Paper Talk: Tottenham ready to gazump Man Utd for Barcelona standout; Liverpool in brutal Coutinho response Tottenham have emerged as major suitors to sign a standout Barcelona star, while Liverpool had a firm answer for Philippe Coutinho when a return was discussed, according to Sunday’s paper gossip. TOTTENHAM MAKE MOVE FOR BARCELONA ACE Tottenham have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Ivan Rakitic after the Barcelona midfielder admitted he is considering his future at the club. The Croatian star has been a key player for the Catalan giants since joining from Sevilla six years ago, winning four La Liga titles and the Champions League. But he has found himself out of the starting line-up this season after the arrival of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax last summer. And this week, Rakitic revealed Barca had attempted to use him as a makeweight as part of a proposed deal to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. The 32-year-old has since stated that he will not allow Barca to treat him like a ‘sack of potatoes’ and wants to be ‘somewhere he feels ‘respected.’ Rakitic has been linked with a move to United for some time, but now Spurs have registered an interest too, according to Spanish publication Sport, via the Daily Star. The midfielder only has one year remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp and could be available for a relatively modest fee this summer, while Tottenham’s move for the player could also be aided by Barca’s interest in record signing Tanguy Ndombele. The midfielder has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since his move from Lyon last summer, with Jose Mourinho publicly criticising the Frenchman after a game at Burnley earlier this season. Mourinho, meanwhile, is said to be a long-time admirer of Rakitic, although he is fully aware Spurs will have a fight on their hands to get their man. Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Sevilla and Napoli have also been credited with an interest in signing Rakitic, who has made 299 appearances for Barca and scored 35 goals. AND MORE GOSSIP Kevin Keegan is being lined for a sensational return to Newcastle, and their £300m takeover could even be rubber-stamped later this week (Sunday Mirror) Liverpool told Philippe Coutinho they were not interested in re-signing him when he discussed a potential return (Sunday Mirror) Borussia Dortmund are eyeing Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (Sunday Mirror) Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned English footballers: Take the wage pain – or clubs will go under (Sunday Mirror) Manchester United’s Scott McTominay has been taking lessons from Cristiano Ronaldo on how to keep himself fit and focused during lockdown (Sunday Mirror) Mohamed Salah would be devastated if the Premier League season is canned by COVID-19 and Liverpool are denied lifting the title, according to his former captain at Egyptian club Al-Mokawloon (Sun on Sunday) West Ham and Leicester are considering making moves for Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos (Sun on Sunday) Manchester City can land a bigger jackpot than rivals United and Chelsea, if they force a Jadon Sancho bidding war this summer (Sun on Sunday) Bury owner Steve Dale is seeking to alleviate a £3.7m stadium debt in order to help secure the expelled club’s future (Sun on Sunday) Everton transfer chief Marcel Brands is teeing up Dutch AZ Alkmaar star Teun Koopmeiners for a £12m swoop (Sun on Sunday) Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are both in the hunt for Sean Dyche – if coronavirus ruins Burnley’s transfer plans (Sun on Sunday) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been talking to Inter Milan stars ahead of a potential summer San Siro switch, according to reports (Sun on Sunday) Leicester are still interested in Lille striker Victory Osimhen, 21, but could lose out to Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan in their pursuit of the Nigerian (Mail on Sunday) Jose Mourinho is interested in signing right-back Thomas Meunier on a free transfer but will have to convince chairman Daniel Levy to relax his desire to bring down the average age of the Tottenham squad (Sunday Telegraph) English football faces a June 1 deadline to get back to full training or finishing the 2019-20 season may become impossible (Sunday Times) Norwich have agreed a deal to sign 23-year-old Luxembourg forward Danel Sinani from F91 Dudelange on a three-year deal (Sky Sports) SPFL clubs are set to reject Rangers’ calls for a second vote probe – because they fear a six-figure legal bill (Scottish Sun) Scottish football will plead with Nicola Sturgeon to allow next season to start behind closed doors (Scottish Sun) The post Paper Talk: Tottenham ready to gazump Man Utd for Barcelona standout; Liverpool in brutal Coutinho response appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Tottenham have emerged as major suitors to sign a standout Barcelona star, while Liverpool had a firm answer for Philippe Coutinho when a return was discussed, according to Sunday’s paper gossip.

 

TOTTENHAM MAKE MOVE FOR BARCELONA ACE

Tottenham have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Ivan Rakitic after the Barcelona midfielder admitted he is considering his future at the club.

The Croatian star has been a key player for the Catalan giants since joining from Sevilla six years ago, winning four La Liga titles and the Champions League.

But he has found himself out of the starting line-up this season after the arrival of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax last summer.

And this week, Rakitic revealed Barca had attempted to use him as a makeweight as part of a proposed deal to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

The 32-year-old has since stated that he will not allow Barca to treat him like a ‘sack of potatoes’ and wants to be ‘somewhere he feels ‘respected.’

Rakitic has been linked with a move to United for some time, but now Spurs have registered an interest too, according to Spanish publication Sport, via the Daily Star.

The midfielder only has one year remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp and could be available for a relatively modest fee this summer, while Tottenham’s move for the player could also be aided by Barca’s interest in record signing Tanguy Ndombele.

 

 

The midfielder has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since his move from Lyon last summer, with Jose Mourinho publicly criticising the Frenchman after a game at Burnley earlier this season.

Mourinho, meanwhile, is said to be a long-time admirer of Rakitic, although he is fully aware Spurs will have a fight on their hands to get their man.

Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Sevilla and Napoli have also been credited with an interest in signing Rakitic, who has made 299 appearances for Barca and scored 35 goals.

 

AND MORE GOSSIP

Kevin Keegan is being lined for a sensational return to Newcastle, and their £300m takeover could even be rubber-stamped later this week (Sunday Mirror)

Liverpool told Philippe Coutinho they were not interested in re-signing him when he discussed a potential return (Sunday Mirror)

Borussia Dortmund are eyeing Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (Sunday Mirror)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned English footballers: Take the wage pain – or clubs will go under (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay has been taking lessons from Cristiano Ronaldo on how to keep himself fit and focused during lockdown (Sunday Mirror)

Mohamed Salah would be devastated if the Premier League season is canned by COVID-19 and Liverpool are denied lifting the title, according to his former captain at Egyptian club Al-Mokawloon (Sun on Sunday)

West Ham and Leicester are considering making moves for Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos (Sun on Sunday)

Manchester City can land a bigger jackpot than rivals United and Chelsea, if they force a Jadon Sancho bidding war this summer (Sun on Sunday)

Bury owner Steve Dale is seeking to alleviate a £3.7m stadium debt in order to help secure the expelled club’s future (Sun on Sunday)

Everton transfer chief Marcel Brands is teeing up Dutch AZ Alkmaar star Teun Koopmeiners for a £12m swoop (Sun on Sunday)

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are both in the hunt for Sean Dyche – if coronavirus ruins Burnley’s transfer plans (Sun on Sunday)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been talking to Inter Milan stars ahead of a potential summer San Siro switch, according to reports (Sun on Sunday)

 

Leicester are still interested in Lille striker Victory Osimhen, 21, but could lose out to Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan in their pursuit of the Nigerian (Mail on Sunday)

Jose Mourinho is interested in signing right-back Thomas Meunier on a free transfer but will have to convince chairman Daniel Levy to relax his desire to bring down the average age of the Tottenham squad (Sunday Telegraph)

English football faces a June 1 deadline to get back to full training or finishing the 2019-20 season may become impossible (Sunday Times)

Norwich have agreed a deal to sign 23-year-old Luxembourg forward Danel Sinani from F91 Dudelange on a three-year deal (Sky Sports)

SPFL clubs are set to reject Rangers’ calls for a second vote probe – because they fear a six-figure legal bill (Scottish Sun)

Scottish football will plead with Nicola Sturgeon to allow next season to start behind closed doors (Scottish Sun)

 

The post Paper Talk: Tottenham ready to gazump Man Utd for Barcelona standout; Liverpool in brutal Coutinho response appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Robert McCarthy