Liverpool table major £103m attacker bid as West Ham plot international striker raid

We begin Wednesday’s Premier League transfer rumour round-up with an outlandish claim regarding Liverpool’s apparent interest in signing Real Madrid forward Rodrygo. With Kylian Mbappe set to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu over the summer, there have been suggestions that the Spanish giants may be open to the prospect of selling a couple of big name players in the coming weeks.

And according to journalist Eduardo Inda, as quoted by Fichajes, Liverpool could look to capitalise on any shake up in Madrid by launching a bid for Brazilian forward Rodrygo. Indeed, Inda suggests that the Reds have already had an offer of around £103.2 million turned down, stating: “The bidding club is Liverpool and the player is a player very similar to their style. We are talking about a Real Madrid winger and it is Rodrygo. Real Madrid’s refusal is emphatic because the board likes him a lot.”

The 3AM Verdict: This is a highly unexpected claim from Inda. The prospect of Liverpool spending in excess of £100 million on any player this summer feels slim, but the idea of them dedicating so much of their budget to bringing in primarily as a winger feels even more unlikely. Surely this is just hollow supposition.

West Ham eye Branza

Elsewhere, West Ham are said to be interested in SC Braga striker Simon Banza, according to a report from Italian outlet Calcio Mercato. The update suggests that the 27-year-old is also on the radar of Serie A sides AS Roma and Fiorentina, having scored 23 goals in 40 outings across all competitions this season.

It is understood that Banza has a release clause of around £21.5 million written into his current contract in Portugal, with the player himself reportedly open to the prospect of securing a move that would earn him a bumper deal in one of Europe’s top divisions. It is also worth noting that when the DR Congo international initially joined Braga, it was claimed that his release clause actually stood at £34.4 million.

The 3AM Verdict: There’s no denying that Banza has been in superb form this season, but whether or not he is worth pursuing from West Ham’s perspective is likely to rest largely on his exact price tag. At £21 million or so, he may well be a gamble worth taking. At closer to £34 million, he begins to look like a costly investment that simply has to work out. Only the Hammers themselves will know if they are willing to take that punt or not.

Man United players in demand

And finally, Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are both being targeted by Saudi Arabian clubs this summer, according to the Evening Standard. The midfield duo are said to be on the agenda of several Pro League outfits, alongside Raphael Varane, who confirmed his departure from Old Trafford this week.

While Fernandes remains a key performer for United, Casemiro's form has dipped notably in recent times. As per the Standard, the Brazilian ‘still has two years left on his contract and earns a reported £300,000-a-week, so Saudi appears the only realistic hope United have of offloading him.’ As yet, there are no indications that the Red Devils intend to sell either player.

The 3AM Verdict: United are in desperate need of an overhaul this summer, but while you could make an argument for Casemiro being sold, there is absolutely no way that Fernandes can be allowed to leave. Even in their darkest moments, the Portuguese playmaker shines for the Red Devils, and replacing him would be a hugely difficult task. He has to stay.