Liverpool could make ‘third attempt’ to sign centre-back after £20mllion offer rejected

Liverpool have been linked with the move of former transfer target Lloyd Kelly

Although Jürgen Klopp publicly stated in May that he would sign a new central defender, Liverpool have failed to strengthen their defense this summer.
Instead, revamping the midfield became the priority as the Reds parted ways with £150m to sign Alex Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.

Obviously they were looking for a young left-back, who could also play as a left-back and who would then fit well into their new preferred inverted full-back form. Levi Colwill had his admirers at Anfield after a successful season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, but the England Under-21 international opted to sign a new long-term contract with Chelsea instead.

Had Liverpool not been caught off guard by Saudi interest in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, they might have looked for an alternative to Colwill.
Instead, all that remains is to further strengthen the midfield, which has already included Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with the arrival of Endo and Gravenberch.

However, their failure to sign a new centre-back has already come under scrutiny four games into the new Premier League season.

Klopp was left with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as a pair in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa, with teenager Jarell Quansah the only substitute, while Ibrahima Konate is currently unavailable with a muscle injury, and Virgil van Dijk was waiting to see if His suspension following his sending off against Newcastle United was extended after being charged by the FA.

Admittedly, the current shortage is only short-lived. But considering that Van Dijk, Konate, Matip and Gomez have all been sidelined by injuries at different times in recent years and failed to step up their efforts, Liverpool are playing with fire.

Although the Reds failed to sign a centre-back this summer, they will have to do so within the next 12 months as Matip is set to leave the club next year when his contract expires.

Meanwhile, Van Dijk is not getting any younger, he is now 32 and his contract expires in two years, while Gomez and Konate have recently been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

It is inconceivable that Liverpool would lose their four senior centre-backs in quick succession.
But after the club have transformed both attack and midfield over the past 18 months, it’s clear that a defensive overhaul will be next on the club’s to-do list.

In the long term, the Reds need a successor to Van Dijk. But for now, this versatile and sought-after young centre-back would initially serve as both a replacement for Matip and an alternative to Andy Robertson on the left of Liverpool’s defensive trio.

And their quest for such a player could see them rekindle interest in a former target they’ve tried to sign twice before.

According to information from 90min, Liverpool are once again interested in Lloyd Kelly from AFC Bournemouth. The 24-year-old’s contract at the Vitality Stadium expires at the end of the 2023/24 season and he is in no rush to commit to a contract as Tottenham Hotspur rejected a £20million offer for his services on deadline day Renewal.

The report suggests Spurs will make another move for the defender in January and also credits Liverpool and Newcastle United with interest in the former England Under-21 international.

And while Bournemouth were hoping for more than £20m on deadline day, his contract status ensures that if he still doesn’t sign an extension, he will be in for one due to the limited time they would have had to find a viable replacement could be available mid-season reduced fee ahead of a potential Bosman departure next summer.

“He’s very valuable as a centre-back or left-back and we want him to be part of the team,” Bournemouth coach Adoni Iraola said of Kelly following Spurs’ offer last week, before hinting at a possible future exit.

“Sometimes there are situations that you cannot control and everyone involved must be happy that something is happening.”

More news…….

Fabrizio Romano responds to the unexpected Liverpool transfer rumor of a swap.

Despite transfer rumors involving a potential swap deal for Joao Felix, Liverpool never thought about selling Darwin Nunez this summer.

Fabrizio Romano made this claim in his exclusive CaughtOffside column in response to some claims that Liverpool had the option of swapping Nunez for Felix.

The Uruguayan international didn’t have the easiest time in his first season at Anfield last year, but it appears that manager Jurgen Klopp and the club’s board were all in favor of keeping him.

There doesn’t seem to be much substance to this story as Nunez is reportedly content at Liverpool and proud of being seen as untouchable by the Merseyside giants, according to Romano.

Romano is quick to provide accurate information on which stories are worth paying attention to and which are exaggerated or even lacking in substance.
There is always a ton of rumors and speculation throughout the summer and even in between the transfer windows.

Darwin Nunez – Despite rumors that a trade for Joao Felix was under consideration, Liverpool never wanted Darwin Nunez to leave this summer, according to Romano.

“On the club side, the decision to retain Darwin was made in a very clear manner by the board and the manager. Darwin was overjoyed when Liverpool declared him untouchable.