Paper Talk: Liverpool to shatter British record for Real Madrid star

Liverpool have moved on from Nabil Fekir and made a huge offer for a Real Madrid man, while Arsenal are tracking a Celta Viga midfielder, all in the papers.

 

LIVERPOOL MAKE €180M BID 

Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo reports that Liverpool have tabled a €180million offer for Marcos Asensio.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who is under contract until 2022, is currently in Russia with the Spain national side.

The source, who are far from outlandish with their claims, suggest Real are mulling over the formal bid.

The 22-year-old, who is currently on Spain duty at the World Cup, is being tipped to quit Real this summer as new boss Julen Lopetegui eyes some marquee signings.

El Gol Digital claimed the midfielder, who has already seen bids of £131m rejected by Real for his services, is ready to consider a switch to the Premier League.

Manchester United and Chelsea have both targeted the player, claim El Gol Digital, but now Liverpool have made their move.

 

AND THE REST

Arsenal still in the hunt for Celta Vigo midfielder Stanislav Lobotka (Tutto Mercato Web)

Real Madrid are interested in Lyon and France midfielder Nabil Fekir, as Liverpool risk missing out on the 24-year-old France international. (RT France)

Arsenal have held talks with Sevilla and Argentina midfielder Ever Banega, 29, over a move to the Emirates (various)

Liverpool have turned their attentions to Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen (TMW, Daily Mirror)

Manchester City and Paris St-Germain are interested in Bayern Munich’s 29-year-old Germany defender Jerome Boateng. (Sport Bild)

Chelsea are set to reduce their payout for sacking manager Antonio Conte by alleging that he mismanaged the sale of Diego Costa. (Express)

Mousa Dembele has said he will not move to another Premier League club if he leaves Tottenham this summer. (Daily Mail)

Roma have signed Patrick Kluivert’s son Justin Kluivert from Ajax for €17.25 million euros (Roma official)

Naby Keita arrived in Liverpool on Friday night as he finally gets set to join up with his new team-mates after his £53m move from RB Leipzig. (Daily Mail)

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is lining up a takeover of troubled AC Milan. (The Sun)

Chelsea and Arsenal have been put on alert after transfer target Jean Michael Seri’s agent confirmed he has a release clause in his contract – though one that runs out in less than a month. (Express)

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis says Chelsea have not approached the Italian club about appointing Maurizio Sarri as their new manager. (Sky Sport24)

Manchester City are closing in on their first signing of the summer after a breakthrough in talks over Napoli and Italy midfielder Jorginho, 26. (Manchester Evening News)

Manchester City are preparing to open talks over a new contract with Germany’s 27-year-old midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who has also been linked with Barcelona. (Sun)

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is interested in signing Roma’s Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq, 21. (Sky Sports)

Tottenham have been linked with a move for Nice’s French striker Alassane Plea, 25, as Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino looks to provide Harry Kane with competition. (Foot Mercato)

Borussia Monchengladbach have opened talks to sign Plea (Nice-Matin)

Liverpool have been tipped to sign Stoke City and Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, 26. (Express)

Nottingham Forest remain hopeful of agreeing a deal to sign Watford’s 31-year-old goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon. (Nottingham Post)

Reading’s hopes of signing Aston Villa’s Tommy Elphick have stalled as Villa consider the English defender’s future. (Reading Chronicle)

England midfielder Jack Wilshere, 26, will make a decision about his future while on holiday after leaving Arsenal. (Talksport)

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, 29, will request to wear the number 10 shirt following the departure of Wilshere. (Mail)

Sevilla will move for Newcastle United’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino, 22, if Argentina international Ever Banega, 29, completes a move to Arsenal. (Northern Echo)

PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving Lozano’s future will be decided after the World Cup, amid interest from Barcelona in the 22-year-old Mexico international. (ESPN)

Fulham have bid £10m for Southampton’s 22-year-old English left-back Matt Targett. (Sky Sports)

Norwich are interested in signing Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes, 28, following the sale of James Maddison, 21, to Leicester City. (Mirror)

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who managed England and Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan this season, believes the 22-year-old has more to his game that ex-Germany international Michal Ballack. (Mail)

Argentine Pablo Zabaleta, who plays for West Ham, says his country’s team at the World Cup look “broken”. (Times)

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez says striker Romelu Lukaku, 25, is not focused on winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup but helping the team. (Guardian)

Russia’s team doctor says he would bet “a bottle of skimmed milk” that the World Cup hosts have had “at least two times more than the number of probes” than England in terms of drugs tests. (Telegraph)