Whenever bad news hits, the best possible way to cover it up is to surround it with good news.
That certainly seems to be the approach at Anfield today. The bad news – word that Raheem Sterling is almost certainly moving on to pastures news – was surrounded by more upbeat news – with reports of Liverpool making moves for a number of Premier League stars as well as rumours of a former manager returning to Anfield.
Never wanting to be outdone, Manchester City have also been linked with a huge move today, while Spurs are looking to ‘strengthen’ their squad with a player who could be the next Roberto Soldado, meanwhile in Spain, one of the greatest players to play for Barcelona is to move on.
Raheem Sterling
It is being widely reported that this week Raheem Sterling and his agent will tell Liverpool that he will not be signing a new deal at the club and wants to move on.
Aidy Ward, the 20-year-old’s long-time representative, failed to deny the reports but said: “The story has been blown somewhat out of proportion” in a statement to talkSPORT.
Arsenal and Manchester City are said to be leading the chase to sign the England international but Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have also been linked with moves in the past.
Edin Dzeko
Liverpool are considering a bid for Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, according to the Daily Mail.
Dzeko has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for City this season and it is believed City would be looking for a fee of around £25million.
Strikers Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini have struggled this season and could all be moved on to help raise funds to sign Dzeko, while the Anfield club have also made a bid for Burnley frontman Danny Ings.
Christian Benteke
The Sun report suggests Benteke is willing to force his way out of Villa Park this summer in order to seal a move to Anfield, where he could earn £100,000 a week – twice his current Villa salary.
Rafa Benitez
Sections of the Italian media believe that former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is on his way back to Anfield.
The Italian sports daily Corriere dello Sport says Napoli are so convinced their manager is heading to Merseyside that president Aurelio De Laurentiis is preparing for Benitez’s likely departure this summer and has lined up Sinisa Mihajilovic to replace Benitez.
Paul Pogba
Manchester City have reportedly offered Paul Pogba £250,000-a-week deal to convince him to drive the Etihad club to the Premier League title next season, according to Spanish news outlet Fichajes.
Fichajes also report that Barcelona have made a bid for the highly rated 22-year-old who has guided Juventus to this season’s Champions League final.
The France international, who joined Juventus in 2012, is expected to command a fee of around £60million.
James Milner
Manchester City’s ‘Mr Under-rated’ appears to have become ‘Mr Very Highly Rated’ overnight, with City offering him a bumper new deal in a last ditch bid to convince him to stay at the club.
However, the Daily Star is reporting that Milner will reject the offer, which would earn him a tidy £34million over four years, in favour of a move to Arsenal. While Liverpool are also hoping to sign the England international.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Tottenham are on the verge of completing the signing of Paris St-Germain striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to Italian outlet TMW.
It is believed the Argentine, who has struggled for form this season in France, would cost Spurs just shy of £10million.
Memphis Depay
As expected, Manchester United have completed their first signing of the summer with PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay completing his medical.
Now the medical is done, the club are able to complete the final paperwork and club officials say the deal will be officially confirmed once the transfer window opens next month.
Xavi
For a while now it has been suggested that this will be Barcelona legend Xavi’s final season at the Nou Camp and that now appears to have been confirmed.
The Spanish midfielder’s father has told a Spanish radio station that Xavi will join Qatari side Al Sadd this summer.
Joaquin Hernandez told Cope radio station that Xavi had decided “the moment has come to say goodbye.
“He is lucky to have received a really impressive offer where he can continue playing football, train as a future coach and also rest a little.”