Paper Talk: Liverpool eye Marseille man; Kane a wanted man

Liverpool are planning a £30million swoop for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, while Europe’s top clubs are planning a swoop on Tottenham for Harry Kane, according to Tuesday morning’s papers.

 

LIVERPOOL TARGET £30MILLION BATSHUAYI SWOOP

Liverpool are ready to join the summer scramble for striker Michy Batshuayi.

Jurgen Klopp is planning to do battle with Tottenham, West Ham and Juventus for Marseille’s £30million-rated Belgian, according to the Daily Mirror.

Batshuayi, 22, is a man in demand after bagging 24 goals in 52 appearances for club and country this season.

He is on Klopp’s radar as the Liverpool boss prepares to shake up his strike force this summer, even though the striker only recently signed a new deal with Marseille until 2020.

Christian Benteke, a target for West Ham and Atletico Madrid, is Liverpool’s most likely departure.

Liverpool are ready to move him on after just one season at Anfield following his struggle to make an impact since his £32.5m move from Aston Villa.

Klopp remains a huge fan of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyan g, 26, who he signed from St Etienne in 2013 when he was in charge of the German side. Gabon hitman Aubameyang gave Klopp another reminder of his talents when he scored his 38th goal of the season against Liverpool in the Europa League last week.

But Liverpool accept Aubameyang – rated at £75m, and rising, by his club – is out of their price range.

Batshuayi is viewed as a more affordable target though it will still take a bid in excess of £30m to land the frontman who is set to leave Marseille at the end of this season.

 

REAL MADRID AND BAYERN MUNICH KEEN ON KANE

Kane

European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are keeping an eye on Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 22, and have asked to be kept informed of his future plans, claims the London Evening Standard.

Kane is the top scorer in the Premier League this season with 24 goals, after netting 31 times in all competitions last term.

Kane is the first Tottenham player to score 20 or more top-flight goals in consecutive seasons since Martin Chivers, who achieved the feat between 1971-73. Kane was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2015 and is a contender for both that award and the main prize this year.

The striker is happy at Tottenham and has no thoughts of playing elsewhere, but sources in Spain and Germany have told Standard Sport that both Real and Bayern have asked to be kept informed of his plans.

Kane is likely to be offered a new contract in the coming months as Tottenham seek to reward their top players for a fine season.

The 22-year-old signed a five-and-a-half-year deal 14 months ago, which increased his wages to about £50,000 a week.

Real and Bayern, who are both in this season’s Champions League semi-finals, have watched Kane during this campaign. Real are thought to be considering selling Karim Benzema in the summer, and their head coach, Zinedine Zidane, has praised the England forward for his work this term.

Zidane said: “Kane and [Manchester City forward] Raheem Sterling are two exciting players for England. This ­summer in France will be a real opportunity for the rest of Europe to see how good they are.”

Kane has been taken aback by the praise. The striker told Shortlist magazine: “It’s amazing to hear those sorts of compliments from some of the best players in the world and some real legends of the game. It means I’m doing something right, which is good.”

Bayern are in contract talks with forward Robert Lewandowski, whose deal expires in three years and who has also been linked with Real Madrid.

Kane first appeared on Real’s radar last season and scouts were despatched three times to watch him in action.

 

AND THE REST

Manchester City are in pole position for John Stones as Everton face another battle to keep hold of the £40m defender (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea are to step up their chase of Antoine Griezmann as the Blues refuse to give up on the Atletico Madrid forward (Daily Mirror)

The Blues are also targeting Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster in a summer swoop as doubts continue over the Stamford Bridge future of Thibaut Courtois (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool and Arsenal have an “80% chance” of signing Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka, 23 (Bild)

Arsene Wenger has been left shell-shocked with the level of abuse from Arsenal fans at games (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa club captain Gabby Agbonlahor was pictured partying in a hotel room with pals and two girl fans on the day his club were relegated from the Premier League (The Sun)

Swansea could turn to Paul Clement, the former Derby County manager and Real Madrid assistant, in their search for a new boss (South Wales Evening Post)

Juan Mata: Outlines targets for rest of season

Spain midfielder Juan Mata, 27, also faces an uncertain future at United – whoever his manager will be at Old Trafford next season (Manchester Evening News)

Tottenham are no longer interested in signing teenage Fulham striker Moussa Dembele, who was invited by Chelsea to watch their home game against Manchester City at the weekend (Daily Mail)

Michael Carrick has now been told the club do want to give him a new deal – but he will still have to wait until the Manchester United manager’s position is clarified (The Sun)

Sheffield Wednesday have handed head coach Carlos Carvalhal an extended deal, with Swansea City and Turkish side Besiktas reportedly showing interest in the Portuguese (Sheffield Star)

Juventus’ sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has welcomed the chance to do business with Chelsea this summer – but has poured cold water on reports linking Paul Pogba with a move to Stamford Bridge (The Sun)

If Jose Mourinho gets the Man Utd job, he will sign striker PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Benfica’s Renato Sanches and Everton defender John Stones (The Sun)

Liverpool are the latest Premier League club being lined up for a Middle Eastern takeover (Daily Star)

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta may be heading to north London rivals Tottenham next season with Mauricio Pochettino keen to add the Spaniard to his coaching staff (Daily Star)

Everton are hoping to beat rivals Liverpool to Red Bull Leipzig’s winger Emil Forsberg (Daily Express)

Former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron says he should never have left Manchester United for Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2004 (Manchester Evening News)

Southampton keeper Fraser Forster is being lined up as potential replacement for Thibaut Courtois if the Chelsea star leaves for Real Madrid (Daily Mail)

Manchester City are closing in on a £23m swoop for Ilkay Gundogan with the Borussia Dortmund star being offered a five-year deal (Daily Mail)

Former football hardman Vinnie Jones is set to be approached to play the part of former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson in the upcoming Jamie Vardy biopic (Daily Telegraph)

Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante, 25, could be an option for Serie A champions Juventus after midfielder Claudio Marchisio suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury (Gazettoadello Sport)

Arsene Wenger’s tactics are baffling some of the club’s top stars who are also surprised at the number of days off the squad is being given (Daily Telegraph)

Referee Jon Moss had drinks thrown at him by Leicester fans and was subjected to verbal abuse from club officials in the players’ tunnel after the 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday (Daily Telegraph)

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 27, has been urged to complete a transfer to German champions Bayern Munich by his Chile team-mate Arturo Vidal.