EPL Transfer News: World-class Barcelona defender could join Liverpool, Manchester United can sign Real Madrid star on loan and more – April 22, 2019

Hello and welcome to the Premier League transfer news and rumours of the day! Here are the top stories of the day surrounding the Premiership!

Gary Neville on Pogba

Former Manchester United superstar Gary Neville has claimed that Paul Pogba has what it takes to succeed at Manchester United. However, he did add that the Frenchman needs to decide whether he wants be the main man at the Old Trafford amid rumours linking him to Real Madrid.

The Frenchman has been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid ever since Zinedine Zidane took over the club but Neville thinks that the Red Devils could build a team around him, De Gea and Marcus Rashford.

“Pogba has got the capability to carry Manchester United through this wilderness and I agree you can build a team around him, Rashford and De Gea. What Pogba has to decide and give the club clarity on is whether he wants to be that player who will get Manchester United back to the very top again. He has got the capability, he has got the ability to do it," he said.

While Neville thinks that the Frenchman is a class player, he did admit that he needs to give the club some clarity with regards to his future. Neville believes that his agent Mino Raiola might be influencing Pogba to leave the Theatre of Dreams.

The former Red Devils right-back also added that the former Juventus player look distracted at the Old Trafford.

“I do believe he can play on the world stage, I don't think he played particularly well in Barcelona or against Paris Saint-Germain in the first game to be honest with you, but he looks distracted a little bit. His agent's always going on at him about getting away, the rumours about Real Madrid and Barcelona are there, they are real, he needs to give the club clarity. “

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Benitez speaks on quality signings

Newcastle United v Southampton FC - Premier League

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez believes that balance is the most important part when looking to sign quality players. The Magpies are currently 13th on the table and the former Real Madrid manager is of the opinion that while the club have to be realistic about targets, the new players must bring balance to the side.

He also stated that the goal of the Toons should be competing against the mid-table clubs rather than just looking to avoid relegation every season.

“What does quality mean? Balance is the key, and you have to be sensible with that balance. You have to be realistic, but we have to find this balance.”

“We have to compete with the teams that are between seventh and 10th, not think ‘can we finish seventh or can we finish 17th?’. I think that’s a big difference,” he said.

Giroud could be signed for Nice

Chelsea v Slavia Praha - UEFA Europa League Quarter Final: Second Leg

France striker Olivier Giroud could be signed by Nice according to the president of the club, Gauthier Ganaye. The Frenchman is in good form in the Europa League as he has scored 10 goals in just 11 games for Chelsea in the European competition so far this season.

Even then, however, he has seen chances limited in the Premier League with Gonzalo Higuain chosen over him. As a result, the former Arsenal star isn’t happy one bit about it and has made that crystal clear in his recent interviews.

And according to Ganaye, Nice could put him out his misery by signing him as he has claimed that it is possible to sign him even though his salary is on the higher end of the spectrum.

"He is at the end of his contract, he still performs well at his age," Ganaye said.

"Come on, let's tell you it's possible. His salary? Yeah, it's really expensive."

Bale could join Manchester United loan and Pogba could leave

Real Madrid CF v Athletic Club - La Liga

Things aren’t going well for both Gareth Bale and Manchester United. The latter have lost 6 of their last 8 games and the former hasn’t been on Zinedine Zidane’s first-team plans as much as he would have liked to be.

As a result, reports from Marca claim that the Galacticos want to sell him. However, the lack of buyers for him means the Merengues are willing to let him go on loan with an option to purchase.

United are one of the teams that had been interested in him in the past but will have to pay his gigantic €17 million-a-year salary.

Meanwhile, according to French journalist Frederic Calenge, Real Madrid are in an advance stage of negotiation to sign Paul Pogba from Manchester United for a fee of about €150 million.

Things are heating up.

Story of the day

FC Barcelona v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Second Leg

When we come to this section, you know that there is going to be at least one of the big two of La Liga stealing the headlines. Today is, once again, no different as a Barcelona star has been linked to Liverpool.

No, it is not Philippe Coutinho, who left Liverpool to join the Catalans in 2018 January. According to reports, Barcelona might be keen on selling Nelson Semedo to Liverpool as they see Moussa Wague, a B team player, as the perfect backup for Sergi Roberto at right-back.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have only one proper right-back in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold and might be keen on buying him as they have the first option to sign the Portuguese full-back.

So, it would makes sense for Jurgen Klopp and the Reds to bring in the Barcelona man.