Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool looking to secure free-transfer deal

Liverpool are chasing a pre-contract agreement for an Athletic Bilbao man and Barcelona are set to sell Ousmane Dembele in January, all in Tuesday’s European papers.

LIVERPOOL WANT MUNIAIN

Liverpool and Napoli are both trying to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Iker Muniain, according to a report in Spain.

Radio Marca this morning suggested that the Reds will try and get the 25-year-old on a pre-contract agreement in January.

The attacking midfielder, who has only ever played for Bilbao, is out of contract next summer and he is free to speak to foreign clubs in January.

He is believed to be in talks over a new deal at the San Mames Stadium, but Liverpool are ready to muscle in and make an approach for the player.

He has over 357 appearances to his name for Bilbao and he’s scored 51 goal, including four goals from just seven La Liga starts this season.

Jurgen Klopp is still believed to be looking to replace PhilipperCoutinho and he almost landed Nabil Fekir from Lyon in the summer only for the No.1o to fail a medical at the 11th hour.

 

MOURINHO DREAMS OF €150M MIDFIELDER MOVE

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is dreaming of a move for an Atletico Madrid star in January, according to reports.

Mundo Deportivo recently stated that Barcelona could re-sign Spain international midfielder Saul Niguez should he decide that he wants to move on from Atletico in the near future.

The 23-year-old – who netted against England in their UEFA Nations League win at Wembley – told Radio Nacional Espana of his desire to retire with the Rojiblancos.

“That’s why I signed a long-term contract,” Saul stated.

“That’s my intention, to be at Atletico Madrid all my life, but in the world of football you never know.

“For me, yes [I want to retire at Atletico], but maybe I have a bad couple of years and then they grow to not love me anymore.”

However, French outlet Sports.fr claim that Mourinho is ‘under the spell’ of Saul as he looks to add balance and creativity to his midfield.

However, they go on to state that the “Special One” will have to be ‘very persuasive to dislodge the player from Atletico Madrid’.

Saul has a contract with the LaLiga giants until June 2026, and has a a release clause in the deal estimated at €150million.

 

AND THE REST

Barcelona are weighing up the possibility of selling Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd target Ousmane Dembele, who has a €400m release clause, in January (RAC1)

James Rodriguez is set for talks with Bayern Munich over his future amid interest from Juventus (Bild)

Juventus are keen on Fiorentina pair Federico Chiesa and Nikola Milenkovic, both of whom have been linked with moves to the Premier League (Calciomercato)

Loris Karius could return to Liverpool in January with Besiktas looking to cancel his loan deal early, with the Turkish giants keen on a loan move for Divock Origi (Fotomac)

Agent of Napoli skipper Marek Hamsik has said that the player has had offers from three clubs in the past.

Real Madrid have hijacked Inter Milan’s move for River Plate midfielder Ezequiel Palacios by placing a €20m bid (Calciomercato)

Galatasaray have surged ahead of Leeds in the race to sign Kasimpasa forward Mbaye Diagne (Fanatik)

RB Leipzig are monitoring Everton’s Ademola Lookman after the young winger spent time on loan with the club last season (Goal)

PSG striker Edinson Cavani will need to take a pay cut if he’s to secure a transfer away from the club (Le10 Sport)

Hoffenheim midfielder Kerem Demirbay insists he can handle reported interest from Liverpool

Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana is a transfer target for Spurs (Voetbal International)

 during the Group E match of the UEFA Champions League between Ajax and SL Benfica at Johan Cruyff Arena on October 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Stephan El Shaarawy has been offered a new deal by Roma amid interest from the Premier League (Calciomercato)

Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is open to a move to Manchester United (Sky Italia)

Real Madrid’s players want either Michael Laudrup or Guti to take over (OK Diario)

 

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