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Liverpool winger turned striker Sadio Mane is now ‘on the verge’ of completing a move to Bayern Munich, as Sky Sports News shared the ‘big breaking news’ live on Friday morning.

The Lowdown: Bayern’s bidding battle

The 30-year-old has been one of the Reds’ longest-serving players in the Premier League since joining from Southampton back in 2016, but with his contract at Anfield expiring next summer, a move away from Merseyside is now inevitable.

After Jurgen Klopp’s men suffered defeat in the Champions League final to Real Madrid last month, the Senegalese sensation made it clear that he wanted to leave the club and make the switch to the German giants.

FSG have already rejected two bids for their man and refused to let him go for less than their asking price, but now it appears as though a deal is very close to being done.

The Latest: Sky Sports reveal Mane update

On Friday morning, Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), started their live broadcast by saying ‘now this is big breaking news’, before going on to confirm that Mane is now ‘on the verge’ of sealing a move to Bayern.

The SSN presenter stated that the Bundesliga outfit are ‘preparing an improved offer’ for the 89-cap international that is in line with Liverpool’s valuation, which stands at £42.5m.

The Verdict: Goodbye to a Reds legend

Mane’s looming Liverpool exit now looks to be edging ever closer, and he is a character that will go down in the club’s history books as being a true Reds hero.

During his six-year spell with Jurgen Klopp’s side, the £200k-per-week gem netted 120 goals and provided 48 assists in 269 appearances, via Transfermarkt, and has been an outstanding asset in the final third, especially signing in a central striker role this season.

He played nearly the entire Premier League run-in through the middle, providing an incredible 14 goal contributions in 18 games there.

Part of the original infamous front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Mane will be hugely missed, but after the recent arrival of Darwin Nunez, it’s now time for the top-flight giants to start preparing for an exciting new era.

In other news… Liverpool now look set to unveil their third signing of the summer after a transfer target has signed paperworks to join the club.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal to bring Djed Spence to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Alex Crook, with the talkSPORT journalist revealing on Twitter that he has been told that Tottenham’s reported £20m move for the Middlesbrough right-back is now very close to being completed.

Further reports claimed that Fabio Paratici is hoping to confirm the 21-year-old’s arrival early next week, with it now appearing most likely that the England under-21 international will become Spurs’ third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster.

In his tweet, Crook said: “Told Djed Spence to Tottenham is very close to being done.”

Arteta will be fuming

Considering just how exciting a prospect Spence undoubtedly is, and with the signing of a new right wing-back reported to be one of Antonio Conte’s priorities in the summer transfer window, Crook’s claim that Tottenham are now close to sealing a deal for the defender is undoubtedly fantastic news for the club.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances while on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2021/22, the £7.2m-rated talent was in astonishing form. He bagged two goals, registered five assists and created six big chances for his team-mates, along with averaging one key pass, 0.6 shots and 1.8 successful dribbles per match.

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The £4.4k-per-week full-back also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 1.4 clearances and winning 5.8 duels per game.

These figures saw the 21-year-old earn a quite breathtaking seasonal WhoScored match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s sixth-best performer in the Championship as he played a crucial role in Forest sealing promotion to the Premier League.

Furthermore, Spence also stole the show in the Reds’ 1-0 FA Cup victory over Arsenal in January, after which Ian Wright heaped considerable praise on the defender.

The former Gunners marksman stated: “That was one of the best right-back performances I have seen for a very long time. A very long time. If we are talking about right-backs performing at an unbelievable level, we’re talking Reece James and Trent [Alexander-Arnold].

“But I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time. I said to him afterwards, ‘whatever’s happening, whatever you’re doing, the level you’ve just shown us here is the level you have to be consistently hitting, Djed’.

“I said to him, in all seriousness, ‘that level we saw there? You should be in the Premier League’. Simple as that.”

Whether as a result of this performance or simply due to his desire to sign a new right-back, Mikel Arteta was reported to also be seriously interested in signing the Middlesbrough starlet this summer.

As such, the reports that Paratici now looks to be very close to getting a deal over the line for the 21-year-old is sure to have left the Spaniard fuming. Not only have Arsenal missed out on the signing of an incredibly talented prospect, he will now more than likely be lining up for the Gunners’ north London arch-rivals next season.

AND in other news – “A London source..”: Italian journalist drops Spurs transfer update, Conte will be buzzing

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles ahead of the upcoming summer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Yorkshire Post, Forest, alongside a range of other Premier League clubs as well as Hungarian side Ferencvaros are interested in signing the player this summer after he recently appeared for Hungary against England.

It’s reported that the recently promoted side had their eye on him in the past and they are now expected to revive their interest in the player.

Massive talent on his way to the City Ground?

After joining the Yorkshire club back in the 2018 summer transfer window from Bury, the 22-year-old has gone on to make 121 appearances for Barnsley across all competitions.

In those appearances, Styles has scored nine goals and delivered six assists along the way.

This season saw the player rack up more minutes in the Championship than any other outfield Barnsley player, highlighting just how important he is for them.

In those 43 league appearances, the Barnsley star racked up the third-highest number of shots at goal (52) and the second-highest number of crosses delivered (80) out of all of his current teammates.

Labelled a “massive talent” by Cauley Woodrow, the £3.15m-rated ace also had one of his goals last August described as a “rocket” by journalist Sanny Rudravajhala, suggesting that he’s got a powerful shot in him.

Meanwhile, from a defensive point of view, no other player at the club managed to equal the number of successful tackles (51)  that Styles made for his side, proving how much of an all-around midfielder he is.

The fact that he played in almost every midfield and attacking position possible this season also suggests that his versatility could make him a very useful addition to Steve Cooper’s squad as they prepare to immerse themselves in the Premier League. With that in mind, he appears to be a complete player, one that really does live up to Woodrow’s billing.

Taking into account how the Yorkshire club failed to avoid getting relegated from the Championship this term and the fact that their star midfielder will be entering the final year of his contract in the coming weeks, this could give Forest an advantage when it comes to getting Barnsley to sell.

In addition to this, the prospect of being able to play in the Premier League would undoubtedly be an exciting prospect for the player.

Securing a deal for Styles should definitely be on Cooper’s to-do list this summer and hope that the midfielder has what it takes to make the big step up to England’s first division.

In other news: Bid incoming: Alan Nixon drops big Forest transfer claim, it’s great news for Cooper

Liverpool are believed to be ready to make a move to sign Barcelona wonderkid Gavi this summer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

The 17-year-old midfielder has taken a rapid rise to prominence in Spain having joined the famous La Masia academy in 2015 from Real Betis.

Despite his tender years, Gavi has already amassed 46 appearances for the Catalan giants’ first team and has become a fully-fledged senior Spain international.

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Out of contract in 2023 (Transfermarkt), Barcelona have been desperately attempting to secure the future of the latest top talent in a long production line, but currently to no avail.

The latest: Liverpool ‘willing’ to splash the cash

As per Sport, translated by SW, Liverpool are believed to pose a ‘big threat’ to Barcelona’s plans to offer the teenage sensation a renewal.

It’s claimed that Anfield chiefs FSG are now ‘willing’ to match the €50million (£42.5m) release clause currently in the six-cap starlet’s contract and can offer a deal that is ‘very superior’ to the one on the table at the Camp Nou.

The report also states however that Gavi  – who was heralded as ‘spectacular’ by manager Xavi following a 3-2 La Liga victory over Elche in December – is ‘happy’ in Barcelona.

The verdict: Building for the future

As Jurgen Klopp attempts to put the heartbreak of losing out to Real Madrid in the Champions Final behind him, both he and new Sporting Director Julian Ward will soon be setting their minds to work on the summer transfer targets.

Recently, the Reds’ recruitment has shown a penchant for snapping up the hottest young talent in Europe, adding the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Harvey Elliott, Kaide Gordon and Fabio Carvalho to the squad.

Signing Gavi, who scored twice and provided six assists during a breakout 2021/22 campaign, would be another signal of intent by the club as the Reds look to refresh an ageing midfield department in the here and now whilst also protecting the future.

Albeit undoubtedly a potential capture with a nod towards the next generation, boasting similar stylistic traits to Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, RB Leipzig ace Konrad Laimer and the much talked about Borussia Dortmund revelation Jude Bellingham (Fbref), the talented Spaniard would add immediate strength in depth to the Liverpool midfield.

In other news, one Liverpool player has hinted at a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has offered an exciting update regarding Aston Villa’s interest in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder, Yves Bissouma.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider has claimed that Steven Gerrard and co will be in for the Mali international again this summer, having seen a bid rejected for the 25-year-old back in January.

Having already brought in Boubacar Kamara this summer on a free transfer, O’Rourke revealed that Villa could look to bolster their midfield ranks even further: “We all know Villa have held a long-term interest in Yves Bissouma. They tried to sign him in January, but Brighton managed to hold on to him. I would expect Villa to be considering a move again for him in the summer transfer window.

“If they were to get him and Kamara in the same window, I think we’d definitely see an improvement in that Villa midfield in general.”

This follows a report from 90min last week that stated that the Midlands side were keen on rekindling their interest, with a bid of around £30m seemingly on the cards for a player who is out of contract next summer.

Imagine him and Kamara

With Kamara’s arrival already confirmed, NSWE are seemingly set on a total revamp of the club’s midfield, with Bissouma’s potential capture only set to add increased quality in the centre of the park alongside the promising Frenchman.

Having made the move to the Amex from Lille in 2018, the Seagulls star has been an integral asset to manager Graham Potter, emerging as one of the most coveted midfield players in the Premier League following his impressive displays in recent seasons.

A “Champions League level” player, in the words of his manager, the £31.5m-rated gem has the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, while also driving his side forward with an unerring calmness in possession.

Capable of a spectacular strike from distance, the £29k-per-week powerhouse is perhaps most widely-regarded for his defensive ability, notably averaging a remarkable 2.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 1.8 clearances in his 26 league outings in the 2021/22 campaign.

Not only an imposing midfield presence, however, the 18-cap maestro also possesses a silky quality with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 10% for dribbles completed and the top 9% for pass completion among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

With Kamara in tow – who also ranks in the top 4% for pass completion and the top 3% for attempted passes – Villa would have a midfield duo capable of keeping the ball out of the reach of the opposition, but a partnership that also has the defensive instinct to win back possession if needed.

That combination would no doubt be the envy of clubs far higher in the league table, with – as O’Rourke suggested – Gerrard’s men set to enjoy a rapid improvement if the pair are unleashed at the start of next term.

The signing of the 22-year-old Marseille man is already in the bag, it now requires Villa to make their interest concrete in Brighton’s “phenomenal” star – as dubbed by pundit Lee Hendrie.

A Kamara-Bissouma midfield axis is simply a mouthwatering prospect.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Celtic are reportedly set to rekindle their interest in Japanese defender Ko Itakura, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per Sky Sports, the 25-year-old – who is on the books at Manchester City – is one of the players that the Scottish Champions are ‘monitoring’, having previously been linked with the versatile centre-back last year.

The report suggests that no contact has been made as yet regarding a potential deal, although the Old Firm outfit are keen to bolster their defensive ranks, even if Cameron Carter-Vickers signs on a permanent deal.

The report goes on to add that Schalke – where the eight-cap international spent the most recent campaign – have an option to buy the Yokohama-born ace, although are said to be ‘struggling’ to meet the £6m asking price.

Imagine him and Carter-Vickers

The German outfit are no doubt keen to secure his services permanently following his key role in the club’s return to the Bundesliga, although their inability to pay the required fee may work in Postecoglou’s favour, with both he – and the Glasgow-based side – having strong links with the City Football Group.

Should Itakura make the move to Parkhead in the upcoming window, the club would be gaining a real hidden gem, with Dutch pundit Haans Kray naming him as “one of the very best central defenders in the Eredivisie” following an impressive 18-month loan stint at Groningen.

The £3.15m-rated ace is yet to feature for his parent club – despite arriving at the Etihad in January 2019 – with Kray believing that Pep Guardiola and co “don’t see anything in him.”

Their loss could well be Celtic’s gain then, with the club potentially able to form a mouthwatering duo of the £10k-per-week sensation and the aforementioned Carter-Vickers, should the USA international see his loan move made permanent.

The 24-year-old has formed what has been dubbed an “immense” partnership by pundit Chris Sutton with Carl Starfelt this term, although there are doubts over the latter man’s quality, with the Swede coming in for criticism from pundit Michael Stewart.

In Itakura then, Postecoglou could well have the ideal player to fill in alongside Carter-Vickers, having been praised for his “calm” manner by former Schalke coach Dimitrios Grammozis – a trait that could well prove useful in what is an at times hectic team at Celtic Park.

IN other news, Celtic can unearth a new Giakoumakis after submitting bid for “very strong” £2.5m gem

Sunderland have been handed a major boost ahead of the League One Play-Off Final game against Wycombe Wanderers.

What’s the latest?

As per Sunderland Echo, Alex Neil has issued an update on the health of his squad and it is entirely positive from a Sunderland perspective.

Neil said: “We’ve got a clean bill of health I think for the first time [since I’ve been here].

“People we didn’t expect, who we thought might not be able to make it, [could be available]. People like Winny have been in training.

“So at the moment, we’re looking good.”

Sharing more on the fitness of Carl Winchester, Neil stated: “I think we’ll have a better idea of exactly where he’s at after today and tomorrow.

“He’s been on the grass, and he’s done a little bit, but today and tomorrow will have a big bearing on how close he actually is.“It’s pleasing for Winny as well because he has had a big contribution since I’ve been here to get us to where we are. It’s a good situation.”On the status of Nathan Broadhead, who returned from injury in a one-minute cameo in the last game against Sheffield Wednesday, Neil added:”Nathan’s been fine. He had limited time at the weekend (in the second leg) but the difficulty I had there was because of the way we played the game and the shape we adopted, he’s a natural centre-forward and we were only playing with one in the game.”A major boostThe return of Winchester, who has not featured since the game against Cambridge United on the 23rd April will come as a big boost for Neil who will undoubtedly be elated to see him back.The 29-year-old has featured 40 times for Sunderland in League One, in what has been a seamless transition from League Two football for the Northern Irishman in his first full season for Sunderland.His versatility is his greatest asset in this side. He is a true utility man, having played at right-back, centre-back, centre midfield and defensive midfield on more than one occasion for the Black Cats this season.Boasting what he claims to be “a clean bill of health”, the Black Cats boss and his squad will fancy their chances against Wycombe on Saturday.Additionally, the return to full fitness of Broadhead is also a big boost with the Everton loanee scoring ten goals in the third-tier this term. That’s exactly the sort of potency that could lead Sunderland back to the Championship this weekend.

In other news: Sunderland keen to sign 15-goal gem who’s “perfectly placed”, Imagine him and Stewart 

Liverpool head to Wembley for their second domestic cup final of the season against Chelsea this afternoon, and all eyes will be on Jurgen Klopp’s team selection for the FA Cup showpiece.

The Reds still have two Premier League games and the Champions League final in Paris left to play this season. They are out again on Tuesday night, so it will be interesting to see how the manager lines up his front three in particular, with the attacking positions becoming even more competitive after the arrival of Luis Diaz in January.

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That being said, Klopp must drop Diogo Jota from the starting line-up this afternoon and look to his other attacking options to secure a second trophy of the season for Liverpool.

Remarkably, the Portuguese forward has been rotating in and out of the team despite scoring 15 goals and contributing three assists in the Premier League this season, but it is his link-up play and ball control which could see the forward losing out when Klopp names his FA Cup final line-up today.

His goal-scoring abilities are undeniable, but when it comes to being effective in other areas of the game, he is underperforming compared to his fellow Liverpool forwards.

According to SofaScore, the 25-year-old has lost possession of the ball every 6.5 minutes in the Premier League this season, has a 75% pass accuracy, is dribbled past 1.2 times on average per match and has been unsuccessful in the majority of his dribbles (62%), which suggests that he could potentially struggle against a very experienced Chelsea defence.

In this particular match, it would be more beneficial to play Roberto Firmino, who has returned to fitness just in time for the final and can offer a more controlled approach to the game than the Portugal forward.

Compared to Jota, the 30-year-old is a bit more reliable in his link-up play and ball control, with an 80% pass accuracy, has only been dribbled past 0.7 times on average per game and is successful in 44% of his dribble attempts.

The Brazilian has been the lynchpin in Liverpool’s forward line for many years working alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, offering a wealth of experience which could be exactly what the Reds need in order to take control of the game early and secure a second trophy of the season.

Ultimately, Klopp will be hoping that he can unlock the formula in claiming victory from Thomas Tuchel’s side within 90 minutes today, as his team has drawn three times with Chelsea this season already.

AND in other news: Liverpool eye summer move for £144m-rated “golden boy”, he’s even better than Haaland

Reputable journalist James Pearce has provided a significant update on Liverpool and their pursuit of AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, confirming significant interest from a rival suitor.

The lowdown: Interest mounting

The Reds have been extensively linked with a move for the 22-year-old in recent weeks and a sensational summer swoop could well be on the cards.

Whilst Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp remains fully focused on the continued quest for silverware on the pitch, new Anfield transfer supremo Julian Ward may already be outlining potential transfers for the off-season window, with some in the French press believing a deal for Tchouameni is already close.

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However, it appears that Ward and Klopp may now face fierce competition…

The latest: Pearce confirms Liverpool interest

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic as Liverpool faced Aston Villa, Pearce reaffirmed the interest in Tchouameni but also cited Real Madrid’s admiration.

In response to a reader enquiring about the links with the talented France international, the journalist stated: “Nothing new that I’m aware of. Interest but Real also very keen.”

The verdict: At all costs

Liverpool simply must pull out all the stops in order to bring Tchouameni to Merseyside and not Madrid this summer.

Capped on eight occasions by Didier Deschamps at the senior international level and already with 130 club appearances, the powerful midfielder is already a prodigious talent that would be perfectly suited to improve the Anfield squad.

Holding a stylistic likeness to Reds star Thiago and Real Madrid spoiler Casemiro, the Frenchman is equally adept as a box to box operator as well as in a defensive role (Fbref).

Recently hailed as possessing ‘enormous potential’ by Deschamps, Tchouameni boasts a range of very strong attributes including aerial ability and tackling (WhoScored).

All of the aforementioned qualities would provide much-needed strengthening of the Liverpool midfield department, as highlighted by Fabinho’s hamstring issue suffered against Villa, which has left Klopp short of natural cover for the Brazilian, an issue signing Tchouameni would resolve in an instant.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.

Leeds United are back in Premier League action this afternoon and they’ll be looking to get their survival bid back on track with a result down in the capital.

Jesse Marsch’s side travel to north London to face an in-form Arsenal side, who too need points to maintain ground in the race for the top four.

Last time out, the Yorkshire outfit were thrashed 4-0 by defending champions Manchester City but that is their only defeat in six matches.

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After naming a back five against Pep Guardiola’s defending champions and sustaining a season-ending injury to the versatile Stuart Dallas, the American head coach is left with plenty to ponder in terms of team selection.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting at the Emirates Stadium today…

There should be no surprises between the sticks as tried and trusted no.1 Illan Meslier continues his shot-stopping duties.

However, it could be all change in the backline as club captain Liam Cooper is expected to start, according to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross. “Cooper and [Diego] Llorente [are] expected to be available on Sunday. Marsch went as far as expecting his captain to play,” he tweeted ahead of the game.

That should see the Scotsman come straight in for Robin Koch, whilst we may also see the Spaniard return, too, taking the place of Junior Firpo, whose struggles in the top-flight continued last weekend.

The £55k-per-week flop’s defending was lambasted as “schoolboy” by former goalkeeper Paul Robinson to the BBC.

It’s a move that could see Pascal Struijk shift across to left-back, with Luke Ayling back in his natural right-back role.

With a tweak in formation, we’re likely to see Kalvin Phillips partner Mateusz Klich at the base of midfield, especially with Adam Forshaw absent through injury and they’ll be joined by Rodrigo in the no.10 role.

Out wide, it should be Raphinha on the right but there’s a tough dilemma on the left as Jack Harrison has flattered to deceive in recent outings. The American could turn to Daniel James after he was named among the substitutes at Elland Road last week.

Meanwhile, leading the line, we could see a rare start for young academy sensation Joe Gelhardt, given he’s the only fit and available striker. That would make him the fourth and final change from the City thrashing.

Predicted Leeds XI (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Struijk, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; Klich, Phillips; James, Rodrigo, Raphinha; Gelhardt

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano relays big Kalvin Phillips update at Leeds…