Liverpol rivals round-up: The PSG and Kylian Mbappé saga is becoming even more bitter. Meanwhile, an ex-Anfield boss is ready to ‘fight’ Man City in the transfer
market.
For all the developments from Saudi Arabia in the transfer market this year, it’s a more familiar saga that is once again set to become the story of the summer. Not
for the first time, Kylian Mbappé wants out of PSG, and relations are becoming increasingly strained amid persistent interest from Real Madrid.
The Saudis have sought to muscle in on this too, in fairness, but Mbappé wanted nothing to do with an offer from Al-Hilal, despite a world record bid made to PSG.
Meanwhile, as is customary, Liverpool has been half-heartedly linked with a transfer as well.
But the real developments for Liverpool are set to happen in midfield and defense, where Jürgen Klopp still looks in major need of signings before the new campaign
gets underway in less than a fortnight. On the plus side, he is not the only big-six manager under pressure to do business.
Manchester City also looks uncharacteristically unprepared for the new season. Like Liverpool, it has lost one player unexpectedly to Saudi Arabia, while also saying
goodbye to a regular starter on a free transfer. And while Pep Guardiola has a plan, he will have to ‘fight’ a former Anfield boss to land one possible Riyad
Mahrez replacement.
Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the other big sides in the Premier League and around Europe to take a look at the news going on at the other clubs.
PSG considers FIFA complaint over Kylian Mbappé
PSG is ‘convinced’ that Kylian Mbappé has already got an agreement in place to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer, and is considering making a
complaint to FIFA. That’s according to the Telegraph.
FIFA rules only permit approaches to contracted players within the final six months of their deal, or when a transfer fee has already been agreed between the two
clubs in question. As a result, if an agreement did already exist between Mbappé and Real Madrid, it would be in breach of the regulations.
The ‘more likely scenario’ remains that Real Madrid comes to the table with a transfer offer before deadline day, but PSG would still expect a hefty sum, despite the
circumstances.
Liverpool.com says: You know it’s a tense transfer saga when threats of tapping-up complaints to FIFA get put on the table. But Liverpool knows that does not
necessarily spell the end of a pursuit, having successfully landed Virgil van Dijk after initially being forced to back off.
This is just the latest confirmation that PSG has strained relations with both Mbappé and Real Madrid at this point. This almost feels like a point of no return —
although the young French superstar has come back from the brink in Paris before.
Ex Liverpool boss to ‘fight’ Man City
Roy Hodgson has admitted he has a ‘fight on his hands’ in order to keep Manchester City away from Michael Olise. That’s per TalkSPORT.
“We have a fight on our hands to make sure he stays with us.
“We had two outstanding wingers who were almost the best in the league — Michael Olise on the right side and Wilf on the left. We don’t have Wilf anymore. Clubs
are circling around Olise.”
One of those clubs is believed to be Manchester City, which has identified Olise as a possible replacement for Mahrez. But with Hodgson already having lost Zaha,
there is an understandable reluctance to sanction another departure.
Olise recorded an impressive 11 assists in the Premier League last season. He signed from Reading in 2021.
Liverpool.com says: Hodgson was a shambles at Liverpool, but the veteran seems to have a real affinity with Crystal Palace. He did well for them last season,
really getting the best out of Olise and others upon his arrival to replace Patrick Vieira.
He could now do his old club a very indirect favor by putting up a strong ‘fight’ against Manchester City. None of the big clubs seem to be having an especially
straightforward time of things in this summer’s market, and this could be the latest obstacle for the champions.
Whether Olise would be ready for the step up to Manchester City is unclear, but perhaps he could follow a trajectory similar to that of Jack Grealish. His potential
is clear, and Hodgson will certainly not want to lose him and Zaha in the same summer.
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