Despite the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool will still be active in the transfer market.
The Reds must find long-term successors for first-team favourites Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner all left the team at the end of June. Before the next season begins, another midfielder might be added.
Liverpool missed out on playing in the Champions League last year after finishing fifth in the Premier League, and Jurgen Klopp is anxious to avoid a repeat this year. With the exception of the Community Shield, they too fell short in cup tournaments.
Valverde deal: shocking
Federico Valverde, a midfielder for Real Madrid, is a target for Liverpool, according The Guardian. According to reports, Klopp is preparing a £77 million offer for the 24-year-old Uruguayan international, who has emerged as a crucial player for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in recent years.
According to rumours, Liverpool’s interest in Valverde increased after Jude Bellingham switched from playing for Liverpool to Real. The 20-year-old midfielder just finished a £115 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund, the runners-up in the Bundesliga, to Madrid.
It seems unlikely Valverde will leave Real for Liverpool, although a midfielder could depart. The 14-time European champions now have seven midfielders in Bellingham, Valverde, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Premier League clubs are aware of this and a loan deal for one of these midfielders – perhaps Tchouameni – could be on the cards. Real won’t want to sell their younger stars, with Modric and Kroos coming towards the end of their respective careers.
newest Thiago
Thiago Alcantara is a player that clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in signing, as was stated in our prior transfer roundup. The 32-year-old midfielder, who has one year left on his contract, is rumoured to wish to stay at Anfield and has reportedly already declined one sizable offer.
However, according to a recent article in The Telegraph, Liverpool is prepared to offload Thiago this summer. After his £20 million bargain deal from Bayern Munich three years ago, the Reds are unlikely to demand a high transfer price for the Spaniard, but he won’t depart for nothing.
Liverpool wouldn’t mind getting Thiago off their wage bill. He’s believed to earn around £200,000 per week, which is considerably more than new signing Szoboszlai. The Hungary international is thought to have agreed a £125,000-a-week salary.
Firmino’s new club
Firmino has signed a three-year deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The Brazil international, 31, left Liverpool after eight years of service when his contract expired last month. He won seven trophies at Anfield, scoring 11 goals in 362 games.
Liverpool posted a classy tribute to Firmino on their website after the news broke. They wrote: “Everybody at LFC would like to thank Roberto for his contribution and wish him all the best for the future.”