Gossip: City eye £74m defender, Chelsea to move for Liverpool target

CITY TO GO BACK FOR INTER STAR
Manchester City’s need for a new centre-back could not be more dire. For reasons known only to Pep Guardiola, they went into the season with only three including John Stones, who the City boss wouldn’t trust to fetch his slippers.
City have been keen on Milan Skriniar in the past, with some reports suggesting they have previously had an offer of £65million turned down by Inter Milan. But Calciomercato reckons the shambles in the defence has reinforced City’s resolve to go back for the Slovakia star.
Inter aren’t keen on letting Skriniar leave but apparently they value the 25-year-old around the £74million mark. Having seen the difference Virgil van Dijk and Harry Maguire have made to Liverpool and Manchester United, it seems City are now more willing to spend big on a centre-back, rather than chucking all their money at full-backs.
ARSENAL TO FUND KOKCU MOVE WITH SALES
Arsenal’s interest in Orkun Kokcu has been widely reported and this morning brings news that Mikel Arteta wants a deal done quickly to avoid the secret around the Turkey playmaker getting out at the Euros.
Right now, it seems Feyenoord would accept around £23million for Kokcu but the Daily Mail has suggested even that sum could be too much for the Gunners. So Arteta will have a clear-out to raise the required funds.
Mesut Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi and Sokratis are apparently the trio most at risk. Arsenal would have shifted Ozil at any time over the last 18 months if anyone was daft enough to pay his wages, while Sokratis has spoken this week of his willingness to quit the Emirates for a regular game.
CHELSEA TO MOVE FOR LIVERPOOL TARGET
Another Turkey prospect has been attracting Premier League interest of late. Ugurgan Cakir has been chased by Liverpool as they look for reliable cover for Alisson but the Reds have been unable to agree a deal with Trabzonspor.
Reports in Turkey from Fotospor suggest Chelsea might be willing to have go, and the Blues have a mole in the Trazonspor camp in the shape of assistant manager Eddie Newton.
Apparently, the former Chelsea midfielder has been ‘constantly’ keeping his former club informed of Cakir’s progress. Frank Lampard is looking for a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cakir could represent a cut-price option, though Trabzonspor are hoping the keeper’s value could increase with an impressive showing at the Euros.
AND THE REST
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to sign a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Everton… The Toffees are in talks to sign Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes and they are keen on Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard… Arsenal are eyeing Gent forward Jonathan David as a potential replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang… Tottenham will offer Oliver Skipp a new contract… Leicester are chasing Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson.
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