A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Federico Chiesa decides on possibly facing Nottingham Forest and an Anfield star impresses Virgil van Dijk on international duty.
Liverpool immediately rejected Nottingham Forest’s Caoimhin Kelleher bid
The future of Caoimhin Kelleher was a hot topic this summer as he looked to leave Liverpool and be a No1 goalkeeper. But the Reds immediately blocked an approach for the Republic of Ireland international from Nottingham Forest that may have resolved the 25-year-old’s wish.
Reports by The Athletic claim Nottingham Forest made Liverpool an offer for Kelleher but it fell on deaf ears. The City Ground outfit put £7m on the table and also offered to send Matt Turner to Anfield in part-exchange. But the Merseyside natives had no interest in the terms.
Liverpool also flat-out rejected an improved bid from Nottingham Forest as it failed to reach their £25-30m asking price for Kelleher. Now the shot-stopper is expected to spend one last year as Alisson Becker’s No2 and leave in 2025 after Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Kelleher is yet to feature for Liverpool so far this season under new head coach Arne Slot as Alisson remains the undisputed No1 at Anfield. Failing to land a move away came as a blow for Kelleher after making 10 of his mere 15 career Premier League appearances last season.
Read more about Nottingham Forest’s offer for Kelleher’s transfer from Liverpool, here.
Virgil van Dijk applauds Trent Alexander-Arnold’s POTM England display vs Finland
Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up another Player of the Match award as England beat Finland this Tuesday night. And his performance at right-back under interim Three Lions coach Lee Carsley also stunned Virgil van Dijk, who has shared his praise online.
Alexander-Arnold also swept the Player of the Match award as England beat the Republic of Ireland last Saturday. He thrived with the licence to dictate play from right-back against two lesser footballing nations. The 25-year-old also assisted Harry Kane to score against Finland.
Quick reactions by the Liverpool academy product saw Alexander-Arnold latch onto a loose ball and feed Kane. It was a welcome reward having threatened to unlock Finland’s backline in the first half as Carsley allowed the defender to roam into the engine room as he wanted.
Alexander-Arnold has also described receiving back-to-back Player of the Match awards for England’s wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland as ‘a great week in camp’. Van Dijk also commented on Alexander-Arnold’s Instagram post celebrating it with a clapping emoji.
Read more about Alexander-Arnold’s England display that impressed Van Dijk, here.
Federico Chiesa pushing to make Liverpool’s squad vs Nottingham Forest
The summer transfer market was a largely quiet affair for Liverpool but the Reds finished the window on a high with the signing of Federico Chiesa from Juventus. The Italian finalised an initial £10m, rising to £12.5m, move at the end of August after falling out of favour in Turin.
New Bianconeri coach Thiago Motta froze Chiesa out of the Juventus squad after he entered the final year of the forward’s contract. He made Chiesa work with the rest of the Old Lady’s deadwood, meaning he arrived at Liverpool lacking real fitness without a proper pre-season.
So, The Telegraph claims Chiesa has spent the September international break working on his fitness at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre. The attacker is even set to push Arne Slot to make the Reds’ matchday squad when the Anfield outfit welcome Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Chiesa is yet to feature in a Liverpool team after finalising his transfer from Juventus shortly before the Reds visited Manchester United. But after watching Slot’s players thrash the Red Devils 3-0 at Old Trafford, he wants to make their squad when Forest travel to Anfield next.
Read more about how new Liverpool signing Chiesa has spent the international break, here.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
