Paddy Mckeown rounds up all the latest transfer news concerning Liverpool Football Club.
This summer will be a long, anxious one for those who support last season’s Europa League runners up. Like myself, I still haven’t fully shaken off the disappointment of the final defeat. Personally I am really looking forward to seeing how Jürgen and the committee try to mend our broken hearts.
I am going to begin with the young man who seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment, Mario Götze. I would like to believe that there is yet another twist in this long haul of a saga. However, my hopes won’t cover up the fact that I think that Götze will remain at Bayern for the remainder of his contract and possibly longer. Mario would have been a perfect purchase and would have suited the Mersey Red colour, however that now seems best to be left to our imagination.
A young prospect called Mahmoud Dahoud is reportedly Liverpool’s main target after missing out on Götze.
This young man was born in Syria, to then over to Germany later in his life to pursue a footballing career. He is currently 20 years old, and plays for Borussia Monchengladbach. Dahoud plays in the centre of midfield and would suit a double pivot with Emre Can. Like Emre Can, he likes to drift forward in hope of providing an assist or contributing in another useful way.
We could use his dynamic flair in the holding midfield role. He would be an expensive buy, however, I believe it will be a purchase worth making.
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Marko Grujić , Klopp’s very first signing once taking the managerial role at Anfield. We signed this 20-year-old for just under £5m from Red Star Belgrade. Like Dahoud, he would fit perfectly in a double-pivot role with Emre Can. We have already got the muscle with Emre, now we need to bring in the gracefulness of someone like Marko and Dahoud.
Jonas Hector currently plays in Germany. He would be a brilliant signing for Liverpool replacing the Spaniard, Alberto Moreno. He is an all-round solid left back. He is very similar to our starting right back, Nathaniel Clyne, consistently very solid. At the age of 25, Jonas Hector is starting to announce his name on a national stage, starting at left back for Germany. This German could cost up to £12m.
The signing of Loris Karius from Mainz is one that many Liverpool fans wanted. We signed this young-man for £4.7m from Mainz. He signed for Mainz after leaving Manchester City, due to his unhappiness of his game time. The young man was voted the second best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga, this was voted by the players of the league. He was only behind arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, Manuel Neuer. At the age of 22, this young lad seems to a long term solution to our goalkeeping issues.
Liverpool are also reportedly targeting, Breel Embolo. The CEO of Basel has recently discussed in an interview how he thinks the young Swiss international is on his way out of the club. Embolo is a striker, at just over 6ft, who provides height and strength. However, he isn’t just muscle, he is more known for his runs behind the defensive line. He seems to be an all-round striker. At the age of 19, Embolo could be a long term solution to our striking position.
Liverpool are targeting a young English left back named Ben Chilwell, from Leicester City. The 20-year-old didn’t play much this season for Leicester as they seem happy with their current left back situation. This transfer could cost around £5m.
For me there are many players that need to leave in the summer. Martin Skrtel being one. The Slovakian has been a very good servant to the club and is coming up to his testimonial year, however I believe that he has had one too many seasons in red.
Another player that looks set to leave Merseyside this summer is Christian Benteke. After his huge summer move from Aston Villa to Liverpool last summer, it never really worked out for him. Despite scoring double figures this season he hasn’t lived up to the expectations of the Anfield crowd.
Many youth players also look set to be packing their bags and leaving Melwood. Players like Randall, Canos, Kent, Smith and Stewart all look set to be sold with Rositter and Sinclair already having departed. However, I still believe that a couple of these still have potential to be very good players so it would be saddening to see them leave.
Mario Balotelli is also set to be sold this summer. He didn’t start his Liverpool career well at all, scoring just one Liverpool goal all Premier League season. Though he clearly has talent, he is known for his mischievous ways and I believe that Klopp will not want him near Melwood. It is rumoured that he may move to China, however if Liverpool don’t find a buyer they may have no other option but to release the Italian. We could use with getting him off the wages list so we can move on to better things.
The next player is one that has stirred much debate amongst the Liverpool community, Lazar Markovic. We signed the young Serbian from Benfica for £20m, though in his first season he didn’t impress. However, Rodgers was often playing him out of his usual Right Midfield position. We could cash in on him and receive around £12m, but I would like to see him try and prove himself in a system that suits him.
PSG are reportedly after our young Brazilian, Phillipe Coutinho. They have watched him all season and they aren’t the only ones, two other big European clubs are interested in the 23-year-old. PSG are reportedly willing to offer up to £45m, however ‘The Echo’ have reported that Liverpool are unwilling to sell their main man at any price.
If we get all our rumoured targets, and sell all the ‘deadwood’ amongst the squad I feel we have a very good chance of achieving top four and maybe challenge for the title. All we can do is trust in Klopp and believe.
Featured Image – Metro
Follow Paddy on Twitter for more of his opinions – @AnfieldPyro