Liverpool could be on a collision course with rivals Manchester United for the signature of Wolves youngster Mateus Mane.

The 18-year-old enjoyed some breakthrough moments for Wolves en route to the club being relegated to the Championship this season.

German website Fussballdaten has reported the Reds are in the hunt for Mane, who is supposedly valued at £35million.

Another young winger may not aling with Liverpool's needs this summer, however, with Rio Ngumoha already emerging out wide.

However, there may be room for another project player after Mane displayed flashes of brilliance in the top flight last term.

New Chelsea signing Marco Palestra has lauded the influence of Xabi Alonso in his transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Former Atalanta right-back Palestra was reportedly offered to Liverpool before the Blues took over the deal.

The Italian officially completed his £47million transfer to west London on Wednesday and referenced Alonso's input as he spoke for the first time as a Chelsea player, saying: "It was very important.

"I feel a lot of energy from him. Also, he is one of the best managers in the world [as you can see when] he won at Bayer Leverkusen.

"It is important for me to have Xabi Alonso as the manager. I have had two conversations with him and I’m very happy because he told me what he wanted from me. I’m very happy to know him and to start training with Chelsea."

In another world, the pair might have ended up working at Anfield together had Alonso taken over at his old club this summer.

Liverpool can take Luka Vuskovic off their list of potential recruits amid reports he's set to sign for Brighton.

The Tottenham defender impressed on loan at Hamburg last season and was due to get his chance in north London. However, the depth of competition under Roberto De Zerbi has seemingly convinced him to try his luck elsewhere.

Vuskovic, 19, was alleged to be on Liverpool's radar as they look to beef out their backline. Jeremy Jacquet has now officially completed his move to Anfield, though there's perhaps need for one more name in central defence after Ibrahima Konate left this summer.

Brighton will reportedly pay Spurs £46million up front for Vuskovic, with another £4m to come in add-ons., plus a 20 per cent sell-on clause.

There are fresh developments regarding Liverpool's interest in Morocco sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.

That's after talkSPORT reported Lille have slapped an £86million valuation on their midfield star. That's considerably more than the £69m price-tag previously reported and could deter some of the sides said to be in the hunt for his signature.

However, Liverpool could make a saving on that figure on one condition. It's alleged Lille would agree to accept a smaller fee if the buying club is willing to let Bouaddi remain at the Decathlon Arena for the 2026/27 campaign.

That could appeal to Liverpool, who are in an awkward position with Alexis Mac Allister amid talk of a move elsewhere. Real Madrid are said to be heavily interested in the Argentinian and the Reds could satisfy all parties by arranging for Bouaddi to take his place in 12 months, which would give Andoni Iraola additional time to prepare for his exit.

Bouaddi is among the most in-demand midfielder on the planet following his recent heroics at the World Cup. Morocco are due to face Canada in the last 16 as they look to reach the quarter-finals in back-to-back editions of the tournament.

While moves are being made to improve Liverpool's options in attack and midfield, Curtis Jones is reportedly "reluctant" to reciprocate Nottingham Forest's interest in his signature.

That's according to the ECHO's Ian Doyle, who has noted Jones' hesitation due to the fragile managerial situation at the City Ground.

Forest are expected to part ways with Vitor Pereira after only four months in charge. The Telegraph has reported former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner will take his place, though Pereira remains in charge for the time being.

Inter Milan have had two bids for Jones rejected, the highest of which was reportedly worth £21.7million. However, it's looking unlikely that the Italians will meet Liverpool's £35m valuation of the player.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has reiterated his stance that Liverpool are very much in the hunt to sign Bradley Barcola.

Links between the two parties have moved in numerous different directions already in recent weeks. But despite reports in France suggesting PSG have issued a not-for-sale decree on the winger, Romano's insight tells a different story.

One of the more unexpected developments in Liverpool's transfer window is the emergence of Kaishu Sano as a supposed target.

Reports in Japan have linked the Mainz midfielder with the Reds following his surprise strike against Brazil in the World Cup knockout stage. It wasn't enough to secure the win as the Selecao came from behind to win 2-1 in Houston but Sano has nonetheless made his mark.

According to reports, Manchester United, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have also enquired about the midfield anchor.

All four clubs have had Japan internationals on their books in recent years, though Liverpool have a unique pull due to the fact Samurai Blue captain Wataru Endo would be a familiar face on Merseyside.

Mainz are reportedly hoping for bids north of £43m for the 25-year-old, though that could prove a little rich for Liverpool's taste.

With his goal against Sweden at World Cup 2026, France and PSG's Bradley Barcola proved it might just take a £100m-plus offer to secure his services.

The ECHO understands that Liverpool are assessing Barcola, but the price tag of more than £110m could prove too hefty.

Elsewhere, The Daily Mail claim that Arsenal are ready to test PSG's resolve over this fee.

Liverpool have Brighton's Yanbuka Minteh, Said El Mala of Koln and Lille's Matia Fernandez-Pardo on their shortlist too.

Alexander Isak only joined Liverpool for a British record transfer fee last September from Newcastle United.

But the Swede is, quite unbelievably, being linked with FC Barcelona.

The Catalan giants have made it no secret they are eyeing up a new striker to replace Robert Lewandowski. Harry Kane was rumoured to be on their radar before that preposterous idea was ruled out.

Mundo Deportivo now reports that the club had been scouting Isak at the World Cup 2026 before Sweden were eliminated. When pigs fly maybe....

Yan Diomande appears to have chosen PSG over Liverpool as the highly-rated young Ivorian prepares to make a summer transfer.

But the winger, rated at a reported £116m, should have chosen a switch to the Premier League if he wanted to develop properly.

That's the opinion of ex-Chelsea and Ivory Coast man Salomon Kalou.

"I think he has something about him - at his young age, he already has the confidence. You can see he is very confident about what he can do on the pitch," Kalou told ESPN.

"I think if that's the choice - to go to PSG - there's a reason behind it. PSG is a team that is winning everything at the moment, so why not if he wants to be in a team that wins everything?

"If you ask me, between the Premier League and Ligue 1 - where a player can develop most, I would say the Premier League - but [PSG] is a top club and a team that can win everything."

New signing Jeremy Jacquet suffered a shoulder injury just days after his £60m agreement with Liverpool was brokered back at the start of the year.

But the French defender insists he is ready to go ahead of the new season with no injury concerns.

"My shoulder is much better now, and as part of my rehab, I'm now back out on the grass on my own," he said. "The surgeon has given me the go-ahead to start training with the group again, but unfortunately, it was preferred to just hold off on that.

"And so now, this summer, I'm going to do everything I can to come back here 100% fit. I will be 100% fit in time for next season, for sure."

Read the full story here.

Alexander Isak may have suffered agony at World Cup 2026 after Sweden were knocked out by France.

But on the bright side, at least where Liverpool are concerned, he'll now be able to partake in their pre-season tour of the United States.

The three players still competing at the World Cup, as mentioned in a previous post, will now likely miss this camp.

Because typically, the Reds give players involved in international tournaments three weeks off in the summer before asking them to report for pre-season.

If Isak is given this break, he'd fly into Chicago later this month to play at least some part in the tour. Read more here.

Germany's disastrous World Cup 2026 exit to Paraguay sounded alarm bells and immediately, ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was being touted to replace Julian Nagelsmann as manager.

However, a report by The Athletic claims that no one spoken to after the round of 32 shootout loss thinks Nagelsmann will be sacked, even though some harbour ill feelings towards him.

On the topic of Mohamed Salah's next destination, there's been a slight twist in the Saudi Pro League's interest, with their chief football executive stepping down.

The Athletic reports that Michael Emenalo has left his post, having arrived in 2023, and he has been a strong advocate for trying to lure Salah to Saudi Arabia.

Who knows whether their stance might change now that he has left, or whether Emenalo's replacement will be even more vigorous in pursuing Salah?

Read more about Emenalo and Salah here.

Jeremy Jacquet has uttered his first words as a Liverpool player after his £60m move from Stade Rennais and insists he is excited to play with club captain Virgil van Dijk.

He told LFCTV in his first interview as a Red: "Of course, I am very excited to be next to a great player like [Van Dijk].

"I think he is up there with the best centre-backs in the world currently, so I can only learn from him. I don't like to use the word 'idol', not even for the best players I admire, but naturally he's a player I look up to.

"For me, he is one of the best central defenders and if I want to reach the very top, I've got to absorb as much as I can from him, obviously."

Liverpool have completed the £60m signing of Jeremy Jacquet after agreeing a deal earlier this year.

The 20-year-old has signed a long-term contract and has joined from Stade Rennais. He told the club's website: "I feel really good, the first impressions are good and I am very happy to start here.

"I am very happy. When I see the facilities, I can see myself there. I feel good here and I am very excited to get started. For me it's a big dream, it's a big club. A club like Liverpool, it's a big dream for me."

Read a full report from the ECHO's Paul Gorst here.

Liverpool have just three players remaining at World Cup 2026.

Alexander Isak's exit with Sweden last night followed the collapse of Germany and the Netherlands.

Florian Wirtz, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo were all sent packing and there are just three Reds left battling it out in North America.

Alisson is safely through to the last 16 with Brazil and Alex Mac Allister's Argentina continue to be buoyed by the ageless Lionel Messi.

But one player still in it is yet to feature: new man Victor Munoz. An injury stopped him from playing in the group stage, but fans could see him suit up for Spain in their knockout clash with Cape Verde. Read more here.

Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player no longer.

After playing well over 400 games as a Red and scoring a record 257 goals, fans will not be able to serenade The Egyptian King come the new season.

The question of where Salah will end up next now arises. As of July 1, he is officially a free agent and can sign wherever he pleases.

It is expected this decision won't be made until Egypt's World Cup 2026 campaign ends, but with the day finally here, it's worth taking a look at the likely destinations.

The Saudi Pro League is an obvious candidate, given the reported bids that were submitted during Salah's time with Liverpool. Turkey is also a very real prospect, with the likes of Fenerbahce a potential landing spot.

There is also the possibility that Salah returns to Italy, where he spent time with Roma and Fiorentina. Ultimately, it is down to the 34-year-old. But one thing is for certain, his No. 11 will be worn by a new name this term.

Stefan Bajcetic was admired by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and reports suggest the midfielder is of interest to Middlesbrough.

The 21-year-old has been sent on loan to RB Salzburg and Las Palmas since breaking through into the Reds' first team, but with Everton poised to sign Boro's Hayden Hackney for £25m, the North East club will need a replacement.

According to Leicestershire Live, Bajcetic is on that list of targets should the Hackney deal go through.

PSG winger Bradley Barcola was on the scoresheet for France as they beat Sweden 3-0 at World Cup 2026 and the 23-year-old could soon become Liverpool's top winger target.

With Yan Diomande seemingly lost to Les Parisiens, Barcola fits the mould of the Mohamed Salah replacement the Reds are craving.

But according to The Athletic, PSG are not inclined to sell and could demand a fee in excess of £116m for him. Yikes. His performances in North America are not going to help this valuation either.

The Anfield faithful can officially wave goodbye to 12 first team Liverpool players today as July 1 marks the date that a host of contracts expire.

Mohamed Salah's legendary career in red has reached an end and Andy Robertson will officially become a Tottenham player today.

Ibrahima Konate will also join Real Madrid on a free. Take a look at the rest of the leavers here.

Wakey wakey, Reds fans, there's a day of transfer news to absorb.

It is now July and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's transfer blog, on a day when the club officially loses 12 players whose contracts have wound down!

In the less than 48 hours since this sizeable blow to Liverpool's plans, one name has emerged as the next on the shopping list after Yan Diomande: PSG's own Bradley Barcola.

The received wisdom was that if the Parisians got Diomande over the line, Barcola would likely become available, given his reluctance to sign a new deal and desire for more game time in the most important games.

Read Morgan King's full transfer round-up here

Big news in the world of American sports and Liverpool minority shareholder LeBron James.

The 41-year-old will leave the LA Lakers after eight years where he brought the NBA championships to the giants in 2020.

James has confirmed he will not re-sign with the franchise and reports suggest that he could join Golden State Warriors.

LeBron joined the Reds as a stakeholder in 2021. While at Miami Heat, he explained why he loves Liverpool.

He said:

Former Netherlands star Ronald de Boer has predicted that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will retire from international football following the country's World Cup exit to Morocco.

"I think we’re going to hear that soon and I think also Van Dijk, he had the captain’s armband and he was an amazing captain, I think he will say probably that, ‘This is my last game,'" De Boer told talkSPORT.

"Yes a lot of criticism about not taking the team by the hand, but still, all the respect for Van Dijk because he has been a great captain, but sometimes it’s time to go."

Hiya from the ECHO sports desk here in Merseyside. Merseyside, by the way, does not include Manchester. That's in Greater Manchester.

Anyway, some news of a transferical nature.

Luca Stephenson looks like he will shortly complete his permanent move to Championship side Bolton Wanderers.

Also, worth reminding that Curtis Jones doesn't really fancy a move to Nottingham Forest.

As for the rest, the rumour mill it whirls. Oh it be whirlin'...

Liverpool have been linked with promising midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer, but could face competition from Manchester City over his signature.

BBC Sport reports that City are interested in the Lille star, who has played a key role for Morocco at the World Cup. The French club are claimed to value him at between £69m and £86m.

Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also mentioned as other clubs monitoring the 18-year-old.