TRANSFER ROUNDUP: Sadio Mane Rejects Liverpool Offer, Morata To Join PSG, And More

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Sadio Mane To Reject Liverpool Offer

Southampton sensation Sadio Mane is set to reject Liverpool’s offer and remain at the St Mary Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.

Sadio Mane arrived at Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg for a fee of £11.8 million in 2014, and has since been one of the club’s best players under the management of Ronald Koeman. The Senegalese international, who scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, is the Saints’ top scorer, and as per his current contract, the midfielder will remain at Southampton until 2018.

There has been genuine interest, however, to lure Mane away from Southampton from the Premier League itself. Manchester United were believed to be interested in his services during the January transfer window, and now, Liverpool have entered the race to sign the 24-year-old as well. As per Starsport, Liverpool have turned their attention towards Sadio Mane after having suffered a blow in their chase for Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze. Jurgen Klopp wants Mane at Anfield next season, and is lining up a £25 million move for the midfielder. But, according to The Daily Mail, Mane has no intention of moving away from his current club, and has turned down the summer departure to Liverpool.

Spurs Join The Race To Sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Tottenham have made an offer to sign star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed.

Following his Paris Saint Germain contract expiry, Zlatan is currently the hottest free agent in the transfer market, and has offers from clubs around the world on his table – Spurs being one of those clubs, as per Di Marzio. The trusted journalist revealed on his official website: “The player’s will from what is being perceived is to try an experience in the Premier League, by rejoining Mourinho at Manchester United. There has also been an offer from Tottenham, but it has not convinced the player, while the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Chinese option appear to be second choices for Ibrahimovic.”

As the statement suggests, Tottenham have indeed made an offer for the 34-year-old, but the Swedish international is adamant on reuniting with his former boss Jose Mourinho and joining Manchester United. Zlatan himself, however, has remained tight lipped about his future, but had made sure to heap praises on the Red Devils’ newest manager: “I think it’s a great move to bring in Mourinho to Man United. If you want to win, you get Mourinho. I have spoken with Mourinho since I left Inter (Milan). We have had contact. But not in the last week, no. Will we work together again? I don’t know…”

Chelsea And Liverpool Transfer Target Open For A Move

Chelsea and Liverpool transfer target Antonio Rudiger has hinted that he is open for a move, as per reports.

Antonio Rudiger, who currently plays in Italian outfit AS Roma’s defence, is on loan from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart. Roma are believed to be readying a £7 million offer to make Rudiger’s move to the Serie A side permanent, despite Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini describing the defender as “replaceable”. These comments have led the news agencies to believe that Roma intend to sell Rudiger for a profit as soon as his move is made permanent, especially with Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool interested in the 23-year-old’s services.

Amidst so much speculation surrounding his future, Rudiger himself has had his say on the topic: “My future? I am currently a Roma player, I’m happy at this club but you never know what can happen in football. Maybe the same club [Roma] can think of something else or something can happen after Euro 2016.”

The German was specifically questioned about interest from Chelsea, to which he replied: “Chelsea? This is talk I’ve felt for three years. I repeat, in Rome I am happy.”

Joao Mario Refuses To Deny Manchester United Speculation 

Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder Joao Mario has refused to deny the rumours that have been linking him with a move to Manchester United.

Joao Mario has had a solid season, and played a major part in helping Sporting finish 2nd in the Primeira Liga. As per reports, his performances have attracted the interest of fellow countryman Jose Mourinho – Manchester United’s brand new manager. Jose is interested in signing the 23-year-old midfielder, and he reportedly made a phone call to Mario, so as to convince the Portuguese international to join the Old Trafford club.

When asked about this supposed phone call, Mario neither confirmed, nor denied the report, but instead stated that he wants to concentrate on representing Portugal in the upcoming Euro 16. He said: “The only thing that interests me and worries me now regarding my future is the challenge we’ll play. I’m very focused… so I won’t talk about it. I’m placed in a group, my priority is to be at my best level in the Euros. Right now I feel calm, I feel good. It is the first time I play in the Euros, I am focused on this, if I were to think about it [Mourinho’s interest], I could not concentrate.”

Alvaro Morata Holds Talks With Paris Saint Germain

Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has held talks with Paris Saint Germain over a potential move, as per L’Equipe.

Morata has scored 12 goals and bagged 12 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions this season, and is being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are being expected to activate the buy-back clause in the Spaniard’s contract, but only to further sell the striker for a profit.

Paris Saint Germain have now entered the race for the 23-year-old’s signature as well, and if reports are to be believed, they have overtaken Arsenal in the transfer chase, after Morata’s agent, Juanma Lopez, met with PSG team manager Olivier Letang for dinner in Paris, to discuss his client’s future and the chances of him joining the French champions this summer.

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