Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool midfielder setback; Arsenal eye assist king

Liverpool have not contacted Wilfred Ndidi and Arsenal are targeting a move for a Bundesliga winger, all in today’s Euro Papers.

 

NDIDI REPORTS QUASHED

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is on his way to Premier League rivals Liverpool if yesterday’s reports are to be believed.

However, that report which came from Guinean journalist Alpha Balde has been rebuffed by allnigeriasoccer.com.

”Ndidi is happy at Leicester City, he is one hundred percent committed to Leicester City and it’s confirmed he’s not leaving the club to join Liverpool,” a top source told the Nigerian site.

”Liverpool have not contacted him about joining the club.”

Liverpool are understood to be lining up a replacement for Germany star Emre Can, who looks set to leave the club on a free this summer.

Nigerian outlet The New Telegraph first claimed Klopp was chasing Ndidi in February and yesterday Guinean journalist Balde revealed that the club had agreed terms to sign the 21-year-old Nigeria international.

He tweeted: “Ndidi approached by Liverpool. The player has agreed. It remains to agree with Leicester, who asks a lot”.

 

LIVERPOOL AWAIT GREEN LIGHT FOR CEBALLOS DEAL

Dani Ceballos has held further talks with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over a perspective summer move to Liverpool, according to reports in the Spanish media.

Diario Gol claim the frustrated Real Madrid star has told friends he is desperate to make the move to Anfield this summer and become the man to replace Philippe Coutinho in Jurgen Klopp’s side.

It’s suggested the Merseysiders have already lodged their interest in signing Ceballos with Real Madrid and the midfielder – signed just last summer in a €18million deal from Real Betis – has held repeated talks with Perez over his future.

And according to Sport, Perez is now mulling over whether to grant the player the move he wishes after he failed to make an impact on Zinedine Zidane. The 21-year-old has made just 19 appearances in total this season and has become increasingly frustrated by his lack of game time at the Bernabeu.

The major sticking point for Liverpool appears to be Ceballos’ fee. Real placed a €500m exit fee in his contract when he first signed, but the Reds hope Real could sanction his sale for around the €35million mark. That would still allow Real to double their initial investment and give the player the move he craves to kickstart his career.

Seemingly, it’s all done to the decision of Perez though first…..

 

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AND THE REST

Tottenham have given up on contract negotiations with Toby Alderweireld and will sell the defender for €50million this summer (HLN) 

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are tracking RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi (ESPN)

Ander Herrera could prioritise a return to Athletic Club if he is sold by Manchester United at the end of the season (Mundo Deportivo)

Arsenal are set to try to sign RB Leipzig assist king Emil Forsberg again this summer (Calciomercato via Raphael Hongstein)

Arsenal and Chelsea boss target Maurizio Sarri plans to stay at Napoli for as long as he can give his all as he continues to chase the Serie A title (TvLuna)

Reported Arsenal and Liverpool target Lucas Vazquez has revealed his happiness with life at Real Madrid. Vazquez said: “I am very happy at Real Madrid, it’s the team that formed me as a player and I hope that I can be here for many years.”  (El Transistor)

Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have been given the green light to try and sign Gareth Bale after Real Madrid met with the player and his agent to inform him he would be allowed to leave this summer (Don Balon)

AC Milan continue to make contact with Jack Wilshere over a possible move to the San Siro this summer (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester United remain on the trail of Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez – with Alexis Sanchez doing his best to coax his fellow South American to Old Trafford (Don Balon)

Paul Pogba has dropped the first hint he is unsettled at Manchester United – by admitting the chance to play with Neymar – possibly at PSG – would interest him (TyC Sports)

Real Madrid are plotting an intial €60m bid for Liverpool target and Roma keeper Alisson (Corriere dello Sport)

Barcelona are set to hold surprising talks with Thomas Vermaelen over extending the defender’s contract (Sport)

Mauro Icardi’s agent and wife Wanda Nara says the striker fully believes in Inter Milan’s project – but insists her husband is worth more and more in the market with each passing month. She also suggests the Man Utd and Real Madrid target’s future could be determined by Inter’s efforts to qualify for the Champions League  (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar – a target for both Man City and Barcelona – has stated his desire to become a legend at the San Siro and has again insisted he has no wish to leave (Calciomercato)

AC Milan will once again try to lure Torino striker Andrea Belotti to San Siro during this summer’s transfer window – and could help finance the potential €100m deal by selling Andre Silva to Wolves or Arsenal for €40m (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Calciomercato)

Juventus have lined up Germany international Jonas Hector as a replacement for Chelsea target Alex Sandro. The Cologne defender could cost as little as €8m this summer (Tuttosport)

Jonas Hector: Koln open to negotiation

Juventus are also keen on PSG’s Layvin Kurzawa – but he is another player on Chelsea’s radar (Tuttosport)

Paris Saint-Germain are ready to rival Manchester United and Barcelona to sign Toby Alderweireld after the Belgium defender stalled on contract talks with Tottenham (Le 10 Sport)

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona transfer chiefs to sign Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso instead of Bayern Munich’s David Alaba (Mundo Deportivo)

Anthony Martial’s agent has refused to guarantee his client will still be a Manchester United player come the start of next season – but insists Juventus are yet to make any contact (Il Bianconero)

Valencia owner Peter Lim has given the green light to make Geoffrey Kondogbia’s loan spell from Inter permanent in a €25m (£21.9m) deal (Superdeporte)

Inter Milan are edging close to a €40m deal for striker Lautaro Martinez, despite late interest in the Racing Avellaneda from Borussia Dortmund (Calciomercato)

Guillermo Amor, Barcelona’s director of institutional and sporting relations, says the club will accept whatever decision Andres Iniesta makes over his future amid talk of a lucrative move to China (Sport)

Bayern Munich are being linked with a £100m swoop for Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino – should they lose Robert Lewandowski to Real Madrid

However, Bayern Munich have told Lewandowski they want him to stay at the Allianz Arena this summer (Kicker)

After impressing Zinedine Zidane in Real Madrid’s 6-3 victory over Girona, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez are more likely to start against Juventus in the Champions League than Gareth Bale and Isco (Marca)

Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola is determined to find the Nice striker a new club this summer and believes he can secure him a €10million move (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga snubbed a January move to Real Madrid on the advice of his family and friends (Sport)

Arsenal are preparing to make an initial £25million offer to Bayer Leverkusen for Bernd Leno, the man director of football Sven Mislintat has identified as Petr Cech’s replacement

Real Sociedad have reportedly opened talks with Jose Luis Mendilibar about the Eibar boss becoming their new coach (Marca)

AC Milan will rival Inter Milan for Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman this summer (Tuttosport)

Kevin Strootman: Linked with move to Everton

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has denied coach Bruno Genesio offered his resignation after their midweek Europa League exit to CSKA Moscow (L’Equipe)

Talks between an American investment group and Bordeaux are advanced ahead of a proposed takeover this summer (Sud Ouest)

 

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