Two of La Liga’s biggest giants have been involved in high profile deals in recent times; and Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are once again embroiled in intense transfer dealing in a fascinating January transfer window.
In one of the biggest deals in recent history the Blaugrana bought Antoine Griezmann from Los Rojiblancos in 2019 and then sold the Frenchman back to Atleti last summer after a year on loan back at the Wanda Metropolitano. This time around there may well be a striker heading from Catalonia to Madrid if a deal can be done…but there’s a way to go before anyone will put pen to paper.
Atletico Madrid and Memphis Depay have come to an agreement for the Dutchman to join Diego Simeone’s team; but Barcelona are asking for a player in return and that could be Atleti winger Yannick Carrasco. While Los Rojiblancos are determined to land the Dutch star they have slapped a huge valuation of 60m Euros on Carrasco and that could potentially derail the deal.
The 29 year old has enjoyed two successful stints in Madrid and picked up 62 caps for Belgium, scoring eight goals and he would be another experienced addition to Barca’s team which is full of young talent which was on show during Barcelona’s Super Copa victory over Real Madrid at the weekend. The Catalans landed a first trophy for the Blaugrana in the Xavi era and his players, the young and the experienced, all put Los Blancos to the sword. Pedri and Gavi were both on target for Barca, alongside the Polish goal machine Robert Lewandowski, while Karim Benzema grabbed a consolation for the Madrid side. The momentum is with Barca at the moment and the latest La Liga 2023 betting odds have priced the Blaugrana odds on at around 1.70; but Xavi is keen to keep strengthening his side and Carrasco is his number one target.
Depay would be a good signing for Atleti. He has scored 43 goals for Holland in 86 appearances, but his chances at the Camp Nou have become limited since the arrival of Lewandowski. And another player who may be on the way out is Barca’s summer recruit Franck Kessie.
The 26 year old Ivorian midfielder has made just eight appearances for Barca and the former AC Milan star is said to be willing to leave Catalonia for Milan, to play for Inter. And rumours are circulating at both clubs that Kessie may be accepted by Inter as a swap for their midfield enforcer Marcelo Brozovic. In an ideal world Kessie would probably like to stay in La Liga to prove himself, but if the two clubs can come to an agreement then the move will come to fruition.
Sociedad soaring while Sevilla are in a hole
In other La Liga 2023 news; last week the Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao put distance between the two rivals as La Real ran out 3-1 winners to cement their position in third and go seven points clear of Atletico and Villarreal, in fourth and fifth. Bilbao are nine points behind their Basque rivals though, here at SBOTOP, we favoured a draw and that would have kept them in touch. At 2-1 on the hour the match was in the balance, but when Yeray Alvarez gave away a penalty and earned a red card it was game over as Mikel Oyarzabal slotted home the spot kick.
One other team that is used to battling it out for European places is at the wrong end of the table and in real danger of getting relegated. Sevilla finished fourth over the last three campaigns and have never been lower than tenth over the past two decades. But they are currently languishing in 19th place, two from safety and with one win in six. They have a six pointer at home to 18th placed Cadiz this weekend and that really is a must-win game as it could lift them out of the bottom three.
The Europa League record holders, with six wins and the most recent in 2020, aren’t used to a relegation battle; and that can be so dangerous in these situations. Last season, under Julen Lopetegui they were challenging for the title for much of the campaign before falling away to fourth, and after a slow start to this campaign the club parted ways with Lopetegui and appointed Jorge Sampaoli, who is having his own struggles.
With players of the quality of Ivan Rakitic, Jesus Navas, Rafa Mir and Thomas Delaney in the side, it is hard to see why Sevilla are in the bottom three. But they are; and the longer they stay in the hole, the harder it will be to escape.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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