Man City legend in line for shock Liverpool move as Chelsea could land £100m transfer budget boost

As the summer transfer window inches closer, the transfer stories are starting to come thicker, faster and frankly wilder – as the first tale from our latest daily round-up of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours, which concerns Liverpool and Manchester City, demonstrates.

Sport Witness have picked up on some seemingly implausible rumblings from the Belgian press which hint that City legend Kevin de Bruyne, who has announced that he will leave the Etihad on a free transfer this summer, could end up moving to Anfield.

The reports suggest that De Bruyne is “not ready to step down from the European elite just yet” and isn’t interested in a move to Saudi Arabia, while Liverpool are supposedly his grandfather’s favourite team. A tenuous link, of course, but De Bruyne himself has said that “it could be possible” that he would play for another Premier League side.

It’s all rumour and hearsay here, and there is no suggestion that Liverpool have had any contact with De Bruyne, but it’s said that the Belgian maestro still has “a hunger” to compete at the very highest level…

The 3AM Verdict: We still think a move to the MLS is most likely given Inter Miami’s charm offensive and the fact that Chicago Fire are sniffing around, and we’d imagine that he’d move to another big European league before he played for Liverpool but it wouldn’t be an incomprehensible move from the player’s perspective – or Liverpool’s, given that he proved against Crystal Palace that he still has some juice left in the tank. Probably just a wild rumour that goes nowhere, but it’s an intriguing thought.

Atlético Madrid plan double Manchester United raid

More news of players leaving Manchester now, this time from the red half of the city – according to TBR Football, Spanish side Atlético Madrid want not just one, but two of Manchester United’s wingers this summer. Having already been “firmly in the mix” to snare Alejandro Garnacho, they have also now decided to pursue Brazilian winger Antony, who has impressed on loan at Real Betis after flopping disastrously at Old Trafford.

Betis “can’t afford” to sign Antony permanently, so Atléti are poised to step in and make an offer, having been “watching him closely” since he moved to Spain. United would reportedly demand around €100m (£86m) for the pair – €60m for Garnacho and €40m for Antony.

The 3AM Verdict: This all passes the common sense test, but we haven’t seen any other sources backing it up – at least the Antony part of it. Quite a few sides want Garnacho, and we suspect that both players will leave this summer, although whether they end up in the same place isn’t clear as yet.

Chelsea star eyed for £100m-plus Saudi Pro League switch

Let’s wrap up with a story from The Daily Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, who reports that Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr (better known as Cristiano Ronaldo’s team) have an “interest” in Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo.

The Ecuadorian is apparently Al-Nassr’s “dream target” and would cost upwards of £100m – as you might expect, given that he cost Chelsea £105m when they signed him from Brighton & Hove Albion in the first place.

Chelsea’s stance on such a move is unknown but Enzo Maresca seems very fond of the 23-year-old, who has started every league game for the Italian head coach. The question is whether Chelsea’s profit and sustainability position wouldn’t force them to seriously consider an approach should one arrive, which it sounds like it hasn’t as yet.

The 3AM Verdict: Most likely, this remains a fantasy for Al-Nassr and not a reality that Chelsea have to grapple with, but Saudi largesse means that it’s very far from inconceivable that they make such an offer – and Chelsea may well feel compelled to take a £100m-plus bid just to keep their balance sheet in good shape. One to keep half an eye on.