Transfer Gossip Column – Liverpool to seal Clyne Deal as Saints Capture Soares

Another edition of Playing for 90’s Transfer Gossip column, brought to you by co-editor Kevin Kelly. Today we hear on the futures of Nathaniel Clyne, Paul Pogba, and more. 

It’s Soares in Clyne out for Southampton

Southampton have beaten out competition to sign Cedric Soares as they prepare to lose Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool. The Portuguese international (23) leaves Sporting Lisbon with a burgeoning reputation; Saints’ defender Jose Fonte recently spoke about the proposition of signing Soares: “I would like to have Cedric as a team-mate at Southampton. He is a great player and our club needs him.”

Liverpool meanwhile are set to make a 2nd big for Nathaniel Clyne, with their first offer of £9m rejected by Ronald Koeman’s side. The next bid is expected to be in the region of £11m, £4m short of their £15m valuation of the full-back. He would become the fourth player to move to Anfield from St Mary’s following Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert last season.

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Newcastle Price Cisse at £10m

Newcastle United have slapped a £10m price tag on Papiss Cisse this summer – even though they are aiming to sign two strikers this close season, report the Chronicle. The Magpies hierarchy are understood to be meeting this week to narrow down a list of around eight striker targets that includes Saido Berahino, Charlie Austin and Bas Dost, the Wolfsburg forward.

Steve McClaren has been kept abreast of developments and Newcastle are hopeful of bringing Austin – who is keen to speak to the club – to Tyneside. But despite United’s desire to bring in players they will not allow Cisse, who was almost sold last summer, to leave for less than eight figures. The No 9 enjoyed a prolific season despite a seven-game ban at the end of the campaign, but has been linked with a move away for more than a year.

Manchester City Face Competition for Pogba

The Daily Mirror reports that Manchester City face stuff competition as they look to sign Paul Pogba, with the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona all interested in the French international.

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Juventus price Pogba in the region of £60m and represents the next midfield star in world football. Barca presidential candidate Agusti Benedito declared he will able to convince Juve to sell Pogba to the new European champions for around £60m if he is elected. Although Barcelona are banned from registering any players until 2016 because of a year-long FIFA transfer ban, Benedito claimed he can do a deal for Pogba.

Baggies Eye McLean

West Brom are close to agreeing a fee with Wigan for winger James McClean, according to Sky Sports.

The offer of around £1.5m is Albion’s third bid for the Republic of Ireland international. McClean has been with Wigan for two years following a £350,000 transfer from Sunderland and has scored 10 goals in 86 appearances in that time.