Man United star ‘betrays’ club in transfer twist as £85m Liverpool ace named 'ideal' target for European club
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The latest weekend of Premier League action saw Liverpool maintain their six-point lead at the top of the table, as the end of the season starts to appear on the horizon. Arsenal also banked three points as they keep the pressure on, while reigning champions Manchester City moved into fourth with a win over Chelsea.
Liverpool’s win over Ipswich Town did nothing to aid the the Premier League new boys’ fight for survival. Southampton were also denied a glimmer of hope when an early opener against Newcastle United quickly faded into a 3-1 defeat — their 19th of the season so far.
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Hide AdWith another weekend of results in the bag, the transfer rumours are circulating thick and fast. Deadline Day is in sight, so we’ve taken a look at some of the latest Premier League transfer rumours.
Man United star ‘betrays’ club in transfer twist
The speculation over Marcus Rashford’s future has lit up headlines ever since his bombshell comments about being ‘ready for a new challenge’ stirred things up ahead of the new year. The forward is now set to leave Manchester United and he hasn’t been short of options either.
However, one club is particular have been left with a sour taste in their mouths. According to reports in Spain, relayed via Football365, Barcelona feel ‘betrayed’ following Rashford’s transfer U-turn. The England international had been in talks over a loan move to Spain but he is now ‘negotiating his future’ with West Ham.
“Barça wanted to bring in Rashford on loan, given the club’s financial limitations. The board, headed by Deco, was clear that in order to undertake an operation of this calibre it was essential to get rid of two important players from the current squad. However, the high salary of the English striker and the pressure from West Ham have made any attempt by the Catalans difficult,” the report read.
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Hide Ad“At Barca , this decision is seen as a real betrayal. Deco had been negotiating intensively in recent weeks to bring the two sides closer together, trusting that the player’s desire to play under [Hansi] Flick, who sees him as an ideal reinforcement for the left flank, would tip the balance in favour of the Blaugrana team. However, the player’s desire to stay in his country has been decisive.”
The 3AM Verdict: Having spent his entire senior career at Man United, it’s hard to imagine Rashford anywhere else. But the reality is that he is intent on seeking a new opportunity elsewhere at the end of the season. The forward’s desire to stay on home soil is something no club can sway, plus, with Barcelona’s financial limitations, there may not have been a permanent deal waiting for him at the end of the loan spell. With his contract running until 2028, United can realistically demand a rather handsome fee before they let Rashford leave, which clearly isn’t something Barcelona are in a position to match.
European side prepare ‘significant’ offer for Liverpool star
A number of Liverpool exit links have been doing the rounds this month as clubs continue to show interest in some of Anfield’s most influential players. Darwin Núñez is once again in the headlines as his future at Anfield remains a grey area.
According to Fichajes, Napoli have entered the race to sign the Uruguayan, who continues to divide fans and professionals with his performances in red. The Serie A title hopefuls have viewed Núñez as ‘the perfect complement’ to Antonio Conte’s side, as he holds the ‘ideal profile’ to slot into Italian football.
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Hide AdAfter selling Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli pocketed a cool €70 million (£59m) through the sale and they’re looking to reinvest that cash for a replacement. The report claims that Gli Azzurri are ‘willing to make a significant financial effort’ to try and land a deal with Liverpool for Núñez in 2025.
The 3AM Verdict: Núñez has not had an easy run since joining Liverpool, especially as Arne Slot boasts an incredible pool of attackers right now. The Uruguay international has impressed with some crucial performances — most recently his stoppage time brace against Brentford to snatch the win — but his overall consistency is still a topic to debate. After arriving on Merseyside for a record £85 million, many have argued he hasn’t done enough to justify such a large sum. Liverpool have also been linked with new attacking options this year, so if they splash the cash on a new recruit, surely it will only throw Núñez’s position into even more doubt.
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