Liverpool are set to hijack Manchester United talks to sign an ‘elite’ midfielder this summer as they close in on the appointment of Andoni Iraola, according to TEAMtalk.

Liverpool and Man United were battling for a top-four finish in the Premier League season, and now they could be set for a transfer fight off the pitch too.

The Merseyside outfit are closing in on hiring Iraola following Arne Slot’s surprise exit at the weekend, after a disappointing season that saw them finish in fifth and concede more goals than they ever had in the Premier League before.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard picked up many plaudits after leading Bournemouth to Europa League football, before leaving the Vitality Stadium when his contract expired.

With exits confirmed for Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate already, Iraola will know that he has some work to do over the summer to strengthen a squad that visibly struggled this season.

While there has been a lot of talk about how the Reds will look to strengthen in attack, to add to the incoming arrival of Jeremy Jacquet at the back, more reinforcements are needed across the pitch.

A midfield refresh could also be on the agenda, with Curtis Jones expected to leave and players like Alexis Mac Allister struggling during the 2025-26 campaign.

Liverpool ‘Ones to Watch’ in Mateus Fernandes Transfer Race

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are ‘ones to watch’ in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes after he was given the green light to leave the club following their relegation to the Championship.

The Portugal international is subject to interest from many big clubs across Europe, including the Reds and Premier League rivals Manchester United.

The Red Devils have already accelerated talks with the player and his agents, while they and Arsenal have made contact with the Hammers over a summer deal, according to the report.

Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the ‘elite’ 21-year-old, but Liverpool are emerging as the club to watch in the race for his signature.

Fernandes is said to be keen to join United, with the opportunity to link up with compatriot Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford attractive.

West Ham Want £80m for Mateus Fernandes

The report adds that West Ham are demanding up to £80m for their star man despite their relegation to the Championship, which would smash the record for the league previously set when Chelsea signed Romeo Lavia from Southampton for £53m in 2024.

Despite the fierce battle for Fernandes’ signature, the feeling is that the Irons will have to settle for a lower fee as the Portuguese midfielder seeks a summer exit.

Offers are expected to be around the £60m mark for the 21-year-old, with clubs knowing that West Ham need to balance the books ahead of a season in the English second tier.

Fernandes is said to be open to a move away from England to join PSG too, after they defended their Champions League title by beating Arsenal on Saturday.

Five-time NBA champion and basketball icon, Shaquille O’Neal, once weighed in on one of basketball’s most debated hypothetical match-ups: who would come out on top in a one-on-one showdown between LeBron James and Michael Jordan?

Although several names are often included in discussions surrounding the greatest basketball player of all time, the debate most frequently centres on LeBron and Jordan. Both superstars boast compelling arguments in support of their respective claims.

LeBron James vs Michael Jordan

Jordan concluded his career with a flawless 6-0 NBA Finals record and earned Finals MVP honours in every championship series he won. Renowned for his ability to deliver in crucial moments, MJ was also dominant at both ends of the floor. Alongside winning 10 scoring titles, he earned nine selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

LeBron, on the other hand, has built his case through remarkable longevity and all-around excellence. Currently the oldest active player in the NBA, he holds the league record for career points and ranks fourth all-time in assists. His impact stretches beyond statistics, having guided three separate franchises to NBA championships — a distinction shared by only three other players.

Given their versatility and status among basketball’s all-time greats, predicting the outcome of a one-on-one battle between the pair is far from straightforward. Unsurprisingly, when asked directly, both Jordan and LeBron expressed complete confidence in themselves.

“If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question,” Jordan said during a 2015 interview.

LeBron echoed that confidence while speaking with Today Show host Willie Geist. “Oh, I take myself. I will take myself for sure. I’m going to take myself versus anybody,” James replied. “They’re going to have to have a few wheelchairs and a couple of ambulances there to get us off the floor.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s Pick in a 1v1

At a promotional appearance in Hong Kong, Shaquille O’Neal was asked to share his thoughts on the Jordan-LeBron debate. After reflecting on both players and their unique qualities, O’Neal ultimately sided with one of them.

“It would be an interesting game,” O’Neal said, via ESPN. “Young LeBron was more like Magic Johnson. He was kind of a combination of Magic and Jordan. He enjoyed setting teammates up and getting everyone involved. But Mike was Mike. He was simply different — unlike anybody else. He consistently did things nobody else could replicate. That’s what made him special, and that’s why I think he’d win.”

Ever the basketball historian, O’Neal expanded on his appreciation for the sport and revealed the player he personally regards as the greatest.

“I’ve seen young Mike and young LeBron, and I must say Dr. J [Julius Erving] is still my favourite player,” the Hall of Famer explained.

Nearly four decades after stepping away from the game, Erving remains one of basketball’s most influential figures. Often credited with helping popularise the modern slam dunk, he also enjoyed exceptional longevity, scoring more than 30,000 combined points across the ABA and NBA. His high-flying style left a lasting impression on future generations, including Jordan, who repeatedly cited Erving as one of his biggest inspirations.

“A lot of people today don’t even mention his name, but to me, I still think he was the best,” O’Neal added. “But these are questions that we’ll never truly know the answer to. It’s kind of like if I met Bruce Lee in an alleyway. Who wins? Nobody knows. Some people would say, ‘Bruce would beat Shaq.’ Others would say, ‘Shaq is twice the size of Bruce Lee.’ It makes for a great debate and a great conversation, but there’s no way to know for sure.”

Arsenal are in the market for reinforcements in the summer transfer window despite lifting the Premier League title.

The Gunners won’t want to stand still after their first-place finish, looking to bring in new additions all across the team.

The North London side were recently knocked out of the Champions League final by Paris Saint-Germain, so they will be looking for reinforcements to help them go one step further in Europe.

Despite winning the Premier League, there are still some areas of Mikel Arteta’s squad that could do with being improved.

With their season now over following the Champions League final, attention for the Gunners will now turn to the summer transfer window.

Arsenal Make Forward Transfer Call

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have recently made a call to be informed on the future of Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal are waiting to be informed by the Cherries about a potential price tag after the young forward enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League.

Kroupi broke the record in the Premier League towards the end of the season by scoring his 13th goal, ensuring he has the most strikes scored by a teenager in their debut campaign.

After a strong start to life in England, Kroupi is now being targeted by some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Kroupi Could be Expensive Addition for Arsenal

According to reports, Arsenal could make one marquee signing in the summer transfer window.

Although Kroupi, labelled as a ‘world-class talent’ by teammate Marcus Tavernier, perhaps isn’t a marquee addition in terms of his ability just yet, reports have claimed that he could cost in the region of £80 million.

The Cherries will be looking to move forward and not sell all of their best talents after qualifying for Europe this season.

Bournemouth’s model is often to buy and sell, but they will need to keep some of their stars if they want to be able to compete in Europe.