Liverpool players were adamant that Jurgen Klopp move for an RB Salzburg star, while Mauricio Pochettino is a shock target for another London club, according to Friday’s newspapers.
LIVERPOOL PLAYERS WANT MINAMINO ON BOARD
Liverpool players were urging Reds manager Jurgen Klopp to sign Red Bull Salzburg attacker Takumi Minamino after Tuesday’s game, according to the Evening Standard.
The newspaper reports that senior players were telling the German he should make a move for the 22-cap Japan international after Liverpool beat the Austrians 2-0 to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
It has now emerged that the Anfield club are preparing to trigger the £7.25million release clause in the 24-year-old’s contract in January, having been tracking him for some time.
Reds sporting director Michael Edwards has been in secret negotiations with his Salzburg counterpart Christoph Freund for over a month now.
Personal terms and a medical are believed to be all that is left to be discussed to make the deal official.
Some sources actually claim that Minamino’s current market value is at least three times the value of his buy-out clause, which will represent an absolute bargain for the Merseysiders in the current transfer climate.
AND THE REST
Pep Guardiola has a break clause in his contract which could see him leave Manchester City at the end of this season (Daily Mail)
The Premier League faces a battle to prevent an overhaul of the Champions League which they fear could lead to the creation of a European Super League (Daily Mail)
The EFL is debating introducing a salary cap, amid fears Bury might not be the last club to be kicked out of the Football League (Daily Mail)
Manchester United believe they are favourites to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund – and are eyeing up a move for Christian Eriksen (Daily Mail)
Marouane Fellaini has ruled out a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Tottenham by insisting he is happy in China (Daily Mail)
Carlo Ancelotti’s hopes of a swift return to management have been boosted by news that his new club will not have to pay compensation to Napoli (Daily Mail)
Olivier Giroud is reportedly wanted by Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan as they look to lure the Chelsea striker in January (The Sun)
Real Madrid plan to offer former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino £10m to turn down other job offers in favour of joining the Spanish giants (The Sun)
Carlo Ancelotti will fly into London in the next 24 hours to hold face-to-face talks with Everton over becoming their new manager (The Sun)
West Ham have sought out Mauricio Pochettino as they look to find the man to replace Manuel Pellegrini (Daily Star)
Chelsea will have to pay £80m if they want to sign Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace in January (Daily Star)
England defender Danny Rose says he does not need to discuss his future with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho and that he will still be running his contract down (Daily Mirror)
Ashley Cole has urged Chelsea to go all-out to try and sign Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell (The Sun)
Manchester City players have decided against a Christmas party as the champions aim to get their league campaign back on course (Daily Telegraph)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suggested Manchester United could add to their squad in January after reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League (Daily Mirror)
Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce may make loan signings in January (Newcastle Chronicle)
Rangers have claimed Sir Rod Stewart was directed out of a plush Hampden lounge after hassling an Ibrox director’s teenage son (Scottish Sun)
Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has been told he can leave Sunderland following a training ground incident (Scottish Sun)
The post Paper Talk: Liverpool players demanded Klopp move for brilliant attacker appeared first on teamtalk.com.