Man United 'keen' on £35m ace with Liverpool as Everton target new striker

Manchester United are ‘keen’ on Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu, according to CaughtOffside. The report adds that the player could be available for a fee in the region of £35million this summer. Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have also been credited with an interest.

Kokcu, 24, is a Turkey international with 41 caps under his belt so far in his career. He rose up through the ranks at Feyenoord and broke into their first-team as a youngster before going on to make 175 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with 32 goals. His current club signed him in 2023 but his long-term future in Portugal is up in the air now amid attention from elsewhere.

The 3am Verdict: Orkun Kokcu would give Manchester United more competition and depth in midfield. He has been a key player for Benfica over the last two seasons and has scored 19 goals in 98 games. £35million also isn’t too expensive in today’s market for a player of his calibre. However, the Red Devils would have to see off competition from rivals like Liverpool and Spurs.

Everton want Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic

Everton are eyeing a move for Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic in this window, Football Insider claim. Wolves have also been mentioned as a potential suitor for the Championship ace. The Lions could face a battle to keep hold of him over the next couple of months.

Ivanovic made the move to The Den 12 months ago and has since adapted well to life in English football. Prior to his transfer to London, he started out at Vojvodina and became a regular for their senior team as a teenager. At the age of 20, he has bags of potential and is expected to improve down the line.

The 3am Verdict: Everton need to ensure that they get their recruitment right this summer. Mihailo Ivanovic is a player with a lot of potential and it would be a big blow for Millwall to lose him. If he did join the Toffees, he would give them another option to pick from at the top end of the pitch. Wolves have also been mentioned though which means there could be a battle for his services.

Aston Villa winger Louie Barry wanted

Sheffield United and Derby County are keeping tabs on Louie Barry at Aston Villa after his exit to Hull City fell through, according to TEAMtalk. The winger is expected to leave Villa Park in some capacity in the near future. The 22-year-old only signed a new contract with the Midlands outfit earlier this year.

Barry, who has been at Barcelona in the past, has featured once for Villa’s first-team to date. He has also been loaned out in the past to Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons, Salford City and Stockport County. The forward joined the Tigers in January but played only four times due to injury.

The 3am Verdict: Most signs point towards Louie Barry leaving Aston Villa on a permanent basis. Hull City’s failure to get a transfer for him over the line will have alerted their league rivals. He would be ideal for either Sheffield United or Derby County but other teams could yet come in.