Transfer Gossip: Liverpool, Chelsea to battle for Championship star, Man Utd want Spurs flop

In what has become a Championship edition of Football Transfer Gossip, there is plenty of interest from the top flight in two second-tier stars…

BATTLE FOR BERGE
Chelsea and Liverpool are two Premier League clubs in need of midfield recruits and are expected to be busy recruiting in that department in 2023.

N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are both out of contract next summer, with the former expected to leave with the Blues reluctant to extend the stay of the injury-prone Frenchman.

Liverpool’s midfield issues have been very well documented for the last year or so, with their usual heavy metal trio in the middle of the pitch looking old and a bit rubbish this season. They signed Arthur Melo on loan last summer, but he has played once before picking up a long-term injury.

Chelsea and Liverpool are expected to battle for the signing of Borussia Dortmund and England sensation Jude Bellingham, but this isn’t about him, for once…

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, the Reds and Blues will duel for the signing of Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. The Norwegian has been linked with a transfer to the top flight ever since the Blades were relegated, with Arsenal once expected to complete the double signing of him and Aaron Ramsdale.

Berge is ‘eager’ to leave United and the Premier League duo are ‘attentive to the situation’. He could be available for €20million. Any takers?

PREM TRIO WANT SARR
Sticking with some Championship transfer goss, a trio of Premier League sides are in for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr.

Another player who has been constantly linked with a transfer in recent seasons; Sarr was relegated with the Hornets in 2020 and many expected him to leave. He stayed and was brilliant in the Championship as his side returned to Our League. Watford were relegated again last season and once again he was widely expected to finally get a big move. It did not happen, with Newcastle United preferring his team-mate Joao Pedro, but failed to agree a fee with the southerners despite a famous Fabrizio Romano ‘Here We Go’ on a move.

Liverpool and the Magpies have been the two clubs most linked with Sarr, but there is no mention of those two here.

Italian journalist Ignazio Genuardi reckons it will be Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace vying for Sarr’s signature. The Senegal forward may be ‘the subject of an offensive’ in the winter transfer window, Genuardi believes.

A move to Palace could make perfect sense with Wilfried Zaha’s contract expiring at the end of the season.

MAN UTD LIKE SPURS FLOP
Juan Foyth did not really impress during his time with Tottenham in the Premier League – but he has been excellent for La Liga outfit Villarreal and is currently in Qatar with World Cup semi-finalists Argentina.

Despite his underwhelming stint in north London, Fichajes reckon Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing the versatile defender.

Barcelona are very keen, the report claims, but the English duo have both ‘asked’ Villarreal about the availability of the Argentina international.

The Yellow Submarine will apparently tell interested parties to splash out €42m should they wish to sign Foyth, with Barca boss Xavi a big fan of signing him after taking one look at Hector Bellerin trying to defend.

RELEASE ME
Sticking with Villarreal and throwing Liverpool back into the mix, there is interest from the Reds in Alex Baena.

The 21-year-old winger has enjoyed a stellar start to 2022-23, scoring nine and assisting four in 21 matches across all competitions, and his form has actually worried Villarreal due to his €35m release clause. The Spaniards want to tie him down to a new deal, mainly so they can increase that figure.

In order to fend off interest from the Reds, Villarreal are hoping to make his buyout clause €80m, which will probably put them off a transfer.

According to Sport, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have shown an interest in Baena, and we have previously discussed the Reds’ interest in a previous edition of the wonderful column that is Football Transfer Gossip.

The report mainly states how Villarreal want his release clause to be higher, while noting that the four English clubs are interested in a transfer.

READ MORE: Clive Tyldesley for F365 on the ugliness of the Infantino close-up and a make-believe World Cup