Paper Talk: Liverpool eye move for Milan star Menez

Jeremy Menez, Steven Gerrard and Saido Berahino in Saturday's headlines

Liverpool want Jeremy Menez, Tottenham failed in a move for Steven Gerrard, while Saido Berahino has been told to forget about joining Tottenham.

LIVERPOOL PLOT MENEZ SWOOP

Liverpool are considering a swoop to sign AC Milan’s France striker Jeremy Menez in January – and could offer Lucas as a makeweight in the deal.

Italian media outlet Calciomercato claim both sides would be willing to negotiate a deal and talks will be held in a couple of months if both parties are happy to sit down and discuss the exchange.

Menez came close to leaving Milan this summer, with a number of clubs, including Liverpool, linked with his signature.

The French striker scored 16 goals in 31 Serie A appearances last campaign.

Brendan Rodgers reportedly still wants to sell Lucas despite his mini career revival on Merseyside and has tracked Menez, 28, since his Paris Saint-Germain days.

 

GERRARD REVEALS SPURS SNUB

Former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, 35, claims Tottenham, Paris St-Germain and David Moyes’s Real Sociedad wanted to sign him before he decided to join Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Daily Mail are serialising Gerrard’s autobiography and the 34-year-old says he snubbed plenty of offers around Europe before moving to the USA.

“The first offer came from Besiktas, then managed by Slaven Bilic. Monaco were next. They came in strong. Paris Saint-Germain were also very keen. David Moyes called my agent a couple of times, to see whether I would be interested in playing for him at Real Sociedad,” he said.

“A few English clubs called but I wouldn’t play against Liverpool. There was interest from Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. It was good to know he still rated me.

“I was sure I could play in the Premier League for another year but there would not have been much of a buzz doing the same thing all over again with Tottenham.

“I was slightly interested in PSG and Monaco but how could I come back to Anfield if there was a European game?”

 

BERAHINO TOLD TO ‘FORGET ABOUT SPURS’

Tony Pulis has warned wantaway West Brom striker Saido Berahino to ‘get used to the idea’ that he’ll never move to Tottenham.

Spurs had three bids rejected for the England Under-21 striker over the summer, with the striker getting himself suspended by the club after declaring on social media he’d never play for Albion chairman Jeremy Peace again following his refusal to accept Tottenham’s offer.

There is talk that Spurs could try to resurrect the deal in January, but West Brom boss Pulis said: “I don’t think Tottenham will ever come back – so that’s not an option.

“There are other clubs out there who probably will, but I’m sure Saido will deal with it differently.

“There will have been a lot of people blowing in his ears and that’s the problem nowadays.”

When questioned why Tottenham were no longer potential buyers, Pulis added: “The two clubs tried to do a deal and it’s not worked. I might be wrong, but it’s just my gut feeling.”

 

AND THE REST

– Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal have the firepower to win major honours this season, despite their failure to land a striker over the summer (The Sun)

– Kevin De Bruyne will soon be classed as a “£54million bargain”, claims Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini (Daily Mail)

– Everton boss Roberto Martinez has given Chelsea hope of signing John Stones next summer (Daily Star)

– Liam Moore is determined to show Leicester what they are missing as he looks to impress during his loan spell at Bristol City (Daily Star)

– Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Bundesliga clubs will struggle to keep hold of their best players because of the wealth of many Premier League teams (Bloomberg) 

– Chelsea won’t look to bring in a new goalkeeper on a free transfer despite losing Thibout Courtois for up to three months (Daily Star)

– Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 31, has exiled himself to train with the under-21 side rather than training with the first team (Daily Mirror)

– Spurs are open to entering a Wembley ground share agreement with Chelsea to avoid the London clubs trying to outbid each other. (Daily Telegraph) 

– Southampton midfielder Gaston Ramirez, 24, is negotiating to try to cancel his £65,000-a-week contract having been told by manager Ronald Koeman he does not have a future at St Mary’s (Daily Mirror) 

– Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann, 28, has set his sights on an England call-up in the build up to Euro 2016 (Daily Telegraph) 

– Queens Park Rangers boss Chris Ramsey says the club would consider selling striker Charlie Austin, 26, if a team meets their £15m valuation in January (Evening Standard) 

– Tim Sherwood expects Aston Villa’s current longest-serving player, forward Gabby Agbonlahor, 28, to finish his career with the club (Birmingham Mail)