Football transfers: Bochum strengthens with Locadia, Barça rumors about Haaland

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Erling Haaland in the Borussia Dortmund jersey: A sight that could soon be a thing of the past.

Photo: LARS BARON / POOL / EPA

+++ FIX +++

VfL Bochum brings Jürgen Locadia out of the Premier League

Bundesliga club VfL Bochum has signed Dutch striker Jürgen Locadia.

The 28-year-old is coming to the English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on a free transfer and has signed a contract until the summer.

VfL announced on Thursday.

The Bochumers are still missing attacker Simon Zoller, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in September.

Locadia, who once played for PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, was already active in the Bundesliga for TSG Hoffenheim for six months in the 2019/2020 season.

In the Premier League, Locadia could not prevail after his move from Eindhoven in 2018 for just under 15 million euros.

+++ RUMOR +++

England professional Trippier is probably drawn to Newcastle "for family reasons"

According to media reports, soccer professional Kieran Trippier is leaving the Spanish champions Atlético Madrid and is returning to England "for family reasons". The 31-year-old England international will move to Newcastle United, reported the specialist newspaper "AS" and other Spanish media, citing Atlético circles. The capital club tried unsuccessfully to persuade the right-wing full-back to stay in Madrid, it said. Trippier once started at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Atlético in Spain in the summer of 2019.

The transfer will be officially announced in the next few days, wrote "AS".

Newcastle will transfer almost 15 million euros to Madrid.

Trippier feels comfortable in Madrid and also knows that the Spanish club is stronger than Newcastle.

The problem is that his wife and two children live in England and after two and a half years he no longer wants to be away from the family.

The Spanish club is already looking for a replacement.

Hertha professional Piatek is expected to move to Fiorentina

According to media reports, Krzysztof Piatek is about to leave Hertha BSC and return to Italy. According to the "Gazzetta dello Sport" and the broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, the attacker should complete the necessary medical check this Thursday at AC Florence. He should initially return to Serie A on loan with a purchase option of 15 million euros. Hertha, Florence and the professional should agree.

Two years ago, Piatek moved to the German capital under the then Hertha coach Jürgen Klinsmann.

The Berlin Bundesliga club paid 24 million euros to the traditional club AC Milan for the 26-year-old Polish striker.

At the beginning of this season, the center forward was initially out due to an ankle fracture, and recently he was unable to get beyond a substitute role.

His contract with Hertha should be valid until the end of June 2025.

Aaron Ramsey appears to be leaving Juventus

"He will be the only player who leaves," said Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri at the press conference before the championship game against SSC Napoli on Thursday.

"Ramsey is back in training after saying he wants to work in England," Allegri said of the midfielder.

Where the 31-year-old will move to is still open.

There is currently a transfer to Newcastle United in the room - however, Everton have also been interested in the Welshman.

In any case, Ramsey is on the sidelines at Juventus: He has been under contract with the "Old Lady" since 2019, but has only played five competitive games in the current season.

Tug of war for Erling Haaland - will Barça win the race?

Besides Newcastle United, there is currently no other club as much fuss as FC Barcelona - even though the Catalans currently have a mountain of debt of around 1.35 billion euros.

As a result, Barça have even had difficulties recently even registering players who have already been transferred.

Nevertheless, a Spanish media report is fueling the rumors about the future of Borussia Dortmund's top striker Erling Haaland again.

The usually well-informed TV broadcaster »Cuatro« claims to have found out that Haaland's advisor Mino Raiola has reached an agreement with FC Barcelona.

The 21-year-old attacker will move to the Catalans in the summer if the financially troubled club can raise the necessary money for the mega-transfer, according to the report.

It should therefore also be a decision by the goalscorer, "who loves Spain," assured the broadcaster.

The Norwegian had also considered a move to Real Madrid, but rejected this option because the capital club also wanted to bring the French star Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain.

Because of the massive debts that FC Barcelona has, there are still great doubts as to whether Blaugrana can really enter the competition for Haaland.

Club boss Joan Laporta had not ruled out Haaland's commitment in front of journalists on Monday.

"Everything is possible," assured the club boss, who has been in office since March 2021.

"We're back on the market and we're still a reference."

Will Coutinho join Aston Villa?

According to media reports, the English Premier League club Aston Villa is working flat out to sign the Brazilian national soccer player Philippe Coutinho from FC Barcelona. According to BBC information, Barça wants the 29-year-old, who was never able to assert himself at Camp Nou and was awarded to FC Bayern Munich in the second half of the 2019/20 season, from his payroll. Coutinho's departure from the Catalans is therefore considered safe.

According to the local news portal »BirminghamLive«, the change could even take place this week.

In addition to Aston Villa, Arsenal FC, Everton FC, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be interested in the former Liverpool star.

The club from Birmingham was considered a top candidate on Thursday.

Villa coach Steven Gerrard played with Coutinho at Liverpool FC and is said to have a big deal on the midfielder.

At the press conference ahead of the FA Cup game at Manchester United on Monday, Gerrard spoke cautiously on Thursday on the subject of Coutinho.

“I appreciate the speculation and respect it,” said the coach with a grin, “we are in a period in which many names are circulating.

But unfortunately you won't hear any comments from me on any speculation. "

jgh / dpa