Western Daily Press (Saturday)
France star is on his way to Barcelona
ANTOINE Griezmann will join Barcelona from Atletico Madrid after the Catalan club announced they had paid his 120 million euro (£107.6m) buyout fee.
The 28-year-old France striker will sign a five-year deal, which will tie him to Barca until 2024.
Griezmann’s new contract contains a buyout clause of 800m euros (£733m), the Spanish champions added in a statement.
“With his arrival at Barcelona, the Frenchman takes another step forward in his career with the goal of consolidating his place as one of the best players in the world,” the Spanish league champions said in a statement.
Griezmann had announced in May he would be leaving Atletico Madrid after spending five years in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona have long been linked with a move for the 2018 World Cup winner. He is also a Champions League and European Championship runner-up.
■ Newport County have taken Bristol City defender George Nurse on loan for the season.
The 20-year-old left-back joins the League Two club for the 201920 campaign, having spent last season with Weston-Super-Mare, where he made 40 appearances in the National League South.
The academy product becomes Newport manager Mike Flynn’s seventh signing of the summer.
Flynn said: “George will give us competition down the left. He is very comfortable going forwards and defending.”
BRISTOL Rovers’ most recent signing – Tyler Smith – says he is confident that he can impress for the Pirates.
Smith, 20, joined the club on Wednesday, on a season-long loan from newly-promoted Premier League side Sheffield United.
Despite not having played a competitive game for the first team, the hierarchy at the Blades certainly have faith Smith can go on to perform at the top level, handing the youngster a new two-year deal before sending him out on loan.
And the quick forward made an immediate impact for his new side, scoring in the 7-0 victory over Dublin side St Mocha’s in midweek.
Speaking to the official Bristol Rovers website, Smith said: “I am absolutely delighted to be here. As soon as the gaffer gave me the call, I was like ‘Yes, let’s do it.’
“I just can’t wait to play, run around, score goals and help the team achieve something.”
Smith looked sharp in Ireland after coming off the bench in the second half, scoring a well-taken goal and looking to time runs in behind the defence.
That is something we should expect plenty more of, the striker says.
Talking about his style of play as an attacker, Smith said: “I am on the shoulder, run channels, I will run all day long. I bring plenty of energy. I will give my all.
“I can obviously (have the ball) to feet as well, but my main asset is on the shoulder, running in behind”.
Rovers were not always able to find him with the ball on Wednesday
but that will come with time. Indeed, he could prove to be an excellent partner up top for star striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, who is currently sidelined with injury.
Tom Nichols and Gavin Reilly will both have something to say about that, though, having netted a hattrick apiece against relatively easy opposition so far in pre-season.
Importantly, however, Smith knows what it takes to play in League One as well.
Playing his first season of senior football, the forward spent the first half of last season on loan at Barrow, where he scored ten goals in 23 games for the club in the National League.
In January, he went out on loan to League One side Doncaster Rovers, where he netted two goals in 14 appearances, but made just two starts for the club.
Both his goals came in a 2-2 draw with Burton Albion.
Speaking about being a League One player this season, Smith said: “There is always a bit of pressure when you are young playing in front of big crowds, but I back myself all day long. I will work hard, score goals and go from there.
“Playing at Doncaster, I learnt about playing against big strong defenders. Obviously it is a tough league, there are some good teams in it, but, like I said, as long as the lads stick together we should be alright.”
Rovers are back in pre-season action at Kidderminster Harriers this afternoon.