What price a set-piece maestro? Southampton are straining every sinew to deter suitors for James Ward-Prowse, with West Ham apparently joining Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham in making eyes at the midfielder. Saints’ response is to slap a £75m price tag on Ward-Prowse and see if anyone still wants to bite.
Richarlison is certainly keeping the Mill churning this summer and the Daily Star reports that a host of Chelsea stars want Thomas Tuchel to pursue the Everton playmaker as he remoulds his squad under their glossy new corporate ownership. His “gamesmanship and never-say-die attitude” are just what his potential teammates need, it says here. In other Blues news, Nice are keen on a loan deal for their goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Ajax are keen on bringing Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn back to the Eredivisie. Spurs want at least £25m for the winger, mind, but the Dutch champions have a bit of cash in their pocket after flogging Sébastien Haller to Borussia Dortmund, so may persist. Bergwijn, for his part, wants regular football in the run-up to the World Cup so could be tempted.
Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio has been linked with Liverpool and Milan, with the Daily Mail suggesting the attacking midfielder would prefer a move to the Serie A champions. Jürgen Klopp is keen on Asensio, who is entering the final year of his contract at the Bernabéu, but the player is not sure how much regular action he would get at Anfield.
The promising teenager Malcolm Ebiowei has always looked likely to be plucked from the stricken carcass of Derby and Crystal Palace have seemingly emerged as his likeliest destination. The 18-year-old winger, who scored eight goals in 29 Championship appearances for the relegated side last season, has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, but latest reports suggest Patrick Vieira will bring him to Selhurst Park.
At the other end of football’s obscene financial scales, Goal reports that Paris Saint-Germain have intimated they are willing to sell Neymar if they get what they consider a decent offer, whatever that might be given how much they paid for him. But the Brazilian is happy enough winning domestic titles at a canter and wants to stay.
On to another Brazilian, Raphina, who Leeds are desperately trying to keep from the clutches of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. If they do lose him though, PSV’s Cody Gakpo could be a replacement. Foot Mercato reports that Jesse Marsch is sizing up a bid for the 23-year-old Dutch international winger.
Alfredo Morelos’s five-year spell at Rangers could be coming to an end, with Sevilla lining up a £7m bid for the forward, who is entering the final year of his contract at Ibrox. El Chiringuito reckons the Colombian is tempted by the idea but Rangers are likely to raise the asking price.
And Brighton are sniffing around the Reims and Zimbabwe midfielder Marshall Munetsi as they seek to replace Yves Bissouma.
