Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool in pole position for €35m Valencia man

Liverpool have been given hope of adding an on-loan Valencia star to their midfield this summer, while Chelsea are willing to spend a mind-boggling fee to lure a Brazilian to Stamford Bridge, according to Tuesday’s European papers.

 

LIVERPOOL BOOSTED AS VALENCIA PASS ON CHANCE TO SIGN FRANCE STAR

Valencia have not yet decided whether they will sign Geoffrey Kondogbia on a permanent basis this summer – news that has reportedly put Liverpool at the front of the queue to land the Frenchman.

Kondogbia joined the La Liga side on a €10m season-long loan from Inter Milan last summer – with the deal including an option to make the move a permanent €25m deal at the end of the season.

But according to Marca, Valencia remain unsure about making the move permanent with owner Peter Lim yet to decide what the club will do in the summer window.

It’s suggested because Valencia have several players on similar agreements, they could look to prioritise these first and pass on the chance to make Kondogbia’s stay permanent.

And it’s claimed by Don Balon as a result that would let in other suitors – with Liverpool set to move into pole position for the 25-year-old defensive midfielder.

The Reds are in the market for a new central midfielder amid mounting fears that Emre Can will walk away from Anfield on a free transfer this summer. Real Madrid became the latest club linked with the in-demand German on Tuesday.

The Reds have been linked with moves for Leicester’s Wilfried Ndidi, while Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure was mentioned as a target on Tuesday.

However, Jurgen Klopp has a long-standing interest in Kondogbia and a move for the former Monaco and Sevilla man would make plenty of sense if the price is right, despite claims from China that Guangzhou Evergrande are interested in him too.

 

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AND THE REST

Chelsea are ready to bid £176m to sign Brazilian midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid and partner him with N’Golo Kante next season (Don Balon)

 

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been told they can sign Eden Hazard this summer – will have to fork out close to a world-record fee of £200m to land him from Chelsea this summer (AS)

Manchester United are looking to seal the £52m transfer of Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane this summer – with Leonardo Bonucci tipped to move to the Bernabeu from AC Milan (Don Balon)

Lazio have confirmed Liverpool and Manchester United target Stefan De Vrij will leave the club on a free transfer this summer (MediaSet)

AC Milan’s new kit manufacturers Puma are pushing the club to make a move for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus, with the Italians planning to watch him in Europa League action on Thursday night (Tuttosport)

Ivan Rakitic admits he feels ‘very scared’ about the prospect of Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta leaving the club, amid talk he is wanted in China (Diario AS)

Daniele Rugani’s agent has confirmed the £25million-rated Juventus defender would consider a move to Arsenal this summer (Football Italia)

Real Madrid are considering joining the chase for Liverpool star Emre Can, who will be available on a free transfer this summer (Tuttosport)

Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu has denied claims his former club Barcelona wanted to sign him in the summer (Marca)

Anderlecht midfielder Eliot Matazo, 16, is being chased by Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Red Bull Leipzig and Schalke (Voetbal Belgie)

Gareth Bale expects him and Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid this summer – and expects them both to be used as makeweights for possible transfer incomings (Mundo Deportivo)

Juventus star Claudio Marchisio is considering offers from China and the USA – after it was confirmed he rejected an approach from AC Milan last summer (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Sampdoria director Daniele Prade has confirmed that left-back Ivan Strinic, who will be out on contract in June, is on AC Milan’s radar (RMC Sport)

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Reo Griffiths has emerged as a summer transfer target for RB Leipzig (ESPN)

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of midfielder Arthur Melo, which will see Gremio receive €30m up front and a further €10m in add-ons (Sport)

Inter Milan centre-back Joao Miranda has revealed he wants to stay in Europe for at least one more season after this, before returning to Brazil (Globe Esporto)

Watford star Abdoulaye Doucoure has confirmed that Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham have all expressed a wish in signing him this summer (Telefoot)

Robert Lewandowksi: Could have signed for United in 2012

Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he is aware of Real Madrid’s interest in signing him this summer (Kicker)

Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to beat Manchester United to the €60m signing of Carlos Soler (Don Balon)

 

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