Liverpool lead Manchester United in a transfer race as they look to bolster their options this summer, as TEAMtalk reports that another Ivory Coast international after Yan Diomande is on their shortlist.

Liverpool and Man United are in need of some fresh faces in attack, with the former requiring an injection of pace and trickery to get opposition defences on the backfoot again.

Diomande remains a top target this summer, as Liverpool continue talks with the RB Leipzig star over a possible switch to the club, while Bradley Barcola has emerged as another option if he is free to leave Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds are monitoring other options too, with another Ivorian star seemingly on the club’s radar.

Liverpool Want Bazoumana Toure

Ulrik Pedersen/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

According to reports from TeamTalk, Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure has emerged as an option for Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

It’s claimed that the Reds are leading their rivals Manchester United in the race to land the 20-year-old, who has impressed in a breakout season in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool have formally registered their interest with Hoffenheim, following a campaign that saw Toure pick up five goals and 12 assists across all competitions.

The forward, who already has six appearances for the Ivory Coast national team, is viewed as a long-term option for the Reds, but Man United remain in the battle for his signature.

An asking price of up to £43.1 million has been set by Hoffenheim, as Premier League clubs start to line up to seal a potential deal this summer, having been tipped as a “future Ballon d’Or contender.

Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brighton, and Brentford also join Liverpool and Man United in the race, while Arsenal and Bayern Munich have also been linked elsewhere.

It remains to be seen whether the Reds will be able to put forward an offer that can tempt the player, in what would be another huge move in the forward areas.

Liverpool’s Left-Wing Conundrum

While Toure would prove to be a promising option for Liverpool, he has largely featured on the left wing in his time playing for Hoffenheim so far.

That means, should he move to Anfield, then he will likely be competing with Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha on that flank for the foreseeable future.

With three players, particularly the youngsters, competing for that place, there may be a reduction in opportunities for them to shine as much as they can.

Both Ngumoha and Toure will need minutes and experience under their belts to improve and become the players they could be in the future.

An exit for Gakpo could help provide that space for the pair, but then there’d be a lack of experience in there to potentially raise the levels for the short-term.

It remains to be seen how Liverpool continue to build out their squad, but there are some challenges ahead, regardless of who they land.

Football is defined by losers just as much as it is by winners, and the Premier League – the most difficult competition in world football to win – is certainly no exception. In fact, sometimes, those who come off second best are more heavily documented, with “hate-watching” becoming a new but fitting label for modern-day viewership.

While end-of-season lists often highlight the worst players, signings, and biggest flops of the campaign just gone, one metric that perhaps best shows the scale of a player’s fall-off is how much market value they lost over the course of the season. Thanks to Transfermarkt, we’ve been able to compile a list of those who saw the biggest drops in value.

Interestingly, despite winning their first league title in 22 years, four Arsenal players feature. Meanwhile, six Liverpool players, five Manchester City players, and six Tottenham players also make the unwanted cut.

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Kicking off the list is a quartet of players who were hampered by injuries last term. Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario missed much of the drama in his side’s relegation dogfight under three separate managers and will be returning to action next term after such a disrupted spell. Joao Palhinha, meanwhile, will be relieved to be heading back to his parent club Bayern Munich, while Yves Bissouma departed the club at the end of his contract.

Cheick Doucoure, once a highly-rated Crystal Palace midfielder linked with Liverpool just a couple of seasons ago, has not been the same since serious injuries took their toll. Gabriel Jesus’ €15 million drop in value can be put down to limited game time following the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres at Arsenal, while Ben White is finding himself in a similar boat, with Jurrien Timber’s form keeping him on the sidelines.

Ollie Watkins’ age means he is no longer valued as highly as before, despite scoring 21 goals across all competitions to help Aston Villa win the Europa League. The same applies to Bruno Fernandes – who equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single campaign – as he is now valued at around €30 million. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong continues to look like a misfiring replacement in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s void.

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Liverpool’s hierarchy continue to let go of star players for free when they could probably have earned a fee had they acted sooner. The latest example is Ibrahima Konate’s move to Real Madrid, although it turns out his value had already dropped by €15 million by then anyway after a shaky title defence. Bernardo Silva also left Manchester City for the same fee, though his age (31) makes that more understandable.

Alejandro Garnacho jumped from Manchester United to Chelsea last season in the belief he had outgrown the Red Devils. However, his devaluation suggests otherwise, with teammates Romeo Lavia, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and Cole Palmer also featuring in this section. The latter endured a particularly difficult second half of the season and subsequently missed out on a place in the England World Cup squad as a result.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard lost €20 million in market value. While that in itself is a shock, what makes it even more striking is that his north London rival, James Maddison, only lost an extra €2 million on top of that, despite playing 50 per cent fewer matches due to an ACL injury.

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Just sneaking into the top 10 is Man City forward Omar Marmoush. Finding the back of the net just three times across 21 league matches suggests he has found life in England far more difficult than it was in the Bundesliga, while his compatriot Mohamed Salah is up next, as his well-documented struggles ultimately led to his emotional farewell at Anfield.

Xavi Simons and Alexis Mac Allister were fairly passive figures in their sides’ respective midfield battles last term, but neither of them lost more value than Phil Foden. The Englishman has struggled in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence and seems to flourish more when his teammates are flying, rather than carrying the side through squad transitions.

Alexander Isak is fourth, while Florian Wirtz is third. Huge expectations were placed on the Liverpool duo after Arne Slot’s recruitment team broke the British transfer fee record twice to build on a Premier League title-winning side, but both have so far been something of a damp squib and must deliver more under Andoni Iraola next term.

Surprisingly, Bukayo Saka comes second on the list. Arsenal are usually heavily reliant on his creativity in attack but have often had to look elsewhere for inspiration during their title run-in. Having seen his value decrease by €60 million, however, Rodri tops the unwanted chart, with an ACL injury two seasons ago still holding him back after winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Manchester United could land a surprise deal for a high-profile striker this summer, as Mundo Deportivo reports that a potential free agent is on the cards for the club this summer.

The Red Devils are set to apply some light touches to the forward areas in the transfer window, with it being one of the areas where improvement is needed the least.

Focus has been heavily spent on the midfield positions, while a left-back and backup goalkeeper are set to follow after, as talks ramp up for the club to improve Michael Carrick‘s options.

Beyond that, any other deals may be viewed as a potential bonus, with centre-forward being one of the positions that could be reinforced.

Joshua Zirkzee’s potential exit leaves Benjamin Sesko as the only natural striker at the club, with plenty of others capable of filling in if required.

However, it appears as though moves are being made to bring a potential striker transfer target to Man United on a free transfer this summer.

Manchester United Want Robert Lewandowski

According to a report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Man United are considering a move to bring Robert Lewandowski to Old Trafford this summer.

The 37-year-old is a free agent after leaving Barcelona at the end of his contract, and his clinical nature and experience are claimed to be key reasons behind the Red Devils wanting a deal.

There is a potential stumbling block, as the Poland international’s demands appear to be too much for what Man United are willing to offer him as things stand, cooling talks between the two parties.

It remains to be seen what offer could be on the table from the club, should they make a concrete one, but plenty of clubs are in the race for the veteran striker’s signature.

MLS side Chicago Fire are claimed to be leading the way alongside clubs from the Saudi Pro League, both of which are offering strong financial deals to tempt Lewandowski to the division.

No decision has been made on his future, and it could be a few weeks until one is reached, giving Man United time to make a compelling offer that still falls within their financial structure.

Lewandowski Perfect Mentor For Sesko

If Man United make a move to sign Lewandowski, then it makes sense for the position that the club are currently in heading into next season.

The Red Devils will want to add strength in depth, especially with the return to the Champions League, while there will be a long-term view to progressing.

Lewandowski certainly helps in the short-term, having been described as “the best central striker in the world”, even at the age of 37.

However, his presence could also help in the long-term if he takes up a role as a mentor to Benjamin Sesko in the process of helping the club with his performances on the pitch.

The current Man United striker is one of the most promising options in the world, who could follow in the footsteps of Lewandowski in the future if he fulfills his potential.

Learning from one of the very best could take him a long way as well, highlighting that the value isn’t just in the performances, but what he could leave behind as a result.