Transfer Gossip: Klopp ecstatic as Liverpool favourite could make U-turn to reinvigorate attack; Man Utd, Aston Villa aim for Chelsea flop
Sadio Mane is being tipped for a sensational return to Liverpool one year after his exit for Bayern Munich, while Man Utd and Aston Villa are among the contenders to sign Joao Felix after Chelsea decided against keeping him – all in Friday’s Transfer Gossip.
LIVERPOOL LINKED WITH MANE RETURN
Reports in the German press are suggesting that Sadio Mane could be on his way back to Liverpool after a single season with Bayern Munich.
Liverpool sold Mane to Bayern last summer, rather than allowing him to enter the final year of his contract. It’s fair to say the Senegal international was missed by Jurgen Klopp, whose side lacked the same dynamism in and out of possession.
Things haven’t gone to plan for Mane either since the separation. Most notably, his spell with Bayern has been overshadowed by a bust-up with Leroy Sane.
Now, Bild is reporting that both Mane and Sane – as well as Serge Gnabry – are up for sale this summer if a good offer arrives.
And in Mane’s case, a return to Liverpool has been presented as an option, despite the club since investing in the signings of Darwin Nunez from Benfica and Cody Gakpo from Ajax.
Without Mane, Liverpool failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, whereas Bayern won the Bundesliga and so will be in UEFA’s top competition again.
But on a personal level, Mane has discovered that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Therefore, a U-turn might be possible if Liverpool become serious about re-signing the former Southampton star.
In his original spell with the club, Mane scored 120 goals from 269 appearances for Liverpool. So far for Bayern, in contrast, he has managed 12 goals from 38 games.
MAN UTD, ASTON VILLA AMONG FELIX CONTENDERS
Chelsea have already decided against buying Joao Felix after his loan spell from Atletico Madrid, but he could remain in the Premier League.
Newcastle have already been suggested as an option for Felix after securing Champions League football. However, Mundo Deportivo has suggested that Aston Villa are also in the hunt.
Unai Emery has guided them into next season’s Europa Conference League and would like them to make an effort to sign Felix in order to raise the level of their squad.
Villa already ambitiously tried to beat Chelsea to Felix in January, it is reminded. After finishing above the Blues this season, they might now have a better chance of completing a deal.
Other than Newcastle, Villa’s rivals for the signing of Felix will include his former club Benfica, as well as Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter and Juventus – and maybe even Arsenal and Man Utd.
The report claims Erik ten Hag would gladly welcome Felix into his squad after Man Utd also failed with a previous loan offer for the Portugal international.
Jorge Mendes, who acts as Felix’s agent, is said to be already working on that potential solution.
WOLVES WANT WARD-PROWSE
The latest contenders to snap up James Ward-Prowse from Southampton are Wolves, according to a report.
Ward-Prowse has spent his entire career with Southampton but must now consider his future there after their relegation to the Championship – especially with Euro 2024 being due to follow next season.
Several clubs would be willing to lift the free-kick specialist back into the Premier League. He has already been linked with West Ham, for example.
According to The Sun, one of the other competitors for Ward-Prowse could be Wolves, who have joined West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle in the race.
For any of them to sign him, they will have to pay a transfer fee of around £40m in order to satisfy Southampton, who still have their captain under contract until 2026.