Liverpool reignite £19m Bony chase and close in on Moreno
Swansea may be prepared to sell Ivorian striker because transfer rumours have 'unsettled' the player
Liverpool lost 3-1 to arch rivals Manchester United in Monday night's showdown in Miami, but could theyconsole themselves with the capture of Wilfried Bony from Swansea? The Welsh club have insisted for much of the summer that the striker is not for sale, but according to the Daily Mirror they are now "ready to ditch" Bony's £19m release clause because he is "unsettled" at the Liberty Stadium.
Liverpool are known to have expressed an interest in the 25-year-old – who scored 25 goals last season for Swansea – but Tottenham and Arsenal have also been mentioned in dispatches as potential suitors. But whoever comes calling, the Mirror says Swansea are determined to make a tidy profit on Bony having paid £12m to Vitesse Arnhem for the Ivorian last summer.
Meanwhile Caughtoffside reports that Liverpool are still "closing on a deal" for Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno. And if the £16m transfer, which has dragged on for weeks, does ever take place it will mean that the Reds' have invested more than £100m in players this summer – a club record.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Taking Spanish rag Estadio Deportivo as its source, Caughtoffside claims that Moreno will officially be a Red before the end of this week after Sevilla agreed to sell the 22-year-old Spanish international. As for the fee, it's believed that Liverpool will part with around £16m for the young defender who'll be vying with compatriot Jose Enrique for a place in the Anfield starting line-up this season.
One player he won't be vying with is Daniel Agger, who could be on course for a shock move to Arsenal, according to the Daily Star, which claims Arsene Wenger has designs on the wantaway defender.
The Danish defender has an uncertain future at Anfield after the arrival of Dejan Lovren from Southampton, and has made it clear he does not want to sit on the bench all season. He was being tipped for a return to Brondby, the club where he made his name, but they could now face competition from Arsenal.
Back to Spain and Sky Sports say Spurs and Villarreal are getting down to discussions over £17m-rated defender Mateo Musacchio. The 23-year-old impressed in La Liga last season and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino reckons the Argentine international (capped twice by his country) can do a job at the Lane this season. With Jan Vertonghen likely to leave Tottenham this month Pochettino has identified the versatile Musacchio as the man to beef up the Lilywhites' back four.
And Sky Sports have obviously got their ear to the ground right now because they also report that West Brom have knocked back another offer from Burnley for defender Craig Dawson. It's the third time this summer that Burnley, back in the Premier League for the first time in four years, have made an offer for the former England Under-21 international but the Baggies are in belligerent mood when it comes to the centre-back. Sky Sports say Burnley's third offer was "just over £2m" but it will take a lot more for West Brom to weaken.
Finally, The Guardian is one of several papers to report that Jack Rodwell is on the brink of joining Sunderland. The 23-year-old midfielder was at the Black Cats' training ground on Monday night for a medical and once that is out of the way it's believed Sunderland will give Manchester City "a fee in excess of £10m". The Guardian says the transfer will be a "coup" for Sunderland boss Gus Poyet because a number of Premier League clubs have been chasing the young playmaker. Rodwell, an England international, moved to City from Everton in 2012 in a £12m deal, but failed to nail down a place in the Etihad's starting line-up.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published