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Tag: Jurgen klopp

The club are now ready to sell Liverpool’s ‘enormous’ target for just £17million.

Torino are now reportedly ready to sell Perr Schuurs for just £17m (€20m) with Liverpool linked with the defender.

According to Football London, the Serie A side could enter negotiations to sell the Dutch centre-back for a bargain price of £17million, with Liverpool being one of several Premier League sides interested in Schuurs.

Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Tottenham have all been linked with the former Ajax star this summer, but given Jurgen Klopp’s need for a new defender, Liverpool’s interest could be the most interesting.

Midfield talk dominated the Liverpool rumor mill for most of the summer, but a defender could arguably be more important for the Reds at the start of the new season.

And Schuurs could be exactly that player, with the EPL Index hailing the 23-year-old as a “tremendous” player after establishing himself with Torino as one of Serie A’s best defenders. Moreover, this latest update could persuade Liverpool to sign Schuurs, who could be a dream defensive signing this summer given his style of play and age.

Liverpool must test the waters for Schuurs this week

Liverpool are slowly moving away from signing a defender in this window as Schuurs could now be available at a price that could make the Dutchman one of the bargains of the summer.

Athletic, strong and brilliant on the ball, Schuurs ticks all the boxes Liverpool are looking for in a new defender. Torino now cost the centre-back just £17million.

A deal may sound too good to be true for Liverpool, but the Reds must now do their utmost to sign Schuurs before next week’s deadline.

More news…….

Jürgen Klopp has just been offered 30 reasons by Cody Gakpo to continue Liverpool’s transfer overhaul.

Cody Gakpo has yet to come to grips with life as a midfielder. The Dutchman is a solid player but he has a big department to improve on.

Cody Gakpo faces a tough challenge this month in his first two rounds in the Premier League. Jürgen Klopp has so far taken four points from his duels against Chelsea and Bournemouth, and in those games he has used Gakpo as a midfielder rather than a striker.

The Dutchman was deployed as the number eight left wing in the two games, largely due to a lack of options in the engine room at the moment. Since Klopp approved the surprise departures of both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer, he has so far only replaced the pair with Wataru Endo, who only signed on the dotted line on Friday.

Additionally, Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić are currently recovering from injuries, with Gakpo forced to play as a makeshift midfielder to fill his boss’s void. The 24-year-old talent performed admirably but seemed to have an obvious weakness in his game.

Simply put, Gakpo is not used to touching the ball often. As a striker, he was used to being involved in the last third before creating chances or scoring a goal for PSV Eindhoven – his former club – which explains why he sometimes found himself a little uncomfortable when he had to offer himself as a a factor constant. possibility of moving to Anfield. Against Chelsea in the opening weekend, he amassed a total of just 10 completions in 65 minutes before being replaced by Curtis Jones, who then completed 15 in just 25 minutes on the pitch. No player who started the game completed fewer passes than Gakpo, which is quite incredible considering his position in the center of the park.

Liverpool hosted Bournemouth at Anfield this weekend. Klopp again made the decision to use Gakpo as number eight – with Jones sidelined with an ankle problem – but despite the Reds winning 3-1, the same problem arose. The Dutch international had just 20 completed passes this time around, again the fewest for a player in the red. Gakpo has played a total of 127 minutes in England’s top flight this season and is averaging just 21 assists per 90 minutes. It’s far too early to judge numbers as the sample size is simply too small to be reliable, but its average is very low for a midfielder in a dominant team.

To illustrate, Dominik Szoboszlai has averaged 50 out of 90 successful passes in an identical role on the right flank, and it’s also worth noting that he’s a new signing, having arrived from RB Leipzig earlier this summer. Jones, who could return in the coming weeks, averaged 53 out of 90 assists last season in the Premier League.

Gakpo is generally a positive contributor and his ceiling is undeniably high, but if he is to continue playing in the middle of the park he will need to give the Reds more control by getting on the ball more often and finding his teammates with accurate passing .
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Speaking to AD last season, Gakpo spoke about his gradual evolution to become more of a center-of-the-park midfielder.

“Guus Hiddink was the first to mention the change,” he said. \”He was at PSV for a while as a sounding board. I didn’t want to believe it then. And not even when Roger Schmidt later said the same thing to PSV. I was more stubborn than now and felt good on the left wing. But at the last World Cup I was already more central on the pitch and at Liverpool also permanently in the last six months. I’m just more excited to improve at that place in the near future.”

“He’s been playing number eight pretty much all preseason,” said his manager, Klopp, when asked about his performance this weekend. “Players can play in different positions in modern football. Not even Szoboszlai played in that position for his old club. The role suits him.

Klopp might be right, but based on his past performances, Gakpo seems like a striker who receives the ball less often but poses a real threat whenever he’s involved. He certainly has the quality to develop as a midfielder, but his obscurity perhaps offers a glimpse of Liverpool’s need to continue their top-flight rebuilding work.

The engine room renovation is nearing completion with the additions of Endo, Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister this summer. However, more reinforcements are needed if Klopp really wants to challenge on all fronts this season.

August 22, 2023
Liverpool are appealing Alexis Mac Allister’s red card ahead of their game against Newcastle

Liverpool have decided to appeal the red card received by Alexis Mac Allister in Saturday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth

Liverpool have decided to make a formal appeal against the controversial dismissal of Alexis Mac Allister in the Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

Mac Allister received a direct red card from referee Thomas Bramall just before the hour mark after a challenge with Ryan Christie in the Reds’ 3-1 win at Anfield on Saturday.

Neither VAR Paul Tierney nor assistant Constantine Hatzidakis saw reason to order Bramall to review the decision on the pitch monitor, leaving Mac Allister – who arrived from Brighton in the summer for £35million and made his home debut – facing a three-game ban.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp immediately questioned the decision and raised the possibility of challenging the dismissal.

And the Reds have now decided to appeal to the Football Association in the unfair dismissal category within two days of the incident. The FA will now review the evidence through an independent regulatory committee and will have the power to overturn the decision and overturn Mac Allister’s suspension.

They will report back later this week with Mac Allister currently missing Sunday’s away fixture against Newcastle United, along with fixtures against Aston Villa at home and Wolverhampton Wanderers away.

Liverpool have heeded the FA’s position on “frivolous” appeals, which could lead to a three-match ban which could be extended to four if the appeal is rejected. However, an appeal may be dismissed without penalty of an extra game if it is felt that there was reason to question the original decision.

Klopp said on Saturday: “I’ve reviewed it, I think the number of times I’ve been asked about it shows we’re talking about it. In the game I asked Macca and he said ‘I touched it but not really’ is all he told me.

“After the match I saw that and if you have a point list of what we need to give a red card, to what we need for contact, at that point there’s no other box ticked.” the 40-minute penalty with 10 men is sufficient punishment.”

More news…….

Liverpool would need to sign three more players to complete Jurgen Klopp’s $261m transfer rebuild

Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan gives us his thoughts on the Reds’ latest talking points, including transfers and Wataru Endo.

Liverpool return to the Premier League against Bournemouth today. Jurgen Klopp’s side will return to Anfield for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in May.

After picking up the same draw at Chelsea six days ago in the opening weekend, Liverpool will be looking to go the extra mile this time and make sure they don’t come into a tough game at Newcastle. United without a win already, according to The Table.

Before the game, we asked Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan a few questions about the Reds, including transfers, new signing Wataru Endo and more.

Wataru Endo is officially a Liverpool player. Thoughts?

Endo brings a lot of experience to the table, but the vast majority of fans will never have heard of him. All of the various scouting reports sound positive, but we’ll have to see it in action before we can pass judgement. If he is joined by another new signing, two fans will be satisfied. Otherwise, they will be frustrated by the club’s lack of investment. Sometimes unexpected acquisitions bring the greatest success. Could our new Endo replace the former Hendo and take us to glory? Time will tell.

What was your opinion on the Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia sagas?

The challenges in the middle of the pitch were obvious to everyone last season. We spent the year confident that Jude Bellingham would come and there was money to spend.

We signed two players for a total of $121m (£95m/€111m) and it all looked promising. Despite Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, we felt like we needed another player in the middle. All summer we heard rumors about Khéphren Thuram, Manu Koné and Ryan Gravenberch, and in July rumors about Roméo Lavia surfaced.

I feel like the club have been contradictory in their approach to Lavia. They went on to make three offers and then jumped on Caicedo. If the club really wanted to sign Lavia, they should have been able to agree after the second offer. However, the perception among supporters was that there was little money left for the club and we were trying to save every penny we could. If we really wanted that we should have jumped in and paid the money.

From Caicedo, I have a certain sympathy for the club. Liverpool apparently took part in a blind auction, encouraged by the player’s brokers. Eventually we were used by agents to raise the fee when the player ultimately had no intention of joining the club. People will say Liverpool haven’t done their homework. However, if they had interacted with the agent, as we have been led to believe, and were encouraged, they cannot be blamed. I really think Caicedo would have been an ideal midfield signing and would have had a similar impact on Liverpool as he had N\’Golo Kante on Chelsea when he joined them.

What else do you need to do in the summer to be happy with Liverpool’s business?

In an ideal world I would still like the club to get a midfielder and a defender. The return of Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić will have a positive impact on midfield, but after Endo I would like to have one more in the centre. If we had rejected an offer of $140m (£110m/€128m) for Caicedo and spent just $21m (£16m/€19m) on Endo, we would have paid $119m (£93m/€ 109 million) Left. Could we do Thuram, Gravenberch and a defender for that? Add that to spending already made and the total summer spend is $261m (£205m/€240m). The biggest mistake I would make at the club would be not to sign players before returning to pre-season. It was clear we needed more than Mac Allister and Szoboszlai before Henderson and Fabinho left, and pre-season plays an important role in getting players settled.

How did you experience the game against Chelsea? A hope for the three points against Bournemouth? There were moments where we were fantastic against Chelsea. But there were times when we looked so naked in the middle of the field. Like last year, I felt we could have finished the game early. I’m still scratching my head over some refereeing decisions. A point away at Chelsea can always be appreciated. And who knows, this could be the point that earns us the title. We have a difficult start and therefore a good start is essential. Three points and a positive performance are decisive today.

Anything else to mention?

To attempt the title, Anfield must once again become a fortress. Nineteen home games have the potential to yield 57 points. Aim for at least 50.

August 22, 2023
Liverpool willing to offer £26m to sign £34m midfielder – Decision made

Liverpool have been linked with several defensive midfielders since offloading Fabinho and Henderson.

To replace the Samba star at Anfield, the Reds have mainly wanted to attract their compatriot, Andre Trindade, from Fluminense.

If the reports in the South American media are correct, then Liverpool are ready to offer £26m to sign the player this summer, but the Habs have decided to keep him at least until the end of the campaign.

According to Globo Esporte, to land the 22-year-old game-breaker in the current transfer window, Liverpool have indicated they are willing to offer €30m (£26m).

However, the Merseysiders haven’t formalized their offer as Fluminense have made it clear they have no intention of selling their prized asset until the end of the campaign in December. The Brazilians’ dream is to win the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history and they will face Olimpia in the quarter-final first leg on Thursday night.

Such is reportedly his desire to scoop the continent’s biggest prize that Fluminense turned down a record £26million sale for Andre, one of coach Fernando Diniz’s key players.

The youngster’s current contract expires in December 2026 and Liverpool may be able to force a deal by paying the €40m (£34m) release clause (Terra).

Jurgen Klopp has already signed the experienced Endo to bolster the DM position but the 30-year-old Japanese midfielder is mostly a short-term fix.

Do you think Liverpool should sign a young player this summer to further strengthen the department or wait until the January transfer window to sign Andre?

More news…….

Dream next Liverpool transfers as “everything can happen” with Cheick Doucouré’s addition and the $27 million Klopp deal.

Wataru Endo has officially been acquired by Liverpool, but more deals are needed. Two areas still need to be addressed, as Jürgen Klopp has acknowledged.

In his press conference, Jürgen Klopp used a reasonable voice. Wataru Endo could actually play a significant role in the upcoming season, so the Liverpool manager didn’t want to downplay his acquisition, but he also didn’t want to rule out additional transfer activity.

While Klopp admitted he had already been surprised more than once this summer, he effectively dismissed the idea of additional outgoings and was very receptive to incoming business. In the final two weeks before the deadline, he said, “everything can happen,” with Liverpool continuing to “look.”.

That ought to be fairly obvious in many ways. After all, FSG had just recently proposed paying Moisés Caicedo $140 million (£110 million/€127 million). Although it was obviously a failure, there seemed to be an implied recognition of a critical area of need. It’s hard to imagine why that wasn’t the original plan if it could be adequately met for the better part of $120m less.

Liverpool hasn’t, however, ever just thrown money around for the sake of it. Endo is deserving of a great deal of respect, and Klopp seems genuinely willing to continue the season with the Japan captain at the position of starting number six. Any opportunity must be the right one.

But regardless of whether they fall short of the ideal standard, Liverpool must ultimately work to close the best deals possible during the remaining time in the window. There is obviously money available to spend, but more business is necessary to give Klopp a legitimate chance to compete.

Even though midfielders have been the only players transferred so far, that is still a position that needs improvement. In a perfect world, Liverpool would bring in an additional six players as partners as well as a rotational option for Endo.

Even though Liverpool undoubtedly took inspiration from the “inversions” at Manchester City and Arsenal, the strategy is actually quite different. Trent Alexander-Arnold is not Oleksandr Zinchenko or John Stones, so despite the fact that he might appear to form a double pivot with the number six on paper, in practice he is tucking into a role that is much more akin to the number eight or even number 10 in order to make use of his generational creative skills.

Playing two genuine defensive midfielders would be a viable option, especially if Liverpool’s defense continues to be a weakness in their game. Alexander-Arnold would have real freedom to play a role that was very loosely defined, drifting around in the spaces next to Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister, with Endo playing alongside someone like Cheick Doucouré.

The Evening Standard identified Doucouré as Liverpool’s top target in the midfield, and he does appear to be the best option among the rest. He could be developed under Klopp as the long-term Fabinho replacement while sharing the load with Endo for at least the next couple of years. He is already at a high Premier League standard and has plenty of room to improve.

That would essentially organize the midfield for Liverpool. An additional number eight would be ideal if I were really greedy, but that seems unlikely at this point, especially since the search for a new center-back should take priority.

Having spent the majority of his career playing in the defense, Endo has once more possibly lessened the urgency of the search. However, Liverpool needs to find a left-sided specialist who can take Andy Robertson’s place in some games immediately and who also has the potential to replace Virgil van Dijk in the future.

That is a very difficult request. However, Arthur Theate, a name that has only recently gained notoriety (via L’Équipe), checks a lot of the right boxes. At 23, he is another who Liverpool could develop while immediately adding depth.

Football Transfers estimates Theate’s value at $27 million (£21 million/€25 million) using its proprietary “expected transfer value” tool. Liverpool might anticipate Rennes to demand more given the state of the market. But any deal in that area would be a wise business move.

It’s important to remember that adding Theate and Doucouré to the roster would push Liverpool over the limit in terms of foreign players, which is an issue that cannot be entirely avoided. However, there is always the option of not registering someone, for instance Adrián, if the ideal homegrown solution does not emerge.

Anything can happen, as Klopp points out. But those two transactions would cap off a wholly satisfying transfer window for Liverpool, positioning the team for the present and the future.

August 22, 2023
“The way he plays”: Rio Ferdinand says that nobody takes any risks than Liverpool, 24 Year old

Rio Ferdinand says Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘takes more risks’ than any other player in his position in the world.

The Manchester United legend reacted to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mistake during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth this weekend.

While Ferdinand “doesn’t deny” the 24-year-old was at fault when Bournemouth opened the scoring at Anfield, he made it clear that he is a “risky” player, as he told Vibe with Five.

Jurgen Klopp is now asking his right-back to sit in the middle of the park and dictate play from there.

Towards the end of last season he was doing really well in that new role to the point Gareth Southgate was using him as an absolute number ten for England and he performed very well. But after his blunder over the weekend, Ferdinand was quick to defend Alexander-Arnold and what makes him so great.

“If you play like him, you lose the ball, it’s a risk,” said Ferdinand.

“Trent takes more risks than any other full-back in ball play, it’s just the way he plays. He’s a risky player with the ball.

“Everything he does is about progress. I won’t deny it (Trent’s mistake against Bournemouth).

Midfield is Alexander-Arnold’s future

On the national and international stage, this is the long-term answer for the attacking full-back.

What’s interesting is that maybe Southgate will use him more in that attacking midfield role than Jürgen Klopp

Yes Southgate can afford to do a lot more for England given the many names he can pick at right-back, but there are some Liverpool fans calling for the club to invest in a right-back so TAA can go into midfield in movement.

More news……..

Dream next Liverpool transfers as “everything can happen” with Cheick Doucouré’s addition and the $27 million Klopp deal.

Wataru Endo has officially been acquired by Liverpool, but more deals are needed. Two areas still need to be addressed, as Jürgen Klopp has acknowledged.

In his press conference, Jürgen Klopp used a reasonable voice. Wataru Endo could actually play a significant role in the upcoming season, so the Liverpool manager didn’t want to downplay his acquisition, but he also didn’t want to rule out additional transfer activity.

While Klopp admitted he had already been surprised more than once this summer, he effectively dismissed the idea of additional outgoings and was very receptive to incoming business. In the final two weeks before the deadline, he said, “everything can happen,” with Liverpool continuing to “look.”.

That ought to be fairly obvious in many ways. After all, FSG had just recently proposed paying Moisés Caicedo $140 million (£110 million/€127 million). Although it was obviously a failure, there seemed to be an implied recognition of a critical area of need. It’s hard to imagine why that wasn’t the original plan if it could be adequately met for the better part of $120m less.

Liverpool hasn’t, however, ever just thrown money around for the sake of it. Endo is deserving of a great deal of respect, and Klopp seems genuinely willing to continue the season with the Japan captain at the position of starting number six. Any opportunity must be the right one.

But regardless of whether they fall short of the ideal standard, Liverpool must ultimately work to close the best deals possible during the remaining time in the window. There is obviously money available to spend, but more business is necessary to give Klopp a legitimate chance to compete.

Even though midfielders have been the only players transferred so far, that is still a position that needs improvement. In a perfect world, Liverpool would bring in an additional six players as partners as well as a rotational option for Endo.

Even though Liverpool undoubtedly took inspiration from the “inversions” at Manchester City and Arsenal, the strategy is actually quite different. Trent Alexander-Arnold is not Oleksandr Zinchenko or John Stones, so despite the fact that he might appear to form a double pivot with the number six on paper, in practice he is tucking into a role that is much more akin to the number eight or even number 10 in order to make use of his generational creative skills.

Playing two genuine defensive midfielders would be a viable option, especially if Liverpool’s defense continues to be a weakness in their game. Alexander-Arnold would have real freedom to play a role that was very loosely defined, drifting around in the spaces next to Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister, with Endo playing alongside someone like Cheick Doucouré.

The Evening Standard identified Doucouré as Liverpool’s top target in the midfield, and he does appear to be the best option among the rest. He could be developed under Klopp as the long-term Fabinho replacement while sharing the load with Endo for at least the next couple of years. He is already at a high Premier League standard and has plenty of room to improve.

That would essentially organize the midfield for Liverpool. An additional number eight would be ideal if I were really greedy, but that seems unlikely at this point, especially since the search for a new center-back should take priority.

Having spent the majority of his career playing in the defense, Endo has once more possibly lessened the urgency of the search. However, Liverpool needs to find a left-sided specialist who can take Andy Robertson’s place in some games immediately and who also has the potential to replace Virgil van Dijk in the future.

That is a very difficult request. However, Arthur Theate, a name that has only recently gained notoriety (via L’Équipe), checks a lot of the right boxes. At 23, he is another who Liverpool could develop while immediately adding depth.

Football Transfers estimates Theate’s value at $27 million (£21 million/€25 million) using its proprietary “expected transfer value” tool. Liverpool might anticipate Rennes to demand more given the state of the market. But any deal in that area would be a wise business move.

It’s important to remember that adding Theate and Doucouré to the roster would push Liverpool over the limit in terms of foreign players, which is an issue that cannot be entirely avoided. However, there is always the option of not registering someone, for instance Adrián, if the ideal homegrown solution does not emerge.

Anything can happen, as Klopp points out. But those two transactions would cap off a wholly satisfying transfer window for Liverpool, positioning the team for the present and the future.

August 22, 2023
Jürgen Klopp has just been offered 30 reasons by Cody Gakpo to continue Liverpool’s transfer overhaul.

Cody Gakpo has yet to come to grips with life as a midfielder. The Dutchman is a solid player but he has a big department to improve on.

Cody Gakpo faces a tough challenge this month in his first two rounds in the Premier League. Jürgen Klopp has so far taken four points from his duels against Chelsea and Bournemouth, and in those games he has used Gakpo as a midfielder rather than a striker.

The Dutchman was deployed as the number eight left wing in the two games, largely due to a lack of options in the engine room at the moment. Since Klopp approved the surprise departures of both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer, he has so far only replaced the pair with Wataru Endo, who only signed on the dotted line on Friday.

Additionally, Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić are currently recovering from injuries, with Gakpo forced to play as a makeshift midfielder to fill his boss’s void. The 24-year-old talent performed admirably but seemed to have an obvious weakness in his game.

Simply put, Gakpo is not used to touching the ball often. As a striker, he was used to being involved in the last third before creating chances or scoring a goal for PSV Eindhoven – his former club – which explains why he sometimes found himself a little uncomfortable when he had to offer himself as a a factor constant. possibility of moving to Anfield. Against Chelsea in the opening weekend, he amassed a total of just 10 completions in 65 minutes before being replaced by Curtis Jones, who then completed 15 in just 25 minutes on the pitch. No player who started the game completed fewer passes than Gakpo, which is quite incredible considering his position in the center of the park.

Liverpool hosted Bournemouth at Anfield this weekend. Klopp again made the decision to use Gakpo as number eight – with Jones sidelined with an ankle problem – but despite the Reds winning 3-1, the same problem arose. The Dutch international had just 20 completed passes this time around, again the fewest for a player in the red. Gakpo has played a total of 127 minutes in England’s top flight this season and is averaging just 21 assists per 90 minutes. It’s far too early to judge numbers as the sample size is simply too small to be reliable, but its average is very low for a midfielder in a dominant team.

To illustrate, Dominik Szoboszlai has averaged 50 out of 90 successful passes in an identical role on the right flank, and it’s also worth noting that he’s a new signing, having arrived from RB Leipzig earlier this summer. Jones, who could return in the coming weeks, averaged 53 out of 90 assists last season in the Premier League.

Gakpo is generally a positive contributor and his ceiling is undeniably high, but if he is to continue playing in the middle of the park he will need to give the Reds more control by getting on the ball more often and finding his teammates with accurate passing .
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Speaking to AD last season, Gakpo spoke about his gradual evolution to become more of a center-of-the-park midfielder.

“Guus Hiddink was the first to mention the change,” he said. \”He was at PSV for a while as a sounding board. I didn’t want to believe it then. And not even when Roger Schmidt later said the same thing to PSV. I was more stubborn than now and felt good on the left wing. But at the last World Cup I was already more central on the pitch and at Liverpool also permanently in the last six months. I’m just more excited to improve at that place in the near future.”

“He’s been playing number eight pretty much all preseason,” said his manager, Klopp, when asked about his performance this weekend. “Players can play in different positions in modern football. Not even Szoboszlai played in that position for his old club. The role suits him.

Klopp might be right, but based on his past performances, Gakpo seems like a striker who receives the ball less often but poses a real threat whenever he’s involved. He certainly has the quality to develop as a midfielder, but his obscurity perhaps offers a glimpse of Liverpool’s need to continue their top-flight rebuilding work.

The engine room renovation is nearing completion with the additions of Endo, Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister this summer. However, more reinforcements are needed if Klopp really wants to challenge on all fronts this season.

August 22, 2023
Fourth signing in midfield, a central defender: the realistic end of the transfer window for Liverpool

Liverpool are looking for a fourth signing this summer, but he may not be the only transfer market before the close of the period on 1 September

Tick tock the countdown therefore continues towards the end of a transfer window which has already seen significant changes in the Liverpool squad.

A number of old servants have departed, with captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho following free agents James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain through the exit door, while mercenary Arthur Melo has been sent back to Juventus.

Liverpool initially moved quickly to overhaul their midfield with Argentina’s £35m World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and £60m Hungary’s skipper Dominik Szoboszlai both recruited ahead of the start of the pre-season. season.

However, the search for a proven defensive midfielder proved far more complicated, with Chelsea thwarting attempts to sign both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia before the Reds made a surprise dive last Friday to sign 30-year-old Japan international Wataru Endo from Stuttgart. for £16.25 million. While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted that doesn’t mean there’s nearly £95m left in the coffers after the £111m bid for Caicedo failed, he there is no doubt that there are still significant funds for transfers. And with the 11 p.m. deadline on Friday, the Reds may not be done with their business yet.

One player whose future will be settled is Nat Phillips. The centre-back didn’t feature at all during pre-season – despite traveling to Germany for a training camp – and didn’t feature in the squad for the opening games of the season against Chelsea and Bournemouth.

The 26-year-old has played just eight games for the Reds in the past two seasons – including just one as a Premier League starter – with champions Leeds United linked with a move for him all summer.

There is a group of Academy players who could go on loan, including James Norris, Melkamu Frauendorf and Billy Koumetio. Tyler Morton’s situation is more complicated as the midfielder has yet to return to training after his one-season spell at Blackburn Rovers was cut short by a broken foot last season. Liverpool have no plans to let Bobby Clark or Ben Doak go this summer.

However, what worries fans the most is whether Liverpool can further strengthen their squad in the first team. And Klopp’s comments in the wake of Endo’s arrival suggest the defensive midfielder may not be the latest signing. “If we have the right players we will take a look,” the Reds boss said on Friday. “We are always in the market to observe and see what is happening and what we can do. We are definitely trying to strengthen the squad and that’s it.”

Another midfielder is not yet certain, but it is a possibility, either a number six or an all-rounder in the engine room. Liverpool remain a big admirer of Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch. The 21-year-old is frustrated after starting just six games since moving to the Bundesliga last summer.

Crystal Palace Mali international Cheick Doucour is also under scrutiny, although the Reds have so far shown no intention of expressing any concrete interest. Liverpool are also eyeing Brazilian international Andre but the 23-year-old will almost certainly stay with Fluminense as long as he remains in the Copa Libertadores, the next round of which is played on deadline day.

Klopp admitted in May that Liverpool were exploring the possibility of signing a centre-back this summer, and that he could now become the priority. While not a pressing concern, the reality is that both Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are now in their 30s – the latter in the final year of his current contract – and Joe Gomez has been battling for consistent form.

With a left centre-back as the ideal signing, Levi Colwill was a target until the England Under-21 international signed a new contract with Chelsea, although Micky van de Ven – now at Tottenham Hotspur – has never been a serious option despite strong ties. rather at the window. Perr Schuurs, the 23-year-old Turin international, has long been admired by Liverpool.

August 22, 2023
Liverpool could face $89m repeat of Aurélien Tchouaméni transfer problem but already has initial fix

Liverpool opted not to move for anyone else last summer when Aurélien Tchouaméni was unavailable, but Jürgen Klopp made no such mistake this time around.

Having secured a deal for Wataru Endo in time for the Japanese captain’s debut in this weekend’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, attention will now turn to what else Liverpool can do before Friday’s transfer deadline .

Jürgen Klopp and Jörg Schmadtke could have hectic days ahead, with glaring gaps in the Liverpool squad still to be filled. But what is the next priority for the Reds?

On the one hand, Endo presents itself as a seemingly short-term solution. It’s too early to judge, but the 30-year-old will need time to adjust to the Premier League’s pace in Saturday’s minimum test.

It could therefore be tempting to bring in another midfielder when there is also a need to consider another centre-back, as that is the other obvious pressing issue.

There is something else that goes into any decision on multiple signings in midfield. Crystal Palace value Cheick Doucouré at a staggering $89m (£70m/€82m) according to the Evening Standard, amid interest from the Reds, no doubt buoyed by Liverpool’s desperation – tempered at some way from the addition of Endo – for a defensive midfielder.

Cheick Doucouré

But spending $89m on Doucoure now, Liverpool would say this was the player they wanted for Klopp in that role for years to come. You don’t spend that much on a backup option (unless you’re Chelsea). Adding a second short-term fix (even one cheaper than Doucouré) would also clog up roster spots.

Having lost Aurélien Tchouaméni and now Moisés Caicedo, Liverpool need a world-class option to fill that role, especially as the more attacking system relies heavily on that player, but whether or not Doucouré has the potential to become one. of the best in the world in that position.

He may be very good and could have been Crystal Palace’s player of the year, but $89m is a sum set aside for a potential turning point at Anfield – and Doucouré may not represent that.

Liverpool, who signed Endo, have avoided putting themselves in the same position they did last season when it comes to midfielders. There will be no panic loan for Arthur Melo 2.0 in the next few days.

But there is still a mystery about what comes next. If the next Caicedo or Tchouaméni isn’t available for purchase, there’s a reason not to do anything until it changes.

In the meantime, Endo can hopefully catch up and Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić can be fit more often than not. Signing Doucoure would improve Liverpool’s chances in the short term but perhaps limit the cap in the long term. That’s essentially the conclusion Liverpool came to last season when they decided not to give up anyone in lieu of a Tchouameni alternative.

The difference this year is that there should be enough cover and new energy has already been added in the form of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who immediately improve Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

More news…….

Liverpool are in a position to finally sign a player worth £34.2m after a £26m bid was rejected – report

Liverpool conceded another sloppy goal at Anfield against the Cherries and need to strengthen their defense if they are to put up a serious title challenge this season.

Dutch centre-back Perr Schuurs has long been on Klopp’s wishlist and the latest reports are intriguing.

Last month, the Merseysiders made two offers to lure the defender out of Turin. The latest bid was over €30m (over £26m) but was rejected (Tutto Sport).

Liverpool are well placed to finally sign the 23-year-old, according to an exclusive story shared by Football Insider yesterday.

The Anfield club wanted Mickey van de Ven but he opted for a move to Spurs, on the other hand Goncalo Inacio ended up signing a new contract with Sporting CP, the league’s top club. Now the focus is once again on Perr Schuurs, who is held in high regard by LFC and Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk.

The news source mentioned that a transfer fee of £30million could be required to sign the former Ajax player before the transfer deadline is over 10 days away.

However, reports in Italy (CM) suggest that an offer of £34.2m (€40m) will be needed to sign him from the Turin club.

Last week Schuurs played a full 90 minutes as Torino beat Feralpisalo 2-1 in the Coppa Italia first round.

He is expected to be in the starting XI when Il Toro take on Cagliari tomorrow to kick off the Serie A season. In your opinion, should Liverpool raise their offer again to sign Perr Schuurs?

August 21, 2023
Liverpool just missed perfect transfer opportunity for Jürgen Klopp as $25m USMNT star move confirmed

Liverpool signed Wataru Endo this week but made the decision to ignore USMNT star Tyler Adams, who has just been officially announced as Bournemouth’s new player.

Liverpool made a relatively curious move into the transfer market earlier this week. With Jürgen Klopp desperate for defensive midfielders at Anfield after persuading both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to move to Saudi Arabia this summer, the Reds have invested in the services of one Wataru Endo.

The Japan captain is a relatively unknown quantity on England’s shores, with the vast majority of Liverpool fans needing to Google his name to find out the details surrounding his profile. Endo was officially announced as Klopp’s latest signing on Friday afternoon, joining from Stuttgart for $21m.

In fact, he made his Anfield debut at the weekend having been introduced to Premier League life as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth. Endo is certainly the type of player that Liverpool are missing at the moment, as the Reds’ squad is brimming with attacking power.

During his very first conversation with Endo in the Liverpool dressing room, Klopp told him: “Once you are available, we really need you.” we really need you Your heart and your footballing legs and your brain, we need it.” . We have a very good team. Willing to work, but very offensive.”

A selfless midfielder who is more than willing to work and gain ground, Endo will be a welcome addition, but he is already 30 years old. Given his age, many fans believe another defence-focused transfer is needed to bolster Klopp’s engine room, including Cheick Doucoure.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will pursue a younger role model in the coming days, but interestingly no decision was made for Tyler Adams last week. The USMNT star has now joined Bournemouth from Leeds United (according to BBC Sport), with the Cherries triggering his relatively modest $25m (£20m/€23m) release clause. The American midfielder was relegated from the Premier League last season and was therefore available at such a reasonable price.

Adams isn’t much like Endo in many ways. He is six years younger, but just as diligent, energetic and tireless. Adams is a true field runner in the middle of the field, playing almost shades of Jordan Henderson and James Milner at their athletic best in a redshirt.

He’s a natural when it comes to covering too much ground for his teammates, and first emerged as a prospect within the notorious Red Bull network, which always bodes well for a move to Liverpool. He arrived on the New York scene as a teenager before moving to Europe in 2019, signing for RB Leipzig in Germany.

Up until the age of 23, Adams only represented teams under the Red Bull umbrella, with those suits designed to uphold the famed energy drink brand’s core values. RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg tend to show intensity, life and power on the pitch, with very welcome counter-attacks and pressure, similar to Liverpool under Klopp.

This explains why the Reds have often ripped off the best players within the Red Bull network. Naby Keïta, Takumi Minamino, Ibrahima Konaté and Sadio Mané are just a few examples of players who have performed in Leipzig or Salzburg before moving on to Liverpool, with Dominik Szoboszlai the latest to follow the same path at Merseyside.

Adams was available at a reduced price this summer, but instead of taking him to Anfield alongside Endo, Klopp appears to have missed the opportunity to move. With the window closing in less than two weeks, it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will pursue another transfer market addition.

If one thing is certain, it is that Klopp is taking a big risk if Endo is his latest reinforcement.

August 21, 2023
The transformation of the Liverpool midfielder: reasons to be happy, parts 1, 2 and 3

Liverpool’s recent victory at Anfield against Bournemouth might not have been as haunting as it was at this time last year, but there were signs of a new horizon.

A promising end to the season in terms of form and results, an initially optimistic start to our summer transfer business, then disruptive Arabian Nights followed by no return attempts to lure Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Anfield.

Add an incomplete stand at Anfield and things are a bit turbulent.

Glad everything is going well on the pitch as the new season has started…

An overly generous and sloppy opening, profuse gifts offered as a goal in our own half seemed elusive. When the ball first landed in the Liverpool net on Saturday, the incident itself – and the linesman’s flag – should have acted like fragrant salts.

But they didn’t.

Even with a deficit, Jurgen Klopp’s players seemed to be tripping over their own feet, as if the score in the corresponding game last season had entitled them to sleepwalk in the first home game.

As juxtapositions go, this was the opposite of what happened at Stamford Bridge six days earlier, where Liverpool were dominant and calm until Mo Salah’s VAR foul turned an expected 2-0 lead into a inconclusive 1-1 draw.

Three goals and a red card later, and it looked a little more than scripted we might have imagined for the start of 2023/24, after 2022/23 ended with a run of seven wins and four draws in one unbeaten streak last 11 Premier League games.

Perspective and all while some of us are opting for the layer of emotional protection that comes with an “expect the worst and hope for the best” approach to our hopes this time around despite the transfer setbacks, I think there are reasons to be cheerful. A two-part renovation

Two-part rebuild

The midfield, which had long been the elephant in the Anfield dressing room – including during winning seasons in the Champions League and Premier League – has finally had its much-needed restart.

Partly planned, partly unexpected. Five out, three in as things stand, with the third of those newcomers arriving just over 24 hours before kickoff on Saturday.

It provided an uplifting but uncomfortable rejuvenation.

The numbers game is no doubt a concern, but it was tempered by the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic last season and the ground made up by Curtis Jones in the run up to that. Of the others we were able to keep, Thiago remains but will certainly stick to his average, missing at least a third of the season, while the decision on Harvey Elliott, which seemed to raise more questions than answers, is still largely undecided. his late appearance on Saturday.

The departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came as no surprise this summer, but the losses of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were clearly not part of the script.

The latter two were certainly keen on their lucrative move east, but it was highly unusual for Liverpool to let them go without a replacement being found and secured.

The next great midfield duo?

Rightly or wrongly, Fabinho and Henderson provided Liverpool’s midfield base for a long time, with a revolving door system dictating who should play alongside them.

Demographics are changing dramatically. The departure of Henderson and Fabinho could very well do us.

The next great midfield duo?

You can’t help but be thrilled by the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who, together, offer us third eye vision and a force of nature that can mesmerizingly serve us for many years to come.

Mac Allister is perfect for Liverpool in theory. Cultured, intelligent and calm in possession, he worked out the angles in his head long before interacting with the ball. Potentially, after nearly a decade and a half of waiting, we may have finally found an heir for Xabi Alonso.

He had difficulties with the red card shown to him on Saturday, but even if it had been a yellow card it would still have been two yellow cards in the first two games.

Even if his sending off against Bournemouth were to be reversed, we will probably have to get used to his periodic suspensions over the next few months.

In Szoboszlai we find a player who seems to have everything you could want from a midfielder.

Power, pace, offensive spirit, no problem handling the dark arts when necessary, nose for goal, will to win, passion and dedication. An iron fist in a player’s velvet glove, it’s a joy to behold.

The missing piece?

Our latest signing, Wataru Endo, entered the fray shortly after Mac Allister’s departure on Saturday, and played his part in taking us to as serene a third endgame as we could have wished for with 10 men.

Strangely, Endo was canceled by a glass-half-empty caller on the Radio Merseyside phone as I was walking home, apparently for no better reason than the fact that it was about £95m cheaper than Caicedo would have stopped us.

Whether or not Klopp makes another midfield addition before the end of the transfer window, signing Endo could prove to be a smart move.

The departures of Henderson, Fabinho and Milner have seen much of the team’s experience disappear and the Japanese captain is able to make up some of the shortfall.

We’ll probably need a lot of that at Tyneside next Sunday in a game where we can’t afford to have Cody Gakpo in midfield.

Coming off a crucial win over Bournemouth, a fixture between trips to Chelsea and Newcastle next Sunday gives us an opportunity to make a statement if we can.

That goes for both Liverpool’s position and whether Eddie Howe and his players are raising doubts about how they feel about themselves and their chances this season.

August 21, 2023
Liverpool would need to sign three more players to complete Jurgen Klopp’s $261m transfer rebuild

Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan gives us his thoughts on the Reds’ latest talking points, including transfers and Wataru Endo.

Liverpool return to the Premier League against Bournemouth today. Jurgen Klopp’s side will return to Anfield for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in May.

After picking up the same draw at Chelsea six days ago in the opening weekend, Liverpool will be looking to go the extra mile this time and make sure they don’t come into a tough game at Newcastle. United without a win already, according to The Table.

Before the game, we asked Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan a few questions about the Reds, including transfers, new signing Wataru Endo and more.

Wataru Endo is officially a Liverpool player. Thoughts?

Endo brings a lot of experience to the table, but the vast majority of fans will never have heard of him. All of the various scouting reports sound positive, but we’ll have to see it in action before we can pass judgement. If he is joined by another new signing, two fans will be satisfied. Otherwise, they will be frustrated by the club’s lack of investment. Sometimes unexpected acquisitions bring the greatest success. Could our new Endo replace the former Hendo and take us to glory? Time will tell.

What was your opinion on the Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia sagas?

The challenges in the middle of the pitch were obvious to everyone last season. We spent the year confident that Jude Bellingham would come and there was money to spend.

We signed two players for a total of $121m (£95m/€111m) and it all looked promising. Despite Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, we felt like we needed another player in the middle. All summer we heard rumors about Khéphren Thuram, Manu Koné and Ryan Gravenberch, and in July rumors about Roméo Lavia surfaced.

I feel like the club have been contradictory in their approach to Lavia. They went on to make three offers and then jumped on Caicedo. If the club really wanted to sign Lavia, they should have been able to agree after the second offer. However, the perception among supporters was that there was little money left for the club and we were trying to save every penny we could. If we really wanted that we should have jumped in and paid the money.

From Caicedo, I have a certain sympathy for the club. Liverpool apparently took part in a blind auction, encouraged by the player’s brokers. Eventually we were used by agents to raise the fee when the player ultimately had no intention of joining the club. People will say Liverpool haven’t done their homework. However, if they had interacted with the agent, as we have been led to believe, and were encouraged, they cannot be blamed. I really think Caicedo would have been an ideal midfield signing and would have had a similar impact on Liverpool as he had N\’Golo Kante on Chelsea when he joined them.

What else do you need to do in the summer to be happy with Liverpool’s business?

In an ideal world I would still like the club to get a midfielder and a defender. The return of Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić will have a positive impact on midfield, but after Endo I would like to have one more in the centre. If we had rejected an offer of $140m (£110m/€128m) for Caicedo and spent just $21m (£16m/€19m) on Endo, we would have paid $119m (£93m/€ 109 million) Left. Could we do Thuram, Gravenberch and a defender for that? Add that to spending already made and the total summer spend is $261m (£205m/€240m). The biggest mistake I would make at the club would be not to sign players before returning to pre-season. It was clear we needed more than Mac Allister and Szoboszlai before Henderson and Fabinho left, and pre-season plays an important role in getting players settled.

How did you experience the game against Chelsea? A hope for the three points against Bournemouth? There were moments where we were fantastic against Chelsea. But there were times when we looked so naked in the middle of the field. Like last year, I felt we could have finished the game early. I’m still scratching my head over some refereeing decisions. A point away at Chelsea can always be appreciated. And who knows, this could be the point that earns us the title. We have a difficult start and therefore a good start is essential. Three points and a positive performance are decisive today.

Anything else to mention?

To attempt the title, Anfield must once again become a fortress. Nineteen home games have the potential to yield 57 points. Aim for at least 50.

August 21, 2023