Possible Incoming Players:
Fabian Mrozek (GK) kiddie 16 from FC Wroclaw - very well thought of.
Javi Cendon (GK) free agent training with the squad – could be signed.
Konstantine Tsimkas (LWB) has signed instead of the preferred HG option of Jamal Lewis.
I suspect that a CB may well need to be added, assuming Lovren or someone else leaves. Liverpool may look to bolster the home-grown quota and have looked at Dael Fry (CB), Ben White (CB) and Ben Godfrey (CB) but are putting their efforts in to a high-end CB (Diego Carlos) first. Much will depend on youngsters developing and how Joe Gomez does - assuming Lovren is leaving – and that could drive whether the club look to using Gomez as first choice and buying a young HG player or moving for Diego Carlos or someone similar and leave Gomez as back up. Obviously, the club would also need to deal with any unexpected departures.
Diego Carlos (CB) Manchester City have dropped their interest and are looking at others. Real Madrid has a sustained interest, but their focus is on resolving financial issues. Barcelona have him on their list of CBs but they will look to horse trade using Ivan Rakitic. Liverpool has declared an interest in taking DC and he is the first choice for Klopp. If this happens, I would think it would be the big move for the club this summer and would leave Gomez picking up pieces across the defence. It may also need to be funded by a significant sale. Looks unlikely and no longer possible to include Xherdan Shaqiri in a deal.
Ben White (CB) potentially the pick of the younger home grown CBs - if Diego Carlos were to arrive or a CB were not to leave, he can also be scratched. Has a significant advantage over Carlos as he is home grown. Might well become the preferred choice over Carlos as a Lovren replacement - but it would push Joe Gomez down the pecking order. Manchester City have a growing interest in Ben White. Leeds are resigned to their interest going nowhere. Brighton don't want to sell and Liverpool don't have the money right now.
Lisandro Martinez (CB) watched by Liverpool and Real Madrid but he was not one of the players Ajax agreed to let leave this summer.
Edmond Tapsoba (CB) Moved to Germany in January 2020 and much is expected of him. They have no have no intention to sell and it would likely take an offer of perhaps €40M to tempt them. No known approach by Liverpool and if there were to be, they should perhaps think seriously about him having to play in AFCON.
Diego Llorente (CB) has been watched by Marseille, Spurs, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton, Wolves, Fulham and Sevilla since joining Real Sociedad. Everton interest went with a change of coach. Wolves had an offer accepted last summer but the player was adamant his family was settled and wanted to stay where he was. The player interested Spurs when they thought Toby Alderweireld was leaving but he signed a new contract. However, with Jan Vertonghen leaving they could be tempted again. With Ben White looking unlikely Diego Llorente would offer a reasonable option to Diego Carlos to Liverpool - so perhaps. Marseille and Atletico both have financial issues and lesser needs so can be discounted. Sevilla were considering Llorente as a Diego Carlos replacement but can be discounted as they have a preferred option in mind. Real Sociedad want €50M - price is high. West Ham can be discounted. Everton interest went when they changed coach. Liverpool won’t have that much available without a major sale.
Francisco Ferreira (CB) Benfica's "Ferro" was one of three young players the club were very keen on in 2017 - he has been watched again.
Dael Fry (CB) Liverpool had a declared interest in Fry but that will have gone.
Ben Godfrey (CB) - another HG option to Fry. But nothing is happening so I think he can also be scratched.
Ozan Kabak (CB) has been of past interest to both Manchester sides, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich but the asking price has always been see as high, although it seemed to be something between €35M and €40M it could have halved due to the pandemic and Schalke having financial issues. The interest of the Manchester sides when he left Galatasaray for Stuttgart and he hit an age where he could never qualify as Home Grown in England - and that is something Liverpool should concern themselves with as well. I am not so sure he is the starter Liverpool have been looking for, but he will be cheaper than both Llorente and Diego Carlos and would still push Joe Gomez in to the background. He is well thought of by Borussia Dortmund who wanted Tanguy Kouassi as a replacement for Toprak and Belardi but he moved to Bayern Munich resulting in their making an approach and being told he is not for sale - but they have declared an interest. Schalke say they have also been approached by Juventus and Leicester. A far better option for Liverpool than Mandi.
Aissa Mandi (CB) Real Betis CB who Newcastle have an interest in. West Ham were interested last summer but not convinced, and instead opted for young prospect Goncalo Cardoso. Real Betis would sell at the right price. For Liverpool he would be a Lovren replacement and financially perhaps using Nathanial Phillips makes more sense. Fenerbahce have had talks with Real Betis. Another who would be off the AFCON and no approach to his club by Liverpool.
Thiago Alcantara (CM) was expected to extend at Bayern Munich but looking at options - Juventus may be interested. Liverpool have not approached Bayern Munich and has no agreement regardless of what the Fat Kid from Bolton and his invisible friend says. Bayern Munich expected Thiago to extend at Bayern Munich but they do not want to pay more than the €12M a year he is currently earning. Klopp has been speaking directly with the player but seems to have heeded the warding from Bayern Munich. Klopp is certainly keen there are concerns from at least two people in the club that his age, injury issues and lack of a sell on value mean that the club should step back. His huge wages may also cause concern amongst the players at Liverpool. Now his head has been turned and wants to move it seems that Liverpool will not pay the asking price and will try and leverage a cheap move or leave Bayern Munich with a player who is unhappy and return for him in January when a Bosnam move can be arranged for next summer. PSG spoke with them during discussions they have been having over another player, but he is certainly no more than an option for them. Manchester City have concerns about the age/price/injury status as others at Liverpool have raised.
Ismaila Sarr (RW/LW/F) has had a disrupted season after moving from Rennes and has become available with Watford being relegated and Wolves have enquired after him - wanting to be kept informed just in case Adama Traore is sold. Crystal Palace have him on their list of potential Wilfried Zaha replacements, but he is not their first choice, although they could turn to him if their first choice heads elsewhere. It has been suggested that Liverpool are interested but whilst he would make a good replacement for Shaqiri but (a) would Sarr want to limit his playing time to that which Shaqiri gets, (b) he is not Home Grown, (c) he would block Harvey Elliott's progression, (d) he would cost £40M or thereabouts, and (e) like the last few players asked about, would depart for AFCON when it happens as he is Senegalese. I am not aware of any approach to Watford by Liverpool, but the club may have spoken with his agent. If Mane or Salah were to leave, it makes a great deal more sense and would provide the funding.
Mateusz Musialowski (RW) Polish kiddie who has signed.
Jeremy Doku (RW/LW) Liverpool attempted to strike a deal for Jeremie Doku but dropped their interest in the kid because of a misunderstanding about him going to see Chelsea (which turned out to be his sister not the club). There was a fear that Anderlecht would face further sanctions over past issues and an approach by Milan about the player saw them ask €20M. The situation has now changed and offers may be listened to after he has had a good season - but any deal is likely going to need a one- or two-year loan back to Anderlecht. This is where it gets difficult and would cut Milan out of a deal. Clubs are going to be less likely to want to tie funds up in such a way. I am not aware of another approach by Liverpool at this time but at the right price there could be well be interest.
Ousmane Dembele (RW/LW) Someone close to the situation tells me Liverpool has made a general enquiry as to the asking price - and have been told €100M – nothing more at this time and unless Salah or Sadio Mane were to leave it would be a very unlikely transfer. But I would not rule it out if the price halves and could be offered as part of a deal for Sadio Mane perhaps?
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