LIVERPOOL are set to launch a move for Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are said to be leading the race for Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic’s signature.
And Sadio Mane has revealed that he will make his contractual decision after the Champions League final.
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Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news across the globe…
Baldock switches allegiances
Sheffield United right-back George Baldock has switched his international allegiance and will represent Greece in the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Baldock, 29, is eligible to represent Greece through his maternal grandmother.
And according to The Athletic, the Greek National Team are eager for him to become a part of the squad.
The right-back has already had his Greek citizenship approved, and the process for international clearance has been completed.
The team is managed by former Brighton and Sunderland boss Gus Poyet.
Poyet and his side will take on Kosovo, Cyprus and Northern Ireland in the Nations League next month.
Just being Franck
Franck Kessie has confirmed his exit from AC Milan ahead of a switch to Barcelona.
He wrote on Instagram: “After 5 years I couldn’t hope to end this great experience in a better way! A unique emotion: we are Italian champions!
Proud to have worn this glorious shirt and to have shared this journey with some fantastic team-mates!
Thanks for everything! Thanks to everyone! Your ‘President’.”
Just give us a Koul
Barcelona have reportedly put Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly at the top of their defensive wishlist.
Koulibaly is yet to sign a new contract with Napoli despite the club’s best efforts.
And the Serie A side are willing to sell the centre-back to avoid letting him go for free next summer, according to Sport.
Napoli will take £25m for Koulibaly, a price that could prompt Barca to make a swoop for him, the report added.
Man United are also keeping tabs on Koulibaly.
What a Mess
Lionel Messi is believed to have told Barcelona president Joan Laporta to stop talking about him and a potential return to the Nou Camp.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Messi and his father Jorge have become increasingly frustrated by comments made from his former club’s president.
Reports claim that the player’s father phoned Laporta back in March politely asking for the Catalan giants’ president to stop making remarks about Messi in interviews.
It is rumoured the relationship between the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and Laporta was already fragile because Barcelona had to take back their contract offer made to Messi last year at the final minute.
Jesus slammed for transfer flirting
Man City striker Gabriel Jesus has been criticised by David James for flirting with a transfer away from the club.
Jesus, 25, is believed to be considering his options this summer with Arsenal and Tottenham keen on a move for him.
James told Genting Casino: “Jesus will have a shared role if he stays at Man City. They aren’t going to buy Haaland and start him every game, so there is still room for Jesus.
“Why would he want to leave? You’ve at the best team in England over the past five years, so would he risk it by moving somewhere else to Arsenal, who aren’t even in the Champions League?
“Or would he rather stay at Man City and try to get the Holy Grail, which is the Champions League?”
Christian Eriksen snubbed Man United
Christian Eriksen snubbed Manchester United over a promise made to Tottenham owner Daniel Levy in 2017, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claimed the Dane’s agent Martin Schoots passed on the vow that he would not join another London club out of respect to Spurs.
And Eriksen, now 30, apparently extended his promise to all English clubs when United’s interest came out.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was hoping to secure an £80million deal for the playmaker but failed to land his man.
Kante set to leave for cut-price
Chelsea are set to let N’Golo Kante leave for a cut-price fee this summer amid interest from Man United, reports claim.
His contract is up at the end of next season, and Blues boss Thomas Tuchel wants to switch up his midfield, The Athletic reported.
And he’s willing to let Kante go for a reduced fee to do so, the report added.
Mane reveals Man United links
Sadio Mane has revealed how close he came to agreeing a move to Manchester United before Jurgen Klopp convinced him to join Liverpool instead.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mane said: “I was really close to going to Manchester United.
“I had the contract there. I had it all agreed. It was all ready, but instead I thought, ‘No, I want to go to Liverpool’.
“I was convinced to go with Klopp’s project.”
Taking the Mkhi
Inter Milan are on the brink of signing ex-Arsenal star Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Roma.
Mkhitaryan joined Roma from the Gunners in 2020.
But now he’s set to join Inter in a deal worth £2.9m over two years, according to Football Italia.
However, Roma are still hoping they can retain him next season, the report adds.
Merson makes Chelsea transfer plea
Paul Merson has urged Chelsea not to sign Raheem Sterling from Man City.
Chelsea need to bolster their attacking options and have been linked with Sterling.
But Merson thinks the England star plays the “Man City way”, which will be hard to change.
He told the Daily Star: “They might go for Raheem Sterling but he plays the Manchester City way. I don’t think Raheem Sterling scores 20 goals a season for Chelsea.”
Merson’s old club Arsenal have also been linked with the winger.
Pau choice for Ten Hag
Man United have reportedly consulted new Erik ten Hag on the possibility of signing Pau Torres.
ccording to The Manchester Evening News, Old Trafford bosses have internally discussed the Spaniard with Ten Hag as a transfer target.
It is claimed Torres, 25, was shortlisted as a defensive option last year but the club turned to Raphael Varane, 29, from Real Madrid instead.
Torres has a release clause in his current contract, believed to be around £50m, after he penned an extension until 2024 three years ago.
Pepe to Paris?
PSG have been offered the opportunity to sign Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe made just five starts for the Gunners last season.
And he could make a move to Paris as a replacement for Angel Di Maria who announced his departure from the Ligue 1 champions, according to Foot Mercato.
Man City ace mulls future
Man City ace Ilkay Gundogan plans to hold talks over his future with the club this summer, MARTIN BLACKBURN WRITES.
Gundogan found himself on the bench more than he would have liked over the final few weeks of the season and admits he faces a dilemma.
He said: “We will get together in due course and exchange our ideas and plans, and then we will see what comes of it.
“The question is whether and when I want to do something new again.
“I haven’t actually answered this question for myself yet.
“Football-wise there is no better place than Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and that will hardly change in the next few years.”
Jack Grealish parties in Ibiza
Jack Grealish partied with Ibiza Weekender’s Chloe Chaloner at Wayne Lineker’s Ocean Beach Club in Ibiza.
The England ace was clearly having a good time surrounded by music and fans.
ack was centre of attention, showing off his ripped six pack and famous calves in a pair of pink shorts plastered with palm trees.
The Gucci ambassador used neon shades to push his famous locks back and covered his crimson neck with a white top, while having fun with a string of lads and beauties.
One final push for Neves
Man United are on the verge of making a final move for Wolves ace Ruben Neves, JORDAN DAVIES WRITES.
United have been tracking Neves, 25, with a view to buying for the past 12 months, first through ex-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last summer.
The Red Devils then saw a £35m January move turned away, and SunSport understands they are looking to go again in the next couple of weeks with new boss Erik ten Hag a big fan.
However, Barcelona are also in the running, and could snatch Neves away from Old Trafford with the lure of the Champions League a big pull.
Neves’ contract runs out in 2024, but has stalled on negotiating an extension.
Kan it happen?
Man United are considering a transfer approach for N’Golo Kante.
United boss Erik ten Hag wants to add some steel to the team’s midfield, and reckons Kante’s the man for the job, according to The Guardian.
Kante has a year left on his contract and United wonder if Chelsea are willing to let him leave this summer.
However, the Red Devils will face resistance from Blues boss Thomas Tuchel as it’s unlikely he’ll be willing Kante leave without a fight, the report adds.
Three-eyed Luka Modric
Luka Modric’s vision was so good when he joined Tottenham it was like he had three eyes, Darren Bent thought, TOM BARCLAY WRITES.
Bent said told SunSport: “When Luka joined Spurs, the first thing you noticed was his technique.
“I had played against him for England but when you watched him up close, he was a player you knew straight away was levels above everyone.
“He seemed to have three eyes because no matter what you did to try to get the ball off him, you just couldn’t get it.
“I know in the Premier League it took him a little while to get going but we always knew, once he did, it was going to be curtains for everyone else.”
Good morning footy fans
“We have a score to settle”…
Six words of pure fighting talk from Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah ahead of the Champions League final.
The grandest event in European football is taking place in Paris TONIGHT as Liverpool take on Real Madrid.
Tottenham are reportedly closing in on the signing of Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic.
Spurs are set for a busy summer with a number of incoming and outgoings and Antonio Conte has identified Perisic as a key target.
The Italian worked with the 33-year-old at Inter as they were crowned Serie A champions last year, and several clubs now want Perisic.
Aston Villa have announced a fee to sign Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos has been reached.
The defender, 29, is set to be unveiled as Villa’s third summer arrival following the capture of Boubacar Kamara and the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho.
Carlos is now set to undergo a medical and will officially be a Villa player if he passes fit.
Sky Germany are reporting that that Bayern Munich are “confident” that they can sign Liverpool’s Sadio Mane this summer for less than £45m.
How Liverpool and Real Madrid lined up in 2018
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says he is primed for the Champions League final against Liverpool.
The Wales captain scored an amazing overhead kick in a two-goal salvo off the bench to sink Jurgen Klopp’s side 3-1 in Kyiv four years ago.
But who else started that game?
Liverpool score to settle
“We have a score to settle”. Six words of pure fighting talk from Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah ahead of the Champions League final.
But the Egyptian has every reason to have extra incentive to help his Reds thump Real Madrid and make it a cup Treble this season.
Four years ago, almost to the day, Liverpool took on Los Blancos in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv.
Two of Europe’s most-successful clubs ever, the match was always destined to be hotly-contested.
But after just half an hour, disaster struck as Sergio Ramos cynically dragged Salah to the ground, with the Liverpool man suffering a nasty shoulder injury in the process.
Liverpool’s leading man was forced off, replaced by Adam Lallana, before Real Madrid went on to win 3-1.
Three things stick out in the memory of every football fan following that evening: The Salah-Ramos clash, Loris Karius’ pair of howlers and Gareth Bale’s magic.
O’Hara: Spurs should sign trio
With the news that Tottenham will have in the range of £150m for new players this summer, their former midfielder Jamie O’Hara has wasted no time in spending it.
The talkSPORT host has compiled a list of players he would love to see Antonio Conte sign in order to get the North London club challenging for the title and Champions League.
In conversation with Grosvenor Sport, O’Hara picked out a wing-back, a midfielder and a forward that he felt would be perfect for Spurs.
“I’d love to see Spurs sign Perisic, who’s been playing left wing-back at Inter Milan,” he said.
“I think Spurs can get hold of him, he’d be a great signing for the club. I think that’s a position they need to improve on.
“I’d love to see James Ward-Prowse in a Tottenham shirt too. I think he’s underachieving at Southampton.
“He’s a top player – set-pieces, delivery and scoring ability. I think he’d be perfect for the team, he would add loads of quality.
“And they need a back-up striker to Harry Kane. I’d love to say Gabriel Jesus, but is he going to play second fiddle to Harry Kane? I doubt it.
“But they need a really good, solid, goal-scoring centre-forward that doesn’t mind sitting on the bench.”
Ten Hag consulted on Torres transfer as shirt number looms
Manchester United officials have consulted new boss Erik ten Hag about the possibility of signing Villarreal’s Pau Torres, according to the MEN.
The Spanish international has been a long-term target for the Red Devils, and was first considered during Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s time in the hot seat.
Torres could even take his No4 shirt, should Phil Jones leave the club.
The recruitment department at Old Trafford have continued to monitor Torres’ situation, and now seem set to make a move – but only if Ten Hag gives the deal the green light.
Spurs marching in on Perisic
Tottenham are reportedly closing in on the signing of Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic.
Spurs are set for a busy summer with a number of incoming and outgoings and Antonio Conte has identified Perisic as a key target.
The Italian worked with the 33-year-old at Inter as they were crowned Serie A champions last year, and several clubs now want Perisic.
But Spurs have emerged as favourites to land the Croatian on a free after agreeing a two-year deal with the wing-back, report The Independent.
Perisic will reportedly earn £75,000 a week and could be Spurs’ first summer arrival.
Chelsea and Juventus are also said to be eyeing a deal for the former Bayern Munich star and could be prepared to increase their offers.
Diego having Villa medical
Aston Villa have announced a deal to sign Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos.
The club has confirmed an agreement has been reached over a transfer fee with Fabrizio Romano revealing Carlos has agreed a contract.
The defender, 29, is set to be unveiled as Villa’s third summer arrival following the capture of Boubacar Kamara and the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho.
Carlos is now set to undergo a medical and will officially be a Villa player if he passes fit.
The Villans are conducting their transfer business early and are clearly determined to improve on their 14th-placed finish this season.
Bayern ‘confident’ of landing Mane
Sky Germany are reporting that that Bayern Munich are ‘confident’ that they can sign Liverpool’s Sadio Mane this summer for less than €50m.
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has made the Senegalese star the Bundesliga champions’ top transfer priority, and met with the player’s representatives earlier this month.
Mane has one year remaining on his contract at Anfield, and has promised to reveal his future plans after Saturday’s Champions League final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
