Gossip: Man Utd and Barca in for Liverpool target, City eye £30m Everton star

MAN CITY EYE ANOTHER EVERTON DEFENDER
Because Pep Guardiola doesn’t trust the last centre-back he bought from Everton, he might go and buy another…

The Mirror reckons the Manchester City manager is eyeing up Mason Holgate as a ‘realistic target’ for the summer, when he intends to buy a couple of defenders to bolster a rearguard that was paper-thin before it was ravaged by injuries.

The report values Holgate at around £30million but Everton are keen to keep the versatile defender. The 23-year-old has a couple of years remaining on his contract and City’s interest could play conveniently into his agent’s hands.

 

SPURS WANTED OUT-OF-FAVOUR ENGLAND CENTRE-BACK
Everton have already fended off interest interest in another of their defenders from Tottenham.

According to Football Insider, Spurs were keen to take Michael Keane in January, which coincides with when the former Burnley centre-back fell out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti.

No fee is mentioned but Spurs are said to have watched the 27-year-old very closely In which case, it makes you wonder why they wanted to buy him.

 

WERNER WAITS AS MAN UTD AND BARCA SHOW THEIR HAND
Across Stanley Park, Liverpool are rather less worried about losing players and Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to a summer when he can slurge while wearing a Premier League title winner’s medal around his neck.

Timo Werner is said to be Klopp’s main target and the feeling appears to be mutual for the RB Leipzig striker.

The Athletic says Manchester United and Barcelona have already registered their interest in signing Werner, who has a release clause which no one seems quite the value of. But Werner is waiting for Liverpool to show their hand.

Anyone who wants to get the 23-year-old for the value stated in his contract – said to be around £51million – then they will have to get their skates on. Apparently, to activate that clause, a deal has to be wrapped up by April to allow Leipzig plenty of time to source a replacement.

 

AND THE REST
Frank Lampard wants rid of eight Chelsea players including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho and Ross Barkley… Lampard want to bring RB Leipzig centre-half Dayot Upamecano to Stamford Bridge… Loris Karius wants Liverpool to let him leave on a free… Arsenal have told Flamengo that they will exercise their option to buy Pablo Mari permanently…Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has bought a new £3.4m apartment in Paris.

 

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