Inter Milan have accepted a £12 million bid from Premier League side Stoke City for the transfer of versatile midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, according to Sky Italia (via Sky Sports).

However, the highly rated Swiss international is yet to agree to terms with the club.

Continue for updates.

Inter Accept Stoke City’s £12m Offer for Shaqiri

Wednesday, July 1

“Inter has an agreement with Stoke City for the transfer of Xherdan Shaqiri. Player still hasn’t agreed,” tweeted B/R UK’s Matteo Bonetti, who cites Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio.

Football Italia also cites Di Marzio and suggests “the deal now hinges on whether Shaqiri will accept the move to England, which may prove a stumbling block, as he’s made it clear he wants to stay at San Siro.”

The 23-year-old joined Inter from Bayern Munich in January, but he struggled to hold down a first-team spot under Roberto Mancini. Shaqiri scored one and assisted two during eight starts and seven substitute appearances, per WhoScored.com.

Despite being a leader for the Swiss national team—scoring three at last summer’s World Cup—he is yet to reach his potential in club football. Simon Jones of the Daily Mail believes Everton are also interested in acquiring the player’s services, while Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked in recent times.

He remains one of the continent’s top talents, so many will ask the question as to how Stoke can be in the reckoning for his signature. The answer stems from the Premier League recently securing a £5.136 billion television rights deal after selling coverage to Sky Sports and BT Sport, per BBC Sport.

The distribution of cash will allow Premier League clubs outside the elite spend to handsomely this summer, as already highlighted by Dimitri Payet’s £10.7 million move from Marseille to West Ham, reported by the Independent‘s Tom Sheen.

Newly promoted Bournemouth recently spent £8 million on Ipswich Town defender Tyone Mings in another example of added wealth in the division, per Stuart James of the Guardian.

Stoke were gutsy in last summer’s transfer market and managed to lure ex-Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic to the Stadium of Light. Shaqiri would be another example of manager Mark Hughes trying to progress the club away from the overbearing physical style employed by former boss Tony Pulis.

The player’s arrival at any Premier League club would mark one of the coups of the summer. Stoke finished ninth last season, and if they’re going to progress, they need to make acquisitions of Shaqiri’s quality.  

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In among the Luis Suarez-led chaos that was Uruguay’s World Cup campaign last summer, there were the calm, composed performances of one of the youngest players at the tournament.

After the Suarez-less Uruguayans suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica in their opening match, the then teenage centre-back Jose Gimenez came into the team for the ageing Diego Lugano, and order was restored.

Gimenez’s performances in the wins over England and Italy, which put Uruguay into the last 16 didn’t hit the headlines due to the deeds—both good and bad—of Suarez, but it was hard to believe this was a player who had featured just twice for his club Atletico Madrid the previous season.

Playing alongside his club colleague Diego Godin, Gimenez was assured and not afraid to put challenges in, not being overawed by the reputations of opponents such as Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli. Where some players often seem to get forever billed as “one for the future,” here was Gimenez making an impact in the here and now.

The reason that Atletico fans had seen so little of a player their club had signed from Danubio the previous summer was due to the form of Godin and Miranda, the central defensive pairing which shone as Atletico won La Liga and came within a whisker of winning the Champions League.

He managed to appear 26 times in all competitions in the 2014/15 season—memorably scoring in a win over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey—but always as an understudy to one of the best centre-back partnerships in the European game, a pairing which has now been broken up due to Miranda’s move to Inter Milan.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the Brazilian’s £10.6 million switch to Serie A brings to an end a successful four-year stay in Madrid for a player who came, along with Godin and others, to embody the spirit instilled in the team by Diego Simeone.

Having arrived at the club from Sao Paulo in 2011, Miranda leaves having just captained Brazil at the Copa America, a remarkable rise and a reference point for Gimenez for the months and years ahead. Atletico is a club where reputations have come to be forged in recent years, none more so that Simeone’s, and he could be able to see the same qualities in his young defender.

An all-Uruguayan pairing with Godin is now a real possibility as Simeone shapes his team for the challenges ahead in 2015/16, with the 20-year-old’s skill set complementing a player who is nine years his senior.

He has just as many caps for Uruguay as La Liga appearances for Atletico, but the sale of Miranda gives Gimenez the perfect chance to earn the trust of Simeone in the same way he has with his national team manager Oscar Tabarez.

One of the standout young defenders in the world game, Gimenez’s presence will save Simeone the task of trying to replace Miranda with a big-money signing, as a new Atletico back line is formed.

As is always the case with young defenders, his manager will have to show a great deal of patience and bravery in selecting him, but if the Atletico boss does choose Gimenez to be Miranda’s long-term replacement then you get the feeling that he’s going to be rewarded.

And with no Suarez around the steal the headlines, we might soon be talking about the 20-year-old centre-back a lot more.

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Starting his career at Olympique Lyonnais as a prodigious youth talent in 1996, Karim Benzema played at Lyon, in their various tiers, for 14 years. After five top-flight seasons in Ligue 1—directly creating 82 goals in 133 appearances—the French international secured a £25 million move to Real Madrid, arguably the world’s foremost footballing institution.

From 2009/10 to 2014/15, Benzema has been largely successful at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite residing forever in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo’s magnificence, the Frenchman has made 220 goals in just over 280 matches, winning four major pieces of silverware—including the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti has left the Spanish capital, and with Rafa Benitez taking his place as Real Madrid manager, no stone has been left unturned as the former Napoli boss searches for a winning combination.

One of the first reports concerning the Spaniard’s tactics was—as noted by the Daily Mail‘s Adam Shergold—Cristiano Ronaldo being deployed as a centre-forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The “BBC,” consisting of Benzema centrally with Ronaldo and Gareth Bale on the wings has been a staple of the past two seasons under Ancelotti, but the French centre-forward is not exactly an attacking midfielder.

According to the 27-year-old’s agent, taken last month from Jack Bezants of the Daily Mail: “Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements.”

So might Benitez’s appointment upset the proverbial applecart?

If Ronaldo is indeed Madrid’s “No. 9” for the upcoming season—playing as a lone centre-forward—it seems in Benzema‘s best interest to look elsewhere.

Linked with the Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United specifically) via the Daily Express‘ Ben Jefferson, a more pertinent option exists for the French international—one which probably requires his services.

Paris Saint-Germain have been attempting to figure out the Zlatan Ibrahimovic puzzle for the past three seasons. His larger-than-life aura renders customary centre-forwards (i.e. Edinson Cavani) to wide roles and Laurent Blanc seems unwilling (or unable) to devise a system better suited to his striking talent.

Ibrahimovic has never played longer than three seasons (plus four games) at the same club, making the 2015/16 season Zlatan‘s longest stint at any destination. Malmo FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan over 14 seasons saw differing versions of the now-33-year-old, but he has produced his best work in Paris.

The Swedish international’s best, however, has only bred domestic trophies; with the embarrassment of riches PSG have—relative to their French counterparts—this success is largely expected, and therefore less impressive. For the three-time defending Ligue 1 champions, the barometer for success is not in France, but the Champions League.

Entering the last year of his contract, Ibrahimovic might have one more season left to fill the only glaring absence from his trophy cabinet, which just so happens to coincide with Paris Saint-Germain.

An argument could be made the best of Ibra has passed and, having never won the Champions League during his numerous pit stops around Europe, Zlatan may not be the footballer to carry a club to European glory. Regardless of the sentiment’s veracity, those in power might consider it nonetheless—as the notion cannot be disproven.

Ibrahimovic unquestionably has the talent to deliver Paris Saint-Germain’s holy grail, but needs assistance in bringing the dream to fruition.

Were one to poll PSG supporters, Benzema—though a Champions League winner and French international—would probably be second choice to another Olympique Lyonnais product.

Alexandre Lacazette, the free-scoring 24-year-old, is a highly coveted commodity this summer. James Cambridge of the Daily Express posits the Lyon born-and-breed footballer is rated at £21 million, with Arsenal and Chelsea listed as heavy contenders for his signature.

Were Ibrahimovic five years younger, and had a few seasons to bring the younger centre-forward up to speed in the Champions League, Lacazette would be a perfect candidate to work with—but the 33-year-old Swede is running out of the most precious commodity on planet Earth—time.

Paris Saint-Germain—were they in the summer transfer market for another centre-forward—must give Ibrahimovic a plug-and-play strike partner.

One possessing experience, both domestically and continentally, and who has been in deep European waters. Possibly being pushed out of Real Madrid, Benzema is the perfect compliment to football’s ageing Superman.

Provided Lacazette stays at Lyon in 2015/16, he could serve as Ibrahimovic‘s replacement come next summer’s transfer window—but finding Zlatan immediate help means buying a proven partner who can maintain PSG‘s Ligue 1 stranglehold, whilst adding an extra dimension in the Champions League.

Ticking all the boxes, Benzema is the forward Paris Saint-Germain need, but whether the French champions can pry him from Spain, or whether the 27-year-old would even entertain starting a Parisian adventure, can only be accurately answered by the summer’s end.

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*Stats via WhoScored; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.

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Italian central midfielder Andrea Bertolacci, 24, finalised a captivating transfer from Roma to AC Milan.

It’s the platform Bertolacci needs to transition into a star.

Bertolacci Transfer Details

Suffering a public relations own goal due to the Geoffrey Kondogbia switcheroo, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani invested heavily in Bertolacci.

Genoa and Roma shared Bertolacci’s playing rights.

After a career-defining campaign as an integral component in Genoa’s sixth-placed finish, Roma bought out Bertolacci’s contract for €8.5 million (£6 million), per Roma’s website (h/t Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC).

Galliani presented Roma a quick cash-grab opportunity, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio’s website:

• €20 million (£14.2 million) transfer fee. 
• Galliani temporarily diverts attention away from the Kondogbia embarrassment by announcing the signing of Bertolacci.
  
• Roma make an easy €11.5 million (£8.2 million) profit.

The deal heavily favours Bertolacci’s bank account.

He was earning around €600,000 (£430,962) per year at Genoa, per Carlo Laudisa at La Gazzetta dello Sport.

According to Amoyal, AC Milan will pay about €2 million (£1.4 million) per year to Bertolacci, which elevates to €3 million (£2.2 million) per year if the Rossoneri qualify for the UEFA Champions League. 

“It was always my first choice to come here. Galliani showed great enthusiasm to sign me,” Bertolacci said, per AC Milan’s website (h/t Sky Sports). “I have always said to CEO Adriano Galliani that I wanted to come here and it’s a great feeling to see it happen.”

Bertolacci Tendencies

Naturally left-footed, Bertolacci is able to shoot with either foot, as 31.2 per cent of his Serie A goals have come via his right foot since the 2010/11 season.

Despite being a technically gifted shooter, Bertolacci failed to convert 85.1 per cent of scoring chances, per Squawka.

Bertolacci’s shooting accuracy is inefficient (37.1 per cent).

There were 45 Serie A players, including Fiorentina centre-back Gonzalo Rodriguez (seven goals), who outscored Bertolacci (six goals) last season.

If Bertolacci is burdened with scoring responsibilities, AC Milan cannot justify spending €20 million (£14.2 million) on him.

It is overspending.

But what drew AC Milan to Bertolacci was his imaginative playing style.

Possessing nifty change of pace and an abundance of flair, Bertolacci produces a positive outcome 77 per cent of the time he isolates the opposing defender in one-on-one situations, per Wyscout.

Compared to Juventus (72 goals), Lazio (71 goals) and Napoli (70 goals), AC Milan’s attack (56 goals) was stagnant.

AC Milan’s leading creator last season was Ignazio Abate (six assists), a right-back. 

Signing Bertolacci, who registered eight assists last season, injects much-needed creativity into AC Milan. 

How will Bertolacci fit tactically?

In Genoa’s 3-2 win over Inter Milan, Bertolacci started as a central midfielder in a 3-4-3, which morphed into a 3-4-1-2.

Genoa manager Gian Piero Gasperini began with a 3-4-3 in 63.2 per cent of Serie A games.

When Gasperini alternated to a 4-3-3 in a 1-0 win over AC Milan, the average positioning of the Genoa players resembled a 4-2-1-3.

Bertolacci was the most advanced midfielder.

Flanked by left-central midfielder Juraj Kucka and right-central midfielder Stefano Sturaro, Bertolacci functioned as a quasi-No. 10.

Gasperini’s tactical adjustment provided Bertolacci the freedom to get himself into advantageous attacking positions, per Wyscout: “Operating as a roving playmaker, he found space intelligently.”

Bertolacci was in the zone in the attacking half, scoring and creating a combined 14 goals (six goals and eight assists).

If treated similarly to Roberto Soriano, Bertolacci can adapt to AC Milan manager Sinisa Mihajlovic’s system.

Managing Sampdoria at the time, Mihajlovic afforded Soriano some flexibility, as he switched between No. 8 and No. 10.

During a 2-2 draw against AC Milan, Mihajlovic started Soriano as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3.

However, Sampdoria’s formation shifted into a 4-2-1-3.

Alfred Duncan and Pedro Obiang formed the “2,” while Soriano was the “1” in the 4-2-1-3.

Duncan and Obiang complemented Soriano, who drifted into a central attacking midfield role.

The advantage of playing Bertolacci in a free role is that he wins back the ball in the attacking half.

He is a more prolific tackler than Giacomo Bonaventura and Keisuke Honda.

“I spoke on the phone with new coach Mihajlovic and he has a great desire to bring back an AC Milan side of true greatness,” Bertolacci said, per AC Milan’s website (h/t Sky Sports). “I’m ready to prove myself.”

Bertolacci now faces the demanding task of living up to his €20 million (£14.2 million) transfer valuation.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored. 

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Less than five months after his switch from Fiorentina to Chelsea was confirmed, rumours are now swirling that winger Juan Cuadrado may be on the move again. 

According to Spanish outlet Sport (h/t Sport Witness), the 27-year-old Colombian has been offered to La Liga giants Barcelona for €35 million (£25 million), which is about what the Blues paid to snap him up from Serie A.

It would seemingly be somewhat premature for Jose Mourinho to be offloading him so soon, as he only played him four times as a Premier League starter last season, per WhoScored.com. It was hardly enough to truly establish his credentials.

It seems that Barca are not prepared to take Cuadrado, though, as they have apparently rejected the offer from the Blues, as they are still under a FIFA transfer ban until January and have already signed Aleix Vidal from Sevilla, per Sport (in Spanish).

Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell has preached patience over Cuadrado, insisting he should be given more time at Chelsea:

Indeed, they must have rated him at Fiorentina to spend over £20 million on him, and the player himself seems to want to carry on in the Premier League:

However, Barcelona are not the only side to be in conversation with the Stamford Bridge outfit over Cuadrado.

Inter Milan are reportedly advancing in talks to take the versatile Colombia international on loan for next season, with an option to buy eventually, per Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Having played in Serie A previously, Cuadrado may be open to such a move if he is not to be given the chance at Chelsea.

Barca, though, have likely made a good call in turning down Cuadrado, as €35 million (£25 million) seems a lot of money for a player who Chelsea seemingly do not rate highly enough to keep at Stamford Bridge.

Laporta Talks Up Pogba Deal

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta says the Camp Nou giants could gain the edge in the race for Juventus star Paul Pogba if he wins at next month’s elections.

Talking up his relationship with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola, Laporta suggested he could hold the key to signing up the highly-rated and much-targeted Frenchman.

Previously president between 2003 and 2010, the 53-year-old also noted the potential influence of ex-Barca defender Eric Abidal, whom he hopes to make his technical secretary should he win the election, per Goal.com’s Mark Doyle: 

We feel that the key to a potential signing of Pogba is Mino Raiola, with whom we get on with very well, both Abidal and myself. We carried out negotiations with him for the deals involving Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Abidal also knows Pogba on a personal level and if this is something that gives the supporters confidence in our project, then, we’ll talk to Juve, as he would be a positive addition.

While Laporta is likely simply trying to gain an edge in the election race, Spanish outlet Sport has previously suggested Barca as Juve’s preferred destination for Pogba should the Serie A champions end up selling him on, via Bleacher Report UK:

He would certainly be a blockbuster addition to an already phenomenal side, while Pogba’s arrival at the Camp Nou would be a coup for the Catalans considering he is being courted by numerous top European clubs.

However, at the moment, it all seems to simply be speculation. There has been little indication from Pogba and his camp on whether he will depart Juve, less still where he may end up. 

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Jackson Martinez finally confirmed his move to Atletico Madrid after Colombia’s Copa America loss against Argentina, bringing an end to transfer speculation and rumours linking him with Arsenal.

AS‘ Nicholas Rigg shared comments from his agent indicating the striker’s move to Spain was all but official just days ago, and per Metro‘s Lee Thomas-Mason, the player himself has now confirmed the transfer, saying: “I can confirm I am going to Atletico. I am going there for four years but I still do not know when I will be introduced.”

Atletico have yet to officially confirm the move, and while normally that would seem like a formality, the past few weeks have shown us that with Martinez, nothing is. The 28-year-old seemed certain to sign for AC Milan earlier this month, to the point Milan Channel, the club’s official TV station, had already welcomed the striker, via ESPN FC’s Julian De Martinis.

FC Porto even officially announced Martinez had signed for the Rossoneri, per Metro‘s Lee Hurley, before the striker suddenly turned his attention toward Atleti. La Liga blogger Sergi Dominguez noted that has become a common theme for Milan this summer:

Clearly, Martinez can’t be officially confirmed as the latest player of his new team until we see a picture of him holding up his new jersey with a signed contract on the table. His flip-flopping in the past few weeks has been ridiculous, as per football writer Kristian Sturt, Atletico is the third team he’s now courting―he originally wanted to join the Gunners:

Atletico will pay Martinez’s release clause―€35 million, per Thomas-Mason―to bring the Colombian to the Spanish capital, where he’ll serve as Mario Mandzukic’s replacement after the latter was sold to Juventus.

The prolific scorer has enjoyed much success in the Portuguese league, and while he hasn’t always looked convincing in the Champions League, his scoring form never deserted him, with seven goals in seven matches last year, per WhoScored.com.

He has an incredible nose for goal and is quite agile for his size, although he’ll never be mistaken for Theo Walcott. His playing style in and near the box is tailor-made for Atletico, and while there are question marks regarding his ability to continue his scoring in a tougher league, he’s well worth the €35 million fee.

The Gunners have been linked with Martinez for a long time, but following the news he was set to sign for Milan, the fans have already accepted the fact he won’t be moving to the Emirates. Knowing he turned on his commitment to Milan to complete a move to Atletico may sting a bit―he could have done the same for Arsenal―but in reality, it hardly matters.

And who knows, maybe the Colombian is fickle enough to break his latest commitment, turining this particular saga into the most bizarre of the summer.

Martin Montoya Set for Inter Milan Move

Barcelona’s Martin Montoya is close to completing a two-year loan move to Inter Milan, and the Nerazzurri will hold the option to make the move permanent for just €8 million, according to Sport‘s Samuel Marsden.

The 24-year-old right-back was also linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, according to the Daily Express‘ Uche Amako, but it appears Inter have won the race for his signature. The Nerazzurri have enjoyed a fantastic summer so far, via BT Sport’s James Horncastle, and the Montoya-signing would be the latest addition to a promising core of players:

Montoya was once regarded as the next star to emerge from La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy, but after a promising start to his senior career, he was forced to play second fiddle to Dani Alves, the Catalans’ longtime starter at the right-back position.

Alves signed a new deal at the end of the 2014-15 season, but even before the Brazilian veteran put pen to paper, it was clear Montoya would leave the club. Now aged 24, he needs a change of scenery in order to jump-start his career and prove he can be a top defender.

Montoya is a promising prospect, and while most pundits assumed he wouldn’t be an expensive signing in the summer of 2015 due to his lack of playing time with the Blaugrana, it’s remarkable the club seems willing to ship him out on loan, rather than cash in now.

If it’s really that easy to sign him, you have to wonder why more clubs haven’t sent Barcelona a better offer. Montoya offers plenty of upside for a minimal investment―a transfer would pose few risks and could potentially yield substantial rewards.

Inter’s fantastic summer continues with yet another great value signing, and while the Nerazzurri won’t be playing in Europe during the 2015-16 campaign, the club seems more than ready to make a run at a top-three finish in Serie A and a trip to the Champions League next year.

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According to the latest reports, Barcelona are hoping to land the signature of Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan.

The Daily Mail‘s Matt Maltby, citing Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, reports Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu “has already tied up a deal” for Turan.

Turan’s agent, Ahmed Bulut, has already confirmed the Turkish star will depart the Vicente Calderon this summer, though he hinted it would not be to another club in La Liga. Per Maltby, he told AS: “His intention is to leave Spain this summer.”

However, the temptation to play for giants Barca could entice Turan to remain in La Liga.

Real Madrid TV’s Phil Kitromilides believes Turan to be one of Atletico’s best players. High praise indeed, considering the level of talent in Diego Simeone’s squad.

The Turk is indeed a fine player but would be far from guaranteed a place in Luis Enrique’s starting lineup.

Front three Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are practically untouchable, while Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are unlikely to make way in midfield.

However, Turan scored three goals and made six assists in all competitions last season, making him comparable creatively with Iniesta and Rakitic, while his willingness to retrieve the ball and help out in defence would ease the reliance on Busquets.

If the versatile midfielder were to arrive at the Camp Nou this summer, he would most likely find himself moved into a more central role and rotated among Barca’s midfield trio.

If he is deployed in his more traditional wider role, then he could feature as cover for the marauding Dani Alves at right-back.

While Barcelona are a tempting prospect, Turan would be given a more important role in the team elsewhere, so a move to the Premier League still looks the more likely outcome in his desire to move on.

Inter Milan to Loan Martin Montoya

Sport‘s Samuel Marsden reports Barcelona full-back Martin Montoya is on the verge of joining Inter Milan:

The Spaniard has failed to establish himself in Barca’s first team, starting just six games in La Liga last season.

Alves’ contract extension means Montoya’s opportunities will continue to be limited if he remains at the Camp Nou.

As reported by Sergi Dominguez, Montoya was eager to leave in January:

A move never materialised, but it now seems Montoya will finally get his wish.

Barcelona undoubtedly would have preferred a permanent move rather than a loan deal, but it represents a low-risk opportunity for Inter, who can evaluate the player long-term before committing to buy.

There’s plenty of scope for Montoya to nail down a starting berth in the right-back position with Inter, as Hugo Campagnaro is now 34 and neither Danilo D’Ambrosio nor Yuto Nagatomo have cemented themselves as the undisputed first choice, but he must start contributing more effectively.

The 24-year-old has an excellent chance of kickstarting his career after a difficult spell, but he needs to take the opportunity with both hands and show that he can live up to his potential. 

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Liverpool have been adding players at a staggering rate all summer, but according to the latest transfer rumours, the Reds had even bigger plans.

Inter Milan have reportedly turned down their approach for midfielder Mateo Kovacic, and it seems no deal will be made for the Croatia international.

According to Sport Mediaset (h/t the Daily Star‘s Jamie Anderson), Liverpool are unwilling to offer the Nerazzurri more than £15 million for his services, whereas the Italians are holding out for a fee of £21.3 million. Rumours that Liverpool had already agreed to personal terms with Kovacic also turned out to be false:

Some media outlets claimed Kovacic had agreed personal terms with Liverpool, however the player himself moved quickly to dismiss such talks.

He told Tuttosport: “There’s no need for us to talk, I recently renewed my contract.

“Now I’m thinking about my holidays. I only know that I’m due back at Appiano Gentile on July 5. That’s why I haven’t heard anyone (sic) from the club yet.”

The Reds have been remarkably busy ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with the Times‘ Tony Barrett reporting the club is talking to Southampton‘s Nathaniel Clyne just days after picking up Roberto Firmino. Both had been linked with the Reds for a while, but it’s still surprising to see the club move this quickly in order to secure them.

Bleacher Report’s Graham Ruthven sees Firmino as a potential replacement for Raheem Sterling, and similarly, Kovacic was viewed as a potential long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard:

The 21-year-old still has a lot of developing to do and suffered through a pedestrian campaign in 2014-15, but his potential is tantalising. He has more than held his own in Croatia’s star-studded midfield so far and projects as a top-level attacking midfielder in a couple of years.

WhoScored’s Cristiano Acconci thinks Inter’s recent transfer business means he would be in a position to succeed in the Italian fashion capital, providing the Nerazzurri can keep him there:

As reported by Sky Sports, Inter have been hit with sanctions for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, and the arrival of Geoffrey Kondogbia will have to be offset with some departures.

Kovacic is seen as one of the players most likely to be sacrificed, given the fact manager Roberto Mancini didn’t trust him last season—even benching him on several occasions—and that the player himself holds plenty of value on the open market.

But if the Croat leaves Inter this summer, he will do so for a significant transfer fee, and £15 million just isn’t going to cut it. And if the Reds are unwilling to go any higher, as suggested by Anderson, that should bring an end to this particular transfer rumour.

Despite New Contract, Pedro Still Linked With Host of Clubs

Barcelona winger Pedro signed a new contract earlier this season after months of transfer speculation, but that isn’t stopping Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro‘s Tom Olver) from linking him with a host of foreign suitors.

The Blaugrana youth product is well behind the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar in the pecking order, and according to Mundo Deportivo, a £18 million fee could still see him move. Liverpool are on the list of potential destinations, along with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

The 27-year-old’s role diminished greatly after the arrival of Luis Suarez, and he’s set to see even less playing time due to the emergence of Munir El Haddadi and Adama Traore, who are both expected to play bigger roles next season.

Fans may point to Pedro’s new contract as a reason he won’t be leaving the club, but he wouldn’t be the first player to sign a new deal only to leave just months later. Mundo Deportivo isn’t the only Catalan newspaper considering the possibility―Sport‘s Lluis Miguelsanz suggested the player may actually prefer a move away from the Camp Nou:

The academy product renewed his contract a few week ago, but recent events have led to a decision. He has an important offer from PSG, where he has been assured he would start. He thinks he will have less opportunities at Camp Nou following the arrival of Aleix Vidal at Barcelona.

Of the clubs reportedly interested in his services, PSG should be considered favourites. Pedro would be an immediate upgrade over Lucas Moura and Ezequiel Lavezzi, all but guaranteeing him a starting position in the French capital.

Les Parisiens have massive funds, enough to easily facilitate the move and offer the winger an attractive wage deal, and given their need out wide, they would gladly overspend to secure their guy. Liverpool aren’t strapped for cash, but after a flurry of early signings, they simply can’t beat PSG on a financial level.

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When Lukas Podolski left Arsenal in the January transfer window to join Inter Milan on loan, the idea that he could play for the Gunners again seemed inconceivable. With the move to Serie A having been an unmitigated disaster, Podolski is now pining for the Emirates Stadium once again. However, it’s almost impossible to see him resurrecting his career in north London—a permanent departure this summer seems much more probable.

Podolski went to Italy hoping to kickstart a career that was in stasis at Arsenal. However, during his six months with Inter, Podolski made only eight starts and scored just one goal. He might have changed scene but his fortunes did not improve.

It seems his difficult spell in Italy has led Podolski to reconsider his feelings about Arsenal. Talking to German publication Bild (h/t the Guardian), he said:

“I’ve always felt comfortable there. With the fans, with the team and also with the manager. I’m going back to play, I have to say my qualities suit Arsenal.

Inter? Last season went how it went. English football is the one which best suits my style but I know how suddenly everything can change.”

This seems like wishful thinking on the part of the player. Much as Podolski might like to see out his Arsenal contract, there is no obvious spot for him in the current squad. At the start of the 2014/15 season, the Gunners had an unbalanced roster with too much attacking talent to comfortably accommodate. The decision to loan out Podolski, Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo in January gave the squad much better equilibrium.

Podolski’s customary spot with Arsenal was on the left-side of the attack—a spot currently filled by reigning Arsenal Player of the Season Alexis Sanchez. Beyond him, Arsene Wenger is able to call upon the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck in the attacking wide positions. Both players are younger, quicker and fitter than Podolski. The German is now 30, and his powers are thus more likely to wane than wax over the coming seasons.

The truth is he’s never quite fitted in at Arsenal anyway. He was ostensibly signed to help replace Robin van Persie at centre-forward, but it quickly became clear he lacked the hold-up play required to be deployed through the middle. When he was used out wide, the deficiencies in his defensive awareness and work-rate were often exposed. He’s always looked a little like a square peg in a round hole, with only his outstanding shooting ability regularly catching the eye.

Despite Podolski stating his intention to remain with Arsenal, rumours continue to circulate of a potential move to Galatasaray. Their former chief scout Mahmet Alpaslan has told Radyospor (h/t Turkish-Football.com) that he considers the player “99 percent” likely to move to Turkey.

That would make sense. Despite Podolski’s protestations to the contrary, it is difficult to see him finding a way back at Arsenal.

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Liverpool continue to negotiate with Inter Milan over midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com, who suggests the Reds are “taking concrete steps” to sign the talented Croatian.  

Amoyal believes Inter’s €30 million (approx. £21.3 million) valuation “may not scare off” Liverpool, who have been working quickly to secure their transfer targets.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed his fifth signing of the summer on Wednesday with the club’s official announcement that Hoffenheim attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino will head to Anfield:

The Brazilian follows James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez on the list of Liverpool’s new acquisitions. 

Alex Harris of the Daily Star reports that up to nine players could be axed from Rodgers’ squad after the exits of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Brad Jones, meaning the Northern Irish manager is likely cramming in preparation for the mass cull.

Kovacic is built in the Rodgers mould. He is clever on the ball, loves to progress possession and is capable of helping out defensively. The 21-year-old’s versatility means he can be deployed across the width of the midfield and in a more creative role, if needed. He scored five goals and assisted on three in 35 Serie A appearances last season, per WhoScored.com.

Rodgers could place Kovacic in central midfield alongside Jordan Henderson, with both sitting behind a creative three of Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana. This would leave room for Daniel Sturridge up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation, eclipsing Liverpool’s need for out-and-out wingers if Raheem Sterling departs.

The boss does need to free up vital squad space if he’s to continue spending, perhaps starting with unneeded striker Fabio Borini, per FourFourTwo writer Adam Digby, who tweeted a report from Il Tempo:

Rodgers has plenty of big decisions to make in the wake of his signings. B/R UK’s Graham Ruthven recently looked at what the manager needs to address:

Firmino will be an excellent signing for the club if he is used as a creative midfielder, but Rodgers should refrain from pushing him further forward.

Although Brazil coach Dunga continues to use the 23-year-old as a striker at the Copa America, Firmino is most effective when feeding the ball forward. He’s also an underrated worker and will muck in if he’s stationed behind Sturridge or Ings.

Kovacic would add grittiness and bite to the Liverpool ranks; however, Rodgers continues to overlook an exciting midfield option in Emre Can, whose physicality and improving quality on the ball could work excellently alongside Henderson.

Spending heavily on Kovacic may dampen the club’s ability to address other squad needs—such as a striker, a right-back and a physical defensive midfielder—but if utilised intelligently, Rodgers can make an increasingly exciting Liverpool puzzle work.

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