Liverpool Ready To Go Head-To-Head With Manchester United For £37m Duo

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool are ready to battle Man Utd for two signings….

Liverpool are ready to go head-to-head with Manchester United over the signing of Nathaniel Clyne and Nicolas Gaitan this summer, according to reports today.

Brendan Rodgers is expected to keep his job despite Liverpool enduring a disappointing campaign that saw them miss out on Champions League football and the Northern Irishman looks set to kick off his summer transfer plans.

A key priority for the Reds boss is to bring in another right-back as Glen Johnson is set to leave when his contract expires next month and widespread reports on Friday morning claimed that Liverpool had made a formal £10m bid to Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne.

The 24-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract at St Mary’s and with no extension agreed as yet, the Saints are going to be forced to cash-in to prevent losing him for nothing in 12 months time.

However, Ronald Koeman’s men won’t let the England international go on the cheap and it’s thought they’ve rejected Liverpool’s opening offer with the Express claiming they are holding out for at least £12m.

That would represent an excellent deal for a player of Clyne’s quality and potential, but the Mirror suggest that despite reports to the contrary, Manchester United remain in the race to sign the pacey full-back.

Louis van Gaal is also on the look out for another right-back as he clearly has no faith in Rafael and Antonio Valencia was forced to fill in last season, and Clyne may be tempted by a move to Old Trafford as United can offer Champions League football.

The pair also set to clash over the signing of Benfica attacker Nicolas Gaitan, with the Mirror claiming that both United and Liverpool are showing a keen interest in luring the Argentinean international to England this summer.

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Speculation from Portugal earlier this week suggested that United had already agreed a deal but those reports appear to have been wide of the mark. That doesn’t mean van Gaal isn’t interested though, but with a buy-out clause of £25m, United and Liverpool will have to dig deep if they want to sign the 27-year-old attacker.

It’s certainly gearing up to be an interesting summer and it looks as though Liverpool and United are set to battle-it-out over £37m worth of talent, so we’ll have to keep a close eye on how things develop over the coming weeks.