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Klopp happy with Liverpool squad at his disposal as he hints on more signings

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can challenge at the top of the Premier League this season regardless of whether they lure 'big name' signings to Anfield . Klopp has recruited four players so far – and at least three more are expected soon – but the most renowned target, Mario Gotze, eluded him . The German international’s refusal to commit prior to the European Championships snapped Klopp’s patience Klopp felt Liverpool were being used by Gotze as a back-up option so withdraw his offer to his former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who is now … [Read more...]

Markovic set to leave Liverpool as Klopp continues cut down

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic is expected to be another victim of Jurgen Klopp’s squad trimming, according to a report. The 22-year-old was hoping to get a chance to impress Klopp in pre-season and the coach had hinted that would be the case, but the lack of European football at Anfield means Klopp has been told to trim his squad. Goal claim there have been enquiries from clubs in Spain and Italy for Markovic, but Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon are leading the chase for the player, who spent last season on loan at … [Read more...]

Chelsea sign N’Golo Kante for £30m from Leicester

Leicester midfielder N’Golo Kante is reported to have undergone a medical at Chelsea, with a £30million transfer expected to be completed over the weekend. Numerous reports on Friday evening claimed Chelsea had agreed a deal with Leicester, despite the champions’ best efforts to keep the France workhorse at the King Power Stadium. Kante is understood to have passed a medical at Chelsea’s Cobham base on Friday, with confirmation of the transfer likely to come in the next 48 hours. Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri said earlier this week … [Read more...]

Juventus join race for Napoli striker

An Argentine striking partnership could be about to form at the Juventus Stadium as the Old Lady weigh up a mega move for Gonzalo Higuain. Interest in Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain continues to grow as Juventus have now joined the race, with the Bianconeri reportedly willing to meet his release clause. After the departure of Alvaro Morata earlier in the summer to Real Madrid, the Old Lady are in the market for a replacement and they don’t get much better than last season’s Serie A top goalscorer. Juventus director Beppe Marotta is … [Read more...]

Arda Turan to stay at Barcelona despite interest from Arsenal and Chelsea

Arda Turan is determined to remain at Barcelona this summer and fight for his place, despite heavy interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, according to the player’s agent. It was reported earlier this week that Barcelona would be willing to let Turan leave for £23million after a disappointing first season at the Catalan giants. The Turkey midfielder was unable to play for the first half of the season because of Barcelona’s transfer embargo and when finally eligible, he featured for only 810 minutes in the league, scoring two goals and providing … [Read more...]

Joel Matip: I joined Liverpool to compete with the best

Joel Matip ready to prove his worth at Liverpool and says he came to England to test himself against the very best in the league. Liverpool defender Joel Matip is confident he will prove he is capable of competing against the best in the Premier League. Matip, 24, signed for Jurgen Klopp's men in February before officially joining the club at the start of the month. The former Schalke centre-back and 27-time Cameroon international feels he is ready to show he belongs at the Anfield club and in England's top flight. "That's why I came … [Read more...]

Manchester City to negotiate Leroy Sane’s deal

Manchester City have balked at Schalke’s £42 million starting valuation of Leroy Sane but hope to reach a compromise with the German club after the attacking midfielder signalled his desire to move to the Etihad Stadium. Sane is ready to sign the offer of a four-year contract with City but negotiations over a fee for the highly-regarded 20-year-old are proving difficult with Schalke asking for €50 million (£41.7 million) with further performance related payments to follow. Although Pep Guardiola has pinpointed City’s defence as the main … [Read more...]

Guardiola wants Kimmich reunion at City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly weighing up a move for Bayern Munich and Germany defender Joshua Kimmich. City are considering making a £20m bid for the Bayern right-back who also excels as a defensive midfielder, but he is highly rated in Bavaria and the German champions are unlikely to want to lose one of their young stars. It was Guardiola who signed Kimmich for Bayern in January 2015 for £6m from RB Leipzig and he regularly featured last season, making 36 appearances in all competitions as Bayern won their fourth … [Read more...]

Kante to decide future- Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri remains hopeful Leicester City can hold on to N'Golo Kante, but has admitted it's up to the midfielder to make a decision. Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has stressed N'Golo Kante's future is "in his own hands" amid reports claiming Real Madrid and Chelsea are keen to sign him. The holding midfielder was a key figure in Leicester winning the Premier League title in 2015-16 and his performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere. Madrid and Chelsea are believed to be interested in luring Kante away from Leicester, … [Read more...]

Martin Skrtel seals Fenerbahce move

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel will be presented as a Fenerbahce player on Friday, the Turkish side have confirmed. The centre-back had a medical on Wednesday ahead of his transfer, which is believed to be in the region of £5 million before the Turkish Super Lig runners-up welcomed his arrival in a short statement on Thursday. Skrtel departs Anfield after 320 appearances and eight-and-a-half seasons of service, having joined from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2008. The 31-year-old struggled to convince Liverpool manager Jurgen … [Read more...]

Chelsea set to Hijack Joao Mario move

Euro 2016 winner Joao Mario looked set to join the Biscione but now the Premier League side lead the race due to being able to offer the Portuguese club more money . After helping Portugal to Euro 2016 triumph, Joao Mario could be set for a move to Chelsea after the Premier League club moved ahead of Inter in the race to sign the Sporting midfielder. Antonio Conte’s side are now in pole position to sign the Portugal international – as they look to strengthen ahead of a title challenge –with the Premier League club able to offer more money … [Read more...]

Christian Benteke ready to fight for Liverpool shirt

Christian Benteke is ready to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool with his future at Anfield still in doubt. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are keen to sign Benteke but Liverpool are at risk of pricing the Belgium striker out of a move by trying to recoup all of the £32.5 million they paid Aston Villa for the player last summer. Neither Palace nor West Ham have been prepared to meet the Merseyside club’s asking price, and with negotiations at an impasse, Benteke is now hoping to force his way back into Jurgen Klopp’s plans , … [Read more...]

Man Utd squad to be cut to 24 under Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has informed his Manchester United players that he wishes to work with a first-team group of just 24. Mourinho, who used just 22 players when leading Chelsea to the 2014/15 Premier League title, will seek to use a similarly ‘small, tight-knit group’ at Old Trafford. Joe Bernstein claims that the Portuguese will select just 24 players for his first team, and ‘will allow anyone outside that to leave the club or train with the under 21s’. He prefers to work with a smaller group as opposed to a ‘bloated squad with players … [Read more...]

Chelsea to replace Fabregas with Kante as Mourinho shows interest

With new Blues coach Antonio Conte expected to let several players go this summer, Cesc Fabregas could well need to find a new club . With his future at Chelsea uncertain, Cesc Fabregas could be offered a lifeline by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge during the last two campaigns, winning both the Premier League and the Capital One Cup before the Portuguese tactician was sacked for a poor start to last season. New Chelsea boss and former Italy coach Antonio Conte could have a clear out … [Read more...]

Joe Allen set for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp

As speculation mounts over whether Joe Allen will be offered a new deal or offloaded by Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp says talks are imminent. Joe Allen is set for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp to decide his Liverpool future. The midfielder is a reported transfer target for the likes of Celtic, where ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers took charge in May, and former club Swansea City, as he enters the final year of his current Liverpool deal having put himself firmly in the shop window with his Euro 2016 exploits for Wales. Allen made eight … [Read more...]

Galatasaray offer Wilfried Bony an escape route

Galatasaray have offered Wilfried Bony an escape route from Manchester City after the striker was deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium. The Ivory Coast international has failed to make an impact at the Etihad, scoring just 10 goals in 18 months at the club. The 27-year-old was in superb form at Swansea before his move to Manchester in January 2015 for £28m, netting 35 goals in 70 appearances for the Swans in all competitions. Bony scored just eight goals in 34 appearances for City last season, starting 18 … [Read more...]

Chelsea make £29m bid for N’Golo Kante

Chelsea have made a £29 million bid for Leicester’s France international midfielder, N’Golo Kanté, and want to push the deal forward this weekend. Antonio Conte, the new Chelsea manager, has made his move for the player, with a formal offer being considered by the Premier League champions. Leicester’s hierarchy were discussing Chelsea’s bid in Austria on Wednesday night yet remain hopeful of persuading the 25-year-old to stay for at least another season. Kanté has already turned down one contract proposal since the end of last season … [Read more...]

Skrtel passes medical ahead of Fenerbahce move

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has passed a medical ahead of his move to Turkish side Fenerbahce. It was reported last week that a fee of around £5 million had been agreed and that Skrtel was given permission to enter discussions with Fenerbahce. The centre-back arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to finalise his move with last season’s Super Lig runners-up. Skrtel, who signed a new contract with the Reds in July 2015, fell out of favour under manager Jurgen Klopp and found his game time limited. The arrival of Joel Matip from Schalke and … [Read more...]

Arsenal look to sign Napoli striker but won’t meet release clause

Arsenal are exploring the possibility of signing Gonzalo Higuain but will not remotely consider meeting the Napoli striker’s £78.8million release clause. The Italian club have indicated to the Gunners that Higuain is available this summer as manager Arsene Wenger scours Europe to find a top class centre-forward to spearhead Arsenal’s Premier League title push next season. Higuain has a release clause of 94.4m euros, which due to the slump in the value of the pound since Britain’s referendum vote to leave the European Union, now equates to … [Read more...]

Conte set to be unveiled as new Chelsea boss

Antonio conte will be unveiled as Chelsea coach on thursday, with fans hoping he can deliver the goods at Stamford Bridge.  Conte was appointed Chelsea boss on April 4 and takes up his role after leading Italy at Euro 2016, where they suffered a penalty shootout loss to Germany in the quarter-finals. The Godfather – his nickname among the Italy players, according to Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci – is the permanent successor to Jose Mourinho, who is now boss of Manchester United. As well as having a new man at the helm, Chelsea are … [Read more...]

Arsenal and Chelsea look set to bring Roma defender to England

With contract talks seemingly set to break down and defensive reinforcements on their way, Roma could be set to offload centre-back Kostas Manolas. The impending arrival of Juan Jesus could signal the end of Kostas Manolas’ time at Roma , with the defender being monitored by Arsenal and Chelsea. With a deal agreed with Inter for an initial loan, followed by a mandatory purchase, of their Brazilian centre-back, it has fuelled further rumours that Manolas will depart the Giallorossi. Although he is contracted until 2019, considerable … [Read more...]

Chelsea and Arsenal battle for Kante as Chinese club shows interest

Chelsea's attempts to sign N'Golo Kante are complicated by interest from China and the efforts of several Leicester players to convince him to stay. Kante’s £20m release-clause is not prohibitive to Manchester United, Arsenal or Juventus, who are among those monitoring the situation, but Chelsea have shown the greatest willingness to act. Progress is expected this week now France have completed their Euro 2016 campaign but Chinese club Shanghai SIPG have raised the stakes by indicating they are prepared to pay £35m. Kante is thought to … [Read more...]

Middlesbrough in talks to sign former Man City striker

Middlesbrough are trying to finalise a deal to bring back Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo to the Premier League on loan. The newly-promoted Teessiders are understood to have opened talks over the 30-year-old former Manchester City frontman as head coach Aitor Karanka looks to boost the firepower at his disposal in the Premier League. However, the negotiations are proving painstaking with Boro seeking an initial loan agreement without taking on full responsibility for the player’s existing financial package. Discussions are understood to … [Read more...]

Juventus rejects Arsenal bid for Rugani

Arsenal have reportedly had a £25million bid rejected for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani. The Italy Under-21 international impressed in Italy last season, but he is behind Massimiliano Allegri's first-choice centre-backs Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini in the pecking order and made just 17 Serie A appearances. He has been linked with a move away from Turin this summer, with Arsenal and Italian sides Napoli and Sampdoria all reportedly interested in his signature. Reports from Italy claim the Gunners have had a … [Read more...]

Arsenal lacking fit strikers as search continues

Arsenal are struggling with injuries up top and have so far failed to sign a new leading man. Danny Welbeck is out long-term after suffering another knee injury near the end of last season and isn't expected back until around February at the earliest. Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud has now gone on his summer holidays after Euro 2016 . As France reached the final of the tournament, Giroud now begins his three week break and won't be match fit when the campaign gets underway at home to Liverpool. Arsenal face two crucial fixtures: hosting … [Read more...]