The inside story of Jurgen Klopp's shock Liverpool exit and his controversial decision to head up Red Bull's football empire

Jurgen Klopp's decision to step down as Liverpool boss rocked the world of football. The resurgent Reds were top of the Premier League and still in three cup competitions when the Kop idol announced on January 26, 2004 that he would leave Anfield at the end of the season.

"I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people at this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it," Klopp told the club's official website.

"I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything.

"But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy."

The supporters were stunned. There had been some signs of fatigue and frustration the year before but nobody had seen Klopp's imminent exit coming – not even Klopp's assistant Peter Krawietz…

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    'I understood Jurgen's explanations'

    "Jurgen called me at the time and said I should come to see him. He said that we needed to discuss something," Krawietz explains in an exclusive interview with GOAL.

    "When he told me what, I was initially surprised, but five minutes into our conversation, which ended up lasting perhaps two hours, I was no longer surprised.

    "I completely understood all of Jurgen's explanations and arguments. They were logical, consistent, and also congruent with my own thinking.

    "We had both taken a long look in the mirror, independently of each other, and in doing so, we came to the difficult conclusion: a four-week break would not be enough to face the challenges of the following season, in light of everything that this profession requires."

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    Klopp's surprise move

    In truth, it wasn't that difficult to understand why Klopp might be exhausted. After all, he was renowned for his intensity.

    Klopp was never less than 100 percent committed to the cause – whether that was at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund or Liverpool – so it was perhaps inevitable that such a relentless work ethic would eventually catch up with him.

    Nobody was in any doubt that he deserved an extended break from football either. For that very reason, though, eyebrows were raised when Klopp announced his return to the game less than six months after his final game at Anfield – and as Red Bull's head of global soccer.

    Klopp had always claimed to be a traditionalist, an old romantic disillusioned by the commercialisation of football, so his decision to accept a role within the sporting department of the energy drink manufacturer provoked accusations of hypocrisy and selling his soul.

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    'At Red Bull, Jurgen can think outside the box'

    Krawietz, though, insists that he wasn't at all surprised by the timing of Klopp's return to work or the identity of the employer.

    "I would have only been surprised if he had asked me if we wanted to join a certain club in our usual roles," he says. "But I was almost certain that wouldn't happen.

    "I always thought that he would do something completely different than before. Jurgen simply wanted a change from his coaching job.

    "He's always been a very curious person, enthusiastic about other things, and, at Red Bull, he can think outside the box, experience new things, really get involved, isn't tied to one location, and is free of the daily public relations work. It's less intensive, but just as extensive.

    "I've taken note of the criticism – but I don't understand it. I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding on the part of the fans [in Germany].

    "In England, it's perfectly normal for a club to be managed by an investor who acts as a financier and makes strategic decisions.

    "If you ask yourself why this hasn't yet taken hold in Germany, it also raises the question of how professional and commercially marketed football can be. A highly interesting discussion, but one as old as football itself.

    "But, at the end of the day, where would Jurgen have been allowed to work, what would the public have approved of? There would have been numerous critical voices even if he had – purely hypothetically – become coach at Bayern Munich or Manchester United.

    "Of course, that's not how free choice of profession works. You have to pay respect to an individual. You can't hold a public vote on what the fans would like."

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    'True champion' James Milner

    Of course, Klopp's status as a Liverpool legend has long been secure. He enjoyed a wonderful rapport with the fans – and still does.

    Winning trophies obviously helped. As well as leading the Reds to a sixth European Cup, Klopp also ended Liverpool's 30-year English title drought.

    Krawietz openly admits, though, that the management team owed so much of their success to a wonderful group of players, men of real character that created and maintained a standard of excellence at the club.

    "I don't want to put anyone above others and could probably talk about each one for an hour," Krawietz says, "but, in terms of the focus on daily life, the job, and the complete conviction with which you approach it, the shining example and the most professional of all the players I've met is James Milner.

    "He managed to align an entire team around this focus and demonstrate how to become a true champion."

Former Real Madrid and PSG star Keylor Navas transforms Pumas into Liga MX’s stingiest defense with just four goals conceded in seven matches

Keylor Navas’ arrival has transformed Pumas' defense, with the veteran goalkeeper providing much-needed leadership for their backline. Since the former Real Madrid goalkeeper took over in net, Efraín Juárez’s side has surged. The Universitarios stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a 1-1 draw against Tigres, climbing to seventh in the table.

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    A top-tier signing

    Although Pumas currently sit outside Liga MX’s top five and would be facing the play-in round if the Apertura 2025 ended today, Navas’ impact between the posts gives the club plenty to celebrate. Since making his debut in Week 3, Pumas have the stingiest defense in the league, conceding only four goals across seven matches. The team hasn’t lost since his arrival.

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    Navas by the numbers

    Pumas’ rocky start, which saw them allow six goals in the first two games with young keeper Rodrigo Parra, now feels like a distant memory. Pumas' defensive resurgence is far ahead of their closest competitors, Cruz Azul and Tijuana, who have conceded seven goals each in the same span. Out of the seven matches Navas has started, Pumas has recorded three shutouts. Only Tigres surpasses them with four clean sheets, though they’ve played one extra game due to the postponed Week 1 fixture.

    Overall, Pumas have posted three wins and four draws since Navas became their starting goalkeeper, placing them solidly in the top eight. 

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    Getting praise from legends

    Pumas' legendary goalkeeper Miguel Alejandro Palacios, known as “Pikolín,” highlighted Navas’ outstanding form in Mexico.

     “He’s a great goalkeeper, a historic one. He’s arrived at the best team in Mexico, and I hope he enjoys it. Enjoy playing for Pumas, guarding that goal, and having that connection with one of the best fanbases,” Palacios told ESPN.

    Palacios made 206 league appearances for Pumas between 2003 and 2017, winning four Liga MX titles. 

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    What next for Pumas?

    will look to extend this positive streak when they visit FC Juárez on Tuesday in Week 10, with a key clash against América scheduled for the following Saturday.

Newcastle surge into race to sign £35m former Bundesliga Golden Boot winner

Newcastle United have re-entered the race to sign a former Bundesliga Golden Boot winner in the summer transfer window.

Journalist drops new Wissa update

The Magpies now have less than two weeks left in the transfer window to sort out their transfer situation, in terms of both keeping hold of Alexander Isak and bolstering their attacking options. Predicting what will happen to Isak isn’t easy, with Liverpool yet to submit a second offer for the Swede, but journalist Criag Hope provided an update on the striker situation before Isak’s Instagram bombshell on Tuesday evening.

He states that Brentford striker Yoane Wissa remains Newcastle’s “banker” signing of the summer, and that the current star attacker won’t be going anywhere if they can’t agree a move for the Bees ace, which is supported by the statement released by the Magpies following Isak’s social media post.

It promises to be a dramatic few weeks at St James’ Park, regardless of what the eventual outcome is, and it is important that alternatives to Wissa are also looked at by the Magpies. Now, their interest in a former target looks to be back on the table, following a fresh claim.

Newcastle re-enter race to sign attacking star

According to an update from journalist Marc Mechenoua on X, Newcastle are back in the race to sign Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku this summer, along with Inter Milan. He is reportedly valued at £35m.

Nkunku’s pedigree is there for all to see, even though his time in a Chelsea shirt hasn’t been hugely productive, with only 18 goals in 62 appearances not the most earth-shattering return.

The 27-year-old is a three-time Ligue 1 champion from his spell at Paris Saint-Germain, while at Borussia Dortmund, he won the Bundesliga Golden Boot award back in 2022/23, netting 16 times in the competition.

Granted, the £195,000-a-week Nkunku’s reputation isn’t arguably as great as it was a few years ago, but Eddie Howe may feel that he is the ideal manager to get the most out of him moving forward, with the Frenchman still in his prime years.

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If Isak leaves, Nkunku and one other striker would be ideal business, whether it is Wissa, Nicolas Jackson or someone else, but if the Newcastle marksman stays put, the Chelsea man may need to be the only addition if other deals don’t work out.

Newcastle make contact with "brilliant" Premier League ace alongside Wissa

Newcastle United have held talks with a “brilliant” Premier League player over a move to the club this summer, according to a fresh claim from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Newcastle pushing to sign Wissa and Sesko

The Magpies are battling hard to keep hold of Alexander Isak, amid serious interest from Liverpool, with a £110m bid already rejected by them.

If the worst-case scenario does happen and Newcastle end up losing Isak, it is imperative that at least one fantastic striker comes in to replace him, if not two, and Yoanne Wissa and Benjamin Sesko appear to be the leading options to come in.

It has been reported that the Magpies are leading the race to sign Brentford ace Wissa, who enjoyed a superb season in the Premier League in 2024/25, scoring 19 goals in 35 appearances.

As for RB Leipzig star Sesko, it looks as though he is going to have to pick between Newcastle and Manchester United, with the pair both viewing him as a top option to lead the line. Eddie Howe will hope that the 22-year-old sees the lure of Champions League football at St James’ Park too great to turn down.

Newcastle in talks with "brilliant" Premier League defender

Writing on X, Tavolieri claimed that Newcastle have made contact with Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi over a summer move, seeing him as an option alongside Wissa.

There is so much focus on Newcastle’s attack currently, but it is also vital that a new centre-back comes in, in order to add youth to an ageing back-line.

Disasi could be ideal for Howe, having proven himself in the Premier League after making 44 appearances in the competition, as well as being lauded by Jamie Carragher in 2024.

“I can’t remember a better defensive performance this season, certainly from a central defender. Coming away to Manchester City, playing against the best striker in the world. He was brilliant. He was the man of the match, I don’t think I said it on air but he was the best player on the pitch. That was the type of performance you’d see from centre-backs from about 15-20 years ago.”

At 27 years of age, Disasi is six years younger than both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, and is at a great point in his career, so there is no reason why he couldn’t come straight in as a starter for Newcastle.

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Granted, his time at Chelsea hasn’t gone perfectly, having been loaned out to Aston Villa last season, but he should be viewed as a strong option for the Magpies, making this one to watch.

Nottingham Forest make contact to bring World Cup winner to the City Ground

Nottingham Forest make their long-awaited comeback to the European stage this season and have a World Cup winner in their sights that they hope will join the party, according to a report.

Nottingham Forest await outcome on Morgan Gibbs-White conundrum

By now, everyone connected with the Tricky Trees will know Morgan Gibbs-White is at the centre of an impasse after Nottingham Forest threatened legal action after Tottenham Hotspur activated his release clause.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen if the England international will stay put. The summer window is far from over, and plenty of twists and turns remain despite his return to training and appearance against AS Monaco in a friendly last weekend.

Addressing his future, Ola Aina confirmed that Gibbs-White is maintaining a professional approach despite rumours surrounding his future at the City Ground.

He stated: “He’s keeping it professional; I don’t know the ins and outs of that. He was here today, playing, and he’s training, keeping fit as normal. At the end of the day, we’re all professionals – we’ve got a job to do and that’s what Morgan is doing right now. He’s keeping it professional.”

Regardless, Nottingham Forest are targeting a move for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, even if West Ham United have already submitted a £34 million offer to bring him to the London Stadium.

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The Tricky Trees are set to net a windfall…

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Nuno Espirito Santo and his side are awaiting the outcome of Crystal Palace’s appeal against Europa League expulsion. That may take a few weeks, though they are preparing for European football regardless, potentially paving the way for additions.

Now, with optimism growing in the East Midlands, there is every chance a World Cup winner could be on their way to join the Tricky Trees’ mission.

Nottingham Forest make contact to sign Nahuel Molina

According to reports in Spain via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have initiated contact with Atletico Madrid star Nahuel Molina’s camp, as it has become apparent that he is set to leave the Spanish capital this summer due to his non-EU status.

Marc Pubill has joined Diego Simeone’s men, leaving World Cup winner Molina free to explore a move elsewhere, which could occur in the form of a loan switch to the City Ground.

Nahuel Molina in La Liga – would he be a good signing for Nottingham Forest?

Appearances

93

Goals

6

Assists

8

The prospect of the 27-year-old coming to the East Midlands permanently also hasn’t been ruled out, and Nottingham Forest are at an advantage in their pursuit after Juventus decided to intensify their efforts to sign Porto’s João Mario.

Deemed to be on the ‘exit ramp’ at the Wanda Metropolitano, Molina is firmly in the sights of Espirito Santo and would arrive off the back of 46 outings last season across all competitions.

With the scene set for Nottingham Forest to pounce, it remains to be seen if they can tempt the Argentina international with the prospect of a shot at the Premier League.

Rahane, Handscomb battle for Leicestershire after Ingram's unbeaten 257

Leicestershire’s international pair Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb battled hard to give their side a chance of saving the game, after Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram had continued his batting masterclass.Rahane was 47 not out and Handscomb unbeaten on 33, Leicestershire 144 for 3, trailing by 155, when bad light stopped play with 21.2 scheduled overs remaining.Both the Indian and Australian were dropped by Glamorgan legspinner Mason Crane, two of his three dropped catches coming off his own bowling, in moments which may come back to haunt the home side as they chase victory on the final day.That was after Glamorgan had declared on 550 for 9, with a lead of 299, Ingram unbeaten on a personal best 257, Crane getting his day off to a better start with 49 runs to his name.Glamorgan started the day in a strong position and soon set about building on those solid foundations, with Colin Ingram carrying on as he had done over the previous two days.Having already notched his first ever double century, the fastest Glamorgan player to 1,000 runs in a season, he notched his first ever 250, confidently progressing in serene fashion.He had good support from Crane who was one short of a well deserved half century when he was dismissed in one of the most unfortunate ways possible.Ingram hit the ball firmly back down the ground, bowler Rehan Ahmed got a fingertip to the ball which went on to hit the stumps at the bowler’s end before Crane could regain his ground.New Zealander Fraser Sheat hit a breezy 34 while Ingram mainly watched on, Ned Leonard had one nice boundary before the declaration came just before lunch with Glamorgan nine down, 299 runs ahead on the first innings scores.Ingram was 257 not out, having been on the field for all but one ball of the match, batting just three minutes short of ten hours, as Glamorgan added 119 runs to their total during the morning.Leicestershire had a mountain to climb when they came out to bat, with their opening bowler, Ian Holland, also opening the batting.Both sides needed patience and Rishi Patel and Holland withstood an impressive opening salvo from Timm van der Gugten and Fraser Sheat.It was Dan Douthwaite who made the breakthrough, nipping one back to trap Patel LBW. Ned Leonard got the ball to nip back even more sharply to bowl Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill.Van der Gugten got in on the act with one which lifted outside off stump and Holland tamely lobbed it to point where Billy Root to the catch.That brought Indian Ajinkya Rahane and Australian Peter Handscomb together, who were always likely to form the nub of the resistance.Glamorgan had their chances as Rahane gave two caught and bowled opportunities to Mason Crane when on 32, but the leg spinner put them both down, the first low to his left and the second sharp to his right.Handscomb was on 26 when he pulled Sheat firmly in the air to midwicket where once again it was the unfortunate Crane who spilled the chance.There was confusion over bad light at the end of the day, but the early finish was inevitable after the umpires tried to come back on for 10 balls only to be forced to call events off in the growing gloom.

Arsenal set to hold talks over deal for £84m striker with Arteta "keen" to get it done

Arsenal are now set to hold talks over a deal to sign a £84m striker, with Mikel Arteta keen to secure his signature, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Arteta's striker pursuit rumbles on

There has been a new twist in the Gunners’ pursuit of a striker, with it being revealed that Viktor Gyokeres plans to snub Manchester United if the Gunners come calling, although the Sweden international isn’t thought to be Arteta’s top target.

Indeed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now revealed the deal for Gyokeres is “not advancing”, with the north Londoners “focussing” on bringing Benjamin Sesko to the Emirates Stadium this summer, having identified the Slovenian as a prime target months ago.

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Unlike Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, Arteta’s side don’t need to rush to bring a new striker through the door, as they are not competing in the upcoming Club World Cup, but they are now stepping up their pursuit.

That is according to an update from Plettenberg on X, with the reporter revealing that the next round of talks over a deal for Sesko is now “scheduled”, and the feeling around a possible deal is “very positive”.

Arteta is personally “keen” on signing the 22-year-old, who Plettenberg describes as a “top striker”, but a deal will not be cheap, with RB Leipzig expected to hold out for a fee of around €80m – €100m (£67m – £84m).

The Bundesliga club are now waiting for an official offer for the centre-forward, with no full agreement in place at this stage.

"Monster" Sesko could be ideal striker signing for Arsenal

It is important that Arteta is happy with the striker Andrea Berta brings in this summer, given that he must be suitable for the Spaniard’s system, with it previously being revealed they are in disagreement over whether to sign the RB Leipzig forward or Gyokeres.

At this point, the Slovenia international seems to be the more likely signing, which could be good news for the Gunners, considering he has proven himself in a stronger league than the Sporting star, while he is also five years his junior.

Sesko has maintained a solid goal record over the past two seasons in Germany, showing real signs of development since arriving from RB Salzburg, and he could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal in attack, much like Erling Haaland was for Manchester City.

Season

Appearances (all comps

Goals

Assists

2023-24

42

18

2

2024-25

45

21

6

Lauded as a “monster” by football scout Ben Mattinson, the Leipzig star could be a fantastic signing for the Gunners, although Gyokeres did manage to outscore his fellow forward last season, albeit in a weaker league.

£4.5m-per-year manager "emerging" as top Tottenham target to replace Ange

Tottenham Hotspur could soon find themselves on the hunt for a new head coach, with chairman Daniel Levy set to communicate his all-important managerial decision to Ange Postecoglou “this week”.

Ange Postecoglou set to learn Tottenham fate imminently

Reliable club insider Paul O’Keefe has claimed that Levy has already decided whether he’s going to stick or twist with Postecoglou after a very mixed campaign, and the Australian is apparently set to learn his fate imminently.

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Sky Sports report that Postecoglou’s future will be resolved “this week”, with critics and supporters alike set to find out the result of what must have been a very tough call behind the scenes at Hotspur Way.

The former Celtic boss made history by guiding Spurs to their first European trophy since 1984 and first piece of silverware generally since 2008 by beating Man United 1-0 in the Europa League final, which also gifted the club a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

However, Tottenham’s domestic form across 2024/2025 was quite simply unacceptable, with Postecoglou’s side breaking the record for most league defeats recorded by Spurs in a single Premier League season (22).

If they hadn’t secured a narrow victory against Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils in Bilbao, there would be no debate about sacking the tactician, but the raw emotion that comes with ending Tottenham’s trophy-winning hoodoo has given Levy plenty to ponder.

Players have also spoken out in support of Postecoglou – including the likes of Pedro Porro, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray – making the decision even harder.

If Levy does opt to hand the 59-year-old his P45, £4.5 million-per-year Brentford boss Thomas Frank is tipped as a prime contender for the job.

Brentford managerThomasFrankbefore the matc

Tottenham are said to have held “multiple meetings” with Frank over the role, with journalist Pete O’Rourke now claiming that the Dane has entered pole position to succeed Postecoglou.

Thomas Frank "emerging" as top Tottenham target to replace Postecoglou

Writing for Football Insider, the reporter states Frank is “emerging” as Tottenham’s “number one” managerial target to replace Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites are apparently “increasingly convinced” of the 51-year-old’s credentials to do a job at Spurs and lead them into the Champions League next term, following his excellent job at Brentford on a shoe-string budget compared to more elite Premier League sides.

Frank has just guided the Bees to a solid mid-table finish, despite losing star striker Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli last summer, with the Dane also steering his injury-ravaged Brentford squad clear of relegation in 2023/2024.

Brentford have also registered a net-spend of just £96 million over the last five years, with Frank’s side holding their own in Europe’s most competitive division without having to splash that much on recruitment.

This will undoubtedly be attractive to Levy, and Man City boss Pep Guardiola is on record stating that Frank is “one of the best” managers around.

His appeal is clear, but it is still just a hypothesis as we await the result of Levy’s crunch Postecoglou call.

Paratici could sign £150k-a-week Liverpool player after Tottenham return

Tottenham Hotspur could reunite with ex-managing director Fabio Paratici once his worldwide ban concludes on June 30, and it is now believed the transfer chief may end up playing a vital role in signing a “top-level” Liverpool player.

Fabio Paratici tipped for Tottenham return this summer

The ex-Juventus man, who gained popularity among the Spurs fan base after sealing deals for the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Romero, Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr during his time there, could well be coming back to N17.

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Paratici was forced to resign as managing director in early 2023, after he was slapped with a 30-month worldwide ban from FIFA. The 52-year-old was found guilty of false accounting during his time at Juve, with Paratici unable to work in any official footballing capacity since then.

Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

That isn’t to say he hasn’t been of use to Spurs since then, though, as it is known that Paratici has been advising the club on an unofficial consultancy basis.

However, with his ban due to end on June 30th, reports from Italy are adamant that an official Tottenham return for Paratici could be nearing (Corriere della Sera).

The official held extensive talks with AC Milan over becoming their new sporting director, but those negotiations broke down, which has freed up a move to N17 as a result.

Daniel Levy has publicly praised Paratici’s work ethic and “tough” negotiating style in the past, and it is believed by some that the Lilywhites chairman has been working hard to tempt him with a return to the club.

Levy held private talks with Paratici over re-joining Spurs as far back as late March, and there has been no sign of this potential appointment slowing down since then.

Fabio Paratici could sign Federico Chiesa for Tottenham

Now, CaughtOffside report that he could play a vital role in luring £150,000-per-week Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa to north London.

The Italy international’s debut season in England hasn’t exactly been a dream for him, and Arne Slot’s side could choose to part ways with Chiesa for as little as £13 million.

Tottenham are emerging as potential contenders for Chiesa, and Paratici’s excellent relationship with his agent, Fali Ramadani, has been described as a “crucial” factor which could give them an edge in the race for his signature.

CaughtOffside also back up previous reports that Paratici is expected to come back, and he could now mount an assault for Liverpool’s attacker after he returns.

Despite Chiesa’s lack of luck at Anfield, the ex-Juve star has shone on the biggest occasions in past seasons, including Euro 2020, and he’s still just 27-years-old. For just £13m, Chiesa would be an arguable snip, with the only real sticking point financially being his salary.

Chiesa has also been called a “top-level” talent since making the move to Merseyside last summer, having impressed on the odd occasion for Liverpool, and perhaps he’d have more luck earning game time down south.

Offer made: Aston Villa make approach to sign £12.5m "generational talent"

Aston Villa have now made an offer to sign a “generational talent”, and they have moved ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester City in the race for his signature, according to a report.

Aston Villa gearing up for Paris Saint-Germain clash

Villa are hitting a rich vein of form at the perfect stage of the season, with a 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest last time out boosting their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League considerably.

However, tonight’s game could be the Villans’ toughest of the season so far, as they are faced with the daunting task of travelling to Paris Saint-Germain for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Aston Villa’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Paris Saint-Germain (a)

April 9th

Southampton (a)

April 12th

Paris Saint-Germain (h)

April 15th

Newcastle United (h)

April 19th

Manchester City (a)

April 22nd

These kinds of nights are what fans have dreamed about for decades, and Unai Emery will no doubt be fully focused on the task at hand, but the manager has also been stepping up his summer transfer plans as of late.

A new centre-back is of particular interest, and £50m will be enough to seal a deal for Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande, while Emery has also personally requested the signing of Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.

Defence is not the only area in which Aston Villa are looking to strengthen, however, with a report from GiveMeSport stating they have now made an offer to sign Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan.

Arsenal have also made an approach for the 18-year-old, with signing for the Gunners or the Villans deemed to be more likely than a move to Manchester City, despite interest from Pep Guardiola’s side.

There is also fresh competition for Nypan’s signature from Borussia Dortmund, with the transfer battle now hotting up, and there is a feeling any deal could amount to a fee of around £12.5m.

"Generational talent" Nypan could have "huge future ahead"

The teenager has already established himself as an important player for Rosenborg, displaying his attacking prowess by amassing 14 goals and 11 assists in 62 appearances for the Norwegian club.

Not only that, but the starlet has been hailed as a “generational talent” by a Norwegian scout, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig believes he has a “huge future ahead”.

The Norwegian midfielder’s performances for Rosenborg indicate he could soon be ready to make the step up to the Premier League, so it is exciting news that Aston Villa have now made an opening bid.

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However, it may be difficult to win the race for Nypan’s signature, given the interest from Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, with the Gunners now in a very strong position to reach the Champions League semi-final after a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid yesterday.

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