Transfer gossip: Salah, Pepe, Digne

Sport360 staff 10:17 10/05/2017
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  • With only a few weeks to go until the end of the season, transfer gossip is beginning to gather pace!

    Here, we look at three key transfers that could happen this summer as clubs and players alike look for new moves and opportunities.

    Will any of the following deals happen?

    Share with us your thoughts – get in touch via Twitter and Facebook.

    MOHAMED SALAH

    Egyptian ace Mohamed Salah is being targeted by Liverpool this summer, according to reports in Italy.

    The Roma winger is thought to be one of Jurgen Klopp’s top targets with the German being keen to sign Salah as the Reds look to strengthen – especially with the potential prospect of Champions League football next term.

    According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Kop club will launch a bid for the 24-year-old’s signature during the close season after missing out on Bayer Leverkusen’s young gun Julian Brandt.

    Salah, himself, is no stranger to the Premier League having spent an unsuccessful 18-month spell at Chelsea between 2014-16 – before rekindling his form during a loan stint at Fiorentina and then earning a permanent transfer to Roma.

    Roma boss Luciano Spalletti sees Salah, who has hit 17 goals in all competitions this season, as a key man for the Giallorossi moving forward if they are to bridge the gap between themselves and Juventus in Serie A.

    RATING: 7/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: Having only joined Roma on a permanent basis at the beginning of last season for €15m (AED60m), Liverpool would need to at least double that fee to land Salah. As stated above, the attacker’s previous spell in England wasn’t a success but he is now a more complete player who could easily fit the bill for the Reds.

    PEPE

    Paris Saint-Germain are expected to step up their interest in Real Madrid centre-back Pepe.

    The experienced defender’s Bernabeu deal expires at the end of the season and he has yet to receive any indication from Los Blancos hierarchy that he will be offered new terms.

    Pepe, 34, has been in and out of the Real first-team in recent months and according to Spanish-based radio station Cadena Ser, PSG boss Unai Emery wants to bring the Portuguese star to the French capital.

    A switch to the Far East could also be on the cards given Pepe has received several lucrative offers from China.

    RATING: 9/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: Pepe’s 10-season spell at Real looks to be coming to an end, and although he is still held in high regard at the club, the veteran will more than likely be moving onto pastures new.

    LUCAS DIGNE

    The Barcelona left-back has put an end to speculation over his future after revealing he wants to stay at the club until at least the end of his contract in 2021.

    Digne, who joined the Nou Camp giants from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has endured a difficult first season in Spain and often played second fiddle to Jordi Alba in the pecking order.

    But the 23-year-old remains committed to Barcelona following reports that he could return to Ligue 1 next term.

    He told beIN Sports:”I am happy at Barcelona, and I will be even happier if we win the league.

    “My situation doesn’t worry me, what matters is the team.”

    RATING: 8/10

    SPORT360 VERDICT: Having played only 25 times across all competitions this term, Digne’s debut campaign in Spain hasn’t been truly memorable but Barcelona are well aware of his talent and will be hoping he can step up to the plate in 2017-18.

    WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

    Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is again being linked with a move to Liverpool in the English press. The Ox looks likely to leave the Emirates this summer.

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