Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City are the clubs linked with moves for the continent’s most in-demand stars.
Mauricio Isla
Udinese winger Mauricio Isla is reported to be a target for Liverpool, with Inter Milan also battling for his signature. The 23-year-old Chilean can even play at left-back or as a central midfielder, so his versatility is a key attraction. The Mail report that Inter have stolen a march on Liverpool in the race for his signature, but it would be no surprise to see Liverpool weigh in with a bid. The player is young, talented, and creative, and would cost around half of what the Anfield club paid for Stewart Downing last summer. He also scored the opener in Chile’s 3-2 friendly defeat to Spain last year.
Lucas
Brazilian midfielder Lucas, not the Liverpool one, is attracting interest from Premier League clubs. This Lucas is more of an attacking midfielder and plays for Sao Paolo. He is only 19 and Barcelona have also been linked with his signature. His agent told an Italian newspaper this week that the club had turned down a bid of £25 million for a Premier League club. There is no word on who it is, but Liverpool and Manchester United have previously been linked with the youngster, who is already a full international.
Edinson Cavani
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has warned the Premier League’s top clubs off his star striker, but that won’t stop them from tracking him. Cavani is so highly rated that Napoli say they want ‘crazy money’ for the prolific attacker. If anyone does have crazy money, then it is Manchester City, who may splurge out if they fall short in the title race, and could even offer Carlos Tevez in part exchange. Chelsea have also been linked with the Uruguayan, who will feature against them tonight in the Champions League.
Juan Vargas
Vargas is the second south American winger to be linked with Liverpool this week. The Fiorentina star is five years older than Isla at 28 and is a Peru international. He is also wanted by Bayern Munich and Zenit St Petersburg. He once nearly signed for Real Madrid but signed for Fiorentina and has played more than 100 times for the Italian club but is believed to be after a new challenge, sparking a transfer chase.
Dante
Reports from Germany have indicated that Manchester United are monitoring Borussia Moenchengladbach defender Dante. He is 28 but believed to cost around £7 million. United were last week linked with Sao Paolo defender Dede, 23, who is more highly rated but would be more expensive, while Dante has the experience of playing in one of Europe’s top leagues the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich are also chasing him and are ready to bid this summer, with the defender wanting a move to one of Europe’s big guns to enhance his international prospects.
Would you like to see any of these players at your club?
image: © jikatu
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