Today's Transfer Gossip

 

Liverpool in for Hernanes and Hernandez, Garay on Arsenal shortlist, Man United target £20m Coleman, Saints march in for Clasie and Gueye.

 REDS CLOSE ON INTER MIDFIELDER (not Kovacic!)
With Liverpool's swoop for Inter Milan star Mateo Kovacic still up in the air, the club are set to look elsewhere, according to the Daily Telegraph. Not too far, mind, as their next target will be Inter's own Hernanes.
'Reports in Italy' claim that the Reds will make a move for the playmaker after Geoffrey Kondogbia's transfer to the Italians, with the 30-year-old keen on guaranteeing more playing time. While obviously a huge talent, one doesn't see how Hernanes fits into the FSG philosophy, never mind in Brendan Rodgers' squad.
Elsewhere, the Reds have also been linked with a move for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez. In a link which is generated by the ever-reliable Tuttomercatoweb, Liverpool are reportedly eager to sign a striker to ease their goalscoring worries, with the Mexican one of many on their shortlist. Erm, no.

GUNNERS IN FOR GARAY
With Laurent Koscielny a mooted target for Real Madrid and Per Mertesacker's form deteriorating, Arsene Wenger would do well to look for a centre-back to bolster his options at Arsenal. According to the Daily Telegraph, their main target may arrive from Russia with love.
Ezequiel Garay, a defender regularly linked to these shores, has reportedly caught the attention of Arsenal, who will challenge Manchester United for his signature. The Zenit star wants to feature 'in a more high-profile league' in order to boost his chances of starting for the Argentina national team. Could Arsenal make a move?
Elsewhere, with the Gunners expected to seal the transfer of Petr Cech, the Sunday Express claims the club will move for another Chelsea player next. Belgian starlet Charly Musonda is a reported target, but an £8.5m valuation could - and should - put them off chasing the 18-year-old.

UNITED KEEN AS MUSTARD ON COLEMAN
Once a perennial transfer link, the rumour surrounding Manchester United's interest in Everton right-back Seamus Coleman appears to have resurfaced. A regular rumour under both Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, Louis van Gaal has caught the Coleman bug.
The claims come from The Sun, who say that the Dutchman is interested in the 26-year-old,who has a £20m price tag on his head. That right-back spot is a fairly problematic one for United, with Antonio Valencia surely not the long-term solution.
But, on a morning in which the Red Devils have also been linked with Edinson Cavani (Angel Di Maria swap deal), Morgan Schneiderlin (£25m) and Jasper Cillessen (£20m), one wonders whether van Gaal would have change left over for Coleman.

LIVERPOOL TARGET SWEDE RELIEF
Liverpool 'open transfer talks with CONTROVERSIAL international, he's already insulted a club star', is the snappy headline from the Metro. They claim that Brendan Rodgers won't be resting on his laurels despite an already incredibly busy summer, and he's now targeting another defender.
The man in question in FC Copenhagen's incredibly Swedish left-back Hans Carl Ludwig Augustinsson. The CONTROVERSIAL 21-year-old hit the headlines recently for calling England's Under-21s overrated (after they finished bottom of their group despite being tipped as European Championships contenders). Bloody mental CONTROVERSIALIST.
Anyway, the left-back is very highly-rated and a full Swedish international, no less. Alberto Moreno certainly needs competition outside of Jose Enrique after a difficult maiden Premier League campaign, and Hans Carl Ludwig might be the man. Having just joined Copenhagen in January from Goteborg, the Reds may find it difficult to tempt him into another move, however.

SAINTS EYE SCHNEIDERLIN REPLACEMENT(S)
As aforementioned, it appears Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is destined to finally seal his move from St Mary's this season. This leaves one question on the lips of Southampton fans: Can Ronald Koeman repeat his magic trick of last season?
Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw were all replaced with a huge profit last season as the Saints embarked on a firesale of their top players before bringing in unheralded stars from Europe. The Sunday Express believe Koeman has already earmarked Schneiderlin's replacement(s).
According to them, not only is there an interest in the beautiful Yohan Cabaye, but Koeman has two further midfielders on his shortlist. Feyenoord's ball-playing central midfielder Jordy Clasie, 24, is one, while 25-year-old Lille star Idrissa Gueye is the other. At £10m, Dutch international Clasie seems an excellent purchase, while Gueye, more in the mould of Victor Wanyama as a midfield destroyer, would also be an effective purchase. Pleeeeease sign Mr. Cabaye though, Ronald.

BEST OF THE REST
Phil Neville is being lined up for a coaching role at Spanish club Valencia...David Ospina is heading for Arsenal exit following the arrival of Petr Cech...Papiss Cisse is set for Turkish delight as Besiktas overtake Trabzonsor in the race for the Newcastle striker...Chelsea will loan three players to Monaco as part of a deal to sign Radamel Falcao...Mario Balotelli could spark a Liverpool firesale by joining Turkish side Trabzonspor...Eder will join Swansea in a £6m deal this week...Arsenal and Liverpool target Luiz Adriano is available for just £5.5m claims Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu.
Aston Villa are trying to beat Arsenal to the signature of Charlton midfielder Jordan Cousins...Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede is in the middle of an £8million tug-of-war between Watford and Norwich...Adnan Januzaj is still a target for Everton, despite boss Roberto Martinez already having a loan request for the Manchester United forward rejected...Newcastle have joined the battle to land Stewart Downing...West Ham's busy summer is set to continue with the capture of Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna...Liverpool have made a second offer for Real Madrid's Asier Illarramendi...Brad Guzan is heading for the Villa Park exit..Norwich are on the trail of £5million DR Congo striker Dieudonne Mbokani...Chelsea are considering whether to step into the race for Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.