Gossip: Liverpool somehow still want Ten Hag’s £33.4m ‘idiot’

Editor F365
Kylian Mbappe and Antony

Barcelona are making waves ahead of this summer when it comes to Kylian Mbappe and Philippe Coutinho. But Liverpool provide some competition.

 

ANT COLONY
It was suggested earlier this week that Ajax forward Antony had jeopardised his chances of joining Liverpool or Manchester City by daring to celebrate “like an idiot”. Which in this particular case was to was remove his shirt and stand on top of an advertising board after scoring a late and crucial winner against Feyenoord.

Yet Liverpool remain in the conversation when it comes to the Brazilian forward, presumably concluding that Mo Salah has quite a penchant for whipping his top off to commemorate goals. UOL claim he could soon be doing that for the Reds, who are one of three Premier League clubs tracking Antony.

Bayern Munich are also monitoring the 22-year-old, helping provide ‘fierce competition’ for apparent favourites Barcelona when it comes to the £33.4m-rated attacker.

 

KYL SWITCH
That whole cash-flow problem does seem to be clearing up at Barcelona, considering they have emerged as ‘a third thief’ in the race to sign that Kylian Mbappe fella. French newspaper L’Equipe say PSG have ‘been informed’ of Catalan interest to rival that of Real Madrid.

It seems that the oft-mocked stadium sponsorship deal with Spotify and a loan from Goldman Sachs has swelled the club coffers enough to contemplate a move for Mbappe.

In fact, Barcelona deem that a more long-term cost-efficient move than the one they had planned for Erling Haaland. They acknowledge that Real might be established favourites but feel that if they can arrange a meeting between Mbappe and manager Xavi, the Frenchman can be convinced.

 

IN FOR THE PHIL
There remains a strange clamour for Arsenal to sign Philippe Coutinho, despite things going rather well in north London and the Aston Villa loanee filling a gap that doesn’t really exist in Mikel Arteta’s team. But Mundo Deportivo plough ahead with the idea that the Brazilian has ‘aroused’ the Gunners.

Arsenal have even been in touch to explore the possibility of a move this summer. But Coutinho’s short-term focus remains on Villa and reinforcing his place in the Brazil squad for this winter’s World Cup.

Any decision on his future will be made at the end of the season. Coutinho and his family are ‘comfortable’ in Birmingham yet they do like London and that could sway him towards Arsenal. But again, it doesn’t particularly feel as though they need him. That money could surely be invested more suitably.