Gravenberch has the apt properties for a sustainable position at No. 6. If he can use his display against the Tractor Boys as a launchpad, Zubimendi's rejection could become a faded bygone memory.

Forget Zubimendi: Liverpool could sign an "elite" £51m alternative

Arne Slot needs a deep-lying midfielder to suit his system…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 17, 2024

Chelsea fans who made the 7,000 mile round trip to see their side's UEFA Conference League win over Astana have received a commemorative gift.

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• Chelsea beat Astana 3-1
• Fans travel 7,000 miles for game
• Club give them special gift

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Approximately 500 Chelsea fans travelled to Kazakhstan on Wednesday to see their side claim a 3-1 victory in sub-freezing temperatures. As a thanks for their dedication, the Blues have given those supporters a commemorative keyring as a gift.

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• WHAT CHELSEA SAID

  The club tweeted: "Over land and sea. A commemorative keyring for the Chelsea fans who have made the trip to Almaty for tonight's #UECL match. #CFC."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This match was the furthest Chelsea have ever travelled for a European game, with the Almaty Ortalyk stadium a whopping 3,485 miles from Stamford Bridge. The journey from London would have taken at least 10 hours but at least fans got to see their beloved side extend their perfect record in this season's competition.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea fans will not have to travel anywhere near as far for their next game as Enzo Maresca's side host London neighbours Brentford on Sunday in the Premier League.

Liverpool got the 2024/25 campaign off to a perfect start, with two wins from their first two games. New manager Arne Slot oversaw back-to-back 2-0 victories in his first two competitive games as manager, beating Ipswich Town away from home and Brentford at Anfield.

It has been a great start to life at the helm of one of England’s biggest clubs for the Dutchman, with his third fixture in charge a tough visit to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. However, they may well have one or two signings in the door by that point, having been linked to an enterprising attacker before Friday’s deadline.

Liverpool target Bundesliga attacker

The player in question here is Bayern Munich and France international winger Kingsley Coman. According to a report from Graeme Bailey, the Reds are one of the clubs ‘who have been offered’ the chance to sign the 28-year-old, with the door seemingly open to making a move for the experienced star.

However, they are not alone in the race for his signature, with the Frenchman having been reportedly offered to many major clubs across Europe. At this stage, a move to Saudi Arabia could also be on the cards for Coman, who seems destined to leave the Allianz Arena this summer.

Why Coman would be a good signing

Last season for the Bavarian club, Coman missed much of the season due to an injury. He only featured in 27 games in all competitions, scoring five times and registering three assists. That was a record which included three goals and three assists in 17 German top-flight games.

However, his talent is there for all to see. The PSG academy graduate has played 296 times for Bayern, scored 64 goals, including the strike which won the Champions League in 2020, and notched up 66 assists. That, however, seems like a chapter of his career that could be coming to an end, given his likely departure.

The Frenchman is also a versatile player, capable of playing on either wing to an equally impressive level. Last term for the Bavarians, he played 14 games on the right wing and 13 on the left wing, registering four goal involvements on each side.

He could be an even better incoming than Federico Chiesa, who has all but signed on the dotted line at Anfield. He will join the Reds on a four-year contract for a fee of around £10.9m, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

Coman, who was once described as “formidable” by his coach for France's under-17s, Patrick Gonfalone, certainly ranks higher than Chiesa in many stats on FBref. One of the areas in which he is statistically better than the Italian is dribbling numbers.

Per 90 minutes, the former PSG man averages 6.05 progressive carries and completes an average of 2.34 take-ons. In comparison, the 25-year-old Italy winger averages just 4.55 progressive carries and on average each game completes just 1.43 dribbles.

It is not only his dribbling stats in which Coman ranks higher than his Italian counterpart. He also averaged slightly more key passes, with 2.34 to Chiesa’s 2.21, and plays more progressive passes each game, with 5.81 compared to the Juve number seven’s 2.87.

Should Liverpool get a deal over the line for the Bayern Munich attacker, it could be a shrewd bit of business. He is a superb one-vs-one dribbler, who is a serial winner and someone renowned for winning league titles.

If Coman does make the move from the Allianz Arena to Anfield this summer, he could prove to be an even better acquisition than Chiesa and a real fan favourite with Reds fans.

Liverpool hit gold on Klopp signing worth nearly 5x more than Chiesa

He’s had his detractors but he sure is the real deal…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 28, 2024

Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has taken aim at Marcus Rashford as the England international prepares to leave Old Trafford.

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• Rashford has played 426 times for United
• Left out of last three matchday squads
• Forward is seeking a "new challenge"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Speaking to SportsLens, former Red Devils centre-back Stam levelled a number of accusations at struggling United winger Rashford, arguing that he had not shown enough fight with his performances and claiming that he was taking the "easy way out" by admitting he wants to leave.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Having been left out of the squad for United's last three matches, it has become clear that Ruben Amorim is expecting more from Rashford than he has shown since the Portuguese manager's arrival. However, unfamiliar with being left out of the squad for his boyhood club, Rashford shockingly revealed that he was "ready to leave" the club in search of a new challenge, and wanted to avoid a toxic exit like so many United players before him.

  However, Stam believes that in confirming his desire to leave, Rashford has tarnished his reputation.

• WHAT STAM SAID

  Stam said: "I think saying you want to leave is the easy way out because it’s been a tough period and he’s faced a lot of criticism for his performances, but we haven’t seen enough fight on the pitch.

  “I think if he was showing that then there would be a different mood towards him and more credit being paid to him. Maybe it would be good for both him and the club for him to move on, but I would’ve liked to have seen him give everything for the club.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  In his 426 appearances for United, Rashford has scored 138 goals.

Wrexham kept pace with their League One automatic promotion rivals as Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher secured them a comeback win against Blackpool.

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• Wrexham beat Blackpool 2-1
• Mullin and Fletcher complete comeback
• Keep pace with League One leaders

• TELL ME MORE

  Steve Bruce's side took the lead in the third minute when James Husband got to the byline and Ashley Fletcher headed in his superb cross.

  The hosts, who have the best home record in League One, responded well and equalised 21 minutes later through Mullin's stunning volleyed effort from just inside the box.

  Oliver Casey nearly restored the visitors' lead shortly before half time, only for Mark Howard to make an excellent stop from close range.

  Blackpool, who had the fifth-best away record in the division, conceded a penalty when Oliver Casey handled in the box, before Stephen Fletcher dispatched the resulting spot-kick three minutes from time.

  Phil Parkinson's team secured a 2-1 victory at Stok Cae Ras to stay within two points of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers and three adrift of table-toppers Birmingham City.

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  THE MVP

  Paul Mullin has endured a difficult season so far, with the striker playing second fiddle to Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer in attack and having just one goal to his name. But this finish showed his quality and could maybe signal the start of a flurry of goals for the club's fan favourite.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Blackpool looked like they were well on their way to a hard-fought point but in the end came away with nothing, despite taking the lead early on. They had 46 per cent possession, eight shots to Wrexham's three, and both keepers made two saves apiece. But in the end, the Welsh side's pressure told.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  After this match, Wrexham round off 2024 with another home game, this time against mid-table Wigan Athletic on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is convinced that signing a £30 million player will help the Gunners absolutely dominate sides in one key area.

Arsenal set for third successive title race with Man City

The overwhelming expectation is that Arteta's side will be in a hotly-contested third-successive Premier League title race with Man City, who foiled the north Londoners in each of the last two seasons.

Fabrizio Romano says £26m player has agreed to join Arsenal with Merino

He’s eyeing a move to the Emirates.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 21, 2024

Arsenal came mightily close to pipping City last term, having pushed them all the way to the final day, but Pep Guardiola's men once again reigned supreme – becoming the first ever Premier League side to win four titles in a row.

The last side to usurp City's stranglehold on the domestic crown was Liverpool in 2020, and Arteta will be desperate to break that record this season. It is believed the Spaniard has set a target of 90-plus points this campaign (Miguel Delaney), after accumulating 89 last term, but they'll need strength in depth to do it.

So far this summer transfer window, and with just days of it remaining, Edu Gaspar and co have brought in Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and snapped up David Raya on a £27 million permanent deal from Brentford, shoring up defensively.

However, there are some reports that Arsenal could look to sign an attacker before deadline day, not to mention a potential replacement for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in Espanyol's Joan Garcia.

Their priority target for midfield, though is Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.

Arteta thinks signing Merino will help Arsenal dominate sides

There are suggestions that Merino has agreed personal terms to join Arsenal, and it is also believed that a deal is very close to completion after weeks of talks.

"Let me tell you again here, guys, don’t worry Arsenal fans, Merino is coming and is coming very soon," said Fabrizio Romano in a recent update on Merino.

“They are fixing the final details of the deal, but Mikel Merino is fully expected to become a new Arsenal player in the final days of the summer transfer window.”

The 28-year-old would be an excellent coup for Edu and co, as he impressed for Sociedad last season and helped Spain to win the Euros in Germany. Merino scored eight goals and assisted five others in 45 appearances last season, but Arsenal's manager wants him for a key reason.

According to Standard Sport and journalist Simon Collings, Arteta believes signing Merino will help Arsenal absolutely dominate sides, with the 6 foot 2 midfielder boasting impressive physicality and work rate.

Collings writes that Merino is valued at around £30 million too, due to the fact he's entered the final season of his contract and could leave for nothing next year. This seems like a real bargain opportunity for the north Londoners, and one which Arteta is personally keen to get over the line.

A new year has begun with a once-proud club plagued by the same old problems, which could completely derail a season that started so well

When Josep Maria Bartomeu stepped down as Barcelona president in October 2020, he did so in disgrace. He had left the Blaugrana on the verge of bankruptcy after one disastrous decision after another. Less than a year later, though, Bartomeu was defending his tenure in an open letter published by EFE and also insisting that his successor, Joan Laporta, had exacerbated Barca's problems.

Laporta dismissed his fellow Catalan's claims as "lies", "an effort to justify unjustifiable management" and "an exercise in desperation". Four years on, though, Laporta is facing similar allegations of financial mismanagement.

Indeed, former presidential candidate Victor Font claimed last summer that Barca are worse off now than they were under Bartomeu, and while that may be an exaggeration, there's no denying that the club remains in an utterly perilous position – as underlined by the utterly humiliating Dani Olmo registration farce…

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  €103m gamble

  Olmo is a talented footballer. He proved that at Euro 2024, where he came into a strong Spain side because of an unfortunate injury to Pedri – and made Luis de la Fuente's team even better. Nonetheless, Barca's decision to commit €103 million (£85m/$106m) to signing him from RB Leipzig, in wages and transfer fee, raised an awful lot of eyebrows in Spain.

  From a purely sporting perspective, Olmo wasn't a player that Barca particularly needed. They had other, more problematic positions to fill. However, it was the financial aspect of the transfer that made no sense at all because, at the time, Barca were still in excess of their Liga-imposed annual spending limit.

  Laporta and sporting director Deco insisted that Barca could afford such an outlay and still adhere to the Spanish top-flight's strict financial regulations. They were convinced that they could raise enough money via player departures before the close of the summer transfer window to make room for Olmo – but they were wrong.

  The only reason that the Catalans were able to register the attacking midfielder – two games into the new season – was a long-term injury to defender Andreas Christensen that freed up sufficient space for Olmo within Barca's salary cap.

  It was only ever a temporary emergency measure, though, and while the fit-again Christensen reappeared on La Liga's website on January 1 as a registered Barcelona player, Olmo's profile was removed.

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  'Don't worry, we'll fix it'

  Barca were essentially given an additional four months to balance their books, and Laporta and Deco repeatedly declared during the first half of the season that Olmo – and fellow summer signing Pau Victor – would be registered before the December 31, 2024 deadline without any problems.

  When Deco was once again asked on December 12 how Barca intended to register Olmo, the visibly irritated Portuguese told , "These are internal issues at the club. But don't worry, we'll fix it. The player is calm, don't worry."

  La Liga president Javier Tebas also issued a positive update at the time. "I hope Barca manage it. I am positive they will. They are working on it and I am optimistic," Tebas told reporters. "At the end of the day, they always manage it."

  On this particular occasion, though, the outcome is very much still hanging in the balance.

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  Exploiting the rules?

  Laporta claimed in September that Barcelona could have achieved La Liga's desired 1:1 ratio between a club's net debt and revenue had they signed a new deal with Nike – but explained that he wasn't happy with the terms of the proposed deal.

  However, even after belatedly agreeing an extension with the kit manufacturer in November, Barca still weren't in a position to register Olmo and thus tried to resolve the matter in court.

  The club attempted to procure a precautionary registration measure for both Olmo and Victor in the final week of December, but their case was dismissed, and so too was the subsequent appeal on December 27.

  "La Liga has today learned of the ruling… rejecting the request for the provisional registration of Dani Olmo until June 30, 2025, on the grounds that none of the necessary conditions for the adoption of an interim measure have been met," read a statement issued by the governing body.

  "The ruling also stresses that 'the purpose of allowing additional spending is so that a long-term injury does not weaken the team's competitiveness, not to use a long-term injury to allow the registration of players whose salaries exceed the limit, which is what FC Barcelona is attempting'."

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  One final effort

  According to widespread reports, Barcelona agreed to sell VIP seats at the new Camp Nou for the next 20 years to a Qatari fund for €100m (£83m/$103m) in the final days of 2024 in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to meet La Liga's rules and, on December, 31, the club confirmed that it had "applied for a new license for the players Daniel Olmo and Pau Víctor to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)".

  However, no players can be registered without prior approval from La Liga, who issued their own statement just a few hours before the deadline claiming that Barca "have not provided any alternative that, in compliance with La Liga’s economic control regulations, would allow them to register any player as of January 2".