Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool talks over £90m deal; Man City near £97m duo
Liverpool are looking to tie up a £90million summer deal now, while Man City are close to signing a £97million duo, according to Monday’s European papers.
LIVERPOOL LOOK TO GET £90M DEAL DONE NOW
Liverpool have opened talks with Monaco in a bid to strike a £90million deal for Thomas Lemar now – but in a deal that will see the France star move to Anfield at the end of the season.
The Reds have the Philippe Coutinho windfall burning a hole in their pocket, but after Jurgen Klopp strongly hinted the money won’t be spent until the summer, the Merseysiders have opened talks with Monaco over a deal for their No 1 target.
The Ligue 1 side are adamant that Lemar won’t be sold this month and, while respecting their wishes, reports in France – as well as the Daily Mail – claim Liverpool hope to come to an arrangement with Monaco as soon as possible.
If all is agreed without a hitch, Liverpool could agree a deal with Monaco now, with the transfer then going through on July 1, or after France’s participation in the 2018 World Cup is concluded.
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AGENT LIFTS LID ON LIVERPOOL LINKS
The agent of Roma goalkeeper Alisson, Ze Maria Neis, has lifted the lid on speculation linking his client with a move to Liverpool.
“The match against Inter was great,” he told ForzaRoma after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
“Alisson played fantastically well. Joining a top club? It’s too early to say. When a player stands out on the pitch thanks to great performances, there is always a lot of talk.
“Personally speaking, no club has been in contact yet and he is 100% focused on doing well with Roma. He is happy to be in Rome, and the club is happy with him.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed earlier in the month that Alisson was in the viewfinder of PSG and Liverpool this January, as well as Barcelona.
According to The Times, the Serie A club value the Brazilian at €50m (£44m).
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CITY CLOSING ON DOUBLE £97M JANUARY SWOOP
Manchester City are considering a £40m January move for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred in a deal that would see the player sign now, but stay on loan with the Ukrainians until the summer.
That’s according to ESPN, who believe Pep Guardiola is keen to tie up a deal now for the star, but allow him to complete the season with their Champions League opponents.
The Brazil midfielder has six caps for his country and it’s feared he could put his World Cup hopes in jeopardy by moving now – but a move to the Etihad looks close to being agreed, if the reports are to be believed.
City, meanwhile, are also ready to trigger the €65million (£57m) release clause of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte’s contract.
That’s according to Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, who claim City have contacted Bilbao in an effort to do the deal this month before his exit clause rises at the end of the season.
The former France Under-21 defender has a release clause of €65m in his deal but that which increase to €75m from July 1, with his current deal at the Basque outfit running until 2020.
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AND THE REST
Valencia have been told any planned January approach for Juan Mata will turned down by the Manchester United player (Superdeporte)
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Chelsea are closing in on a double deal for Roma duo Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri and are increasingly confident of concluding the deal by the end of Monday (various)
Arturo Vidal has strongly hinted he plans to join Chelsea when Bayern Munich bring in Leon Goretzka at the end of the season (Kicker)
Juventus are hoping to secure a €40m deal for 16-year-old Genoa sensation Pietro Pellegri, who has also been linked with PSG, Chelsea and Man City (Calciomercato)
Napoli have moved ahead of Tottenham and Liverpool for PSG star Lucas Moura, who is set to move to Italy on a loan deal with an obligation to buy (Tuttosport)
German World Cup winner Andre Schurrle has been made available for loan by Borussia Dortmund with the Bundesliga club accepting they will have to continue paying half his £150,000-a-week wages (Kicker)
Lazio have put a minimum €100m asking price on the head of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after PSG and Man City joined Man Utd and Juventus in the race to sign the Serbian star (Calciomercato)
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Colombian teenager Anderson Arroyo (World Football Index)
Inter have told Liverpool they can only take Daniel Sturridge on loan, with an option to buy, but they are not willing to pay the €40m (£35m) the Reds want now (Sky Italia)
Former Man City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is closing on a shock move to Juventus (various)
West Ham, Watford and Everton, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have all been offered the chance to sign Joao Mario by Inter Milan (Calciomercato)
West Ham have rejected a second offer believed to be worth up to £10m with add-ons from Rennes for striker Diafra Sakho (Telefoot)
The son of Andrea Pirlo, Niccolo, 15, is set to have a trial with Juventus in the coming weeks (Il Corriere di Torino)