Transfer news LIVE: Saturday February 23
- Man Utd and Real Madrid might be in for a mega-money scrap over Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino
- Chelsea are ready to hand Zinedine Zidane £200m despite being handed a two window transfer ban
- Liverpool are being talked up as the ideal destination for one of the Championship’s hottest prospects
- Arsenal have been warned by former boss Arsene Wenger that replacing Mesut Ozil could come at a huge cost
09.10 UPDATE: Liverpool need Coutinho
Liverpool are still missing Philippe Coutinho 12 months on from his big-money move to Barcelona.
That is the verdict of Paul Merson ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“United’s midfield has more guile and goals in it than Liverpool’s,” said Arsenal legend Merson.
“They miss Philippe Coutinho, someone who has that X factor and can produce something out of nothing.”
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Tottenham latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool need a Philippe Coutinho-type says Paul Merson (Image: GETTY)
08.50 UPDATE: ‘A few signings’ for Man Utd
Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic is backing the Red Devils to fight for Premier League glory if they make a few decent signings.
“I think [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is] doing a fantastic job,” Vidic said. “It seems like everything is positive now.
“Even players who were criticised before, they’re different players now. They’re playing some great football, and tactically he’s done well.
“The players know they are good enough to get into the Champions League. Next year, with a few signings, maybe even challenge for the title. I want us to win that trophy again.”
Transfer news LIVE: Nemanja Vidic is keen to see Manchester United splash out in the summer (Image: GETTY)
08.10 UPDATE: Chelsea target FOUR stars
Chelsea have earmarked four players as targets ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, according to reports.
The Sun indicate Blues chiefs are ready to splash out a mega £200m if they get their transfer ban postponed.
Alex Telles and Kalidou Koulibaly are said to have been earmarked following their performances at Porto and Napoli respectively.
Chelsea are reported to be eager to strengthen going forward too, with Real Madrid’s Isco and Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi in their sights.
Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea are eager to bolster their defence by snaring Kalidou Koulibaly (Image: GETTY)
07.55 UPDATE: Arsenal receive Ozil warning
Arsenal will have to pay around £100m if they ever need to replace Mesut Ozil, claims former boss Arsene Wenger.
“He has a contract but the problem is that, if you want to buy a player like him, you have to spend £100m,” Wenger said.
“And to maintain the value of the player, beyond the Ozil case, it is more about the way football is structured.
“To buy players of top, top quality you need £100m. So the decision you have to make is whether you re-sign the player, who costs us nothing, or do we have the money to buy a new player?”
Transfer news LIVE: Mesut Ozil had been tipped to leave Arsenal at the end of the season (Image: GETTY)
07.30 UPDATE: Liverpool move prediction
Birmingham star Ched Adams would be a great signing for Liverpool, former Blues defender Michael Johnson has exclusively told Express Sport.
“He loves the ball in and around the box and I think he has what it takes to play at the very top,” Johnson said.
“I tend to see him as a player that wants to be physical and wants the ball in behind to use his pace.
“I think he would also fit in perfectly at a team like Liverpool.”
Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool have been talked up as a perfect club for Che Adams (Image: GETTY)
07.05 UPDATE: £200m Chelsea plan
Chelsea are ready to hand Zinedine Zidane a mega £200m transfer kitty if he takes charge at Stamford Bridge this summer, reports claim.
The Blues were slapped with a two window transfer ban on Friday but plan to delay it by lodging an appeal with FIFA.
That would allow them to make signings at the end of the season, with Zidane being lined up to replace the under fire Maurizio Sarri.
The Sun claim Chelsea would be happy to give the Frenchman up to £200m to spend on overhauling the squad he would inherit.
Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea are ready to hand a mega £200m transfer kitty to Zinedine Zidane (Image: GETTY)
Transfer news LIVE: Manchester United could fight Real Madrid for Mauricio Pochettino (Image: GETTY)
06.40 UPDATE: Man Utd vs Real Madrid scrap
Manchester United and Real Madrid could be in for a battle of a different kind this summer if they both want Mauricio Pochettino, Guillem Balague says.
“There is no update. He has got a contract with Spurs. There is no direct clause, so if anybody wants him, they are going to have to convince Daniel Levy. If anybody wants to go for him, they will have to make him the most expensive manager in history,” Balague told The Sport Review.
“In a way, that would perhaps change the way that managers are perceived. Because if somebody decides to pay £30m, £40m, £50m for a manager… that could be the start of a new era in a way. I think what we are seeing is a manager that is looking at the day-to-day.
“What he cannot control, it’s better not to get worried about. It doesn’t matter if Real Madrid or Manchester United try to come and get him, because as he’s always said, they will have to talk to Levy – it’s not in his hands. So that’s where we stand.”