Liverpool are hopeful of pulling off the signing of defender Mamadou Sakho after he told PSG he is desperate to move to Anfield this summer. Brendan Rodgers is keen to add another centre back to his squad before the transfer window shuts on September 2, and Sakho is a key target. The Reds have already approached PSG to discuss a deal, but their opening offer of £8million was rejected, with the French club speaking to other clubs about the player. However, Sakho has made it clear to PSG this week that Liverpool is the only club he is interested in joining, and had ordered them to let him move to Merseyside.Liverpool have so far failed to return with a new offer for the 23-year-old, but his agent has briefed Rodgers that a bid of around £12million would be enough to do business. Sakho currently scoops around £60,000-a-week at PSG, which is topped up further with large performance related bonuses. It's a giant salary that Liverpool would be uncomfortable with paying, but Sakho is believed to be so keen to make the move, he would be consider lowering it. Arsenal, Tottenham and AC Milan have previously been linked with the defender, who is targeting regular playing time ahead of the World Cup next year. Source: Metro
Derby manager Nigel Clough claims that the club have not received any offers for wonderkid Will Hughes - but admits the midfielder could leave amid interest from Liverpool. Liverpool are reportedly close to agreeing a £10million deal for 18-year-old Hughes, but Clough denies any firm bids have been submitted. The England U21 star has been tracked by a number of top European sides over the last 12 months, and Clough admits it would be hard for Derby to hold firm if a substantial offer was lodged. "If somebody comes in through the front door and makes an official enquiry or bid, we will have to react to it," he said. "But we are not in a situation where we have to do anything, which is lovely.""There's obviously speculation about Will Hughes flying around but we have had no bids or contact from anyone. Nothing has changed. "I cannot predict what is going to happen but I do not see it changing. I think it will be pretty much as we are when the window closes, unless there is somebody sitting there with an awful lot of money burning a hole in their pocket." Liverpool have been linked with a £10m approach, but the Reds could face stiff competition for Hughes' signature given the number of scouts who attended Pride Park last season to watch him. Manchester United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and even Barcelona have been tracking the Surrey-born youngster as he broke into the Derby side.And ahead of the Rams' trip to Yeovil on Saturday, Clough said Hughes would only be leaving for a fee in excess of £6m. "Nobody knows what we want or what the fee is going to be because we have not got a specific valuation in mind," said Clough. "Would it be more than £6million? Yes, I think it is fair to say that. We just think it is going to be a very, very substantial figure to tempt him away." Source: Daily Express
The agent of Liverpool target Jorginho has revealed AC Milan are interested in his client. Liverpool have been tracking the 21-year-old Hellas Verona star for the past few months, but they face competition for his signature from within Italy with Serie A giants Milan and Fiorentina also keen. Milan are thought to have accelerated their interest in the last few weeks, although his representative Joao Santos says the San Siro club are yet to produce a formal offer to Verona. He told TuttoMercatoWeb: "There has been contact, it's true. But Milan has not made a deal with Hellas Verona. Contact only, but nothing concrete. "Jorginho would be good not only for Milan, but for all the teams who have followed him. He wants to play for Verona first of all." Brazil-born Jorginho, who has appeared for Italy's U21 side, helped Verona secure promotion from Serie B last term and is preparing for his first campaign in Italy's top-flight.
not merging it as I don't think it fits with this thread. Plus, my comment might drill up a bit of interest too
Atletico Madrid have had a bid rejected for Ajax star Toby Alderweireld, according to reports in Belgium. The 24-year-old has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs this summer, including Norwich, Tottenham and Liverpool, but he is yet to secure a move away from the Dutch capital. He's also courted interest from Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg and Spartak Moscow, but he could be on his way to Spain. Atletico have had an initial offer for the Belgium defender turned down, with Ajax seeking a fee in the region of £6.4m for the player who is out of contract next summer.
BR doesn't look too depressed here... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Same with Luis... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
£6.4m was turned down. Norwich had a £7m big accepted (but the player did not agree to). So around £7m is his fee.
£7m doesn't sound too bad either. Assuming we miss out on Sahko. He's right footed too, as opposed to Sahko and Agger.
Alder is a right footed Agger but not as good. He is not the CB we need IMO. Papa and Sakho are those types of defenders, I'm sure there will be others out there but I appear to have left my 'central defenders of the world' scrap book at home
I do like Alder - I think he's a classy defender and can play RB. As you say, he's a right footed version of Agger. I also agree that we need a different type of defender. A fully fit Papa is the ideal target - young, tall, beast in the air, mental in the head. Shame about his knee but I hope it does get better and we eventually go in for him in January. Sakho is another good shout but he's left footed. If he was paired up with Agger, who would play on the right hand side of defence? ...
