Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool storm into pole position for La Liga enforcer with £34.5m midfield bid ready; Arsenal agree terms for massive signing

Franck Kessie and Aurelien Tchouameni

Liverpool are ready to follow up a deal for Alexis Mac Allister by making a cash offer for a title-winning midfielder, while Arsenal have agreed terms for their own signing in the position – plus much more in Monday’s Euro transfer gossip.

KESSIE COULD BECOME NEXT LIVERPOOL MIDFIELD SIGNING

Liverpool could make an offer of up to €40m to sign Franck Kessie from Barcelona, despite rumours of a return to Serie A with his former club AC Milan’s rivals, Inter.

That’s according to Inter Live, which indicates that Liverpool are ready to beat the competition for Kessie by making a pure cash offer between €35m and €40m (£30.2m to £34.5m).

Barcelona would prefer to sell for a simple transfer fee rather than entertain Inter’s preference of a part-exchange deal, although Xavi’s side have been considering the option of taking Marcelo Brozovic in the opposite direction.

Now, Liverpool seem to have got serious in the race for Kessie by getting a bid ready. Their main midfield target this summer is Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, but he won’t be the only one to arrive if Jurgen Klopp gets his way.

Liverpool are saying goodbye to Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo this summer. Furthermore, there is now a growing feeling that Thiago Alcantara could depart on the same free terms next year.

It has become essential for Liverpool to evolve their midfield, which has led them to targets like Mac Allister and Kessie.

The Ivory Coast international only joined Barcelona last summer from AC Milan. He took some time to settle in after his free transfer, but ended the campaign as a La Liga winner.

Now, Liverpool could lure him in for his first taste of Premier League football. They have the advantage over Inter because of the formula they would be willing to bid via.

At the age of 26, Kessie should be approaching his peak years, so after any potential move, he would be hoping to enjoy a better season on an individual level than he has managed this time around.

The fact he has won league titles in consecutive years with two different clubs might represent an added attraction to his next takers.

ARSENAL AGREE TERMS WITH CAICEDO

Moises Caicedo of Brighton

Moises Caicedo has agreed personal terms to join Arsenal, but they must settle on a transfer fee with Brighton. (Tera Deportes)

Chelsea have made a €60m (£51.8m) offer to sign AC Milan goalkeeper, Mike Maignan. (La Repubblica)

Man Utd are ready to pay €60m in order to sign Kim Min-jae from Napoli, who will look at Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini as a replacement. (Calciomercato)

Tottenham are the most serious contenders to sign Galatasaray centre-back, Victor Nelsson. (Takvim)

Bayern Munich are hoping they can tempt Newcastle to make a bid for former Liverpool winger, Sadio Mane. (Sport1)

Real Madrid have begun to touch base with Tottenham and Harry Kane about a summer swoop for the striker. (Marca)

The agent of Ilkay Gundogan has denied the Man City midfielder has an agreement to renew his contract or move elsewhere. (Fabrizio Romano)

Everton have been joined by Torino, Valencia and PSV in the race for Crystal Palace striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta. (So Foot)

BIG-MONEY BID BY NEWCASTLE

Newcastle could pay up to €50m (£43.1m) in order to beat PSG to the signature of Lyon attacking midfielder, Rayan Cherki. (But Football Club)

Liverpool and Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on Juventus winger, Federico Chiesa. (Gazzetta Dello Sport)

Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Sevilla goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. (AS)

Arsenal are waiting to sign a top-class replacement for Granit Xhaka before greenlighting the midfielder’s move to Bayer Leverkusen. (Kicker)

Inter are eager to re-sign Willy Gnonto and believe Leeds’ relegation could make him available for €10m (£8.6m). (Inter Live)

Manuel Ugarte has agreed personal terms to join PSG from Sporting after Chelsea pulled out of the race and the midfielder is already in Paris for a medical. (Fabrizio Romano)

Roberto De Zerbi wants Brighton to sign Nicolas Dominguez from Bologna as a replacement for Alexis Mac Allister. (Il Resto Del Carlino)

Newcastle are interested in Porto goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. (A Bola)

NEVES NEARS BARCELONA CONFIRMATION

Ruben Neves is almost certain to be leaving Wolves for Barcelona. (Diario Sport)

Roma are ready to replace Diego Llorente after his loan spell from Leeds, with a deal for Evan Ndicka on a free transfer close. (Calciomercato)

Juventus have become keen on Montpellier striker, Elye Wahi. (Gazzetta Dello Sport)

Karim Benzema has signed the main documents needed for him to become an Al Ittihad player until 2025 with the option for a further year. (Fabrizio Romano)

Nacho could be the next player to leave Real Madrid ahead of his contract expiring; a move to Inter is possible for the defender. (Marca)

Tammy Abraham won’t be able to return to the Premier League this summer after the Roma striker suffered an ACL injury. (Gazzetta Dello Sport)

Roma are dreaming of Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku as a replacement for Abraham and also like Roberto Firmino, Wilfried Zaha and Marko Arnautovic. (Calciomercato)

AC Milan have made contact for Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, but Lazio also want the winger. (Alfredo Pedulla)