Kylian Mbappé‘s 100 goals with Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool are hoping to strengthen their title defence during the January transfer window after a spate of injuries this season has thrown the Premier League wide open.
Jurgen Klopp watched his side struggle to defeat at Southampton on Monday night to miss out on the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, and second-place rivals Manchester United now have a game in hand as well as the same points tally, while Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are lurking on their shoulders.
It has been a tough start to the campaign for Liverpool, not only due to their wavering results but also the shock of so many injuries to key players including centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Players to have spent significant time on the sidelines also include captain Jordan Henderson, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, summer signing Thiago Alcantara, fellow new recruit Diogo Jota, and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The injuries at centre-back have been particularly damaging, to the point were Klopp is now considering a winter foray into the transfer market. High on his list is Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, who can leave the German champions this summer for free when his contract runs out, though signing him this month may prove too difficult.
That is why Juventus defender Merih Demiral is also thought to be on Liverpool’s radar, although it is thought the Italian champions are reluctant to let their talented Turkish international depart.
And of course there are rumours that the Anfield club are lining up a spectacular move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe in the summer. What a signing that would be.
We will have all the latest Liverpool news, rumours and gossip – on both comings and goings – throughout the day.
ALABA ‘NEGOTIATING’ WITH FIVE CLUBS
Liverpool target David Alaba is in talks with five clubs over a summer move, according to Sky Deutschland.
But the report claims the Premier League champions are “not necessarily at the top of the centre-back’s priority list”.
Contract negotiations have not officially started yet but Alaba is reportedly discussing numbers.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 13:02
JOURNALIST CLAIMS LIVERPOOL HAVE MADE ALABA OFFER
Liverpool have already offered David Alaba a contract worth €10m, according to Goal reporter Romeo Agresti.
The Reds will face competition from Real Madrid, who have tabled a similar offer for the Bayern Munich defender.
Juventus are also said to be interested but can’t compete financially with the aforementioned clubs.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 12:44
LIVERPOOL CONTACTED SCHALKE DEFENDER
Liverpool may opt not to sign a centre-back this month, but they’ve certainly been looking.
The Athletic claim the Reds held talks with representatives of Schalke defender Ozan Kabak back in November.
But the discussions did not progress and Liverpool chose not to pursue a deal for the 20-year-old.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 12:27
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 12:00
LIVERPOOL LINKED STRIKER SET FOR MOVE ABROAD
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is on the verge of a pre-contract agreement with an unnamed foreign club, claim the Athletic.
The 19-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, is out of contract in the summer and Arsenal have been unable to negotiate a new deal.
“You need three parties to make a deal,” said Arteta in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle. “For sure the club wants to make a deal and the manager wants to make a deal; the player wants to stay; and I’m not sure about the agent.”
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 11:45
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 11:25
The Premier League’s spending power will be under scrutiny once more in a January transfer window unlike any which has gone before.
Previous winter windows have seen a steady upward trend in the league’s spending, albeit with a couple of eye-catching outliers.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 11:15
LIVERPOOL TO OFFER MBAPPE ‘COMPLETE PACKAGE’
Liverpool will try to “seduce” Kylian Mbappe with a lucrative financial package, according to a report from AS.
The Frenchman is said to be an admirer of the Premier League, while Liverpool’s connections with Nike would help with the financial side of any potential deal.
AS claim that Mbappe, given his own sponsorship deal with Nike, would effectively “contribute to paying his salary” at Liverpool, and that his wages would be doubled at Anfield.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 10:53
TOWNSEND REVEALS WHAT ENGLAND PLAYERS SAID ABOUT ‘PERFECT’ KLOPP SIGNING
Andros Townsend has claimed Danny Ings seemed like a “perfect” addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad after joining Liverpool in 2015.
Injuries hampered the striker’s progress at Anfield, but he has excelled since being sold to Southampton in 2019.
“He was very unlucky, wasn’t he?” Townsend told talkSPORT. “He got his big break and then not long after Klopp came in he got his big injury.
“I remember I was in the England squad with him, at the time and all the Liverpool players were saying ‘Ingsy, you are perfect for Klopp and the way he likes his players to work off the ball. You are going to be straight into that starting XI’.
“I think a week later, he done his knee, so he’s very unfortunate. But fair play to him. He has come back a few times, picked himself up and got himself going again. Hopefully, now he gets another chance.”
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 10:34
LIVERPOOL CONSIDER CENTRE-BACK ADDITION ‘FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE’
Liverpool do not want to be “financially irresponsible” in the January transfer window, according to the Athletic.
Manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly believes that a short-term solution to his side’s problems at centre-back would “make no sense”.
The Reds are desperately short of options at the back, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all injured.
But an adequate addition has not yet been identified, despite reported interest in the likes of Ozan Kabak, Dayot Upamecano and Ben White.
Callum Rice-Coates7 January 2021 10:04