Liverpool could use their Saudi windfall to lure Kalvin Phillips from Man City, while Inter Milan are targeting an Arsenal forward after abandoning their pursuit of Romelu Lukaku…
LIVERPOOL STILL KEEN ON KALVIN
Liverpool had already bought two midfielders before the Saudis came looking for their old ones. So, assuming Fabinho’s £40million move to Al-Ittihad comes off and Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq cobble together a reasonable transfer fee after offing the Reds captain enough money to abandon his principles, then Jurgen Klopp will go shopping for more new recruits for his engine room.
Sky Sports says he might look to take Kalvin Phillips off Manchester City’s hands. The England midfielder barely played for Pep Guardiola last season and didn’t start a Premier League game until the title was safely secured. Phillips, apparently, wants to stay at City and give it another go, but interest from Liverpool might make him more open to an exit.
Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat – also a target for Manchester United – are also under consideration, as is Romeo Lavia. Indeed, Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool will move for the Southampton teenager regardless of what transpires with Fabinho and Henderson.
HAMMERS EYE MAGUIRE AND £40M MIDFIELDER
West Ham will crank up their hunt for midfielders this week after Declan Rice was confirmed as Arsenal’s record signing on Saturday.
Joao Palhinha has been towards the top of their wishlist since it became clear that Rice would be on his way and Talksport says the Hammers have begun talks with Fulham over the Portuguese star. Apparently, West Ham are hoping to secure the ex-Sporting Lisbon midfielder for £40million, which would see the Cottagers double their money on the investment they made in the 27-year-old last summer, but the Irons might have to get closer to £50million, especially while Fulham know they have at least £100million burning a hole in their pockets.
West Ham also want to put some of their Rice windfall towards signing Harry Maguire, no longer the captain of Manchester United. Various reports suggest Maguire is unhappy over being stripped of the captaincy – he can’t have been surprised – and could look more favourably upon an Old Trafford exit, if only to protect his England place.
ARSENAL STRIKER ON INTER LIST
Romelu Lukaku is due back at Chelsea this morning, his return delayed in the hope that a deal could be agreed with Inter to send the striker back to Italy. But Lukaku seems to have blown it.
So, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter will turn their attention towards another ex-Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, currently on Atletico Madrid’s books, or Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun.
Chelsea are still keen to pack Lukaku back off to Italy with Juventus said to be interested but Fabrizio Romano says a possible £34million deal would hinge on Juve shifting Dusan Vlahovic, possibly to PSG.
Read more: Summer transfer window 2023: Rice deal sees Arsenal become Europe’s biggest spenders
