Man Utd scout highly-rated Benfica duo as €220m double transfer coup gathers pace
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to rebuild the Man Utd squad in the summer, the club looks set for a busy summer transfer window with plenty of ins and outs.
Given the long-term future of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen is up in the air, the club is keen to strengthen this department in the summer with a younger alternative.
Likewise, they are also looking at signing a new centre-half as Raphael Varane is currently set to depart at the end of the season, given his contract is up.
With those positions in mind, Man Utd have turned their attention to a Benfica duo. According to Portuguese outlet Record, Man Utd scouts were in attendance at Benfica’s latest game.
The first player they were watching was Joao Neves, who has garnered plenty of hype throughout the season so far.
At just 19 years old, the holding midfielder has already racked up 67 appearances for Benfica and he’s been attracting interest from all over Europe.
Along with Man Utd, the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with the midfielder. Neves is under contract with Benfica until 2028, but his deal does include a mammoth €120m (£102.7m) release clause.
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Another Benfica star on Man Utd’s radar
Neves would be a superb addition to the Man Utd squad, although he’s not the only Benfica player who’s currently being tracked by the Red Devils.
According to the same report, scouts were also keeping tabs on Antonio Silva. The 20-year-old centre-half has been a target for Man Utd for some time and the club is clearly doing their homework on the player.
Silva is under contract until 2027 and he has a release clause within his deal which is worth a reported €100m (£85.7m).
Reports from earlier this year claimed that United have made contact with the agency Gestifute over a deal for Silva.
While his release clause stands at 100m, the Red Devils believe they could swing a deal for around €50m (£42.8m). However, it remains to be seen if Benfica would be willing to accept an offer for Silva which is half of his release clause.
The defender certainly has a bright future ahead of him and along with being linked with Man Utd, he’s also drawn attention from Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid according to TEAMtalk sources.
If Man Utd do decide to trigger the release clauses of both Silva and Neves, they would end up paying a whopping €220m, so it stands to reason they’d try and negotiate down the prices for both players.
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Liverpool ‘leading the race’ for £47m winger after scouting mission pays off; Man Utd, Chelsea left behind
Liverpool are ‘keeping a close eye’ on Palmeiras wonderkid Luis Guilherme, per reports, and will compete with Manchester United and Chelsea for his signature.
Dubbed ‘the next Kylian Mbappe’ by pundits, the 18-year-old is considered to be one of the most exciting young forwards in South America.
Guilherme can play as a winger on either flank or as an attacking midfielder and has made 33 senior appearances to date for Palmeiras.
He is yet to score but his sky-high potential is clear to see. Palmeiras’ youth director Joao Paulo Sampaio believes the goals will arrive for Guilherme soon.
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“We played in a tournament in Japan and Luis scored over 40 goals. The Japanese players were scared of him. But Luis doesn’t get carried away. He knows the potential he has. He’s a very special player.”
Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on Guilherme’s progress for some time but are not alone in the race for the teenager.
Man Utd and Chelsea have previously been linked with the Palmeiras star, so we could see multiple bids lodged for him this summer.Related video: Liverpool's Klopp REPLACEMENT (ClutchPoints)
No, not that Pep Pep Lenders Leanders is an integral
Liverpool pushing to sign Luis Guilherme
According to a report cited by The Kop Times, Liverpool are ‘leading the race’ for Guilherme after ‘scouting’ him for some time and believe he can become a top class player in the future.
Palmeiras are ‘fully aware’ of the interest in the youngster, however, and will demand a big fee for him this summer.
Guilherme only signed a new contract with the Brazilian club in November – which is valid until 2026 – which has increased his market value.
It’s claimed that only offers in excess of £47m will be considered by Palmeiras and a number of top sides will be in the race for him.
Liverpool are keen to bring in another winger, especially with Mohamed Salah looking like he’ll be on the way out in the summer.
Salah was the subject of a £150m bid from Saudi club Al Ittihad last summer and they are likely to reignite their interest in the coming months.
With the Egyptian king’s contract at Anfield set to expire in 2025, it’s likely he will be sold if another huge offer is lodged for him.
Guilherme would be more of a long-term investment than an instant replacement for Salah at Liverpool, but it would certainly be beneficial for the Reds to have him as cover in the winger position.
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Latest Klopp schtick is to claim not to know Arsenal or Man City fixtures
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not care that his side are now considered favourites to win the Premier League.
Sunday’s win over Brighton, combined with Manchester City and Arsenal’s goalless draw, elevated the Reds back to the top of the table with nine matches to go.
Klopp dismisses Liverpool favourites tag
But Klopp is well aware, with a round of midweek fixtures followed closely by games at the weekend, the situation can change in an instant.
“It is nothing we are obviously aware of. The situation is, for us, Sheffield United, and not who is the favourite,” he said ahead of Thursday’s home game against the rock-bottom Blades.
“I am pretty sure when we lost at Arsenal (on February 4) we were not favourites after that – maybe rightly so – but I don’t know and I don’t care.
“One of the most important things to get through this period is to ignore the outside ‘mess’ as it goes up and down and is emotional.
“We have to be professional – be emotional but in the right way – and be the best version of ourselves, play the best football we can play and then let’s see what the outcome is.
“There are no guarantees, there are just opportunities. The clearer the opportunity, the more likely you can take it.”
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Liverpool are the last of the title chasers to play, with City and Arsenal’s matches on Wednesday, but Klopp will not be tuning in to see how their rivals get on.
“I didn’t even know they played (on Wednesday night),” he added. “I expect them always to win.Related video: Mikel Arteta prepares Arsenal for 'most beautiful part of the season' (Daily Mail)
“I told you one story, years ago, I watched a game and wanted Leicester to win (against Manchester City in 2019) and it didn’t happen.
“That was the last time that I did that. That’s when you learn from the past. When they play, my heart-rate doesn’t go up.
“We need to get our points in, win our football games.”
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If Liverpool are favourites for the title they are even shorter odds to dispatch a Blades side which have conceded 77 goals in 29 matches and have a goal difference of minus 50 after managing just three wins, just one away from home, all season.
It looks like an easy task against a team who have not kept a clean sheet in four months, with Sunday’s visit to Old Trafford – where only three weeks ago Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup – the bigger hurdle.
However, Klopp will not be taking the visitors lightly.
“If I would think now about Manchester United, our people (fans) would have a right to think I am already too long in the chair,” he said.
“It makes no sense. You cannot win football games not respecting the opponent. I have no chance of influencing the Manchester United game at the moment. We will play players who are available.
“We want to use them, for example Curtis (Jones) is back but it doesn’t mean he can play 90 minutes. Other players might need rhythm because we need them. How can we do that?
“It has nothing to do with the Manchester United game, Sheffield United deserve our full respect and they will get it.”
Left-back Andy Robertson is also available after missing Sunday with an injury sustained on Scotland duty.
Liverpool surely out of manager race as Juventus begin ‘monitoring’ target to replace Jurgen Klopp
Juventus have joined Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the race for Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi, according to reports.
De Zerbi is one of the names in the mix to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this summer.
More evidence Liverpool will avoid De Zerbi
Earlier this week, David Ornstein reported that the Italian joining Liverpool is ‘incredibly unlikely’, leaving Sporting’s Ruben Amorim as the leading candidate.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk boss has done a fantastic job at the Amex, guiding Brighton into Europe for the first time.
His work has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich also searching for a new manager, while Manchester United and Chelsea could be managerless by June.
Brighton’s form this season has been very inconsistent, which could put off interested clubs, but there is strong evidence that he is a top coach.
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There is also evidence growing that Liverpool are going further to distance themselves from De Zerbi following Ornstein’s report.
That is because, according to HITC journalist Graeme Bailey, Juventus are prepared to fight for the Brighton boss’ signature amidst uncertainty over the future of Max Allegri.
Bailey claims that the Serie A giants are currently ‘monitoring’ De Zerbi, who reportedly has a release clause worth around £12million.
It is noted that there is a chance the Old Lady join the managerial hunt at the end of the season after Allegri failed to inspire a title challenge.Related video: Liverpool's Klopp REPLACEMENT (ClutchPoints)
for next season Spoilers Xabi Alonso will not be mentioned
His side are currently third in the Italian top flight, 20 points behind champions-elect Inter with eight matches remaining.
At least a return to the Champions League looks likely, although it does not look like Allegri will lead the club back into the big time next term, with his position under ‘consideration’.
Juventus are now ‘doing their own due diligence on potential candidates and one name they are very much interested in is De Zerbi’ as they prepare for competition from Bayern and Barcelona.
On top of the level of interest elsewhere, Liverpool’s not prioritising De Zerbi hints that the club’s owners will steer clear of the Brighton gaffer.
As mentioned, Sporting head coach Amorim appears to be the man the Reds will seek to replace Klopp.
The 39-year-old is doing a stellar job in the Portuguese capital and is the man the club’s fans want after Xabi Alonso ruled himself out of the running.
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Next Man Utd manager: International boss is of ‘increasing interest’ as Ratcliffe considers Ten Hag replacement
© PA Images
An international manager is of ‘increasing interest’ to Manchester United according to reports as Sir Jim Ratcliffe considers Erik ten Hag’s future.
It’s no secret that the Red Devils have fallen below expectations this season and as a result, the long-term future of Ten Hag is currently up in the air.
In March, TEAMtalk exclusively revealed that the Dutch boss is regarded as a ‘dead man walking’ by club insiders with the 54-year-old likely to be relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
Of course, Ten Hag could still have the chance to save his job, especially if Man Utd manage to win the FA Cup and end the Premier League campaign on a high note.
While the speculation surrounding the Man Utd boss continues to grow, the club have been eyeing up some alternatives in the dugout.
According to The Independent, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is of ‘increasing interest’ to Man Utd if they do decide to sack Ten Hag at the end of the season.
Nagelsmann is currently fully focused on the upcoming Euros tournament, although with his contract set to expire in the summer, he is being eyed up by a number of top European clubs.
Along with Man Utd sniffing around the 36-year-old, Nagelsmann is also on Bayern Munich’s shortlist to replace Thomas Tuchel and he’s been linked with Liverpool too.Related video: Ten Hag on Utd injury latest ahead of trip to Chelsea (Dailymotion)
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Ten Hag not sweating over his future
While there have been multiple reports regarding Ten Hag and his future at the club, the Dutch boss doesn’t seem to be paying any attention to the external noise.
“You know when you are working at Man United there will always be noise, rumours around the club, the manager, the players, whatever,” Ten Hag told reporters.
“There will always (an) issue – you like it, to talk about. Of course we have different interests, but we are not focusing on that.
“We are focusing on the process, we are focusing on the team to play better, to improve the way of play, so I don’t care about (it).”
Man Utd currently find themselves sixth in the table and nine points adrift of Tottenham above them, with a game in hand.
In order for Ten Hag to restore some faith in his abilities, he really could do with a strong end to the season in both the Premier League and FA Cup.
Along with considering Nagelsmann for the job, reports recently emerged that Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is also a contender for the Old Trafford hot seat.
McKenna spent several years at Man Utd as a coach and his stock has risen tremendously since leaving as he currently has Ipswich sat at the top of the Championship.
England boss Gareth Southgate has also been linked with the United job of late, although his full focus will be on the Euros for the time being.
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Liverpool ecstatic with crucial and most valuable Atalanta star to miss both legs of Europa League tie
The chances of Liverpool making it through to the Europa League semi-finals have been given a big lift, with Atalanta reportedly having to cope without key star Giorgio Scalvini.
Liverpool won four out of their six Europa League group matches to finish top of Group E, with Toulouse following them through in second place. The fact Liverpool qualified in top spot meant they avoided the knockout round play-offs.
Instead, Jurgen Klopp’s side faced Sparta Prague in the round of 16. Liverpool blew the Czech giants away over two legs, picking up a huge 11-2 aggregate victory.
The Reds have been drawn against Italian outfit Atalanta in the quarter-finals. While Gian Piero Gasperini’s side only sit sixth in the Italian top flight, they can still be very tricky opponents.
Indeed, they finished third in Serie A for three seasons in a row between 2019 and 2021, while also reaching the Champions League last eight in the 2019-20 campaign.
However, Atalanta’s task of dumping Liverpool out of Europe has just been made significantly harder. Scalvini, the 20-year-old defender who has forced his way into the Italy national team, will miss both matches against Klopp’s men.
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The centre-back went down injured during Atalanta’s 3-0 away win over Napoli on Saturday and was ultimately substituted.
As per Tutto Atalanta, Scalvini has injured his hamstring and now faces an extended period on the sidelines. He will be out of action for the rest of April.
Giorgio Scalvini to miss Atalanta vs Liverpool games
That means Scalvini will not be available to face Liverpool in the first leg at Anfield on Thursday April 11, or the return leg in Italy on Thursday April 18.
Despite Scalvini’s tender age, he has established himself as a vital player for Atalanta in the last two seasons.
He made 34 appearances last term and has already matched that figure this campaign.
The right-footed star is an intelligent player who helps Atalanta play out from the back, while he is also an imposing figure at 6ft 4in, which means he can challenge big strikers.
Scalvini’s top performances have seen him become Atalanta’s most valuable player, with transfermarkt rating him at €45m (£39m). That is more than other notable stars such as Teun Koopmeiners, Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca.
Without Scalvini in their backline, Atalanta will be more susceptible to Liverpool players such as Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah getting in behind and causing all sorts of problems.
Atalanta will also have less protection from set pieces, which could play into the hands of Virgil van Dijk.
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