Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool step on gas in bid to sign £44m LaLiga star; Tottenham not balking at £28m asking price for Ligue 1 forward being watched ‘very closely’

Liverpool have significantly ramped up their pursuit of a LaLiga winger ahead of a proposed £44million summer deal, while Tottenham are not being put off the £28m asking price for a Ligue 1 attacker – all in Friday’s Euro Paper Talk.

KLOPP PUSHING HARD FOR WINGER DEAL

Liverpool are reportedly ready to step on the gas in their bid to sign an Athletic Bilbao forward this summer.

Roberto Firmino’s exit at the end of the season is expected to prompt Jurgen Klopp into adding another attacker to his forward line, with Bilbao star Nico Williams firmly on his radar.

The 20-year-old winger will be out of contract in the summer of 2024, with Bilbao ready to cash in for the best possible price if Williams refuses to sign a contract extension soon.

Reports from Spain suggest that while the LaLiga side are keen to keep the attacker, they recognise that this summer will represent their best chance of recouping a significant fee. Indeed, a figure of around £44million is being mooted.

Williams has scored seven goals and added six assists this season and would provide Klopp with another strong option out wide.

In the absence of Luis Diaz, the Reds boss has been using both Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott out wide this term.

Liverpool still have abundance of attacking options

Klopp does still have plenty of forward options he can call upon, however, with Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota also expected to remain in the mix for next season.

The report adds that Williams is tempted by the prospect on playing in the Premier League. However, it’s unclear whether Liverpool being in the Champions League next term will make a difference to any potential move.

Klopp’s men are currently 10 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with 10 games remaining.

Links to another attacker are also somewhat surprising, given that Liverpool have glaring needs in midfield and defence after a terrible campaign so far.

TOTTENHAM WILLING TO PAY UP FOR FORWARD

Tottenham are not concerned about the £28million asking price for Montpellier forward Elye Wahi and are watching the player ‘very closely’. (Jeunes Footeux)

Kylian Mbappe will not leave PSG in the summer with the French giants regarding the forward as “non-transferable”. (Mundo Deportivo)

Carlo Ancelotti will be considered for a return to Chelsea for a second spell as manager at Stamford Bridge should he quit Real Madrid at the end of the season. (ESPN)

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are all prepared to pay Napoli defender Kim Min-jae’s £39m release clause when it becomes active on July 1. (Il Mattino)

Lionel Messi is considering a move to Saudi Arabia that would see him join Al Hilal, the city rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, when his PSG contract expires this summer. (ESPN)

Burnley and Everton have been told they will have to pay between €5.3m and €6.7m for Brondby goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. (Tipsbladet)

MORE EURO TRANSFER GOSSIP

AC Milan and Premier League target Rafael Leao have reached a verbal agreement over a new contract. (Revelo)

Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni is on the radar of Manchester City. (Calciomercato)

Leeds will look to sign on-loan USA midfielder Weston McKennie permanently from Juventus if they avoid relegation. (Calciomercato)

Joao Cancelo will definitely be leaving Manchester City when his loan at Bayern Munich ends, with Barcelona showing an interest. (Sport)

Uruguay are finally closing in on the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as their new head coach. Talks took place in the last two weeks and are now at the final stages. (Fabrizio Romano)

Villarreal forward Samu Chukwueze has revealed he was once close to joining Arsenal, before the transfer collapsed. (El Periodico Mediterraneo)

Turkish club Altay SK say that Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla have made offers for their Turkish defender Efe Sarikaya, 17. (Sport)