Football
Liverpool looks red hot
Liverpool signing £151m trio & offloading quartet in final days before transfer deadline would confirm status as serious contenders for the biggest prizes
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been busy in the summer transfer window so far, but further dealings could be on the cards which could complete the team.
Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alisson and Naby Keita have all arrived at Anfield this summer which has greatly increased the options at Klopp’s disposal for the upcoming season, however, some shrewd extra changes could bring perfect harmony to the squad.
Here is a quick look at three potential players that could still be on the Red’s radar and four that may still be offloaded before the transfer window closes on August 9th…
IN – Ousmane Dembele
First on the list is Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, who has returned to the club this summer as a World Cup winner after starring for France in Russia.
According to Don Balon, Liverpool has already opened talks with Camp Nou officials about the possibility of signing the 21-year-old, who has endured a mixed start to life in Spain and could be knocked further down the pecking order at the club after the arrival of the Brazilian midfielder Malcolm.
The Reds have one of the best forward line-ups in Europe already but Dembele would undoubtedly take that to a whole new level if he can revive his career and show the kind of form that made him such a sought-after talent at Borussia Dortmund.
However, Don Balon note that he’d cost around £89million to let go, which makes this one heck of an ambitious deal to pull off this late in the summer, though remember Barcelona have an extra few weeks to reinvest that in a replacement – if new signing Malcom isn’t one already.
Ousmane Dembele
Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool and would be a superb signing
OUT – Simon Mignolet
The Belgian goalkeeper has been at Anfield since 2013 and started out as the club’s number 1 during his first few years on Merseyside. However, in recent times he has fallen way down the pecking order, most recently losing his place in the team to Loris Karius.
Alisson’s record transfer from Roma this summer practically spells the end for Mignolet’s time at Liverpool and after 155 appearances for the club and at the age of 30, now would be a good time to leave in search of regular action.
Barcelona has been among the reportedly interested parties but according to the Daily Express, the club has received no formal offers as of yet, with just 6 days left until the window shuts until January.
IN – Lucas Paqueta
This 20-year-old midfield star is currently plying his trade in his homeland in Brazil with Flamengo and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team after already featuring several times for the U-20’s.
Earlier in the window, Liverpool failed to bring Lyon’s Nabil Fekir to the club, as reported by The Express and they may now look to Paqueta as a suitable alternative for the Frenchman, possibly for around £40m, according to TeamTalk.
The Brazilian is an exciting young attacking midfielder who would add extra depth to Klopp’s offensive ranks and surely only improve in the coming years.