Liverpool plot £59m Manchester United hijack as transfer discount emerges

Liverpool are yet to complete their first signing of the summer, but that is not stopping the rumour mill from being in full swing.

Arne Slot has been hard at work in his first weeks as the Reds' new head coach as he prepares for his first season in the Premier League. Slot has taken charge of pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre and will be busy assessing his squad over the next few weeks.

Several players have been credited as potential transfer targets for Liverpool this summer. It remains to be seen which players are genuine targets for the Reds, with Lille centre-back Leny Yoro and Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon the two players who have been heavily linked with moves to Anfield.

The ECHO has taken a look at some of the latest Liverpool transfer rumours that have been doing the rounds online and across social media.

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According to reports, Liverpool are interested in signing Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer ahead of Manchester United, who are also targeting the player. It has been reported by Tutto Juve that the Reds are among a host of Premier League clubs that are weighing up making a move to sign Bremer.

The article claims that Liverpool are joined by United and Chelsea in showing an interest in signing Bremer. Bayern Munich have also been mentioned in the report as considering a move for the Brazilian defender.

Juventus will reportedly demand a fee of €70 million (£60 million) to part ways with Bremer this summer. The centre-back is reported to have a release clause in his contract worth between €60 million (£51 million) and €70m (£60 million) which only becomes active next summer.

Elsewhere, Liverpool have been handed a boost in their reported pursuit of Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. The Reds have been credited with an interest in signing the Portugal international in recent weeks, with United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also said to be interested.

According to Jornal de Noticias, Benfica have lowered their asking price for Neves this summer. The midfielder is reported to have a €120 million (£102 million) release clause in his contract with the Primeira Liga club.

The report states that Benfica would now be willing to accept a bid worth €100 million (£85 million) this summer. This would be £17 million less that Liverpool would need to pay than the release clause, were the Anfield club to have a genuine interest in completing a deal.