Kylian Mbappe leaving Paris Saint-Germain could play into Liverpool’s hands as they look to strengthen their midfield, while Man City have already turned down two PSG stars…
LIVERPOOL WANT REAL STAR AS MBAPPE EYES PSG EXIT
ICYMI: Kylian Mbappe wants to leave PSG. The France star has told the club he has no intention of renewing his contract beyond the end of the coming season, making it likely he could be sold this summer.
All of which presents an opportunity for Real Madrid. The Spaniards need a replacement for Karim Benzema and Florentino Perez desperately wants to be the man to bring Mbappe to the Bernabeu. But PSG won’t roll over to have their tummies ticked – Perez will have to pay. Which could have knock-on effects elsewhere.
Perhaps for Liverpool, who’ve been sniffing around Real in their drive to sign midfielders. It was suggested they were laughed off when bidding for Aurelien Tchouameni, but the Reds are said to be back at Perez’s door, hoping to take Federico Valverde.
According to El Nacional, Liverpool have submitted an offer worth £68.7million, including add-ons, to land the Uruguay star. Real have been reluctant to consider anything less than £86million but with Jude Bellingham’s imminent arrival and a probable pursuit of Mbappe, Perez may have to compromise.
CITY SNUBBED ITALY DUO
The Mbappe news is a distraction for PSG, who could lose Neymar, Messi and Mbappe all in the same summer. They were also trying to palm off another couple of stars to Manchester City, apparently…
The claim from Foot Mercato is that PSG offered Italy internationals Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma to the Treble winners as part of a deal that would see them take Bernardo Silva.
City turned their noses up at the idea – much to Jack Grealish’s relief.
GVARDIOL TO COST WORLD-RECORD FEE. OR NOT.
One player Pep Guardiola does want this summer is Josko Gvardiol. But there seems to be some confusion over how much the Croatia defender might cost…
Talksport says Gvardiol could leave RB Leipzig is the Germans are offered £75million.
But Fabrizio Romano reckons Leipzig will insist upon a world-record fee for a defender, and City may have to fork out €100million (£86million).
City could make some of that back by selling Kalvin Phillips. 90min says West Ham are among the clubs keen to take the England midfielder this summer following a season in which he managed only two Premier League starts, both of which came after the title was secured.
Read next: Ten predictions for the 2023 summer transfer window based on 2022 includes Sadio Mane to Chelsea
