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A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs and more.
Every morning, 3 Added Minutes trawls through the gossip columns to bring you a round-up of the biggest (and wildest) Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – starting, today, with a story involving Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Sport Witness allege that all three top-flight sides are “keen” on signing RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, with “increasing indications” that he could make a move to England in the summer.
Arsenal have apparently had scouts watching the 23-year-old, who has impressed in the Bundesliga over the course of the campaign, but United and Liverpool are also “very much in the race” as they look to find some defensive reinforcements ahead of next season.
Lukeba is apparently “interested” in playing in the Premier League but is keen to ensure that he signs for the club which offers the best project to him, and the best chance to continue his development. There’s no mention of the transfer fee which might be involved, but it’s said that all three sides “should be able to afford” the Frenchman.
The 3AM Verdict: We have a hard time imagining Arsenal splashing out on yet another centre-back, and would imagine that Liverpool’s rather more pressing need at that position puts them further ahead in the race – if indeed there is one come the summer. United may end up in the mix, too, but have more serious concerns in midfield and attack to address first.
Liverpool make ‘fresh enquiries’ about signing dream Salah replacement
With the news that club legend Mohamed Salah will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, Liverpool are said to have made “fresh enquiries” concerning the availability of the player they most want to replace the Egyptian – Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
TeamTalk claim that Liverpool have been looking at potential successors to Salah since December, apparently, which it’s said is when talks over his departure began in earnest. Olise is their “dream” candidate, but signing the former Crystal Palace star won’t be easy, if it’s possible at all.
Apparently Bayern have rebuffed Liverpool’s approaches and have been “unequivocal” about the fact that the 23-year-old, who is enjoying a stellar season in Germany, is not for sale. Olise himself is suggested to be happy to stay at the Allianz Arena, and TeamTalk’s sources say there is “no current pathway for a deal” as it stands.
The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool’s interest in Olise has been attested by numerous sources, but we just can’t see it happening. Bayern aren’t a club that can be strongarmed into selling, Olise is under contract until 2029 and could be extended further soon, and the offer would have to be absolutely colossal to make a deal happen. That said, Liverpool do have recent form when it comes to colossal transfer fees…
Spurs, Palace & Brighton ‘in pursuit’ of rising Dutch star
Let’s wrap today’s column off with a story from Sports Boom, who reckon that Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion are all “in pursuit” of AZ Alkmaar’s midfield star Sven Mijnans.
Apparently all three Premier League sides have sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old playmaker in action, with “significant interest” developing as a result. The trio are now allegedly involved in “active bid preparation” as they prepare for the summer transfer window.
AZ would supposedly make bids in the region of €25-30m (£21-26m) the “baseline” but have “no intention” of selling a core player who is under contract until 2028. No formal offers have yet been made, it seems, making it difficult to know just how far Spurs, Palace and Brighton might take their interest.
The 3AM Verdict: Mijnans is certainly having a fine season in the Netherlands, scoring seven goals in 24 league appearances so far from midfield, and we can imagine there being at least tentative interest from England – but we haven’t seen any other reports corroborating this story as yet, so we’re cautiously sceptical for the time being.
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