Liverpool, Arsenal in £40 million stoush for Stoke City’s Jack Butland

Liverpool and Arsenal eye £40m Butland
Liverpool hope to solve their goalkeeping problem once and for all by signing Stoke City's Jack Butland for £40 million, reports the Sun.

The Reds will be joined by Arsenal in the race to sign the England international, with the Gunners also experiencing consistency issues with Petr Cech this season.

Jurgen Klopp has chopped and changed between Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius, but an approach for Butland would signal their intent to install a clear No. 1.

Butland has suffered injury problems throughout his career, but the Stoke custodian is now fully fit and aiming to claim the starting role for the Three Lions at the World Cup this summer.

Courtois edges ahead of De Gea as Real's first choice
Staying with goalkeepers potentially on the move, Real Madrid appear to have given up on signing Spain and Man United No. 1 David De Gea, with the Independent reporting that Florentino Perez is ready to turn his attention to Thibaut Courtois.

Los Blancos have been searching for an upgrade on Keylor Navas and Courtois' contract, which expires in 2019 — as well as the Belgian's children living in the Spanish capital — make the Chelsea star a more realistic target.

He won't come cheap, though, with Perez acknowledging he will need to pay £100m for a top quality goalkeeper in today's market.

Liverpool turn attention to Bailey
Liverpool have switched targets this summer as they bid to spend big on an attacking player to replace Philippe Coutinho, with the Mirror reporting that the Reds will now push for Leon Bailey over Thomas Lemar.

Klopp had looked set to push for the Monaco star alongside Arsenal, but that interest was dropped this week, with the Bayer Leverkusen forward now seen as Liverpool's priority.

There will be no shortage of competition to sign the 20-year-old Jamaican, having taken the Bundesliga by storm, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all reported to have made regularly scouting trips.

Bailey will not come any cheaper than Lemar, though, with a similar price tag touted by the German club, who expect around £100m to part with their talent.

City agree £50m fee for Fred
Manchester City are on their way to the Premier League title, but the Blues already are making moves to boost a potential title defence with the arrival of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred.

City now have a £50m fee agreed with the Ukrainians, according to the Mirror, with the Brazilian likely to provide another outstanding option for Pep Guardiola.

Whether it is to deputise for Fernandinho or provide an additional presence alongside his compatriot, Fred is yet another sign of City looking to build a dynasty.

With Ilkay Gundogan shaky in midfield against Leicester, despite the victory, City are clearly addressing a lack of depth at the heart of their side.

Tap-ins
– Everton are prepared to ditch Michael Keane a year after spending £30m on the English centre-back, claims the Mirror.

Sam Allardyce is far from convinced by the former Burnley star, with the Clarets monitoring the situation and ready to take the 25-year-old back to Turf Moor, but only for a significantly lower fee.

– Liverpool are targeting Deportivo La Coruna forward Pinchi this summer, claims the Sun.

The Reds can sign the 22-year-old on a free transfer, due to his contract expiring, though Manchester United and Tottenham also are monitoring the player.

– Napoli are searching for an emergency left-back on the free agent market after Faouzi Ghoulam's season-ending injury, reports Gianluca Di Marzio.

Guilherme Siqueira, Djamel Mesbah, Hrvoje Milic, Benoit Tremoulinas, Kieran Richardson and Michelangelo Albertazzi are all being considered by the scudetto-chasing Azzurri.

Source: www.espnfc.com