Liverpool have clearly identified their attack as the key position for strengthening this summer, as they look to give new manager Andoni Iraola the squad he needs next season to make a strong charge in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Liverpool may have been beaten by eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in Europe’s elite club competition last term, but they were beaten comfortably across two legs, all while finishing 25 points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League as they looked to defend the title they won in Arne Slot’s maiden season in charge.

The Reds have already completed the signing of winger Victor Munoz out of nowhere after hijacking Newcastle United’s move for the Spain international, but they remain determined to bring in another wide forward ahead of next season.

RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has emerged as their top target as they look to find a long-term replacement for the departing Mohamed Salah, with the club said to be making progress on personal terms with the teenager as they look to convince him to move to Anfield.

Liverpool have already had one bid rejected for the 19-year-old, and agreeing a fee with the Bundesliga outfit could prove a hurdle too tricky to overcome.

It would be no surprise if the Merseysiders are already considering alternative targets.

Bradley Barcola Tempted by Liverpool Move

Gonzalo Fuentes via Reuters

Despite signing Munoz and as talks continue over a deal to sign Diomande, Le10Sport in France claim that Liverpool have reignited their interest in signing Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola having attempted to sign him last summer.

The report says that Barcola is ‘thrilled’ by the prospect of a move to Anfield and is ‘excited’ by the thought of continuing his career in the Premier League.

PSG have refused to rule out an exit for the ‘world-class’ France international too, believing they have several options to fill the void if the 23-year-old leaves the Parc des Princes.

PSG are said to value Barcola at up to €130m (£112m) as they consider cashing in on the Frenchman.

Barcola is Way Better Than Diomande

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Diomande has clearly been Liverpool’s top winger target in recent weeks, but there is no doubt that Barcola is currently way better than the Ivory Coast international.

That’s not to say that the 19-year-old isn’t already a good player with a huge future ahead of him, but he has also only played one senior season of football.

Diomande looks to have all the attributes to be one of the best wingers in Europe in future with his pace, end product and defensive work rate, but Barcola is already there.

The France international has won the Champions League twice and the Ligue 1 title three times during 152 appearances for PSG, scoring 39 goals and registering a further 37 assists.

He has delivered consistently and over a longer period for the best club in Europe and, at 23 years of age, should still have his best years ahead of him.

You only had to see his goal in France’s opening World Cup game against Senegal to see the quality he has, as he went through on goal before brilliantly dinking the goalkeeper.

Liverpool will be getting a good player whoever they land out of Barcola and Diomande, but it is the former who is the finished product right now.

Manchester United have contacted the agents of Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni as their summer midfield rebuild takes another twist.

Man United quickly agreed a deal with Atalanta worth under £40m to sign Ederson even before the transfer window officially opened, with the player expected to complete his move to Old Trafford when he returns from representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.

The Brazilian is the first piece of the jigsaw puzzle as the Red Devils look to transform their midfield, and there could be two more additions to come should Manuel Ugarte join Casemiro in leaving Old Trafford this summer.

Having failed to make any progress with a move to sign top target Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with the England international looking destined to join rivals Manchester City instead, club chiefs turned their attentions to West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes following the London outfit’s relegation to the Championship.

United considered the 21-year-old a target anyway, but there is more of a chance of prising him away from the Hammers given the player has no intention of playing in the Championship.

Agreeing a fee with West Ham will likely prove the most difficult hurdle though, given they are staying strong on their £85m valuation.

Man United Tell Tchouameni Agent They Want to Sign Him

via Reuters

With no breakthrough in talks to sign Fernandes yet, United officials are now said to have made contact with the agent of Tchouameni.

Fabrizio Romano has already made it clear that the club see the France international as their ‘dream’ midfield transfer target, above all others.

The 26-year-old is seen as the perfect replacement for Casemiro, who leaves a huge void in the United engine room after leaving the club following the expiry of his contract.

According to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Real are open to selling the 26-year-old star this summer following the appointment of Jose Mourinho, even though the player himself would like to stay.

United chiefs have expressed strong interest in signing the Frenchman to the player’s agents.

Tchouameni Would be Statement Signing for United

via Reuters

He may have had a public bust-up with teammate Federico Valverde on the Real Madrid training ground, which saw both players fined €500,000, but there is no doubting his quality.

His former teammate Chema Andres has described him as the ‘best DM in the world’, and there aren’t many better options on the globe in that position than Tchouameni.

During his four years at the Bernabeu, the 26-year-old has won the Champions League and La Liga, making 195 appearances along the way.

Tchouameni is ideal for United’s midfield as he is happy to sit and screen the defence, which will give someone like Kobbie Mainoo more freedom to make a difference further forward.

The France international is also physically dominant and powerful, with elite-level defensive anticipation that helps him snuff out any danger.

His tackling success and defensive duel wins also consistently rank among the best in Europe, which only further enhance his reputation as being one of the top defensive midfielders on the globe.

Tottenham Hotspur mean business in this summer transfer window, and they clearly have no intention of finding themselves near the relegation zone in the Premier League again anytime soon.

Tottenham have already completed the signings of three players ahead of the Roberto De Zerbi revolution, including a Champions League and Premier League winner in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke.

It has been suggested that they want to complete seven summer signings, with a midfielder and three attackers to follow, although Spurs are also being linked with a second central midfielder and goalkeepers with Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave.

The north Londoners have been working hard on a deal to sign De Zerbi’s top target Sandro Tonali, having already had a £75m bid rejected by Newcastle United for the Italy international.

The 26-year-old is said to be keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to link up with Italian compatriot De Zerbi, as Spurs continue to show huge ambition in the market.

Tonali isn’t the only midfielder De Zerbi has on his wishlist however, with the 47-year-old also wanting to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes on top of the Italian, following the Irons’ relegation to the Championship.

Tottenham ‘Very Close’ to Mateus Fernandes Agreement

via Reuters

Italian journalist Matteo Moretto reported on Saturday that Tottenham are now ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on personal terms with Fernandes, as they look to try and beat Premier League rivals Manchester United to his signature.

United had looked to be in clear pole position to sign the Portugal international, who would like to link up with Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, but Spurs appear to have made an attractive offer to him as well, which would allow him to remain in London.

The Red Devils can also offer the ‘elite’ 21-year-old star Champions League football next term while Spurs have no European football to offer at all.

Nevertheless, Fernandes seems ready to join Tottenham if they can agree a fee with West Ham, as he looks to avoid playing in England’s second tier.

Tonali Will Love Fernandes

via Reuters

If Tottenham can pull off an audacious double swoop for Tonali and Fernandes, like De Zerbi wants them to, they would arguably have one of the best central midfield partnerships in the Premier League.

Tonali is a physically imposing midfielder with impressive strength and stamina, while he has also shown his ability to dicate matches and make an impact in the final third at St James’ Park too.

Fernandes could prove to be the perfect player to complement him in the Tottenham engine room, given the Portuguese’s own versatility.

The 21-year-old has proven he can play as a ‘6’, ‘8’ and a ’10’ during his spells with West Ham and Southampton, and that adaptability will allow Tonali to not only sit deep, but also get involved in more attacking areas too because he knows he can rely on him for tackling success.

When Tonali finds Fernandes in possession, he knows that youngster will use the ball well too after what we’ve seen from him at St Mary’s and the London Stadium.