Liverpool want bargain striker for just £21m as Man Utd prepare ‘patient’ wonderkid pursuit

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The latest Premier League transfer rumours, featuring news from Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle and West Ham.

In Thursday’s round-up of the juiciest Premier League transfer rumours currently circulating around the world’s media, we’ve got news of a new Liverpool target and a three-way battle for a talented Greek prospect – but we’re going to kick things off with a new report from TeamTalk which should be of interest to Manchester United fans.

They claim that one of the names on the Red Devils’ radar is Dinamo Zagreb wonderkid Martin Baturina, a Croatian international regarded as the likely heir to Luka Modrić. It seems that the club’s scouts have been sent to watch the 21-year-old on a number of occasions, and a January bid is being considered.

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Martin Baturina in action during a Champions League tie against RB SalzburgMartin Baturina in action during a Champions League tie against RB Salzburg
Martin Baturina in action during a Champions League tie against RB Salzburg | Getty Images

The report notes that United may have to be “patient”, however. Apparently Baturina doesn’t have a release clause and while his club are expecting offers, they don’t want to lose him before next summer. Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are also apparently interested in the midfielder.

The 3AM Verdict: Baturina is developing into an extremely impressive playmaker, but doesn’t immediately seem like he’d fit neatly into new manager Rúben Amorim’s system, which usually features a double pivot – Baturina is a more attack-minded type of player. Still, he’s a big prospect and if Amorim has other plans for how he’ll set Manchester United up, he could be a fine signing.

Liverpool line up new striker

Over to Anfield now – Caught Offside claim that Liverpool are showing an interest in PSV Eindhoven’s in-form striker Ricardo Pepi, a 21-year-old American forward who has bagged six goals in 11 Eredivise matches so far this season.

Other sides such as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also keep tabs on the striker, but apparently it’s the Reds who are showing “the strongest interest”. The article claims that he could be available for €25m (£20.8m), and apparently a bid would be a “no-brainer” at that price point.

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The 3AM Verdict: Pepi is a burgeoning talent but it may be worth noting that all of his goals so far have come against the Eredivisie’s weaker sides, which could give clubs pause for thought before signing him – and £20m or more isn’t necessarily as cheap as this report seems to believe. But he’s technically impressive and centre forward is an area in which Arne Slot’s side could certainly improve.

Stefanos Tzimas is allegedly a target for several top-flight sides.Stefanos Tzimas is allegedly a target for several top-flight sides.
Stefanos Tzimas is allegedly a target for several top-flight sides. | Getty Images

Three sides in for striking sensation

We’ll wrap up today with another story which links Premier League clubs with a youngster from the continent – this time, Sport Witness have picked up on reports that Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are all keeping tabs on 18-year-old Greek striker Stefanos Tzimas, who has been hugely impressive in the 2.Bundesliga this season, where he plays for 1.FC Nürnberg.

The German club currently have him on loan from PAOK but have an option to buy for €18m (£15m), apparently, which may be “absurdly high” for a second-tier German club but they plan to activate it anyway in order to be the beneficiaries of some Premier League cash. That means that the youngster, who has five goals in nine games, would clearly cost more than that if any English sides do make a move.

The 3AM Verdict: Tzimas has made a big impression as a number nine in Germany so far, but clearly doesn’t have enough of a track record at the highest level for us to judge whether he would be worth splashing the cash on just yet. A six-foot number nine, he is the youngest goalscorer in PAOK’s history.

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