Manchester United have been backed to submit an offer for a new England target very soon, there are conflicting reports surrounding a Liverpool player heading to one of their rivals for European qualification, while Sunday’s Transfer Gossip reveals West Ham’s first setback as they aim to land a replacement for Declan Rice.
MAN UTD WANT NEW ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL
Harry Kane and Mason Mount are not the only players in Gareth Southgate’s England squad that Man Utd want to capture, as they are also interested in snapping up Jordan Pickford from Everton, as per a report.
Pickford was a busy man last season as Everton struggled in the Premier League and only just avoided relegation to the Championship. They beat Bournemouth 1-0 on the final day to save their top-flight status and send Leeds and Leicester down.
The goalkeeper remains one of Everton’s most highly rated players thanks to his great shot-stopping ability and organisational skills. Indeed, he is constantly shouting at his defenders, getting them to pick up opposition attackers.
Toffees boss Sean Dyche would love to keep working with Pickford as he knows how important the 29-year-old is to both the Everton backline and dressing room. However, given Pickford is now at the peak of his powers, it would be understandable if he wanted to move on and play at a higher level. And that is exactly what Man Utd are planning to offer him.
The Sun reveal that Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is eager to replace David de Gea with Pickford, who has won 52 caps for England and remains Southgate’s number one.
Man Utd previously viewed Illan Meslier of Leeds as De Gea’s perfect successor. However, Meslier looked poor at times during the 2022-23 campaign and is therefore no longer being considered for a transfer.
A Man Utd bid for Pickford seems imminent as the report claims the Red Devils are ‘ready’ to make their move for him.
Everton are protected by Pickford’s contract, which runs until June 2027. However, it is stated that they need to sell some of their most valuable players this summer to improve their finances and Pickford could therefore be let go.
Jordan Pickford wanted by three clubs
Man Utd are being tipped to sign him for £30m, which seems like great value given the keeper’s experience and contract situation.
The League Cup winners may face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham and Aston Villa for Pickford. Tottenham are in the market for a new keeper as Hugo Lloris prepares to move on, while Villa would like to sign Pickford if they have to sell current number one Emiliano Martinez.
However, Man Utd are thought to be the frontrunners for Pickford as things stand. If Everton do not accept their initial proposal, then Man Utd could offer Tom Heaton as part of a player-plus-cash deal. Dyche may be attracted by this offer as he trusted Heaton during their time together at Burnley.
Man Utd could end up spending a total of £130m on Pickford and Kane this summer. Kane’s Spurs deal runs out next year and he is likely to push for a move away from the club due to their struggles in the most recent campaign.
Ten Hag is a huge admirer of the lethal striker and would love to take him to Old Trafford. Man Utd should have the finances to spend around £100m on him, too.
However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is known to be a tough negotiator and he could resultantly up the price to nearer £150m. Plus, Man Utd will have to fend off Real Madrid for the England captain as Carlo Ancelotti has recently told the Spanish giants to get involved in the transfer chase.
The Manchester giants are in the mix for Chelsea’s Mount too, although it remains to be seen whether they can agree on a price. Chelsea have set their asking price at £75m, which seems like a lot of money as Mount prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
LIVERPOOL MAN TIPPED TO SIGN FOR ASTON VILLA
There are conflicting reports around the future of Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with one source claiming he is close to signing for Aston Villa and another downplaying such rumours.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is getting ready to leave Liverpool on a free transfer as his contract will expire at the end of June. He has made 146 appearances for the Reds since joining in August 2017 but is no longer a part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans due to injury problems.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is hopeful of joining another Prem club so he can get back to full fitness and become a regular starter again. And on Saturday, the Englishman was linked with a move to Villa.
talkSPORT revealed how Oxlade-Chamberlain could follow Youri Tielemans to Villa Park, following the announcement that the Belgium international had swapped Leicester for Unai Emery’s team.
talkSPORT claimed talks had been held between Oxlade-Chamberlain’s camp and Villa representatives.
Although, The Athletic reporter Gregg Evans has attempted to shut down such talk. On Twitter, he wrote: ‘Nothing in the reports on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at this stage, though. Villa are not close to signing him.’
The Times have also stated in a report that Villa are not engaging in discussions with Oxlade-Chamberlain, leaving his future in doubt.
The signing of Tielemans means there is no real need for Villa to bring Oxlade-Chamberlain in. After all, Emery already has midfielders such as Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Leander Dendoncker in his squad. And Tielemans will be a fine addition to that list.
For Oxlade-Chamberlain, it is more likely he will sign for a team playing outside of any European competition. While he has shown his talent with both Arsenal and Liverpool, the 29-year-old has had a torrid time with injuries in recent seasons. And his age will work against him too, as he will turn 30 in August.
WEST HAM WARNED OFF FULHAM STAR
West Ham may have been named as potential suitors for Fulham ace Joao Palhinha, but they will have a tough time snaring him from their London rivals.
Friday’s Transfer Gossip revealed how West Ham are interested in signing Palhinha to replace Declan Rice. The England star is highly likely to depart the London Stadium ahead of next season after Irons chairman David Sullivan promised he could go.
West Ham’s pursuit of the Portugal international was always going to be an ambitious one given the fact Fulham only signed him last summer. However, West Ham view themselves as an attractive destination thanks to the money they’ll get from Rice’s departure and their Europa Conference League victory.
On Twitter, talkSPORT have reiterated the fact West Ham would like to bring Palhinha in. They also claim he has a release clause in his Fulham contract, which runs until 2027.
But Fulham owner Tony Khan has handed West Ham their first big setback in their hunt for a new midfielder. Responding to talkSPORT’s update, he categorically stated ‘there is no release clause’ in Palhinha’s deal.
Rather than being able to pay a set price for the battle-hardened 27-year-old, West Ham will have to negotiate a deal with Fulham. And Khan will likely tell David Moyes’ side to pay a huge amount, which could force them to look into alternative midfield captures.
West Ham have also put James Ward-Prowse and Kalvin Phillips on their list of possible replacements for Rice. But it looks set to be a hard position to bolster as Phillips wants to stay at City and Ward-Prowse has been given a major £52m price tag by Southampton.
