Paper Round: Lionel Messi opposes Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann move out of fear for Luis Suarez

Lionel Messi will look to block Barcelona’s move for Antoine Griezmann due to his connection with fellow forward Luis Suarez. The murmurs of Griezmann’s discontent at Atletico Madrid grow larger by the day, and Barca are the latest club linked with the Frenchman. However, the Express reports Messi does not want the club to sign Griezmann out of fear that Suarez will be sacrificed in the starting XI.

Paper Round’s view: It’s no surprise to see a player showing loyalty towards a team-mate, let alone lending your support to them over the purchase of a rival player. It’s difficult to see where Griezmann would fit in at Barca without Suarez’s position coming under threat, but at this point in time it feels as though it’s not a conundrum they need to solve. They’re racing clear in La Liga, there’s no need to rock the boat.

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Jurgen Klopp has told Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge he will not be leaving the club in January. The Mirror reports that Sturridge is unhappy with his lack of game-time at Liverpool, and will seek a move away with the World Cup around the corner. The England international was omitted from the most recent Three Lions squad, having started just four matches all season.

Paper Round’s view: From a selfish point of view for Sturridge, a move away is essential if you want to force yourself back into the England reckoning. A selfish point of view if you’re Klopp, however, would tell you that the squad needs players like Sturridge, particularly with Champions League football post-Christmas (all-but confirmed) and the likelihood that injuries will deplete the team.

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The competition for Mesut Ozil’s services has stretched into Germany, with Schalke said to be interested in signing the Arsenal midfielder. Ozil began his career at Schalke before moving to Werder Bremen, though the head of Schalke’s supervisory board, Clemens Tonnies, told Kicker that any move is unlikely to happy next summer.

Paper Round’s view: More performances from Ozil like the one we saw on the weekend means the list of suitors will grow and grow. It’s becoming tiresome to see him linked with a different club every week, but it’s clear nothing will be resolved until January at the very least, so this one will continue to rumble on.

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Watford winger Richarlison is a rumoured target of Tottenham and Arsenal, and now the Brazilian is attracting from China, the Mirror reports. The 20-year-old only joined Watford from Fluminense for £11m in the summer, but having scored five goals already for the Hornets amid a string of impressive performances, Chinese clubs are said to be monitoring his progress

Paper Round’s view: You have to feel for clubs of Watford’s stature. They take the gamble on a player from South America and when it appears they have unearthed a gem, the bigger clubs supposedly come knocking. China has a proven record of attracting players from South America, but a move closer to Watford seems more likely. However, it would be worth seeing if he can continue to perform for the remainder of this season and into the next campaign.