TOP TEN RIGHT-BACKS IN WORLD FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW

 

LIVERPOOL'S SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW SPENDING

 

LIVERPOOL PREPARED TO SMASH BRITISH TRANSFER RECORD AGAIN TO SIGN ALEXANDER ISAK FROM NEWCASTLE WITH STRIKER STALLING OVER NEW DEAL

Liverpool are prepared to smash their transfer record again to sign Alexander Isak this summer

Liverpool are prepared to smash their transfer record for the second time this summer as Alexander Isak's Newcastle future was cast into further doubt on Tuesday.

The Premier League champions have already made the statement signing of the summer by signing Florian Wirtz for £116million; they supplemented that by landing another Bayer Leverkusen player, Jeremie Frimpong, as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

But the addition of Isak would surpass everything. It will take a new British record fee to secure the Sweden international, in advance of £125m, but Liverpool's intentions are clear: they will move if they receive encouragement.

Adding Isak to the squad would take Liverpool's transfer overhaul to more than £300m

Newcastle remain adamant that Isak is not for sale and want to enhance his £120,000 per week contract - a task that should have been done on the watch of former Director of Football Paul Mitchell - but talks stalled earlier this year and there has been no progress.

Isak is currently with Newcastle's squad in Austria for a training camp and they want to enhance their forward line by adding Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt but, so far, their bid has fallen way short of the German's expectations: they want €100m (£86m) for the France Under-21 international.

Mail Sport understands Newcastle have bid £70m for Ekitike - a player in whom Liverpool also retain an interest - but the structure of what they have offered doesn't tally with what Frankfurt want; it has been a challenging window so far for Newcastle, who have agreed to sell Sean Longstaff to Leeds.

The fee for Isak would surpass the total £116m which they could shell out for Wirtz if all add-ons clauses are met

Liverpool have been determined to add a striker to their ranks since they secured their 20th title and while Isak represents the ideal choice, it is very much the club's modus operandi to have other targets in mind should they be required.

Aside from Isak and Etikete, Liverpool have discussed Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa, the livewire Brentford forward who was close to joining Arsenal in January. 

Victor Osimhen has also been mentioned during talks with Napoli over Darwin Nunez.

Another intriguing detail is the fact Manchester United's Marcus Rashford's name was floated during a conversation but nothing progressed beyond that; there is little potential for that to be resurrected, given the question marks about his form in recent seasons.

Eddie Howe's side have already bid £70m for Hugo Ekitike, a sign they could be planning for life without Isak

This is an exceptionally busy period for Liverpool, who on Tuesday immediately rebuffed an offer for Luis Diaz from Bayern Munich. 

The German champions made a £58.5m proposal for the Colombia international but that is miles short of the Anfield club's £86m valuation.

That figure is identical to fee Manchester United rejected for their captain Bruno Fernandes from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal at the beginning of June. 

Diaz, who is two years younger than the Portuguese, was the subject of firm interest from Al Nassr.

Newcastle are currently away in Austria for their pre-season training camp (pic: Eddie Howe)

In a situation that mirrors Isak's position on Tyneside, though, sources in Colombia have told Mail Sport that while Diaz has huge affection for Liverpool, he doesn't believe his current salary represents his value to the club. There have been no signs of them renewing the 28-year-old's terms.

Barcelona have also been persistently linked with Diaz but they have not made any contact. 

Liverpool, clearly, will offload some of their squad in the coming weeks. Napoli are the only club to make contact over Darwin Nunez but their offer of £55m, including add-ons, was miles short.

Nunez, who scored in the 3-1 win at Preston last Sunday, was Liverpool's club record signing in 2022 at £84m and the intention is to recoup £70m. England Under-21 pair Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton also have admirers.

- DOMINIC KING

LIVERPOOL FC SIGNINGS

 

LIVERPOOL STAR DARWIN NUNEZ ON VERGE OF EXIT FOLLOWING FRESH UPDATE: REPORT

Darwin Nunez's Liverpool future remains in doubt despite the club's Premier League title-winning campaign

Liverpool knocked back an offer for Darwin Nunez in January (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool appear to be making up for lost time this time after a relatively quiet summer transfer window last year.

Jeremie Frimpong has already been brought in to replace Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold, while reports suggest that a whopping £116 million deal for Frimpong’s former team-mate Florian Wirtz has been agreed.

There are also suggestions that a deal is in place by Liverpool for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez to join the Reds, with the Cherries having just bought in Adrien Truffert to replace the Hungarian.

Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool future outlined

Nunez has netted 40 goals for Liverpool in three seasons (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool were able to bank almost £10m for Alexander-Arnold, but if they are to keep spending, they will need to rely on player sales to balance the books.

Forward Darwin Nunez has long been linked with the Anfield exit door, and following an underwhelming campaign last time, which saw him make just eight Premier League starts, his time could now be up.

Nunez made eight Premier League starts under Arne Slot this season (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool reportedly rejected a €70m bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the January window, with the Reds reluctant to lose the Uruguay international halfway through a season in which they were pushing for the Premier League title.

Nunez himself is not said to be interested in making a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career, but he may now have another transfer lifeline.

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Serie A duo AC Milan and Napoli are both interested in making a move for the 25-year-old, who Liverpool are valuing at €60, as they look to claw back a similar fee that they paid for him back in 2022.

Nunez has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances over the past three seasons in all competitions, but his return of five Premier League goals last season appears to have convinced Liverpool that it is time to move on.

Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images)

In FourFourTwo’s view, a parting of ways would likely suit both parties. Nunez is valued at €45m by Transfermarkt, so if the Reds were able to recoup the €60m they are after, it would be a decent deal.

That would also allow Liverpool to step up their efforts to sign a new forward, amid links to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike

- Joe Mewis

BAYERN LEVERKUSEN RESPOND TO LIVERPOOL TRANSFER APPROACH FOR JEREMY FRIMPONG

Liverpool are in talks to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen (Getty)

Bayer Leverkusen say they are ‘unaware’ of Liverpool’s push to sign Jeremie Frimpong.

Liverpool have identified the 24-year-old as a top target to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.

The Netherlands international appears to be a good fit for Arne Slot’s system at Liverpool having played a key role in Leverkusen’s league and cup double success last season with 12 goals and seven assists.

Frimpong, who attracted interest from Manchester United last year, has a €35 million (£29.6m) release clause in his deal with Leverkusen which can be triggered in the summer window.

Reports this week have suggested that Liverpool are closing in on a move to sign Frimpong, however, Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, says the German club are in the dark about a possible deal.

‘Jeremie Frimpong has a long contract with us, which also has an exit clause, but we are currently unaware of any transfer,’ Carro told RTL.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen are also facing the prospect of losing Florian Wirtz, who is attracting interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City ahead of the summer transfer window.

- Chris Davie

BAYERN MÜNCHEN'S EMMANUEL NEUER GETS TWO-GAME BAN AFTER RWD CARD

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has been given a two-game German Cup ban for "unsportsmanlike conduct" in Tuesday's match against Bayer Leverkusen, the country's football federation (DFB) said on Thursday.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper received the first red card in his near two-decade-long career after he came off his line and knocked down Jeremie Frimpong.

Following the incident, Neuer was sent off by referee Harm Osmers in the 17th minute of Bayern's 1-0 loss to Leverkusen.

"The player is also banned from all of his club's other cup matches until the ban expires," DFB said in a statement.

Manuel Neuer was shown his first-ever red card on Tuesday. Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty Images

"According to established DFB case law, the prevention of an obvious scoring chance by a non-serious foul without subsequent scoring usually entails a two-match suspension."

The ban only applies to domestic cup matches and since Bayern are out of the German Cup, Neuer would not serve it until next season.

Neuer's contract at Bayern also expires at the end of this season, and should he decide not to extend it, retire, or leave German football, he might never serve this ban.

- Reuters 

MAN UNITED TARGET BAYERN MUNICH'S NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI - SOURCE

Noussair Mazraoui © Gallo Images

Manchester United are looking at a number of potential right-back signings including Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui, a source has told ESPN.

United would like to add another right-back to their squad this summer, but it is likely to depend on Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaving Old Trafford.

Bayern defender Mazraoui is one of the names under consideration while the club has previously held an interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong. A source has told ESPN that the 26-year-old Morocco international will be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena if Bayern's valuation is met.

United have signed 18-year-old centre-back Leny Yoro from Lille, but remain open to further defensive additions during the window.

There is still interest in Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, although the German side are demanding a fee of more than £42 million.

United will consider offers for Wan-Bissaka, who has been the subject of interest from Galatasaray and West Ham United, and are hoping to return a fee of around £20m. The 26-year-old has one year left on his contract at Old Trafford.

Wan-Bissaka is likely to be part of the United squad which travels to Los Angeles on Wednesday for the start of their preseason tour with matches against Arsenal and Real Betis.

United are set to take a reduced number of staff to the U.S. amid plans to cut around 250 jobs from the workforce. A number of staff who have been told their jobs are at risk have been taken off the tour with the cost-cutting drive, led by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, set to accelerate.

United declined to comment when asked about the staff reductions.

LEVERKUSEN,ROMA, ATALANTA, MARSEILLE,INTO EUROPA LEAGUE S.F.

 Liverpool failed to overcome a three-goal deficit and was eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday despite beating Atalanta 1-0 in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup.

The result officially ended Liverpool’s hopes of a treble of trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield, though the feat had looked unlikely after the Italian team won 3-0 in the first leg in Merseyside.

“We won the game and that was the reaction we wanted to show,” Klopp told TNT Sports. “It was difficult and we knew it would be, but Atalanta deserve to go through, 100%."

Days after celebrating its first-ever Bundesliga title, Bayer Leverkusen remained on course to claim a historic treble by holding West Ham to a 1-1 draw at London Stadium to stretch its unbeaten streak to 44. Xabi Alonso's team advanced to the semifinals 3-1 on aggregate.

Leverkusen will face Roma in the last four after the capital club beat AC Milan 2-1 in an all-Italian quarterfinal to advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Michail Antonio put West Ham ahead early, heading in a cross from Vladimir Coufal. Jeremie Frimpong came off the bench and equalized in the 89th minute to clinch the aggregate victory and extend the team's unbeaten run.

Alonso’s team will play second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final in Berlin on May 25, three days after the Europa League final in Dublin.

In Bergamo, Liverpool had a dream start after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross hit Matteo Ruggeri’s hand. Mohamed Salah sent goalkeeper Juan Musso the wrong way from the penalty spot for an early lead in the seventh minute.

But the Reds failed to convert any other chances — a long way off from their 5-0 win at Atalanta in the Champions League in 2020.

Atalanta will meet Marseille after the French team topped Benfica 4-2 in a shootout after winning 1-0 to level the aggregate score at 2-2.

With the English League Cup already secured, Liverpool still hopes for a second Premier League title under its German manager but is now in third and two points adrift of first-place Manchester City.

Inconsistent in Serie A, Atalanta has been shining in the second-tier continental league this season. Thursday’s loss was its first in the campaign after six wins and three draws.

It’s only the second time the Italian club reached the semifinals of a European competition.

In Rome, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi marked an extension of his contract announced earlier Thursday by reaching the last four with his team reduced to 10 men.

Gianluca Mancini put the hosts 1-0 up early at Stadio Olimpico after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s shot bounced off the post and the defender was in the right place to net. Mancini also scored the winner in the first leg at San Siro last week.

Paulo Dybala doubled the advantage in the 22nd.

Roma defender Zeki Celik received a red card on the half-hour mark for fouling Rafael Leão but Milan only halved the deficit with a Matteo Gabbia header five minutes from time.

Milan, the seven-time European champion, is second in the Serie A, trailing leader Inter by 14 points on the way to finish the season without a trophy after it was knocked out of the Italian Cup.

After Arsenal and Manchester City were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday, the Premier League clubs were knocked out also from second-tier Europa League.

Aston Villa remains the only English club in Europe in the third-tier Europa Conference League.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Emiliano Martínez saved two spot kicks and Douglas Luiz converted the decisive penalty for Villa to prevail 4-3 in a shootout over Lille and advance to the Europa Conference League semifinals.

After Villa won the first leg of their quarterfinals 2-1 last week, Yusuf Yazıcı and Benjamin André scored in each half for Lille's 2-0 lead before defender Matty Cash's 87th-minute goal evened the aggregate score 3-3 to force extra time.

Villa is into its first European semifinal since 1982 and will face Olympiakos which beat Fenerbahce 3-2 on penalties for a spot in the May 29 final in Athens.

Fiorentina, last year's runnerup, also reached the semifinals after Nicolás González and Cristiano Biraghi both scored in extra time to edge 10-man Viktoria Plzeň 2-0 in the second leg. The opening leg was a goalless draw. The Italian team will face Club Brugge, which won 2-0 at PAOK to advance 3-0 on aggregate, Plzeň’s Brazilian midfielder Cadu received a red card in the 66th minute.