Man Utd and Newcastle in £74m attacker tussle as West Ham plot £52m midfielder raid

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All of the latest Premier League transfer speculation, including Manchester City, Manchester United, and West Ham

We begin Thursday’s Premier League transfer rumour round-up with news of a three-way chase between Manchester United, Manchester City, and Newcastle United for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. According to a report from Sport, the top flight trio are all keeping tabs on the 20-year-old, who is also attracting interest from Barcelona.

It is understood that Leverkusen could be willing to cash in on the attacking midfielder next summer, but may demand as much as £74 million to do so. That price tag could prove to be too much for Barca, but whether it will be enough to dissuade Wirtz’s English suitors remains to be seen.

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The 3AM Verdict: Wirtz is one of the most exciting prospects in European football right now, and it feels like a matter of time before he secures a big money move to one of the traditional elites of the continental game. At £74 million, he wouldn’t come cheap, but that probably only increases the likelihood of him coming to the Premier League.

Barca eye Alvarez

One transfer that Barcelona might be able to afford, however, is a swoop for Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez. According to another update from Sport, the Catalan giants are monitoring the World Cup winner, and see him as a potential long-term successor to current number nine Robert Lewandowski.

Incredibly, it is also suggested that a deal could be doable, with Alvarez reportedly having a release clause of around £43 million written into his contract at the Etihad. That relatively modest figure has been enough to encourage Barca, with manager Xavi Hernandez said to be a huge fan of the 23-year-old.

The 3AM Verdict: Losing Alvarez would be a significant blow, simple as that. At 23, he has won just about everything imaginable in the senior game, and he continues to be a key member of City’s attacking line-up. How long he is happy to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland remains to be seen, but the longer he stays at the Etihad, the better for Pep Guardiola’s project.

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Hammers still keen on McTominay

And finally, West Ham are still understood to be interested in a potential swoop for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominary, as per Fichajes. The Hammers were linked with the Scotland international over the summer, but a deal ultimately failed to materialise, with the 26-year-old staying at Old Trafford and David Moyes’ side instead signing James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.

According to this latest update, however, the Irons are still keeping an eye on McTominay, and could be willing to bid as much as £52 million to lure him to east London in the near future. For their part, United are unlikely to block a departure if a lucrative financial package is presented to them.

The 3AM Verdict: McTominay is a fine, fine player, and one who would be a real asset to a side like West Ham. His recent performances for Scotland have proven the kind of impact he can have in key moments, and he is deserving of a chance to shine in a more prominent role than the one he currently occupies at Old Trafford. Whether he is worth £52 million, however, is another matter entirely...

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