Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool may need to sign a new midfielder this summer – with club icons Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both wanted by teams in Saudi Arabia
Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, with more players expected.
Jürgen Klopp’s side are eager to return to the Champions League as soon as possible after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season. They are favorites to win the Europa League next season, a tournament for which West Ham and Brighton have also qualified.
Liverpool have enjoyed great success since Klopp became their boss in October 2015. They have won every prize they have competed for except the Europa League. The Reds lost 3-1 to Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final, just months after Klopp’s arrival.
But who are Liverpool interested in signing? Here are the latest headlines from Merseyside…
Liverpool want Verratti
Liverpool are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, according to The Guardian. It is claimed the Reds will consider moving to the Italy international, 30, if Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leave Merseyside for Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ettifaq have agreed a £12million transfer fee with Liverpool for Henderson, 33, with a £700,000-a-week deal on the table, while Saudi Pro-League champions Al-Ittihad are looking to sign Fabinho, 29, on a £40million deal. Both transfers are on the brink.
Verratti is one of Europe’s most respected midfielders, with over 500 first-team appearances and 32 trophies – including nine Ligue 1 titles and Euro 2020 – but PSG will only sell him if the price is right. They are believed to want £70m. Schmadtke leaves a tip.
Jorg Schmadtke could stay at Liverpool after this summer. The 59-year-old was appointed sporting director of the club in May after signing a one-year contract, but the deal contains a release clause which can be activated after this transfer window ends.
Schmadtke, who left a similar job at Wolfsburg in January, was originally due to leave Liverpool in September. However, the German has now admitted that he could stay longer.
“We are waiting until the end of August,” he told Sky Sports. “We have signed an annual contract, but we have the opportunity to ask each other in August if we are both still sure. If someone is not sure, we shake hands and I could get a ticket if I want to come.”
When asked if he will celebrate his 60th birthday in Liverpool in March, Schmadtke replied optimistically: “It could be!”
Rental agreement for the young man
Liverpool midfielder Dominic Corness has been loaned out to Swiss side Yverdon Sport for a year. The 20-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut for the Reds, but he has made five professional appearances against League One and League Two sides in the EFL Trophy.
Corness will have a chance to play in the top flight after Yverdon were promoted to the Swiss Super League in May after winning the second division. Liverpool icon Djibril Cisse spent one season at Yverdon towards the end of his career, scoring 23 goals in 29 games.
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