Pete O’Rourke column: Four Leeds United stars could quit Man United eye £143m double, Liverpool lead £50m midfielder race

Mon 20 March 2023 6:15, UK

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LIVERPOOL

Liverpool have been handed a boost in their £130million pursuit of Jude Bellingham.

While the 19-year-old wonderkid is still undecided about whether he’ll leave Borussia Dortmund this summer, it is understood that Liverpool is his first-choice destination if he does choose to depart.

Real Madrid and Man City remain in the race, but will only be considered if Liverpool don’t qualify for the Champions League.

Liverpool are hoping that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson can help persuade Bellingham to join the Anfield club this summer.

Also on Liverpool’s midfield shopping list is Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.

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The Reds are long-term admirers of the Portuguese international and are plotting a move for him this summer.

Wolves are demanding £50million for Nunes’ signature, but that asking price is significantly slashed to around £30-40million if they are relegated.

Mason Mount is another on Liverpool’s radar, with the Chelsea star’s contract talks stalling at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool are considering meeting Mount’s £175,000-per-week wage demands which have proved to be a sticking point for the Blues.

Mount’s contract is coming to an end next summer and so it is understood that Chelsea will look to sell him this summer unless they reach a breakthrough in contract talks.

As for outgoings, Nat Phillips, Caoimhin Kelleher and Joel Matip have all been put up for sale, with Klopp wanting to free up his wage bill for new arrivals.

Naby Keita is also set to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, with Dortmund and Inter Milan interested in picking him up as a free agent.

Roberto Firmino is also heading for the exit, and he has told his agent he would prefer to stay in Europe for his next move amid interest from MLS clubs, Saudi Arabia, Inter and AC Milan.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also out of contract this summer and Southampton are leading the race to sign him if they survive relegation, with Brighton, Leicester and Turkish clubs also interested.

Klopp is pushing the Liverpool board to offer James Milner a one-year extension at Anfield, although the 37-year-old has been told to take a wage cut to do so.

MAN UNITED

The Red Devils are plotting to sign not one, but two Napoli stars this summer.

Their interest in Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is well-known, but Erik ten Hag is pushing United to also sign centre-back Kim Min-Jae.

The 26-year-old has a release clause worth £43million that runs for two weeks in July, and United believes they could swoop for both Osimhen and Kim in a collective £143million deal.

Napoli are working hard behind the scenes to offer Kim a new deal that eradicates the release clause, as they believe his true value is closer to £60million.

Tottenham and Liverpool are also keen on Kim this summer, with the North London side previously launching an unsuccessful bid for him.

Other than Kim, United have shortlisted Josko Gvardiol and Antonio Silva as centre-back options.

Ten Hag is keen to strengthen his defensive department and is willing to sell both Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire this summer to free up space.

BRIGHTON

Brighton have been busy working on a new deal for Kaoru Mitoma.

The Japanese breakthrough star is among the lowest earners in the first team a £20,000-per-week deal.

But after a hugely successful debut season that has seen him become a key player for Roberto De Zerbi, the Seagulls are willing to table a new offer worth around £40,000-per-week.

His current contract has two years remaining, and it is understood that the new deal will add a further two years, keeping him at the Amex Stadium until 2027.

ARSENAL

Arsenal have their eyes set on Brighton once again.

After signing Ben White and Leandro Trossard in recent years, the Gunners have now set their sights on Moises Caicedo and Mitoma.

Despite recently signing a new deal with Brighton, Caicedo remains a priority target for the league leaders, and it is understood that they will submit another huge bid for the midfielder this summer.

They also share an interest in Mitoma but understand that a deal will be incredibly hard to make now he too has signed a new bumper contract with Brighton.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

The Magpies are still in the market for more creativity and firepower this summer, but they have been blocked in their pursuit of Solly March.

Eddie Howe is a big fan of the 28-year-old winger, but he is now considered untouchable after it was confirmed that he signed a new contract with Brighton until 2026 this week.

The Tyneside club remain big admirers but are turning their full attention towards other targets such as Leicester’s James Maddison.

Newcastle are also keeping tabs on Robin Koch‘s situation at Elland Road, with the German centre-back potentially available for cheap if they suffer relegation this season.

LEEDS UNITED

Leeds are struggling to finalise their transfer plans without knowing what league they will be in next season.

But the Whites have identified Borussia Dortmund star Raphael Guerreiro as a potential target.

The Yorkshire club have previously registered interest in the Portuguese left-back and had a bid turned down in January, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Guerreiro will leave as a free agent in the summer with contract talks stalling at Dortmund.

The future of Weston McKennie is also up in the air at Elland Road.

Leeds would love to trigger their £30million buy option for the American midfielder, but they consider the deal financially impossible if they suffer relegation.

Robin Koch, Illan Meslier and Jack Harrison are also unlikely to stay if Leeds drop down to the Championship.

Newcastle are showing interest in Koch, while Meslier is facing interest from Chelsea, who are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer.

Tottenham and Man United have also previously shown interest. Leeds are holding out for £30million.