Liverpool is still open to sign £25m FC Bayer munich player nobody is talking about
Benjamin Pavard has yet to find a club willing to play him at his favourite centre-back position as he looks to leave Bayern Munich this summer.
That’s according to German publication Kicker, which is reporting that no club has approached Bayern so far and, as things stand, Pavard will report back for pre-season training in the coming weeks.
Pavard has one year left on his current deal with the Bundesliga champions, but it is claimed that he informed Bayern earlier this summer that he wanted to explore a new challenge in England, Italy or Spain. Liverpool have been tentatively mentioned as a potential destination in some accounts.
‘Another year or two’… ESPN pundit suggests £34m Liverpool player won’t be at Anfield much longer
The Reds have been flying this season. Their return to form after a dismal year in 2022/23 has underlined just how good some of their players really are.
Although there have been a number of top performers for Jurgen Klopp, arguably the best of them all has been Mohamed Salah. Halfway through the Premier League season, Salah tops the charts for both goals and assists. As Curtis Jones said after Monday’s win over Newcastle, the Egyptian is truly ‘world-class.’
However, the amazing displays from Mo have only gone to serve as a reminder of how much they need him. It makes the speculation that he could soon leave for Saudi Arabia all the more disconcerting. And speaking on the 31-year-old’s future for ESPN, pundit Janusz Michallik suggested that Liverpool fans should enjoy Salah while they can, because he may only have one or two more years to give them.
“He’s evolving, because this is not the same Mo Salah we remember two or three years ago where he was able to beat two, three, four players on the run, he’s doing it a different way,” remarked the former USA international. “He sets up a lot of goals as well, we forget that.
“I just think he’s going to be one of those legends, even if he leaves he’s going to be a legend. But I think we’re going to see another year or two out of Mo Salah at Liverpool.”
Michallik predicts Salah exit
In one way, this is actually encouraging news for Liverpool supporters. Some reports would have Salah now entering his final six months at Anfield.
Another year would take him up to the end of his current contract, while a further one would mean the Egypt captain signing a new deal.
So, seen in that light, Michallik’s view should be taken as a positive one from a Liverpool perspective.
Nevertheless, it’s a sobering thought that Salah may be down to the final throes of his Reds career. At 31, that maybe shouldn’t be a surprise. But in the shape that he’s in, the £34m man could play on for another seven or eight years.
Liverpool fans would love to see him play that out at their club. Michallik is right of course, Salah is a legend whatever he does next. But stay until he hangs up his boots, and the forward could become the greatest ever Reds player.
Leave within the next year or two and Ian Rush’s all-time goal-scoring record will stay well out of his reach. Carry on though, and Mo could well break it.
You get the feeling that this summer will be crucial to it all. If the Saudis come back with another huge bid, Liverpool might be forced to take it. With one year left on Salah’s deal, a £100m+ offer would likely be too good to turn down.
But if their No.11 is receptive to a new contract, then Liverpool should try everything to get that done. A year’s extension to keep the wolves at bay would be fine. Beyond that though, we want Mo to stay forever. One or two more years just isn’t enough.
Liverpool are set to lose out to Real Madrid in yet another transfer battle between the clubs.
The Reds came out on the wrong end when taking on Madrid for Aurelien Tchouameni back in 2022. Then, last summer, Jude Bellingham opted for the Bernabeu over Anfield.
And now, according to TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Liverpool are set to make it a hat-trick of failed transfers. Crook believes that despite regular links to the Reds, Kylian Mbappe will choose to move to Real instead.
“I’d be surprised if he ends up anywhere else apart from the Bernabeu,” the transfer expert said live on air this morning.
“He has come out over the last 24 hours, Mbappe, and said even if he wants to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, he has an agreement in place with PSG to make sure they’re financially recompensated. I think he’s going to go to Real Madrid, it’s the worst kept secret in football.
“The Liverpool link comes up time and time again, but he’s on huge wages, even by Premier League standards it would smash Liverpool’s pay structure. So, as much as I’d love to see Mbappe in the Premier League, Real Madrid is going to be where he ends up.”
Mbappe heading to Madrid
This is hardly a surprising take from Crook. The smart money has been on Mbappe joining Real Madrid for the past five years or so.
Should he leave and go anywhere other than the Spanish capital, it would be a big surprise.
Nevertheless, the links to Liverpool have kept on diligently appearing in the press. Whenever Mbappe’s situation is mentioned, the Reds are nearly always spoken about in the next breath.
The Frenchman is apparently a fan of watching Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and as a result would seemingly be open to the move.
But his recent comments about recompensating PSG may finally put an end to all that.
By that, it sounds like Mbappe has come to some kind of agreement with PSG. It wouldn’t be a surprise then to see him sign onto a new deal in Paris if only to ensure his hometown club don’t lose him on a free transfer.
If that does end up happening, then Liverpool can kiss any hope they had of signing the 25-year-old goodbye. On a free transfer you can understand why the Reds might feel they have an outside chance of landing Mbappe.
But with an enormous transfer fee to go with his massive wages and humongous associated costs, there’s no way for Liverpool. The moment we finally see Kylian signing on in Spain will be a relief, maybe only then will the Reds stop being mentioned.
Liverpool are not expected to be particularly busy on the arrivals front in January. However, when it comes to departures the Reds do have a few things to sort out.
Recently, the club has decided to recall four players. Some of whom may now be primed to go out loan elsewhere. One of those will be Fabio Carvalho, but Rhys Williams could be another. Meanwhile, for Owen Beck and James Balagizi it remains to be seen what their future holds.
However, it’s not just those who have been recalled who could leave on loan. During the Europa League campaign, Liverpool saw an abundance of talent make a breakthrough into the first team. Some of those will have caught the attention of clubs and could have put their name in the shop window.
Tom Hill to leave on-loan?
The 21-year-old midfielder was involved in Liverpool’s Europa League squad at several points this season. He even made the bench in the Reds’ last game against Union SG.
Currently, the captain of the club’s U21 team, Hill is in good form having made five goal contributions from midfield in eight Premier League 2 matches. Now speaking as per the club’s official website he has admitted he would be very open to a potential loan move.
“I’ve had a good run of games this season and I just want to keep consistent with that and not look too far into the future,” Hill said.
“I just want to enjoy my football. I’m not rushing anything. If something comes loan-wise I’ll take it, if not it doesn’t. I’m just enjoying playing consistent football and not looking too far ahead.”
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