Barcelona probe Kane, Lewandowski heads to Chicago and more eve-of-match rumours
The transfer market does not stop even during the World Cup. While the national teams fight for a spot in the round of 16, the backstage of European football is already moving heavyweight names for the summer. Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski and Reece James are the protagonists of the main news this Monday.
Barcelona keeping an eye on Kane after the World Cup
Barcelona made contact with Harry Kane’s camp to assess the feasibility of a transfer. The Catalan club signalled that it will revisit the matter as soon as the England captain ends his participation in the tournament, whether when eliminated or after the final, scheduled for 19 July.
Kane is at Bayern Munich, where he has scored an avalanche of goals. Barça’s interest indicates that the board led by Deco is still seeking a heavyweight centre-forward to strengthen the offensive sector, still lacking a natural ‘9’ since Lewandowski’s departure for other shores.
Lewandowski signs with Chicago Fire
And speaking of the Pole: Robert Lewandowski has agreed to join Chicago Fire. The striker, who passed through Bayern Munich and Barcelona itself before playing in this World Cup, will swap the European elite for the MLS this summer. He is yet another big name to follow the path of stars like Lionel Messi and Lorenzo Insigne in the American league, which has been investing heavily to attract high-level players.
At 36, Lewandowski still has enough prestige and goal instinct to stir the North American league. Chicago Fire, a franchise with one of the biggest fan bases in the MLS, certainly gains another level of visibility with the signing.
James optimistic about return, Korea loses coach and England face a logistical marathon
In the England squad, Reece James showed confidence that he will manage to recover in time to play in this World Cup. The Chelsea right-back went off injured and his presence in the knockout stages depends on his progress in the coming weeks.
The FA itself is already planning the logistical challenges should England advance to the final. The problem: the team’s base is in Kansas City, and the plan is to return to headquarters after each knockout match – which could mean almost 24 hours of accumulated flight time if the team reaches the final. An unusual choice, but one that reflects the coaching staff’s preference for keeping the group’s routine.
Meanwhile, South Korea lost their coach right after elimination from the tournament. Myung-Bo Hong resigned after the Korean side’s exit, leaving the local federation facing the task of rebuilding the project for the coming years. In tennis, the British Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) plans to acquire a plot of land next to its headquarters in Roehampton, London, to create a national high-performance centre along the lines of St George’s Park – the reference complex for English football.
