Barcelona star Lionel Messi ended speculation around his future by signing the contract he previously agreed with the club, which keeps him at the Camp Nou until 2021.
Super Eagles right-back, Shehu Abdullahi has been linked to a host of European clubs including the Merseyside rivals according to reports.
Liverpool and Everton will do battle in a fortnight at Anfield in the latest Merseyside derby.
But it seems the neighbours could also be scrapping it out in the transfer market before too long.
That’s if reports from Africa are to be believed, with the great rivals among those rumoured to be interested in Nigeria international defender Shehu Abdullahi.
Abdullahi is a regular for the Nigeria national side that will feature in next summer’s World Cup and figured in his country’s recent 4-2 win over Argentina.
And Nigeria sports website 90minutesgoal has quoted a representative as saying both Everton and Liverpool are among those pursuing his signature.
“Yes, we have offers from Spain, France, Italy and Merseyside clubs in England,” they quote a source at player agency Mitem Sports Sprl.
“We will study which offer is best for our client, since he will be a free agent after the World Cup.”
Abdullahi has spent much of the season at right-back but has previously played in defensive midfield and at centre-back.
Everton could hold an advantage with their striker Henry Onyekuru, currently on a season-long loan at Anderlecht, also being represented by Mitem Sports Sprl.
Michael Carrick has revealed he underwent a minor medical procedure earlier this season to address an irregular heart rhythm and intends to return to action at Manchester United soon.
The midfielder has featured just once for United this season, in the side’s 4-1 win over Burton in the EFL Cup in September.
It was in the aftermath of this clash that Carrick complained of “feeling strange” before undergoing a series of tests to determine the issue.
After an irregular heart rhythm was identified by doctors Carrick subsequently underwent a cardiac ablation to correct the problem.
In a statement released on Friday night, the United star reassured fans that he is “healthy” and focused on making his comeback for United.
“I just want to clear up my situation as I’ve had quite a few people asking if I’m OK and why I haven’t been fit over the last couple of months,” he said on Twitter.
“After feeling strange during the second half of the Burton game in September I underwent a series of tests. It turned out to be due to an irregular heart rhythm which has been fully investigated and I had a procedure called a cardiac ablation.
“I had to build up training steadily whilst being monitored closely but I feel fine now. I would like to reassure everyone that I’m healthy and back training hard with the team. I’m building up my fitness and aiming to be back in contention for selection soon