“Until it’s signed and sealed, it’s not done”: Manager hopes to reach transfer agreement with Liverpool
Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney is hopeful of reaching an agreement with Liverpool to sign 19-year-old left-back Luke Chambers on loan for the rest of the season.
Left-back is a hot topic for supporters as they anxiously await the return of Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson from injury.
Joe Gomez has been a revelation at left-back and has been key to Liverpool maintaining their top form despite consistent injury blows to defensive personnel.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the latest to succumb to injury after suffering a minor lateral ligament tear in his right knee during the 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.
Now, Liverpool could send Chambers on loan despite the need for defensive reinforcements. However, Jurgen Klopp can still call on Owen Beck after recalling him from his Dundee United loan.
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney hoping for Luke Chambers transfer agreement
Latics manager Shaun Maloney is hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Liverpool and Chambers over a loan move for the rest of the season.
Maloney, as quoted by Wigan Today, said: “We hope that can work, we hope that’s going to happen with Luke. Until it’s signed and sealed, it’s not done, but we’re very hopeful on that.
“He’s a really good player, who would add a lot of competition in that left-back position.
“At the moment, we’re really reliant on Sess (Steven Sessegnon) and Sean Clare in those full-back areas.
“But I want competition, I want two players for every position, and hopefully Luke can add that if it happens…let’s wait and see.”
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Kylian Mbappe wage demands emerge as real cost of Liverpool transfer made clear
The 25-year-old is permitted to sign a pre-contract agreement with interested clubs as Liverpool and Real Madrid continue to be linked with the PSG star
Kylian Mbappe may soon be a free agent but he is far from a cost-free option for Liverpool
(Image: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images)The prospect of landing Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe for free this summer would interest several of Europe’s elite clubs, but reality will start to hit home once the true cost of the forward’s wages and bonuses are totted up.
Liverpool are one of many clubs linked with Mbappe, albeit Real Madrid are thought to be the favourites to sign him. The France hero has a contract offer from PSG on the table but is yet to pen a renewal.
Despite contrasting reports on the status of his expected exit, Mbappe is yet to make a firm and public decision on his future. He has already outlined how he will not agree to triggering the existing extension in his current contract, which has aggrieved PSG chiefs.
However, the Parisians are said to be more relaxed about the situation given Mbappe will not receive reported bonus payments – thought to stretch into the tens of millions – that he would have received if he was sold. The soon-to-be free agent, who is now permitted to speak to overseas clubs and sign pre-contract agreements, is expected to make huge demands over wages and signing-on fees as a result, though.
The Telegraph report Mbappe will look to land an annual salary of £64.5million – an eye-watering £1.24m a week. Only a handful of clubs could afford that, and even Madrid may have to offload several current players to facilitate such terms.
This would almost certainly rule Liverpool out of the race given Mbappe’s wages would be almost four times higher than Mohamed Salah’s reported salary. It is no secret that the Reds have not had the luxury of having deep money pockets as seen at several rival Premier League clubs.
Such an expensive move for Mbappe from any Premier League club would increase the risk of falling foul of Financial Fair Play rules, unless such big star names were moved on. Mbappe’s camp released a statement on Monday which said: “There is no agreement around Kylian’s future, especially since there are no discussions started about it.
“No type of influence could dictate the timing of Kylian’s discussions, reflections or decision.”
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi said this week: “I want Kylian Mbappe to stay at PSG. He’s the best player in the world and the best club for him is PSG. He’s key for our project.”
Liverpool starlet axed from training with Jurgen Klopp set to make transfer decision
All the latest Liverpool news as Billy Koumetio’s future on loan is in doubt following a strange development in training
Billy Koumetio of Liverpool
Liverpool loanee Billy Koumetio could be on the verge of returning to Anfield, according to reports from France.
The 21-year-old defender completed a loan move to Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque during the summer transfer window, where he has gone to start in all eight of his appearances for the club throughout the 2023/24 campaign. Despite the strong start to the temporary loan switch, his future at the French club is now in doubt after the Liverpool defender was not spotted in the latest training sessions.
According to La Voix Du Nord via Sport Witness, Koumetio is not currently with the Dunkerque squad and is ‘no longer taking part’ in training sessions with the club. While there is no current explanation for the absence, speculation is now circulating regarding a possible return to Jurgen Klopp’s side, given their lack of depth across the defence.
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Whether Liverpool are eager to incorporate the player into the first team squad, where he has already made two appearances for The Reds, or they are looking to continue his development with a different loan move, remains to be seen.
However, with a long-term injury to Joël Matip which will likely sideline him until the end of his contract in the summer, Liverpool could certainly do with extra bodies within the centre-back position. Especially when considering they will need to balance games across four different competitions throughout the remainder of the 2023/24 season.
Koumetio is also capable of playing at left-back, where Klopp has also been left short-handed due to injuries to both Andy Robertson and Konstatinos Tsimikas.
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