Liverpool make South American star enquiry as club confirms interest
Liverpool has reportedly enquired about the potential signing of Colombian defender Kevin Mantilla with CA Talleres president confirming that contact was made.
Like many of their Premier League rivals, Liverpool are keen on adding some fresh faces in the January window as they set their eyes on a potential second league title.
Currently two points clear at the top of the table, Jurgen Klopp will be well aware of the threat that Manchester City poses with the club reportedly interested in adding a new defender to their ranks.
The 20-year-old centre-back, Mantilla, has reportedly been on the Reds shortlist for a while with CA Talleres club president, Andres Fassi, now confirming that they have been scouting the player for four months.
‘It’s true, they have been following him for four months now,’ he told La Voz via the Metro.
‘They asked us for information about his physical records.’
However, Liverpool isn’t the only Premier League side interested as Brighton retains a strong interest in the youngster.
Although the Merseyside club will know that they should have the edge over the Seagulls, they will be well aware of the incredible platform that Brighton provides for South American talent.
Liverpool are reportedly likely to make a move for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer.
PSG are also said to be keen on the Brazil international, who joined the Magpies from Lyon for £40m in January 2022, shortly after the club’s mega-money Saudi-backed takeover.
Guimaraes, 26, signed a contract extension in October keeping him at St. James’ Park until 2028 – but that doesn’t seem to have deterred some of Europe’s biggest hitters from continuing to sniff around.
According to AS, Liverpool and PSG are “expected to return” for Guimaraes in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the former Athletico Paranaense man has a £98m release clause in his Newcastle deal – but that it could be paid in three instalments of £32m, potentially making a transfer less financially burdensome for would-be buyers.
Liverpool made significant upgrades to their midfield last summer – bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch – but Guimaraes is a player the Reds are thought to be huge admirers of.
An integral member of the Newcastle side which finished fourth in the Premier League last season to secure Champions League qualification and reached the Carabao Cup final, Guimaraes has made 86 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions – scoring 11 goals.
Since joining Eddie Howe’s team, the 18-cap Brazilian – who was included in his country’s squad for the 2022 World Cup – has established himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Europe.
He has featured in all but two of Newcastle’s 21 league games so far this term.
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Rio Ferdinand has warned Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool and Arsenal that Manchester City are “coming” for them.
Reigning champions City kickstarted their somewhat stuttering season with a dramatic 3-2 win away to Newcastle on Saturday, as a typically brilliant Kevin De Bruyne – on his first league outing since returning from injury – showed Pep Guardiola’s side just what they had been missing.
De Bruyne drew his team level at 2-2 within five minutes of coming off the bench at St. James’ Park, before providing the assist for substitute Oscar Bobb’s stoppage-time winner – and, as far Ferdinand is concerned, it’s an emphatic sign that Guardiola and co. are back in business.
Appearing as a pundit on TNT Sports, the ex-Manchester United and England star said: “Pep Guardiola, very rarely do you see him as animated as he was today.
“I’ll tell you one thing, that man there [De Bruyne], you’re back; you are back. You are the jewel in the crown; you’re back.
“Watch momentum kick in now and these guys know what to do.
“These guys know when to put the pedal to the floor and it looks like now, everybody [Liverpool and Arsenal] is going to be looking over their shoulders and looking around and saying, ‘They are coming’.
“They know how to get the job done. They have the experience, the depth, the class, the quality and the firepower. Formidable.”
City’s victory took them above Aston Villa into second in the Premier League table, two points behind leaders Liverpool – who don’t play until next Sunday due to the league’s staggered winter break.
Last season saw the treble winners become the first team to claim three successive Premier League titles since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United between 2007 and 2009.
No side has ever been crowned English top-flight champions four times in a row.
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