Liverpool will face no competition from Manchester United in their bid to sign Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne. Liverpool are in the market for a right-back after they decided to release Glen Johnson.

– FIFA’s imperfect man Sepp Blatter re-elected as president
– EPL season review: Chelsea stroll to success as challengers falter
– Simon to Aboagye: Six players to watch at the U20 Football World Cup

Atletico Madrid defender Javier Manquillo, who is half way through a two-year loan spell at Anfield, has found it hard to break into the Reds first-team this season and Jon Flanagan is out for another nine months because of a knee injury.

Given that Clyne has one year left on his contract, the Merseyside club are hopeful of luring the 24-year-old to Anfield, but a £10million (Dh56m) bid has reportedly been rejected.

United are aware of Clyne’s contract situation and scouted the defender earlier this season, it is understood they are no longer interested in the England international. That leaves Liverpool as the front-runners for Clyne’s signature and they are said to be contemplating a second bid for the full-back.

A fortnight ago, Southampton sounded optimistic about their chances of persuading Clyne to extend his contract.

Director of football Les Reed said discussions with the Londoner had been “very, very positive” after the player changed his agent. Clyne has been a regular in the Saints first team since he moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Crystal Palace three years ago.

Clyne enjoyed his finest campaign at the south-coast club last season and earned his first England cap against Slovenia last November. He has since played three more times for Roy Hodgson’s side and has been included in the England squad for the upcoming doubleheader against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia next month.

Clyne joined the Saints from Crystal Palace in July 2012 and is under contract until the summer of 2016. Liverpool took trio Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert from Southampton last summer.

 

AFC Bournemouth sign Christian Atsu on loan

Bournemouth have signed Christian Atsu on a season-long loan from Chelsea as they step up their Premier League preparations.

The 23-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Porto in 2013 and has been loaned to Vitesse Arnhem and, most recently, Everton.

A deal has now been struck that will see Atsu continue his development at the Goldsands Stadium next season, subject to Premier League approval.

Atsu will be ineligible to face parent club Chelsea next term but Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe believes they have pulled off quite the coup.

He said: “I think he is a player, although he is a younger player, he is a player with outstanding experience when you look at the career he has had.”

 

Kevin Wimmer joins Pochettino’s Spurs

Tottenham started their summer recruitment drive with the £4million (Dh22m) signing of Austria centre-back Kevin Wimmer from Cologne.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has highlighted defence as one of the areas where his team needs to improve next season and he has moved quickly to sign 22-year-old Wimmer on a five-year deal.

Despite qualifying for the Europa League, Spurs had the joint-fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding 53 goals in 38 matches.

Wimmer is looking forward to the challenge of breaking into Tottenham’s first team. He said: “Tottenham is a huge chance for me. Nonetheless, it won’t be easy saying goodbye to Cologne.”