Category: Transfer news

Jurgen Klopp took to social media to admit Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph had left him feeling “super, super happy”.

Arne Slot became the first Dutch manager to lift the trophy after leading Liverpool to the top of the standings in his first season at the helm at Anfield, having replaced Klopp last summer following the German’s decision to step down.

It was Liverpool’s 20th top-flight title and comes five years after Klopp led the Reds to their first Premier League honours five years ago.

Reflecting on Liverpool’s latest triumph, Klopp wrote on Instagram: “Super grateful for the past, super, super happy about the present, extremely positive about the future!

“Congratulations – YNWA. Thank You Luv.”

As Klopp bid farewell to the Anfield crowd last season, he encouraged those in attendance to serenade his successor, and Slot made sure to return the favour during his title celebrations. The current boss was asked why he felt the need to do so after the game.

“Because of what he did when I arrived here, before I even arrived here,” Slot said. “I think that is something not one manager ever did before.

“So that is what definitely helped me. But apart from that, he helped me even more by the team he left behind and the culture he left behind in that team.

“The quality the players have was, I think, obvious for everyone [to see]. But the culture of hard work, not only from the players, but also from the staff members, has been incredible. And that is one of the reasons we could achieve what we’ve achieved this season.”

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Real Madrid’s current manager Carlo Ancelotti has already agreed to take over the Brazil men’s national team this summer, according to multiple reports.

Ancelotti’s future seemed set until at least the summer of 2026 after he led Madrid to a rare Champions League-La Liga double in the 2023/24 campaign. Yet, as many managers have discovered in the past – including the Italian himself, no coach can ever get too comfortable in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.

After bowing out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, multiple outlets effectively confirmed Ancelotti’s departure at some point this season. In the aftermath of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona, Brazil became increasingly confident that they would be able to appoint the revered manager this summer.

Now, MARCA claim that an agreement has finally been struck between Brazil’s football federation (CBF) and Ancelotti. All that’s missing is the 65-year-old’s signature. Fabrizio Romano suggests that his salary has been settled, with Ancelotti, an assistant coach with Italy in the early 1990s, poised to become one of the best-paid national team managers on the planet.

ESPN go so far as to name the date of 26 May as when the CBF expect to see Ancelotti in Rio de Janeiro. That would be just one day after Real Madrid are scheduled to host Real Sociedad in their final La Liga match of the season.

There is still the chance that Ancelotti can win another top-flight title before walking out in a blaze of glory. Madrid are just four points adrift of league-leading Barcelona and still have to face the Catalan giants in an almighty Clasico next month.

A May exit for Ancelotti would stop him from leading the squad into this summer’s newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Madrid begin the campaign against Saudi giants Al Hilal on 18 June. If the capital outfit are unable to appoint Xabi Alonso as Ancelotti’s permanent successor before then, there has been speculation that former player and manager Santiago Solari could take over on an interim basis.

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Chelsea’s proposed Stamford Bridge rebuild could see the Blues forced to find a temporary home when work on the project eventually starts, with Twickenham put forward as a viable option.

With Stamford Bridge considerably smaller than the likes of Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea have wanted to redevelop and grow their stadium for close to 20 years.

It started relatively early during Roman Abramovich’s ownership but has been resurrected and taken on new life since the BlueCo takeover in 2022.

Chelsea secured a deal in 2023, due to come into force in 2025, to purchase £80m worth of neighbouring land from a veterans charity that would enable a redevelopment of the stadium and surrounding area. The land, home to 6,500 military pensioners, was listed for sale and the club was reported at the time to have beaten competition from 13 rival bidders.

Redeveloping Stamford Bridge one stand at a time, in line with Liverpool’s approach to Anfield, is not seen as ideal. They are more likely to bulldoze the existing stadium and build from the ground up on the same site. But while Manchester United will not be forced out due to the size of the wider Old Trafford site, Chelsea, even with the new adjacent land purchase, lack the space amongst busy London streets to be able to leave Stamford Bridge as it is while a new stadium is being built.

Chelsea have previously explored playing at Twickenham, the home of English rugby union and currently known as the Allianz Stadium for sponsorship purposes. The 82,000-capacity venue is around seven miles further west to the outskirts of London in Richmond upon Thames.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have essentially opened the doors at Twickenham to Chelsea, in the hope of it being financially rewarded as part of efforts to use the stadium for more non-rugby events.

“It would allow it to happen, there have been conversations previously about possible [Premier League] clubs coming here,” RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said, via The Telegraph.

“Richmond council, Richmond borough is more concerned about [local impact]. I just think in terms of impact on local residents, numbers of fans and so on they’re a little bit more sensitive. It may depend on which club it is.

“It would be a big financial number, I know Richmond borough would definitely have a conversation about that though.”

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90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world…

Manchester United are preparing a bid of €150m (£127.5m) to sign Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who is also wanted by both Manchester City and Liverpool. (TodoFichajes – Spain)

Barcelona have contacted the representatives of Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman, who will soon hold talks with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Newcastle United. (CaughtOffside)

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen wants to join Chelsea and a summer transfer would be simple due to the progress made in negotiations last year. (John Obi Mikel)

Man Utd are confident that their move to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is a “done deal”. (Football Insider)

Newcastle have drawn up a shortlist of centre-back targets and are monitoring Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke, Sporting’s Ousmane Dembele and AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw. (TBR Football)

Meanwhile, Newcastle are working on a deal to sign Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae. (Football Insider)

Arsenal could rival Chelsea for the signature of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who is open to joining either London side. (TBR Football)

Vitor Reis could leave Man City this summer after just six months at the club. Brazilian side Flamengo are exploring the possibility of signing the 19-year-old defender. (RTI Esporte – Brazil)

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are both keen to sign West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen but face paying as much as €60m (£51m) for the England international. (CaughtOffside)

Bukayo Saka has agreed the terms of a new contract with Arsenal, with the club set to announce the extension in the coming weeks. (Sam C)

Liverpool will challenge Man City for the signature of 20-year-old Monaco winger Eliesse Ben Seghir, who is valued at €30m (£25.5m). (L’Equipe – France)

Despite reports stating otherwise, Real Madrid have never considered re-signing Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez. (Jose Felix Diaz)

Juventus are looking to sign Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares, who will join Lazio permanently for a fee of €4m (£3.4m) but could be sold immediately for closer to €20m (£17m). (Tuttosport – Italy)

Juve‘s desire to sign a new left-back comes as a huge boost to Man City in their pursuit of Andrea Cambiaso. (The Sun)

Aston Villa officials are ready to pursue an agreement with midfielder Kevin De Bruyne when he leaves Man City this summer if manager Unai Emery wants to work with the Belgium international. (Football Insider)

Inter centre-back Yann Bisseck is of interest to Man Utd. (InterLive – Italy)

Crystal Palace will demand £40m to part ways with centre-back Marc Guehi amid interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle. (TBR Football)

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, formerly of Chelsea, is emerging as a possible target for Tottenham if they opt to replace Ange Postecoglou. (Fichajes – Spain)

READ THE TRANSFER RUMOURS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS HERE

Paul Pogba has assured his fans that he remains “hungry” to play professional football again, still yet to find a new club since his Juventus contract was mutually terminated almost six months ago.

Pogba saw a doping ban reduced from four year to 18 months on appeal last October, but it didn’t stop his Juventus reunion coming to a premature end a few weeks later.

The Frenchman was linked with former club Manchester United, as well as Marseille, which would have represented a first time playing professionally in his home country. But, having spent a lot of time in Miami in recent months, a move to Major League Soccer has been heavily suggested. The Saudi Pro League is also an obvious choice for Pogba, now 32.

“I mean, this is just a little message that I think shows someone who is still hungry for the comeback. I have been training by myself, but never giving up and always chasing my dream and what I want to achieve,” the player told his followers on Instagram.

“Just a little message for all of you guys that right now, you don’t get what you want, but just keeping trying, keep pushing until you get it. It might be tomorrow, it might be in one year, two years, but man what is going to happen, is going to happen so, let’s go. Big up and I will see you very soon.”

Due to a combination of injuries, suspension and his subsequent absence from the sport, Pogba has only made 12 appearances in almost three full seasons since leaving Old Trafford in 2022.

His last Manchester United appearance, prior to the end of his contract there, came more than a month before the end of the season due to a calf problem. A second Juventus debut, having made his name in Turin between 2012 and 2016, was later delayed for six months by a knee injury.

Pogba was then dropped by Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri over a disciplinary issue, after which his first start since returning to the club – in May 2023 – ended after only 23 minutes through injury.

Pogba’s last appearance of any kind was as a substitute in Juve’s Serie A win over Empoli in September 2023, while he hasn’t added to his 91 France caps since March 2022.

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