LIVERPOOL are confident Kalvin Phillips’ proposed move to Manchester City leaves them in pole position to land Jude Bellingham, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
However there is still likely to be a tug-of-war between the Premier League’s big two to land the midfielder next summer.
Elsewhere Gareth Bale has confirmed that he will be joining MLS side Los Angeles FC.
And Juventus are reportedly keen on signing Neymar, with PSG needing to sell before Friday in order to avoid triggering a five-year contract extension worth £600,000-a-week.
Meanwhile, Bale’s former team Real Madrid have identified Premier League Golden Boot winner Son Heung-min as a potential target for next season.
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Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news across the globe…
More on Neymar
Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle are the only transfer options for Neymar this summer.
That’s as the Brazilian reportedly considers his future after being left fuming with Paris Saint-Germain chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
RMC Sport claims Neymar is thinking of leaving the French capital this summer, five years after his world record £200million move from Barcelona.
It’s reckoned he has just three viable destinations due to his £600,000-a-week wages.
Premier League trio United, Chelsea and Newcastle are the only teams with the money for a transfer.
Juventus have also been linked but the Brazilian is beyond their pay grade.
Neymar would be open to an English switch after turning 30 in February.
Ten Hag budget plans
Erik ten Hag starts work on Monday facing an Old Trafford cash squeeze that threatens to hamper his re-building plans, exclusively writes SunSport’s Ken Lawrence.
The Dutchman still hopes to team up again with Frenkie de Jong as early as this week.
Manchester United believe they are now closing in on a £67million deal with Barcelona for the midfielder who spent 18 months working under Ten Hag’s former club Ajax.
But while CEO Richard Arnold told fans in a recent pub meeting that money was “not a consideration” in this summer’s transfer market, he will still not provide Ten Hag with an open cheque book.
Neymar could make Prem switch
PSG star Neymar is being tipped to make a move to the Premier League next season.
That’s because only Man United, Chelsea, and Newcastle can afford to buy the Brazilian, according to RMC.
However, a move to the Prem could prove tricky as Neymar previously vowed to never join a club in the English top tier.
West Ham ‘sign Alphonse Areola’
West Ham have agreed to sign goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Athletic are reporting Areola, 29, will join West Ham after the club activated the option to buy clause agreed in his initial loan.
SunSport reported on Friday the Frenchman was on the verge of a £10.5million move with just personal terms to iron out.
An official announcement is expected in the comings days.
He will join the club permanently after making 17 appearances on loan this season, mainly playing in cup competitions as the understudy to Polish veteran Lukasz Fabianski.
Fulham set for Palhinha transfer
Fulham are hopeful of confirming the signing of Joao Palhinha in the next 72 hours.
After hijacking Wolves’ approach for the 26-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder, the Cottagers want to get a deal over the line as quickly as possible.
And SunSport understands that Palhinha will return from his holiday on Monday and head straight to west London with a view to completing the switch on a five-year deal.
This transfer saga began at the beginning of this month with Wolves confident they would nab Palhinha for around £20million after advanced talks.
However, Palhinha’s involvement in the Nations League with Portugal – as well as Wolves’ failing attempts to sell Ruben Neves – saw the move stall.
Fulham pounced, with boss Marco Silva speaking with Palhinha directly on the phone to convince him to snub Molineux for Craven Cottage.
Inter ‘willing to sell Correa’
Inter Milan are willing to sell Arsenal transfer target Joaquin Correa, reports claim.
And he could end up at Newcastle who are the only club currently interested in the attacker, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
But Inter won’t let him go on the cheap as they know the Magpies have the cash to splash, the report adds.
The publication claim Correa’s been valued at £21.5m.
Mane’s reason for leaving Liverpool
Sadio Mane didn’t leave Liverpool to join Bayern Munich for money, according to his Public Relations agent.
Mane’s PR rep, Bacary Cisse, told TV5Monde: “Those are false rumours. We didn’t want to talk about that.
“A player of Sadio’s caliber can’t be earning the salary that people are speaking about. The numbers circulating are completely wrong.
“Sadio was already earning more than that when he joined Liverpool from Southampton. He extended his contract in 2018 and his salary was much higher than the numbers circulating in the media.”
Lingard to West Ham ‘complete’
Jesse Lingard is on the brink of returning to West Ham on a permanent basis.
Lingard spent the first half of last season on loan with the Hammers before returning to United.
But he’s now set to rejoin West Ham after becoming surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
And the winger’s move to East London will be completed next week, according to the Daily Mail.
Real Madrid track Kimpembe
Real Madrid are reportedly tracking PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe.
Kimpembe is said to be frustrated with the French giants for not handing him a new contract.
And Real are waiting in the wings to snap him up, according to Defensa Central.
Chelsea and Arsenal were linked with Kimpembe in the past.
Bayern set Lewandowski fee
Bayern Munich will sell Robert Lewandowski for no less than £52m to Barcelona, according to reports.
Lewandowski’s keen to leave Bayern for the La Liga giants, and he’s set to complete the transfer next week, reports claim.
But Barca will have to cough up the exorbitant fee in order to land the Poland international, according to Sky Sports.
Chelsea are lurking in the shadows incase his move to Spain falls through.
Inter ‘make push for Bremer’
Inter Milan will reportedly meet with Torino next week in order to try and buy in demand defender Gleison Bremer.
Bremer’s been courted by several Prem sides including Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham, and Arsenal.
However, Inter are moving ahead to try and seal his signature, according to Tuttosport.
The publication claims Inter CEO Beppe Marotta is set to jet to Torino to negotiate with their Serie A counterparts over Bremer.
Burnley complete Twine transfer
Burnley have completed the signing of MK Dons star Scott Twine.
Twine has joined Burnley on a four-year contract from MK Dons, Sky Sports reported.
However, the amount Burnley have paid for Twine is yet to be revealed.
Twine’s arrival will be huge boost for Burnley as he was named the EFL Player of the Season in the last campaign, scoring 20 goals along with 13 assists.
Dembele ‘unhappy with Chelsea offer’
Ousmane Demebele is reportedly unhappy with Chelsea’s contract offer.
And he’s considering remaining at Barcelona as a result of the Blues’ underwhelming proposition.
That’s according to Sport, who claim Chelsea’s simultaneous pursuit of Raheem Sterling has hampered the amount they could offer Dembele.
This could be good news for Man United who were previously linked with the winger.
Lewandowski to Barcelona ‘nears completion’
Robert Lewandowski will complete his move to Barcelona this week, according to reports.
Bayern reportedly want £43m for the Poland international.
And Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi has held talks with both Barca and Bayern to ensure a deal gets done in the coming days, Sport reported.
The news will come as a blow to Chelsea who asked to be kept informed on Lewandowski’s future.
Pogba’s Juventus transfer ‘finalised’
Paul Pogba is set to complete his Juventus transfer in July, according to Fabrizio Romano.
All paperwork is finalised between the parties with Juve agreeing to pay Pogba £6.8m annually plus add-ons, Romano said.
Romano tweeted: “Juventus have all paperworks ready to announce the comeback of Paul Pogba at the beginning of July.
“It’s done deal for salary around €8m net per season plus add-ons.”
Ronaldo ‘offered to Roma’
Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered to Roma by agent Jorge Mendes, reports claim.
Ronaldo ostensibly wants to leave United, and Mendes has approached Roma to see if they will take the attacker, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
However, United will not let Ronaldo leave this summer, it was reported on Sunday.
PSG ‘must sell Neymar soon’
PSG must sell Neymar by Friday or see his £600,000-a-week contract extend to 2027, according to reports.
The Brazilian penned a new deal in May last year, although PSG chiefs are now no longer sure that they want to move forward with the former Barcelona ace.
The world’s most expensive player is under contract until 2026, although it’s claimed that a clause in the deal will trigger an extra year on July 1.
That would mean PSG are committed to paying him another year of his £31.2m salary, until he was 35.
According to Sky Sports, PSG are looking for a buyer to take Neymar off their hands.
His £600k-a-week wages are putting potential suitors off, however.
De Jong to United complete
Man United will complete the signing of Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong in the next few days, reports claim.
The Red Devils have agreed a fee around £68m for the midfielder, according to talkSPORT.
The report states the transfer will be wrapped up by June 30.
He will become United’s first signing of the summer thus far.
Liverpool ‘confident of Bellingham transfer’
Liverpool are confident Kalvin Phillips’ proposed move to Manchester City leaves them in pole position to land Jude Bellingham.
However there is still likely to be a tug-of-war between the Premier League’s big two to land the midfielder next summer.
There is growing confidence at Anfield that Man City’s imminent £45million signing of Leeds ace Phillips means the Reds are favourites to sign Bellingham.
Klopp always planned to make a striker his marquee transfer this summer and has successfully landed Benfica’s Darwin Nunez for £85million to replace Sadio Mane.
Next summer’s plans are already being drawn up with Bellingham and another central midfielder top of their shopping list.
Forest close in double swoop
Nottingham Forest are closing in on Liverpool’s Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves.
The £35million double swoop comes after they nabbed Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi in a club-record £17.2m move.
Right-back Williams favours Forest over a return to Fulham, where he spent four months on loan last season.
The Wales star, 21, is valued at £15m and Forest boss Steve Cooper wants him after on-loan Middlesbrough star Djed Spence started talking to other clubs.
The Premier League new-boys are also being encouraged to go for Gibbs-White, 22, who is due to give Wolves an answer on his future soon.
Forest could pay about £20m for the midfielder and Wanderers may reluctantly accept.
United rule out Ronaldo transfer
Furious Man United chiefs have told Cristiano Ronaldo he’s not going anywhere amid interest from Chelsea.
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes allegedly met with the Blues over a potential move for the disgruntled attacker.
But the Mirror claim United have vetoed any possible exit for Ronaldo.
The publication claim a source told them: “Cristiano is not for sale. We want – and fully expect – him to be with us next season.”
Liverpool get Saka advice
Now’s the perfect time for Liverpool to make a move for Bukayo Saka, according to ex-Red Jose Enrique.
Enrique reckons the Reds may never get a better opportunity to snag the England international as the Gunners chase Leeds ace Raphinha.
Enrique said in a Twitter exchange: “He is a great player but if I’m not wrong Saka is in one or two years left ?
“Now that it looks that they are going to sign Raphinha maybe is the best moment to go for him.”
Bale confirms LAFC transfer
Gareth Bale has CONFIRMED his shock move to Los Angeles FC.
The Wales winger, 32, left Real Madrid at the end of his contract earlier this month.
For months there have been suggestions Bale could retire or return to hometown club Cardiff.
But Bale has put the rumours to bed after confirming he is joining LAFC on Twitter.
Sharing a video of himself in the club’s black and gold, Bale wrote: “See you soon, Los Angeles.”
Good morning football fans
Sporting Lisbon have contacted Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo over the possibility of a shock transfer.
The Sun on Sunday understands bosses at Sporting, where Ronaldo played 25 league games before signing for United in 2003, believe they can lure him back to Lisbon.
United also fell flat in their efforts to sign Derby County’s Malcolm Ebiowei after Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman drove him to his medical with the Eagles.
New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly reportedly met with Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in Portugal last week and discussed the 37-year-old’s future and the possibility of a transfer.
Chelsea are the club who are ‘best placed’ to sign Ousmane Dembele as he edges ever closer to leaving the Nou Camp, according to Marca, with Xavi’s late offer to keep the Frenchman too little, too late.
Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale has agreed agreed to join MLS side Los Angeles FC after posting a video on his social media page wearing an LAFC shirt.
The Wales captain, who turns 33 next month, is set to sign an initial one-year deal with an option to extend it by a further 18 months when the MLS transfer window reopens on July 7.
Bale’s former club Tottenham have suffered a blown in their pursuit of Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence.
Talks have been taking place for weeks but the two clubs are still way-off agreeing a fee with the North East team demanding £15 million plus add-ons – a price Spurs are unwilling to climb to.
North London rivals Arsenal are stepping up their efforts to sign Leeds United winger Raphinha after agreeing a £45million fee for Man City forward Gabriel Jesus.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are close to completing the double signings of Liverpool’s Neco Williams and Wolves Morgan Gibbs-White for a combined £35million.
Liverpool also now believe themselves to be the front-runners to sign Jude Bellingham due to Man City’s imminent acquisition of Kalvin Phillips.
Liverpool lead race for Bellingham
Liverpool are confident Kalvin Phillips’ proposed move to Manchester City leaves them in pole position to land Jude Bellingham.
However there is still likely to be a tug-of-war between the Premier League’s big two to land the midfielder next summer.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of the Borussia Dortmund star and has already earmarked him as his top target in 12 months time.
But Pep Guardiola is an equally big admirer of the 18-year-old and hopes Bellingham’s friendship with new signing Erling Haaland can sway an eventual deal their way.
There is growing confidence at Anfield that Man City’s imminent £45million signing of Leeds ace Phillips means the Reds are favourites to sign Bellingham.
Manchester United are a distant third in the race for his signature with Erik ten Hag’s transfer plans still being finalised.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
