Klopp exit talk ‘nonsense’ – Friday’s gossip

Speculation around Jurgen Klopp’s role with Red Bull is dismissed, Chelsea remain in pole position to land Murillo and Wolves‘ asking price for Mateus Mane is putting off Liverpool and Manchester United.

Reports that Jurgen Klopp will leave his role as head of global soccer at the Red Bull organisation are “complete nonsense and totally unfounded”, says CEO Oliver Mintzlaff. (Sky Sports Germany – in German)

Liverpool are firmly in the frame for Nottingham Forest‘s 23-year-old Brazil defender Murillo, although Chelsea still lead the pursuit. (Teamtalk)

Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic favours a switch to Barcelona when his Juventus contract ends this summer, although Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea remain in the hunt to sign the 26-year-old forward. (Teamtalk)

Arsenal and Manchester City are considering bids of £30m for Atalanta left-back Honest Ahanor. Chelsea are also interested in the 18-year-old Nigerian. (Caught Offside)

Liverpool and Manchester United will not pay Wolves‘ £50m asking price for 18-year-old England youth international Mateus Mane this summer as they consider the midfielder too raw. (Football Insider)

Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney is targeting silverware in Saudi Arabia with current club Al-Ahli, but the Englishman, 29, is not ruling out a return to the Premier League. (Talksport)

Forward Nicolas Jackson is set to return to Chelsea. The 24-year-old Senegal international moved to Bayern Munich on loan last summer, but the Bundesliga champions are not keen on a permanent switch. (CFBayernInsider)

Newcastle United are looking at Brighton‘s Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and Manchester City‘s English stopper James Trafford, both 23, as they target finding a long-term successor for England international Nick Pope, 33. (The i Newspaper – subscription required)

Newcastle United are also watching Union Saint-Gilloise winger Anan Khalaili. The 21-year-old Israel international has scored three times in the Champions League this season. (Mail+ – subscription required)

Liverpool‘s 19-year-old winger Trent Kone-Doherty, from Northern Ireland, might soon leave to join Norwegian club Molde despite being offered a new contract at Anfield. (Football Insider)