Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool near huge swoop for Lille ace with unhappy star the bait; Leeds eye €40m Brazilian in Raphinha tandem
Michael Edwards will address a huge Liverpool weakness with talks underway to sign a €40m Lille star, Arsenal are in talks to sell three players, while Thursday’s Euro Paper Talk claims Leeds are intensifying their bid to sign a €40m Brazilian forward.
JONATHAN IKONE WANTED AT LIVERPOOL
Liverpool are reported to be in talks with Lille winger Jonathan Ikone, with the Reds having submitted an offer worth around €40m.
Jurgen Klopp and Co are already working on revitalising their squad after their difficult title defence. At one point they slipped as low as seventh, before a late revival saw them finish in third.
And that securing of a Champions League place for next season is likely to prove crucial in their plans to freshen up their squad.
One area sporting director Michael Edwards wants to improve on is on their goals from midfield.
And now according to reports, Edwards has turned his attention towards Ikone to fill that need. The 23-year-old weighed in with seven goals and seven assists this season as Lille pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 title.
Ikone is viewed as a player having the right profile for Liverpool and is able to play on the right wing or in a more central attacking midfield role.
Furthermore, Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida claims Liverpool’s opening offer is worth ‘€25m plus Xherdan Shaqiri’.
The Swiss star is one of 12 names likely to leave Anfield this summer in a wholesale clearout. Liverpool reportedly value him at between €12m – €15m.
Liverpool are not alone in their admiration for Ikone, however. Reports earlier this week claimed he’s also a target for Borussia Dortmund as a potential replacement for Jadon Sancho.
LEEDS STEP UP HUNT FOR CUNHA
Leeds are intensifying their efforts to sign Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha – but have been told Hertha Berlin want €40m. (Kicker)
Borussia Dortmund are targeting a double raid on Chelsea for Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi. (90mins)
Atletico Madrid are in discussions with Juventus over a potential swap deal involving Paulo Dybala and Angel Correa. (Cadena SER)
Jose Mourinho is plotting an exciting move to bring Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard to Roma this summer. (Todofijaches)
Arsenal defender William Saliba is a surprise transfer target for Bayer Leverkusen this summer. (Kicker)
ROMA REJECT MATIC TRANSFER CHANCE
Roma have turned down the chance to sign Nemanja Matic this summer with the Man Utd star’s wage demands too high. (Tuttomercatoweb)
Ibrahima Konate has already passed his medical and will sign a five-year deal at Liverpool this summer. (Bild)
Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is in demand with Stuttgart and Lazio chasing him this summer. (Kicker)
Manchester City are steaming ahead of the competition to sign Nuno Mendes in a €60m deal from Sporting Lisbon. (A Bola)
Real Madrid will move for Erling Haaland – but not until 2022 when his €75m exit clause at Borussia Dortmund kicks in. (AS)
Jerome Boateng is not interested in a move to MLS when his Bayern Munich contract ends as he wants to continue playing in Europe. (Goal)
MARSEILLE PUSHING TO SIGN GUENDOUZI
Marseille are pushing ahead with plans to sign Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi this summer. (La Province)
Leeds are reported to have contacted Cagliari over a deal for midfielder Nahitan Nandez, who has a €36m exit clause in his deal. (Calciomercato)
Juventus will try and sell Wojciech Szczesny before they make their planned approach for Gianluigi Donnarumma. (Tuttosport)
Olivier Giroud has agreed a two-year deal to join AC Milan as a free agent this summer after leaving Chelsea. (Calciomercato)
Juventus and Inter Milan will embark in a two-way fight over Massimiliano Allegri, with the pair seeking new managers. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
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AND MORE FROM EURO PAPER TALK
Napoli are open to selling Lorenzo Insigne this summer, with their captain’s contract expiring in June 2022. (Tuttomercatoweb)
Real Madrid are undecided on whether to keep Martin Odegaard, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Arsenal. (AS)
Trabzonspor have officially signed Parma striker Gervinho and Roma full-back Bruno Peres, both of whom were free agents. (various)
Benfica are interested in signing former Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon, 43, when his Juventus contract ends this summer. (A Bola)
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