TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip coming out of the Premier League and more.
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip
Friday 19, October
Liverpool want upwards of £20million for Divock Origi
Maurizio Sarri is ready to sell Alvaro Morata in January
The Italian wants to replace him with Paulo Dybala
Real Madrid are biding their time with PSG star Neymar
Ibra set to stay in LA
Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits he’s unlikely to return to Europe despite links to a shock Manchester United return.
He said: “I think I’m in a situation where I need to have a good balance between work and rest.
“Because I came back from injury and because of my age and the load I’m putting in during training.
“It’s not what I have been thinking about because we still have two games, hopefully we make the play-offs.
“Any more on that I don’t know what to say because I haven’t focused on that, I haven’t put any thought on it.”
Barcelona target Ivanovic
Barcelona want to sign former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, Mundo Deportivo claim.
Ivanovic, 34, left Chelsea for Zenit in 2017 but may be close to a move to Spain.
Mundo Deportivo claim the right-back is on Barcelona’s radar as manager Ernesto Valverde seeks defensive recruits in January.
Bilbao’s Unai Nunez and Djene Dakonam of Getafe are also supposedly on Barca’s radar.
Hazard boost
Chelsea have been handed a boost with Eden Hazard stating he is happy at the club despite links with Real Madrid.
“I can finish with Chelsea,” the Belgian said.
“No problem at all. I am very happy with this club, with the team, my family is happy here.
“So if I don’t go to Spain, it is not a problem.
“I love the fans – I think the fans love me!
“What happens in the future, I will be happy, so that’s it.”
Liverpool set Divock Origi fee
Liverpool want upwards of £20million for Divock Origi.
That’s according to the Liverpool Echo, who claim Jurgen Klopp is ready to sell the Belgian international.
Origi, 23, hasn’t played a minute of competitive action for the Reds since returning from a loan spell at Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
And Liverpool have made the decision to sell.
Everton, Borussia Dortmund, Wolves and Galatasaray have all been linked with the striker – but it’s unclear whether the quartet would be willing to meet his hefty valuation.
Steven Bergwijn fee
PSV Eindhoven are prepared to sell winger Steven Bergwijn for a bargain fee.
Thats according to Italian website Calciomercato via De Telegraaf, who say Steven Bergwijn is available for £17.5million.
Bergwijn, 21, made his senior debut for Ronald Koeman’s Holland during their 3-0 Nations League victory over Germany last Saturday.
And four goals in ten appearances for the Eredivisie champions has seen a host of European heavyweights linked with his services.
Calciomercato claim Premier League duo Manchester United and Liverpool are monitoring Bergwijn, along with Inter Milan, Torino and Bordeaux.
The Sun also report that United and Liverpool both sent scouts to watch Bergwijn during PSV’s Champions League loss to Inter Milan earlier this month.
Wanted: Gary Cahill
Galatasaray are considering an approach for Chelsea defender Gary Cahill.
That’s according to Turkish-Football, who claim Galatasaray have made Cahill their number one target and will look to sign him in January.
Cahill, 32, has won six trophies during his 285 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
However, It looks like defender’s time in West London is coming to an end having made just three appearances in all competitions under Maurizio Sarri.
In September, Cahill said: “I realise that sometimes you have to make tough decisions and football doesn’t wait for people.
“I don’t want to jump the gun but as things stand at this time, probably, yes [I might have to leave in January]. Whatever my future holds, in terms of the club, it will have been a huge part of my footballing life. I’ve got maximum respect for everybody here.”
Neymar prefers Barcelona over Real Madrid
Neymar would prefer to leave PSG for Barcelona instead of Real Madrid, says a former star of the Catalan giants Juliano Belletti.
Neymar has been tipped to leave PSG with La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid both likely to battle for his signature.
But Belletti thinks Los Blancos are wasting their time.
“I think if Neymar returned to Spain, he would do it with Barca,” Belletti said. “I do not think he’s been in Paris for many years, but I do not think he’s going to Real Madrid.
“The relationship of Barca with the Brazilian players is incredible.”
Pogba to Barcelona latest
Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique are ready to back the club’s efforts to sign Paul Pogba.
Spanish newspaper SPORT claim the influential Barcelona duo are convinced Pogba would impress at the Nou Camp.
Manchester United don’t want to sell their £89m record signing even though Pogba has run hot and cold since his transfer in 2016.
It is claimed French duo Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele also want Pogba to join them in Catalonia.
Neymar decision…
Neymar is desperate to leave PSG and would be happy at Real Madrid OR Barcelona.
That’s according to Esporte Interativo journalist Marcelo Bechler who reckons the Brazilian superstar is ready to pack his bags.
Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo reported earlier this week that Neymar has an agreement with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to leave the club this summer for €220m (£193m).
Neymar, 26, joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for £200m.
However, he’s repeatedly been linked with a move to Real amid rumours that he’s unhappy in the French capital.
It’s been claimed Barcelona are also exploring ways to bring him back. Bechler claims Neymar isn’t bothered about who he joins – he just wants out of PSG.
The influential ace has reportedly struggled to get used to the weather, culture and food.
He’s also been frustrated by Kylian Mbappe’s meteoric rise from relative unknown to global superstar.
Chelsea have four targets
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is ready to sell Alvaro Morata in January.
And the boss has four targets on his radar to replace the faltering Spaniard.
The Sun claim Sarri wants Milan’s Gonzalo Higuain or Juventus striker Paulo Dybala.
It is claim RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Patrick Cutrone of Milan are also being eyed by Sarri.
Romelu Lukaku blasted
Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has hit out at Romelu Lukaku after the forward hinted he could leave for Italy.
Lukaku said in the week that a move to Serie A could tempt him.
Pallister said: “I’ve not heard that Lukaku story regarding Juventus but I think it’s disrespectful at times if you start mentioning other clubs when you’re actually contracted to the club you’re at.
“If it’s in your mind I’ve got no problem with that but to put it in print I’ve got a problem with that. At a time when a club is under real pressure to have their leading goal-scorer say he’d like to move abroad – if that’s what he has done – is not the ideal scenario.”
Leeds transfer revelation
Roque Junior has explained he decided to join Leeds United from Champions League winners AC Milan in 2003 because he could not get back into the Milan side.
Junior became synonymous with Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League, with his loan move proving a disaster.
“Maybe I could have stayed a little longer in Italy, but they are decisions that are taken in life,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I had already been a world champion and I had won the Champions League. At Milan there was a lot of rotation, I could not always play (so I went to Leeds).”
Real Madrid waiting game
Real Madrid are biding their time with Neymar ahead of a move this summer.
Ok Diario claim Real have reacted to news Neymar is open to re-joining Barcelona by keeping calm.
The Bernabeu club’s hierarchy still reckon they’re in the clear to swoop for Neymar at the end of the season.
Neymar is supposedly dispirited at PSG, who are walking away with the Ligue 1 title this season.
Lionel Messi wants Paul Pogba
Lionel Messi is among a cluster of Barcelona stars requesting the club to complete a deal for Manchester United star Paul Pogba.
Barcelona are one of a number of clubs who have been linked for the World Cup winner, who joined United from Juventus in the summer of 2016.
And now according to the Daily Mail, there is a greater clamour for Pogba to head to the Nou Camp.
The report suggests Messi and Pique would like to see Pogba link up with them as the midfielder’s power and presence would provide a different dimension to the La Liga giants.
While it is believed Ernesto Valverde is also eager for a deal to take place, Barca scouts have some reservations and worry whether Pogba would be able to adapt to their tika-taka model.
It is also suggested that United hope to recoup as much as £89million they paid to bring him to Old Trafford.
Contract claim
Luke Shaw signed a new contract with the club because he knows Jose Mourinho will not be there much longer, says ESPN FC pundit Steve Nicol.
Mourinho’s long-term future at the club is in doubt because of the poor start and Nicol believes that played a part in why Shaw committed the next five years to the Red Devils.
“There were occasions when I thought he’d be better just leaving,” Nicol said of Shaw. “I would however suggest that it’s maybe something to do with the situation with Mourinho right now.
“I’m pretty sure Mourinho’s not going to be at Manchester United for too much longer.
“Whether it’s the rest of this season or maybe even another one, it isn’t going any longer than that.
“So Luke Shaw knows number one he has to keep performing on the field.
“And he also knows that Mourinho’s not going to be around to jump on him at every occasion when he thinks he should.”
Scholes was wrong… but I get it
Paul Scholes is wrong to say even Lionel Messi would not improve the current Red Devils team, claims ESPN FC pundit Alejandro Moreno.
In an interview with ESPN earlier this week, Scholes claimed Barcelona superstar Messi, who is regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time, would struggle to make an impact if he joined United.
“It feels like every player who comes into the team struggles,” Scholes said. “I feel like we could sign Lionel Messi at the moment and he’d struggle in this team.”
But former Major League Soccer star Moreno disagrees and says Messi would improve any side in the world.
“Yes (Scholes is wrong). Big picture, yes,” Moreno said. “Lionel Messi could improve any team in the world.
“But I get what he’s trying to get to. I understand his message and it’s really that Manchester United are struggling all over the place.
“It’s more than just about one player, it’s more than just about one guy coming in and saving the world. Big picture, I understand what he’s saying.”
Source:www.express.co.uk