Euro Paper Talk: Huge Neymar twist clears Liverpool to land €100m World Cup winner

Oli Fisher

Manchester United are set to launch another midfielder bid, while Liverpool have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a Barcelona winger, according to Thursday’s European papers.

 

KLOPP GIVEN BIG WINGER BOOST

Barcelona could be forced to offload a reported Liverpool target in order to secure a return for Neymar, reports in Spain claim.

The Catalan giants are trying to lure the Brazilian back to the Nou Camp this season, with the player himself having already expressed to the PSG board that he wants out this summer.

The reigning Ligue 1 champions are looking to recuperate as much of the €222m they paid for the 27-year-old as they can, with widespread speculation suggesting a mega swap deal could be on the cards.

According to Sky Germany, Barcelona have now raised their bid to PSG by offering a cash sum of €100million (£90m) as well as the choice of two from five players.

Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic, Nelson Semedo and Malcom are the quintuplet in question, but the report suggests that Coutinho is not keen on a move to Paris.

Meanwhile, a report from Marca suggests that the only way Barca can afford Neymar is if they sell Dembele first, which could be music to Liverpool ears.

We exclusively revealed last month that Barcelona intermediaries have told Liverpool that Dembele will be made available this summer, and that Anfield was, in fact, one of his preferred destinations.

Bayern Munich are apparently keen to bring the France star back to Germany, but reports in Germany earlier in the month suggested it is Liverpool who are the ‘serious contenders’ to sign the former Rennes man.

In a further boost for the Reds, the report goes on to claim that PSG are not interested in Dembele, which essentially clears the path for Liverpool should Bayern choose to focus on Leroy Sane.

Sections of the Spanish press have previously reported Barca will consider Dembele’s sale should a suitable offer come in, with €100m (£89.7m) likely to be enough to persuade them to sell.

 

LO CELSO TELLS BETIS HE WANTS TOTTENHAM SWITCH

Giovani Lo Celso is due to report back to Real Betis this weekend after his Copa America exploits – and will inform his club he is wants to leave, claim multiple reports.

And the Argentina playmaker wants to join Tottenham this summer, amid talk that Mauricio Pochettino’s side are ready to make an improved bid for his services.

Spurs have already seen an opening €40m approach for Lo Celso rejected back in June, but it’s reported a deal could now be struck for around the €70m mark – a figure not said to be too daunting for the north London club.

The key to the transfer is Nabil Fekir, with Betis themselves close to a bargain €30m swoop for the long-term Liverpool target, reports multiple sources in both France and Spain.

Giovani Lo Celso

And according to Canal +, the capture of the Lyon playmaker will then give Spurs the green light to finalise a deal for Lo Celso, who has also been chased by Manchester United this summer.

And although the Andalusians have have a €100m exit fee in his Lo Celso’s contract, they are said to be willing to let him leave if their €70m (£67m) asking price is met. PSG are understood to be entitled to 20% of that fee, but Betis are understood to be satisfied at the prospect of replacing Lo Celso with Fekir and still walking away with around €25m in their pockets.

The capture of Lo Celso will set a new transfer record at Tottenham – made earlier this summer when they paid £62m for Tanguy Ndombele – and could speed up the departure from the club of Christian Eriksen, linked, most recently, with Atletico Madrid.

 

Get the latest personalised Spurs products on our new TEAMtalk Tottenham shop!

 

AND THE REST

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make a bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes ‘in the coming hours’. (A Bola)

Napoli have made “concrete” attempts to sign Inter striker Mauro Icardi, talking personal terms with the Argentine. (Calciomercato.com)

Juan Cuadrado claims to “feel happy at Juventus” and is planning on remaining with the Serie A champions for the foreseeable future.

Lyon boss Sylvinho confirmed Nabil Fekir is in negotiations for a transfer as rumours of the club captain’s impending move to Real Betis gather momentum.

AC Milan are chasing Argentine starlet Matias Zaracho – valued at €20m by his club Racing Avellaneda – as a potential target this summer (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Barcelona are close to reaching an agreement for young Santos playmaker Tailson Pinto Goncalves to move to the Nou Camp on a free transfer. The 20-year-old is expected to sign a three-year deal (Sport)

Sporting Gijon goalkeeper and Spain Under-21 international Dani Martin is set to join Real Betis (Marca)

Borja Valero’s agent, Alejandro Camano, admits his client would be keen to leave Inter Milan and return to former club Fiorentina this summer amid claims that talks have taken place (FCInter1908)

Juventus will target a move for Paul Pogba after wrapping up a deal for Matthijs de Ligt and will offer Joao Cancelo, Blaise Matuidi and Douglas Costa to Manchester United in return for the Frenchman before the week is out (Corriere dello Sport)

Neymar has a list of five clubs he is willing to sign for this summer, with Barcelona top of his list. Man United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the others (Mundo Deportivo)

Napoli are well and truly in the race to sign Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, having launched a €60m offer with Lille target and Algeria international Adam Ounas also offered as part of the deal (Corriere dello Sport)

Manchester United ace Eric Bailly is being eyed by AC Milan in a €25m after being put off by Liverpool’s €20m transfer valuation of Dejan Lovren. Juventus’ Daniele Rugani is also an option (Tuttosport)

Manchester United are also ready to let Fred join Galatasaray on a season-long loan – despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s claims he will stay – after the two clubs held advanced talks (Fotomac / The Independent)

AC Milan are interested in signing Lyon winger and former Man Utd man Memphis Depay after positive talks with his agent over a possible deal on Wednesday (Calciomercato)

Fiorentina have opened talks with Fernando Llorente over a possible free transfer back to Italy for the out-of-contract former Tottenham striker (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Manchester United have launched a bid to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubamyang in a surprise deal from Arsenal this summer (FCInter News)

Inter Milan have a long list of targets should efforts to prise Romelu Lukaku fail, with Lille’s Rafael Leao, Duvan Zapata of Atalanta, Ante Rebic of Eintracht Frankfurt, Valencia’s Rodrigo and PSG star Edinson Cavani all possibilities (Tuttosport / Gazzetta dello Sport)

Duvan Zapata TEAMtalk

Inter Milan, Everton and Borussia Dortmund have reportedly all made offers for Juventus striker Moise Kean (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Goalkeeper Mattia Perin says he is ready to “put what I learned at Juventus into practice” after agreeing a €15m move to join Portuguese champions Benfica (Sky Italia)

Jordan Veretout looks set to finalise his transfer from Fiorentina to Roma in the coming days after a fee of €20m was agreed for the former Aston Villa man (Calciomercato)

Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara is hopeful Valencia will reach an agreement over his transfer amid claims of a €15m deal (Sport)

 

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has given Manchester United hope of a deal for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic with his latest cryptic comments (Corriere dello Sport)

AC Milan are once again chasing Udinese midfielder or winger Rodrigo de Paul (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Neymar could be in line for a transfer to Juventus to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Brazilian pushes for a move away from PSG (Le Parisien)

Neymar TEAMtalk

Tottenham will target Elseid Hysaj or Alessandro Florenzi as replacements for Kieran Trippier this summer (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Getafe are set to complete the signing of West Bromwich Albion defender Allan Nyom on a season-long loan deal (Marca)

Arsenal are set to pay Dani Ceballos’ entire salary while he spends the season on loan from Real Madrid (Marca)

Real Madrid’s chances of signing Paul Pogba from Manchester United are becoming increasingly unlikely (Marca)