Besiktas president Fikret Orman claimed yesterday the Turkish club were closing in on a deal for Mario Balotelli and the Liverpool striker was keen on the move. "Mario Balotelli is the type of footballer that our fans can associate themselves with," Orman told Turkish magazine Fanatik. "In short, we want Mario Balotelli and he wants us too." However, reports in Turkish newspaper Sabah claim the 25-year-old has now turned down a move to the Istanbul-based club. The report says Balotelli told his agent Mino Raiola to inform Besiktas of … [Read more...]

Liverpool have had a bid rejected for Portugal star Joao Mario earlier this summer, according to the player’s father. The 23-year-old impressed at Euro 2016 and helped Portugal win the tournament, making six starts in the competition, including the 1-0 final win over France. The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has been linked with a move after impressing in France, with Chelsea believed to be interested, but it now appears Jurgen Klopp tried to land the player, as well as Inter Milan. According to Portuguese paper Diario de Noticias, Mario … [Read more...]

With Liverpool keen to get Mario Balotelli off their books, Turkish champions Besiktas will look to secure the Italian on a loan deal. The 25-year-old forward is on the market as the Reds see no future for him at Anfield, and he is being lined up to replace Mario Gomez in Istanbul. The German’s own successful loan spell has ended and he has returned to Fiorentina . According to Fanatik, Balotelli’s wages, currently standing at around €5.5 million each year, are far too much for Besiktas to consider a permanent move for the former AC Milan … [Read more...]

Liverpool have made a proposal to sign Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle, yet Jurgen Klopp will have to fight his former club Borussia Dortmund for his signature. The 26-year-old, who admitted he is looking to leave Tyneside following his “10 out of 10” performance for France at Euro 2016 , has been valued at £35m , but according to Le 10 Sport the Magpies have yet to receive a bid of this kind. The Frenchman currently has two contract proposals to consider, with Klopp’s ex-club Borussia Dortmund also keen on landing the former Toulouse … [Read more...]

Joe Allen, 26, has put pen to paper on a five-year contract after the clubs agreed a fee which Press Association Sport understands is £13million. He has struggled for playing time under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, having been restricted to mainly Europa League appearances last season. But he was one of the stars of the Wales squad which reached the semi-finals at Euro 2016 earlier this summer. Stoke’s bid met Liverpool’s valuation of a player with less than 12 months remaining on his contract and means they recouped most of the £15million … [Read more...]

Stoke have completed the signing of midfielder Joe Allen from Liverpool on a five-year deal, the club has officially announced. The 26-year-old joins the Potters for a fee of £13million, and passed a medical on Monday in order to finalise his move. After impressing for Wales during Euro 2016 and making the Team of the Tournament, Allen was linked with a summer Anfield exit as his playing time would likely be limited. BREAKING | Stoke City are delighted to announce the signing of Joe Allen from @LFC on a 5-year deal #SCFC 8:00 PM - … [Read more...]

Celtic have completed the signing of former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure. Toure, 35, has signed a one-year deal and reunites with former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park. The centre-back, who played in Liverpool's Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May, was a free agent after the expiry of his contract at Anfield. Celtic delighted to sign Kolo Toure, https://t.co/V9KeK2nCDR (PV) pic.twitter.com/U9a7DZC0mR - Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) July 24, 2016 Rodgers told Celtic's … [Read more...]

Liverpool have accepted an offer from Bournemouth for defender Brad Smith, sources from both clubs revealed. Bournemouth have tabled a £6 million bid for Australia international Smith as they look to bolster their defensive options. Smith, who is currently away with Liverpool on their tour of America, is set to return to England to hold talks with the Cherries. The 22-year-old, a Liverpool academy graduate, almost left Anfield last summer when his contract expired before he finally agreed a new deal shortly after the arrival of Jurgen … [Read more...]

Crystal Palace remain in pole position to land Christian Benteke and are still hopeful of persuading Liverpool to lower their asking price, according to reports. The Croydon Advertiser says that the Eagles are still leading the chase for the Belgium international and remain hopeful of bartering down Liverpool’s asking price. Benteke scored 10 goals in 42 appearances for the Reds in a disappointing season for the striker and now finds himself behind Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings in the pecking order, while Roberto Firmino … [Read more...]

Swansea’s American investor Jason Levien has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen. Liverpool this week accepted a £13million bid from Stoke for the 26-year-old, but his former club could also feature prominently in the market. Levien and his fellow American Steve Kaplan head up the consortium that has taken a controlling interest in the Swans, sealing a reported £110million deal. And asked about Allen – a player sold by Swansea to Liverpool for £15million in 2012 – at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, … [Read more...]

Liverpool have signed midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum from Newcastle United in a £25million deal. The Netherlands international has signed a five-year contract, with Liverpool paying an initial £23m, with a further £2m in conditional add-ons. Wijnaldum will travel to California to join his new team-mates on their tour of the United States this weekend. The 25-year-old is manager Jurgen Klopp's seventh signing of the summer, following Loris Karius, Joel Matip, Marko Grujic, Sadio Mane, Ragnar Klavan and Alex Manninger to … [Read more...]

Claudio Ranieri has stated that defender Ben Chilwell is expected to sign a contract extension with Leicester City despite being linked with Liverpool. Liverpool have been chasing the England Under-21 international for some time now according to reports, but the 19-year-old has made a decision to stay with the Foxes. “He is very close [to signing a new deal] and he will stay with us,” Ranieri revealed at a news conference when asked about Chilwell’s future.” Chilwell was loaned out to Huddersfield in November 2015, and he impressed with … [Read more...]

Liverpool outcast Mario Balotelli could return to Italy this summer with reports from Italy suggesting Inter Milan are chasing the striker. Tuttosport report that Inter boss Roberto Mancini has informed the club’s CEO Michael Bolingbroke that he would not mind a reunion with the troublesome 25-year-old striker, who he has already worked with at Inter and Manchester City. Mancini believes he can help Balotelli to get back on track after the last two anonymous campaigns with Liverpool and AC Milan. The Italy international managed just one … [Read more...]

Georginio Wijnaldum will have a medical at Liverpool within the next 24 hours after they struck a deal with Newcastle for the midfielder. Sources say Liverpool will pay a maximum of £25million for the Holland international, taking into account various add-ons. It is believed Wijnaldum’s former club PSV Eindhoven are due a sell-on fee for a player who moved to St James’ Park a year ago for £14.5million. Manager Jurgen Klopp has been looking to strengthen his midfield options and turned his attention to Wijnaldum after giving up their … [Read more...]

Ragnar Klavan have joined Liverpool from Augsburg in a deal reportedly worth £4.2m. The experienced central defender has been brought in as cover at centre-back with both Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez currently ruled out due to injury. Tiago Ilori had been expected to provide initial cover for the start of the coming season but his inclusion in Portugal’s Olympics squad has forced Liverpool to bolster their defensive ranks with new-signing Klavan. The central defender enjoyed four seasons at Augsburg, after joining in 2012, and made 181 … [Read more...]