Javier Pastore bid 'expected from Liverpool'

Palermo have suggested they are expecting bids from a number of English clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea for midfielder Javier Pastore in the summer, according to reports.

Sources close to the Sicilian club have been quoted in the Italian press, suggesting the three Premier League giants are set to go head to head to sign Pastore, 21.

The playmaker has been linked to Chelsea in the past, and only last week AS Roma were mentioned as potential suitors - provided a proposed buy-out of the club is completed before the summer.

Pastore is expected to command a monstrous fee when the transfer window reopens, as club president Maurizio Zamparini has claimed to have already turned down an offer of €50million (£44m) for the Argentinean.

Manchester City's millions are also expected to come into the equation - especially if they qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, Pastore is rumoured to be more interested in either of the other giants of the north-west - Liverpool or Manchester United - because of the respective clubs' histories.

The Reds' new owner John W Henry is already lining up targets for the summer, with Pastore said to be top of his wish-list.

United are themselves planning a massive spending spree and the 21-year-old's potential to become the next South American star would fit Sir Alex Ferguson's typical transfer profile.

But Chelsea may also still have a say off the back of Roman Abramovich's spending power, which clearly hasn't waned after splashing out £75million on Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January.

Source: Metro

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