Match reports, Transfer news & more

Liverpool are increasingly optimistic about signing Shakhtar Donetsk's £22m-rated midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan while uncertainty continues over the futures of Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll.

Brendan Rodgers has made the Armenian international a prime target as he seeks to inject "an extra 20 goals" into his team next season, having already agreed a £7.6m deal for the Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas.

Shakhtar's chief executive, Sergey Palkin, said last weekend that there had been no official contact with Liverpool about Mkhitaryan, 24, who scored a record 25 goals in the Ukrainian premier league last season, but an approach is believed to have been made and Anfield officials are hopeful about concluding the signing.

Liverpool's extensive summer recruitment programme is increasingly likely to include a cut-price transfer for Porto's Ghanaian international Christian Atsu after a significant breakthrough in negotiations.

The two clubs are in advanced talks and Liverpool are moving in on a deal that would see the 21-year-old winger sign for as little as £3m, on the basis that his contract expires next summer and he has already made it clear that he will not be signing another one.

Liverpool expect to have wrapped up a deal within 48 hours to sign the 20-year-old Spanish winger Luis Alberto from Seville for around £6m.

The La Liga side's sporting director, Ramon Verdejo, said that an initial Liverpool offer was "very good" but not substantial enough, though manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that a deal will be done and that the player will be in Britain by the end of the week.

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of England international Andy Carroll from Liverpool.

Carroll joins the Hammers on a six-year contract, with an option for a further two in the Club's favour, for an undisclosed, Club record fee after enjoying an outstanding 2012/13 season on loan at the Boleyn Ground.

On the rumours linking him with Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, Suarez said: "It's good to know that I am still valued by teams like Arsenal. Friends call me up to ask if I am moving to Chelsea, to which I laugh.

"Don't believe everything you read or hear! I am sometimes off the grid. I don't even know where my phone is sometimes."

Aly Cissokho has welcomed talk of a move to Liverpool, following reports Brendan Rodgers may be keen to lure him away from Valencia.

The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a switch to Anfield during his time at Lyon, but a move to Spain in 2012 meant the move never materialised.

However, with Valencia facing financial difficulties, Cissokho may find himself back on the move once again, and the French full-back has revealed his delight at the renewed link with Liverpool.

He said: ‘I will not believe that I am going anywhere until I am in Liverpool and having a medical.

‘Liverpool is such a great club, so to be linked with them is fantastic. But there is nothing concrete from anyone at the moment.

‘If there is an opportunity to join such a club, I will take it. Valencia are a great club, in a great city, but Liverpool are a legendary club.’

Reported Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur target Christian Eriksen is still in contact with 'certain clubs', according to the Ajax star's agent.

The Denmark attacker, whose contract expires next summer, has been linked with a £15million move to several of Europe's biggest clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.

And Eriksen's representative, Martin Schoots, claims there is ongoing dialogue with several parties who could be interested in signing the 21-year-old.

"We are still keeping in touch with certain clubs." Schoots told Sporten.dk.

"That will always be the case with a player like Christian. At this point, it is hard to tell if it will end up with a transfer."

But Eriksen will apparently not walk out on Ajax for free in 2014 and so will be happy to sign a new contract with the Dutch giants if he does not move before then.

"He wants Ajax to get money for him and therefore he will extend his contract, in case he does not succeed in finding a new club," said Schoots.

Meanwhile, Ajax have signed 16-year-old Markus Bay from Brondby.

Luis Suarez says he has "two or three options" in relation to his future.
The Liverpool striker, 26, wants to leave the club and has been linked with a number of sides, including Arsenal, who had a £30m bid rejected on Monday.
Suarez is due to be back at Anfield for pre-season training on 21 July but says things can change quickly.

Sky Sports understands Liverpool youngster Suso is poised to join Almeria on a season-long loan deal.

The teenage Spaniard is still to make his mark at Anfield after arriving from Cadiz in July 2010, making just 20 appearances, although he signed a new long-term deal in October last year.

Now Brendan Rodgers has decided that the midfielder's future would be better served by spending the coming campaign with the newly-promoted La Liga outfit.

With Suso yet to make an impact on the Liverpool first-team, Rodgers will hope his stint back in his homeland will see him feature on a more regular basis.

New Almeria boss Francisco Rodriguez, who was recently named as Javi Gracia's replacement, will be keen for the 19-year-old to help his side remain in the Primera Division following their promotion via the play-offs.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed he is in 'constant communication' with star striker Luis Suarez and remains hopeful he will remain at Anfield.

Suarez has been strongly linked with a move away from Merseyside this summer after repeatedly citing his unhappiness at his treatment by the press and the FA in England.

The Uruguay international admitted he would be tempted by a move to Real Madrid, but Liverpool have always insisted he is not for sale and that they expect him to honour his contract, which runs until the summer of 2016.

There were reports that Arsenal had seen a bid turned down by their Premier League rivals, while Chelsea are the latest team to be linked with Suarez, but Rodgers insists the situation over the controversial forward's future has not changed.


The Reds boss told talkSPORT: "We communicate in some way nearly every day either through text or conversations. Over the course of the last few months and towards the end of the season there has been a lot of speculation with Luis, but the fact is it remains the same.