Wirtz to Liverpool ‘within days’
Florian Wirtz predicts he’ll complete his Liverpool move within three days.
Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder, 22, is poised for a medical ahead of a move which could top £125million.
Wirtz played the whole of today’s play-off for third place in the Nations League as his Germany team lost 2-0 to France.
Title-winning Liverpool manager Arne Slot made him his summer transfer priority.
New Ges boss in for £10m Saint
EXCLUSIVE: Playmaker Flynn Downes is top of Russell Martin’s wishlist at Rangers — but he will get no favours from his old club Southampton, writes ALAN NIXON.
Martin took Downes, 26, to the Prem with the Saints from West Ham and previously had him at Swansea.
Downes could fancy the Scottish Prem over the Championship but the fee will be over £10million — which would be a big chunk of Martin’s budget.
He will be busy in the transfer market after being handed £20m to overhaul the squad and may raid England a few times.
Left-back Harry Toffolo is set to quit Nottingham Forest and is interested in a switch to Ibrox after playing only a handful of games late last season.
Martin will inherit Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz as left-backs, but the Turk has been heavily linked with a return home.
Ex-Utd winger lands new Prem deal
EXCLUSIVE: Leeds are offering Dan James a new two-year deal — but talks are still going on, writes ALAN NIXON.
The former Manchester United winger, 27, has a season left on his contract at Elland Road.
The Welshman was loaned out – to Fulham – the last time Leeds were in the top flight.
But James was a star performer as Leeds picked up 100 points to win the Championship on goal difference from Burnley.
Jobe sold for record fee
Sunderland are selling Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for a club record £27.8million.
Jude Bellingham’s younger brother, 19, becomes Dortmund’s second-most expensive signing ever – with a 15 per cent sell-on clause also in the deal.
The midfielder transfer includes £4.2m in performance related add-ons, and is only £1m behind the club’s costliest-ever player Ousmane Dembele.
Like his brother Jude, Jobe came through Birmingham’s academy and spent two years in the first team after making his debut in 2021 aged 16.
Sunderland signed him from the Blues in the summer of 2023 and he quickly became a first team regular.
Jobe started 39 out of his 40 Championship games this season, only missing one through injury and two through suspension.
Remarkably, he was only subbed ONCE throughout the entire campaign, playing 90 minutes on all other occasions.
Now he’s moved to Dortmund – just like Real Madrid hero Jude did earlier in his career.
Marseille set to land ‘Spurs target’
Two former Manchester United stars are poised to link up for Champions League football in France next season.
Midfielder Angel Gomes is tipped to swap Lille for Marseille, despite reported interest from Tottenham and West Ham.
And that means he’ll be reunited with fellow Englishman Mason Greenwood.
The striker has been in demand himself following his brilliant first season in Ligue 1.
Barcelona are amongst the clubs linked with the 23-year-old in recent weeks.
But Greenwood has insisted he is keen to stay at Marseille.
It comes as RMC Sport say Gomes will sign a three-year deal with the French giants.
Real bid to hijack Zubimendi move
Real Madrid could stun Arsenal by landing Martin Zubimendi.
The Spain midfielder’s switch from Real Sociedad to the Emirates had appeared certain.
But Madrid are reportedly preparing a “final offensive” to recruit the 26-year-old.
The Gunners are losing Jorginho, while fellow anchorman Thomas Partey has yet to agree a new Emirates contract.
And Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta is keen to find a long-term partner for Declan Rice in the centre.
But reports in Spain say Madrid are very much still in the race for Zubimendi.
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