Here is today’s transfer roundup – it’s a lot better than yesterday’s.
Summer transfer target Mahmoud Dahoud is being tipped to join Liverpool in January in a deal worth £26 million.
Alright, so we know that Liverpool have shown interest in Dahoud before and were unsuccessful in their efforts to bring him to the Premier League in the summer, but it was also made clear that Liverpool would try and sign him in future windows.
According to German newspaper Express, Liverpool are ready to rekindle their interest in Borussia Monchengladbach’s talented midfielder and, with the German’s contract running down, an affordable bid of £26 million can be expected.
What his squad role would be if he signed for Liverpool is up for debate as the form of Jurgen Klopp’s current squad members makes it unlikely that he’d find an easy way into the Reds’ team.
Gladbach have tried, on multiple occasions, to convince Dahoud to sign a new deal but his decision to turn down all approaches suggests that he is willing to leave the Bundesliga club. He would be a great player under Klopp and he has the potential to form a beautiful German midfield partnership with Emre Can.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
Barcelona and Real Madrid both interested but contract gives Liverpool upper hand
Real Madrid and Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has spoken of Zinedine Zidane’s admiration of Philippe Coutinho.
“Zinedine Zidane has been a long admirer of Coutinho and has told club president Florentino Perez that the Brazilian is top of his wishlist,” said Carlos to Diario Madridista, via Sportskeeda. “Because I’m Brazilian, I’m very happy that Coutinho is doing well.”
“I don’t know how long he has on his Liverpool contract, but Real Madrid want to sign the very best players.” he finished.
Barcelona are also said to be interested with Catalan newspaper Sport reporting that Barca has made it their top priority to sign the Brazilian.
However, Coutinho doesn’t have a buyout clause in his contract which means that Liverpool have the bargaining power. The issue with buyout clauses is that if a club comes in with the minimum required bid as stipulated by a clause in the player’s contract, then Liverpool are obliged to allow said club to engage that player in negotiations.
Liverpool have a notorious track record where this is concerned. When Arsenal bid £40 million + £1 for Luis Suarez, FSG dismissed the bid as disrespectful and John W Henry famously tweeted, “What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?”
While Liverpool might have the upper hand technically, you can never discount the attraction South American players have for Barcelona and Real Madrid. Plus, Barca have Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar, with the latter two being close friends with Coutinho.
At this point, I am waiting for Coutinho to come out with tattoos like Daniel Agger did when he was rumoured to be leaving the club in 2012. Coutinho is Liverpool’s best player and Klopp is aware of this and I am sure he is doing his utmost to hold onto him.