Liverpool has its sights on Tottenham Hotspur’s central player, Lucas Bergvall, who joins Juventus’ Khéphren Thuram and Palmeiras’ Allan Elias on their list of targets. Concurrently, Manchester United appears set to permit €85 million wide player Jadon Sancho to depart without a transfer fee this summer.
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CURRENT SPECULATION
– Liverpool is weighing a bid for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall, according to TEAMtalk. Reports suggest the Reds have expressed their keenness for the 20-year-old, who is also being watched by Aston Villa, while Spurs are facing difficulties in the Premier League this season. Juventus central player Khéphren Thuram, 24, is another individual under consideration by Anfield’s recruitment team, but securing a deal might prove harder for him, as Juve plans to offer him a contract extension. Brazilian sources have similarly connected the club to a €35 million acquisition of Palmeiras’ Allan Elias, 21.
– Manchester United is prepared to part ways with winger Jadon Sancho without a fee when he returns from his temporary assignment at Aston Villa, says The Sun. The Old Trafford management has reportedly opted not to present a fresh contract to the 25-year-old with the aim of securing a subsequent transfer payment, but they cannot sustain such substantial salaries for an individual outside their strategic vision. Sancho inked a five-year agreement valued at £300,000-a-week when joining the Red Devils for a sum of €85 million from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, and has since been temporarily assigned to Dortmund, Chelsea, and now Villa. However, this season he has found it challenging to make a significant impression at Villa Park, having only netted one goal across 25 showings.
– Bayern Munich central player Leon Goretzka is making a move to Arsenal his top preference amid attention from numerous European teams. Bild reports that Bayer Leverkusen are the newest contender to enter the competition for the 31-year-old after making contact with his agents, but they might find it challenging to match his remuneration which is in excess of €10 million-per-season. Goretzka, who is also linked with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan, is set to become available for free upon the expiration of his agreement at the Allianz Arena in June.
– Real Madrid has secured a preliminary oral understanding to acquire Atlético Madrid C defender Aimar Garcia, reports AS. Garcia, 18, is expected to see his contract conclude in the summer, and has garnered the notice of Los Blancos head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Meanwhile, Nicolo Schira says that Madrid defenders Antonio Rüdiger, 32, and David Alaba, 33, are nearing their departure from the Bernabéu as unattached players at the end of their agreements in June. Current news items have connected Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté as a possible addition, with the 26-year-old accessible without a transfer fee in the summer.
– Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ciria is eager to bring Inter Miami attacking midfielder Lionel Messi back to the club as part of an aspirational strategy to secure Manchester City forward Erling Haaland. During an interview with Cadena SER, Ciria stated: “We know that Messi’s destiny is intertwined with Barcelona. Acquiring Haaland necessitates Messi’s return as a key collaborator.” Ciria is among four contenders, including current president Joan Laporta, vying to win the electoral contest on March 15, but aspirations of obtaining the 25-year-old Norway international might prove challenging after he signed an extension at the Etihad Stadium until 2034 in January 2025. Messi, 38, also recently inked a fresh agreement with Miami through 2028.
ANALYST’S PERSPECTIVE
ESPN’s Liverpool correspondent Beth Lindop examines the midfield situation.
Strengthening the central park this summer appears essential for Liverpool, especially given the ambiguity surrounding the long-term prospects of Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister.
Although Bergvall undeniably possesses skill, Arne Slot’s squad already features Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai proficient in that forward midfield role, so an acquisition of the Spurs player seems illogical.
Conversely, Liverpool will probably seek to recruit an individual capable of imparting robustness and strength to the middle of the park. Thuram had been associated with Liverpool in the summer of 2023, and both him and Allan align with the age demographic the club frequently aims for. This is certainly a development worth monitoring.
ADDITIONAL SPECULATION
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Nicol: Arsenal’s defending is no longer their strength
Steve Nicol suggests Arsenal’s defensive capabilities have shifted from their primary asset to their biggest vulnerability after conceding a two-goal advantage against Wolves.
– Manchester United management laments their choice to incorporate a €30 million clause when sanctioning the temporary transfer of forward Marcus Rashford to Barcelona, convinced they might have commanded a transfer sum in the vicinity of €60 million given his recent performance. (Daily Mirror)
– Chelsea striker Liam Delap is drawing attention from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton. (Caught Offside)
– Barcelona is at the forefront of the pursuit for Bournemouth central player Marcos Senesi. (TEAMtalk)
– Newcastle is prepared to separate from striker Nick Woltemade should their asking price be satisfied. (TalkSPORT)
– Columbus Crew are nearing an agreement for Lille central player Andre Gomes and have presented the 32-year-old with a 2½ year contract. (L’Equipe)
– Atletico Madrid intends to renew their bid for Atalanta central player Ederson in the summer. (Mundo Deportivo)
– AC Milan and Atalanta are interested in Juventus wide player Filip Kostic. (Corriere dello Sport)
– West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Lyon are monitoring Juventus defender Federico Gatti. (Nicolo Schira)
– Levante striker Karl Etta-Eyong is not keen on a transfer to CSKA Moscow even though the LaLiga club was presented with a €30 million proposal. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Multiple clubs have expressed an interest in Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez, who is no longer considered part of the club’s long-term strategy. (Nicolo Schira)
– Valencia are nearing a brief agreement to acquire Atletico Mineiro defender Renzo Saravia as an unattached player until June. (Cesar Luis Merlo)
– Qatar Stars League side Al Sailiya have joined Charlton Athletic in the competition for unattached forward Michail Antonio, who was let go by West Ham in August. (BBC)