Reports in Spain claim Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has a total agreement to join La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid after his move to Juventus fell through.

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman had opened the door for Suarez to stay at the Camp Nou after reports indicated Suarez’s proposed move to Juventus had collapsed and Lionel Messi is reportedly persuading the striker to stay at the Camp Nou.

According to El Mundo Deportivo,as cited by Football Espana, Suarez has a personal agreement in place with Atleti, and the Spanish capital club now need to move on Diego Costa – who is wanted by Fenerbahce – to fund the deal.

There are other issues with the deal as Suarez is still insistent that the Blaugrana pay him off for the final year of his contract, something which the club are said to be reluctant to do.

Diego Simeone and Atleti’s CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin are said to have been in constant contact with the Uruguayan and are now closing in on doing what would be one of the most remarkable deals of the summer.

Despite hitting 21 goals in an injury-hit season, Suarez’s physical levels have dropped in recent seasons since his prime and his future has come under increasing scrutiny in recent times, and he is not thought to be in the plans of new boss Ronald Koeman.

Barcelona transfer news has been defined by their interest in Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, who has been touted to be the long-term replacement for the Uruguayan at the Camp Nou, but that does not look likely to materialize this summer, although the exit of Suarez could help finance his replacement.

Chelsea new boy Thiago Silva has revealed he joined the Stamford Bridge club to win the Premier League title.

The 36-year-old brought to an end eight years with Paris Saint-Germain by joining the Blues on a free transfer and has revealed his excitement at his west London challenge.

Silva told Chelsea’s official club website: “First and foremost, I came because Chelsea is an amazing team and one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“It helps when you’re welcomed so warmly, particularly by a coach who played until relatively recently, because in football there are very strong preconceptions regarding the age of players.

“But I know about his experience when he first arrived at Manchester City, theoretically at the end of his career. He endured the same sort of thing as I’ve gone through.

“So even from the outside, without knowing me personally, he knows how hard I work to remain at the highest level. The confidence that he showed in me – that was all it took. For me, that confidence was the single most important factor.

“To hear that he believed in me, that he thought that I could come here and make a positive contribution. With our young group, as well as some more experienced players like our captain [Cesar] Azpilicueta, we’ve got all it takes for a great season.

“You can be sure that I’ll do everything I can to repay that confidence out on the pitch. We’ve signed some top players and we’ve got a squad capable of putting together a great season so that’s what we’re going to try and do.

“Normally, at 35 or 36 years of age, it’s the time when players leave the Premier League but I’m doing things the other way around – I’m only just starting.

“The way I see it, it’s the toughest league in the world, with six or seven big teams genuinely fighting for the title so the motivation is massive. I’m hugely impatient to get going but things will happen in their own time and there’s no doubt I’ll be totally prepared when the time comes.

“What motivates me, day by day, is the hunger to win. To win everything within my reach. Coming to the Premier League, my main goal is to win the league title and I’m certain that we’ll be fighting for that every step of the way.

“The team is really strong, we’ve got a great coach and I’ve come here to contribute in whatever way I can to ensure that we get as close as possible to achieving those aims. That’s what motivates me: stepping out onto the pitch, and then winning, winning, and winning some more. I don’t think about anything else.”

Photo Credit: Twitter/ChelseaFC

Ashley Cole has warned Chelsea fans they must be patient to see the best from their big-money summer signings.

Timo Werner has looked lively in Chelsea’s opening two games – a win at Brighton & Hove Albion and defeat to Liverpool – but is yet to score.

Thiago Silva, Chilwell and Ziyech are yet to get to full fitness, while Havertz has so far struggled and was taken off at half-time against the Reds.

“How much quality they have there is frightening and exciting at the same time,” Cole told Sky Sports. “Yes, we’ve added loads of quality into the team.

“With Thiago Silva, we’ve added experience as well.

“We’re going to have to be patient at times to wait for them to gel. It’s definitely looking way more exciting than it was towards the late stage of last season.”

Despite struggling to impact either game since his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen, big things are expected from Havertz.

“He’s a very, very high quality player,” Cole said.

“It was his first game against Brighton where he had just two days of training with the team, so it’s tough.

“He’s just finding his feet, getting into the team, understanding the way Frank wants to play, but we’re definitely going to see great things from this guy because he’s such a great talent.”

Davide Zappacosta scored for Genoa on his return to Serie A on Sunday, scoring a brilliant solo goal.

Zappacosta’s loan move to Genoa was confirmed last week and he was on the scoresheet in their 4-1 win over Crotone.

In the 34th minute of the Serie A opener against Crotone, Zappacosta produced a moment of magic to extend Genoa’s lead to 3-1.

The defender picked up the ball about 10 yards ahead of the halfway line and charged forward.

The ace burst forward before cutting towards the middle of the pitch and drilled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out with a brilliant finish.

The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from Torino in the summer of 2017 but spent last season on loan at Roma.

Genoa have also been linked with a move for Tottenham left-back Danny Rose.

Photo Credit: Twitter/GenoaCFC

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has singled out three of his players in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The west London club were reduced to 10 men when Andreas Christensen fouled Liverpool forward Sadio Mane who netted a brace for the Premier League champions.

Despite the home defeat, Lampard identified Reece James, Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori for their roles in the Blues defence.

His words: “There were a lot of things I was happy about with our defensive game. I wanted us to be better on the ball. We showed moments on the counter-attack where we were dangerous, Timo had a couple of good opportunities but to limit them to the chances they got in the first half, there were a lot of things I was pleased about.”

“I’m disappointed to lose three points as you always will and should be but I’m actually happier today in many ways than I was at Brighton. I saw spirit, desire to defend by a lot of our defenders – Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori when he came on.”

“The midfield were giving everything to block gaps and you play half a game with 10 men, you don’t make that mistake for the second goal, you score the penalty – then it’s 1-1. I know that’s not football and I can’t reflect on that but those are the realities. The players should take heart, it’s how we go forward from here now.”

Photo Credit: Twitter/ChelseaFC

Sadio Mane has detailed his conversation with Andreas Christensen after the defender hauled him to the ground during Chelsea ‘s clash with Liverpool.

Just before half-time and with the score level at 0-0, Jordan Henderson played Mane through on goal with an accurate long ball – prompting Christensen to wrap his arms around the Senegalese to bring him down.

Referee Paul Tierney initially handed the Dane a yellow card but upgraded the booking to a red after consulting the pitchside monitor.

And Mane – who went on to score both of Liverpool’s goals in the 2-0 win – says he knew Christensen would be sent off after the review and even told him so.

“When he made the foul, I knew that it was a red card because I even told him, my friend, it was a red card,” Mane told Sky Sports after the match.

“Then after, the referee gave him a red card, so it was lucky for us.”

Liverpool made the numbers advantage count early in the second half as Mane headed home from a Roberto Firmino cross in the 50th minute.

And it did not take long for Mane to add his second goal as he pounced on an error by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to poke home from close range.

Photo Credit: Twitter/LFC

Frank Lampard has confirmed goalkeeper Willy Caballero will start Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie at home to Barnsley, though he stressed that was a planned move and had nothing to do with Kepa’s mistake.

Kepa miscued a pass straight to Reds forward Sadio Mane inside the penalty area, with the Senegal international firing the ball into the back of the net to double the visitors’ advantage at the start of the second half.

“I can say now that Willy Caballero will play and that was always my feeling that he will play in that game even before today,” he told reporters.

“He [Kepa] is our player and it is clear now that there are two games where we have felt [he has made a mistake]. Today was a clear mistake and Brighton was a mistake too and he has reflected on it in that way.

“We have to keep working, it is the rule of football. Players need support, particularly from myself. I give that to all the players.

“Kepa has to keep working, nobody tries to make mistakes in football, it is the nature of the game. You have to be strong, you keep going and that is where he is at.”