Euro Paper Talk: Barca boss gives nod to shock January swoop on Liverpool; Juve put €60m Man Utd target up for sale
Ernesto Valverde has given Barcelona bosses the green light to try and sign a €35m-rated Liverpool star, while Juventus are ready to put a €60m Manchester United target up for sale, according to Thursday’s European papers.
VALVERDE TO SANCTION LOVREN SWOOP
Ernesto Valverde has told Barcelona he would welcome a January swoop for Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, according to reports in Spain.
The LaLiga champions have comfirmed their intentions to sign a new central defender after injuries left them without Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen.
Barca had been linked with Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, but it was reported on Wednesday that Lovren could also be a target.
And Mundo Deportivo reckons the Croatian has now emerged as the club’s chief target for two simple reasons.
According to the claims, Barca believe a move for Lovren would be easiest of the three in January. Lovren appears to have fallen down the pecking order at Anfield with Joe Gomez preferred as Virgil van Dijk’s defensive partner. Alderweireld, meanwhile, is back in favour at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino and while he could still leave in January, it’s thought the club will ask at least €50m for the Belgian.
It’s a similar story with De Ligt, with Ajax likely to refuse all offers to sell a player also touted in the €50m bracket.
A deal for Lovren, however, may only set Barca back around €35m, and with Barcelona looking to invest heavily in their midfield and attack next summer – Paul Pogba, Roberto Firmino and Neymar have all been linked with moves in 2019 – every cent could count for Valverde’s side.
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AND THE REST
Serie A giants Juventus remain unable to reach an agreement with Alex Sandro over a new contract. Man Utd and Paris Saint-Germain remain keen on a €60m swoop (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Juventus are weighing up a move for either Marcelo or Jordi Alba to replace Sandro, who could now depart in January (Tuttosport)
Barcelona have told Malcom – who was on Wednesday linked with a fresh move to Tottenham, Liverpool and Inter Milan – he will not be allowed to leave the club in January and he must bide his time for a regular shirt (Mundo Deportivo)
Antonio Conte is already being sounded out by Real Madrid only four months after they appointed Julen Lopetegui in the summer (Corriere dello Sport)
Former Real Madrid player Michael Laudrup has also contacted the club to gauge interest on a future managerial move (AS)
Tiemoue Bakayoko’s agent has rubbished reports claiming AC Milan are ready to send the on-loan midfielder back to Chelsea (Calciomercato)
Neymar could be on his way back to Barcelona, with the Catalan club willing to meet a now revealed €220m (£195m) release clause (Mundo Deportivo)
Edin Dzeko is close to agreeing a new contract at Roma despite interest from the Premier League (Gazzetta Dello Sport)
West Ham will return with a fresh offer for Sevilla attacking midfielder Franco Vazquez (Tuttomercatoweb)
Inter want to sign young Galatasaray defender Ozan Kabak, who has previously declared his affection for Manchester United (Fanatik)
Juventus are interested in PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe as an alternative to Manchester United target Matthijs De Ligt (Tuttosport)
Inter Milan have made a €25m offer for Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali, who has been dubbed ‘the new Andrea Pirlo’ (Sport Mediaset)
Intermediary Federico Pastorello has called reports claiming Tiemoue Bakayoko could cut short his loan at AC Milan ‘unfounded’ (Calciomercato)