Rumour reel: Liverpool preparing a bid for lonely van Dijk
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Round-up of the transfer news on Sunday
Manchester City’s summer spending spree continued on Saturday with the news they’ve agreed a £52m deal for Monaco defender Benjamin Mendy. The finer details of the transfer are still to be finalised, but it looks certain the Frenchman will join Kyle Walker in a new-look backline.
There should be plenty more to come too, manager Pep Guardiola telling fans the club are looking at three or four new faces. Real Madrid’s Brazilian right-back Danilo thought to be one of them. The capture of Mendy will take City’s tally to £175m. Below is Sunday’s rumour reel catch-up…..
Virgil van Dijk training alone
It’s looking increasingly likely Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk will leave, with Liverpool the destination. The Reds were forced to apologise for an illegal approach for the defender earlier this summer, and told fans they were ending their interest in the 26-year-old, but we didn’t believe a word of it. It now looks like the player has taken matters into his own hands and told Saints bosses he wants to leave. Manager Mauricio Pellegrino, speaking to the press this weekend, asked the Dutchman to train on his own until it’s resolved as he’s not 100% mentally. Pellegrino hopes the player will review his decision, but it’s not likely. Many newspaper reports suggest Liverpool are preparing a bid.
PSG want to partner Neymar and Sanchez
Barcelona said they were extremely confident Neymar would choose to stay at the club, after French big-spenders PSG triggered a £195m release clause in the Brazilian’s contract. The latest coming out of the Spanish press says it’s 90% certain Neymar will leave Barcelona this summer however, the player becoming frustrated at playing second-fiddle to Lionel Messi. Of course, there are worse players to be ranked behind, but a man of Neymar’s quality, and worth, will want to be a guaranteed starter, and he’ll get that at just about every other club in the world. A source close to the Camp Nou said only a miracle would keep him. If Neymar wasn’t enough, PSG are also lining up a £70m offer for Alexis Sanchez. We’re sure Arsenal would welcome that, rather than flogging their star striker to a Premier League rival. If it goes as expected, Sanchez will rake in £400,000 a week.
Barca issue warning to Liverpool
Sticking with Barca, and if Neymar does leave, they will replace him with Argentine striker Paulo Dybala. The 23-year-old scorer is currently plying his trade at Juventus, but any move would require the Spaniards to put a serious dent in the Neymar profit, £110m the fee expected. Juventus have told the player they will not stand in the way of his dream move, it Barcelona were to make a reasonable bid. Ernesto Valverde also wants Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho, but warned the 25-year-old they’ll move on Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele if The Reds play hardball.
