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Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Sancho fee set, Barcelona battle, Ben Chilwell alternative
Liverpool transfer news, gossip and updates are coming in thick and fast. Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the very latest from Anfield.
Liverpool lacks an attacking player claims Carragher
Liverpool transfer news LIVE updates: All the latest news, gossip and updates from Anfield
Monday, January 6
- Liverpool among three clubs fighting to sign Ousmane Dembele
- Adam Lallana committed to Liverpool despite contract situation
- Jadon Sancho would cost close to £150m
- Rhian Brewster decision to be made
Takumi Minamino debut goal
Takumi Minamino is set to make his Liverpool debut against Everton in the FA Cup today and several fans expect him to follow in the same footsteps as Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk made his debut in remarkably similar fashion two years ago when Liverpool beat Everton in the FA Cup third round, with Van Dijk popping up with a dramatic late winner.
One fan tweeted: “Good morning today’s the day Takumi Minamino pulls a Virgil van Dijk.”
Another predicted: “The fact Minamino debuts in exactly the same circumstances can’t be a coincidence. A Takumi goal is written in the stars.”
Liverpool identify Andy Robertson back-up
Liverpool have identified Max Clark as the left-back they want to bring in as back-up to Andy Robertson with a report stating he is statistically better than Ben Chilwell.
Alberto Moreno had been Liverpool’s second-choice full-back for two years before he was sold by the club last summer.
The versatile James Milner has occasionally dropped back to the position when Klopp has given Robertson a rest but the club have made signing a left-back one of their top priorities.
And Football Insider claim Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on Vitesse Arnhem full-back Clark.
Clark left Hull in 2018 to join Eredivisie club Vitesse where he has emerged as a top talent.
The report states Liverpool have been tracking Clark closely using the club’s own ‘sophisticated tracking tools’ and he has scored ‘excellent data metrics’.
And it is claimed Clark has scored better than England’s first-choice left-back Chilwell, who is being linked with a big-money move to Chelsea.
Rhian Brewster not leaving yet
Rhian Brewster looks set to leave Liverpool on a short-term loan in January with a number of clubs interested in signing him, but he isn’t going anywhere yet.
Swansea, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield have all been touted as possible destinations for Brewster but no deal has materialised as of yet.
And the 19-year-old striker could play some part in Liverpool’s FA Cup tie against Everton today.
“First of all, if nothing happens Rhian will be in the squad on Sunday. That’s the first thing and then we will see,” Klopp said.
“He [has been] training for five or six days, he wasn’t out for too long - it was only a little thing but it was enough so he wasn’t available and now he's back in training and will be involved in the squad.”
Oh, just Takumi Minamino on a Japanese game show. pic.twitter.com/2rQKcilWsy
— ������������������������������������ (@MaebyKate) January 5, 2020
Loris Karius latest
Loris Karius could be set for another loan spell next season with Besiktas keen to keep hold of the goalkeeper.
Karius is in the second season of a two-year loan deal at Besiktas with Liverpool hoping to offload him for £7million at the end of the campaign.
But it is reported the Turkish club can’t afford to fee Liverpool are asking for and instead want to sign him up for another year-long loan deal.
Liverpool are said to be prepared to hold talks with Besiktas over Karius’ future.
Liverpool are among three clubs hoping to sign Ousmane Dembele
Liverpool are on red alert with reports suggesting Barcelona are willing to let Ousmane Dembele leave the club this month, but face competition from Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Spanish giants want to get rid of the Frenchman, who has failed to live up to the mark at the Nou Camp, according to El Desmarque.
Dembele is valued at roughly £85million, with Barcelona ready to take a loss on the £120m they paid in 2017.
That would obviously be a huge outlay for any of Liverpool, Chelsea or United, but the three are believed to be keen on making a move.
Jadon Sancho would cost close to £150m
Jason McAteer recently suggested Liverpool should make Jadon Sancho their No 1 transfer target going forward, but it would cost them a club-record transfer.
According to transfer expert Ian McGarry, Chelsea made a formal approach to sign Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window.
It is reported Dortmund are asking for £102million in return for Sancho but that doesn’t include the £42m fee to the player’s agent.
Liverpool have spent big in previous years, paying out a record fee worth £75m to sign Virgil van Dijk in 2018 but that is more than half what Sancho could potentially cost.
Adam Lallana remains committed to Liverpool
Adam Lallana insists he’s not thinking about his Liverpool future, despite strong suggestions he won’t be given a new contract at Anfield.
The England international’s current deal with the Merseysiders, whom he joined in the summer of 2014, expires at the end of the season.
A lack of first team football has led to suggestions he will look for a January exit but Lallana insists he’s fully focused on helping end Liverpool’s long wait to lift the league title.
“It’s easy to keep working,” Lallana told Off The Ball. “I’m enjoying playing for the best team in the world, it’s as simple as that.
“Whatever my contract situation is, that will be going on in the background. There’s not a chance that that will affect my commitment to this club.”