Transfer News: Manchester City Beat Liverpool to Serie A Star, John Stones' future questioned

With four games left in the Premier League season, there is little left to decide. Manchester City have won the title at a canter, bar a calamitous collapse by Tottenham Hotspur the top four has been decided and a relegation battle that promised to go down to the wire as little as a few weeks ago now looks to be petering out.

It is therefore not surprising to see a number of clubs already turning their heads to upcoming transfer window, as they look to fine tune perfectly oiled machines or completely overhaul spluttering engines.

Here, Newsweek takes a look at all the news, rumors and gossip swirling around the Premier League as the 2017-18 season approaches its final weeks.

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Jorginho of SSC Napoli in action during the serie A match between SSC Napoli and AS Roma - Serie A at Stadio San Paolo on March 3, 2018 in Naples. The Brazilian-born Italy international has... Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images

Liverpool take on Roma in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday night, but face losing out to City in the race for Napoli midfielder Jorginho.

According to the Guardian, the newly crowned champions of England are plotting a $70 million bid for the Brazilian-born Italy international, which could also spell the end of their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk's midfielder Fred.

While Jorginho could soon be passing through the arrival gate at Manchester Airport, John Stones could be heading the other way. The Sun reported that Pep Guardiola has seemingly grown fed-up of waiting for the former Everton defender to develop into the world class center-back many hoped he would become.

Stones will turn 24 next month and City will be hoping to recoup at least part of the $66.2 million they spent on him in the summer of 2016. Moving across Manchester, meanwhile, Paul Pogba has insisted there are no issues between him and Jose Mourinho.

Earlier this season, in what some considered a dig to Pogba, the Manchester United manager praised youngster Scott McTominay for being the kind of player with "a normal haircut, no tattoos, no big cars and no big watches".

However, according to The Times, the Frenchman believes his manager has no qualms with his coiffure and he the relationship between them remains good.

"I have no problems with Mourinho, and I think that it is vice-versa for him," he is quoted as saying. "He is the manager, he will make his decisions. I accept them. I have to respond on the pitch."

The Daily Mirror reported Fernando Llorente is open to leaving Spurs in the summer after enduring a very frustrating season, during which he scored just five goals in all competitions.

On the other side of the north London divide, Shkodran Mustafi is desperate to remain at Arsenal despite criticism from the fans and media.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reported that the Gunners are keeping an eye on RB Leipzig forward Emil Forsberg, who has sparked speculation over his future after suggesting on social media he was ready to leave the Bundesliga side.

Forsberg might well be one of Arsenal's targets this summer, but whoever replaces Arsene Wenger in the dugout at the Emirates Stadium is unlikely to embark on a spending spree.

According to the Telegraph, Wenger's successor will have a transfer budget of just $69.7 million. The paper also believes former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is the leading candidate to replace the Frenchman, with Juventus boss Max Allegri, Germany coach Joachim Low and former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta among the other candidates.

Elsewhere, The Guardian reported West Bromwich Albion are set to hold their own fire sale, as they could be mathematically relegated this weekend.

Jay Rodriguez, Hal Robson-Kanu, Craig Dawson, Jonny Evans, Salomon Rondon and Nacer Chadli are all set to depart The Hawthorns this summer.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more

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