Liverpool’s bid to sign 25% of the world’s midfielders continues apace and the latest to come into the crosshairs – for a second time we think, it’s hard to keep track – is Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde. Perhaps miffed by losing out on Jude Bellingham, the Reds seemed determined to land one of Madrid’s other central players as revenge and have already been sniffing around Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni this summer.
Jürgen Klopp has now turned his attention to Uruguay’s Valverde, and reports in Spain have come up with £77m from their random transfer figure number generator. Watch this space, and then watch other spaces as Liverpool turn next to Roméo Lavia from Southampton and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch.
To make room for all these incomings to the Anfield engine room, frivolous speculation is required on those exiting the exit door and Saudi Arabia now provides the perfect vehicle for such idle gossip. A 32-year-old with a history of injury trouble looks ripe for that so (carefully) step forward Thiago Alcântara. Something something about him removing “Liverpool” from his bio on some social media page somewhere is apparently indisputable evidence that the Spaniard’s time on Merseyside is over.
Steven Gerrard is on the lookout for players people have heard of after going through his squad list at Al-Ettifaq and not having a scooby. Makes sense then to believe that his old mate Jordan Henderson could head to Saudi and help sort that rabble out. As could another Gerard bestie, Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho. Perhaps Gerrard will just reform Liverpool’s 2013-14 near-miss title squad and also give Jon Flanagan and Martin Skrtel a bell.
One former target who definitely won’t be starting in Liverpool’s eight-man midfield next season is Mason Mount. The England man has issued a hostage-style video on social media, revealing his release from Chelsea to join Manchester United. Conspiracy theorists have noted that he has blond hair in the video and yet was spotted arriving at Manchester United’s training ground, Carrington, this week with brown locks. Just when was this video made? Where is he being held?
United’s goalkeeping saga can at least deflect some of the attention away from Mount and Hair-gate. With David de Gea on his way, André Onana is still rumoured to be Erik ten Hag’s favourite No 1 but Inter are holding out for £50m. Entering the fray as a cheaper option is Brighton’s Robert Sánchez, who lost his place to Jason Steele at the end of last season after reportedly falling out with Roberto De Zerbi. Sánchez is far better with his feet than De Gea, but then again, so are most penguins.
Scott McTominay could have the Manchester-Brighton portion of Sánchez’s train ticket. Mount’s arrival could limit the Scottish midfielder’s opportunities although a more like-for-like rival for McTominay’s position is Sofyan Amrabat. Ten Hag is a big fan of the Moroccan, who helped them reach the last four of the World Cup. Excitement levels among United transfer junkies have risen after the Fiorentina chief executive, Giuseppe Barone, said the Italian club would listen to offers.
Heading to Arsenal, and the Gunners have finalised terms over their whopping £105m deal for West Ham’s Declan Rice. That gets the revolving door spinning and paves the way for Granit Xhaka’s £21.5m move to Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal are also hoping a move for Ajax’s Jurrien Timber will fall their way. The Dutch defender could be on the move for £40m. West Ham need to fill that Rice-shaped hole so let’s toss out these names: Fulham’s João Palhinha, Juventus’s Denis Zakaria, Everton’s Amadou Onana and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.
And, finally, what’s going on at Newcastle? Lots of exciting moves for fancy attackers? Well, not quite. Eddie Howe is looking at central defenders, in particular Crystal Palace ones, and has reportedly been quoted £60m for Marc Guéhi and £20m for Joachim Andersen.
