Transfer gossip: New Bellingham favourites while Liverpool are linked with seven alternatives
With Liverpool said to be out of the running to sign Jude Bellingham, the Reds are casting their eye over seven cheaper midfielders. Meanwhile, Man Utd and Arsenal are linked with attackers…
CITY LEAD BELLINGHAM RACE AS LIVERPOOL LINE UP ALTERNATIVES
If Liverpool won’t be signing Jude Bellingham, who will?
According to ESPN, Manchester City now lead the race to sign the England midfielder from Borussia Dortmund ahead of Real Madrid. City will look to sign at least one midfielder this summer, with doubts over Ilkay Gundogan’s future, and Bernardo Silva’s too. Apparently, the reigning Premier League champions are growing ‘increasingly confident’ of landing Bellingham, who will cost in the region of £130million.
That figure is what made Liverpool back away from the player they wanted above anyone else. What next for the Reds?
The list of alternatives is long and varied. Sky Germany says it features the names of Declan Rice, Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, Wolves’ Matheus Nunes and Moises Caicedo. Manchester United are also keen on Caicedo and Football Insider suggests a bid of £80million will be enough to tempt Brighton into selling.
Liverpool, though, are also said to be looking at RB Salzburg’s Luka Sucic and Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners, according to Sky Sports. Ryan Gravenberch is also named as a target in that report, while another from Footmercato says Liverpool and United are also sniffing around the Bayern Munich midfielder, who moved to Bavaria from Ajax only last summer.
MAN UTD TARGET SPAIN ATTACKER
Manchester United’s Bundesliga scout must be a busy boy since the Red Devils are also said to be tracking Dani Olmo.
That’s according to Bild, which states that the Spain international could be available for £35million this summer.
Olmo, who can play as an attacking midfielder or on the wing, is said to want Champions League football next season, with Leipzig and United both currently in fourth place in the Bundesliga and Premier League respectively. But Leipzig could be forced to sell with Olmo due to enter the final year of his contract.
Read more: Why Manchester United now need McFred to win the Premier League
ARSENAL EYE PALACE WINGER
Arsenal are hoping to strengthen as champions this summer, with Edu already looking to furnish Mikel Arteta’s attack with greater strength in depth.
Arteta has struggled to find opportunities to give Bukayo Saka a breather this season, which would be easier if the Gunners signed Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
That’s the plan, says Football Transfers, which suggests Arsenal will be willing to pay £40million for the left-footed right winger. The Gunners might have bagged a discount were Palace to be relegated but Roy Hodgson’s return seems to have kiboshed that prospect.
