Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool to bid after Klopp gets excited about prolific winger

Liverpool are to make a bid for a star La Liga winger and Manchester United are preparing to swoop for a Serie A striker – all in Wednesday’s European newspapers.

 

LIVERPOOL TO MAKE APPROACH FOR MUNIAIN

Liverpool will make a bid to sign Athletic Bilbao captain Iker Muniain next summer after boss Jurgen Klopp earmarked him as an ideal addition to his squad, according to reports.

As well as being captain, Muniain is also key for his side with his goal contributions – the 26-year-old winger has scored four goals in 13 La Liga appearances so far this season.

According to Don Balon, Klopp likes the look of Muniain and has convinced the Liverpool hierarchy to bid for him at the end of the season.

The source says that Klopp has been tracking the winger – who has been at Bilbao all his career – since Marcelo Bielsa was in charge and the German now believes that at 26 – as well as being captain – the player has developed a maturity that would be a real addition to the Reds side.

What’s more, Klopp is believed to be fond of Muniain’s ability with the ball, the Spanish international having the ability to make a difference going forward as well as fit in in a fast-paced style of play.

Don Balon says that Liverpool will tempt Muniain by offering to double his wages from the €2m he earns with his current employers.

Barcelona are also said to have shown interest in Muniain in the past.

 

 

AND THE REST

Manchester United and Barcelona are preparing to launch a pursuit of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, who has a €111m release clause in his current contract (FCInterNews)

Juventus are keen on seeing Paul Pogba return to the club, with the Serie A champions considering offering United Emre Can or Mario Mandzukic as part of a deal (Tuttosport)

Atalanta midfielder Dejan Kulusevski could be closing in on a move to Old Trafford after an admission about his future from the Italian club’s director of sports (L’Eco)

Crystal Palace and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, who is Inter boss Antonio Conte’s preferred target (FCInterNews)

Inter and AC Milan are keen on Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and could table the offer of a loan deal in January with the option to buy next summer (Sky Germany)

 

 

Real Madrid are considering replacing Casemiro in defensive midfield with the addition of Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira (Don Balon)

United midfielder Tahith Chong’s representatives want to find their client a new venture after becoming unhappy with his playing time at the club this season (Corriere dello Sport)

Moise Kean is unsure whether he will return to the Serie A in January, with Roma said to be keen on the Everton attacker (Rai Sport)

Atletico Madrid are close to completing the signing of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Atletico Paranaense (Diario AS)

Arsenal and Manchester City have registered their interest Flamengo’s 17-year-old Brazilian prodigy Reinier (Mundo Deportivo)

Reinier Jesus

Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz is holding off on contract talks with Napoli due to his continued interest in joining Barcelona (Mundo Deportivo)

Napoli vice-president Edo De Laurentiis has criticised the club’s dressing room, saying that “the shirt and city must be honoured” (Football-Italia)

AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has insisted that he “wouldn’t say no” if European heavyweights such as Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund were interested in him (Bild)