Transfer gossip: Liverpool ‘push hard’ for midfielder who wants £240k a week

Liverpool are said to be ‘pushing hard’ for Mason Mount, while Declan Rice is being linked with Manchester City again.

LIVERPOOL ‘PUSHING HARD’ FOR MOUNT
We already knew that Liverpool are interested in Mason Mount as he reaches a contract impasse with Chelsea but now we learn – via the Daily Mail – that the Reds are ‘pushing hard’ for the England international midfielder, whose contract expires next summer.

It is thought that Mount wants to treble his £80,000-a-week wages to put him in line with some of Chelsea’s biggest stars and signings, though not scoring a goal in 2023 is not exactly helping his argument for those kind of wages. Boss Graham Potter has used him more sparingly than previous Chelsea managers; he was on the bench this week v West Ham and Borussia Dortmund.

READ: Mount to Liverpool: A perfect transfer opportunity not to be missed with Chelsea ‘resigned’ to exit

In other Chelsea news, Juventus have decided to transfer Denis Zakaria to Chelsea at the end of his loan spell at the Premier League club, who believe he is worth £27m after his impressive performances. And Andrey Santos is heading back to Brazil for a loan spell at Palmeiras until December.

ROCK ON, TAMMY
From transfer gossip about a current Chelsea player to transfer gossip about a former Chelsea player…with 90 Min claiming that Aston Villa are keen to bring Tammy Abraham back to Aston Villa this summer.

Abraham enjoyed a 25-goal Championship season on loan at Villa in 2018/19, before returning to Chelsea and scoring 15 goals. He was then sold to Roma in the summer of 2021 for £30m and has scored 23 goals in 59 Serie A games there, though this season has seen him score only six goals. Quite why this makes him now worth north of £40m is a mystery.

Aston Villa are also said to be interested in Jonathan David and Marcus Thuram as they look for a reliable striker to compete with Ollie Watkins, who has scored 31 goals in 93 Premier League games.

RICE TO MANCHESTER CITY?
‘Manchester City have renewed their interest in West Ham captain Declan Rice ahead of a potential midfield overhaul, 90min understands.’

It really is conjecture but the theory is that Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan could both leave this summer to leave City with just Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne and Kalvin Phillips as midfield options. And the latter has not really been an option all season.

Competing with City for Rice will be Arsenal and Chelsea, while Liverpool still hold some interest despite their attentions being largely taken by Jude Bellingham. And Manchester United could still emerge as an option, though the signing of Casemiro has bought them time in that department.

READ: Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham ‘stars’ take pride of place in our 2022/23 Transfer Flops XI and Man United duo join Forest, Newcastle and Arsenal new boys in our Premier League Transfer Hits XI