A roundup of the latest transfer stories for Man United and Liverpool as the two round off very different seasons.
With just one match to go until the 2024/25 Premier League season closes, clubs are getting ready to kickstart their summer business.
Meanwhile, rivals Liverpool are already in holiday mode after wrapping up the league title. Arne Slot’s side have not won a match since they were crowned champions last month but the celebrations have continued regardless of recent results.
Two teams, two fierce rivals, both looking to oversee significant business this summer but for two very different reasons. Let’s take a look at some of the latest headlines on the rumour mill for both Man United and Liverpool.
Manchester United hit with huge Bruno Fernandes dilemma
United have made it clear that they are open to selling multiple players this summer as the end of a torrid season finally comes to close. While some sales will be easy decisions to make, others are bound to present a dilemma for the club.
One major dilemma is the future of Bruno Fernandes. The captain is attracting attention from around the world and has already made it known that he would understand if United opt to sell him.
“If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it is what it is and football sometimes is like this,” he recently told the media.
Fernandes is currently of interest to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and German champions Bayern Munich. TEAMtalk has reported that with Bayern expected to miss out on signing Florian Wirtz, they have turned their attention to Fernandes as an alternative.
Al-Hilal have also put the pressure on the Portugal international by giving him a deadline to agree to their £200 million contract offer. Mailsport claims that the Saudi club are willing to pay a £100 million fee to United, plus a handsome salary package, to get a deal over the line, but they want an answer by the end of May.
The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz has forced Bayern’s gaze in Fernandes’ direction. With the Germans set to miss out on signing one of their own, they are looking to poach one of the United’s most important players. But even without Liverpool’s domino effect, the Red Devils have a big decision to make in the face of Saudi Arabia’s gaze.
With Fernandes understanding of the potential ‘cash in’ situation, and a whopping £100 million on offer for his signature, both parties may have to reluctantly sign a deal for the good of the club. It seems neither Fernandes or United want to part ways, but with the team in desperate need of a restructure, £100 million for one player would go a long way, and hands could be forced for the greater good.
Liverpool flaunt enviable transfer situation
While United are considering unenviable decisions in order to restructure their struggling squad, Liverpool are in quite the opposite situation.
The Reds are expected to see significant players leave the club this summer, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, but it seems far from a worrying scenario for the champions. Liverpool are moving quickly and look set to announce Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the year, Wirtz is also a work in progress and according to Rousing the Kop, his transfer fee is not a concern for the Reds.
The report claims that Liverpool are ‘financially capable’ of meeting the asking prices for both Wirtz and Alexander Isak. The duo are expected to cost in excess of £100 million each but the Reds will have ‘little trouble’ finding the cash. Not only are Liverpool confident they can raise £150 million through sales of their own, they already have ‘sufficient funds’ available and plenty of PSR breathing room to sign at least one marquee player without selling.
The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool rarely splash eye-watering cash on new signings, so being linked with two major transfer targets that could cost a combined £200 million will be hugely exciting news for fans. The Reds are in an extremely enviable situation right now and there is very much the sense of, everything is going to be okay.
Even with Alexander-Arnold leaving, they have wasted no time identifying Frimpong as his replacement and working on a deal. They are now setting their sights on other targets, and with cash apparently readily available, it’s shaping up to be an exciting summer for the champions.
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