Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp suffers Andre transfer blow as Mo Salah exit date discussed
Liverpool are plotting their January plans but a spanner has been thrown in the works by a Premier League rival, while the future of Mohamed Salah has once again come to the fore.
Liverpool have enjoyed the international break sat second in the Premier League – but this season’s hard work has only just started.
A comfortable 3-0 victory against Brentford at Anfield put the Reds above Arsenal in the table and this Saturday they face the only team above them: Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s men know all about going toe-to-toe with City in title races, so three points would be a big boost, although it’s not just on the pitch where Liverpool are facing challenges to return to the top of world football.
Premier League opponents are interested in Andre
Earlier this month, Fulham CEO Alistair Mackintosh traveled to Brazil for in-person negotiations regarding the signing of Andre, a target for Liverpool.
The Evening Standard reports that Fulham is reportedly considering a deal for the £30 million midfielder, who is also rumored to be connected to Manchester United.
Andre might be a part of Fulham’s big January recruitment push as the Cottagers try to re-appoint manager Marco Silva.
Liverpool faced an even greater challenge to sign the Brazil international when head coach Mackintosh witnessed Andre shine in the Copa Libertadores final, which Fluminense won 2-1.
Reds ‘know’ when Salah is leaving.
John Barnes asserts that Liverpool is aware of Mohamed Salah’s departure date and that Reds supporters shouldn’t be concerned about interest from Saudi Arabian teams.
Barnes anticipates that Salah, 31, who signed a new long-term contract in July 2022, won’t be cutting that deal short.
The former Anfield player stated, “He’s said he wants to stay at Liverpool for the remainder of his contract,” during a Quality Street sustainability campaign.
“We don’t know when, but I’m confident Saudi Arabia will have the opportunity. For the next two years, that is where I expect him to stay at Liverpool; if it changes, then it does.”
Strict rules are set by Klopp’s No. 2.
At Liverpool’s training facility, Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s assistant, has posted a banner urging the first-team players to maintain high standards.
The Athletic claims that Lijnders has admonished everyone with a motivational note affixed to the boot room door.
It begins with: “Standards are set by the ones who need to live them.” The announcement follows the addition of Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool’s senior leadership group this summer, which already included Andy Robertson and Alisson.
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Liverpool could form “complete” defensive partnership with £52m target
Jurgen Klopp could make changes to his defence in January…
Liverpool are reportedly ready to impose themselves in the January transfer market, as Jurgen Klopp prepares to bolster his squad ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
The Reds have lost just one game in the Premier League this season, suggesting that their midfield revamp in the summer has worked to good effect, however the Merseyside giants are speculated to be eyeing additional reinforcements in another area of the squad.
The arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch completed the rebuild of the engine room at Anfield, with reports now suggesting that the defence is the next area to be targeted for strengthening in the winter.
With Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip only getting older, the plan to replenish the back line with refreshed central additions looks likely in January, with a host of talent already said to be of liking to Liverpool.
Liverpool transfer targets – Defenders
A report from 90min last month named the Reds as one of the many sides interested in LOSC Lille centre-back, Leny Yoro.
At just 18 years old, the teenager has prevailed as one of Ligue 1’s brightest defensive prospects, catching the eye of a host of Premier League representatives, including Chelsea and Manchester United.
With a CIES Football Observatory market value of €20m (£17m), the Frenchman’s movements in the future will be an interesting development to follow.
Moving to Portugal, Liverpool are said to be favourites to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, according to reports in Spain.
The Spanish outlet claims that the Premier League side are ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid in their bid to sign the 22-year-old, adding that Klopp ‘demands’ a top-level central defender in January.
Sporting are said to value their star defender around €60m (£52m), with his movements in the window something to track at Anfield.
Goncalo Inacio’s playing style
Once lauded as “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Inacio has prevailed as one of the top-performing central defenders in Portugal since his rise to prominence at Sporting.
The Portugal international has worked his way through the ranks at his current club, with his place in Ruben Amorim’s side non-negotiable thanks to his assured presence in the back line.
The infamous Alcochete academy in Lisbon has produced stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, with Inacio one of the latest to be tipped with a bright future among Europe’s elite, with a host of clubs swarming around his future already.
A scouting report from Breaking the Lines noted the best quality of Inacio’s playing style as being his ‘excellent progressive passing’ and ability to move play forward and away from high-pressure situations when protecting the goal.
Breaking the Lines lauded the 22-year-old’s stance as being ‘extremely comfortable on the ball’, dubbing him ‘incredibly well-balanced’ and the standard of a ball-playing defender that is so heavily yearned for in Europe’s elite clubs.
Such praise and description is supported by the 6 foot 1 defender’s statistics, where he ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs in leagues comparable to Liga Portugal for his average of 87.04 passes attempted per 90 and 8.63 progressive passes per 90 over the past year, via FBref.
As a confident and mature centre-back, the Portuguese dynamo is a luxury presence in Sporting’s back line, making him an in-demand figure going into the January window.
Why Goncalo Inacio would be a good signing for Liverpool
While Liverpool won’t be thinking about replacing Van Dijk any time soon, the quality that the Dutchman has shown at Anfield has only raised the bar in terms of the calibre of player that could replace him in the future.
In Inacio, Klopp could not only seek an heir to the 32-year-old but also competition or a future partner to Ibrahima Konate, who has battled Joel Matip to claim his place in the favoured XI following his arrival in 2021.
As a left-footed centre-back, the Portugal international could be the perfect player to pair Konate for years to come, with the Frenchman most reliable on the right side of defence to put his progressive strengths into full effect.
At 24 and 22, respectively, Klopp could unearth the pairing to take Liverpool forward, with the two players having similar playing styles in being confident in possession and composed when under threat.
The aggressive approach sometimes showcased by the France international could see him form a well-balanced pivot with Inacio, who has the power to be the anchor and provide in moving play upfield, with his strengths in distribution his greatest asset.
How Goncalo Inacio compares to Liverpool’s centre-backs
When comparing the 2023/24 Premier League statistics of Konate, Van Dijk, Matip and Joe Gomez to those of Inacio in Liga Portugal, it’s clear to see why Klopp would target the 2001-born ace’s services in January.
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