Liverpool might be having a more chaotic summer than it is used to, but it can draw plenty of comfort from a glance around the rest of the Big Six.
Generously continuing to include Chelsea in that group, Todd Boehly has already had to oversee a transfer fire sale to get inside Financial Fair Play rules, losing Mason Mount in the process. In terms of incomings, Moisés Caicedo is proving difficult to land.
Meanwhile, just like at Liverpool, the rise of the Saudi league has been felt at Manchester City, where stalwart Riyad Mahrez has been sold. İlkay Gündoğan has also left the club on a free transfer for Barcelona, while incoming business is yet to really take off.
Spurs, of course, are dealing with the Harry Kane saga, which looks like it may finally come to a head this summer. As for Manchester United, the specter of a possible takeover has been hanging over Old Trafford for months, with the Glazers having reportedly just made an astounding U-turn.
Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the other big sides in the Premier League and around Europe to take a look at the news going on at the other clubs.
Manchester United takeover twist
The Liverpool and Manchester United takeover stories emerged at similar times, but have taken wildly different trajectories. No doubt FSG was unimpressed when the Old Trafford outfit was put up for sale within days of the news that the Reds were seeking a buyer — but fast-forward more than half a year, and neither club has changed hands.
In fact, Liverpool is off the market altogether, with FSG rapidly scaling back its mission to a search for new investors. But the Manchester United sale has been a long and protracted affair. And while it was expected to conclude this summer, there has been a major development.
Per the ‘i’, the Glazers have made a U-turn, and have now ‘paused’ the sale process altogether. Given the value of Manchester United’s new Adidas deal, and with an eye on how much the new Premier League TV deal is worth, the American family is minded to hold off on any change in ownership.
Man City ‘prioritizes’ Liverpool-linked ace
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City cannot directly replace Riyad Mahrez, amid a warning over the the rise of the Saudi league (via the BBC). But it seems the Algerian’s departure will nonetheless push the manager back into the transfer market.
Michael Olise has been mentioned as one option, but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that someone else is on the radar as an heir to Mahrez. Alongside the Crystal Palace man, Rennes forward Jérémy Doku has been made a ‘priority’ name.
Liverpool has a long history of being linked to Doku. He toured the club as a teenager, when Jürgen Klopp told him he could one day succeed Sadio Mané. And as recently as this summer, Mohamed Toubache-Ter (via Get French Football News) claimed there was a ‘strong interest’ in bringing the Belgian, now in France, to Anfield.
