By Tim Stannard

Reports of PSG offering Sergio Ramos nearly double his current Real Madrid deal as Spanish defender reaches the end of his contract

Stand aside Lionel Messi, as a new player in the very niche 'global soccer icon free to play wherever he wants in 2021' posse has entered the room - Sergio Ramos. 

The 34-year-old Real Madrid defender is just months from ending his current deal with the club, which expires in June 2021. Indeed, the bearded barnstormer is free to negotiate with whomever he chooses from January 1. That option might well be on the cards as currently Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid are at an impasse over a new deal. However a new suitor has come along to give Ramos a very pleasing exit strategy - PSG. 

Although there is no doubt as to the importance of Sergio Ramos to Real Madrid - and Raphael Varane's ability to defend in particular - the Spanish club have a rule for players over thirty in terms of contract extensions - one year at a time, with performance variables on a second. 

However, Cristiano Ronaldo was an exception to that rule, due to a technicality. The player's body was merely 24, due to time spend in advanced cryogenic suspension in between games and the summer months.

Sergio Ramos is reportedly holding out for a two-year deal with Real Madrid that PSG already has on the table according to Spanish sports daily, AS. What's more, it's a deal worth $23 million a year, close to double the salary at Real Madrid.

The Real Madrid man was due for a probing on this topic on Monday on international duty with Spain, but his appearance was cancelled. Curiouser, and curiouser. 

The Sports Burst live show will look at whether Real Madrid need to break their own rules to keep Sergio Ramos at the club, or let Nacho be the guiding force in Coach Zizou's backline. 

Luis Suarez still not over Barcelona departure 

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez continues to be a leaky tap on his departure from Barcelona - an annoying drip, drip, drip. 

Speaking once again on his deep-seated trauma on having to change football clubs and be away from his BFF, Lionel Messi, Suarez told the world - again - through the medium of Marca that "I was sad and hurt by the way I left."

However, for those concerned over the happiness levels of Suarez, the news is good with the Uruguayan forward declaring that after the move to Atletico Madrid  I feel proud. When I wasn't wanted, I found somewhere I was. I've found happiness and I'm enjoying this period."

And wouldn't you know it, guess who is playing on Saturday in the return of LaLiga? Yes, it's Atletico Madrid against Barcelona on Saturday, November 21 at 3PM ET: The Battle of the BFF's on beIN SPORTS. 

USMNT moves to Austria...to play Panama 

From Swansea, Wales to Wiener Neustadt, Austria - the start of the USMNT's possible 'golden generation' is certainly taking place in a some unheralded places in this international break. 

After a goalless draw against Wales, Gregg Berhalter's side has relocated to somewhere not too far from the Hungarian border to play Panama on Monday. However, despite the delightful looking surroundings of the hamlet of Wiener Neustadt - the Seewinkel National Park, no less - the USMNT coach is starting to "feel the urgency" of having just a handful of matches to pull together a winning team out of a squad which has an average age of just 22 years and 56 days. 

Elsewhere in the wide, wide world of soccer and AFCON 2021 qualifying continues on beIN SPORTS. One of the strong favorites already, Senegal, qualified on Sunday thanks to another goal for Sadio Mane. The hosts of the tournament in January 2022, Cameroon, are in action against Mozambique at 11AM ET on beIN SPORTS, followed later in the day by France U21 taking on Switzerland U21 at 3PM ET.

IOC head confident of fans at Olympic Games

Time to wrap up with what might be a rare piece of positive news these days. There could be supporters watching the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July, 2021. Hopefully lots of them.

That's the message from Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympics Committee who says that the possibility of a vaccine rollout earlier on that year "makes us all very, very confident we can have spectators in the Olympic stadium."