With Jurgen Klopp facing harsh transfer reality on his third deal, Liverpool’s shortlist is getting shorter.

Liverpool is searching the market for the best player at the best price to join Jurgen Klopp’s transformed midfield.

Although Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister joined Liverpool in quick succession, the Reds’ search for a third midfielder has slowed down, and they may have recently suffered a setback. Romeo Lavia, Cheick Doucoure, and Ryan Gravenberch are just a few of the names that have been mentioned in connection with Liverpool moves.

However, the Reds are still considering other options, with Fulham star Joao Palhinha being mentioned as one of them. Before Fulham swooped in to sign him last summer, Liverpool was interested in the Portuguese midfielder.

Palhinha, 28, suffered a serious shoulder injury this week during a preseason friendly, and Liverpool may have to let him go this summer. Palhinha “probably dislocated” his shoulder, according to Fulham manager Marco Silva, who also confirmed it was a “serious” injury.

It doesn’t seem promising, regrettably. Silva told Fulham’s official website, “It’s serious, but let’s hope it’s not too serious. He probably has a dislocated shoulder. He’s going to conduct a scan the following day, after which I’ll be better able to update you on the circumstance.

“Let’s hope it’s not another serious injury for us. Palhinha might not have been Liverpool’s top choice, especially considering Fulham’s asking price of about £80 million, but his injury undoubtedly reduces Klopp’s market options.

Players suffering new injuries as preseason begins is the transfer reality that every manager dreads during the summer transfer window. Twelve months ago, Liverpool also struggled with injuries as numerous midfielders picked up injuries during preseason practice.

Manu Kone was spotted using crutches at the U21 European Championships, indicating how injuries have already hampered Liverpool’s transfer plans this summer. Additionally, Szoboszlai sustained a wound during practice, keeping him from playing in yesterday’s friendly match against Greuther Furth.

He is not believed to have suffered a serious injury, and it is anticipated that he will rejoin the fight soon. However, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson now reportedly on the verge of leaving the organization, Klopp will be wary of running out of options in the midfield once more.

Liverpool should be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to their summer targets, though Palhinha’s unexpected injury setback during preseason also serves as a warning.

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A transfer issue that Liverpool is well aware of is set to be forced by Kylian Mbappé.

With the start of the new season just around the corner, Kylian Mbappé and PSG are not in a great position. In reverse, Liverpool has previously been in a situation like this.

Even if Kylian Mbappé plays out his PSG contract and departs when it expires next summer, the money he would demand would make it highly unlikely that Liverpool could afford to sign him.

Despite the fact that the 24-year-old has only recently been offered a 10-year contract to remain at PSG and earn $2.14m (£1.66m/€1.92m) each week for the rest of the next decade, someone somewhere is still likely to draw a comparison to Liverpool.

The world’s best player, Mbappé, is in turmoil as a result of his recent exclusion from PSG’s preseason trip to Japan due to his refusal to thus far reach an agreement on a new contract (the French giants suspect he has already informed Real Madrid he will join them in 2024).

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Real Madrid would have to pay more than $445 million (2£346 million/€400 million) to sign Mbappé this summer when you take into account his transfer fee, which could reach $173 million (£223 million/€200 million), as well as other expenses like his salary.

Real Madrid, at least for the time being, is not willing to commit that sum of money when it can work out a free transfer deal for the forward beginning in January. This stance seems reasonable, especially in light of the significant sum of money already spent this summer on Jude Bellingham.

All of that is creating a situation that is almost a mirror image of the one Liverpool found itself in with star player Philippe Coutinho six years ago, with Barcelona pushing to sign the Brazilian in mid-August.

In response to Barcelona’s second offer, which was worth $116 million (£90 million/€104 million), Coutinho submitted a transfer request, as The Guardian reported at the time. FSG was adamant that the then-25-year-old would not be permitted to leave on the eve of the start of a new Premier League season, even though he had only recently signed a new five-year contract.

It’s not ideal for any club to enter a new season with uncertainty surrounding the future of their star player, and Liverpool has been there before. Coutinho was not allowed to leave that summer, but he played very well for six months before leaving for Barcelona the following January for a lot more money than was rumored to be paid.

However, for PSG, a situation in which the player wants to stay but the club wants him to leave is playing out.

When Mbappé’s three-year contract was announced last summer, it was actually only for two years with an option for a third.

With Mbappé having made clear that he does not intend to sign up for that final year, PSG is powerless at this moment in time to keep him until 2025 — in fact, it actively wants to move him on now in order to avoid losing out on a transfer fee for the most valuable player in the world.

In the case of Coutinho, which is the more typical scenario, Liverpool did not want to lose a crucial player and did not do so until a few months later on exorbitant terms. Mbappé is one of those players where the club wants him gone while the attacker would prefer to stay.

In either case, these transfer snafus usually only lead to parting ways. It appears unlikely that Mbappé will extend his contract with PSG, and it also appears unlikely that he will move anywhere else besides Real Madrid.

By giving in to Mbappé’s demands last summer, PSG was forced into a corner, whereas Liverpool had some control over the situation with Coutinho. The Ligue 1 team is now dealing with the repercussions.