Transfer Tavern Talk: Pep's Snub, Jones to Italy, and a £75m Midfield Brawl

Picture this: you're at the pub, pint in hand, and the lads are buzzing about the latest transfer whispers. Pep Guardiola has cheekily shut down any notion of dishing out tips to his old mate Mikel Arteta. "No advice for you, Mikel," Pep basically said, ahead of their title scrap. Fair play, keeps it spicy between City and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Gab Marcotti is fuming over Manchester City's 115 financial charges still hanging like a bad hangover—no verdict in sight. Absurd, he calls it. But enough moaning; let's crack on with the juicy stuff.

Premier League Ping-Pong: Midfielders on the Menu

Liverpool's Curtis Jones is stirring up Serie A dreams. The 25-year-old England man, with a year left on his Anfield deal, has Inter Milan circling again, per Corriere dello Sport. They sniffed around in January alongside AC Milan, but now with a bargain fee beckoning, the Nerazzurri might pounce. They're even eyeing Giovanni Leoni on loan. Jones off? That'd be a curveball for the Reds.

Over at Nottingham Forest, Elliot Anderson is the golden boy. The 23-year-old England international has Man City and Man Utd locked in a summer tug-of-war, says the Daily Mirror. Valued at £75 million, his price could skyrocket in a bidding frenzy. If Forest tumble into the Championship, they'll have to cash in—no two ways about it. Imagine the Trentside tears.

Man Utd aren't stopping there. They're smitten with Benfica's Swedish left-back Samuel Dahl, as Record reports. Scouts have clocked him 10+ times, raving about the 23-year-old's 46 appearances this term—two goals, two assists, even Champions League nods before Real Madrid dashed Benfica's hopes. United need squad surgery: two central mids, a left winger, left-back, centre-half, maybe more. Dahl could slot right in.

Aston Villa are eyeing Man City's backup keeper James Trafford. The 23-year-old has warmed the bench behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, with just 11 outings. Newcastle sniffed before; now Villa join the queue.

And Tino Livramento? The Newcastle right-back might fancy a Man City move, per the Telegraph. Unwilling to extend beyond 2028, he's open to top clubs. Even a new deal would pack a release clause. Magpies holding breath.

La Liga Lures and Italian Ambitions

Barcelona are cock-a-hoop about turning Marcus Rashford's loan from Man Utd permanent. Fabrizio Romano confirms personal terms are nearly sealed, but Utd want the full €30 million. Rashford's bagged four goals and seven assists in 21 La Liga games. Dream move or Catalan cash grab?

Juventus fancy Liverpool's Alisson Becker, but only if they snag Champions League footie, says Football Insider. Finance woes could scupper it.

Omar Marmoush, City's forward, dreams of Barca too, whispers Ekrem Konur. And Jesse Lingard? His Corinthians switch is paperwork done—off to Brazil he goes.

Quick Fire Odds and Ends

• Chelsea won't flog Cole Palmer for funds.

• Bayern love Tottenham loanee Luka Vuskovic at Hamburg.

• Arsenal get a nudge in for Julián Alvarez—Barca's Deco says no chats.

• Gunners scouting Cagliari's Marco Palestra.

• Emil Krafth eyes free exit from Newcastle.

• Norwich's Kellen Fisher on Prem radars: Everton, Arsenal, Utd, Newcastle.

Blimey, summer's shaping up mental. Who's your pick to splash the cash? Cheers to the chaos.