Man City prepares enormous Pep Guardiola offers as Tottenham takes the lead in Liverpool’s ‘transfer target’

Pep Guardiola reportedly met with Man City’s owner, and Tottenham is said to have made the opening move in a transfer race with Liverpool.

Euro 2024 is now fully underway, with international football taking centre stage over the next month. However, Liverpool and its opponents are hard at work behind the scenes in preparation for the new season.

Arne Slot and Richard Hughes are now officially at Anfield, and they will work hard to add to the group that is already in place as they attempt to build on Jurgen Klopp’s success.

Of course, Manchester City is always a challenge for the Reds, and there are reports that they may extend Pep Guardiola’s time at the club. Furthermore, another opponent appears to have made the initial approach for a player connected with a transfer to Anfield.

Liverpool.com looks around the Premier League and across the globe to discover what’s going on with Liverpool’s competitors.

Manchester City is preparing a hefty offer for Pep Guardiola.

According to The Mirror, Manchester City is planning to offer Pep Guardiola a significant rise on his current $25 million per year (£20 million/€24 million) contract in order to keep him at the club. The former Barcelona manager has just one year left on his contract with the Premier League champions.

City owner Sheikh Mansour is said to have invited Guardiola to his home for a meeting this week. The club is understood to be determined to do all possible to persuade the 53-year-old to stay, despite City’s 115 Premier League charges.

Liverpool.com says: It’s good to see City aren’t allowing those pesky charges prevent them from spending more money. To quote Homer Simpson: “Oh, by the way, I was being sarcastic.”

Guardiola getting a new contract with City would not be good news for Liverpool or the rest of the Premier League. He’s already spent more time at the club than he did as manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich combined, so you’d expect him to be considering his next move. Fingers crossed that is the case.

Spurs make first move for Takefusa Kubo.

Tottenham have made an offer for Japan international Takefusa Kubo, according to Spanish site Mundo Deportivo. The Real Sociedad winger has also been linked with Liverpool, but their Premier League rivals may have gotten ahead of them.

Spurs’ offer is thought to be less than Kubo’s $63 million (£50 million/€59 million) release clause, indicating that the hunt for his signature is still ongoing. Manchester United is also believed to be interested in the 23-year-old.

Liverpool.com says: It will be intriguing to watch if Liverpool sign a new forward this summer. With Mohamed Salah’s future uncertain and Luis Diaz linked with a move away, the Reds may need to devise a strategy soon, and Kubo might be in the mix, especially with that release clause.