Transfer Gossip: Liverpool verbally agree £55m follow up Mac Allister signing as midfield transformation continues; West Ham line up perfect Rice replacement
Khephren Thuram and Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice
Liverpool are ready to follow up their capture of Alexis Mac Allister with the addition of a £55million Ligue 1 midfielder, while Friday’s Transfer Gossip claims that West Ham have picked out their perfect replacement for departing skipper Declan Rice.
KLOPP CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER MIDFIELD SIGNING
Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram has verbally agreed to personal terms with Liverpool as the Reds look to follow up the signing of Alexis Mac Allister in quick fashion.
The France midfielder has been on Jurgen Klopp’s radar since the January window and was in advanced talks over a transfer back then. But now FootballTransfers reports that the two parties have agreed a deal in principle.
Talks are reportedly underway over a fee, although Nice are known to want maximum value for the player.
The 22-year-old also has numerous suitors chasing his signature, including Premier League rivals Newcastle. However, Thuram’s entourage have been pushing for a move to Anfield instead.
FootballTransfers adds that Klopp is a huge fan of the player and although the Reds eventually decided against a January move they have ramped up their pursuit this summer.
Liverpool have already made a major addition to their midfield in the shape of Mac Allister.
Nice midfield target could cost £55m
The Merseysiders snapped up the Brighton man after paying is release clause of £35million, and while Thuram has a price tag of around £55m it’s understood that Nice will accept a bit less as long as the payment is not in instalments – something PSG were knocked back for in their approach for the player.
Manu Kone also remains a target for Liverpool and talks are well underway for the Borussia Monchengladbach star, as well. However, there has been no real breakthrough at this stage.
Kone would be available for around £30m but also has other Premier League interest in the shape of Chelsea and Newcastle.
WEST HAM IDENTIFY RICE REPLACEMENT
West Ham are keen to bring in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha to replace Declan Rice, who is expected to complete a move away from the London Stadium following the club’s Europa Conference League win.
Confirmation of the club’s swift about-face to this summer’s transfer business came in chairman David Sullivan’s comments on Thursday, where he said they had to ‘get a replacement – or several replacements’ for their wantaway skipper.
And the Daily Mail reports that Palhinha has been identified as the No 1 target after impressing in his debut campaign in south London.
The Portugal international anchored a strong Fulham midfield and led the league with 147 tackles last term.
Despite the Cottagers only parting with the £20million required to bring him to the club 12 months ago, West Ham remain confident that they can convince the player to make the switch across London this summer.
Elsewhere, Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips is another name in the frame. The Hammers have a long-standing interest in the 27-year-old, who they bid £50m for in January 2022 before he left Leeds for City in the next window.
Manchester United star Scott McTominay is also being looked at but Newcastle remain favourites to sign the Scotland star.
EVERTON FLOP FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Besiktas chief Ahmet Nur Cebi insists his side won’t be pursuing another move for Everton flop Dele Alli this summer, after his disappointing spell at the club this season.
The Besiktas president has been quoted by Bein Sports in Turkey commenting on the Toffees midfielder after his loan spell with the Turkish side came to an end.
Alli was shipped out to Turkey in a high-profile deal last summer after it was made clear he was not a part of Everton’s plans moving forwards, despite having only joined from Tottenham in the January transfer window.
The hope was that he could rejuvenate his career in the Super Lig and potentially secure a permanent move. However, that has not proven to be the case as he has spent much of the campaign failing to live up to expectations.
Indeed, he was eventually left out of the squad altogether and Besiktas even tried to cancel his loan deal early in January such was their disappointment.
He’s now set to return to return to Merseyside and Cebi has hit out at the move, insisting they never got the player they thought they were getting.
“Our contract with Dele Alli is over,” he said.
“He was a player we were very excited about when he came. He won’t come back. We didn’t get what we expected from him. I hope he recovers as a human.”
