Hello and welcome to our LIVE Liverpool transfer blog for Friday, August 25.
Mohamed Salah is the man in the headlines this morning as the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad eye their latest marquee signing of the summer.
However, the ECHO understands that Liverpool are reluctant to sell their Egyptian King this summer. They are also yet to receive a formal offer for Salah.
Elsewhere, we’ll have the latest on Bayern Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, who is being linked with a move to Anfield. Meanwhile, Tyler Morton is said to be ready for a loan move away this campaign after recovering from his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Sandro Tonali could hand Liverpool transfer reminder after £55m Newcastle United move
Newcastle United made Sandro Tonali the most expensive Italian player in history when they paid £55m to end his association with AC Milan.
And after starring and scoring in the 5-1 win over Aston Villa, the Italy international looks set to get his first Premier League taste of facing Liverpool when the two Champions League hopefuls lock horns at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Tonali etched his name into the history books when he penned terms with the Magpies at the beginning of July. During that period, the conversation was about whether the 23-year-old was worth the luge sum of money that was paid for him.
Whereas the argument currently surrounding Liverpool is their hesitancy in the transfer market. Going into this season the Reds were more than aware of the work needed to improve their midfield following a disappointing campaign.
Acquiring Alexis Mac Allister was seamless, while the deal for Dominik Szoboszlai was swiftly done before the deadline of his release clause. For a while, the third midfield signing looked set to be Romeo Lavia, and then surprisingly Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, but both players went to Chelsea, for a combined £173m. In response, Jurgen Klopp unexpectedly moved for Wataru Endo, taking the Reds’ summer spending up to £111m.
Whether the fast-moving transfer of the Japan captain proves enough remains to be seen. But on Sunday, Liverpool will see an example, good or bad, of the fruits of moving early to extinguish a transfer problem.
The positive signs are there with Tonali making a goalscoring start to life in the Premier League during Newcastle’s emphatic win over Villa on the opening day.
Ex-VfB Stuttgart icon ‘shocked’ to hear of Endo leaving
Speaking to Sport 1, Hansi Muller said of Wataru Endo’s departure to Anfield: “I was shocked when I heard that Endo was leaving VfB,
“He was the heart and soul of the team, unfortunately he cannot be replaced one-to-one because he is simply a complete player.
“If a player expresses the desire to fulfil his dream with England, then you can’t keep him by force. He would then have his head somewhere else and that goes wrong.
“There is no talk of a sell-out. VfB also has some newcomers who have not yet been used. They have made forward-looking commitments to compensate for possible departures.”
Liverpool U21s team to face Southampton
Liverpool U21s are in action this evening as they face Southampton (6pm). Lewis Koumas starts for Barry Lewis’ side, however there is no involvement for Ben Doak, Bobby Clark, Luke Chambers or Jarell Quansah.
‘They know’ – Former Liverpool player shares Newcastle theory over Mohamed Salah exit talk
Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has rubbished suggestions Mohamed Salah will ditch the club for Saudi Arabia this summer, believing that it is a distraction tactic ahead of Sunday’s match against Newcastle.
Reports began to emerge across Europe of Al-Ittihad interest persisting despite Salah’s agent playing down such talk earlier in the summer. The Athletic later gave credence to these claims, prompting some panic in the Reds fanbase.
“I don’t believe he will go,” he stated. “They are playing Newcastle this weekend, there is a bit of the Saudi-backed Newcastle situation.
“Maybe that’s something – they’re just trying to ignite the flame before the match and try to unsettle Salah. They also know that Jurgen Klopp, all of the questions he’s going to get today in his press conference will be about Salah and Saudi Arabia.
“It’s maybe a bit of mind games as well, I was reading reports that this club were confident they were going to get Mo Salah. I don’t believe it’s going to be anywhere close, I don’t believe Liverpool will sell him.”
Gravenberch ‘bid rejected’
Liverpool have reportedly had a bid rejected by Bayern Munich for Ryan Gravenberch.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sport Witness, the Bavarian club have rejected an offer of €48m from the Reds for the Netherlands international.
The report goes on to claim that Bayern want to Gravenberch, even though he wants to leave this summer.
Salah transfer latest
Jurgen Klopp has insisted Mohamed Salah is not for sale – and believes the Egyptian is 100% committed to Liverpool.
Salah has emerged as a target for Al-Ittihad with reports emerging from Saudi Arabia throughout the week of an imminent bid for the 31-year-old.
It has been claimed the Saudi Pro League champions are willing to make the Reds winger – who has two years remaining on his current Anfield deal – the highest-paid player in history.
Klopp, though, has reiterated Liverpool’s stance they are not willing to sell the forward, with the Premier League transfer window closing next Friday – six days before the Saudi Arabia deadline.
