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Liverpool’s two transfer priorities as Arne Slot handed huge budget, Paul Pogba’s MLS talks – Paper Round
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Published 29/04/2025 at 00:09 GMT+1
Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Liverpool, the Premier League champions who are set to invest heavily in the summer and will target a No 9 and left-back. Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are the two strikers mentioned. Elsewhere, DC United are in talks with Paul Pogba amid other opportunities in Europe and the Middle East for the former Manchester United midfielder.
Van Dijk hails Liverpool as ‘well-deserved winners’ after clinching Premier League title
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Liverpool will hand Arne Slot one of the club’s biggest-ever summer budgets in their bid to defend their Premier League title, the Telegraph reports. Liverpool’s recruitment department are assessing targets, aware Manchester City and Arsenal in particular will be hot on their heels.
Liverpool’s top summer priorities are a new No 9 and a left-sided defender, and they are reportedly willing to spend big on the right target, with two strikers in mind.
The Telegraph adds: “Bournemouth duo Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez are admired by Liverpool as much as other top Premier League clubs. Huijsen is expected to move at the end of the season because he has a £50m clause in his contract. There would be stiff competition from home and abroad to sign him.
“The most significant outlay is expected to be in attack, where Darwin Nunez’s Anfield career is almost certain to end this summer if an acceptable bid materialises.
“Liverpool obviously rate Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak as one of the best strikers in Europe. However, they are realistic about the likelihood of luring him to Merseyside. The chances would currently appear to be slim to none given the Carabao Cup winners are destined to qualify for the Champions League, putting them in a strong position to resist any overtures for their prime asset.
“Isak also has a long contract at St James’ Park, and the club’s ambition lies in challenging Liverpool next season. Newcastle could put a prohibitive price tag in excess of £130m on Isak, which would need Liverpool to smash their current transfer record by £45m.
“One of the alternatives Liverpool have watched is the 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, but an expected fee of £80m would represent high risk for an emerging talent.”
D.C. United in Pogba talks
D.C. United are in contract talks with former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, and have been for months, the Washington Post reports.
The 2018 World Cup-winner hasn’t played for 20 months since testing positive for a banned substance. Clear to play since March, he has been a free agent since he and Juventus agreed last November to terminate his contract.
The Washington Post adds: “D.C. owns Pogba’s MLS discovery rights, one person said, which prevents other teams in the league from negotiating with him.
“That person also said D.C. chief executive Jason Levien has had several conversations with Pogba’s agents and met at least once with the 32-year-old free agent, who has a home in Miami.
“The sides have exchanged contract proposals. The 6-foot-3 central midfielder is also believed to be exploring opportunities in Europe and the Middle East. He is expected to decide in the coming weeks.”
Leeds chairman flies in for Farke talks
Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe is flying in from San Francisco for talks with Daniel Farke over his future, the Guardian reports.
Despite leading Leeds to promotion, some 49ers Enterprises members doubt Farke is the right man for the Premier League, recalling his previous relegation and sacking at Norwich.
The Guardian adds: “Marathe, who leads a consortium of about 100 investors making up 49ers Enterprises and will have the final say, needs to be convinced by Farke and wants to hear how he would approach a season in the Premier League. The owners have ambitious plans to turn Leeds into a top-10 club, and to expand Elland Road’s capacity to 56,500, and want to make a quick decision.
“Farke has two years on his contract and would be due a year’s salary in compensation if dismissed, leaving Leeds to focus on alternatives who are out of work or available for limited compensation.
“Initial soundings have been made towards the former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the former Bayer Leverkusen, PSV and Benfica coach Roger Schmidt and Davide Ancelotti, son of the Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, and his assistant at the Bernabeu. The first two are out of work and Ancelotti is expected to leave Real with his father in the summer.”
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