Paper Talk: Liverpool in for Lemar; Everton want £35m for England man

Barcelona could make a £53million move for Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, while Liverpool are lining up a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, all in today’s papers.

 

BARCA COULD GO FOR OZIL

Barcelona will make a move for Mesut Ozil if they are unable to sign Philippe Coutinho, according to a report

Barca are trying to lure Liverpool playmaker Coutinho, 25, to the Camp Nou with Ernesto Valverde apparently looking for a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta.

Liverpool though are desperate to keep hold of the Brazilian and Spanish outlet Don Balon claims that, if a deal for Coutinho collapses, they will go go for Ozil instead.

Ozil has one year remaining on his Gunners deal and Arsene Wenger has said he is at ease with Ozil’s contract situation, but Barca are ready to spend £53million to prise him away from the capital.

 

LIVERPOOL LINE-UP COUTINHO REPLACEMENT

Arsenal winger target Thomas Lemar is being chased by Liverpool, according to a report in France.

Monaco man Lemar has been the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Arsenal this summer as the Ligue 1 champions desperately try and hang on to the 21-year-old.

French outlet Le10 Sport via Sport Witness say Arsenal remain at the head of the queue for Lemar, but they also face competition from Liverpool.

Should Jurgen Klopp’s men lose Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, the Reds have identified Lemar as a potential replacement for the Brazilian, although the report does say there has been no Liverpool contact with either Lemar or Monaco at this stage.

AND THE REST

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley will have to lower his wage demands to join Tottenham, who are not willing to pay the £120,000-a-week wages the 23-year-old England international turned down at Goodison Park. (Mirror)

The Toffees are also prepared to hold out for a fee of £35m for Barkley, despite him having less than 12 months on his contract. (Daily Mail)

La Liga will report Paris St-Germain for a breach of Uefa’s financial fair play rules over the signing of Neymar from Barcelona, even if the French side do not pay the 25-year-old Brazil forward’s 220m euros (£197m) buyout clause. (El Larguero)

PSG are so confident of signing Neymar they are already planning how to unveil him. (ESPN)

Chelsea are willing to meet Bayern Munich’s demands to sign midfielder Renato Sanches, 19, on loan for the season.(Corriere dello Sport, via Star)

Everton are considering a move for West Ham and New Zealand centre-back Winston Reid, 29. (Daily Mail)

West Brom are interested in former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, 31, who has spent three injury-blighted years at Barcelona. (Sky Sports)

 

Thomas Vermaelen: Linked with duo of Premier League clubs

However, new Barca boss Ernesto Valverde is keen to give Vermaelen more playing time this season, after being impressed by the Belgian in pre-season. (AS)

Neymar has appeared to bid farewell to his Barcelona team-mates in a dressing-room visit. (Daily Mail)

Pep Guardiola still wants two more players at Manchester City but unwanted players must leave first for those deals to happen. (Daily Mail)

Nathan Ake says his decision to join Bournemouth was based on more available game time. (Daily Mail)

Nathan Ake: Bournemouth want him permanently

Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool fans that Philippe Coutinho will probably last just one more season at Anfield before he joins Barcelona. (Daily Mirror)

West Brom manager Tony Pulis is struggling to bring new players to The Hawthorns as the club’s Chinese owners are cautious with their cash. (Daily Mirror)

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is furious with club chiefs for ‘ignoring’ his list of summer transfer targets. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa’s summer clearout is set to continue, with left-back Aly Cissokho likely to join newly-promoted Turkish side Yenl Malatyaspor this week. (Daily Mirror)

Leeds are set to sign Moroccan teen Ousama Siddiki from Real Madrid. (Sun)

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is targeting a double move for Wolves striker Joe Mason and Wigan forward Omar Bogle.  (Sun)

Leicester left-back Callum Elder will join Wigan on loan this season.  (Sun)

Bolton are lining up a move for Basingstoke twins Michael and Rob Atkinson.  (Sun)

Leicester and Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez, 26, is hoping Italian side Roma return with a third bid after offers of £20m and £32m were rejected by the Foxes. (Mirror)

Manchester City players have openly discussed the arrival of forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, from Arsenal in a £50m deal. (Manchester Evening News)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says players such as Sanchez and Ozil staying, despite entering the final 12 months of their contracts, is an “ideal” situation because everyone “has to perform”. (Various)

Watford are keen to sign Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs, but the 27-year-old would have to take a significant pay cut to join the Hornets. (Sky Sports)

French left-back Massadio Haidara, 24, is the latest Newcastle player to be told to find a new club, and is in talks to join Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne.(Chronicle)

Barcelona are considering selling 24-year-old Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes, who only joined them last summer. (Marca)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expects striker Kelechi Iheanacho, 20, to join Leicester soon, despite a delay in finalising a deal for the Nigeria international. (Manchester Evening News)

Guardiola also says midfielder Samir Nasri has no future at the club, even though he has praised the 30-year-old’s pre-season displays. (Star)

Hearts are looking to sign Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman, 20, on a season-long loan deal. (Chronicle)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho no longer intends to loan out 21-year-old midfielder Andreas Pereira, after being impressed by the Brazilian during pre-season. (Sun)

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, 29, says it “would be like having two new signings” if Reds striker Daniel Sturridge, 27, can stay fit and “firing on all cylinders”. (Telegraph)