Liverpool are watching Roberto Firmino, Carlos Bacca and Salomon Rondon at the Copa America with a view to bolstering their attacking options this summer.

A collection of scouts are in South America for Brendan Rodgers keeping tabs on the trio.

KIERAN GILL: Whichever club lose next season’s Champions League final, you had better prepare yourself for Mario Mandzukic immediately after.

The 29-year-old striker has a knack for joining clubs immediately after they have lost in the final of Europe’s most elite competition, having signed for Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

Bayern lost the final in 2012, then signed Mandzukic a month later. Atletico lost it in 2014, then signed him two months later. Juventus lost the final three weeks ago, and signed him on Monday.

READ SPORTSMAIL’S PIECE ON THE CURSE THAT IS MANDZUKIC 

SIMON JONES: Stoke are keen to take Victor Moses as part of any deal for Asmir Begovic.

Petr Cech’s departure to Arsenal has accelerated Chelsea’s need for a goalkeeper. 

They want Begovic, who is valued at £10million, but he only has one year left on his contract.

SIMON JONES: Liverpool have earmarked Brazil international Roberto Firmino of Hoffenheim regardless of Raheem Sterling’s but would still need to sell Fabio Borini, Sebastian Coates and more to supplement the budget.

A deal for Nathaniel Clyne should also go through for around £15m eventually.

Liverpool remain keen on signing one of either Jose Salomon Rondon of Zenit, Villa’s Christian Benteke or Carlos Bacca of Sevilla.

PETE JENSON: Sergio Ramos will not have any arguments from his family if he decides to leave Real Madrid for Old Trafford this summer – because his father is a Manchester United fan.  

Before a Champions League meeting between the two sides in 2013, Ramos revealed his father’s love for English football.

He told the Sunday Times: ‘My dad used to watch a lot of football and he would say to me when I was a kid: “So and so is playing today. You have to watch this player or that player”.’

SIMON JONES: Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is seeking talks with Mino Raiola over the possible transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus.

Laporta is a popular choice who delivered Roanldinho for the club ahead of Manchester United when he was last elected in 2003. 

He plans to have former Barca and France left back Eric Abidal as his technical director if he is elected and says the club will go back to having a charity on their jersey if he wins.

SIMON JONES: Liverpool anticipate a third bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling.

An offer totalling close to £50million will likely be enough to trigger a deal for the England international.

Liverpool will still have to pay a 20 percent sell-on to QPR so will want as much of the fee up front as possible.

SIMON JONES: Arsenal are once again considering a move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they weigh up strikers for next season.

Manager Arsene Wenger wants someone who can guarantee them 20 goals or more.

His scouts have been evaluating the top forwards who could be available but they have faced constrictions of price and location.

KIERAN GILL: Bertrand Traore could feature in Chelsea’s first-team squad next season after the Burkina Faso striker was granted a work permit.

The 19-year-old winger-turned-striker officially signed for Chelsea in January 2014 but spent last season on loan at Dutch club Vitesse, having not qualified for a permit under Football Association guidelines. 

It is understood Traore will become Chelsea’s fourth-choice forward behind Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao, whose signing is expected to be completed within the next fortnight.

Ilkay Gundogan’s agent has admitted that staying at Borussia Dortmund is an option for the Germany international but refused to rule out a move to Bayern Munich this summer.

‘With Bayern Munich we never talked about money with one syllable,’ Ilhan told Suddeutsche Zeitung. ‘There has never been a demand from us made to Bayern.

‘We are not in a position to demand anything from a club like Bayern.’

Madrid-based newspaper Marca believe the Santiago Bernabeu outfit are keen on concluding a deal for David de Gea and are preparing to say goodbye to club legend Iker Casillas. 

Spanish newspaper AS suggest Manchester United have offered 30million euros (£21m) plus David de Gea for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. 

Juventus have joined the race to sign Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour and have already held discussions with the Ligue 1 club, according to reports in Italy.

Tuttosport leads with the story as the Tunisia international’s agent confirmed he is a target for the Champions League finalists.

The 25-year-old is thought to be valued at £10million by Monaco – with the centre back signing a contract extension with the club until 2019 in March.

Here’s what Sportsmail’s Craig Hope has had to say on Petr Cech’s move to the Gunners. 

‘If John Terry’s calculations are right, Arsenal will win the Premier League next season.

‘The Chelsea skipper estimates that former team-mate Petr Cech will single-handedly earn the Gunners as many as 15 points over the course of a campaign, and last term that would have been enough to see them leapfrog the Blues.

‘Cech, then, will surely prove the signing of the summer. For even if Arsenal do not emerge as champions, the goalkeeper will bring a guaranteed improvement.’

SIMON JONES: West Ham hope to find out on Tuesday where they stand on highly-rated Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet.

The Hammers made an improved offer of £12million for the 28-year-old last week with the French club overhauling their squad, with several big name departures.

Andre Ayew has already signed for Swansea and he could be joined by Payet in the Premier League as he looks to avoid a pay cut.

SIMON JONES: Major League Soccer side New York City remain the likely destination for Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo this summer.

The 36-year-old Italian, who was spotted taking in a baseball game at the Yankee Stadium on Saturday, hopes to strike an agreement with the franchise later this week.

Pirlo’s arrival would see him link up with former Chelsea and Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard who left the Premier League last season.

CRAIG HOPE: Sunderland are preparing an approach for West Ham winger Stewart Downing.

The Black Cats believe the 30-year-old could be available following Slaven Bilic’s arrival at Upton Park.

Downing featured 36 times for the Hammers last season but, with two years to run on an £80,000-per-week contract, it is thought they would be willing to listen to offers – and Sunderland are set to make their move.

Who would you like to see at your club before the summer transfer window slams shut? Have your say in the comments box below or tweet me @Anthony_Hay.

SIMON JONES: Fenerbahce are hopeful of closing a £7million deal for Manchester United winger Nani.

The Portuguese international has been offered a four-year deal on £55,000-a-week after tax. 

The Turkish side have opened talks with United and believe he will travel to Istanbul later this week for a medical ahead of signing. 

SIMON JONES: Liverpool have opened talks with Tiago Ilori over a new contract.

The Portugal Under 21 international has two years remaining on contract but Liverpool want to renegotiate his terms of £18,000 per week.

The Hampstead-born centre-half, 22, joined Liverpool from Sporting Lisbon in September 2013 but has spent time on loan at Granada then Bordeaux.

Sportsmail’s Adrian Durham believes Manchester United will struggle to cope with David de Gea’s impeding departure. 

Durham says: ‘It’s looking ever more likely that De Gea will be leaving Manchester United this summer and there is no doubt he will be a huge loss.

‘From a dodgy start when he looked like another Sir Alex Ferguson keeper calamity (remember Massimo Taibi whose nickname, the blind Venetian, must rank among the best ever for a footballer), De Gea grew (with the help of Fergie’s excellent keeper coach Eric Steele) into a commanding and brilliant No 1.

‘There’s no point dressing it up. It’s a massive blow for United, but there is life after De Gea. For the Spaniard not to be missed, however, it isn’t just about finding another quality keeper. The real challenge is for Louis van Gaal – the focus is firmly on the Dutchman now.’

CHRIS WHEELER: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal could all come up in negotiations between Manchester United and Real Madrid. 

United are determined to fight fire with fire and thwart any attempt by Real to force through a deal for David de Gea on their own terms.

There are no guarantees that United will get their way, but it is a sign of the determination within the club to make life as difficult for Madrid as possible.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON DE GEA’S POTENTIAL MOVE TO REAL MADRID

I will be updating you with the latest transfer news regarding clubs across the Barclays Premier League, Football League and Europe. 

We revealed on Monday that Petr Cech has agreed a deal to join Arsenal, while Manchester United are keen on signing Sergio Ramos if David de Gea is to leave Old Trafford this summer.