Liverpool delight as Man Utd drop out of race for Portugal star determined to leave current club
Liverpool have been handed a fantastic opportunity to sign a Primeira Liga star after Manchester United ended interest in him, Newcastle United are hoping to sign a second Italian following the arrival of Sandro Tonali and leave at Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk Chelsea are believed to be in pole position to sign a Barcelona-linked winger.
LIVERPOOL PASS MAN UTD BOOST
A report has suggested Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool could win the race for a Sporting Lisbon defender after Man Utd start pursuing other goals.
Liverpool are on the lookout for a new centre-back who can compete with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate for a starting spot at Anfield.
Klopp also has Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams and Joe Gomez in his squad. But Phillips has become a target for Leeds United, Williams is close to joining Aberdeen on loan and Gomez is unreliable due to his injury woes.
Also, Klopp may need a new centre-back soon to succeed Van Dijk and Matip. They are both 31 years old and at the end of their careers.
Liverpool would like to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig but he will be too expensive. Instead, Gvardiol could join Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s side have opened the tender for him.
With Gvardiol out of Liverpool’s reach, the Reds have started chasing Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio. He is a 21-year-old left-footed centre-back which means he has a similar profile to Gvardiol.
Both Liverpool and Man Utd have been tipped as offerings for Inacio this summer. And on June 12, the two Premier League giants were placed on red alert, according to a Portuguese source Oh Jogo revealed Inacio had “frozen” contract negotiations with Sporting.. He doesn’t want to sign a new contract with his current employer as he hopes to secure a big move before next season.
Spanish outlet AS I have given an update on the situation. They reveal that the Portugal international’s time at Sporting ‘seems to be coming to an end’ as interest in his services grows.
Man Utd decide against Goncalo Inacio signing
But what marks a big boost for Liverpool is that Man Utd are no longer eyeing him. This comes after the Red Devils targeted alternative defenders like Axel Disasi and Jean-Clair Todibo. Man Utd are also in advanced talks with Napoli over Kim Min-jae’s signing, although he is now more likely to join Bayern.
While Liverpool don’t have to fight Man Utd over Inacio, they do have some rivals in the transfer hunt. AS State that Newcastle and Arsenal are also interested in him.
Newcastle in particular could potentially put Liverpool in trouble due to their massive purchasing power. However, Liverpool fans should have faith that their side will win the race for stardom.
Finally, of these three sides, Liverpool have the greatest need for a new centre-back. And that will likely see them scrambling to strike a deal with Sporting as best they can.
The Portuguese club have decided to sell Inacio pending a €45m (£39m) offer for him. And Sporting wants that fee to be paid immediately and in full, rather than in installments.
NEWCASTLE EYE EXPERIENCED SERIES A STAR
Newcastle are hoping to follow Sandro Tonali’s signing by signing Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. The right-back was part of the Italy team that won Euro 2020. (Spazio Napoli)
Marseille are keen to sign Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun. They want him to form an attacking partnership with former Gunners ace Alexis Sanchez. (L’Equipe)
Freiburg have joined Everton in the race for Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto. The 19-year-old could leave Elland Road after Leeds are relegated from the Premier League. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Leipzig are close to loaning Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho. The German club tried to include a purchase option in the deal but Liverpool refused. (Picture)
Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana could become a Man Utd player as early as this week if talks between the two clubs go smoothly. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
CHELSEA LEADS BARCELONA IN BRAZILIAN HUNT
Chelsea are front runners in signing 18-year-old Santos winger Angelo Gabriel, even if Barcelona initially have to turn the player down. (Sports)
Al Hilal are trying to convince Italy midfielder Marco Verratti to swap Paris Saint-Germain for the Saudi Pro League. (L’Equipe)
Tottenham have reached an agreement with Leicester to transfer creative midfielder James Maddison. Tottenham are set to pay £40m for him. (Fabrizio Romano)
Leipzig have decided to let attacker Dominik Szoboszlai go this summer, but only if their main contender Newcastle pay €70m (£60m) for him. (Picture)
West Ham have sent Juventus their opening proposal for Denis Zakaria, who was on loan at Chelsea last season. However, the €20m (£17m) asking price from Juve was not met. (Tutto Juventus)
TOTTENHAM PUT A RIDICULOUSLY LOW OFFER FOR THE DEFENDER
Spurs have offered Barca just €5m (£4.3m) for centre-back Clement Lenglet, who spent last season on loan at the north London club. But Barca have informed them that the Frenchman will cost €10m (£8.6m). (Mundo Deportivo)
Man Utd will most likely step in for either Rasmus Hojlund or Randal Kolo Muani if Harry Kane goes through with his proposed transfer to Bayern. (Fabrizio Romano)
Milan are in the process of inking a deal with Chelsea for midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while the two clubs are also discussing Christian Pulisic’s potential move to Italy. (Corriere dello Sport)
Real Madrid are offering Fenerbahce a chance to loan prodigy Arda Guler back on loan next season if the Spanish giants are allowed to sign him on a permanent basis this summer. (AS)
The Austrian club Sturm Graz “wish” the signing of Brighton goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Vitesse in the Netherlands. (Small newspaper)
Burnley have bid €12m (£10m) for Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx. He is a two-time Belgium international who was on loan at Milan last season. (L’Equipe)