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Transfer Rumours: Paul Pogba to Al-Ittihad, Nat Phillips to Leeds, Callum Doyle to Leicester

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 July 2023, 09:42
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is the latest high-profile name being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia, according to a report.

The 30-year-old returned to the Serie A club on a free transfer from Manchester United last summer, but troublesome knee and muscle injuries forced him to miss the majority of last season, featuring just 10 times in all competitions.

Pogba still has three years remaining on his Juve contract, but Sky Sports Italia claims that the Frenchman could leave the club this summer after receiving a three-year contract offer from Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad worth €100m (£85.6m).

The report details how Pogba visited the sports facilities of Al-Ittihad during a recent trip to Saudi Arabia before returning to Turin on Monday.

Al-Ittihad have already signed two of Pogba's French compatriots this summer in the form of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante on free transfers, while they have also forked out £25m to sign Portuguese winger Jota from Celtic.

Over in England, Championship club Leeds United are interested in signing Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, according to a report.

The 26-year-old made just four first-team appearances for the Reds in all competitions last season and he is deemed surplus to requirements under manager Jurgen Klopp.

According to The Sun, Leeds are looking to recruit Phillips on loan this summer, but Liverpool would prefer a sale.

The Whites, now managed by Daniel Farke, are in the market for defensive reinforcements after allowing centre-backs Diego Llorente and Robin Koch to join Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively on loan.

Phillips has previously experienced two spells away from Liverpool on loan, spending the 2019-20 season in Germany with Stuttgart before joining Bournemouth in January 2022.

Staying in the Championship, Leicester City are reportedly closing in on the loan signing of Manchester City defender Callum Doyle.

The 19-year-old, who is yet to make his senior debut for the Citizens, enjoyed a successful season-long spell with Coventry City last season, making 44 league appearances including a start in the Championship playoff final defeat to Luton Town.

The Daily Mail reports that Leicester are set to complete the signing of Doyle on a temporary basis, but there will be no option to buy included in the deal as Man City still rate the teenager highly.

Newly-appointed Foxes head coach Enzo Maresca is familiar with a plethora of Man City players in the first team and academy having previously served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad Stadium.

Doyle, an England Under-20 international, is set to become Leicester's third signing of the summer after Conor Coady and Harry Winks, who have moved to the King Power Stadium on permanent deals from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Meanwhile, Manchester United left-back Alex Telles has ruled out a summer transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica.

The 30-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Europa League winners Sevilla, is expected to depart Old Trafford on a permanent basis this summer having fallen behind Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia in the pecking order.

Telles has been linked with a number of European teams including Benfica, but he has insisted that a summer move to the Primeira Liga champions is not on the cards as it would damage the "legacy" he built with former club Porto, where he spent four years between 2016 and 2020 before joining Man United.

Speaking on the Denilson Show, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Telles said: "I have an opinion about this. Going back to that subject I told you about leaving a legacy at the club.

"When you play for a club and leave a legacy, leave a good image, fought so hard to play and leave a good image... I, Alex, would not play for the rival, for example. Because, for example, I made history at Porto, everyone likes me there. There's no way to play for Benfica, you know?"

Before temporarily joining Sevilla last year, Telles made 50 appearances for Man United in all competitions, scoring once and providing eight assists.

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