Football transfer news and rumours: ‘Liverpool told to pay £70m for Naby Keita – but will Guinea international press for a move?’

LONDON, June 27: Liverpool will have to part with an eye-watering £70 million if they want to land RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, says The Independent.

The Guinea international is keen on a move to Anfield after starring in his debut season in the Bundesliga.

Keita is seen as the all-action midfielder Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp craves, but the hefty transfer fee may preclude the Merseysiders from following up their interest, having already spent nearly £35m on Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah last week.

Liverpool have enquired about Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after talks over extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium stalled, according to The Daily Mirror.

The 23 year-old has only 12 months left to run on his current contract and Liverpool could take advantage of the delay in signing a new deal by swooping for the £25-rated England international.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is also attracting the attention of Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.

Manchester City are confident of signing Juventus’ Brazilian full-back Dani Alves this week, reveals The Sun, although Chelsea and Tottenham have also both been linked with the 34 year-old.

Today’s Daily Telegraph reports Manchester United are optimistic they will be able to bring Nemanja Matic to Old Trafford – but the Serbian is only manager Jose Mourinho’s third choice midfield target.

Mourinho had been eyeing Tottenham’s Eric Dier and Radja Nainggolan of Roma, but, with United unable to make headway, it seems Matic is the most viable option.

While Chelsea would prefer to hang on to Matic, an offer of around £40m may be enough to entice the Blues into letting the 28-year-old join a Premier League rival.

The Daily Star writes West Ham want to lure Arsenal pair Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud across London and hope the Gunners will be receptive to a £50m bid for the duo.

Walcott and Giroud have struggled to perform consistently during their time in north London, but while Arsene Wenger would not stand in their way if they want to leave for Upton Park, a lot may depend on whether the Frenchman could replace them.

The Sun reports Claudio Ranieri is plotting to raid his old club Leicester for midfielder Papy Mendy.

The new Nantes boss is keen to reunite with Mendy, a player he brought to the King Power Stadium last summer but who has only made nine appearances for the Foxes after struggling with injury.

The Daily Mail claims former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho is on Barcelona’s radar and the Catalan giants could move for the Brazilian if they fail to land their No 1 transfer target, Marco Veratti, who is reportedly unsettled at Paris St Germain.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 18-year-old goalkeeper, says he will make a decision over his AC Milan future once he has fulfilled his commitments with Italy Under-21s at the European Championship, according to Marca.

Donnarumma is attracting the attention of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Virgil van Dijk is valued at £70m by Southampton, writes The Guardian, and remains of interest to Liverpool boss Klopp, while Chelsea and Manchester City have also expressed an interest in the Dutch international.

Leicester City have been told they will have to pay at least £40m if they want Swansea City’s 27-year-old attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

And finally, Chelsea are interested in Sevilla’s 27-year-old winger Vitolo, who would cost about £35m.

And the rest…

And the prize for most unlikely deal goes to…

The Daily Star, which claims arsenal and Manchester City are weighing up a sensational straight swap of strikers Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero.

The paper even goes as far as to say that ‘discussions have been held about the South Americans switching clubs this summer’.

They’ve even got Ian Wright to chip in with a quote. “What I would like is for Arsenal to buy Aguero. Then we win the league off the back of that, simple as that.”

Is this a clue?

Man Utd fans are getting all in a tizzy with Alvaro Morata’s new wife supposedly dropping the biggest hint yet that the Spaniard is on his way to Old Trafford.

Alice Campello has begun following United on Instagram, with Jose Mourinho reportedly keen to get a deal finalised for Morata next week. THE TELEGRAPH