Barcelona remain confident they will get Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, if they offer the Premier League club up to €150million.

The La Liga giants feel that Coutinho’s souring relationship with the Anfield side, could work in their favour too.

In the last week, Barca confirmed the club-record signing of Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of €105million, but are ready to smash it again.

Four days ago, a source in Spain told Sky Sports: “Philippe has never been more determined to leave Liverpool.

“To suggest Barca are thinking of backing out and calling it a day, is absolute nonsense.

“They’re all in now; their cards are on the table and they’ll never give up the fight.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the face of boxing for more than a decade, punctuated a stellar yet controversial career with a technical knockout over U.F.C. champ and first-time boxer Conor McGregor on Saturday night.

In the 10th round of a surprisingly competitive fight, Mayweather backed McGregor onto the ropes with a series of rights and lefts. McGregor’s face was completely bloodied. He was about to fall through the ropes, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight with 1:55 remaining in the round.

“I gave the fans what they wanted to see,” Mayweather said after the fight. “I told them that I owed them for the Pacquiao fight. I must come straight ahead and give them a show.”

The victory improved Mayweather’s record to 50-0, and allowed the typically defensive fighter to say farewell in thrilling fashion in what he said was his last fight. It also proved right the naysayers who said that this fight was nothing more than a glorified, money-making exhibition.

Mayweather said the fight was not going to go the distance, and he delivered on that promise. Things went just the way that most pundits said they would. McGregor would have no way of connecting cleanly with Mayweather. He landed a few touch punches but nothing solid the entire fight. And given that U.F.C. fights are much shorter than boxing matches, McGregor’s stamina was in question. And he certainly seemed to tire in the late rounds as Mayweather made easy work of him.

Although McGregor is one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts, he had not boxed since he was a teenager, and had no professional boxing matches under his belt.

The fight was fashioned on the strength of two bombastic personalities with huge fan bases, making for a ripe promotional draw. It was expected to pull more than half a billion dollars in revenue. The pull of the money was so strong that Mayweather ended his two-year retirement to step into the ring with McGregor. To many, the fight was more exhibition than authentic.

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata for about £60m.

The Spain international must now agree personal terms and pass a medical to complete the transfer.

The 24-year-old would be the Premier League champions' fourth signing of the summer, after goalkeeper Willy Caballero, defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Morata scored 20 goals last season after rejoining Real from Juventus.

He won La Liga and the Champions League, but the majority of his appearances were as a substitute.

Morata could replace Spain team-mate Diego Costa, who says he has been told by manager Antonio Conte that he is no longer in Chelsea's plans.

Manchester United had been interested in Morata prior to signing Everton striker Romelu Lukaku for an initial £75m.

"I'm going to the team managed by the coach who has placed the most faith in me, and that's great for me," Morata told AS on Wednesday.

Morata joined Real Madrid's youth team in 2008 and was handed his senior debut aged 18 in 2010.

The 6ft 3in striker moved to Italy in 2014, scoring 27 goals in two years for Juventus, winning both Serie A and the Coppa Italia twice and playing in the 2015 Champions League final.

Real exercised a buy-back option in June 2016 to take him back to the Bernabeu.

Morata has won 20 caps for Spain, scoring nine goals, since his international debut in 2014.

Chelsea fans punching air over Morata - Nevin

Analysis

European football journalist Mina Rzouki on BBC Radio 5 live

If you offered me the choice between Morata and Lukaku, I wouldn't even think about it.

I would pay £20m or £30m more if I had to and I would bring in Morata.

That is because I would always prefer an intelligent player in my team. Even if he doesn't score as many goals, even if he doesn't do whatever he needs to.

If he is more intelligent then he can be moulded quicker, he can do what he needs to do. And Morata has Champions League experience. He was second top scorer for Real Madrid despite not starting.

He has done it at Juventus and he has done it at Real Madrid.

He understands, he has the pace, he is intelligent, he links up play, he can be a counter-attacking threat.

The stats

Morata's conversion rate last season was 27%, the highest of any striker to score 10 or more goals in La Liga in 2016-17; he scored 15 goals from 55 shots.

Morata's goals won Real Madrid 13 points in La Liga last season; only Cristiano Ronaldo won more for the side with 15.

Barcelona on Monday announced record income of €708 million for 2016/2017 with an after-tax profit of €18 million.

The Spanish giants said the healthy revenue was up €13m on the forecast figure in their budget for the period.

A statement following the approval of the accounts at a board meeting disclosed the club has reduced its debt by €24.5m to €247m.

The salaries of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and co account for 66 percent of Barcelona’s expenditure, the statement added.

Barça say that the financial results fit into the club’s strategic plan for revenue to top one billion euros by 2021.

The Catalan side are ranked the fourth most valuable sports team in the world after the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and Manchester United by Forbes magazine.

Last season Barcelona relinquished their Spanish title to Real Madrid and were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Juventus who went on to lose to Barca’s arch-rivals Real in the final in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, new Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde on Monday laughed off the idea of bringing in new players, saying the best signings were the players already in the dressing room.

“I’m more than happy with the way things stand,” said Valverde when pressed on the potential signing of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

“Happy with the players, happy with their work and their attitude,” he said as his players prepare for their trip to the United States on Wednesday.

“I really don’t care about any player anywhere else,” he said, knowing fans will be keen to win back the Spanish League title and indeed the Champions League, both won by their arch-rivals Real Madrid.

“Even if you might argue we need back up in certain areas,” he said, adding Barcelona had no offers on the table for any of their players either.

“For me, the best signings are the players I already have in my team.”

He said Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, Barcelona’s attacking trident were “a huge factor in the intimidation of our rivals.”

Jose Mourinho described Romelu Lukaku as a “top striker” after he scored his first Manchester United goal in a 2-1 pre-season win over Real Salt Lake.

Lukaku, who signed from Everton for £75m last week, fired United ahead on 38 minutes against the MLS side, latching on to a low cross from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The 24-year-old had also been involved in United’s equaliser, controlling well and then passing across to Jesse Lingard, who laid it on for Mkhitaryan to score.

United manager Mourinho was pleased with Lukaku’s display, and his first goal for the club, saying: “It’s just nice for him, not important for me.

“Before he scored the goal I told him I love everything you do on the pitch. Don’t be worried about scoring or not scoring. He gets behind people, works and presses well. Like everything he does.

“It’s easy to feel it because he was my player four years ago his evolution has been great. He’s now a top striker. The goal is just a detail, not important.”

United’s win was marred slightly by the second-half dismissal of Antonio Valencia for a reckless lunge on Sebastian Saucedo.

Valencia was given his marching orders after a lengthy consultation between the match referee and Mourinho.

“The referee asked me to change the player and I didn’t because I don’t agree with the card,” said Mourinho, before appearing to suggest Saucedo was to blame.

“(He) was really aggressive in the second half. That’s what happens. Some other actions were a bit dangerous,” Mourinho said.

“It’s young people with enthusiasm playing against Manchester United but it’s a friendly match and it’s a different mentality. But it’s pre-season so no problem. It is good experience or us to play with one player less.”

Portugal’s Euro 2016 hero Eder, Nigeria legend Vincent Enyeama and France international Rio Mavuba are among 11 players who have been frozen out over the summer by new Lille coach Marcelo Bielsa.

After being appointed by the club’s new owner, Gerard Lopez, on a two-year deal in May, Bielsa immediately set about reshaping the squad that finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season.

While the former Argentina, Chile and Marseille boss has added to the players at his disposal, he also informed a number of long-serving squad members not to report for preseason training on June 19, and only to start preparing for the new campaign on July 3.

Among them is Eder, 29, who scored the winning goal in last summer’s European Championship final against France, which helped earn him a permanent move to Lille from Swansea City on a four-year deal.

Mavuba, 33, was a member of France’s 2014 World Cup squad and has made nearly 300 Ligue 1 appearances for the club since joining in 2008, and 34-year-old former Nigeria international goalkeeper Enyeama, who moved to Lille in 2011, are also among those ostracised by their new boss.

“It’s a bit bizarre, but I’m handling it OK,” Ivory Coast international Junior Tallo told L’Equipe. “I was informed like the others, by text. We’re under contract, the club does what it wants. We would have liked to have had a discussion. But it’s a business choice made by the bosses.

“As for me, I’m under contract. I will respect the two years I have left. I’m in no hurry. I want to establish myself at Lille. It’s the club that wants me to leave. We’ll see if they find a solution between now and the end of the transfer window. I’m calm.”

On Monday, Enyeama tweeted a selfie with some of his fellow outcasts, who also include Montenegro international Marko Basa, France international Marvin Martin and Zambia defender Stoppila Sunzu, stating: “Always a pleasure to be back with the team.”

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has passed his Arsenal medical and is on the brink of completing a £46 million transfer to the Premier League club.

The 26-year-old underwent a medical at London Colney training ground on Tuesday and is expected to sign a five-year contract for a club-record fee, eclipsing the £42.5m paid to Real Madrid to sign Mesut Ozil in 2013.

With hopes of signing Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe – a Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain target – fading, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger managed to convince another of Ligue 1’s star forwards to play at the Emirates Stadium.

Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas, who sanctioned the transfer on Sunday, has previously said the Premier League side must part with €65m to prise Lacazette away from Parc Olympique Lyonnais and the newly agreed deal includes bonuses worth £6m.

France international Lacazette was close to joining Atletico Madrid before the Spanish club’s transfer ban was upheld and Aulas confirmed via French news outlet Le Progres that Wenger’s side that the move is closer to €50m (£44m/$57m) rather than an “unrealistic” €65m (£57m/$74m).

Lacazette scored over 20 Ligue 1 goals in each of his last three seasons for Lyon and will become one of Arsenal’s highest earners alongside Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott.

The Gunners still hope to keep West Ham target Olivier Giroud, although they are prepared to let Lucas Perez, who joined last August but scored only once in 11 Premier League matches, leave the north London club this summer.

Arsenal also remain hopeful of a deal for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar as well, but the youngster does not appear ready to force a move to the Gunners.

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez also remains a target of Wenger’s after personally speaking to the 67-year-old on the phone over a fortnight ago.

It has been revealed Cristiano Ronaldo told Zinedine Zidane that he has his mind made up about leaving Real Madrid after the French boss phoned to plead with him.

The Portuguese hero has been tipped to leave Santiago Bernabeu this summer after getting embroiled in a tax investigation in Spain with reports that the 32-year-old evaded tax between 2011 and 2013.

Ronaldo is understood to be interested in a move away from the Spanish La Liga this summer and Manchester United are believed to be front-runners in the potential deal even though there have been not concrete offers for the Portuguese.

Ronalod reportedly told Zidane that he feels treated like a ‘delinquent’ and also slammed our the Spanish media reacted to the allegation.

The Portuguese whis currently on national team duties at the Confederations Cup, will speak with Zinedine Zidane about his future at the end of the tournament.

The likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain have also been linked with a move for Ronaldo this summer but the Portuguese star wants to stage a return to the Old Trafford with reports that United are also braced for a transfer move.

Kelechi Iheanacho has been informed by manager Pep Guardiola that he will be part of the club pre season tour to the United State of America despite doubts over his future at the club.

Iheanacho has been told he will only be allowed to leave the club if a replacement is found by the club before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Leicester City who have now emerged as the front runners to sign the prolific 20 year old will slap in another bid for the forward before the end of this month, as they continue their search for a replacement for want-away star Riyad Mahrez.

Their first bid of around 22 million pounds with add ons which will take the fee to 25 million pounds was turned down by Manchester City, as the club also need money from his sale to sign a replacement.

City reportedly want around 25 million pounds plus add- ons which ‎will potentially rise the fee to 30 million pounds aside the issue of buy back clause, which they are insisting on.

Already the issue of the fee in the buy-back clause has stalled the interest ‎from West Ham United, the first side to have slapped in a bid for the Nigerian striker.

US Open champion Brooks Koepka moved into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time on Monday after his victory at Erin Hills.

The American jumped 12 places as a result of his four-shot win in the second major championship of the year, that he sealed with a final-round 67 to tie Rory McIlroy’s US Open record total of 16 under par.

Hideki Matsuyama is the new world number two after he tied for second place, leapfrogging McIlroy and Jason Day who both missed the cut.

Dustin Johnson maintains a healthy lead as the world’s best player, despite seeing his title defence in Wisconsin end with a missed cut on Friday.

World top 20 on June 19

1. Dustin Johnson (USA) 12.53 average points

2. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 8.10 (+2)

3. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 7.78 (-1)

4. Jason Day (AUS) 7.48 (-1)

5. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 6.95 (+2)

6. Jordan Spieth (USA) 6.87 (-1)

7. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 6.79 (-1)

8. Alex Noren (SWE) 6.31

9. Rickie Fowler (USA) 5.78

10. Brooks Koepka (USA) 5.56 (+12)

11. Jon Rahm (ESP) 5.39 (-1)

12. Justin Thomas (USA) 5.33 (+1)

13. Justin Rose (ENG) 5.14 (-2)

14. Adam Scott (AUS) 4.95 (-2)

15. Matt Kuchar (USA) 4.17

16. Paul Casey (ENG) 4.16 (-2)

17. Patrick Reed (USA) 3.99 (+2)

18. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 3.95 (-1)

19. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 3.95 (-3)

20. Tyrell Hatton (ENG) 3.89 (-2)

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has dismissed reports linking Cristiano Ronaldo with the Bundesliga champions as “completely unfounded,” while suggesting the rumours “must be consigned to the realms of fantasy.”

Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport reported at the weekend that Bayern were interested in signing Ronaldo, 32, from Madrid. The move would see the Portugal international link up with his former boss Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him at Madrid between 2013 and 2015.

The speculation emerged after sources told ESPN FC that Ronaldo wants to leave Madrid to play in another country rather than deal with what he sees as “persecution” in Spain after being accused of tax evasion totalling €14.7 million.

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However, Bayern have rubbished the report, labelling it as the “hoax of the day” on their official website.

Rummenigge added: “We’re used to being the subject of intense transfer speculation during transfer windows. Normally we don’t comment on rumours, but in this case, we would like to make our position on Cristiano Ronaldo absolutely clear: This rumour is completely unfounded and must be consigned to the realms of fantasy.”

Ronaldo, who is currently playing for Portugal in the Confederations Cup in Russia, scored five goals over two legs as eventual winners Madrid dumped Bayern out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage in April.

Mino Raiola says Zlatan Ibrahimovic would already be back at AC Milan if Adriano Galliani were still at the club, but says the striker has many offers to consider.

Ibrahimovic is a free agent after being released by Manchester United as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in April.

Although the 35-year-old will be out for several months, he has already been linked with several clubs, including a return to Italy.

The former Inter, Juve and Milan star has numerous options, according to his agent, who says that his destination would already be sorted had Galliani stayed as Milan CEO after their takeover by Li Yonghong’s Sino-Europe Sports investment group.

“Ibra is fine, he’s received so many offers, from the US and beyond,” Raiola told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“He’s certainly not going to Napoli. Milan haven’t asked me about him. With Galliani, he’d already be there.”

Raiola made the comments in the wake of the dispute between his client Gianluigi Donnarumma and the Rossoneri as the 18-year-old goalkeeper told them he will not renew his contract.

Milan’s new CEO, Marco Fassone, said Donnarumma and his agent have cost the club €100 million over their decision, and Raiola fired back with claims his client was “bullied”.

As well as Ibrahimovic and Donnarumma, Raiola said he could also be negotiating a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Blaise Matuidi in the close-season.

“Clubs have asked me about Matuidi, like Inter and Juve. We’ll see,” he said.

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has claimed the Turin giants have turned down a big-money offer from Chelsea for Alex Sandro.

The Premier League title-holders are looking to strengthen their squad as they prepare for Champions League football next term and they had earmarked Alex Sandro as a valuable potential addition.

Chelsea were reportedly willing to pay up to €60 million for the left wing-back, but Juventus have no intention of parting with the Brazil international.

“Our desire is to not sell any of our most important players,” Marotta told Corriere dello Sport.

“We said no to a very good offer from Chelsea for Alex Sandro.

“But we know that we are competing with clubs that are in a position to offer wages that are not rational for us. And players are always their own boss.

“I do not know how Alex Sandro reacted.”

The 26-year-old has a contract with Juventus until June 2020.

Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has moved to distance himself from a move to Barcelona, insisting his focus remains with the Anfield club.

Liverpool chase £50 million-rated Keita

The Brazil international has long been linked with a transfer to Barca, such was his impact under Jurgen Klopp in the 2016-17 Premier League campaign. 

Coutinho enjoyed his best season at Liverpool since arriving from Inter in January 2013, scoring 13 Premier League goals and registering seven assists.

The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract, believed to run until 2022, but has continually been linked with a switch to Camp Nou and has once again moved to rule out a move.

"Talking about this is complicated," Coutinho told reporters. "I have a contract with my club and it is long.

"So my focus is on the present and the national team. My focus is here."

Coutinho is currently away with the Brazil squad in Australia and was involved in the 1-0 defeat to Argentina on Friday.

Despite the midfielder persistently denying rumours linking him with La Liga, national team boss Tite believes that he would prove to be a huge signing for Barcelona.

Verratti wants 'top club' in Spain or Italy

"It absolutely makes sense for me that Barcelona are after him," Tite previously told Sport. 

"I do not want to be pretentious about Barcelona, but who would not want a player like Coutinho, with his magic, his ability to invent and create, to change the rhythm and to build play?"

The 25-year-old Brazilian tops the list, which factors in age, contract, position and club status among other variables

Neymar has been named football's most valuable player ahead of Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi, according to a new in-depth study.

The Brazil forward, 25, has been rated at £185 million ($234m), easily beating Tottenham's Dele Alli, who comes in second at £137m ($173m).

Verratti wants 'top club' in Spain or Italy

The CIES Football Observatory study uses an algorithm factored through almost 2,000 transfers and is based on performance of both players and employer clubs, international status, contract, age and position.

Due in part to their ages of 29 and 32 respectively, Messi and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo (£99m/$125m) are slightly further down the list at No.4 and No.11.

Ronaldo is the oldest player in the list of 110 players, while Monaco's teenage prodigy Kylian Mbappe (£81m/$102m), who comes in at No.18, is the youngest.

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann (fifth) and Spurs striker Harry Kane (third) are understood to be on Manchester United's list of summer targets.

Despite winning the Champions League for two consecutive seasons, Real Madrid only have Ronaldo in the top 25, with their second-highest player being midfielder Toni Kroos (28th, £71m/$90m).

WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE FOOTBALLERS

1. Neymar, Barcelona, £185m ($234m)

2. Dele Alli, Tottenham, £137m ($173m)

3. Harry Kane, Tottenham, £135m ($171m)

4. Lionel Messi, Barcelona, £134m ($170m)

5. Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid, £132m ($167m)

6. Luis Suarez, Barcelona, £124m ($157m)

7. Paul Pogba, Manchester United, £119m ($150m)

8. Gonzalo Higuain, Juventus, £106m ($134m)

9. Eden Hazard, Chelsea, £104m ($131m)

10. Paulo Dybala, Juventus, £102m ($129m)

Diego Costa said that it is up to Chelsea to make a decision on his future after he scored in Spain’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying win in Macedonia.

Costa, 28, was told by text message that boss Antonio Conte does not have him in his plans for next season.

He said: “I don’t know about my future. I have a contract with Chelsea and they are the ones who know what they will do with me.

“I have to wait to see what decision my club makes.”

Spain continue to lead Group G after the win in Skopje.

Manchester City midfielder David Silva opened the scoring for the fourth Spain game in a row when he finished Jordi Alba’s cutback.

Costa doubled the lead when he tapped in Isco’s cross.

Stefan Ristovski pulled one back for Macedonia when he drilled past David de Gea but Spain saw it out.

Spain top the group on goal difference after second-placed Italy beat Liechtenstein 5-0.

Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at next year’s finals in Russia, meaning that one of the European giants are set to be in the play-offs.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is prepared to outlay £40million for the England international who is about to enter the last 12 months of his contract at the Emirates.

Klopp isn’t being scared off by the Gunners’ valuation of the 23-year-old who ended up playing as a wing-back after Arsene Wenger switched formations.

He is keen for some success in the transfer market especially with a move for Mohamed Salah in doubt over Roma’s £35m valuation.

While an embarrassed Liverpool were forced into issuing a grovelling apology over their attempts to persuade Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk to join the club.

rsenal have held initial discussions with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s representatives who were hoping that they weren’t going to wait this long to get around the table.

The Gunners are ready to offer him a bumper rise to ignore the interest from Anfield and remain with the FA Cup winners in North London.

Arsenal fans are keen for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored in England’s 2-2 draw with Scotland, to stay at the club, where he has become a firm favourite since his 2011 move from Southampton.

While Oxlade-Chamberlain has resorted to playing in a makeshift wing-back role with Arsenal, he admitted after the FA Cup final win over Chelsea last month he ideally wants to be deployed in a central midfield position – to emulate Liverpool legend Steve Gerrard.

Fans of English FA Cup winners Arsenal have so much to worry as the club is about to lose superstar Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City.

Both the player and Manchester City have finalised the move, according to reports in Chile.

The 28-year-old enjoyed the season of his career with the Gunners, culminating with FA Cup glory at Wembley.

But failure to challenge for the title has led to speculation over whether the former Barcelona forward would extend his stay at the Emirates with just one year remaining on his deal.

With moves to City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich rumoured, much-respected Chilean journalist Fernando Solabarrieta dropped the bombshell that Guardiola has won out for the player.

In a 1-1 draw with Russia ahead of the Confederations Cup, Sanchez supplied a superb assist for former QPR wing-back Mauricio Isla to break the deadlock.

Arsene Wenger has maintained that times have changed and that Arsenal simply do not need to sell their best players any more.

Even if that changes, the Gunners will be loath to send their star man to a domestic rival as they bid to build on their cup success in the first of Wenger’s new two-year deal.

Under-pressure England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Manchester City won’t make life difficult for him to find another club by demanding a prohibitive transfer fee.

The 30-year-old — who was subjected to criticism for conceding two free-kicks in the 2-2 World Cup qualifier draw with Scotland on Saturday — has returned to City after spending last season on loan with Serie A outfit Torino.

However, his situation at City has not improved as the unconvincing Claudio Bravo has been retained while manager Pep Guardiola has brought in uncapped 23-year-old Brazilian Ederson from Benfica for 40 million euros ($45 million, £34.7 million), making him the second most expensive goalkeeper ever.

“I certainly don’t think they are going to try and price me out of a move, I think there’s enough respect between the player and club,” said Hart, who will sit out England’s friendly with France in Paris on Tuesday.

“We’re going to work together, there’s no point in working against. There’s no animosity between the two. They are going in their direction and I need to go in mine.”

Hart, who is very popular at City having been their number one for six years, said he was looking forward to his next move, although insisted it should be a permanent deal rather than a loan.

“I love personal challenges and I have never shied away from one and I don’t intend to,” said Hart, who when he first moved to City in 2006 was loaned out to lower league Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool.

“I’m not a kid any more, I can’t just pack my stuff like a 19, 17-year-old and go on loan. I am a 30-year-old man with stuff I need to organise. I like stability.

“There is an ideal situation to come out of this but nothing is perfect. It’s a short career and football is crazy so I have to be prepared for anything.”

Hart said there was nothing on the table for the moment but he was confident once the international matches were over on Tuesday that things would move forward.

“I would love to give you a poker-straight answer, but I’ve got nothing at the moment because I think people are focused on international duty and respecting that players are focusing on international duty,” said Hart.

“I need an offer first and then I need to work out my options if I have choices. I want to be playing at the highest possible level, pushing myself.

“It’s a short career. I want to push everything out of me. Physically I feel in great condition and I want to go again.”

Dele Alli says he is not paying any attention to speculation regarding his future and insists he is happy at Tottenham.

Alli, 21, has been linked in the past with an exit from White Hart Lane, with Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid having all been reported as potential destinations for the midfielder.

However, the England international, who is set to come up against Scotland in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, says for now he is enjoying life at Tottenham.

“It’s not really something I am thinking about too much,” Alli told reporters. “I think people get too worried about where they are going to end up and lose focus on the journey and not enjoying it.

“So, for me, as a player I’m signed at Tottenham and I am enjoying it. Who knows where I am going to end up but I am enjoying the journey.”

Alli says he may one day choose to depart Tottenham for a new challenge, but it is not something he is currently thinking about.

“Whether I stay at Tottenham for the rest of my career or if I do happen to go somewhere else, I’m sure if it happens it will be at a time when I think that’s what’s needed,” he said.

“For me, personally, I am just looking forward to enjoying the journey I have.”