Monday's Transfer Bulletin: Football rumours, gossip as Virgil van Dijk is backed to join Liverpool

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1730: More on the line we brought you earlier regarding Virgil van Dijk’s shortening odds to join Liverpool.

A host of national newspapers are now reporting that the Dutchman has informed Liverpool that they are his preferred suitors.

The Reds are now just 1/10 to land the centre-back, who is expected to command a fee of £60m, a world-record transfer for a defender.

Manchester City had been as short as 4/11 to secure his services amid suggestions that their financial firepower would see them win the race, but Van Dijk’s personal preference is now considered the overriding factor, with their price drifting to 11/2.

The Reds’ need for a centre-back appears the greater in terms of competing for next season’s Premier League title, having conceded more goals than the top three and 16 more than Tottenham.

City remain favourites to lift the trophy next season, with the signing of goalkeeper Ederson on the brink of completion. 

Meanwhile, German newspaper Bild are reporting that both Manchester clubs are in the race for Bayern Munich's Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, who is reportedly available for 40m Euros.

City are slightly shorter odds of the two at 8/1 to United’s price of 10/1, but it is Juventus who head the market at 3/1.

Over in the north east, Sunderland are insisting they will take their time in replacing David Moyes, while, in Scotland, Lee McCulloch has spoken of his delight at being appointed Kilmarnock’s full-time manager.

1545: A bit of news from north of the border as Lee McCulloch has been appointed permanent manager of Kilmarnock. 

1415: A developing line coming out of Sky Bet, Virgil van Dijk's odds on joining Liverpool have now plummeted to just 1/10.

That sees Manchester City drift out to 11/2 to land the Dutch centre-back, who is 20/1 to remain at Southampton. 

1300: The main movement in the manager betting today is a treat for those with a less refined sense of humour, with Leonid Slutsky backed in to 1/4 to be the next Hull manager.

The former Russia and CSKA Moscow boss has been in England learning the language and the game with the support of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, with the ambition of becoming the first Russian Premier League manager.

That objective would obviously not be achieved instantly by taking over recently-relegated Hull, but he is up against odds of 25/1 to land the only top-flight vacancy at Crystal Palace.

The Tigers might well be lured in by the prospect of loan signings from Chelsea, who sent 38 players out on temporary deals last season.

Garry Monk, who is 1/4 to take over at Middlesbrough, is the 5/1 second favourite in the betting, with Nigel Adkins next in line at 12/1.

Meanwhile, there’s another shift in the betting on Virgil van Dijk’s next club, with Liverpool (4/6) leapfrogging Manchester City (11/10) in what is now deemed a straight up two-horse race.

0950: The future of Alvaro Morata is the subject of plenty of Paper Talk this morning, but the reports, the odds and indeed logic suggest very different outcomes.

Plenty are suggesting that Chelsea are lining up a move for the Spainiard, based on the presumption that Diego Costa will depart, but the Blues are still 8/1 to land the striker.

AC Milan are the 5/6 favourites to secure his services but cold water was poured on those suggestions with his post-match quotes, which affirmed his loyalty to Juventus as his second side.

However, his first option appears to be the one the media are not interested in, staying at Madrid, supposedly a 7/2 chance.

He told reporters after the Champions League final: "Back in Italy? It's difficult. Certainly not. I want to stay at Real Madrid. I like Italy, but Madrid is my city and this is my team, and Juve is my second team."

He added that the decision would be Real’s rather than his, but certainly painted a very different picture to disgruntled one the tabloids would have you believe.

Morata may have not been central to his club’s Champions League success, making just one start in the competition, but his role is pivotal to the club’s overall dominance.

He scored 24 goals last season, averaging a goals-per-minute ratio second only to Lionel Messi’s in LaLiga, consistently doing the business when an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo needed a rest.

That was key to Real winning the domestic/European double for the first time since 1958 and suggestions that Zinedine Zidane considers him dispensable are well wide of the mark.

The Bernabeu outfit have also drifted in the betting on Eden Hazard’s future, with the Belgian out from as short as 5/4 to 100/30 to join the European champions after confirmation that he has broken his ankle.

Meanwhile in the manager markets, Sunderland’s next boss looks no clearer, with Simon Grayson the latest contender to be backed, coming in from 16/1 to 7/4 in the last 24 hours.

0730: Welcome to a new week in the Transfer Bulletin as we get started with Monday's fun and games.

Make sure you keep our Premier League transfers & rumours story bookmarked. It contains all the done deals so far and the players linked with the 20 top-flight clubs so far.