Gossip: Liverpool opt out of race for expensive PL star; Gavi boost

Editor F365

Liverpool will let their rivals fight it out for one Premier League star, while they could still have hope in their pursuit of Gavi…

 

OVERCOOKED RICE
Liverpool will not join their Premier League rivals in making a bid for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer, according to reports.

Rice has become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and has been in fine form again this campaign for the Hammers. His performances have again impressed Manchester United and Chelsea, with both Premier League clubs linked to a potential summer move for the England international.

The 23-year-old recently admitted that it’s now an “urgent” issue for him to start playing in the Champions League with West Ham now looking unlikely to qualify this season.

Liverpool can provide Rice – who could cost in excess of £100m – with Champions League football but Football Insider insist that the Merseysiders ‘are not expected to join the race to sign’ Rice despite Jurgen Klopp being ‘a huge admirer of him’. It is understood that ‘Man City, Man United and Chelsea are all interested in luring Rice from West Ham’.

However, Football Insider adds that Liverpool are ‘not expected to battle their rivals for the 23-year-old as the cost of the deal in transfer fee and wages is beyond what owners Fenway Sports Group would allow’.

Liverpool will still look to sign a midfielder this summer with Klopp eager to bolster that area of his team. Rice has two years left on his contract at West Ham after this season and he reportedly keeps knocking back renewal offers from the Hammers.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice stretches

GAVI TURNS DOWN BARCA AGAIN
One midfielder Liverpool could sign instead is Gavi after he turned down another contract offer from Barcelona, according to reports in Spain.

At 17 he has showed his huge potential for the Catalan giants this season, making 33 appearances in all competitions. He has contributed four goals and two assists in La Liga this term and now several teams are keeping a close eye on his situation at the Camp Nou.

Speculation that Liverpool could attempt to sign Gavi was was reignited in February when it was claimed that Barcelona were trying to negotiate his contract but were struggling to match the figures potentially on offer with the Reds.

His first professional contract expires in the summer of 2023 and the midfielder is looking for a salary that matches his new squad status of regular starter. And Spanish publication Marca insist that there is now ‘a queue for Gavi’ with ‘all the big clubs’ monitoring the Spain international. Gavi’s ‘first objective is to renew with Barcelona’ but proposals for new signings are ‘not helping in the negotiations’ to keep their highly-rated teenager at the club.

Marca adds that the Catalan giants are still ‘confident of reaching an agreement’ despite Gavi turning down their third attempt at renewing his contract.

 

AND THE REST…
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he won’t put the club at financial risk to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund…Leeds have reportedly rejected a £29m offer from Barcelona for winger Raphinha whose buyout clause is set at £60m…Wolves winger Pedro Neto is on PSG’s wanted list as the 22-year-old makes his comeback from a long-term injury…Newcastle are preparing to fight off competition from AC Milan to sign Dutch central defender Sven Botman from Lille, after failing to land him in January…Arsenal are in negotiations to bring Brazil manager Tite to the club when he steps down from his post after the Qatar World Cup…Liverpool are ‘increasingly likely’ to sell Mo Salah, according to TEAMTalk.