Gossip: Liverpool eye Mane as Gotze alternative
LIVERPOOL WANT SOUTHAMPTON’S MANE
Liverpool have turned their focus to signing Southampton’s £25million-rated Sadio Mane after failing to land Mario Gotze. That’s according to both the Guardian and Daily Star. Two natural friends, there.
Jurgen Klopp has turned to Mane after top target Mario Gotze made it clear he would prefer to stay at Bayern Munich for another season.Manchester United tried and failed to sign Mane last summer.
Mane cost Saints £11.8m from Red Bull Salzburg in 2014, but Ronald Koeman wants at least double that. You can hardly blame him; Liverpool have history when it comes to paying big money for Southampton players.
Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne, Rickie Lambert and now Sadio Mane. Get a room.
MANCHESTER UNITED IN FOR SAUL
To the Independent now, and Simon Rice’s claim that Manchester United will look to trigger the release clause of Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez.
The release clause stands at £54m, but that doesn’t put off Mourinho or United, apparently.
Niguez is only 21, but the Independent say that ‘ the signing of Anthony Martial last summer – for a potential £58m – showed that the club are willing to put their faith in youngsters’. Surely it doesn’t mean they are putting blanket trust in every youngster, though?
In fairness, the Independent that their story is ‘according to sources’. They just don’t bother to tell us what those sources are.
Saúl Ñiguez has no intention of leaving Atletico Madrid, even if someone activates the clause in his improved contract
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) May 27, 2016
BELLERIN TO BARCELONA
You might well have seen the rumours linking Dani Alves with a move from Barcelona to Juventus. The direct result of that is that Barcelona will require a new right-back. Time to look away, Arsenal fans.
The Daily Mirror report that Hector Bellerin will be Barca’s first choice to replace Alves, and you can’t doubt that the rumour makes a good deal of sense.
Ed Malyon writes that there ‘appears to be no doubt’ that Bellerin is Barelona’s ideal candidate to replace Alves. The question is whether Arsenal can hold out.
AND THE REST
Tottenham have opened negotiations with Basel forward Breel Embolo, 19, after he scored 21 goals in 61 leagues appearances… Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 24, says he will remain at Stamford Bridge next season, despite interest from Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain… Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is eyeing a swoop for Atalanta’s teenage Ivory Coast international centre-back Franck Kessie… Bournemouth ace Glenn Murray is wanted by Reading, QPR and Fulham… Swansea have made a move for AZ Alkmaar’s attacking midfielder Markus Henriksen, 23, who is valued at £6m by the Dutch club… Premier League champions Leicester City look like making Sporting Gijon centre-back Luis Hernandez, 27, their first signing of the summer on a free transfer.
Bournemouth are leading the race to sign 18-year-old striker Mikael Ndjoli, who has not offered a professional contract by Millwall… Barcelona full-back Dani Alves, 33, is expected to announce he is joining Serie A champions Juventus on a free transfer signing three-year deal… The agent of Martin Skrtel says the 31-year-old defender is “90% sure to leave Liverpool” this summer with Turkish side Besiktas a possible destination… Derby County have interviewed former Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson about becoming the club’s new manager… Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, 23, says he is focused on playing for Portugal at Euro 2016 after reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea… Roma have joined West Ham in the pursuit of Newcastle star Georginio Wijnaldum, with his agent confirming the player has to think about his future.