Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly interested in signing former Liverpool defender Joel Matip.
The 32-year-old is now a free agent after leaving Anfield at the conclusion of his contract following the final fixture of the 2023-24 campaign.
Matip spent eight trophy-laden years on Merseyside under the expert tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, scoring 11 goals across 201 competitive appearances for the club.
The Cameroonian's final season with the Reds was decimated by a cruciate ligament injury suffered in early December, keeping him sidelined for the entirety of 2024.
As well as helping Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League glory, Matip also lifted the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup as part of Klopp's side.
According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, the centre-back could be given a chance to impress at the current Bundesliga holders next season.
The report claims that Bayer Leverkusen are keen on the signing of free agent Matip, who could return to Germany after previously playing for Schalke 04 between 2008 to 2016.
It is understood that the veteran is a top target should Xabi Alonso's side lose a key defender, namely Jonathan Tah, before the end of the summer window.
There have supposedly been talks between Matip and Leverkusen, although both parties have not reached an agreement yet and the centre-back is said to have offers from elsewhere.
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Newcastle moving towards Osula capture?
Moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of a highly-rated youngster ahead of the new season.
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Sheffield United striker Will Osula arrived in the North-East on Monday morning in order to complete a medical.
It is believed that the Magpies and the Blades have agreed an initial fee of £10m for the 21-year-old, with £5m potentially coming the way of the Yorkshire club in performance-related add-ons.
Despite his undoubted potential, Osula did not make a serious impact on the Premier League last season, failing to find the net in 21 top-flight appearances.
Admittedly, only nine of those appearances came right from the start of matches, with the Denmark Under-21 international falling behind the likes of Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton Diaz in the forward pecking order.
Under a mixture of Paul Heckingbottom and Chris Wilder, the Blades endured a troublesome Premier League season, finishing rock bottom and suffering an immediate relegation back to the Championship.
With the arrival of Kieffer Moore at Bramall Lane this summer, it is questionable whether Osula would be guaranteed regular game time for Wilder's men, so a move to Newcastle could suit all parties.
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Hull 'plotting' Mannone return
Finally, there is understood to be an unlikely reunion brewing in the Championship, where Hull City are plotting a swoop for Lille goalkeeper Vito Mannone, as per The Sun.
The 36-year-old made 31 appearances for the Tigers across two loan spells between 2010 and 2012, when the Humberside club were striving for promotion to the Premier League.
Mannone was largely a bystander for Les Dogues during the 2023-24 campaign, only making six competitive starts, with three of those arriving in the Europa Conference League.
The ex-Arsenal stopper joined Lille from fellow French outfit Lorient last summer and has 12 months left on his contract at Decathlon Arena.
Although there is genuine interest for Mannone from Hull, the two clubs are not said to be close to agreeing a suitable fee at this stage.
Tigers boss Tim Walter has admitted that his squad requires reinforcements ahead of the new Championship term, with Hull losing keepers Matt Ingram and Ryan Allsopp to Oxford United and Birmingham City respectively earlier in the summer.
Carter White
