Transfer gossip round-up: Liverpool watch £51.5m-rated Smit - Saturday's gossip

The latest BBC gossip digest has set the rumor mill spinning, with a handful of clubs circling a mix of seasoned internationals and prodigious teens.

Liverpool’s scouting net is wide open after AZ Alkmaar’s Europa League clash with Sunderland, where the 20‑year‑old Dutch midfielder Kees Smit caught the eye of the Reds, according to Teamtalk. The Merseyside side isn’t alone; Chelsea, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are also said to be keeping tabs on the £51.5m‑rated youngster. Across the north‑west, Manchester City and Liverpool are both linked with Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha, a 25‑year‑old whose current club Borussia Dortmund is reportedly expecting an €80‑90m price tag, as reported by Fussball News.

In the Premier League, Manchester United are monitoring the form of Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, according to Football Insider. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s interest is focused on two very different targets: the 19‑year‑old Brazilian defender Arthur Dias of Athletico Paranaense, who is said to be leading the race for the London club while Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Brentford also monitor the defender, reported by Teamtalk; and the free‑agent Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, who could join Spurs but won’t be registerable until January, as noted by the Express.

Monaco’s transfer agenda is busy on both ends. Standard reports that the Principality have confirmed plans to offload United States striker Folarin Balogun in January after the 25‑year‑old reversed his decision on an Everton move on deadline day. At the same time, the same outlet says the club has admitted a deal for 22‑year‑old Senegalese midfielder Lamine Camara could materialise in January, with Liverpool and Chelsea among the interested parties.

Youth continues to dominate the conversation. Real Madrid are said to be preparing an all‑out push for 17‑year‑old Moroccan midfield talent Abdellah Ouazane of Ajax, as per Fichajes. In England, Arsenal, Brighton and Aston Villa are monitoring 17‑year‑old Austrian midfielder Luca Weinhandl of Sturm Graz, valued at £20m, according to Teamtalk. Chelsea have also entered the chase for The Gambia’s 15‑year‑old youth international Adama Jeng from Tromso IL, reported by Football Insider.

A separate thread follows English defender Josh Acheampong, 20, whose situation at Chelsea is being watched by several European clubs, as noted by AS. Finally, Newcastle United are set to revive interest in 22‑year‑old Norwegian midfielder Bo Hegland of Djurgarden after he turned down a summer move, according to Football Insider.

All told, the market is buzzing with a blend of seasoned midfielders, defensive prospects and teenage sensations, each club weighing options as the transfer window looms.