Transfer Gossip: Liverpool plan devastating £40m raid on Man City as Klopp draws up nine-man wishlist; one deal on, one deal off for Man Utd
Kalvin Phillips and Sofyan Amrabat are Liverpool targets
Liverpool have drawn up a nine-man wanted list with a shock raid on Man City gathering pace, Man Utd are close to the sale of a midfielder, though another exit has been ruled out, while Saturday’s Transfer Gossip claims Newcastle are close to sign two deals worth a combined £78m.
KLOPP HAS NINE-MAN LIVERPOOL WISHLIST WITH KALVIN PHILLIPS EYED
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly working on a long-list of nine midfield targets as a double Anfield exit draws closer.
The Merseysiders were already planning midfield reinforcements this summer with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving on free transfers at the end of their contracts.
And when loanee Arthur Melo also returned to Juventus, Liverpool found themselves four bodies light in the engine room this summer.
And while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived to the combined cost of £95m, the imminent exits of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson still leaves Liverpool with work to do.
The Reds stalwarts are both on the verge of leaving for Saudi Arabia. Brazilian Fabinho is a £40m target for Al-Ittihad; Henderson, meanwhile, is closing on a switch to Al-Ettifaq on wages of £700,000 a week. Linking up with Steven Gerrard, the 33-year-old’s sale will net the Reds another £12m.
As a result of their departures, Klopp reportedly wants at least three more midfield additions.
And according to The Sun, Klopp now has a nine-man list of targets he is chasing.
That list is reportedly topped by a new name in Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The England star moved to the Etihad last summer in a deal worth £42m from Leeds. However, the 27-year-old failed to settle, making just two starts in the Premier League.
Now it’s claimed the Reds could look to swoop in and offer City their money back for Philips.
And another name who figures highly in their thinking is Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan has been cleared to leave Fiorentina with just a year left on his deal. To that end, a fee in the region of €35m (£30m) is likely to be enough.
Liverpool chasing Lavia, Gravenberch and Doucoure
Klopp’s interest in signing Romeo Lavia and Ryan Gravenberch is well documented.
Southampton are demanding a fee of around £50m for Belgian teenager Lavia; a price Liverpool fee is a little too high.
However, Klopp is a huge admirer of the star, who does not look likely to hang around in the Championship.
Gravenberch, meanwhile, is unhappy with his prospects at Bayern Munich after struggling in Germany. Also moving last summer, he only managed 561 minutes of Bundesliga football, losing his place in the Netherlands squad as a result.
With the 2024 European Championships next summer, the 21-year-old knows he needs a move to stand a chance of making the Oranje squad.
Cheick Doucoure is another player who won’t come cheap. After signing for Palace last summer, the Mali international was crowned the Eagles Player of the Year and is now rated at £70m.
Fulham’s Joao Palhinha is another player Klopp admires, though again a sizeable asking price of £75m could scupper that move.
Klopp is also reportedly looking into a possible move for Aurelien Tchouameni following suggestions he could leave for £85m. Klopp tried to buy the Frenchman last summer before his move to Real Madrid.
The list is completed by Ligue 1-based duo Khephren Thuram, of Nice and PSG star Marco Verratti.
Deals for either would likely set the Reds back £40m apiece.
READ MORE: The 69 midfielders Liverpool have been linked with in the transfer gossip columns this summer
CHARLIE SAVAGE CLOSING ON MAN UTD EXIT
Manchester United midfielder Charlie Savage is closing on a move to League One side Reading.
The 20-year-old – who is the son of former Wales midfielder Robbie – spent time with Forest Green Rovers last season.
And now, after getting a taste for regular football, Savage is looking to move on.
He has now been given permission to discuss personal terms with the Royals, after they agreed on a fee with Manchester United.
And they appear to have beaten several clubs to his services with Portsmouth, Rotherham and Cardiff also reportedly keen, reports The Sun.
However, he has chosen to move to Reading after talks with his father.
Savage jnr joined United’s academy as a youngster and rose through the ranks to sign a pro deal in April 2021. He went on to make one appearance for the club, in the Europa League clash against Young Boys, in which his father was co-commentating on.
But after 15 appearances for Forest Green, Savage has now decided to move on, with United not figuring in Erik ten Hag’s immediate plans.
However, with that deal on the brink of being finalised, one player who seemingly does not want to leave Old Trafford just yet is Anthony Elanga.
The Sweden winger has made 55 appearances for United since debuting in the 2020/21 season, scoring four goals.
However, with Everton keen on his services, the Toffees have had an offer, reportedly in the region of £14m, accepted.
The 21-year-old though has decided to reject the approach from Sean Dyche’s side as he still feels he can make it at Old Trafford.
He is behind Antony, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho as wing options at the club.
However, after making the cut for their tour of the USA, Elanga is not willing to leave Man Utd just yet.
NEWCASTLE ON BRINK OF EXCITING DOUBLE DEAL
Newcastle are closing on their next two signings of the summer – and hope to seal deals for the pair in the next week.
The Magpies have moved to bring in Sandro Tonali so far from AC Milan in a €70m (£60m) deal. They have also signed Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, though he is billed as one for the future.
Now Toon boss Eddie Howe hopes a deal for Southampton’s Tino Livramento will go through shortly.
The two clubs have been in talks for some time now over a potential deal.
Southampton, though, have illustrated they won’t be bullied in the transfer market following relegation, slapping a £40m fee on his head.
Indeed, new Saints boss Russell Martin has been using the right-back in a midfield role so far this pre-season. Martin has also made clear his wish to keep the star, and in explaining his new, more advanced role, he said: “It’s just about his [Livramento’s] understanding of where he needs to be on the pitch for us and why.
“He won’t do it in every single game, there will be variants and different details. I think he is getting used to it though and I think he enjoys how much of the ball he gets, he will create a lot for us from there.
“He will still be able to get on the outside and do what he has done best, he is a really exciting player to work with, a real talent and I’m enjoying working with him. Hopefully, it will stay that way.”
Newcastle to also seal Harvey Barnes deal
However, a deal is expected to soon go through, with Newcastle paying £40m and seriously strengthening their right-hand side.
They already have Kieran Trippier as an option there, though the signing of England U21 star Livramento will likely mean Javier Manquillo will be allowed to depart.
Newcastle also hope to secure the signing of another relegated Premier League man in Harvey Barnes.
The winger scored 13 times in 40 appearances for Leicester last season as they were relegated to the Championship.
Now it’s reported that a £38m fee has been struck for his services with a deal to go through in the coming days.
Barnes is seen by Howe as an upgrade for the hugely-popular Allan Saint-Maximin. Once Newcastle’s most important player, the Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order and will be allowed to leave. A £40m price has been stuck on his head amid claims he’s wanted in Saudi Arabia.
READ MORE: Newcastle set to sell ‘difference-maker’ to Saudi club; Magpies close to signing £38m replacement
