Euro Paper Talk: Italian pair close on swoop for £20m Liverpool flop; Barcelona use Man United target as bait

A Serie A duo are lining up a January move to land a Liverpool flop, Barcelona are eyeing up a move for a Juve star, and will use a Man Utd target as bait, according to Friday’s evening European papers.

ITALIAN PAIR CLOSE IN ON SWOOP FOR LIVERPOOL FLOP

Genoa and Fiorentina will battle it out for Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic once the January transfer window opens.

Markovic – who is massively out of favour at Anfield – failed in his attempts to secure a move to either Anderlecht or Olympiacos during the closing stages of the summer window, but looks almost certain to be entering the final stage of his Reds career.

Calciomercato claim the 24-year-old’s ongoing situation could lead to Genoa and Fiorentina making a move to try and get the player on the cheap.

Markovic is out of contract at the end of the season, and Liverpool may be open to the idea of allowing the attacker to leave on a free in order to relieve some strain on their wage budget.

Liverpool have loaned Markovic to Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, Hull City and Anderlecht since the start of the 2015-16, but his time at the Reds looks to be nearing its end.

BARCELONA USE MAN UTD TARGET AS BAIT TO LAND DEFENDER

Barcelona could be set to offer key midfielder Ivan Rakitic to Juventus, with the idea of tempting the Old Lady into a swap deal for defender Joao Cancelo, a player seen as someone who could aid the club’s problems at right back.

The report comes from Spanish news outlet Don Balon, who state that Rakitic – who has a €125m release clause in his Barca deal – may end up leaving the La Liga club in the summer in order for Cancelo to make his way to Camp Nou.

Don Balon claim Cancelo is seen as someone who could fill the right back spot for years to come, and is very well liked by Barca’s chiefs.

Barcelona are not the only club keen on Cancelo, as it was revealed on Friday that Jose Mourinho had asked his Man Utd superiors to make a move for the defender.

As per that report, Juve are reluctant to sell, but Barca’s offer of a world class midfielder may go a long way to the duo agreeing some form of deal.

UNITED WANT ALEXIS OUT AND COLOMBIAN BROUGHT IN

Jose Mourinho has reportedly settled on the man he wants to replace Alexis Sanchez at Manchester United.

The Chilean forward has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since signing from Arsenal last January and it’s reported he will be sold to PSG either in January or, more likely, at the end of the season.

And reports in Italy claim the United manager has targeted a move for James Rodriguez as the man he wants to replace Sanchez in the United side.

The Colombian star has long been linked with United and has recaptured his best form since moving to Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid. Bayern are desperate to make the move permanent at the end of the season – but it seems his agent may have other plans for his client.

And according to Tuttosport, Mourinho has contacted Jorge Mendes – who conveniently represents both the United boss and the Colombian playmaker – to try and secure Rodriguez’s summer move to Old Trafford.