Juve's Llorente rebuffs Liverpool link

Fernando Llorente: Keen to remain at Juve

Reported Liverpool target Fernando Llorente has said he knows nothing about interest from the Anfield club and is intending to stay at Juventus.

The 30-year-old Juventus striker is believed to be one of several targets that Liverpool have shortlisted this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad.

However, former Athletic Bilbao targetman Llorente has denied he is looking to make a move away from the Champions League finalists.

"My intention right now is to stay," Llorente told Mediaset Premium.

"I need to talk with the club, and see what they say too. For sure there are many changes, but let's hope we can continue to do as well as we have been doing in recent years. If Tevez does leave, I will be sorry as he is a great man and a great striker."

Monaco as well as Liverpool have been credited with an interest in Llorente, who scored seven goals in 31 Serie A appearances last season.

"I don't know anything about that - I've just got married, I am leaving for my honeymoon and am not thinking about anything else," added Llorente.

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Raheem Sterling is a player in demand says Manchester City's Patrick Vieira

Raheem Sterling: Already been the subject of Manchester City two bids

Patrick Vieira believes Manchester City will face plenty of competition in the race to sign Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

Vieira, who is City’s football development executive, is a big admirer of the England international, for whom last season’s Premier League runners-up have already had two bids rejected.

The second of those was for £40m and it is thought Liverpool are holding out for a fee of £50m for a player who still has two years left on his Anfield contract but has refused to discuss a new deal which would reportedly earn him in excess of £100,000 a week.

Despite the large figures involved, Vieira believes there will be further interest in Sterling, who scored 11 goals in 52 appearances for the Reds last season.

"I think if you go down and ask 10 people what they think about him, I think nine would give you a positive answer," said Vieira.

"I would be part of the nine people because he's shown how good he is, how well he's been doing at Liverpool.

"If he is in the market, not just City would be interested in him.

"But that's the first team and I'm not part of the first team, I work with the academy so I'm just giving you my opinion."

Vieira also believes the loss of the Premier League title to Chelsea last season should be viewed in context.

"The target of the football club is to always try to win the Premier League title,” he told ESPN FC at an event in New York for Western Union's PASS initiative.. “You only have one team who can win it.

"Chelsea won it last year, so that means United, City, Arsenal and Liverpool were not going to be happy, but I think what is important is to analyse the situation and analyse what the club has achieved in the past four years.

"If you analyse the last four years, it's been more successful than anything else. Don't forget that four or five years ago, the club wasn't at that level.

"I think the journey of the club so far has been fantastic and you just have to look at the players we have in our squad."

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Liverpool hold talks with Roberto Firmino, Carlos Bacca and Salomon Rondon

Roberto Firmino: One of three South American players in talks Liverpool

Liverpool have held talks with forwards Roberto Firmino, Carlos Bacca and Salomon Rondon, according to reports.

The club have widened their search for a new striker to three South American targets after deeming Christian Benteke's £32.5million asking price too expensive.

Brazilian media outlet Globoesporte have reported that an £18m deal and a five-year contract has been agreed for Firmino but Sky Sports have revealed that this is not yet the case.

Hoffenheim's Firmino is currently on Copa America duty with Brazil and is seen as an ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling – should he leave the club – with his ability to play across the front three.

Bacca is another player on Liverpool’s radar due to his prolific form for both Sevilla and Colombia. 

It is believed he would command a fee in the region of £20million, with the 28-year-old netting 28 times last season, including two goals in the Europa League final.

Rondon is the third player that Liverpool are currently pursuing. He plays for Zenit St Petersburg and represents Venezuela at international level. 

Rondon, who would cost £15m, scored 20 times last season as Zenit won the Russian title.

It is also understood that there is no currently no interest in Inter Milan's attacking midfielder Mateo Kovacic or Monaco centre-back Aymen Abdennour, and as of yet there has not been a second bid made for Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne.

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Gossip: United to make Biglia bid

Lucas Biglia: Linked with switch to Man United

Man United will bid £18.5m for Lucas Biglia, Liverpool are to up their offer for Asier Illarramendi, and Sunderland want Georginio Wijnaldum.

UNITED TO MAKE BIGLIA MOVE

Man United are poised to make an £18.5m bid for Lazio's Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia, according to the Daily Express.

Louis van Gaal is keen to bolster his central midfield and sees Biglia as the perfect player to add steel and competition to his ranks.

According to Italian reports, the 29-year-old's agent wants his player to have a contract that will earn him in the region of £1.8million per season (plus bonuses) for the next five years.

With Louis van Gaal having around £150million to splash this summer, United's offer may be too good for the Italian club to turn down.

Biglia's current contract runs until 2018.

United have also been linked with Lazio's Brazilian midfielder Felipe Anderson and Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij this summer.

LIVERPOOL TO UP ILLARREMENDI OFFER

The Independent have picked up on Spanish reports on Monday evening that Liverpool are ready to increase their offer for Real Madrid's playmaker Asier Illarramendi to £16million.

The Reds have reportedly had a £9million bid for the player rejected by the club earlier this summer, but could come back in with an increased bid - possibly amid reports elsewhere that top target Roberto Firmino is now wanted by Manchester City.

The decision on Illarremendi's future lies with new Real boss Rafael Benitez, with Spanish reports claiming he would prefer to sell the player to Liverpool due to his affinity with the Anfield club.

Illarramendi moved to Real from Real Sociedad for 32m euros back in July 2013, but has struggled in his two seasons at the Bernabeu.

The 25-year-old's price of 32m euros remains the most amount of money that Real have spent on a Spanish player.

CATS TO POUNCE FOR WIJNALDUM

Several morning papers have picked up on the line that Dick Advocaat is ready to shatter the club's transfer record to sign PSV midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

The player has also been linked with Newcastle and Man United, but Advocaat will reportedly 'use his contacts' to persuade PSV to sell the player to the Wearsiders in a record outlay.

The reigning Dutch Player of the Year (he beat Man United new boy Memphis Depay to the honour) has 19 caps for his country and caught the eye during the World Cup last summer, most notably in the 3-0 third/fourth play-off clash with the hosts where he scored one of his country's goals.

AND THE REST

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal is ready to spend big again this summer with Jasper Cillessen, Sergio Ramos, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Karim Benzema all wanted.

Manchester United's interest in Sergio Ramos may leave them without a back-up plan - because Real Madrid could be set to move for Nicolas Otamendi.

Liverpool are ready to offload Fabio Borini this month - heralding a major Anfield clearout - with Fiorentina, Lazio and Sunderland all interested in the Italian.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis will carry out a major rebuild at the Hawthorns, with Matt Phillips, Demba Ba, Wayne Hennessey and Steven Caulker all targeted.

Manchester City target Kevin De Bruyne is in line for a huge new £100,000-a-week deal from Wolfsburg, who have vowed to fight to keep him.

Gary Rowett says Demarai Gray is destined for the top - but will only leave Birmingham for the right club.

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is likely to move for Dame N'Doye if he misses out on top attacking target Charlie Austin.

West Ham hope to tie up the signing of winger Dimitri Payet this week.

Manchester City will move for Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere - if they miss out on Juventus star Paul Pogba.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping to clinch a £15million deal for Inter Milan playmaker Mateo Kovacic.

Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori has KO'd a £7million move to Sunderland - because his dad says Wearside is too cold.

West Ham are ready to join Chelsea in the chase for Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele.

Sunderland look set to fail in a loan bid for Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson.

John Terry has defended Raheem Sterling in the youngster's ongoing transfer saga at Liverpool.

Arsenal striker Joel Campbell is a target for Benfica.

Manchester United are still to receive a bid from Real Madrid for David de Gea, although the club are bracing themselves for the goalkeeper's departure.

Manchester City have watched Chile international midfielder Charles Aranguiz and are considering a move.

Lyon have enquired about Manchester City defender Jason Denayer but he is expected to stay at the Etihad.

Liverpool are weighing up the likes of Carlos Bacca at Sevilla, Jose Salomon Rondon of Zenit and Fernando Llorente at Juventus.

Hoffenheim's Brazil international Roberto Firmino remains an option under consideration for Liverpool and Manchester City.

Bournemouth hope to sign left-back Luke Garbutt on loan once he agrees his new five-year contract with Everton.

Tottenham right back DeAndre Yedlin is wanted on loan by Bolton Wanderers and Derby County. Burnley had also shown an interest in the US international.

Geoffrey Kondogbia's move to Inter Milan has given Monaco the funds to rival Arsenal and Manchester City for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho.

Chelsea have convinced the Football Association to make Bertrand Traore the first player to receive a work permit under its new set of rules and give the highly rated teenager the chance to win a place in Jose Mourinho's first-team squad for next season.

Stoke have responded to Seville's £3m offer for Steven Nzonzi by saying they would gladly take Grzegorz Krychowiak in exchange.

Thierry Henry cannot understand why Manchester United allowed Paul Pogba to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2012.

New Derby boss Paul Clement is hoping to sign Burnley defender Jason Shackell for £2m.

Arsenal is in pole position to sign Porto striker Jackson Martinez - now that AC Milan have lost interest in the Colombian.

Derby County are set to complete a club-record deal for the Hull City winger Thomas Ince for what could be £4.5million after instalments.

Phil Jones is close to signing a new contract with Manchester United.

Manchester City are moving closer to signing Enes Unal, the Bursapor and Turkey striker.

Sunderland will battle Middlesbrough for West Ham winger Stewart Downing.

Swansea are ready to offload Michu for as little as £4m when he returns to Wales from Napoli this week.

Genk coach Peter Maes is planning a last-ditch plea to keep Jelle Vossen - as Celtic step up their move for the attacker.

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