Transfer gossip: Liverpool join Chelsea in race for Leipzig star, Arsenal rival Real for forward

Ian Watson
Josko Gvardiol celebrates scoring for RB Leipzig against Manchester City.

Liverpool may need to make Josko Gvardiol their record signing if they are to beat Chelsea to the RB Leipzig centre-back, while Arsenal are linked with a forward and a right-back…

 

LIVERPOOL TO MOVE FOR LEIPZIG STAR
Liverpool have been an ‘absolute shambles defensively’, reckons Jamie Carragher and literally everyone else who has watched them cave in to Real Madrid, Brighton, Brentford and Wolves of late. So Carra will doubtless welcome news of the Reds’ interest in Josko Gvardiol.

The RB Leipzig centre-back scored the equaliser against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night having this week reaffirmed his desire to play in the Premier League.

Gvardiol was heavily linked with Chelsea last summer and again in January but the Blues failed to get the deal done. Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool will rival Chelsea when the transfer window re-opens.

The Croatia star won’t come cheap. In his contract at RB Leipzig, Gvardiol has a release clause worth in the region of £98million, though it isn’t clear when that becomes active.

Read more: Manchester City still lack that killer touch as Leipzig bounce back to draw

 

ARSENAL FACE COMPETITION FOR STRIKER, RIGHT-BACK
Arsenal also look set to be busy in the summer, however their surprise title charge pans out…

Mikel Arteta will certainly look to sign a right-back, with Ivan Fresneda still on his list of targets. The Gunners were thought to be keen to land the 18-year-old in January but Real Valladolid stood firm and refused to do business until the summer.

Then, the Evening Standard says Arsenal will face competition from Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus, with Fresneda set to move for something close to the value of his £26.5million release clause.

Arsenal are also likely to move for a centre-forward, with La Repubblica claiming the Gunners are jostling for position with Real Madrid in the race to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.

 

DYCHE URGES EVERTON TO BAG BETO
Everton are also looking in Italy for a striker and they thought they had one in the final hours of the January window when they tried to sign Beto from Udinese.

The Toffees offered £22million for the Portuguese forward, who has scored seven goals and assisted another in 23 Serie A matches this season. But Udinese refused to do business and Sean Dyche was unable to strengthen his attack.

Now, according to Fichajes, Dyche has urged Everton to try harder in the summer for Beto, who is under contract for three more years at Udinese.

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