The summer transfer window is just around the corner and Liverpool are expecting to do a fair amount of business in the market
On your marks. The Premier League season may now thankfully be but a distant memory, but the excitement is growing among the transfer addicts with the summer window almost upon us.
Business officially opens for Premier League clubs on Monday, June 15 before the window is slammed shut – as we are duty-bound to state – on Tuesday, September 1 at 11pm.
Plenty of time for moves to be made, then. Having splashed out almost £450million on new signings and seen close to £225m worth of talent depart last summer, the Reds are understandably not expected to spend anything like the same amount.
But this campaign has underlined that there still needs to be plenty of work done if Arne Slot’s side are to once again bother those towards the top of the table.
On the way out?
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will both officially leave Liverpool at the end of next month on free transfers having already said their goodbyes at an emotional Anfield last Sunday. Robertson is expected to sign for Tottenham Hotspur while Salah has interest from Saudi Arabia.
Curtis Jones is wanted by Inter Milan, who failed in an effort to sign the player on loan in January. Liverpool want in excess of £30m for the 25-year-old, who is approaching the last 12 months of his contract. Inter value the player at nearer £20m.
With Liverpool expected to resist attempts by Juventus to sign Alisson Becker, that the Brazilian goalkeeper is likely to stay has prompted claims from Italy that Giorgi Mamardashvili has been offered by his representatives to three Serie A clubs for a potential season-long loan with Juventus leading the way. For their part, the Reds have not yet received any contact from Juve regarding the matter.
Ibrahima Konate is at present set to follow Salah and Robertson out the door on a free, but while there has long been an expectation from all concerned parties that a new contract can be agreed in the next five weeks, the waters were muddied by a claim on Thursday night that Konate is now likely to leave.
Joe Gomez cast doubt over his long-term future with recent comments on his status at Liverpool, while Federico Chiesa has been linked with a return to Italy for much of the season, having seen his minutes severely limited.
And talk over a possible departure for Alexis Mac Allister continues to rumble with the Argentine having not followed fellow midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in being offered a new contract. However, with two years left on his current deal, the Reds are in no rush.
A decision will be taken on the future of Harvey Elliott, with the attacking midfielder returning to the club after Aston Villa chose not to trigger their obligation to turn his season-long loan move into a £35million permanent switch. Leeds United are said to be monitoring developments.
Luca Stephenson has spent the last two seasons on loan in Scotland with Dundee United and is now open to a permanent departure.
“I’ve only got a year left on my contract at Liverpool, so I think the biggest priority for me is that, in my next step, I find a permanent home,” said the 22-year-old midfielder. “That could still be at Liverpool, depending on what they are thinking.”
Rhys Williams confirmed this week that he was departing on a free transfer, having not featured for the first team in five years. A number of Academy players have already confirmed their exits with the full retained list to be published in the coming days.
One player not leaving, though, is 19-year-old Academy winger Kieran Morrison, who made his first-team breakthrough this season and was due to become a free agent in the summer before signing a new long-term contract this week.
And while it’s a little early to determine which players could be released on loan, Morrison is likely to be among them. Trey Nyoni, the 18-year-old midfielder who made 14 senior appearances this term, is wanted by Championship side Swansea City for a temporary move.
On the way in?
Liverpool confirmed back in January that 20-year-old centre-back Jeremy Jacquet would arrive this summer from Rennes after a £60m deal was agreed amid strong interest from Chelsea.
That the Frenchman promptly saw his season ended after shoulder surgery highlighted players didn’t have to even yet sign in at Anfield before the injury curse struck.
Salah’s departure means Liverpool are looking for a new right-winger. They are firmly in the hunt for 19-year-old Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande, although there have been contrasting reports over whether RB Leipzig are willing to sell the player this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain have also been touted with an interest, although a €100m (£86.7m) price tag would appear prohibitive. Leipzig were interested in Elliott last year and there is a possibility the 23-year-old could form part of any cash-plus-player deal.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be okay for everyone to pay that,” said Diomande on his reported asking price. “I’m not going to say Paris, Liverpool or Real (Madrid). But it would be a good idea to play for big clubs. Everyone has ambitions and every day you want to go higher.”
Bradley Barcola of PSG is another winger being assessed by the Reds, although it’s likely he will only be sold should Diomande move to the French capital.
Liverpool also retained an interest in Anthony Gordon, having been close to signing the England international two years ago. However, Barcelona are now ready to complete a €80m (£69.4m) move for the Newcastle United winger.
In midfield, Crystal Palace enforcer Adam Wharton continues to be linked with a move, with the Anfield hierarchy mindful of the squad’s homegrown quota.
The Reds will want to bolster their right-back options after so many issues in the position this season. They failed in an attempt to sign Lutscharel Geertuida, who spent the season at Sunderland, on loan in January and also enquired about Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan.
Liverpool are continuing to look at Dumfries, who reportedly has a €25m (£21.8m) release clause applicable until mid-July, although at 30 he wouldn’t fit into the usual profile of player for owners Fenway Sports Group.
Liverpool are also looking to strengthen their Academy options. Ifeanyi Ndukwe, an 18-year-old defender, agreed earlier this year to join from Austria Vienna in the summer.
The club are working on a deal to sign 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional, while they are one of a number of potential suitors for 16-year-old Hertha Berlin defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn.
Liverpool are also looking at finalising moves for 16-year-old centre-back Darak Jikiemi, who will be out of contract this summer at Celtic, and 15-year-old striker Michael Mulholland of Northern Ireland side Crusaders.
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